The Specter of Fascism Is Haunting Europe as It Marks VE Day
Eighty years ago today, Europe celebrated the defeat of fascism after a titanic struggle. Yet as historian Enzo Traverso points out, the latest anniversary of VE Day comes at a moment when the far right is stronger than at any point since 1945.
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni looks at Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán prior to their meeting, at Palazzo Chigi in Rome on December 4, 2024. (Andreas Solaro / AFP via Getty Images)
Commemorations are interesting mirrors for the hegemonic narratives of the past, which do not necessarily correspond with popular historical consciousness. This is especially true for global anniversaries like May 8, 1945.
For decades, the West celebrated Victory in Europe (VE) Day to display its power and affirm its values. In this mindset, the West was not only powerful but also virtuous. This liturgy of liberal democracy ran smoothly and consensually, with all participants gathering around recollections, symbols, and values that forged their alliance.
In 1985, forty years after the end of the conflict, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) joined these commemorations. In a famous speech to the Bundestag, FRG president Richard von Weizsäcker solemnly said that Germany should not look upon this date as a day of defeat but rather as one of liberation.
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