Germany, like a number of other European countries, does not celebrate Victory Day on May 9. The Germans remember the Second World War itself the day before the start of official celebrations in Russia, namely on May 8. On this day, they celebrate the liberation from fascism and dedicate it to the memory of prisoners who died in concentration camps.
What happens on May 8
Elderly people with numbers gouged out on their hands, which they were given in Nazi concentration camps, come to Germany from many countries of the world by May 8. Sometimes they lay flowers at monuments and memorials.
The Wehrmacht veterans who survived do not have their own committees, clubs or councils. They practically do not get together, since they have nothing to discuss. Most of them took part in the war due to pressure and powerful propaganda.
Often in Berlin itself you can observe people with St. George's ribbons, they are Russians or tourists. Local residents do not express either admiration or humiliation for the feat of the Russian soldier, many of them still remember how the soldiers of the USSR, Great Britain and the United States turned their country into an occupied territory for 5 years, because until 1949 there was not even a government in Germany. Modern public opinion is such that this is treated exclusively as a historical fact, without condemning or welcoming what happened.
Neither the 8th nor the 9th of May in Germany there are no magnificent parades, such as in Russia, everything goes on calmly, peacefully, for Europeans these days are not festive, but memorable. Occasionally, a war film can be shown on television on this day, cable channels have the right to broadcast the Victory Parade held in Moscow, but this is done only by the Russian-language Kartina. TV.
As for the monuments in honor of the soldiers who died during the World War and in memory of civilians, there are quite a few of them installed throughout Germany. In addition, all the memorials are well-groomed, and this is not only before May 8, because the Germans are such a nation that treats any memories very carefully.
May 8 - memory at the family level
Basically, the Germans do not discuss the events of the Second World War out loud. They honor their deceased loved ones, but at the family level. So, most people just try to get together on this day, chat, browse photo albums, maybe visit graves (if any).
By the way, the history of the War is taught in schools in a very objective and restrained manner. The school program provides for the passage of the chronology of battles, analysis of the political situation in the world. No more. Young Germans can learn about the terrible truth of fascism by visiting Polish Auschwitz, excursions for high school students are organized annually to the concentration camp, on May 8 there is an open day here, it often happens that travel and entrance are free for everyone who wants to touch the history of fascism.
But on May 9, Germany celebrates Father's Day.
