The International Federation of the Resistance fighters (FIR) – Association of Anti-fascists has a moral order as “Ambassador of peace “of the United Nations to use itself for non-military conflict solutions in the world.

With large concern fulfills to us also the world-wide financial and economic
crisis, by which large parts of the population were fallen into economic
uncertainty. The crisis consequences may not be shifted on the shoulders of the
working population, the pensioners and socially weak ones. This would be a
dangerous fertile soil for nationalistic and extremely right demagogues.

With large concern we see actually the increase of extremely right forces,
from violent neo-fascists to right wing populist groups, which could achieve
mandates in the election campaign to the European parliament in different
countries of Europe. These are not national single features. We experience an
increasing networking of the neo-nazis on the European level with Nazi
marching-up, conferences and demonstrations.

Against these tendencies we set our anti-fascist internationalism. Together
the anti-fascist federations countered in the past years e.g. in Cologne,
Dresden or Budapest such neo-fascist provocations. FIR and its member
federations work for civilian alliances as broad as possible, which include
trade unions, social organizations, churches, political parties, artists and
prominent ones as well as anti-fascist activists. We co-operate with all
democrats and anti-fascists, who are honestly ready to oppose actively the
advance of extremely right organizations and their ideology.

For the FIR and its member federations retaining the memory of the
anti-fascist fight of the peoples remains an indispensable task. On different
political and social levels we experience today attempts to falsify the
anti-fascist history perspective. Monuments of the anti-fascist fight are
destroyed.

In particular in Middle and Eastern European countries there are efforts to
play the SS and its crimes down and to reinterpret the earlier collaborators of
fascism to “heroes of the national liberation”. In Bulgaria the
government refuses recognizing the fight of the anti-fascists against the
authoritarian governance from 1923 to 1944 as resistance. Partly even partisans
and other anti-fascist fighters are accused 50 years after the end of fascism as
“criminal ones “.

Such scandalous history falsifications may not be accepted. In particular we
underline the fact that May 8/9, 1945 has been and will be forever the day of
victory of the peoples over fascism and thus the day of liberation from fascism
and war. All attempts to establish an “anniversary against
totalitarianism” on August 23 are to be rejected as historical
revisionism.

The task of FIR and their member federations remains to retain the
historical memory of the resistance of the peoples, of the women and men, who
gave their life, who fought in the ranks of the anti-Hitler coalition or who
became victims in the concentration and extermination camps because of their
conviction or for other reasons of fascist exclusion. To pass on their
experiences to today’s and future generations is one of the most distinguished
tasks, our organizations are confronted with. We cooperate in particular with
memorial places of the camps, with archives and historical institutions as well
as anti-fascist initiatives of historical work.

The appreciation of this fight contains also to secure the social
acknowledgment of the fighters against fascism. It is a moral and social
obligation of all democratic states in Europe, those women and men, which risked
lives and health in the anti-fascist fight for the freedom of Europe, to grant
them today the means for existence protection and financial compensation.

FIR and its member federations stand together against racism, Antisemitism,
xenophobia, neo-fascism, nationalism and extremely right wing populism. In
solidarity with the today’s generations we retain the liability of the fighters
and the victims of the nazism and fight for democracy, social justice and
“a new world of peace and freedom”.

September 1, 2009

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the aggression of Hitler’s Germany on Poland on 1st September 1939 which marks the beginning of the Second World War the International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists, the umbrella association of organizations of former resistance fighters, partisans, members of the anti-Hitler coalition, persecuted by the Nazi regime and anti-fascists of today’s generations from over twenty countries in Europe and Israel’s takes the initiative for a new international policy of peace.

We remind of the fact that 35 years ago by political action of peoples and states in the CSCE-process it has been successful to eliminate in Europe the danger of war. Such a social process is also today necessary. We see that conflicts primarily are militarily solved in the world. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the military escalation in the Middle East and growing non-state forms of violence (terrorism and piracy) shape the reality.

At the same time the NATO military alliance claimed for a global use of space – ostensibly for “defence of Western values”, injuries of human rights, even mass murders are evaluated before the background by interests of raw material.

It is not the point to create a “new world of the peace and the liberty”, as the survivors, the resistance fighters, deported and interned peoples, wanted 1945. Reserves of raw materials and the penetration of interests of power are the only stakes. The right of self-determination of peoples is ignored thereby.

As a “peace-messenger” – appointed by the United nations – we call the UN, the international organizations and social forces to support initiatives for a new international policy of peace. These include the recognition of the right of existence of all states and the enforcement of an equitable world economic order. Also the states of the European Union can make their contribution in addition if they reject the militarization of the foreign policy, as it is to be found in the Lisbon Treaty.

In this sense we appeal to peace forces, parties, trade unions and critics of the globalisation, to be active in actions, in votings and explanations for a new international policy of peace. The FIR calls its member federations to take part with their historical experiences in it.

