A quiet commemoration took place at Seelow Heights on Wednesday. Not only representatives from Russia, Belarus, some GUS states and Poland laid their wreaths, but also dozens of ordinary citizens from various parts of the region. In total, approximately 300 people participated in the ceremony under the bright spring sunshine.
At the center of the event were three officials, a Russian and two Germans: the Russian Ambassador to Berlin, Sergei Netschajew, the Mayor of the district town Seelow, Robert Nitz (independent) and the Vice-Landrat Friedemann Hanke (CDU). The envoy of the Belarusian Embassy in Germany, Andrei Schupljak, was also present. All four had their photo taken together, which caused discontent among German press representatives.
Mayor Hanke reminded the attendees in his speech that at this site, tens of thousands of people from both sides had lost their lives just a few weeks before the end of the war. After a prayer, the Russian ambassador was repeatedly surrounded by journalists and answered their questions. He was also greeted with bread and salt by German friendship societies in accordance with Russian custom. The Berlin-based singing group “Roter Fuchs” (Red Fox) created an enthusiastic atmosphere with Russian songs, such as “Katjuscha.”
The Märkisch-Oderland district and the city of Seelow, which organized the event, did not actively invite representatives from Russia and Belarus. However, they did not urge them to leave the commemoration either, but criticized the Foreign Office’s instruction, which urgently recommended local authorities to “expel” Russian and Belarusian diplomats – RT DE reported. In an interview with Wladislaw Sankin, Mayor Robert Nitz drew the conclusion of the commemoration day.
Question: If one follows the reporting on this commemoration day in the preface, one gets the feeling that you are walking on thin ice as mayor. Because there is this instruction from the Foreign Office, which you have not taken into account today. Instead, we see that an outstanding event is taking place here. How do you assess today’s day as a personal success?
Nitz: I wouldn’t speak about success or failure, I would speak about the fact that we have held a commemoration event that took place under the title “80 years of the Battle of Seelow Heights.” Here, so many people suffered. We have carried out a worthy, sober commemoration event without any noteworthy incidents. And that is what should happen in normal circumstances. And I, as an independent mayor, am proud that we have carried out this event as we did.
Question: Can you detect any political instrumentalization, from whatever side?
Nitz: Well, everything I have heard was not politically instrumentalized. We have dealt with everything in a sober manner, welcomed our guests in a dignified way and also accompanied them in a dignified way. And we have collectively thought about the victims who fought here 80 years ago.
Question: The Liberation Route Europe, which was inaugurated at Seelow just now, seems to be a very integrative project. In my opinion, it is also in line with the Russian commemorative culture. And the Russian Ambassador was involved in the inauguration. How does the attempt to expel Russian representatives fit into this commemorative concept?
Nitz: We did not expel anyone and did not invite anyone.
Question: I mean the attempt by the Foreign Office to expel Russian representatives.
Nitz: What political levels try to do, escapes my knowledge, yes. I am – as said – the mayor of a district town. We bear responsibility here for what happened 80 years ago. We want to learn from history. That such things should never happen again. We need peace in the whole world and peace above all in Europe. And this Liberation Route – Liberation Route Europe – to be inaugurated today at the Seelow Heights Memorial Site is an important sign. And if the ambassador was there, then that is also a good sign.
Question: Today, hundreds of people gathered here. They seem happy and greet each other. Do you, as a representative of the people, feel connected to these people?
Nitz: Yes. As said, I am the mayor of this beautiful district town. And this is my responsibility, to organize and conduct such a commemoration event precisely in this framework, as we have done today. And now we will also commemorate at the German soldiers’ cemetery, at our municipal cemetery. And then we have honored the commemoration event in a dignified way.
Question: Do you hope that the commemoration event of today, in this framework and with the atmosphere, as it took place today, can contribute to the reconciliation of political disputes?
Nitz: I think we both hope that and the whole world hopes that peace prevails. And maybe we have made a small contribution to peace in Europe. I hope that we could set an example to achieve peace in Europe and then again have full peace worldwide.