No honor for the Latvian Waffen-SS! Call for international protests

25. Februar 2017

On 16 March, as every year since 1991, in Riga, the Latvian capital, there will be a worship, an honorary march and a flag-lined rally at the Freedom Monument in honor of the Latvian units of the Waffen-SS.

With Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Bulgaria, Latvia is one of the Eastern European states where units of the Waffen-SS and other anti-Semitic death squads collaborating with the Nazis are celebrated as national idols. This is done with state toleration and partial open support from authorities.

The Riga “Ehrenmarsch” is an unprecedented provocation for the members of the victims of the Latvian police and SS units and for the Jewish, Russian-speaking and other minorities in the country. It stands not only in contrast to the fundamental values of the European Union, whose other advantages the Latvian state likes to accept, but is also a provocation against the Russian Federation and thus a threat to peace in Europe.

In Latvia, anti-fascist demonstrators are exposed to considerable reprisals (telephone monitoring, travel restrictions, administrative chicanery, police, state influence on hotels and event organizers). This also applies to supporters who come from Germany and other countries.

It is therefore more important in 2017 as well to show solidarity with the Latvian antifascists. The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) and its member federations call for a trip to Riga and to participate in the anti-fascist demonstration on 16 March.

At the same time they call on March 15, 2017, in Rome, Brussels, Budapest, Athens as well as in several German towns to protest in front of Latvian embassies and consulates in Europe against the glorification of Nazi collaborators and mass murderers and to demand freedom for Latvia’s anti-fascists.Riga Protest 2014

We demand:

• Conclude the tribute of Nazi collaborators and murderers!

• Recognize the Baltic participation in Nazi genocide!

• Freedom for “Latvia without Nazism”!

• We call all antifascists to send protest messages to Latvian embassies and Latvian consulates!

The main political tasks of the coming years – the political declaration of FIR

4. Dezember 2016

1. Anti-fascism is more relevant than ever! Even more than 70 years after the historic victory in May 1945 over fascist regimes in Europe anti-fascism is a more recent political idea than ever. The current problems of political, economic and social causes require from all people joint actions – not facing political party boundaries – for a socially just, peaceful and democratic development in all parts of the world. 2. Stop the resurgence of right-wing populism and neo-fascism With great concern, that we see the increase of the political influence of extreme right forces, from violent neo-fascists to right-wing populist groups, in different European countries. These groups engage ostensibly to the serious concerns of the people, but give nationalist and racist responses to the existing problems. Moreover they propagate and practice increasingly violent forms of conflict, such as arson attacks on “foreigners”, hunting refugees and other excesses. The refugee movement caused by war and social need – which only can be answered by practical solidarity of all European countries – is answered by them with a demand for authoritarianism, intolerance and nationalist chauvinism. At the same time they propagate ideals of former fascist movements (Bandera, Horthy, Mussolini, Ustasha and other “models”). This is in contradiction to international declaration, especially the resolution of the United Nations General assembly to the topic preserving memories (7 Dec 2014). The FIR and its member federations as internationalist movement stand together against racism, xenophobia, neo-fascism, nationalism and extreme right-wing populism. We support protests like the demonstration in Riga et.al. 3. Eliminate the threat of war – for the protection of peace Fascism and war are two sides of one medal. That is why the political slogan of 1945 was “destroying the Nazism with its roots and creating a new world of peace and freedom”. The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Anti-fascists has as “ambassador of peace” of the United Nations a moral order to work for non-military solutions for the conflicts in the world. We fight in particular the causes of war and warmongers who want to impose their imperial goals, their needs of raw material and geopolitical interests on the backs of peoples. We expect the United Nations to support peaceful means of settling e.g. in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria or in Ukraine. That is how FIR acts as part of the international peace movement. As a new form of threat we can see terrorist attacks. Partly with “religious” reasons, partly with the standard criticism of “Western values” attacks against the civilian population in various European countries are carried out in particular. We condemn such inhuman acts of violence in the strongest terms, but we cannot forget on the other hand, that such forces have been financed and used as “weapons” in the late Cold War. We call the countries concerned by terrorist attacks not to use such brutal acts as a pretext to dismantle democratic rights and to establish authoritarian rules. 4. Preserving memories – against historical revisionism The memory of the common anti-fascist struggle of the peoples and military parts of the anti-Hitler coalition is a permanent task of FIR and its member federations. In several European countries, notably the Baltic States, in Poland, in Ukraine and in countries of the former Yugoslavia we see on various political and social levels attempts and tendencies to falsify the antifascist memories. Monuments of the anti-fascist struggle were destroyed or even rededicated. Former collaborators of the SS are recognized as “freedom fighters” and on European level there are attempts to establish a “solemn ceremony against totalitarianism” on 23 August. We oppose those attempts of historical revisionism. On the other hand we are proud that in all these countries also veterans and antifascist groups do their duty for the historical truth and defending such memorial places for the liberation from Nazi-fascism and for the liberators. The tasks of the FIR and its member federations remains to preserve the historical memory of the resistance of the peoples, to the women and men who sacrificed their lives, who fought in the ranks of the anti-Hitler coalition or for their convictions or have been victims from other reasons of fascist exclusion in the concentration and extermination camps. To pass their experiences on to present and future generations is one of the most important tasks, standing in front of our organizations. We cooperate particularly with memorials at the places of camps, with archives and historical institutions and antifascist initiatives conveyance of history. Outstanding examples of this work are the exhibition “European resistance against Nazism” and the international youth meetings, documenting the impressive forms of conveying history to the young generations. 5. The unit of the anti-fascist forces consolidate – win new generations! Since 65 years, the FIR is working as an international umbrella organization of all the different fighters and forces of the Anti-Hitler-Coalition, former persecuted and today’s anti-fascists. Their strength is the commonality that results despite different political party orientations, social visions or religious values. The path of the “torch of FIR” impressively emphasized that community. In our ranks are comrades and friends

