oh and b.t.w. . this is g.w. news live from berlin germany marks the end of the 2nd world war the main commemoration is starting in central berlin the president's own father samar is due to speak on a day which for many germans has come to signify the end of nazi care if you will bring you that ceremony box.

i'm sorry we so much got to thank you for joining us germany is marking the end of the 2nd world war on the 8th of may 1905 the heads of the german army signed the articles of unconditional surrender to the allied powers in berlin the day is marked as victory in europe day by the western allies in germany the date has come to be seen as a day of liberation from nazi dictatorship now the main ceremony is about to start in berlin it's being held at the german central memorial for the victims of war and dictatorship and we are following the ceremony there as we said about to begin in central berlin. and we have our chief political correspondent and a crane with us here in our studio and on the ground in central and following the commemorations for us is a simon young and simon i want to start with you tell us more about how this day is being remembered in germany. well as you mentioned the 8th of may is the

day of liberation in germany as it's now referred to this year it's been made for the 1st time a bank holiday here in laden and there were hopes of holding a major state ceremony a very rare event the highest level of sort of protocol for a big public occasions at state level but that's all been canceled of course because of the corona pandemic so what's been happening there's been a communicable church service in berlin's cathedral and in the next few minutes the 5 heads of the 5 major state organizations are going to lay wreaths here at the memorial to the victims of war and dictatorship that will be president frank back to steinmeyer chancellor merkel the heads of both houses of parliament and also the president of germany's highest court the constitutional court and then the president will make

a speech i think in which he'll try to draw together the strands of meaning of the 8th of may the day of liberation the day when 75 years ago germany was finally free of the nazi terror and dictatorship and salmon as you've been speaking with jesse chancellor merkel entering as memorial day or 2 weekends commemoration as you said . void could just before her the president of the bundestag also mr president of london but entering and this is of course an important ceremony and simon how has the pandemic as we're watching people arriving here at how has that affected what was planned for today. as i mentioned there was a very large event planned with 1600 dignitaries pins ambassadors and important figures from not just from germany from but from overseas as well of course it's a day when germany wants to remember. it's connections particularly with the the

western allies and with the with russia the successes of the soviet union but also to all the other countries involved in the conflict and there were hopes of also holding youth meetings opening exhibitions really making a very major day the last time anything like that was done was on the 50th anniversary of the end of the 2nd world war in that 1995 when a state act was also held a state ceremony on that level so it's not a usual thing to do fact it's very rare for such an event to be held atoll and marking this particular day to day which is of course filled with mixed feelings some including the leader of the far right policy still inclined to refer to it as a day of defeat for germany but the official view of course of liberation and that's what's being marked here now and i think a lot of the people who've gathered here. who are just out of shot and

a lot of people have come down to have a look they're a bit disappointed they can get a little bit closer because everything here. has to off really also because of the corona pandemic and simon the 5 representatives are now on hand at this essential memorial to the victims of foreign tyranny they're now laying wreaths at this memorial let's watch.

do you see there are a lawrence ski. again this gathering here in germany marking the end of the 2nd world war there at the memorial for victims of war and tyranny and there is a german president i thought this time i have

a present of the bundestag we just saw there. president of the one the scots didn't like health walking past and present some art is to deliver a speech that will be listening into as well. please believe it going on make sure your fellow citizens finding no friends in europe on foot been my nose and allies around the world. i'd have thought that the job in 75 years ago by the very the 2nd world war came to an end in europe after my announcer from the field so the 8th of may write soon to 45 marks the end of the nazi reign of tyranny of. the end of nightmare time bombing raids and to the death marches size dogs of the end

of unprecedented german crimes and the end of. that betrayal of all civilized and i leaves with a funny feeling here in berlin nevada where the war of annihilation was conceived and from where it was on the leash and to where it returned with the full force of destruction here and by linda may we had planned to commemorate this day with others but they've done that we had planned to commemorate the day together with representatives of the allies from the east and west to major it was huge sacrifices to liberate this continent the middle england boss together without hartness from every corner of europe you would know that suffered under german occupation. and yet it was all that i thought you were willing to seek and i am station and you've only been together with the survivors of german crimes and the descendants of those who perished still feel that so many of whom reached out to us

in reconsideration their minds but i do know enough together with everyone around the world we've used a lot gave this country the chance of a fresh start your life now you know one we had planned to remember to have an in with the older generation in germany that he who experience got period rest time but from his children knew hunger and violence who were driven from their homes or it led them. nothin creek on the adults i don't want to get it was they who rebuilt this country both in the east end and in the west and i have always been making genuine good thing and we had planned to commemorate this day and of a few one with young people who got 3 generations later and asked what we can teach them now what do you need to war to them i say you either keven you the one so must carry the lessons of this terrible war into the future you know

death and for this reason we had invited you thousands of young people from around the world to berlin today and see young people and 1st grandparents were enemies but for themselves to become friends today. and be is not is how we have planted to mark this 8th of may together people will know that now the corona pandemic it's a good day has compelled us to you commemorate this day alone to separate it from those who may need so much to us and to whom we are so grateful for that thought because i learned absent the state of being alone more and more men help us imagine what just for a moment that 8th of may 1945 because then the germans really were alone with the feeling germany had suffered just remember to defeat jordan political and economic artists. and moral collapse we had made enemies of

