FIR sent a letter of solidarity to the Italian organization ANPI and all antifascist organizations because of their protest against a neo-fascist provocation.

Dear comrades
Dear Italian antifascists,

The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists and its member federations would like to express solidarity with your important event “L’Antifascismo in Marcia” Oct. 28, 2017.

It was a scandalous provocation that open neo-fascist groups propagated to hold a commemorative marching on the 85^th anniversary of Mussolini’s “March on Rome” 1922. Although this provocation is not allowed by the state authorities, it is necessary to give a common political signal against this provocation. Because we all know the inhuman and barbarian consequences of fascist policy not only for Italian people, but for other countries and peoples too. The common fight of the Anti-Hitler-Coalition, the partisans and the resistance fighters were the basis for liberation of Europe and Italy too from this barbarism.

The Italian people took the chance for a political new-beginning by creating an antifascist constitution. This is your principle for a “new world of peace and freedom” (Oath of Buchenwald). The projected neo-fascist marching is directly contrary to the common basis of the Italian society.

It is a very impressive sign that against this provocation the community of antifascist and veterans organizations connected with trade-unions, organizations of the civil society and political institutions comes together and stand in one line to defend the constitution and the values of antifascism.

FIR always underlines: “Fascism is not an opinion, but a crime” and remembers the slogan of the International Brigades in Spain in 1936: “No pasaran!”

Vilmos Hanti ,President                                                            Dr. Ulrich Schneider, General Secretary

[:en]The FIR is very concerned about the current development in Central Europe. Various developments show that this Europe is evolving into a reactionary political direction. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the extreme right “alternative for Germany” (AfD) reached over 12% of the electorate votes and will go with about 90 deputies to the German Bundestag. In Austria, the parliamentary elections had the result that the conservative ÖVP wants to enter into a coalition with the right-wing populist FPÖ. Their common denominator is the refusal to accept further refugees in Central Europe. Responsible for this is – also according to the will of the ÖVP – Heinz-Christian Strache of the FPÖ. In the Czech Republic, the right-wing populist Andreij Babis (ANO) and the open-right politician Tomio Okamura (SPD) have won the majority of the seats. Their credo is: We do not want to accept any further refugees in Europe. Okamura even fantasizes about having to stop the Islamization of the Czech Republic. On the Hungarian National Day Prime Minister Viktor Orban (FIDESZ) shocked the world with his declaration of a “migrant-free zone” in East-Central Europe. And the Polish government emphasizes its position not to accept refugees within the framework of European solidarity.

These examples show that in Europe those political forces gain political influence, which try to make political mood with xenophobia and racism, against migrants and needy.

We, the member associations of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters cannot accept such racist and xenophobic tendencies. We remind you that in the time of the fascist threat thousands of persecuted could only therefore survive because they found refuge and asylum in other countries. Until today, the international community criticizes those states, such as the then neutral Switzerland, that they – in the knowledge of the threat – did not allow persecuted the entry in the country. However, such criticism is hypocritical when the same countries and institutions operate even today in the same way – closing up against refugees.

FIR underlines its position: We do not want a fortress Europe that accepts the countless deaths in the Mediterranean. Europe must remain open to people who flee from war, political or religious persecution, fame and exploitation.

We call the European Union,
1. to pursue a foreign policy that does not contribute to that in the North African countries and the Middle East war, misery and other reasons for fleeing increase.
2. those people who come from these very reasons for fleeing to Europe, to take without restrictions.
3. to participate all States of the European Union equally in the housing and welfare of refugees. Sanctions must be applied against such states which don’t do their duties.
4. not to feed right-wing populism, but to pursue an active policy against the increasing racism and xenophobia. Europe cannot be built based on the foreclosure, but must be characterized by openness and tolerance.[:]

The FIR is very concerned about the current development in Central Europe. Various developments show that this Europe is evolving into a reactionary political direction. In the Federal Republic of Germany, the extreme right “alternative for Germany” (AfD) reached over 12% of the electorate votes and will go with about 90 deputies to the German Bundestag. In Austria, the parliamentary elections had the result that the conservative ÖVP wants to enter into a coalition with the right-wing populist FPÖ. Their common denominator is the refusal to accept further refugees in Central Europe. Responsible for this is – also according to the will of the ÖVP – Heinz-Christian Strache of the FPÖ. In the Czech Republic, the right-wing populist Andreij Babis (ANO) and the open-right politician Tomio Okamura (SPD) have won the majority of the seats. Their credo is: We do not want to accept any further refugees in Europe. Okamura even fantasizes about having to stop the Islamization of the Czech Republic. On the Hungarian National Day Prime Minister Viktor Orban (FIDESZ) shocked the world with his declaration of a “migrant-free zone” in East-Central Europe. And the Polish government emphasizes its position not to accept refugees within the framework of European solidarity.

