09 May 2014

Athens, Greece – May 9th 2014
http://www.wftucentral.org/wftu-on-the-69th-anniversary-of-the-antifascist-victory/

Today, May 9th, we commemorate the 69th anniversary since the glorious victory of the anti-fascist forces over the nazi-fascist axis, when the Red Flag of the Soviet Union was waving over the German Reichstag in Berlin.

The WFTU – an organization born in October 1945, after the end World War II, as the embodiment of the longing that brought workers from different countries who joined in a single front against fascism in its various expressions- is proud and inspired of this great victory of the workers and the peoples. We honor all those who gave their lives, all those who took part in the struggle of the popular movement, the communist parties and the anti-fascist movements for the defeat of fascism in Europe and the world.

Reaffirming this honor is of great importance, especially today when capitalist governments, the monopolies and imperialist organizations try to rewrite history. The hypocrites of the European Union have a central part in this plan, as it has established the 9 May as “Europe Day”, thus hiding its true meaning. Today, the EU supports the “government” of Ukraine, where neo-nazi and reactionary sectors are taking part and the imperialist interference in Ukraine has led to the burning of the Trade Union building in Odessa. The WFTU condemns the Ukrainian “government”, which with a formal government decision prohibited the celebrations of the Day of Antifascist Victory, while on the same time, neofascists perform fascist parades and celebrations.

We know that wars and nazi – fascism are phenomena inherent in the capitalist system. Hitler had risen to power with the support of German monopolies, while WWII, was carefully orchestrated by a concern for redivision of the world for reasons of capitalist interest, as was WWI. Today, the financial crisis generates big overturns and shakings of the imperialist system. It intensifies international rivalries and creates a shift in the correlations of economic power, the imperialist aggressiveness, aiming at the exploitation of natural and economic resources and energy transfer routes becomes more ruthless. At the same time in Europe and elsewhere militant workers, activists of the trade union and people’s movements are persecuted, communist and workers parties are banned. Neo-fascism, xenophobia and racism are growing and become a mortal enemy, for the working class, for the trade union movement, for the struggles of the workers and the peoples. The workers and the peoples must be vigilant.

The great antifascist victory, achieved 69 years ago, is an inspiration for the struggles of the workers and the peoples all over the world and reminds us and the younger generations that the workers and the people are stronger and can rise victorious no matter the strength of their enemies, bringing hope and confidence to the workers, to the people who struggle for a better tommorrow, for the end of exploitation of man by man.

WFTU Press Room