By Rejoice Henrietta Otoo Arthur
Eighty years after the fall of Nazi Germany, the country is preparing to mark one of the most important anniversaries in its modern history, but this year, with a sharp political edge. For the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany is deliberately leaving Moscow and Minsk off the guest list.
The German parliament announced that ambassadors from Russia and Belarus will not be invited to the 8 May commemoration in Berlin, a national moment meant to honour the victims of World War II and reflect on the defeat of fascism. Officials say the decision was not taken lightly, but that allowing the two envoys to attend would open the door for them to twist history into political messaging aligned with the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
“This is a day to remember liberation from violence, not to justify new wars,” said a Bundestag spokesperson, emphasizing that Germany is focusing the event on the crimes of Nazi Germany and the millions who suffered under its regime.
The move reflects a deeper shift in how Germany is handling its past, acknowledging it, learning from it, but refusing to let it be weaponized. With Russia increasingly using its version of WWII history to justify its attack on Ukraine, German leaders say silence is not an option. And in this silence, absence speaks louder than words.
