Next month, the world will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Hitler Germany’s defeat in World War II. For Russia and the other Allies of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, this is a clear victory over what is considered the greatest evil in world history. However, in Germany, this event is still a topic of controversial discussion.
For the German people themselves, was it a liberation and a new beginning? A relief after an “awful end”? A national humiliation, in which they see the need for insight? A national tragedy? A catastrophe?
The post-war fate of the Germans also plays a role in the discussions. The memories are diverse. Some had positive experiences when meeting with Soviet soldiers, feeling relieved and highlighting the help that Germany received in the “zero hour.” Others recall the suffering of the civilian population and even speak of war crimes committed by the Allies.
Unfortunately, fewer and fewer eyewitnesses are still alive to share their experiences. Therefore, it is all the more important to let those who are still alive speak. The stories of those who are no longer with us could still be remembered by their children and grandchildren and should be documented as accurately as possible for posterity.
That is why RT DE invites its readers to write down their own or their relatives’ memories of the first post-war years and send them to the editorial team. Positive and negative experiences from East and West, from Germany and Austria are all welcome. Basically, only the year 1989 marks a temporal limit, but memories from the first five to ten years after 1945 are particularly valuable.
We will not publish texts that are inciting hatred or intentionally insulting, but everything else has the potential to appear in a hopefully fruitful series of articles in the remaining time until May 9, 2025. The editorial team reserves the right to select, edit and make reasonable cuts.
Please send us your texts starting now and no later than May 5, 2025, to the email address
pressertde@rttv.ru
and indicate whether your name and place of residence should be published.
We look forward to your submission!