  • they fight to overthrow the exploitative system that generates poverty, fascism and war,
  • they defend democratic and social rights,
  • they are based on religious or humanistic ideals connected with the antifascist goals,
  • they want to preserve the memories of their families.

Each way to antifascism is welcomed in FIR. This unit must be developed renew, because the witness’s generation is leaving us. And we call all member federations to open their structure for the today’s generations. In that way we are challenged to share the ideals of the anti-fascist legacy with the post-war generations, who bring their own issues and perspectives in political disputes. For FIR therefore the task is: In connection with the present generations we preserve the legacy of the fighters and persecuted and fight for democracy, humanism, social justice and “a new world of peace and freedom.”

The Bulgarian historian and antifascist Prof. Velko Valkanov died Nov. 26, 2016

26. November 2016

FIR sent the following letter of condolence to the Bulgarian Antifascist Union and the International Dimitrov Foundation, Sofia

With deep sorrow we have to take note of the death of prof. Velko Valkanov this week-end.

Just after the XVII regular congress of FIR in Prague confirmed him as member of the honor presidency of FIR, he was very excited about, he died at the age of 88 years.

Prof. Valkanov was an active historian and journalist, who analyzed and published in several media. As antifascist he advised against right-wing policy and tendencies not only in Bulgaria, but in various parts of Europe. He faced the history and gave answers to the today’s situation and for future tasks. That is how we will remember him.

Because of his very active work in the sense of FIR the XVI FIR congress in Sofia 2013 named him first time as member of honor presidency.  With his death the Bulgarian antifascist movement lost a highly estimated figure. We will not forget him. We would like to express our condolences also to his family and all relatives.

