German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed concern about the rise of nationalist and right-wing extremist forces in his country during a visit to Italy to mark the 80th anniversary of the Marzabotto massacre in World War II.
“Forces that want to weaken or undermine democracy – especially in my country – worry me,” Steinmeier said.
There was a greater responsibility than before to stand up and fight for the values of a united Europe and its democracies, he said.
Steinmeier traveled to Italy immediately after Italian President Sergio Mattarella’s three-day visit to Germany.
The two presidents attended an event marking the 80th anniversary of the Marzabotto massacre near Bologna.
Steinmeier described the commemoration as a ‘responsibility for our history, especially for us Germans’, so that what once took place could not happen again. This responsibility had no end, he said.
German Nazis murdered nearly 800 people in Marzabotto, including numerous women and children, between September 29 and October 1, 1944, in retaliation for a partisan attack. It was one of the worst massacres committed by German soldiers on Italian soil during World War II.
Steinmeier received much applause during his speech, which he delivered in Italian. He expressed his sadness and shame over the German crimes and asked the victims and their relatives for forgiveness.
The German president and Mattarella also met on Sunday with a group of survivors and relatives of the massacre victims and attended several wreath-laying ceremonies.
