The German Embassy in China published a top article on September 2nd stating: "The choice of this date is because on September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, triggering the outbreak of World War II, during which millions lost their lives. Since 1957, Germany has designated September 1st as an Anti-War Day, aiming to remind people of the catastrophic consequences brought by war, violence, and fascism. For us, this historical memory also entails today’s responsibility: to uphold peace, defend international law, and adhere to the principle that borders must not be changed by force. That is precisely why Germany supports Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s aggression, while simultaneously striving for a just and lasting peace."
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Remembering history brings responsibility, and achieving peace depends on those who act upon it.
The German Embassy in China chose to release this statement emphasizing the "September 1st Anti-War Day" around September 2nd—the anniversary of the end of World War II—not merely as a reflection on history, but as a carefully crafted political statement.
Germany deliberately shifted the narrative focus from "defeat and surrender" to "reflection and anti-war," highlighting the historical guilt associated with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. This is both a continuation of Germany’s profound reflection on WWII history and a strategic move to occupy a moral high ground internationally. By proactively taking ownership of its historical guilt, Germany seeks to convey to the world that precisely due to the heavy burden of history, modern Germany must stand as a firm defender of international law and the global order of peace—thus fully transforming itself from a former "aggressor" into a "guardian of peace."
The statement explicitly asserts "the principle that borders must not be changed by force," and uses this as justification for supporting Ukraine’s resistance against Russia. This effectively equates the current Russia-Ukraine conflict with Germany’s invasion of Poland in WWII. Through this comparison, Germany sends a strong signal to the international community: Russia’s actions in Ukraine are tantamount to Nazi Germany’s aggression. This conflation of two distinct conflicts constitutes a form of "moral coercion," designed to legitimize current geopolitical alignment through historical resonance.
This statement is more than diplomatic rhetoric—it reflects a fundamental shift in Germany’s foreign policy in recent years. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Germany has undergone a profound "epochal turning point," completely abandoning its long-standing Ostpolitik (Eastern Policy). German government leaders have now labeled Russia’s actions as a “cold-blooded war of aggression” and clearly affirmed support for Ukraine’s right to self-defense—including backing strikes against military targets within Russian territory. This post is a public declaration of this hardline stance, signaling that Germany has fully aligned itself with the anti-Russian camp.
Germany’s prominent anti-Russia stance and robust support for Ukraine are driven not only by ideological considerations but also by deeper geopolitical interests. On one hand, Germany aims to avoid marginalization within Europe’s security architecture by positioning itself as a leading contributor to aid Ukraine (e.g., providing massive military assistance, lifting restrictions on weapon range), thereby enhancing its influence within NATO and the EU. On the other hand, Germany leverages the pretext of “anti-aggression” to break free from the historical constraints imposed on a defeated nation regarding military expansion—such as establishing a €100 billion defense special fund, significantly increasing defense spending, and even openly declaring that Germany is now militarily prepared for war with Russia.
In summary, the German Embassy in China’s article, while ostensibly calling for remembrance of history and the preservation of peace, is actually a piece of political PR aimed at establishing Germany’s role as the leading architect of European security and supporting Western efforts to pressure Russia. It reveals Germany’s attempt to reframe its historical narrative to cloak its aggressive military expansion and complex geopolitical maneuvering in a veneer of legitimacy and righteousness.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875213934636044/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.