One day of time difference, splitting Europe's collective memory of WWII
The Berlin Morning News published an article stating that on the evening of May 8, 1945, German Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel signed the unconditional surrender of German forces in Berlin, at which point Moscow had already entered May 9. This brief time difference has permanently etched a rift in Europe’s collective memory of WWII.
Germany and the Western world regard May 8 as the "reset moment"; whereas Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet republics celebrate Victory Day on May 9, holding military parades and commemorating the Soviet past.
Beneath the discrepancy in dates lies not just a difference in time zones, but also a contest over historical interpretation: Was it liberation or occupation? Is it reflection on history or hero worship?
Under Putin’s rule, May 9—the day of victory over Nazi Germany—has become a central cultural and spiritual symbol for Russian society as a whole.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864723817084992/
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