These examples show that in Europe those political forces gain political influence, which try to make political mood with xenophobia and racism, against migrants and needy.

We, the member associations of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters cannot accept such racist and xenophobic tendencies. We remind you that in the time of the fascist threat thousands of persecuted could only therefore survive because they found refuge and asylum in other countries. Until today, the international community criticizes those states, such as the then neutral Switzerland, that they – in the knowledge of the threat – did not allow persecuted the entry in the country. However, such criticism is hypocritical when the same countries and institutions operate even today in the same way – closing up against refugees.

FIR underlines its position: We do not want a fortress Europe that accepts the countless deaths in the Mediterranean. Europe must remain open to people who flee from war, political or religious persecution, fame and exploitation.

We call the European Union,
1. to pursue a foreign policy that does not contribute to that in the North African countries and the Middle East war, misery and other reasons for fleeing increase.
2. those people who come from these very reasons for fleeing to Europe, to take without restrictions.
3. to participate all States of the European Union equally in the housing and welfare of refugees. Sanctions must be applied against such states which don’t do their duties.
4. not to feed right-wing populism, but to pursue an active policy against the increasing racism and xenophobia. Europe cannot be built based on the foreclosure, but must be characterized by openness and tolerance.

[:en]The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists is pursuing the growing threat of military violence in the conflict between the USA and North Korea with great concern. Visible signs are not only weapon tests but the increasing numbers of military maneuvers in the region around Korea. We specifically condemn the maneuvers of the US, South Korea and Japan in this area, as well as the military presence of more than 28,000 US soldiers in the South of the Korean peninsula. The deployment of the US missile defense system THAAD in South Korea represents a further escalation stage in the threat strategy and aims at the ability to strike first, which is also against the security of the PR China.

This is justified by the North Korean “nuclear program”, which is also rejected by the United Nations. As a part of the peace movement, the FIR, of course, stands for a worldwide abolition of all nuclear weapons. However, this presupposes, for all states involved, that they are not themselves forced to rise by the nuclear threat posed by other states. We support and therefore demand the peaceful settlement of the disputes between the US and North Korea, as well as the replacement of the armistice agreement of 1953 by a comprehensive peace agreement between both sides.

We recall the devastating consequences of atomic bombing 72 years ago on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This prohibits any consideration of a nuclear first strike strategy, as it is currently being propagated by the US president. An escalation in words and – as it seems, – also in deeds to enforce the geopolitical hegemony of the US in the Pacific region must be stopped. Apparently, only military action seems to be an option for the current US administration. The government in Venezuela, which fights against domestic political destabilization, has also been threatened with military intervention.

We call on the political powers of the world to apply their influence to all parties involved, to renounce any military threat, and to find the way for diplomatic solutions. This includes a demilitarization and nuclear disarmament in the East Asian region as well as the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.

In a few days we commemorate September 1 as the day of the Fascist invasion of Poland, and the beginning of the Second World War, which cost the lives of more than 60 million people. After the military crushing of German fascism in 1945, the peoples formed the idea, which is still our duty to this day: Never again fascism! Never again war![:]

The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists is pursuing the growing threat of military violence in the conflict between the USA and North Korea with great concern. Visible signs are not only weapon tests but the increasing numbers of military maneuvers in the region around Korea. We specifically condemn the maneuvers of the US, South Korea and Japan in this area, as well as the military presence of more than 28,000 US soldiers in the South of the Korean peninsula. The deployment of the US missile defense system THAAD in South Korea represents a further escalation stage in the threat strategy and aims at the ability to strike first, which is also against the security of the PR China.

This is justified by the North Korean “nuclear program”, which is also rejected by the United Nations. As a part of the peace movement, the FIR, of course, stands for a worldwide abolition of all nuclear weapons. However, this presupposes, for all states involved, that they are not themselves forced to rise by the nuclear threat posed by other states. We support and therefore demand the peaceful settlement of the disputes between the US and North Korea, as well as the replacement of the armistice agreement of 1953 by a comprehensive peace agreement between both sides.

We recall the devastating consequences of atomic bombing 72 years ago on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This prohibits any consideration of a nuclear first strike strategy, as it is currently being propagated by the US president. An escalation in words and – as it seems, – also in deeds to enforce the geopolitical hegemony of the US in the Pacific region must be stopped. Apparently, only military action seems to be an option for the current US administration. The government in Venezuela, which fights against domestic political destabilization, has also been threatened with military intervention.

