Nobody in Europe will be abandoned. Nobody in Europe will be excluded. Europe only succeeds if we work together.
Angela MerkelRead
I can say that we are very clear in our mind about the responsibility of the national soldiers for the break with civilisation that was the Shoah. We are firmly convinced that this is something that will have to be handed over to generations to come... so we don't see any reason to change our view of history.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the enduring responsibility of acknowledging and teaching about the Holocaust across generations.
Angela Merkel reflects on the moral obligation to remember and convey the lessons of the Holocaust (Shoah) to future generations. She asserts the importance of maintaining a clear historical perspective on the actions of national soldiers during this tragic event, highlighting a commitment to truth and education about this dark chapter in history.
Themes
HolocaustResponsibilityHistoryEducationMemory
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech addressing a conference on human rights, one could cite this quote to emphasize the importance of historical awareness.
More from Angela Merkel
All quotes →Let us answer the terrorists by living our values with courage.
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We need... to say to people that this is a temporary residential status, and we expect that, once there is peace in Syria again, once IS has been defeated in Iraq, that you go back to your home country with the knowledge that you have gained.
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During the course of 1989, more and more East Germans lost their fears of the state's repression and chicanery and went out on the streets. There was no turning back then. It is thanks to their courage the Wall was opened.
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Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass, will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation.
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