Greeting of the FIR to all events on the day of liberation, the day of victory and the commemorative actions “immortal regiment” 2021

22. April 2021

,

The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Anti-Fascists greets all participants of the celebrations of Liberation Day, Victory Day and the commemorative actions “immortal regiment”.

May 8 / 9, 1945 is and remains for anti-fascists in all parts of the world the “dawn of human history” (Peter Gingold). In many places of the world, this day is celebrated with dignity. The memory of the victims of fascist barbarism and the fighters against fascism is a permanent obligation for all of us.

Thus, we oppose all frightening attempts to falsify history, the rehabilitation of SS criminals as “national heroes” as in the Baltic States, the destruction of memorials to the liberators in public spaces as in Poland or the glorification of fascist collaborators such as General Lukov in Bulgaria, Horthy in Hungary or Bandera in Ukraine.

With our joint commemorative work we pay tribute to the people, family members, friends and relatives, political companions and personalities of all countries who gave their lives as partisans, resistance fighters and in the ranks of the units of the anti-Hitler coalition for the freedom of their homeland and the military dismantling of the fascist military machine.

We appeal to all: preserve the memory of the millions of victims of fascism and war, of the victims of mass extermination of Jews, Slavs, Sinti and Roma. Preserve the tradition, the memory and the mission of the anti-fascist resistance. We stand up for a world in which racism, barbarity, nationalism and intolerance have no place. Pass on the lessons of history so that they are never forgotten, so that such evil never happens again.

This year the International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Anti-Fascists celebrates its 70th anniversary. We must face the reality that in a very short time no time witnesses of the anti-fascist struggle will be alive. Nevertheless, their legacy must be passed on, because their tasks are still to be solved. Therefore, we call the today’s generations: join the community of antifascist and veterans associations.

Günter Pappenheim, member of the honorary presidency of the FIR, deceased (1925-2021)

31. März 2021

,

With great sadness, we heard today that Günter Pappenheim, survivor of Buchenwald concentration camp, first vice-president of the International Committee Buchenwald-Dora and Commandos, chairman of the camp working group Buchenwald-Dora and member of the honorary presidency of the FIR has died at the age of 95.

As a young man, he was arrested and deported to Buchenwald concentration camp. His “crime”: He secretly played the Marseilles on a accordion for French forced laborers.

On April 19, 1945, he and his comrades spoke the “Oath of Buchenwald,” which was his political guideline throughout his life: “Destruction of Nazism with its roots, creation of a new world of peace and freedom.”

After the camp’s self-liberation, he worked hard for an anti-fascist-democratic new beginning in the SBZ and later the GDR. Even after the end of the GDR, he remained true to his anti-fascist convictions. Günter Pappenheim’s voice was heard, his statements on the memory of the common struggle of the Buchenwald prisoners carried weight in the public debate. He demonstrated this very clearly once again a year ago – even under the conditions of the Corona situation – on the 75th anniversary of the self-liberation of Buchenwald concentration camp on April 11, 1945. 

Honored, he was first abroad. The FIR appointed him a member of the honorary presidency. The French state appointed him a Knight of the Legion of Honor. Only in the last years, he experienced this recognition also in the FRG. He received the Order of Merit of the State of Thuringia and in the last year of his life, he became an honorary citizen of the city of Weimar.

His voice will be missed in preserving the legacy of the survivors. And of course we miss him as a person with his kindness, his sympathy and attention, his hints and advice.

We express our deepest sympathy to his comrades, his political companions and especially to his wife Margot Pappenheim. He remains unforgotten.

Since 100 years: 8 March as International Women’s Day

7. März 2021

Since the II International Conference of Communist Women in 1921, 8 March has been celebrated as an International Day of Action for Equal Rights for Women. As early as 1910, at the suggestion of Clara Zetkin, the International Women’s Congress in Stuttgart had decided on an annual day of agitation for women’s suffrage. This was realized in numerous countries with the October Revolution in Russia and the November Revolution in Germany. In commemoration of the strike of the Petrograd women in 1917, the prelude of the February revolution, the international women’s day was fixed in 1921 now on 8 March.