FIR on the way to the XVII regular congress in Prague

28. Oktober 2016

The Executive committee decided to hold the XVII regular congress of FIR November 18 – 20, 2016 in Prague. Since the XVI regular congress in Sofia we could experience a number of important developments of the political work. Impressive commemoration activities of the 70th anniversary of Day of Victory and common activities like the international youth meeting in Auschwitz underlined importance of FIR and the meaning of the work with the youth. On the other hand confirms the problematic development (f. e. danger of war, problems for refugees, and uprising of extreme right groups) not only in Europe but in different parts of the world the necessity of anti-fascist and anti-racist activities also in the future. Therefor a strong and authorized to act organization is necessary. So the tasks of the coming congress will be to make a realistic balance of our common work of the last years and to define the coming tasks. In addition we have to elect the leading committees. At the evening of November 18 – as an opening ceremony – we will hand over the Michel-Vanderborght-Award to partners of FIR. The closing will be a common commemoration ceremony in Lidice on Sunday morning. More than 50 delegates and guests from about 20 European countries and Israel are expected. Also guest from international structures and social organizations of Czech republic. The preparation of the congress has been done with excellent support of our Czech member federation CSBS. The conference and the accommodation will be in TOP Hotel Praha (Congress Center). Working languages at the congress are English and Russian. If somebody is interested to participate as guest, please ask the national federation or contact the FIR-office.

Solidarity with the democratic forces in Turkey!

31. Juli 2016

For months, the International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Anti-fascists and its member federations follows with great concern the political development in Turkey. It was already visible that the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan started on one hand an increasingly expansionist policy with the support of IS troops in Syria, on the other hand domestically he practices a restriction of democratic freedoms, particularly freedom of the press. Nevertheless, Erdoğan was chosen by the EU administration in spring 2016 as a helper in the refugee question, he should solve the problem of the influx of migrants to Europe – rewarded with 3 billion euros.

With the military coup in Turkey in mid July 2016, this development has not been stopped, but developed further amplified. The failed coup that would itself certainly brought no increase in democracy is used by Erdoğan to secure its power – with anti-democratic means and repealing fundamental freedoms. Tens of thousands of teachers, judges and heads of university departments are already released, many soldiers are imprisoned. The repression goes on and now it hits especially journalists. Criticism of the current repealing “European Convention on Human Rights” overlooks that this have already taken place in recent months in Turkey with serious violations of civil and human rights.

Every day we see further restrictions on democratic freedom. For Academics the free passage is prohibited, thousands of passports are canceled, and over 50,000 public sector workers have already lost their jobs. About 50 newspapers and other media lost their licenses, so that public opinion is only controlled by the government media. In addition, the police and military repression of the Kurdish people continues undiminished in southeastern Turkey.

For these reasons, we call for political solidarity with the democratic forces of Turkey, the unions, the persecuted political parties, the democratic media and the civil society organizations. Their freedom must be restored. We are in solidarity with the people of Turkey, who resist an authoritarian Islamist state in the sense of President Erdoğan.

We call the European Union to demand from the Turkish government in compliance with European values: democracy, rule of law, press freedom and the right to freely assemble, to express themselves peacefully or to pursue one’s own religion. Accession negotiations with Turkey can be made not only depends on whether the death penalty is to be reintroduced.

We expect the European Union to demand from the Turkish government under President Erdoğan the restoration of democratic rights and freedoms in Turkey instead of deals at the expense of war refugees.

 

The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists remembers Elie Wiesel

3. Juli 2016

We have to say a last far-well to Elie Wiesel, who died in the first days of July 2016 at the age of 87 years. He was an international well-known survivor of the CC Auschwitz and Buchenwald. Born in Sighet in Transylvania, he was deported 1944 with his family to the extermination camp Auschwitz, where most of its members were killed. He himself left with an evacuation transport to Buchenwald, where he experienced one hand the hell of “Little Camp”, on the other hand the organized resistance of prisoners and the liberation on April 11, 1945. Although he was not a part of the resistance organization, he never forgot this solidary performance of his comrades.

As rapporteur of the United Nations and later as a professor of literature, philosophy and Judaism his central concern was to do everything that these crimes against humanity will not be forgotten and racism and antisemitism will never allowed to recover its strength. For this commitment, 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Several times he took the floor to speak to the world community to defend humanism and to preserve memories. June 2009, he accompanied US-President Barack Obama together with the President of the International Committee Buchenwald Dora Bertrand Herz during his visit in the memorial Buchenwald.

