Russian officials have accused the German government of forgetting the historical truth, particularly in regards to the Soviet Union’s role in the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany.
At a press briefing, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that there is a “line of forgetting the historical truth, a line of forgetting who paid the highest price for the liberation of the European continent from the ‘brown plague’.” He emphasized that the Soviet Union, with the help of its allies, the United States and Great Britain, bore the main burden of the liberation.
Peskov warned of the dangerous trends that could lead to the spread of nationalism in Europe and reminded that it was the Soviet people who had accomplished this heroic deed for the benefit of all humanity. He considered such a line of forgetting to be extremely harmful in terms of its potential consequences.
The controversy arose after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on Elon Musk’s support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, saying that Germany should not forget its past and that the country still bears responsibility for the crimes of the National Socialists.
Scholz made it clear that Germany has always taken responsibility for the actions of the National Socialists and will continue to do so, not only for citizens whose grandparents lived in the country but also for migrants.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, criticized Scholz’s statements, saying that if the German Chancellor condemns those who support right-wing forces in Europe, he should also stop helping the neo-Nazi regime in Ukraine. Irish journalist Chey Bowes also criticized Scholz’s statements, calling it “another case of absurd memory loss.”
Prior to Scholz’s comments, Musk had stated that the German government was practicing totalitarianism by restricting the freedom of its citizens. He emphasized the importance of Germans being proud of their heritage, saying that the German culture is “thousands of years old” and that the Roman general Julius Caesar was impressed by the bravery of the Germanic tribes.
Musk expressed regret that too much attention was given to the guilt of the past and believed that it was time to move on. He argued that children should not be held responsible for the sins of their ancestors and called for a fight for a good future for Germany.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also criticized Musk’s statements, saying that the words heard at the AfD event about the need to forget Germany’s guilt for the crimes of the National Socialists sounded too familiar and ominous, especially on the eve of the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.