The FIR and its member federations take this date as an opportunity to remember the great contribution of women in all countries to the anti-fascist resistance struggle. Their role was as varied as the political life of the resistance struggle. Only a few examples may be mentioned:

Everyone knows the great woman of the Spanish Republic, Dolores Ibárruri Gómez called La Pasionaria. She was president of the Spanish Cortes. With her speeches, she brought many Spaniards, especially women, to the side of the Republicans. From her came the slogan “¡No pasarán!” (“They will not pass!”). She had to go into exile in 1939 and did not return to Spain – politically unbroken – until 1977.

Women fought in the ranks of the armed partisan units. The partisan groups of the Albanian and Yugoslavian liberation armies had their own women’s battalions.

Women also fought in the ranks of the partisans in the Soviet Union. Probably the most famous figure is Zoia Kosmodemjanskaya. After successful operations behind the front lines, she was captured at the age of 18, tortured, and publicly executed on November 29, 1941. When this became known, Soviet soldiers wrote on their bombs and tanks as they advanced westward, “For Zoia.”

The Jewish poet Hirsch Glik set an artistic monument to the Lithuanian partisan Vitka Kempner in the song “Schtil, di nacht is ojsgeschternt”.

Women were involved in all illegal structures of the resistance organizations. Their role was also significant in the stage, in the distribution of anti-fascist material and in the supply. Moreover, they performed tasks that were impossible for men. For example, in occupied France, women specifically made contact with occupation soldiers to obtain information for the fighting units of the Maquis.

Moreover, we do not forget the many thousands of women who were plundered, mistreated and murdered by the fascist regime not only in the Ravenbrück concentration camp, but also in the countless subcamps of all concentration camps and as forced laborers.

This palmary role of women in the anti-fascist struggle has not always been honored in the due form in former decades. Therefore, it is all the more important that in today’s time – and especially in passing on the history of the anti-fascist resistance of the people – we make clear the role of all women for common action.

Anti-fascism is not a question of gender. However, it is one of the foundations of anti-fascist conviction to stand up for full equality and appreciation of the significant contribution of women in anti-fascist action then and now.

In this sense, we congratulate all women to the 100th anniversary of the International Women’s Day, wish them “bread and roses” and assure them that this day is for the FIR and its member federations an obligation for today and tomorrow.

Commemorating the liberation of Budapest

13. Februar 2021

,

At the Memorial for the Martyrs on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, MEASZ has organized a press briefing to remember the liberation of the city from fascism, as well as the heroes and victims fallen during the war. Because of the pandemic, instead of the traditional impressive wreath-laying ceremony, MEASZ was present there together with representatives of five political parties who jointly paid tribute to those remembered.

Among those who took the floor during the commemoration were Péter Niedermüller, mayor of the 7th district of the capital, on behalf of the Democratic Coalition party DK, István Ferenczi, chairman of the LMP party organization of Budapest, President Bősz Anett on behalf of the Liberals, Gyula Hegyi, Vice-President of the MSZP Socialist Party, and Gábor Erőss, deputy mayor of the 8th district of Budapest on behalf of the Dialogue party. Vilmos Hanti, President of MEASZ and FIR, who also read out the letter sent by the Association of Russian Veterans, conducted the press briefing.

May 8 must become a holiday in Germany (Esther Bejarano)

28. Januar 2021

In a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, published by German Television, Esther Bejarano, musician, anti-fascist, survivor of the Auschwitz death camp and member of the FIR honour presidency, said:

Where do we stand in this year 76 after the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp? What has become of our hopes? We are only a few, we survivors of the concentration camps. We are not silent. We report about what happened at that time. Will books, films and stories be enough to immunize the next generations against the new and old Nazis, against anti-Semites, racists and conspiracy ideologists?

Words become deeds. We know this. We know about the brown net after ’45, the loud silence, the failure of the German state in denazification. For us it is unbearable when Nazi slogans are shouted and synagogues are attacked again, death lists circulate, right-wing extremists sit in parliaments. Is history repeating itself? Primo Levi, also a prisoner in Auschwitz, said, “It has happened, consequently it can happen again.” We remember in order to change, in order to preserve our democracy. For me, the key to this is the youth. We have to win them. You are not guilty for what happened then, I say. However, you are guilty if you do not want to know about this history.

