Coronavirus Overshadows Europe’s 75th Anniversary of War Liberation
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Leaders of Europe attended subdued ceremonies over the weekend to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe while facing a perceived new war against an invisible enemy, the coronavirus.
The ceremonies recalling what is otherwise known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day came as much of the continent faced a coronavirus lockdown. Britain held a two-minute silence to honor the war dead, and later an address by the Queen was broadcast.
Leaders of France and Germany, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel laid wreaths at small ceremonies. Other events were also held to observe mark the defeat of Nazi Germany, but large gatherings remained forbidden. That was even the case in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin reluctantly canceled traditional military parades because of the coronavirus outbreak.
In a subdued celebration, he laid roses at the Eternal Flame war memorial. It amid a massive confirmed rise of 10,000 cases of coronavirus of Russia, with underfunded hospitals reporting a lack of masks and equipment. In neighboring Belarus, however, thousands of people, including elderly veterans of the second world war, attended its Victory Day military parade despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Images from the parade showed crowds packed on to parade bleachers. The country’s autocratic leader, Alexander Lukashenko, boasted of holding the only parade in the former Soviet Union to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany. “In this insane, disoriented world, there will be people who condemn us for the time and place of this sacred act,” he said. “Don’t rush to conclusions or condemn us, descendants of the victory of Belarusians. We couldn’t have acted differently. We had no other choice. And even if we had one, we would have done the same.”
Elsewhere in the Netherlands last week, the country held a subdued Day of Freedom on May 5. Ahead of the day, two minutes of silence were held at the National Monument on a mainly empty Dam Square in Amsterdam. Thousands of people usually attend the ceremony. “It feels strange on an almost empty Dam. But I know that you are experiencing this National Remembrance and that we are here together,” said King Willem-Alexander.
In his speech, he commemorated the Dutch people, including many Jews, who died in wars from World War II through the present day. At least up to 85 million people died during World War Two, the deadliest military conflict in recorded history.
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