FIR condemns the terrorist attack in Vienna

3. November 2020

With disgust and indignation, the FIR had heard about the terrorist attack in Vienna. Based on the statements of the Austrian ministry of the Interior fanatical Muslims should be responsible for this action. It does not actually matter which group of perpetrators is responsible for this attack. It is and remains a despicable crime.

The coordinated action of the perpetrators of Vienna shows that this was not a spontaneous action, but rather a long-term planned action. The question arises, if so-called “endangerers” have been in the sights of the domestic secret services for a long time, why they did not react in time and appropriately. Such terrorist acts of violence never serve to enforce political ideas, but create a climate of fear and violence to which the security forces of the country concerned usually react by restricting democratic freedoms for all people. It is precisely in such situations, however, that democratic societies must defend the freedom of every individual. This does not work by reducing freedom rights, but only with a strong civil society in which social integration, tolerance and social opportunities are opened up for all people living in the country.

The women and men in the anti-fascist resistance and the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition did not liberate Europe from the barbarism of Nazism in 1945 and tried to push back the fascist ideology, only to find today that the achievements of their struggle are endangered by the dismantling of democratic rights and freedoms, by xenophobia and increasing intolerance.

The FIR and its member federations condemn such violent actions, express their sympathy to the victims and their relatives and explain clearly: In our countries terrorism, racism, xenophobia and intolerance have no place. We stand up for this with all forces of the civil society. 

Carla Nespolo, President of the partisan association ANPI deceased

5. Oktober 2020

With deep mourning, the Italian partisan federation ANPI and the international federation of the resistance fighters (FIR) must announce the death of Carla Nespolo. She was elected 2017 as the first president of the Italian federation.

Born in 1943 in Novara (Piedmont), she came from a communist family that fought actively in the Italian resistance against the German occupation. Her uncle Amino Pizzorno was vice-commander of the VI Partisan Territory, which operated between Piedmont and Liguria.

She decided to study teaching, which she completed with a university diploma. At the same time, she was politically active for the PCI and became the first communist parliamentarian in Piedmont. Later she was a deputy of the Italian Republic for 2 terms, then – until 1992 – a senator of the Republic. As a trained teacher, she became Vice President of the Education Commission, where she was involved in the reform of high schools, and later of the Environment Commission, where she also campaigned for environmental protection in extra-parliamentary actions.

A central concern were laws on women’s rights. She was a member of the special committee for the law on equality between men and women at work and fought against sexual violence.

With the same commitment as Carla Nespolo had implemented her parliamentary and extra-parliamentary work, she was also ready to take responsibility for the anti-fascist organization, ANPI, to which she had been affiliated for decades. When Prof. Carlo Smuraglia had to resign from his position as president of ANPI in 2017 for health reasons, she did not hesitate to take over this task. Very fast, she also gained international recognition, as it was evident at the conference of ANPI and FIR in December 2018 in preparation for the European election campaign. She supported the international solidarity of the FIR federations, but was also open for new comrades-in-arms from the anti-racist and social movements.

Rightly, ANPI declared in the message of mourning that Carla Nespolo had worked with great wisdom, passion, political and cultural intelligence in the great tradition of authority and active heritage of the values and principles of resistance. Despite her increasing illness, she led and enriched with her contributions the ANPI campaign this year against the change of the anti-fascist constitution with great commitment.

The FIR and the international antifascist movement loses with her a great representative of the ideals of the resistance. She will always remain in our memory.

[:en]Message from Vilmos Hanti, President of FIR, on the present epidemic situation[:]

30. März 2020

,

[:en]Today, amid a volatile and unpredictable global situation, our vulnerable world is facing an unprecedented new challenge, the coronavirus pandemic that is spreading accross the world uncontained and has a deep impact on the everyday life of ordinary citizens.

This time, joining forces at a global level against this invisible enemy of our civilization has become a fundamental requirement for all the inhabitants of  Mother Earth, for nothing else but to save our future and that of the next generations. Without this inevitable effort by all of us, we will fail, and that will entail unforeseeable consequences for our physical existence.

