On 31 January 2025, the municipality of Kienitz in Brandenburg's Oderbruch region commemorated the 80th anniversary of the historic crossing of the Oder by the Red Army in 1945, when Soviet troops established the first bridgehead on the western bank of the Oder in Kienitz - a decisive step on the way to the liberation of Berlin.
The commemorative ceremony began with a lyrical and musical contribution by pupils, followed by the presentation of the Liberation Route Europe vector by the Mayor Robert Nitz.
This was followed by wreath-laying ceremonies at the T-34 tank memorial and the memorial to the victims of the Second World War. Among the guests were the District Administrator of Märkisch-Oderland, Gernot Schmidt (SPD), the Mayor of Letschin, Michael Böttcher, and representatives of other nations.
In their speeches, the speakers emphasised the importance of remembrance and the responsibility to keep history alive. The Russian ambassador emphasised the role of the Soviet Union in the liberation of Germany and thanked the local authorities for maintaining the memorials. Contemporary witnesses recalled the dramatic events of 1945, when many inhabitants lost their lives in air raids and the village was almost completely destroyed.
The commemorative event in Kienitz emphasised the importance of shared remembrance as the basis for peace and reconciliation in Europe.
Leave a Reply