For millions of people in Central and Eastern Europe, the end of World War II did not bring freedom

– The European Parliament led the informal parliamentary group « European memory ». More recently, on behalf of the group, you initiated a statement « On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe ». What do you seek it?

– Since the theme of history is one of the priorities of my work, I have offered and have provided the topic of our European People’s Party (ERP) on the agenda of plenary meetings. Unfortunately, but the Socialists and Greens blocked our proposal to adopt a resolution on victory in World War II. The discussion remained on the parliamentary agenda, but its name became fully washed away.

We proposed that the name already reflected the reality that came after May 1945 and our name for the debate was: « After 80 years, the defeat of the Nazism, the continuation of the communist regimes in a fragmented Europe and the threat of totalitarian revival. »

And the socialists and other left were washed away in such a way that only: « 80 years after the end of World War II – freedom, democracy and security as European heritage. »

Socialists explain that they have made the decision to leave history for historians. They want communist crimes to remain underestimated.

Chairwoman of the parliament, Roberta Metsola, reviewed Ronald Reigan, US President Ronald Reagan in 1985, in preparation for the commemoration of the end of World War II in 1985. Then a large part of the European parliamentarians, mostly left -wing, left the hall demonstratively. Why? Because Mr Reagan criticized the socialists who cooperated with the USSR at the time.

History is not just a past. Russia uses it as a pretext for justifying its bloody war. This resolution would have been an important document, but I will remind you that in January we adopted a resolution on Russia’s misinformation and falsification of history to justify our aggression war against Ukraine, « condemned Russia’s aspiration to destroy the Russian Mir’s ideology. We cannot use history to poison the human brain.

– Failed for the resolution, you nevertheless initiated a statement signed by MPs from various factions.

– The statement emphasizes that the war 80 years ago did not end for everyone. For millions of Central and Eastern Europe in 1945 May 8 did not bring freedom. Soviet « liberation » meant a new occupation, terrible crimes against humanity, forced deportations, mass rape, executions. For almost half a century, the Soviet occupation meant communist totalitarianism.

Rasa Juknevičienė. Photo by partner

– What concept of World War II are you trying to instill in Europeans’ minds?

– I want to bring Europeans back to reality. The commemorations say it was the day of the liberation of Europe. Such was the case for part of Europe, and for others like us, it was a new occupation.

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After the Nazi smash, the war did not end for everyone. The end of the Nazi rule for Eastern Europeans was marked by the beginning of Soviet occupation, mass repression and the beginning of communist dictatorships that last for almost half a century.

The legacy of World War II will actually end only when all aggressive imperialist totalitarian regimes are completely defeated. This is only possible after fully achieved victory in Ukraine.

The so -called « liberation » of the Soviet Central and Eastern Europe was accompanied by forced deportations, widespread sexual violence and rape, torture, executions, and suppression of national sovereignty. Independent states were involved in the field of Soviet influence and had repression for decades. For decades, armed resistance movements in Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States and abroad have been held. The dissident networks remained until 1989-1991. Democratic revolutions. Millions of people throughout the region have become victims of communist crimes – we cannot forget these atrocities.

Today, Europe continues to fight against the consequences of unlitted Soviet and communist crimes and the Russian monopoly statement of heroic victory in World War II. Russia’s aggressive war on Ukraine and hybrid attacks across the EU reflect the dangerous continuity of the Soviet imperial and revisionist policy. Russia continues to have a distinctive influence on neighboring countries, replicating the spirit of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and its secret protocols. It justifies its aggression to both the audience and the international community – it justifies distorted historical analogies with the Second World War. The Kremlin uses its 1945. The narrative of the victory and the alleged « liberation » of Europe to justify its current actions by portraying the invasion of Ukraine and other countries as an effort to release them from fictitious Nazi regimes.

We must resist such a falsification of history for the sake of European security and unity. It is necessary to objectively evaluate the 1945 Act. events, taking into account their full complexity and diversity. Acknowledging that the end of World War II did not mean freedom to all Europeans is a vital step in the right memory of European history. It is equally important to condemn Soviet and communist crimes in order to resist the Kremlin imperialist narrative and to cherish the values ​​of freedom, democracy and human dignity.

The legacy of World War II will actually end only when all aggressive imperialist totalitarian regimes are completely defeated. This is possible only after fully achieved victory in Ukraine.

– How do you think the democratic world will appreciate the consequences of World War II?

– Compared to Reagan’s time, many things have now changed.

Although European Socialists are still evaluating the past, communist crimes, they support Ukraine. Russia is mainly supported by the extreme right. Putin’s investment in them has been going on for several decades.

The world does not have R. Reagan. Unfortunately. However, we are Lithuanians in Europe. And we must withstand.