Inevitably, these probing times are bringing back to our memories the darkest chapters of our recent history, when certain forces looking for scape-goats, resorting to narratives of intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia, extremism and demagogy,  were able to poison peoples’s minds and, as history has repeatedly shown, to bring to the surface the worst features of human behaviour. And, unfortunately, the preceding decades have demonstrated that even at the end of the last century, the bloodiest of all, such phenomena have reemerged,  confirming that we still continue to be vulnerable to such rhetoric.

That is why, in the midst of the present pandemic, I believe that it is of utmost importance for every citizen on our planet to engage in this common and vital undertaking of cooperation, with the aim of minimizing the destructive aspects of the coronavirus and eliminating them as soon as possible. In doing so, we should also bear in mind the importance of solidarity and mutual aid between all countries, rich and poor. And in this critical period, we should keep an open eye on those elements of our societies that engage in a rhetoric that seeks not to unite, but to divide us. The upcoming anniversary of the 1945 victory can also help us recall, among others, the lessons of how manipulating people led to indescribable sufferings.

As President of FIR, I take this opportunity to wish you, in these turbulent times, good health in the months ahead. You should take all the necessary measures to preserve your vitality and to help us stay away from the fake news that seek to undermine the resistance capability of our societies. And I want to see all our member federations go through these difficult times with a strengthened resolve and a firm commitment to stand up against attacks that aim to undermine the values of our human civilization, and to be prepared to combat this unprecedented invisible pandemic as bold resistance fighters of our times, the 21st century, who stand ready to continue our common struggle in defence of the goals of FIR.

Budapest, March 30, 2020[:]

Message from Vilmos Hanti, President of FIR, on the present epidemic situation

30. März 2020

,

Today, amid a volatile and unpredictable global situation, our vulnerable world is facing an unprecedented new challenge, the coronavirus pandemic that is spreading accross the world uncontained and has a deep impact on the everyday life of ordinary citizens.

This time, joining forces at a global level against this invisible enemy of our civilization has become a fundamental requirement for all the inhabitants of  Mother Earth, for nothing else but to save our future and that of the next generations. Without this inevitable effort by all of us, we will fail, and that will entail unforeseeable consequences for our physical existence.

Inevitably, these probing times are bringing back to our memories the darkest chapters of our recent history, when certain forces looking for scape-goats, resorting to narratives of intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia, extremism and demagogy,  were able to poison peoples’s minds and, as history has repeatedly shown, to bring to the surface the worst features of human behaviour. And, unfortunately, the preceding decades have demonstrated that even at the end of the last century, the bloodiest of all, such phenomena have reemerged,  confirming that we still continue to be vulnerable to such rhetoric.

That is why, in the midst of the present pandemic, I believe that it is of utmost importance for every citizen on our planet to engage in this common and vital undertaking of cooperation, with the aim of minimizing the destructive aspects of the coronavirus and eliminating them as soon as possible. In doing so, we should also bear in mind the importance of solidarity and mutual aid between all countries, rich and poor. And in this critical period, we should keep an open eye on those elements of our societies that engage in a rhetoric that seeks not to unite, but to divide us. The upcoming anniversary of the 1945 victory can also help us recall, among others, the lessons of how manipulating people led to indescribable sufferings.

As President of FIR, I take this opportunity to wish you, in these turbulent times, good health in the months ahead. You should take all the necessary measures to preserve your vitality and to help us stay away from the fake news that seek to undermine the resistance capability of our societies. And I want to see all our member federations go through these difficult times with a strengthened resolve and a firm commitment to stand up against attacks that aim to undermine the values of our human civilization, and to be prepared to combat this unprecedented invisible pandemic as bold resistance fighters of our times, the 21st century, who stand ready to continue our common struggle in defence of the goals of FIR.

Budapest, March 30, 2020

27 January 1945 – 75 years ago the Auschwitz death camp was liberated

25. Januar 2020

On 27 January 1945, the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front whose Commander-in-Chief was Marshal I.S. Konev, succeeded in liberating the Auschwitz extermination camp.

