Marching in Jerusalem
צילום: גיל יוחנן
WWII veterans celebrate V-E Day in Jerusalem
Hundreds of experienced fighters, many of whom are more than 80 years old, join their fellow fighters worldwide marking 63 years since Nazi Germany's surrender. 'I never dreamed of reaching Jerusalem, the holy city,' says chairman of WWII veterans' organization
Celebrating victory. Wearing medals and decorations on their old uniform, hundreds of World War II veterans gathered in Jerusalem's Zion Square to mark the 63rd Victory in Europe Day and Nazi Germany's surrender in May 1945.
The veterans, many of whom are more than 80 years old, marched to Safra Sqaure, accompanied by the Israel Police Orchestra playing victory songs.
The parade is organized every year by the absorption center helping some 30,000 veterans living in Israel.
"For us this day is not just an honor, but also an expression of happiness," said Avraham Green Zeid, chairman of the World War II veterans' organization. "Our grandchildren serve in the Israeli army and study in university here in Israel.
"I never dreamed or thought I would reach Jerusalem, the holy city. In our march together with our children and grandchildren in Jerusalem we highlight the victory over the Nazi enemy."
Lev Buchnik of Jerusalem, who fought in the Ukraine area during World War II, spoke about V-E Day. "There was happiness and there were tears and sadness over the father and the three brothers killed during the war."
Tania Brodetzky, who also took part in the war, added that "if the Russians hadn't won, the State of Israel wouldn’t exist."
'If the Russians hadn't won, the State wouldn’t exist' (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
A number of politicians also took part in the march, including Opposition Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, Immigrant Absorption Minister Jacob Edery and Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak, founder of the Social Justice party.
Gaydamak told Ynet that the day of victory over Nazi German was particularly significant for the State of Israel.
"Without a doubt, the Jewish people would have been destroyed and the State of Israel would not have been established, had it not been for the victory over the Germans. It was a necessary condition for the establishment of the Jewish state and for the Jewish people's continuation."
Lieberman addressed the lessons which he believes must be learned from WWII in regards to the situation in the Middle East.
"On the day of victory of Nazi Germany we must remember what took place before the war," he said. "During those years, world leaders searched for a way to reach an agreement with Germany, and in the end there was war. Today we see world leaders searching for a way to reach an agreement with another danger, the green danger, the danger posed by radical Islam's fanatics.
"The leaders are seeking to reach agreements with those wishing to destroy the State of Israel. It's good to remind people about what happened during World War II. Had Hitler been stopped on time, millions would not have had to pay with their lives. The world leadership at the time failed, and it is about to fail today as well."
