81st Anniversary of Victory Over Fascism in Europe
May 9, 1945

Salute to All Those Who Fought in the Anti-Fascist War to Secure Peace, Freedom and Democracy

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.

On the occasion of Victory Day, the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) 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.

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 onslaught of Nazi-fascism and thanks the resistance fighters who worked as one to defeat the fascist occupier.

CPC(M-L) salutes all those who joined the anti-fascist war from Canada and made important contributions to the victory against Nazi-fascism. 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 peoples of Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean all contributed to the historic defeat of Nazi-fascism and also Japanese militarism. All of them fought for peace, freedom and democracy so that humanity would never again know the scourge of fascism and war.

Those who celebrate Victory Day while eliminating the role of the Soviet Union, as in the case of official Canada, 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 called Western democracies 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 Nazi-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 Palestinians, Lebanese, Iranians, Cubans and peoples of the world, to support the resistance forces and all those defending the verdicts of World War II and the high road of humanity.

We salute all those who fought in the Anti-Fascist War to secure peace, freedom and democracy.

All Out to Humanize the Natural and Social Environment
and Make Canada a Zone for Peace!

March of the Immortal Regiment, Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2023

Soviet posters commemorating the victory over fascism.

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