Auschwitz stands until today as a symbol for the incomprehensible monstrosity of the fascist extermination policy. Between the summer of 1940 and January 1945, more than 1.3 million people from all over Europe, Jews, Sinti and Roma, political opponents, and other marginalized persons were deported to the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp. At least 1.1 million were murdered in the gas chambers, by shooting or by “extermination through work” for the IG Farben Company and other armament factories.

In the morning of January 27, 1945, the 322nd Infantry Division of the 60th Army of the First Ukrainian Front under the supreme command of Colonel General Pavel A. Kurochkin first reached the main camp at Monowitz. Units of the Waffen-SS and the Wehrmacht still offered bitter military resistance, so that more than 230 Soviet soldiers lost their lives during the liberation of Auschwitz. During the day, Red Army soldiers advanced to Auschwitz and Birkenau.

In the main camp, in Birkenau and Monowitz, they encountered only about 7,000 prisoners. Even in the first days after liberation, numerous prisoners died of exhaustion. Among the liberated were more than 200 children up to the age of 15, mostly twins, who were intended as test subjects for SS doctors. On the site itself, the Soviet soldiers found about 600 dead camp inmates, who had been shot by SS men just before their departure.

The survivors of Auschwitz formulated in a message at the beginning of March 1945: “We, the rescued former prisoners, owe our rescue to the brave Red Army and ask the international public and their governments to take note of this and to express our gratitude on our behalf.

For more than a decade, January 27 has been commemorated worldwide as an International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust, following a decision by the United Nations.

The FIR and its member federations will never forget the victims of the extermination policy and remind at the same time the liberation achievements of the fighters of the Red Army as part of the anti-Hitler coalition – especially not on 27 January 2020.

Impressions of XVIII FIR congress in Reggio Emilia

8. Dezember 2019

Opening of the congress in “Sale di Tricolore”

Political opening speech of President Vilmos Hanti

Secretary General presented an illustrated political report

The delegates and guests followed the congress with high attention

An impressive wreath laying ceremony in the city centre of Reggio Emilia

 

Support for the Bulgarian Antifascists

8. Dezember 2019

The FIR supports the justified request of the Bulgarian veterans and anti-fascists to be recognized socially as fighters in the ranks of the Anti-Hitler-Coalition. The Congress decides that the following letter will be sent to the Bulgarian authorities:

 

TO:      MRS TSVETA KARAYANCHEVA, Chairwoman OF BULGARIAN PARLIAMNT

TO:      MR. BOYKO BORISOV, CHAIRMAN OF THE CONCIL OF MINSTERS OF BULGARIA

TO:      MR. RUMEN RADEV, PRESIDENT OF BULGARIA

We were surprised to understood that Bulgarians who take part of the in the anti-fascist struggle between 1941-1944 in Bulgaria are not recognized as veterans from Second World War. For us that mean that first as if underestimating and trample the memory of thousands of Bulgarian antifascists, who gave their blood for in the antifascist struggle and second we accept that fact as unrespect to those Bulgarian heroes who today are not alive.

Is it right those days when Bulgaria is full member of European Union, members of the antifascist resistance not to have official status of veterans of the Second World War? For us it is not right and equitable for us. How Bulgarian antifascist are different from their brothers, who take place in antifascist resistance in Europe? For us there is no such a difference! All of us courageously were fighting against Hitler’s fascism.

We would like officially to ask you honourable parliamentarian and political leaders to help us for the official recognition of Bulgarian antifascist as veterans from the Second World War from the Bulgarian parliament.

With that gesture you will not only show respect to Bulgarian antifascists whose number from years decreases because of the biological reasons  but also with that gesture you will give a solid guarantee of the Bulgarian public that you ensure the European values and traditions and also you will give an example of how you attribute in fighting against the neofascism today which works hard over the all continent. Let do not give a chance to neofascist fever to work in our countries.

We would like to wish you health, cheerfulness and success with your highly responsible work like European parliamentarians for the progress and wellness of the peace in whole Europe.

