A European day of remembrance

The EU Parliament yesterday proposed declaring August 23 a European day of remembrance dedicated to the victims of Stalinist and Nazi crimes. On 23 August 1939 the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, also know as the Hitler-Stalin Pact, was signed which stipulated the division of Eastern Europe between the German Reich and the Soviet Union. The conservative daily Rzeczpospolita praises this EU initiative: "In this case the aim is to underscore the true role of the Soviet Union, which initially was an ally of Nazi Germany in the division of Europe and only changed to the other side in the ensuing battle over the spoils of war. The myth portraying the Soviet Union as victor over the Third Reich not only served Moscow well in domestic policy. It was also used for many years to justify the Soviet Union and the Communist parties receiving special treatment in Western Europe. Honouring the victims of Stalinism along with Hitler's victims will represent a fundamental condemnation of Stalinist communism. For the majority of Europe's Left this is - even today - an act that is barely acceptable."

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » History, » Europe, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » Bronislaw Wildstein

» To the complete press review of Tuesday, September 23, 2008