We call on the political powers of the world to apply their influence to all parties involved, to renounce any military threat, and to find the way for diplomatic solutions. This includes a demilitarization and nuclear disarmament in the East Asian region as well as the independent and peaceful reunification of Korea.

In a few days we commemorate September 1 as the day of the Fascist invasion of Poland, and the beginning of the Second World War, which cost the lives of more than 60 million people. After the military crushing of German fascism in 1945, the peoples formed the idea, which is still our duty to this day: Never again fascism! Never again war!

During the opening of the intenational art-fair documenta14 in Kassel (Germany) FIR participated at a commemoration of the SS-massacre in Distomo (Greece). The General Secretary of FIR took the floor for the following greeting words: Liebe Kameraden und Freunde, Die Internationale Föderation der Widerstandskämpfer (FIR) – Bund der Antifaschisten, die Dachorganisation der Verbände ehemaliger Partisanen und Widerstandskämpfer gegen den Faschismus, Deportierter und Verfolgter des Naziregimes und ihre Familienangehörigen, sowie der Kämpfer in den Reihen der Anti-Hitler-Koalition sowie Antifaschisten heutiger Generationen mit Mitgliedsverbänden in fast allen europäischen Staaten, Israel und Lateinamerika ist solidarisch mit all denjenigen, die am heutigen Distomo Tag an die faschistischen Verbrechen am griechischen Volk erinnern. Anfang April dieses Jahres haben wir nachfolgende Grußbotschaft an eine Demonstration in Athen geschickt: Die FIR steht auf der Seite aller griechischen Organisationen und sozialen Initiativen, die sich für die gerechten und begründeten Forderungen des griechischen Volkes für die Wiedergutmachung seitens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland aufgrund des erzwungenen Besatzungsdarlehens und der Schäden, die in Griechenland durch Nazi-Besatzungsmächte während der Zweiter Weltkrieg angerichtet wurden, einsetzen. Bis heute sind die deutschen Regierungen nicht bereit, dieses offene Problem zu lösen. Mit einer einmaligen Zahlung eines unbedeutenden Betrags von 115 Millionen DM nach dem Bonner Übereinkommen vom 18. März 1960 versuchte der deutsche Staat, die Forderung zu erfüllen. Aber die ausstehende Zahlung ist viel mehr. Die FIR unterstützt die griechischen Anträge in diesem Fall und fordert die deutsche Regierung auf, keine ernsthaften Verhandlungen mehr zu blockieren. Deutsche Reparationen für griechische Menschen fehlen noch! Diese Aussage ist auch hier und heute gültig. In diesem Zusammenhang möchte ich noch an ein weiteres faschistisches Verbrechen erinnern, dass sich heute vor 75 Jahren in der CSR ereignete, das Massaker an den Menschen der kleinen Stadt Lidice bei Prag. Auch dort wurde einige Jahrzehnte behauptet, es handelte sich um Maßnahmen der Kriegsführung – wie auch bei dem Verbrechen von Distomo. Doch der internationale Druck war letztlich zu groß, so dass auch die Bundesregierung nicht nur die deutsche Verantwortung für das Verbrechen eingestehen musste, sondern nun auch einen ernsthaften Beitrag zur Erinnerungsarbeit leistet. Unser gemeinsamer politischer Druck muss dazu führen, dass eine solche Haltung bald auch gegenüber dem griechischen Volk eingenommen wird.

The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists greets all participants of the celebrations on the day of victory and the commemorative actions “immortal regiment”.

May 8/9, 1945, is and will remain for antifascists in all parts of the world the day of liberation and the day of victory over fascist barbarism.

All of us who celebrate this day with events and other commemorative activities show that the memory of the victims of the fascist barbarism and the fighters against fascism is an important task for all of us. The participants of the “immortal regiment” commemorative event in Russia and in many other countries around the world remind us of their family members, friends and relatives, who sacrificed their lives in the ranks of the anti-Hitler coalition crushing of fascist military machinery.

This recollection is more important than ever before, because we are witnessing the transformation of Fascist collaborators into “freedom fighters” in different countries, in the Baltic States or in the Ukraine. Against such forms of historical revisionism, we need the public memory and recollection of those men and women who have opposed the fascist threat, with all their might, with their freedom, their health, and part of them with their lives,

To commemorate and thank these fighters and victims at this day is the obligation to carry on the political legacy of the survivors, as in the “Oath of Buchenwald” of the former prisoners of Buchenwald concentration camp of 19 April 1945: “the destruction of Nazism with its roots and the creation of a new world of peace and freedom “.