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Germany braces for pro-Russian Victory Day rallies

Rebecca Staudenmaier
May 9, 2022

Police in Berlin expect members of a pro-Putin biker club to take part in events marking the Soviet army's victory over the Nazis. Authorities are on high alert for any symbols supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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Police officers guard during commemorations to celebrate the end of World War II at the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin, Germany
Authorities in the German capital have banned Russian and Ukrainian flags at Soviet memorials — in a move sharply criticized by KyivImage: AP Photo/picture alliance

Berlin and other cities across Germany increased police patrols on Monday ahead of expected pro-Russia protests.

The demonstrations are happening to mark Victory Day on May 9, a holiday commemorating the Soviet military's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.

Tensions are running high this year over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with authorities in Berlin banning both Russian and Ukrainian flags at memorial sites.

What's expected at the protests?

In Berlin alone, several rallies and other events are planned on Monday. Most of the events are taking place at the city's eastern Treptower Park or the central Tiergarten Park, where memorials to fallen Soviet soldiers are located.

Around 1,300 participants are expected at the largest demonstration, set to take place in the early afternoon.

Police are expecting 150 members of the "Night Wolves" biker club to take part. The club is comprised of Russian nationalists who are believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Demonstrations are also expected in other areas across Germany on Monday. Car protests that included supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin took place on Sunday in the western city of Cologne, with 1,000 people taking part.

At the same time on Sunday, a demonstration in support of Ukraine also took place in Cologne, with 10,000 participants.

Protesters wearing banned symbols

In an effort to "protect" events honoring fallen Soviet soldiers at the city's memorial sites, Berlin police have banned Russian and Ukrainian flags.

"At the same time, we will take action against any form of support, approval, exaltation, or even glorification of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine — especially at rallies," Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik said in a statement.

"We will not accept any instrumentalization of the commemorations for these purposes," she added.

Military uniforms as well as the the black-and-orange St. George's ribbon associated with Russia's Victory Day are also officially banned.

Despite the curbs on symbols, a DW reporter on the scene at the Soviet memorial at the Tiergarten Park said people were still wearing the ribbons.

Russian ambassador in Germany Sergey Nechayev walks at the Soviet War Memorial in Treptow Park in Berlin
Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, wore a St. George's ribbon during commemorations at a Soviet memorial in Berlin's Treptower ParkImage: AP Photo/picture alliance

"I've already seen a few people here wear them, so it will be interesting to see whether police will eventually intervene here," DW political correspondent Anja Scharfenorth said.

She added that tensions were already running high during commemorative events at the site by Ukrainian officials yesterday.

"What gives this memorial significance today is that it is not just Russian soldiers who fought Nazis in World War II, but also Ukrainian soldiers," Scharfenorth said.

She added that "there were some ugly scenes when Russian protesters boo-ed" the Ukrainian delegation on Sunday.

People attend a ceremony to commemorate the end of World War II at the Soviet War Memorial at the district Treptow in Berlin
Despite bans, protesters carried Russian flags at Soviet memorial sites in BerlinImage: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo/picture alliance

Ukraine criticizes flag ban

Ukrainian officials criticized Berlin's decision to ban Ukrainian as well as Russian flags from events at memorials in the city.

"Berlin has made a mistake with the banning of Ukrainian symbols," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

He added that it was wrong to treat Ukrainian symbols the same as those supporting Russia and Putin.

Kuleba described the move to bar Ukrainian flags from peaceful protesters as an attack on those who are protecting Europe and Germany from Russian aggression.

Berlin's city government defended the move, saying it was an effort "to avoid possible confrontations" at the memorial sites.

German police officers remove a huge Ukrainian nationl flag from the side of a Soviet War Memorial
Police removed a Ukrainian banner from a memorial held at the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin on WednesdayImage: Markus Schreiber/AP/picture alliance

Scholz slams Putin's 'falsification of history'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the nation on Sunday in a speech marking the end of World War II in Europe.

He criticized Putin's attempt to portray the invasion of Ukraine "as being on par" with the fight against the Nazis, which Scholz slammed as a "falsification of history and a disgraceful distortion."

Scholz also stressed Germany's historical responsibility to support Ukraine's fight to defend itself against Russia.

"We have learned a central lesson from our country's catastrophic history between 1933 and 1945," Scholz said. " "We defend law and freedom — on the side of the victims. We support Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor."

Edited by: Rob Turner