“Bronze Soldier” may still not rest in peace.
Another Estonian provocation disturbes the rest of the “Bronze Soldier” in Tallinn whereas his brother at arms resting in Berlin enjoys the tranquillity at Berlin’s “Treptower Park”.
Estonian authorities permitted “to lay a barbed wire wreath” to the World War II Bronze Soldier statue in central Tallinn, with police providing security for those taking part in the “ceremony.” The next provocation is to be expected on VE-Day (Victory Day Europe) as Estonian officials announced their plans to reserve the square around the monument on VE-Day to prevent WWII veterans who fought the Nazis from holding their traditional victory celebrations at the site.
In my previous entry on this topic, “Remove the Monuments ?” , I have pointed out my view on this affair and tried to highlight the general view in Germany on monuments and cemeteries commemorating the fallen soldiers of World War 2.
Comments to this entry, made by an Estonian national, speak for themselves and can be read in the comment section of this blog. Estonia’s behaviour in this “affair” can, in my humble opinion, be only seen as an act of national disgrace in the aspect of respecting the dead. Abusing memorials to feed exaggerated nationalism or “patriotism” reflects poor credit on Estonia, a “freshman” to the European Union who obviously has not entirely arrived in Europe yet. The question arises whether Estonia will ever arrive in Europe when continuing to display such a “Third World Style” behaviour.
There regularly are protests in national and international newspapers when some demented Nazis desecrate Jewish gravesites or Holocaust memorials. And these protests are legitimate and justified, one of the loudest voices in the chorus of the protestors is mine. So the Estonian nationalists are well advised to not expect me to remain silent when they openly suggest to desecrate a war memorial.
To make my point clear again, so hopefully even the last demented nationalist will finally understand it, my standpoint does not uniquely address this particular bronze soldier in Estonia. I am addressing every monument, cemetery, statue, whatsoever in entire Europe.
I am as much in opposition to the Estonian nationalists on the topic of the “Bronze Soldier” as I am in opposition to any demented member of France’s “Front Nationale”, who might suggest to turn the allied cemeteries in Normandy into a golf course, or any retarded German “Neo-Nazi” who gets his kicks off painting swastikas on gravestones.
The Estonian nationalists should recognize that the profanation of the “Bronze Soldier” is no minor offence. It’s not like spitting on the sidewalk, it’s more like spitting in the face of the dead and I find it difficult to believe that such a behaviour could possibly be a part of Estonia’s national character.
