A traditional 'Memory Candle' memorial ceremony was held in front of the Soviet war monument in Treptow Park, Berlin, on the 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany's attack on the Soviet Union.
The memorial event was organized by the Germany-Russia Friendship Association (GDRF). The ceremony was attended by Russia's Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechaev, representatives of the Belarus Embassy in Germany, as well as citizens and compatriots from Germany.
Participants lit candles placed at the monument's base to form the dates '1941–1945'. At exactly 04:00 (05:00 Moscow time), an archival audio recording from the All Union Radio announcing Germany's attack on the Soviet Union was broadcast over Treptow Park. Following this, the gathered crowd observed a minute of silence in memory of the heroes who lost their lives.
Ambassador Nechaev's call
Addressing the gathering, Russia's Ambassador Sergey Nechaev stated that June 22, 1941, was the heaviest day in Soviet and Russian history.
Nechaev said, "The war waged by Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union was a war of annihilation and a real tragedy for our people."
Speaking about the crimes committed by the Nazis against Soviet citizens, Nechaev reminded that these crimes are recognized in Russia as genocide. In this context, he called on German authorities to recognize this historical fact officially.
Nechaev stated, "We call on the federal republic, the government, parliament and Bundestag to recognize this atrocity against the Soviet people as genocide. All necessary legal foundations for this exist."
The ceremony concluded with an official ceremony where wreaths and flowers were laid at the monument's base.
