Speech to mark the 80th anniversary of 20 July 1944
Read the speech Federal Chancellor Scholz delivered at the central memorial ceremony held at the German Resistance Memorial Centre in Berlin on the 80th anniversary of 20 July 1944.
Saturday, 20 July 2024
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz with Bärbel Bas (right), President of the German Bundestag, and Manuela Schwesig, President of the Bundesrat, at the German Resistance Memorial Centre.
Photo: Federal Government/Rau
Transcript of the press conference in German only
The key facts:
- Citizens with a very diverse range of political and religious beliefs opposed the National Socialist regime: women and men, soldiers and civilians, Christians and atheists, social democrats, communists and liberals, unionists and entrepreneurs.
- In the early years of the Federal Republic of Germany, many still thought of the resistance fighters as “traitors”. On 20 July 1954 Federal President Theodor Heuss delivered a speech that established a tradition commemorating the resistance with gratitude.
- In his speech, Federal Chancellor Scholz commemorated the conscience of the members of the resistance movement who wished to restore the “majesty of justice”. He also reflected on their faith in a different Germany beyond the Nazi state where injustice held sway.
- Scholz went on to say that active public involvement was essential also in the present day, both with regard to one’s circle of friends and neighbours and in associations, initiatives and organisations.