What ended in the gas chambers began with repression, exclusion, racism. Many of the young people know this. Often I hear then: “Mrs. Bejarano, even if you are no longer here, we will always continue to tell your story.” That is my great hope! Nevertheless, we can start immediately with one change: May 8 must become a holiday, a day on which the liberation of humanity from the Nazi regime can be celebrated! Moreover, for those, who have doubts whether Germans in particular should also celebrate this day, just imagine: What would the world look like today if the Nazis had won?

FIR Season greetings 2021

18. Dezember 2020

We wish all: stay healthy and active. The coming year has many tasks in historical memory work and for anti-fascism today.

The FIR celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. We hope that we can celebrate it together with you. Also after seven decades the political tasks for the political legacy of the women and men from the resistance, the former persecuted are still actual. Therefore, we need everyone with his or her commitment, his or her confidence and his or her strength.

Желаем всем нашим товарищам, друзьям и спутникам в борьбе крепкого здоровья и счастливого и мирного 2021 года.
We wish all our comrades, friends and companions in struggle good health and a happy and peaceful year 2021.
Nous souhaitons à tous nos camarades, amis et compagnons de lutte, une bonne santé et une année 2021 heureuse et paisible.
Wir wünschen allen Kameradinnen und Kameraden, Freunden und Mitstreitern Gesundheit und ein gutes und friedliches Jahr 2021.

Obituary Simeon Ignatov (1940-2020), President of BAU and member of the executive committee of FIR

13. November 2020

It is with great sadness that we must announce the death of our comrade Simeon Ignatov, President of the Bulgarian Anti-Fascist Union and member of the executive committee of FIR.

On 30 October 2020, he celebrated his 80th birthday – due to the corona restrictions in a small circle. On this occasion, the FIR sent him a letter of congratulations and an honorary diploma, in which it says

 “All of us have the good experiences that you and the Bulgarian Antifascist Union are strong and valuable partners in the ranks of our international federation. In our common work, we defend the tradition of antifascist fight and the values of resistance – and you are active in this sense in Bulgaria, the land of Georgi Dimitroff and other great antifascists.”

Indeed comrade Simeon Ignatov was active as political secretary and later as president of BAU in the sense of the FIR. He belonged to the team, which prepared the impressive congress of the FIR 2013 in Sofia with large success. At the congress in Prague, he presented the successful work of BAU, participated already in 2018 in the meeting of the executive committee in Budapest and was elected unanimously in the new executive committee at the congress in Reggio Emilia. 

For many years, he has consistently campaigned for the recognition of Bulgarian anti-fascists as fighters in the ranks of the anti-Hitler coalition. In his speech in Italy, he condemned the scandalous resolution of the European Parliament of September 19, 2019 and announced that the Bulgarian anti-fascists will also be active against the Lukov march in 2020. With his modest but clear appearance, Simeon Ignatov has advanced our common tasks.

We mourn with his relatives and the Bulgarian antifascists. He will remain alive in our memory.

FIR congratulates new elected president Biden

10. November 2020

In our capacity as President and Secretary General of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) – Association of Antifascists, we take the opportunity to congratulate you cordially on your election as future President of the United States of America. Even if there are still some legal points of contention, we are nevertheless confident that the decision of the American voters will hold and confirmed.

As the umbrella organizations of the veteran federations of former partisans, resistance fighters, persecuted people of the Nazi regime, and their relatives, men and women in uniform in the armed forces of the anti-Hitler coalition, as well as today’s anti-fascists, FIR was created some 70 years ago, based on the antifascist heritage of World War II and the legacy of the victims and survivors. We are fully aware of the important role the United States had played in the anti-Hitler coalition and of the contribution its armed forces had played in the liberation of Europe from fascist barbarism. As an international structure, FIR and its member federations in Europe, Israel and Latin America are committed to the preservation of the anti-fascist legacy of the survivors. Therefore, we say in all clarity: antifascism is not terrorism, antifascism is democracy. We stand up against all forms of neo-fascism, for a world without racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance.