Declaration against historical revisionism

8. Dezember 2019

The delegates of the XVIII Congress of the Federation Internationale des Resistants (FIR) – Association Antifasciste are deeply horrified of accepted resolution of the European remembrance for the future of Europe on 19th September 2019 from European parliament.

It opens the doors of the European Union for fascist invasion. Moreover, it appeals European countries with all resources to provide that antinational politics, to cover atrocities and crimes of the fascism period of the Second World War. The fact is that 535 members of the European parliament delegated there from laboured and progressive Europe, occupied and repressed from Nazi Germany at the time of Second World War with clear majority accepted this bold and brazen resolution with fake content. That is how without any historical remembrance they defend revisionists, Russophobe’s and anti-communist positions and justifies neoliberalism.

How can the “United Europe” deny historical truth and to state that instigator of the Second World War is the Soviet Union, to state also that German-Soviet plan is the reason for Second World War’s events? How Europe can state that Nazi Germany and Soviet Union are Gemini who had the negotiations to separate the world by each other? How that New Europe can state the Red Army is not the liberator of Europe and it is enslaver and occupier?

We flatly opposed and deplore of accepted resolution of the European parliament. We also do not accept the faked historical events of that period. We appeal to all progressive thinking people to unite their forces in the battle with all tries of the rebuilding of the fascism;

We are for verification of the historical truth.

– The Soviet Union is not instigator of the Second Wold War.

– Never Nazi Germany and Soviet Union had negotiations for sharing the world.

– The Red army as part of the Anti-Hitler-Coalition had the biggest contribution for the liberation of Europe from Nazism.

We will defend historical truth of the Second World War and will be struggling for peace, freedom and demarcation in whole Europe and the world!

Stop the financial attacks against VVN-BdA

8. Dezember 2019

The FIR registers with concern that the German union of the pursued ones of the Nazi regime – association of anti-fascists (VVN-BdA) is attacked with the means of the tax law. Its political work against old and new Nazis, against racism and dismantling of democracy, for anti-fascist historical memory and international understanding as well as the support of the last still living contemporary witnesses from pursuit and resistance will be more complicate because of financial restriction.

While on one hand the politically responsible persons in Germany spoke full-bodied after the assassination attempt on a synagogue in Halle of the fight against extreme right and against anti-Semitism, on the other hand the largest anti-fascist organization in Germany is attacked on financial level. Thus, the tax authorities make a contribution to pursue anti-fascism – as it demands the extremely right AfD

The VVN-BdA calls under the slogan “anti-fascism must remain non-profit”:

“We demand the recognition of charity for our organization!

We demand practical support for all civil society groups and organizations that defend the basic values of the Basic Law against racist, anti-Semitic, nationalist and neo-Fascist attacks!”

The FIR supports the VVN-BdA in its fight around its non-profit character. We see in the procedure of the finance authority an attempt to make the organization politically gag-dead with the instrument of the tax law.

We call the German Federal Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the land finance Ministers to stop these attacks on an active civilian-society organization in the fight against Neo-fascism and extreme right development.

We call our member federations to support the VVN-BdA by contacting German Embassies and sending protest notes against these attacks against the largest, oldest, non-party and non-denominational organization of anti-fascists in Germany.

International day against Racism

8. Dezember 2019

In 1966, the United Nations declared 21 March the “International Day against Racism”. The date commemorates the massacre of the South African racist government in Sharpeville, in which 69 people had been murdered six years before.

The apartheid regime in South Africa is history, but racism is unfortunately worldwide. We are witnessing an alarming increase in this inhuman ideology worldwide and the resulting discrimination through laws and other political decisions.

Therefore, the “international day against racism” is until today an important event, on which anti-fascists should set a common sign. In many countries there are in addition alliances, f. e. the movement “stand up to Racism” created with the web-side “#world against racism” a possibility for cross-linking.

All member federations of the FIR are requested to contribute in their countries to the fact that the 21. March 2020 becomes an impressive public action day against racism and extreme right agitation.

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