May 9, 1945
Victory Over Fascism in Europe
Salute to All Those Who Fought in the Anti-Fascist War to Secure Peace, Freedom and Democracy
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On May 9, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Soviet Red Army in Berlin. This historic event is recognized throughout the world with the photograph of the flag of the Soviet Red Army flying over the Reichstag, the German Parliament. To this day, that flag is recognized as the Victory Banner, celebrated in Russia and the former Soviet Republics and many countries in the world in recognition of the great sacrifices made by the anti-fascist forces, and the Red Army in particular, which went all the way to Berlin to make sure the Nazis were unconditionally defeated.
Nevertheless, the end of the war is celebrated on May 8 in Canada, the U.S. and Western Europe, with claims the Nazis had already surrendered to them prior to May 9, although the fighting was not yet over. On the basis of the intrigues they organized at that time, the ruling elites in those countries choose not to recall the massive sacrifice of the peoples of the world, led by the then Soviet Union, to defeat Nazi fascism in World War II.
Nonetheless, the peoples of the world credit the decisive contribution of the Soviets and communist forces the world over in the defeat of Nazi fascism, as well as Japanese militarism later in 1945. However, the Anglo-American imperialists sought to undermine the prestige accorded to the Soviets, who inspired peoples in their striving for independence and democracy. This the imperialists could not countenance. The machinations to set May 8 as the end of the war were a prelude to the Cold War they waged against the Soviet Union as soon as World War II ended, that included the establishment of NATO in 1949.
Despite these attempts to falsify history, the memory of the historic role of the Soviet Red Army in the defeat Nazi fascism has not been erased. Parades of the Immortal Regiment, in which the descendants of those who fought in the Soviet Red Army, as well as all those from the allied countries who fought and died, take place around the world to honour their memory. Meanwhile, in the NATO countries, including Canada, and other countries which take their cue from the imperialists, all manner of invective is directed at Russia to the extent that parades of the Immortal Regiment have been declared illegal in some countries and cannot take place in others because the security of those who take part cannot be guaranteed.
March of the Immortal Regiment, Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2023
On the occasion of Victory Day, the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) salutes all Canadians who contributed to the victory against fascism. It salutes the peoples of Europe, Asia, Africa and the entire world who contributed to this historic victory. CPC(M-L) pays deepest respects to the memory of all those from the occupied countries who fought and died as a result of the Nazi onslaught and thanks the resistance fighters who worked as one to defeat the fascist occupier. Most importantly, CPC(M-L) recognizes and salutes the courage and sacrifice of the Soviet Union under the leadership of J.V. Stalin. The peoples that made up Soviet Russia and the Soviet Republics rose as one and broke the back of the Nazi war machine at tremendous cost. All of them fought for peace, freedom and democracy so that humanity would never again know the scourge of fascism and war.
Canada, joined by then-British colony Newfoundland, played its part by sending 1.1 million troops to fight in the war, including more than 130,000 Quebeckers. They distinguished themselves in many battles and campaigns, particularly in the Normandy landings, the Italian campaign and the liberation of Holland. The Canadian state claims to honour all those who fought, yet the falsifications of history in Canada are such that a Ukrainian Nazi collaborator was given a standing ovation in the Parliament in September 2023. This has once again brought to light the long history of the Canadian state to provide a safe haven for Nazis and their collaborators to escape being brought to justice for their crimes, war criminals who were then used to sow divisions among working people and carry out other anti-social activities in Canada.
This year’s anniversary of Victory Day again takes place amidst the U.S./NATO proxy war in Ukraine, part of NATO’s eastward expansion aimed at isolating and crushing Russia. In doing so, the U.S. and NATO have had no qualms about bringing into positions of power, funding and training those who espouse Nazism and other reactionaries.
Those who celebrate Victory Day while eliminating the role of the Soviet Union do so for purposes of reversing the historic verdict to say “Never Again” to Nazi fascism – a verdict which all those who espouse the brutal neo-liberal offensive and act with impunity and wage wars of genocide and destruction disregard. They have usurped decision-making power of the states by force and wrongly believe they do not have to render accounts to their own people and the peoples of the world.
On May 8, which is May 9 in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union, let us honour the memory of all those who fought to defeat fascism by working to make Canada a zone for peace, opposing Canada’s political and economic integration into the U.S. war machine, ending Canada’s collaboration with Zionism, and opposing the use of force to resolve conflicts between nations and within nations.
The time is now to stand with the Palestinian people, their resistance forces and all those defending the verdicts of World War II and the high road of humanity. It is an occasion to relaunch an impassioned defence of the cause of peace, freedom and democracy in today’s conditions by opposing U.S./NATO’s criminal proxy war in Ukraine and their threats to the security of the countries of the Asia-Pacific and other parts of the world.
Today more than ever, it is necessary to oppose wars of aggression and occupation and the use of force to resolve conflicts between nations, so that the dangers of another world war and other calamities that threaten humanity can be stemmed and prevented. The role Canada is playing internationally as a henchman for U.S. imperialist interests, its active participation in the U.S./NATO war machine and as a collaborator with the U.S.-backed Israeli Zionists is unacceptable.
On this occasion, let us also oppose the U.S.-led warmongering alliances NATO and NORAD, and interventionist bodies like the Core Group on Haiti, that is preparing another military intervention in Haiti. Let us demand that all troops on foreign soil return home, and end the wars of aggression, occupation, destruction and annihilation and coups d’ tat to achieve regime change, provocations and imperialist sanctions. Sanctions are criminal acts of war and violations of human rights.
We salute all those who fought in the Anti-Fascist War to secure peace, freedom and democracy.
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