Berlin marks day of liberation from Nazis with unprecedented public holiday

Authored by independent.co.uk and submitted by madazzahatter
image for Berlin marks day of liberation from Nazis with unprecedented public holiday

Germans in Berlin are celebrating a public holiday to mark the end of the Second World War for the very first time.

Normally 8 May passes without any significant attention in Germany, but for 2020 and the 75th anniversary, the city of Berlin decided to declare it a new public holiday for not only the defeat of Nazism but the rebirth of democracy.

However, many of the public events planned for the day have had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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Street parties had been planned across the city, and an open-air exhibition, and several museums had arranged events to tie in with the day, but all public events have been postponed until Germany’s lockdown is relaxed.

But the group Kulturprojekte, which is behind many of the plans, has pressed ahead with a “digital theme week” which runs until May 8.

Shape Created with Sketch. VE Day celebrations: In pictures Show all 25 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. VE Day celebrations: In pictures 1/25 VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe. A teenage Princess Elizabeth danced in jubilation on VE Day after slipping into the crowds unnoticed outside Buckingham Palace. PA Photo. Issue date: Wednesday April 29, 2020. The future Queen, then just 19, and her sister Princess Margaret, 14, joined thousands of revellers as they gathered in front of the royal residence on May 8 1945 PA 2/25 VE (Victory in Europe) Day celebrations in the East End of London, marking the end of the war in Europe. A teenage Princess Elizabeth danced in jubilation on VE Day after slipping into the crowds unnoticed outside Buckingham Palace PA 3/25 huge crowds at Mansion House, with the Lord Mayor of London on the balcony, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago PA 4/25 British men, women and children in the street celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago PA 5/25 huge crowds at Trafalgar Square, London, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago PA 6/25 Trafalgar Square, London, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago. PA 7/25 Huge crowds at Whitehall, London, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago. PA 8/25 Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, standing in a tank, leaving Regent's Park with other service chiefs at the head of a mechanised column on its triumphal drive around London celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe. PA 9/25 Bank of England staff on fire-watch looking out over Threadneedle Street. For the Bank of England VE-Day brought to an end an extraordinary effort to protect its crucial work. Adhering to the wartime spirit of 'business as usual', as many as 1,000 staff at a time in Threadneedle Street had been working two or three days in a row, sleeping overnight in the vast vaults. Those still in London would do a full day's work and then go up on the roof of the building to watch for fires started by falling bombs. PA 10/25 Sir Winston Churchill leaving the Houses of Parliament in London on victory day celebrations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, now 75 years ago PA 11/25 A parish priest waves a newspaper with news of Germany's unconditional surrender to elated pupils of a Roman Catholic parochial school in Chicago. Corbis via Getty Images 12/25 A group of six young women wearing party hats prepare to celebrate Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) to mark the end of European conflict in World War II, in Trafalgar Square, London, 8th May 1945. Popperfoto via Getty Images 13/25 Jubilant Londoners dancing in Piccadilly Circus on VE Day, 8th May 1945. Original Publication: Picture Post - 1991 - This Was VE Day In London - pub. 19th May 1945 Getty Images 14/25 Mrs Pat Burgess of Palmer's Green, north London is thrilled to get the news that her husband will soon be home for good from Germany, 7th May 1945. Getty Images 15/25 8th May 1945: A van load of beer passing through Piccadilly Circus on VE Day. The statue of Eros, protected during the war by advertising hoardings, can be seen in the background. Getty Images 16/25 8th May 1945: A group of ATS and American soldiers celebrate VE Day in Trafalgar Square Getty Images 17/25 8th May 1945: A victory street party near Clapham Common, London to celebrate Victory in Europe. Getty Images 18/25 8th May 1945: A group of London girls waving flags in front of the staue of Queen Victoria outside Buckingham Palace on VE Day. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Getty Images 19/25 8th May 1945: Canadian sailors resting in the park during celebrations in London on VE Day. Getty Images 20/25 8th May 1945: Three girls join in the VE Day celebrations in Downing Street, London. Getty Images 21/25 Ecstatic crowds celebrating VE Day in London's Piccadilly, at the end of World War II, 8th May 1945. Original Publication: Picture Post - 1991 - This Was VE Day in London - pub. 1945 Getty Images 22/25 VE day, held to commemorate the official end of World War II in Europe, is celebrated by crowds at Trafalgar Square in London, 8th May 1945. Getty Images 23/25 Children sit down to a victory party at a V-shaped table, given by residents at Kentwell Close, Brockley in south London. Getty Images 24/25 Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) , driving through Trafalgar Square in a service vehicle during the VE Day celebrations in London, 8th May 1945. Getty Images 25/25 An RAF officer, two members of the Women's Royal Airforce and a civilian celebrate the news of victory in London's Whitehall. Getty Images 1/25 VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe. A teenage Princess Elizabeth danced in jubilation on VE Day after slipping into the crowds unnoticed outside Buckingham Palace. PA Photo. Issue date: Wednesday April 29, 2020. The future Queen, then just 19, and her sister Princess Margaret, 14, joined thousands of revellers as they gathered in front of the royal residence on May 8 1945 PA 2/25 VE (Victory in Europe) Day celebrations in the East End of London, marking the end of the war in Europe. A teenage Princess Elizabeth danced in jubilation on VE Day after slipping into the crowds unnoticed outside Buckingham Palace PA 3/25 huge crowds at Mansion House, with the Lord Mayor of London on the balcony, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago PA 4/25 British men, women and children in the street celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago PA 5/25 huge crowds at Trafalgar Square, London, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago PA 6/25 Trafalgar Square, London, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago. PA 7/25 Huge crowds at Whitehall, London, celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, 75 years ago. PA 8/25 Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, standing in a tank, leaving Regent's Park with other service chiefs at the head of a mechanised column on its triumphal drive around London celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day in London, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe. PA 9/25 Bank of England staff on fire-watch looking out over Threadneedle Street. For the Bank of England VE-Day brought to an end an extraordinary effort to protect its crucial work. Adhering to the wartime spirit of 'business as usual', as many as 1,000 staff at a time in Threadneedle Street had been working two or three days in a row, sleeping overnight in the vast vaults. Those still in London would do a full day's work and then go up on the roof of the building to watch for fires started by falling bombs. PA 10/25 Sir Winston Churchill leaving the Houses of Parliament in London on victory day celebrations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe, now 75 years ago PA 11/25 A parish priest waves a newspaper with news of Germany's unconditional surrender to elated pupils of a Roman Catholic parochial school in Chicago. Corbis via Getty Images 12/25 A group of six young women wearing party hats prepare to celebrate Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) to mark the end of European conflict in World War II, in Trafalgar Square, London, 8th May 1945. Popperfoto via Getty Images 13/25 Jubilant Londoners dancing in Piccadilly Circus on VE Day, 8th May 1945. Original Publication: Picture Post - 1991 - This Was VE Day In London - pub. 19th May 1945 Getty Images 14/25 Mrs Pat Burgess of Palmer's Green, north London is thrilled to get the news that her husband will soon be home for good from Germany, 7th May 1945. Getty Images 15/25 8th May 1945: A van load of beer passing through Piccadilly Circus on VE Day. The statue of Eros, protected during the war by advertising hoardings, can be seen in the background. Getty Images 16/25 8th May 1945: A group of ATS and American soldiers celebrate VE Day in Trafalgar Square Getty Images 17/25 8th May 1945: A victory street party near Clapham Common, London to celebrate Victory in Europe. Getty Images 18/25 8th May 1945: A group of London girls waving flags in front of the staue of Queen Victoria outside Buckingham Palace on VE Day. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) Getty Images 19/25 8th May 1945: Canadian sailors resting in the park during celebrations in London on VE Day. Getty Images 20/25 8th May 1945: Three girls join in the VE Day celebrations in Downing Street, London. Getty Images 21/25 Ecstatic crowds celebrating VE Day in London's Piccadilly, at the end of World War II, 8th May 1945. Original Publication: Picture Post - 1991 - This Was VE Day in London - pub. 1945 Getty Images 22/25 VE day, held to commemorate the official end of World War II in Europe, is celebrated by crowds at Trafalgar Square in London, 8th May 1945. Getty Images 23/25 Children sit down to a victory party at a V-shaped table, given by residents at Kentwell Close, Brockley in south London. Getty Images 24/25 Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) , driving through Trafalgar Square in a service vehicle during the VE Day celebrations in London, 8th May 1945. Getty Images 25/25 An RAF officer, two members of the Women's Royal Airforce and a civilian celebrate the news of victory in London's Whitehall. Getty Images