Until his last days, Elie Wiesel was active in the historical educational work and in the preservation of the memories of the victims of racist extermination policy. An important voice of the survivors, a voice of humanism and anti-racist movement has ceased with his death. We will never forget him.

Vilmos Hanti, President, Dr. Ulrich Schneider, General Secretary

Protect political rights in all of Europe – no persecution of communist parties and ban their political symbols

27. Mai 2016

FIR as umbrella organization of veterans, partisans and former resistance fighters and antifascists of today’s generations is seriously concerned about the danger for political freedom in several European countries. The persecution of Communist parties, of Communist and antifascist Resistance fighters, the ban on the use of their symbols which began after the overthrow of socialism in Eastern Europe, is even expanding in our days. The persecution of the Communist party members and Resistance Fighters in the Baltic countries, in Hungary, Poland, Ukraine and further countries, are well-known.

In these countries, has outlawed the use of symbols, primarily of the Communist parties and, even after that, many Communists and Resistance fighters, the pioneers of the national movement were convicted and jailed. Restrictions in these countries show that these persecutions were aimed at social freedom and civil rights. On the other hand the actions of fascist parties and organizations are allowed in these countries: former Nazi are praised and SS-collaborators were called “freedom fighters” and monuments to their honor were erected. In the same time monuments of the Red Army which had liberated these countries and defeated fascism were demolished. All those countries, except Ukraine, are members of the European Union. These countries, but Ukraine as well having an ultra-right fascist government, are politically, economically and militarily supported by the EU which closes its eyes in view of these crimes.

Although FIR is not linked to any political party, we are seriously concerned about these political tendencies in several European countries. And, in this regard, we cannot forget that the EU-parliament adopted a resolution equating Hitler with Stalin, fascism with socialism and establishing the 23th of August (the day on which the Ribbentrop-Molotov agreement was signed) as a day of remembrance against totalitarian regimes.

FIR encourages representatives of the EU to defend the political rights of all people and not to support such rightwing-populist governments which have proven that they delimitate the political rights of their peoples and allow the activities of ultra-right and fascist organizations.

May 2016

Stop the historical revisionism in Europe

27. Mai 2016

71 years after the liberation from Fascism and war, FIR sees with great concern serious problems in several European countries, especially in Central and Eastern Europe (Poland, the Baltics, Hungary, Ukraine, and Croatia et.al.) because of historical revisionist trends.

It is unacceptable that monuments of the liberators are dismantled and destroyed by the today’s political governments (Poland, Croatia, and Ukraine).

It is unacceptable that the heroic struggle of the partisans and the resistance fighters are denounced and the values are minimalized in the public.

It is unacceptable equalizing fascism with communism or the leaders of the anti-fascist victory with Nazi criminals.

It is unacceptable that Nazi collaborators and SS soldiers were honored as highly recommended in the Baltics and Ukraine, and they are called “freedom fighters”.

It is unacceptable that today’s generations are confronted with faulty information and revisionist views on the struggle of the Resistance (Hungary and Poland).

We condemn all these kinds of historical revisionism and falsification. It is politically dangerous because this is often connected with the political acceptance of right wing and open fascist groups and propaganda, like in Ukraine. As we can see – there are such tendencies also in Poland or Hungary.

FIR and its member federations stand for the historical truth about the struggle of Resistance and to preserve the memory of those who fought against fascism and war. We remember all the women and men, they sacrificed their lives, risking their health and freedom, to fight for the freedom of their country and the liberation of Europe.

We are proud to see that in several countries the anti-fascist, resistance fighter and veteran organizations are able to mobilize younger generations on this subject like we experienced in Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Russia and several other European countries. These are hopeful signals that all attempts of historical revisionism will find political and anti-fascist responses.

We encourage schools and universities, historians, pedagogues and anti-fascist fighters, to continue to bring young people the history of the struggle against fascism and the real history of Second World War again and again.

We urge the European Parliament and political structures in all European countries to follow their own public declarations – given the 70th anniversary of the day of liberation/ day of victory – never to allow such historical revisionism and to defend the honor of the Resistance fighters and the victims of Nazism.