The International Federation of the Resistance fighters (FIR) – Association of the Anti-fascists, the umbrella organization of federations of former resistance fighters, partisans, members of the anti-Hitler coalition, pursuits of the Nazi regime and antifascist of today’s generations from more than twenty countries of Europe and Israel took knowledge with surprise and indignation of the resolution of the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from 3 July 2009 to the subject “divided Europe reunited”.

In that way the fascist mass crimes and the illegality in the Stalinist period are placed undifferentiated on the same stage. At the same time therein is assigned to the Soviet Union the same responsibility at provoking the Second World War as Hitler Germany. Such statements do not have anything to do with the historical reality. They falsify history and defame the common fight of the anti-Hitler coalition, in which the Soviet Union had a crucial portion as allied power, against the largest threat of mankind in 20. Century.

We know that the resolution of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was implemented against the voices by for instance a third of the members of the parliamentary assembly. Thus it is clear that it concerns to the initiators not a political consent as broad as possible, but the establishment of a reactionary history view – based on totalitarianism doctrine and history falsification – into Europe.

Especially in commemoration the 70th anniversary of the aggression of Hitler Germany on Poland and the 20th anniversary of the end of the east west confrontation in Europe it depends however to retain the legacy of the political community of the anti-Hitler coalition for a democratic and peaceful Europe. And if in the explanation the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe the goal is designated “promotion of the human rights and the civil liberties “, then we remind of the oath of the survivors of the KZ Buchenwald, which summarized the community of the anti-Hitler coalition with the following words: “Destruction of the Nazism with its roots, creation of a new world of peace and freedom!”

That is and remains our goal for a reunited Europe.

Im Juni 2009 finden in den Mitgliedsstaaten der Europäischen Union die Wahlen zum Europäischen Parlament statt. Dies ist für die Internationale Föderation der Widerstandskämpfer (FIR) – Bund der Antifaschisten, die Dachorganisation ehemaliger Widerstandskämpfer, Partisanen, Angehörigen der Anti-Hitler-Koalition, Verfolgten des Naziregimes und Antifaschisten heutiger Generationen und ihre Mitgliedsverbände in fünfundzwanzig Ländern Europas und Israel Anlass, die Grundpositionen der antifaschistischen Verbände in Europa zu Gehör zu bringen:

Wir erinnern an die antifaschistischen Wurzeln der europäischen Einigung, die Gemeinsamkeiten der Anti-Hitler-Koalition und den Internationalismus der Überlebenden der Konzentrations- und Vernichtungslager. Man hat 1945 geschworen, dass Faschismus und Krieg nie wieder das Leben der Völker bedrohen dürfen – und das gilt bis heute. Europa kann daher nur ein antifaschistisches Europa sein. Und das bedeutet konkret:

1) Wir treten ein für ein friedliches Europa, das seine Rolle und Bedeutung in der Welt dafür einsetzt Kriege zu verhindern und sich für nicht-militärische Konfliktlösungen einsetzt. Wir widersetzen uns der Militarisierung europäischer Außenpolitik. “Terrorismus” kann nicht mit Kriegspolitik bekämpft werden. Die Antwort auf das weltweite Flüchtlingselend heißt nicht Abschottung und “Festung Europa”. Europa muss sich aktiv an der Bekämpfung von Fluchtursachen beteiligen und durch Integration und angemessene Aufnahme von Flüchtlingen an der Lösung der Probleme im Interesse der Menschen mitwirken.

2) Ein friedliches Europa bedeutet im Inneren, jeglichen Formen von sozialer und rassistischer Diskriminierung entgegenzutreten. Der Bericht der Europäischen Beobachtungsstelle zum Rassismus hat deutlich gemacht, dass rassistische Ausgrenzungen nicht nur gegen Sinti und Roma in verschiedenen Ländern Europas alltäglich sind. Wer in Europa glaubwürdig gegen Rassismus und Xenophobie eintreten will, muss hier deutlich Position beziehen. Ein friedliches Europa kann nur ein demokratisches Europa sein. Nicht zunehmende Bürokratisierung und Zentralisierung, sondern demokratische Mitwirkung und Stärkung der zivilgesellschaftlichen Strukturen ist die Perspektive. Die Verbände der FIR sind aktiver Teil dieser Zivilgesellschaft und erwarten Förderung und Unterstützung.

3) Wir treten ein für ein soziales Europa der Menschen. Nicht ungebremster Handel und Kapitalverkehr dürfen den Charakter Europas bestimmen, sondern ein hoher Standard der sozialen und persönlichen Rechte und Freiheiten für alle Menschen. Europa wird erst dann von den Bürgern akzeptiert, wenn es beweist, dass es Freizügigkeit und Sicherheit nicht nur im Urlaub ermöglicht, sondern allen Menschen eine berufliche und gesellschaftliche Perspektive gibt.

