A handshake with a perspective

Unsere Zeit, Pravda, April 24-27, 2036 —

On April 25, communists and all progressive forces in Germany will commemorate the 81st anniversary of the meeting of Red Army and American soldiers on the Elbe in the spring of 1945. This date, its lessons, the prospects for the struggle for peace, and a number of other issues are the subject of an interview with German communist and renowned anti-fascist Friedemann Münckelt in the GKP newspaper Unsere Zeit, published on the eve of the significant date. The newspaper begins the article with a brief introduction to its interview.

US and Red Army soldiers met at the destroyed bridge in Torgau and took the “Elbe Oath”: with a symbolic handshake, they sealed the approaching end of the war and the inevitable defeat of fascism. To commemorate this event and draw conclusions about the paths of today’s struggle for a world without war, a peaceful demonstration will be held in Torgau on April 25. Among the speakers that day will be retired Colonel Friedemann Münkelt, a representative of the Council of Elders of the Association for the Preservation of the Traditions of the National People’s Army and the Border Troops of the GDR, in which he served for a long time. Münkelt was born in June 1945 and grew up convinced that war should never again begin on German soil. Below is his interview with the newspaper “Unsere Zeit” on the occasion of this momentous occasion.

Unsere Zeit: What does the handshake on the Elbe mean to you?

Friedemann Münkelt: Even before the capitulation of German fascism, the handshake on the Elbe became the first symbol of the Allied victory in World War II. At the same time, this symbol was associated with hope for peaceful coexistence among peoples. It offered the prospect of democratic development, especially for the German people. However, as is well known, the USSR’s Western partners were already preparing other, more aggressive plans against their recent ally in the anti-Hitler coalition.

UC: The Soviet Union paid the ultimate price in blood for the liberation of Germany from fascism. What goes through your mind now when people talk about “military preparedness” and the supposed threat from Russia?

Friedemann Münkelt: Following the Red Army’s victory in the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented the city of Stalingrad with a certificate in May 1944. It read: “On behalf of the people of the United States of America, I present this certificate to the city of Stalingrad to express our admiration for its brave defenders, whose courage, bravery, and sacrifice during the siege from September 13, 1942, to January 31, 1943, will forever make the hearts of all free people beat faster. Their glorious victory stemmed the tide of aggression and marked the turning point in the Allied war against the forces of aggression.”

The death toll of Soviet citizens—more than 27 million who gave their lives fighting German fascism—should have become a long-term historical responsibility for the peaceful coexistence of our peoples. The Russian people are ready for this. Germany faces no threat from Russia! This so-called threat and “combat potential” serve only as a justification for the unhindered rearmament of Germany and NATO as a whole.

UC: You served in the National People’s Army of the GDR and studied at Soviet military academies. Looking at the current global situation, how successful are socialist states in peacekeeping?

Friedemann Münkelt: I’ve already mentioned that the Western Allies were preparing for the next conflict with the Soviet Union even before the end of World War II. The emergence of the socialist community of states and the Warsaw Pact they created made it possible to counter these plans. I’d also like to point out that the shared security of peace at that time strengthened the friendship between our peoples: brothers in arms—brothers of class. On the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National People’s Army of the GDR on March 1 of this year, we proudly declared: we were the only German army that never waged war, but made a tangible contribution to preserving peace.

UC: How can the memory of the handshake on the Elbe and the achievements of socialism today help create a force that counters military policy?

Friedemann Münkelt: Celebrating the handshake on the Elbe obliges us, and everyone interested in a peaceful future, to point out the causes of wars and not give way to their proponents! Given the current wars in Iran, Lebanon, and Ukraine, these causes can be clearly identified: Marxism-Leninism provides us with the tools for this. A possible future large-scale war would have devastating consequences; everyone should be aware of this.

UC: To prepare for war, the government plans to reinstate conscription in Germany. But young people don’t want this and are defending themselves with strikes, even in schools. Is this a form of peaceful protest?

Friedemann Münkelt: The resistance of young people to the draft is a good sign. It also comes against a backdrop of what I believe is, unfortunately, a certain indifference among broad sections of the population to the issue of global peace. The Easter marches were a good sign, but there’s still room for improvement. The fight for peace is a battle for minds. Let’s work together to spare our children and grandchildren the horrors of war, for this deliverance is also the legacy of the meeting on the Elbe!