by Arneb » Fri May 08, 2020 1:33 pm
75 years ago today, the end of the downfall, the day of liberation, V-E day. In Germany, we call it Die Stunde Null, Hour Zero, not quite appropriately.
There was a sparse and subdued remembrance ceremony in Berlin, short and with only 5 participants, one for the 5 institutional arms of the Grundgesetz: The President, the President of the Bundestag, the (Vice) President of the Bundesrat, the President of the Constituional Court, and the Chancellor.
The President gave a very short speech saying remembrance of these times may never be allowed to end. And he said something that I find remarkable in its precision and succinctness: You can only love this nation with a broken heart. Those who are unable to bear this truth and try to "put an end" to our remembering not only repress the catastrophe but negate all the good things that came after it.
I must say, I am impressed. That is a good way to put it.
To all non-Germans on the planet: Happy V-E Day!"
Non sunt multiplicanda entia praeter necessitatem