Esteemed President-elect Joe Biden,

We hope that during your term of office the system of democratic values in the United States will be reestablished. Above all, this means overcoming divisions in society and, especially, by promoting social justice.

We are confident that you will restore reliability and the principles of negotiation and dialogue in international relations. As the recipient in 1987 of the title of “ambassador of peace” of the United Nations, FIR has always advocated non-military conflict resolutions. We believe that this stand should also serve the interests of the United States of America.

It is in this spirit that, on behalf of FIR, we wish you whole-heartedly a successful term of office as the 46th President of the United States of America.

FIR condemns the terrorist attack in Vienna

3. November 2020

With disgust and indignation, the FIR had heard about the terrorist attack in Vienna. Based on the statements of the Austrian ministry of the Interior fanatical Muslims should be responsible for this action. It does not actually matter which group of perpetrators is responsible for this attack. It is and remains a despicable crime.

The coordinated action of the perpetrators of Vienna shows that this was not a spontaneous action, but rather a long-term planned action. The question arises, if so-called “endangerers” have been in the sights of the domestic secret services for a long time, why they did not react in time and appropriately. Such terrorist acts of violence never serve to enforce political ideas, but create a climate of fear and violence to which the security forces of the country concerned usually react by restricting democratic freedoms for all people. It is precisely in such situations, however, that democratic societies must defend the freedom of every individual. This does not work by reducing freedom rights, but only with a strong civil society in which social integration, tolerance and social opportunities are opened up for all people living in the country.

The women and men in the anti-fascist resistance and the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition did not liberate Europe from the barbarism of Nazism in 1945 and tried to push back the fascist ideology, only to find today that the achievements of their struggle are endangered by the dismantling of democratic rights and freedoms, by xenophobia and increasing intolerance.

The FIR and its member federations condemn such violent actions, express their sympathy to the victims and their relatives and explain clearly: In our countries terrorism, racism, xenophobia and intolerance have no place. We stand up for this with all forces of the civil society. 

Carla Nespolo, President of the partisan association ANPI deceased

5. Oktober 2020

With deep mourning, the Italian partisan federation ANPI and the international federation of the resistance fighters (FIR) must announce the death of Carla Nespolo. She was elected 2017 as the first president of the Italian federation.

Born in 1943 in Novara (Piedmont), she came from a communist family that fought actively in the Italian resistance against the German occupation. Her uncle Amino Pizzorno was vice-commander of the VI Partisan Territory, which operated between Piedmont and Liguria.

She decided to study teaching, which she completed with a university diploma. At the same time, she was politically active for the PCI and became the first communist parliamentarian in Piedmont. Later she was a deputy of the Italian Republic for 2 terms, then – until 1992 – a senator of the Republic. As a trained teacher, she became Vice President of the Education Commission, where she was involved in the reform of high schools, and later of the Environment Commission, where she also campaigned for environmental protection in extra-parliamentary actions.

A central concern were laws on women’s rights. She was a member of the special committee for the law on equality between men and women at work and fought against sexual violence.

With the same commitment as Carla Nespolo had implemented her parliamentary and extra-parliamentary work, she was also ready to take responsibility for the anti-fascist organization, ANPI, to which she had been affiliated for decades. When Prof. Carlo Smuraglia had to resign from his position as president of ANPI in 2017 for health reasons, she did not hesitate to take over this task. Very fast, she also gained international recognition, as it was evident at the conference of ANPI and FIR in December 2018 in preparation for the European election campaign. She supported the international solidarity of the FIR federations, but was also open for new comrades-in-arms from the anti-racist and social movements.

Rightly, ANPI declared in the message of mourning that Carla Nespolo had worked with great wisdom, passion, political and cultural intelligence in the great tradition of authority and active heritage of the values and principles of resistance. Despite her increasing illness, she led and enriched with her contributions the ANPI campaign this year against the change of the anti-fascist constitution with great commitment.

The FIR and the international antifascist movement loses with her a great representative of the ideals of the resistance. She will always remain in our memory.

← Ältere Nachrichten · Neuere Nachrichten →