Joint op-ed for the 80th anniversary of WWII
This month we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in the most devastating conflict ever faced by humankind. In three months, we will mark the end of World War II with the surrender of the Empire of Japan in August 1945. But today, as we reflect on the end of WWII in Europe, we must also acknowledge a tragic reality: full-scale war has once again returned to the continent. Russia’s refusal to recognise the right of Ukraine, its neighbour, to make sovereign foreign policy choices, culminating in its invasion, is a stark reminder that the lessons of history can never be taken for granted.
The decisions taken at the end of WWII were intended to prevent such conflicts from happening again. The establishment of the United Nations and adoption of its Charter enshrined a collective commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of member states as well as the prohibition of the use of force and the peaceful settlement of conflicts. The US Marshall Plan helped rebuild Western Europe’s shattered economies, while the Bretton Woods institutions introduced rules-based economic governance to foster stability among nations. NATO, the cornerstone of transatlantic security, has as a guarantor of security to its members safeguarded our peace for over 75 years. Later, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCSE), succeeded by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OBSE) played an important role in building trust and stability, preventing conflict and managing crises.
The wisdom of those who shaped the post-war world is more vital than ever in these uncertain times. Yet, as we remember, our focus should not solely be on the leaders of that era but also on the millions of brave men and women who sacrificed so much, many with their lives, for the cause of freedom and democracy. Their victory was not absolute. Though Nazi Germany was defeated, much of Europe remained under the grip of another oppressive regime. The Soviet Union played a crucial role in defeating fascism. But its Pact with Germany from 1939-41 led to its unprovoked attack on Finland, illegal occupation of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the dismemberment of Poland. It subsequently imposed its own authoritarian rule over half the continent, betraying the aspiration of those who had fought for true liberation. For decades, the words “freedom” and “liberation” were tarnished by this reality.
We owe an immense debt to those who fought for democracy in World War II. The many Slovaks who battled in the skies and on the ground alongside Allies, those who joined the Slovak National Uprising, and countless resistance fighters across Europe and even within Germany itself. These men and women risked everything to oppose a hateful ideology of racial supremacy, totalitarianism, and cruelty. Their defiance shaped the world we live in today, leaving a legacy that continues to underpin our democratic values.
Their struggle teaches us a lesson that each generation must learn anew; that freedom is worth fighting for, no matter the cost. It was a lesson learned the hard way by those trapped behind the Iron Curtain. And we see the same lesson playing out once again in Ukraine today. Just as our forebears stood against tyranny, we too have a duty to uphold their legacy and pass on the responsibility of safeguarding democracy to our children. History has shown us what happens when aggression is left unchecked. It is a truth we must never forget.
Signatories are Ambassadors of Albania, Belgium, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Croatia, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Romania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Italy and the Embassy of Island.