FIR reaffirms its solidarity with the refugees

27. Mai 2016

FIR – the federation of former veterans, partisans and Resistance fighters, antifascists of today’s generations – recalls its declaration „Helping refugees – combat the causes of flight – human dignity for everyone – together against racism!” (March 2016). On this fundament the leading body of FIR supports the following declaration of our Greek comrades (PEAEA) and encourages all member federations of FIR to be active and in solidarity with the refugees in their countries:

The refugee crisis has become worse since the shameful agreement between the EU and Turkey which violates the rights of refugees as they have been defined by international law signed as well by the Greek government. The situation of the refugees is becoming more and more inhumane. Those refugees who are sent back by Greece to Turkey, are thrown into prison and if they are sent to their home countries, their life is in immediate danger.

This agreement permitted as well many American NATO warships to be present in the Eastern part of Mediterranean under the pretext of monitoring from the field to reduce the flow of refugees, but really they just follow the movements of Russian warships. The result is an increase of the danger of an imperialist war with disastrous consequences for the populations of the entire region. However the refugee crisis escalated especially after the closure of the European borders with the result that refugees are trapped in Greece under inhumane conditions.

Scandals of NGO’s exploiting refugees also are being revealed every day making life of refugees even harder. If the refugees are still preserved in Greece, it’s because of the solidarity of ordinary people and the organized help from people’s committees.

Hypocritical statements and actions of the European Union and other imperialist organs are not going to solve any problem, because the flows of refugees are the result of the imperialist interventions and wars those organizations cause themselves in order to control the resources of wealth of those regions and their transport routes.

We demand the immediate opening of borders to refugees, so they were able to go to the countries where they want to live. We also demand an end to imperialist interventions so that refugees could return to their homes.         

Adopted May 2016

Letter of FIR president Vilmos Hanti

1. Juli 2015

Dear EC members,
Chairmen of the member federations and members of FIR,
Dear Antifascist Comrades,

While our eyes and attention are focused on what kind of a future lies ahead of Europe and the world, we cannot forget what had happened yesterday, where we come from, what kind of lessons our common past carries.
The mission of FIR, the International Federation of Resistance Fighters, is to represent and disseminate the above truth. Today’s strained international relations and, especially, the events unfolding these days on the European continent have demonstrated, perhaps with an acuity unknown since the end of World War II, how dealing with the consequences of the catastrophe submerging us in the 30’s and 40’s is of paramount importance in order to prevent their fall into oblivion.
We can attain this goal if FIR’s leadership and our member organisations do play an appropriate role in public life; if we keep reminding all of us that, unfortunately, people continue to be vulnerable, and the poisoning of people’s minds goes on even today; if we face head on the difficulties which have been accompanying the great geopolitical changes that took place a quarter of a century ago, and most of all, if we keep conveying these messages consistently to the new generations.
My conviction is that in this historic endeavour FIR, too, carries a lot of responsibilities, and we – relying on similar activities carried out by others – can bring an important contribution to keeping alive what everybody should remember. We must not allow that some forces, referring to the passing of time or guided by dark political designs, manage to bury this determinant European heritage which defines our todays and which originates in the terrifying cataclysm and the ensuing historic antifascist victory 70 years ago!
In the spirit of the above, I am turning to the Executive Committee of FIR, to the leadership of its member organisations, to the FIR members themselves with the proposition to intensify our common activities in our societies and among the young generations through initiatives and events, including cross-border meetings. This would send a signal that FIR is alive and is working and deems it important to draw attention to the dangers threatening the democratic order, solidarity, tolerance, human rights, and to focus on the designs of those political forces which seek to squeeze the worst, the most noxious out of people’s minds, making use for this purpose of the countless real problems and crises that beset our continent and its neighbourhood.
Never again cruel destructions, never again fascism dressed either in old or new clothes!

Dear Friends,
I am waiting for your thoughts and reactions to the issues raised in my letter. I wish to know your ideas as to the possibilities for further common action.

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