The Hindu Editorial Analysis
9 May 2025
Eighty years on, ‘never again’ is sounding hollow
(Source – The Hindu, National Edition – Page No. – 08)
Topic: GS 2: International Relations | Global Security | NATO and European Defence Policy | Memory Politics and Historical Commemoration
Context
- Europe marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe Day – May 8, 1945), celebrating the end of WWII in Europe.
- However, the current Russia-Ukraine war, NATO tensions, and rising insecurity across Europe make the commemoration feel hollow.
- The article critiques how the rhetoric of peace (“never again”) contrasts with Europe’s fragmented response to current global conflicts.
Introduction
“Never again” was once the solemn promise of a war-scarred Europe.
Eighty years since the guns fell silent in WWII, Europe is once again facing the specter of conflict, not just in Ukraine but across its eastern and southern flanks.
Commemoration without cohesion, accountability, and action, as this article highlights, risks turning memory into mere symbolism.
From Dates to Discord: The Complicated Memory of VE Day
1. A Tale of Two Surrenders
- While Western Europe celebrates May 8, Russia commemorates May 9, reflecting WWII’s ideological divide.
- Stalin insisted on a second surrender, highlighting Soviet insecurities and power assertion, which still shapes Russian historical memory.
2. Historical Tensions Between Allies
- Post-war tensions, especially between the USSR and the West, muddied even the victory’s timeline.
- Different narratives about who bore the brunt of Nazi defeat persist, affecting communal remembrance and national identity.
Memory Versus Modern Militarism
1. Militarised Memory in Russia and China
- In Russia, VE Day is celebrated with military parades, turning history into spectacle and state propaganda.
- This year’s celebration will be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, turning remembrance into geopolitical theatre.
2. The Shadow of Ukraine
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stripped VE Day of moral clarity, as the aggressor now claims the mantle of the liberator.
- European leaders are alarmed at Moscow’s rhetoric and NATO’s hesitancy in enforcing deterrents.
Anxieties in the West: NATO and Strategic Drift
1. Weak NATO Signaling and US Reluctance
- The absence of clear commitment from the US to defend NATO allies (e.g., Article 5) has triggered panic across Europe.
- France’s Macron warned that the West must not cede the narrative to revisionist powers.
2. Rearmament and Civil Defence Revival
- Countries like Poland, the Baltics, and Finland are rearming, reintroducing civil defence measures, and warning citizens of potential war.
- NATO’s eastern flank is especially vulnerable, and public confidence in deterrence is fragile.
Peace or Selective Memory? Lessons from the Past
1. Europe’s Incoherent Response to Conflict
- While commemorating WWII, Europe remains divided and inconsistent in dealing with newer crises — including those in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
- The moral clarity of WWII seems inapplicable to modern geopolitical conflicts, where economic interests often override values.
2. ‘Never Again’ in the Age of Strategic Ambiguity
- The lack of a unified response to Russia and the broader reliance on deterrence without diplomacy reveals that Europe is unprepared for peace, let alone war.
- History’s promise of “never again” rings hollow if prevention is not matched by preparedness and principles.
Conclusion
- Eighty years after the fall of Nazi Germany, Europe is not at peace—it is on edge.
The rhetoric of remembrance must not substitute for strategic clarity and collective resolve. - To honour the past, Europe must not only remember but act with unity, consistency, and courage in the face of current global threats.
Only then can “never again” become a living promise, not a fading slogan.