the entire world by defending the pretty obvious today 75 years later they are forced to commemorate alone on the view that the difference is we are no longer alone because that is the happy truth decide to go into the present day leave medina you know if you like still and well established democracy i think in a country that has been unified unified for 30 years not a hot seat little he civil and united europe you can use in a photo you are a trusted member. the international community and all the fruits of cooperation and partnership around the world. yes you do it you do we germans can definitely now say that the day of liberation is the end things that day for gratitude by going to feeling not this good that is taken out it's 3 generations to admit it wholeheartedly. i doubt that the age of may 19th 45 was indeed and day of

liberation of i advise not to long but at the same time the vast majority of germans did not perceive it as such before i am not so firm and deliberation 1945 whole was imposed from outside and it's got to come from outside because this country had decided to fire into the evil under sort and the guilt but don't try to just see that it brought on itself but i was the economic investment going to struction and democratically renewal in the western part of germany was only made possible by the generosity of the far sightedness and openness to reconsideration of our former enemies during the war all fears that stop to played a part in the debray should not be in of a fire through irish and that it were a sham this did not take place on the 8th of may 1985 mind it was not done in a single day. though it was a long and painful process it would involve facing up to the past looking

a long and hard at what people knew and what they had here to do and when you basing tormenting questions i mean families and between the generations fighting to stop silencing and denial from prevailing yet seen the indian figure. decades in which many germans of my generation only gradually learned to find their peace with this country and all seem to decades to go and live in which our neighbors slowly learn to trust us again when decades that allowed a cautious resumption of relations with the leading to ever closer union between the european community to the treaties concluded in the wake of western ways last going to take it in and it was in these decades that the people of eastern europe courage and desire for freedom swelled until they went no longer be kept behind walls leading to that happiest moment of liberation in germany's peaceful revolution and. patiently and through these decades of struggling to come to terms

with our history where decades that allowed democracy to mature and germany things are going and it is a struggle them thing in black that continues to this day and in this i remember and can never end zone fun on there can be no deliverance from my past you know without remember and even reduce our future nor via via door changes only because we germans face our prices you know it is time because we exist and it's our historic responsibility that the people who are so i'll give well it's come to trust cammalleri one of them running. and this is often i said why we susan dog can have confidence in this german urban league and. this is the color of an invite you knew some of the democratic establishment patriotism that can be no german patriotism without fracture without a clear awareness of light and darkness or joy and sorrow gratitude

and shame be enough for my not badly enough man once wrote kind of how it's no heart is as hollow as a broken heart so it's a good shoot the a side the good often the germany's past is a fraction of bearing the responsibility for the murder of millions of people and for the suffering of millions of people that breaks our hearts to this day when countries of learn and that is why i say in that arts and leave this country can only be left with a broken heart and shrewish which 1st it cannot be bad as the call for of lying to be drawn under our past are not on the denying the cataclysm that was the war and the nazi dictatorship they also devaluing all the good that has since been achieved into these things and denying indeed the very essence of our democracy you got it is mentioned this human dignity shall be. inviolable in this 1st sentence of our constitution and remain as. a scribe for all to see what happened in

auschwitz and what happened in the war and during the dictatorship 9 we know that it is not remember and that is a burden this is the lack of it that becomes that again this is not about arming responsibility that is shameful that's lloyd isn't it denial that is shameful. vesper do it what does our historic responsibility mean today by physically quarters of a century after the fact is we are just the gratitude we feel today. because you must not make us complacent quite the opposite and for fish that we must never forget that moment is about challenge and a duty one never again we have out after the war you guys but do it but for us germans in particular this never again also means that never alone again and this sentence is true in europe and anywhere else even must keep europe together must

think feel and act as a european missile if we do not use like the old europe together not least during and after this pandemic and we have shown ourselves not worthy of the aid of the many if europe fails. this new the never again fails with it you better get mine shaft todos the international community learn from this never again in the after night scene 45 for dish common foundation from all it had learned from this cataclysm declaring human rights and international law and rules to preserve peace and cooperation implicitly not our country from which evil ones emanated from good face so much evil it's you know it has changed over the years from threat to international order to one of its champions because of we must not allow this in order that it promotes peace to disintegrating for our eyes and we must not allow ourselves to become estranged from those who established i mean we want more

cooperation around the world not last not least when it comes to fighting the pandemic. down to my buddy doc to pay for the day was a day of liberation with no makeup on by i think in my opinion based famous words we shot one by 2nd must be reinterpreted in today's word silence when he spoke to them i think. constituted a milestone in our efforts to come to terms with the past with of the today but they must point to our future as well for liberation is never concluded here you know and it's not something that you can just experience possibly. your father challenges us back to iraq every day a new wouldn't be a bit quiet in 1945 we were liberated today we must live all right fund ourselves from northern taishan does of a new kind of nationalism defy finesse in the last generation driven our military on a slow trickle down to us just isolationism and hostility between nation states i'm

