Eighty years ago today, on May 8,1945, World War Il ended in Europe. This is a day of remembrance for all those who were persecuted and murdered, for the crimes and destruction, and for the more than 60 million people who died worldwide.
Today, we must reflect upon how this could have happened. The takeover of power of the National Socialists in 1933 would have been unthinkable without the failure of the political, military, judicial, and economic decision-makers of the time. German companies contributed to consolidating the rule of the National Socialists. Many companies and leaders at the time became complicit by prioritizing their own interests.
Today, as German companies, we bear responsibility for keeping the memory of the crimes of the Nazi era alive. These crimes remind us to always recognize the fragility of democracy. Together, we stand up against hatred, exclusion, and antisemitism. For us, remembrance will never be over.
The Allied victory over the Nazis gave hope to an entire continent and to the whole world. European cohesion, the rule of law, and the freedom achieved with the end of the Cold War are achievements that we must protect together. Democracy thrives on participation - and on dissent. It requires conviction and courage. In 1933 and thereafter, too many people remained silent, looked away, and said nothing. This gives rise to our responsibility - for the past, the present, and the future.
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