It must also be emphasized that the process of freeing the occupied states of Europe was far from perfect. The concept of human rights emerged as a result.īut it’s essential to remember that Europe had failed to prevent the outbreak of World War II in 1939, and by 1945 the war had cost more than fifty million lives. Terrible atrocities were committed, but they were recognized and condemned. Thirdly, in the case of the western Allies, the Liberation was – for the most part – ethical and law-respecting in its methodology. This collaboration paved the way for the creation of the United Nations and the European Union.
Secondly, the Liberation succeeded because a variety of nations were able to temporarily set aside their individual interests and cooperate to achieve a shared goal. The Allies fought to prevent military might from dictating international relations. The Rome War Cemetery © Diego Fiore/Shutterstock Lessons on World War II for the futureĭespite the problems associated with remembrance, some basic principles can be garnered from World War II and its conclusion.įirstly, the Allies’ aim – or at least the western democracies’ – was broadly noble: for stronger states to restore autonomy to weaker ones and to foster international diversity. Acts of barbarism and atrocity were committed on both sides so were acts of humanity and heroism. It is hard to imagine the complex forces that acted on an individual soldier, occupier, collaborator, citizen or victim at the time. In the 21st century, people have the advantage that distance brings, the benefit of hindsight and the ability to consider the war and the Liberation from multiple angles. Just as historical memory is shaped to fit a national narrative, the historian – and reader – is influenced by their own conscious and unconscious biases, as well as by who they choose to read or listen to. Each country involved in World War II remembers its catastrophic events and the Liberation in a different way national memories are not always universally true and are rarely compatible with each other.
Countless soldiers, politicians, civilians, victims and survivors have done their best to communicate their experience through written, recorded and filed accounts – it’s up to the new generation to listen.Īs people today sift through evidence and consider its meaning, it is important to be wary of two distractions: patriotism and moralizing.
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The Liberation was at once a series of battles culminating in the defeat of Nazi Germany Dropdown content and a vastly complicated web of decisions and deeds.
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How to remember World war II and the Liberation
Order in the USA or order in the UK and the rest of the world.
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