4) Wir warnen vor zunehmendem Nationalismus und Chauvinismus in Europa. Niemand sollte die kulturelle Vielfalt Europas nivellieren wollen. Aber es ist politisch verheerend für alle Menschen in Europa, wenn Rechtspopulisten und Neofaschisten “Mein Land zuerst” oder “Deutschland den Deutschen” propagieren. Die Präsenz rassistischer und rechtspopulistischer Kräfte im Europäischen Parlament muss mit allen Mitteln verhindert werden.

Antifaschisten brauchen Verbündete im europäischen Parlament. Wir rufen dazu auf, jene Parteien zu unterstützen, die sich aktiv für ein demokratisches, soziales und antifaschistisches Europa einsetzen. Wir hoffen, sie in verschiedenen Fraktionen zu finden, denn Antifaschismus ist eine Haltung, die nicht an eine parteipolitische Orientierung gebunden ist.

Im April 2009 will die NATO in Strasbourg ihr 60. Gründungsjubiläum begehen. Die Internationale Föderation der Widerstandskämpfer (FIR) sieht in diesem Jubiläum keinen Grund zum Feiern, sondern einen Anlass, über eine andere Strategie der Friedenssicherung in Europa und der Welt nachzudenken.

Entstanden ist die NATO bekanntermaßen aus dem Ost-West-Konflikt nach dem Ende des Zweiten Weltkrieges. Diese Konfrontation zerstörte nicht nur die Gemeinsamkeit der Anti-Hitler-Koalition, die die Welt von der damals größten Bedrohung der Menschheit befreite, sondern überlagerte auch die Grundforderung aller Friedens- und antifaschistischen Kräfte: Nie wieder Faschismus! Nie wieder Krieg!

Die Ost-West-Konfrontation, die in Korea und später Vietnam zu heißen Kriegen mit Millionen Toten führte, konnte erst in den 70er Jahren schrittweise durch ein neues System der Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (KSZE – Prozess) überwunden werden.

Das Ende der Warschauer Vertragsorganisation Anfang der 90er Jahre hätte auch das Ende der NATO als militärischer Block bedeuten können.

Statt jedoch eine neue weltweite Sicherheitsarchitektur unter der Verantwortung der Vereinten Nationen auf den Weg zu bringen, begannen NATO-Strategen damit, neue Handlungsfelder für dieses Militärbündnis zu definieren:

Die NATO reklamierte für sich die Aufgabe der Sicherung von Rohstoffversorgung. Dazu richtet sie weltweit Stützpunkte ein.

Sie propagiert eine internationale Terrorismusbekämpfung, als könne man mit konventionellen Truppen den Terrorismus mit seinen sozialen Wurzeln bekämpfen.

Sie spielt auf diese Art Weltpolizei (“Out of area”-Einsätze) vorbei an den Vereinten Nationen und am Systems des Völkerrechts.

Die Konsequenzen dieser Politik sind im Krieg gegen Jugoslawien, im Militäreinsatz in Afghanistan und gegen den Irak – deklariert als “humanitäre Intervention” – deutlich zu erkennen.

Zudem beschleunigt die NATO die weltweite Militarisierung durch Aufrüstung. Die NATO-Staaten sind für 75 Prozent der globalen Militärausgaben verantwortlich.

Durch die Aufnahme von mittel- und osteuropäischen Staaten wurde der Einflussbereich der NATO in Richtung Russland verschoben. Dies führt dazu, dass die ehemalige Frontstellung gegen die sozialistischen Staaten nun gegenüber Russland weiterentwickelt wird. Die geplante Stationierung eines “Raketenabwehr”-Systems in Polen und der Tschechischen Republik verschärft selbst in Europa die Spannungen.

Die FIR sieht daher keinen Anlass, solche NATO-Strategie zu feiern. Sie tritt gerade anlässlich des 60. Jubiläums ein für eine neue internationale Militärstrategie, die gegen Konfrontation und Blockbildung eine internationale Sicherheitsarchitektur setzt, die die Priorität auf nicht-militärische Konfliktlösungen unter der Verantwortung der Vereinten Nationen legt. Unsere Vision einer friedlichen Welt ist nur ohne militärische Antworten auf globale und regionale Krisen zu erreichen – sie sind Teil des Problems und nicht der Lösung.

Militärausgaben sind zu reduzieren und die dadurch frei werdenden Ressourcen zur Befriedigung menschlicher Bedürfnisse einzusetzen. Alle ausländischen Militärstützpunkte sind zu schließen.

Wir lehnen alle militärischen Strukturen ab, die für Militärinterventionen genutzt werden. Die Beziehungen zwischen den Völkern müssen demokratisiert und demilitarisiert und neue Formen der friedlichen Zusammenarbeit errichtet werden, um eine sicherere und gerechtere Welt zu schaffen.

