On the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples in World War II
“Never again war! – Never again fascism!”
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 9th May 2016, Nicosia
AKEL commemorates 9th May, the Day of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples in the Second World War, the day on which the slogan “Never again war! – Never again fascism!” was heard all over Europe and throughout the whole world. 9th May represents the day that marks the end of the Second World War in Europe, a war that left more than 50 million people dead and the whole of Europe devastated due to the storm of Hitler fascism. All the forces that participated in the anti-Hitler coalition contributed to this Victory. However, the role of the Soviet Union, which bore the brunt of the war and suffered the biggest share of human and material losses, was distinctive and decisive.
On the occasion of the anniversary of the Great Antifascist Victory of the Peoples, AKEL expresses its profound respect for all those who stood up and resisted fascism, fought and sacrificed their lives in the war, among them the Cypriot volunteers and veterans as well who through their struggles wrote a glorious page in the history of Cyprus. AKEL also honors the historic Party decision of 16th June 1943 which addressed a call to the members of the Party to enlist in an organized way and fight against Hitler fascism. Hundreds of cadres, militants and members of AKEL, headed by the eleven of the seventeen members of the Central Committee, willingly responded to that call.
The messages conveyed by the Antifascist Victory of the Peoples and the crushing defeat of Hitler fascism remain extremely topical and timely. One of the most critical lessons from the tragedy of the Second World War is that no tolerance whatsoever must be shown towards fascism, racism and intolerance and to forces that express them and who are active in our country too.
Today we are witnessing the rise of extreme-right wing, fascist and neo-Nazi forces in several European countries; forces that are also exploiting the flow of refugees which is a result of the imperialist interventions and on-going wars. This fact, together with the militarization of the EU’s foreign policy and the complete coupling of the latter with NATO threatens the future of the peoples and peace. Our urgent task is the reconstruction of a strong peace movement in Europe to stop this dangerous slippery slope.
The duty of each and every one of us is to rally and unite our forces so that we won’t permit fascism to raise its head again, which in its different forms and variations, is poisoning the relations between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, while it played into the hands of the imperialist plans that ultimately led to the twin crime being committed in 1974. The revival of such sick ideologies is a grave insult to the antifascist struggles and sacrifices of the people of Cyprus.
