By Sara Orlos Fernandes
On the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II, several hundred people laid flowers and wreaths at the Soviet memorials in Tiergarten and Treptower Park. The ban on Russian flags and symbols again caused trouble.
At Treptower Park, visitors had to go through a police check. Everything that was based on the colors of the Russian flag had to be handed over to a truck. This also included flags of other countries such as Serbia.
Control at the entrance to Treptower Park. Prohibited flags had to be surrendered Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
Police officers packed everything in yellow bags. The utensils could be picked up later. However, the ban did not apply to guests of the Russian delegation.
Actually forbidden: Only members of the Russian delegation were allowed to wear Russian symbols Photo: Sven Meissner
The officials’ gaze was sometimes stricter, sometimes they turned a blind eye. While some with symbols of the Red Army, such as the USSR cap, were let through, others had to undress at the entrance.
“I do not get it. My grandfather died in the war. I’m here to commemorate and not to argue with Ukraine,” said Yuliia, 52, who had to surrender a cap and flag.
Yuliia had to give the Red Army cap to the police cloakroom Photo: Sven Meissner
Yuliia (52) is upset about the ban: “I’m here to commemorate and not to argue with Ukrainians” Photo: Sven Meissner
In contrast to Russian symbols, the administrative court in Berlin had lifted the ban on Ukrainian symbols in summary proceedings. A dozen visitors dressed in yellow and blue came to the memorial in Treptower Park – arguments were the result.
A few demonstrators with the Ukraine flag gathered at the Soviet monument in Treptower Park Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
At the monument, pro-Ukrainian demonstrators had to be protected by a police cordon. They were accosted by the crowd with “Nazis out” and “Fascists”.
A Ukraine supporter in a Putin shirt demonstrated in Treptower Park for peace Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
“I can’t count how many times I was insulted today,” said Felix Hosse (27), who came with a Ukraine flag. Pro-Ukraine calls were drowned out by slogans about Russia. Since such tensions were feared, the Berlin police were on duty with around 1,300 police officers on the second day of the commemoration events.
On May 8, 1945, the Second World War in Europe ended with the surrender of the German Wehrmacht. Because the nightly signing of the capitulation fell on May 9, Moscow time, Victory Day is traditionally celebrated in Russia on this date.
Ex-SED politician Egon Krenz gave autographs at the memorial Photo: Sven Meissner
That’s why Russia’s Ambassador Sergei J. Nechayev laid a wreath in Treptower Park on Tuesday morning. The delegation then moved on to the Soviet memorial in Tiergarten. Around 400 people took part.
Hundreds of people marched in memory of the fallen soldiers Photo: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Hundreds of demonstrators commemorated the fallen soldiers with a commemorative march from the Brandenburg Gate via Straße des 17. Juni to the memorial.