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. That worries 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 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 from September 29 to October 1, 1944, including numerous women and children, in retaliation for a partisan attack. It was one of the worst massacres committed by German soldiers on Italian soil during World War II.
During his speech, which he delivered in Italian, Steinmeier expressed his sadness and shame over the German crimes and asked the victims and their relatives for forgiveness.
