Skip next section UK’s Starmer warns May 8, isn’t ‘just history’
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
UK’s Starmer warns May 8, isn’t ‘just history’
As Europe marks VE day, UK Prime Minister has warned against complacency. “The idea that this was all just history and it doesn’t matter now somehow, is completely wrong,” he said, “Those values of freedom and democracy matter today.”
The UK will mark the occasion with services at Westminster Abbey — attended by and his wife Camilla — to be followed by a minute of silence across the kingdom. A major concert at Horse Guards Parade will be staged for 10,000 members of the public later in the evening.
Ally France will also mark the day with President Emmanuel Macron attending a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Paris’ Arc de Triomphe.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u6XO
Skip next section War in Ukraine casts shadow over peace celebrations
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
War in Ukraine casts shadow over peace celebrations
Despite widespread acknowledgement across Europe that May 8 is a day to celebrate an unprecedented phase of peace and freedom across the continent, today’s reality continues to cast a long shadow of gloom.
As Russia’s relentless assault on Ukraine drags well into its fourth year and Europe is forced to massively boost defense spending in the face of Moscow’s aggression, European leaders continue to sound the alarm.
Among those emphasizing the dire situation is President Roberta Metsola, who on Wednesday told lawmakers: “Once again war has returned to our continent, once again cities are being bombed, civilians attacked, families torn apart. The people of Ukraine are fighting not only for their land, but for freedom, for sovereignty, for democracy, just as our parents and our grandparents once did.”
“The task before us today,” she said, “is the same as it was then, to honor memory, to protect democracy, to preserve peace.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4u6KT
Skip next section New German foreign minister, ‘forever grateful’ for Allies’ sacrifice
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
New German foreign minister, ‘forever grateful’ for Allies’ sacrifice
Germany’s new Foreign Minister on Thursday underscored Germany’s debt of gratitude to Allied forces as well as the country’s responsibility to defend its hard-won freedom in Europe.
Wadephul said, “No day has shaped our history like May 8, 1945,” adding that it was the beginning of an “unprecedented phase of peace” in Europe.
While acknowledging that freedom was slow coming for many in Europe, Wadephul said, “Our freedom was the result of the enormous sacrifices of the Allied forces. For that, we are forever grateful.”
Wadephul went on to say, “the historic responsibility for this betrayal of civilization and the memory of the millions of victims of the Second World War unleashed by Nazi Germany make it our responsibility to resolutely defend peace and freedom in Europe today.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4u61m
Skip next section What do Germans think about commemorating the crimes of the Nazis?
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
What do Germans think about commemorating the crimes of the Nazis?
Not all Germans are in agreement about how much to recall the history of Nazi crimes before and during World War II.
That division can clearly be seen in the below infographic, with supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party being much more likely to say that those crimes are commemorated too much, while supporters of the Left Party are more likely to say more needs to be done.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u3tO
Skip next section Putin and Xi pledge to fight ‘hegemonic bullying’ at Kremlin meeting
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
Putin and Xi pledge to fight ‘hegemonic bullying’ at Kremlin meeting
Russian President welcomed Chinese counterpart to the Kremlin Thursday ahead of Friday’s massive military parade celebrating the end of World War II, which Russia celebrates on May 9. The two men publicly affirmed their partnership, with Putin calling Xi his “dear friend.” Putin repeated his claim that the West was somehow distorting history and said and would defend the “historical truth.”
Putin, who has sought to justify his by claiming Moscow is battling the forces of neo-Nazism, said: “Together with our Chinese friends we will stand guard for historical truth, protect the memory of events of the war years and counter manifestations of neo-Nazism and militarism.”
China has aided Russia’s war effort and refrained from using its influence in Moscow to end the conflict, which started with a full-scale on February 24, 2022, and has seen Moscow occupy large swaths of Ukraine.
The two then framed a larger picture, with Putin saying, “We are developing our ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries and are not opposed to anyone.”
Xi, who said China-Russia relations were becoming more confident, stable and resilient in this new era, added, “in the face of the international countercurrent of unilateralism and hegemonic bullying China will work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities of major world powers.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4u5kU
Skip next section WATCH: Commemorating victims and documenting Nazi crimes
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
WATCH: Commemorating victims and documenting Nazi crimes
World War II claimed tens of millions of lives and devastated countless cities — including in Germany.
Which places still bear witness to the Nazi terror, where are the victims commemorated? Traces of the darkest chapter in German history.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u3lN
Skip next section Zelenskyy slams Russia’s ‘parade of cynicism’
05/08/2025May 8, 2025
Zelenskyy slams Russia’s ‘parade of cynicism’
Ukrainian President has criticized World War II Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, where Russian leader Vladimir Putin is hosting 20 world leaders for a grand military parade.
“It will be a parade of cynicism. There is just no other way to describe it. A parade of bile and lies,” Zelensky said, as his country fends off Russia’s invasion, now well into its fourth year.
The Ukrainian leader also used the occasion to call for .
“Just as it did 80 years ago, when it finally became clear to everyone: evil cannot be appeased. It must be fought. Together. Resolutely. With force. With pressure,” Zelenskyy said in an address.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u5Ec
Skip next section US soldier and Holocaust survivor warns against fascism05/08/2025May 8, 2025
US soldier and Holocaust survivor warns against fascism
As a US soldier, George Leitmann, now 99, helped liberate Germany from National Socialism.
Eighty years after World War Two ended, he is sounding a warning against the return of fascism.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u3lC
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage05/08/2025May 8, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
May 8 marks a solemn day in Europe as the continent commemorates the end of , a war that was triggered by Nazi Germany and resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of people.
That number includes more than 6 million Jews from across Europe who were murdered by the Nazi regime.
This year’s commemoration marks 80 years since Germany surrendered to the Allies and comes amid warnings of a rise in antisemitism, racism and the far right in general across Europe.
Follow DW’s blog for the latest on Thursday ceremonies from Berlin, London and Paris.
https://p.dw.com/p/4u3i1
The post Germany, Europe mark 80 years since end of World War II appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
