Occupation in Europe and Greece in the Bundestag

The German government is planning a Documentation Center for World War II and the German Occupation in European countries, including Greece.

The first consultation before the German Parliament, a symbol of modern German history, about the planned establishment of a Documentation Center for World War II and the German Occupation in Europe lasted about forty minutes. Behind the plan is mainly the Deputy Minister of Culture Claudia Roth from the Greens, former Vice President of the German Parliament, who has been particularly concerned with the culture of memory and the dissemination of historical knowledge about Nazi atrocities among other countries and in Greece.

For her, the creation of this center under the supervision of the German History Museum is one of the most important bets of her tenure. It has to do with “understanding German responsibility, which is not only moral but also political,” he said late Thursday afternoon from the podium of the German parliament. For history itself, the elaboration of history is ultimately a matter of democracy, which is the result of “active action”.

In fact, speaking about the current understanding of the consequences of the German occupation in Europe and the unknown to many Nazi crimes, he made an explicit reference with emphasis on Greece, which suffered deeply the consequences of the occupation, as well as other Balkan or Eastern European countries. Besides, as he recently stated at an event of the Union of Foreign Correspondents responding to the Greek program, Greece will also be the subject of intensive study within the framework of the new Center.

Research, documentation, public debate, memory

According to the German government’s plan, the new Berlin-based center will have as its main mission the scientific research, the establishment of an archive, the creation of educational programs and exchange programs with other countries, as well as the promotion of public dialogue for the preservation of history. memory.

Among other things, it will host a permanent exhibition on the period of Nazi occupation in Europe from 1939 to 1945. managed to complete. “But it is very important that it is recommended now, again in time of war,” he said.

However, there was also criticism from the Christian Democrats regarding the structure and funding of this ambitious plan, two areas that still need clarification, according to MPs from the Christian Democrats / Christian Socialists.

Will the high cost live up to expectations?

However, a similar criticism is made by the newspaper FAZ, which in a relevant article emphasizes that despite its importance, the new center already shows problems before its establishment. “The problem is its symbolism. The cost of building the project alone, which will include its own collection and a research institute with a reading room and seminar rooms, is estimated at 120m euros, plus 14m for the original equipment. This center is also a historical-political gesture of power sending the message: we can afford to process our history so much, but this is likely to cause resentment among collaborating institutions in the formerly occupied countries, which have significantly smaller budgets. “primarily out of their good will”, notes FAZ.

However, many MEPs emphasize that the new Center will not be “German-centric” but will focus on Europe and will be based on the contribution of the collaborating countries that fell victim to the Nazi occupation.

Member of Parliament Helge Lindt from the Social Democrats also made a reference to Greece, emphasizing Germany’s responsibility towards Greece arising from the period of occupation. A responsibility that Germany had to remember when, for example, it blamed Greece for fiscal discipline or for refugee management.

Dimitra Kyranoudi, Berlin

Source: Deutsche Welle