Using augmented reality apps, a series of podcasts and a digital exhibition online, Berliners are being invited to go back in time to spring 1945 to see what life was like at the end of the war in several symbolic locations across their city.

But the project also exists in the real world, as posters featuring images of a wartorn and bombed-out Berlin have been displayed across the city with the slogans “In the beginning was a choice — a choice and a result”.

Kulturprojekte’s website says the campaign aims to remind Berliners that the Nazi era began with democratic elections and “that it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that history does not repeat itself”.

Marking 8 May as a public holiday “offers the opportunity to send an unmistakable message against fascism and war and for peace”, the group added.

Moritz van Dülmen, the head of Kulturprojekte, said the commemorations were even more important following a series of deadly terrorist attacks by far-right extremists in Germany in recent years.

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“We are also keen to reach a young audience, particularly those with a migrant background, who have little knowledge of German history,” he told the BBC.

Both Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel and president Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be in Berlin to lay wreaths at the city’s memorial for the victims of war and tyranny as well.

However, it is controversial for the city to have decreed 8 May as a public holiday, as for many decades VE day was either ignored by most Germans or seen as a shameful reminder of their country’s defeat.

The only federal public holiday marked by all of Germany’s 16 states which commemorates a part of the nation’s history is 3 October, celebrating the date of the reunification of West and East Germany at the end of the Cold War in 1990.

However, in more recent decades 8 May has gradually been seen by some also as a day of liberation from Nazi rule.

One Holocaust survivor has called for the day to become a permanent and nationwide public holiday and 101,000 people have signed a petition supporting her.

Although some left-wing parties have backed this suggestion, the far-right AfD party is deeply opposed to the idea.

Alexander Gauland, a leading figure in the AfD, said: “You can't make May 8 a happy day for Germany. For the concentration camp inmates it was a day of liberation. But it was also a day of absolute defeat, a day of the loss of large parts of Germany and the loss of national autonomy."

botlaneandchill on May 8th, 2020 at 13:25 UTC »

It's just in Berlin though. In the rest of the country we are celebrating that it's Friday.

admadguy on May 8th, 2020 at 13:17 UTC »

One has to give credit to the Germans. They owed owned up to their mistakes. Tried fixing it. Have succeeded to a large degree. And most importantly they don't get offended if anyone mentions it and brings it up.

They don't hide from it.

PancakeZombie on May 8th, 2020 at 11:31 UTC »

Wait i'm german. I'm at work. Are only Berliners getting a holiday for this?