Dafür tritt die FIR gemeinsam mit der weltweiten Friedensbewegung anlässlich des NATO-Jubiläums ein.

Brüssel/Berlin 29.3.2009

Last week we received good news from Riga: The planned marching-up of SS-veterans and supporters by the extreme right wings in the Latvian capital was forbidden by the city.

Reason for this decision are initiatives of the International Federation of the Resistance fighters (FIR), their member federations and other political forces, who were directed against such a marching-up for the glorification of the criminal SS. In an urgent appeal to the Latvian government, to the delegates of the European parliament and the democratic public FIR had demanded a prohibition of the meeting and the promotion of the civilian-social resistance against SS-veterans.

With letters to the president of Latvia, with political resolutions and with diplomatic contacts through the Ambassadors of different European states the responsible persons were pushed in the past days, to follow the political consent of the European community “never again SS-Europe”. The decision over a prohibition of the marching-up shows that anti-fascism in Europe is a mobilizing political power, which can limit a driving of extremely right forces and historical revisionistic groups.

The FIR thanks all supporters of the initiative – whether member federations, parties or representatives of the civil society. In Europe may be tolerated neither historical falsification nor minimization of Nazi criminals and their organizations. The prohibition of Riga is an important signal in this sense.
Michel Vanderborght, President
Dr. Ulrich Schneider, General secretary

Prevent SS meeting in Latvia!
On 16 March former members of SS associations and neo-fascists in Riga (Latvia) prepare a march in honour of the Waffen SS as “national liberator of Latvia”. The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Anti-fascists, the umbrella organization of associations of former resistance fighters, partisans, deportees and internees, as well as victims of Nazi crimes and anti-fascists of today’s generations from 25 countries in Europe and Israel calls on the President of the Republic of Latvia and the Latvian Parliament to prevent this meeting with all political means.

We recall that the International Court of Justice in Nuremberg in 1946 recognized the SS and all of its integral parts, including the Waffen-SS, as criminal organization and declared it responsible for many war crimes and crimes against humanity. This ruling of the community of nations has validity until today. The recent United Nations General Assembly underlined this in a resolution from November 4, 2008 and criticized all attempts by the glorification of the fascist movement and former members of the Waffen SS, including the erection of monuments for the glorification of criminal organizations as “national liberation movements”.

We recall that the foundations of the new Europe based on the community of anti-Hitler coalition and the common struggle against fascist barbarism. Therefore, in this Europe no history distortion and trivialisation of Nazi criminals and their organizations should be tolerated.

We call on political leaders in Latvia to stop this goings-on with all the political energy.

We call upon the democratic and anti-fascist forces in Latvia and beyond, in the various forms of civil society, to bring their protest against this historical and political provocation to the public.

We appeal to the member associations of the FIR and the anti-fascist public, by writing to their own governments and the embassies of Latvia in their countries to protest against the scandal of such an SS meeting.

We urge the Members of the European Parliament, to use their political influence that this SS-meeting can not come. If a country wants to have a proper place in the community of European nations, it must itself involve against fascist tradition and neo-fascism.

Never again an SS-Europe!

The “Universal declaration of human rights” of the United Nations is a central political document of post-war history. The International Federation of Resistance fighters (FIR) – Association of Anti-fascists reminds in this connection of the fact that the political foundation for the foundation of the UN and the adoption of this declaration was the freedom fight of the peoples and nations against the fascist barbarism.

Already the survivors of the KZ Buchenwald demanded in April 1945 as consequence: “Creating of a new world of peace and freedom!”

These principles were in the “Universal declaration of human rights” write out in full. The goals of the declaration base on the ideals of the French revolution and their promises of “Freedom, equality, brotherliness”. Fascism in ideology and political practice tried to turn back these ideals. The common acting of the peoples in the antifascist fight overcame this threat.

Of cause we know that the principles of the “Universal declaration of human rights” do not determine actually the political and social reality in the today’s world. We have however no cause to point with the finger only in one direction. Human rights cannot be reduced to freedom of the expression of opinion or the entrance to the Internet. Even in the developed industrial nations fundamental rights and freedoms are often not ensured, like in particular the right to work and education, to have a human beingworthy accommodation or the protection from racist discrimination.

The FIR and its member federations stand today and in the future for the implementation of the ideals of the “Universal declaration of human rights” as a whole. These rights are not given humans. Such rights and freedoms are realisable – in such a way the historical experience teaches – only by social fights. Veterans of the anti-fascist fight and the anti-fascists of today’s generations are fellow combatants in such movement.

The memory at the 60th anniversary of the “Universal declaration of human rights” is in this way none “empty commemorating”, but a request for acting for a better world.