The end of World War II has long served as a moral and political reference point, defining what a democratic order should be, who should be considered a hero and who — a murderer, and how should lessons learned from the past protect us against future catastrophes. But in the 21st century, this link between past and present has come under threat. What does the memory of World War II now look like in different countries? Why is 1945 no longer the «zero point» of European self-understanding? And is there still a chance the lessons of the Second World War should become relevant again? Historians Camilo Erlichman and Ferenc Laczo discuss these questions. We’re translating their materials for Eurozine and The Review of Democracy with abbreviations.
«1945 no longer serves as a reference point»
Article on Sapere Aude online