hatred and hate speech and foreign racism. and i'm contempt for democracy and only for they. demanded it the i own it evil noise and get in a new guys thinking on these and often my on this 8th of may and be up front with kind of emirate the victims of how now the of hala on fun kind of caught in a. dish coup or not may have you not been forgotten in the midst of the kind of condemning but it's here because she encountered kindness of you but it can happen here it can happen anyway and it's a for the best words are spoken by israel's president whatever is written on the holocaust remembrance day in the german bundestag order to see. if it can happen here and this can happen anywhere to get this new month until today there is no one who can liberate us from these dangers we must liberate ourselves but we were liberated so i returned to become responsible for our action my i am well aware

that this you are the able to demand comes a time of great it's up people and grows uncertainty of as they do not just because of the current a pandemic for very very much exacerbated by you and we do not yet know when and how we will emerge from this crisis and based on what we know in this spirit in which we entered it because of the great confidence in this. country. you know ones but they're not democracy. in what to get my insurance together just psyched up and that shows. my creativity far we have come to come 75 years doesn't give. me hope for all of the challenges ahead. not to.

pause to reflect. the victims of the walk to. the nazi regime. to visit your memories. to explore the history of the country in which you think. your life and your actions. after the end of the war. have much to be grateful for. the positive achievements since then. so on there's no doubt. preserving freedom and democracy.

we've just been watching german president. and that's a solemn ceremony marking the end of the 2nd world war it is

a day that here in germany is seen as a day of liberation. from tyranny from fascism and we. go on hand there the presidents of both of the houses of parliament also the president the constitutional court they are at the central memorial to the victims of war and tyranny and that is it essentially we heard the german president say a far broader commemoration ceremony was planned with survivors. from the time of war but also with young people the people who have to carry these memories forward but perhaps added to the very solemn nature of the ceremony that just these 5 were on hand and musician of course as well and our correspondent simon young. i've been listening into the speech following the commemorations for simon want to get your thoughts on what we heard from the german president. well certainly a very slow moving and solemn speech from the german president and i thought it was

interesting he picked up on that point about the corona pandemic and the changes that it has brought on these ceremonies he said you know we wanted to commemorate with our allies and with old and young germans and draw the lessons from the past but we can't really do that in the way that we wanted to do with a big ceremony that would have really projected that meaning because of corona he said it's a little bit of an echo perhaps of that time that the loneliness that people have felt in recent weeks. in 1945 germans were alone he said we had made ourselves the enemies of the entire world and you know there was an interesting resonance he also talked about although we refer to the day of liberation we must remember that there can be no release from the lessons of history. because germany has faced up to its past so

consistently in recent decades that it has won the respect he said of nations around the world so these are very important messages of that voter steinmeier has made before but i thought it was very moving to see him there on the steps of the nor saying that kind of thing again. in a very moving speech our correspondent and young as we said on the ground covering commemorations leave it there with you thank you very much and our chief political correspondent linda crane with us here in studio and i also want to get your thoughts of simon said that we heard you know german president. touching on a bunch of points that he has in the past as well but it was especially moving in this moment absolutely. it was and as simon just said that image of those 5 sitting sofa space so far apart in a completely empty center of berlin i have to say coming here on my bicycle this

morning i have rarely seen that central part of berlin as empty as it is today and he said we were alone in 1905 we are not alone now and i think that for me was a very powerful part of the speech is testimony to multilateralism and to germany's role and place in europe and the fact that may 8th 1945 marked a new beginning for germany also in the sense that going forward it could become part of this larger community of nations once again when it had been an outcast so that was one point and the other one was simon also talked about remembrance being something that never ends he essentially tells us that germans are responsible for an ongoing process of remembrance and of self liberation and i found that quite interesting he said it was a long and painful process and what he has in mind there is something that germans have coined a special term for it's called forgotten heights but they had to go confrontation

with the past and the way that germany marks this day is absolutely a measure of how it has done that kind of a confrontation decade for decade beginning especially in the 1960 s. as germany began to really face up to its crimes during the holocaust and continuing right up to the present but with a real milestone on this day in 1905 when president for invite psychosis and those words this was a day of liberation for all germans and that's something that really is the gold standard of speeches on this day what we might have some viewers internationally are wondering you know why does germany see it then as a day of liberation not a day for for example of unconditional surrender. really it's both and i think another very moving moment of this. speech was when the president told us to love germany you can only love germany with a broken heart you could also say you can only love germany if you have a high tolerance for ambivalence and ambiguity meaning it was both

a day of annihilation and redemption is in fact germany's very 1st president said as early as 949 he said he called it both of those things and basically since then there has been ever a rising sense that this liberated germans because it freed them from tyranny but they had to become part of that process themselves and this is what the president reminded us of and this confrontation with the past what president michel gunfights echoes in 1985 looking the truth straight in the eye has been a real harm home mark for germany of coming to accept this day as something that liberated them and that at the same time was a defeat for the germany of 1945 all right our chief political correspondent linda crane will be talking a little bit more about that confrontation with the past a little bit later in.