We must always be alert to the danger of fascism

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Remarks by Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, at a commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of the defeat of fascism. (Translated from the Spanish).

Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic,

Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Cuba,

Comrades:

We gather to commemorate and pay the deepest tribute to a momentous milestone in human history: the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism in World War II. A day to remember, honor, and reflect on one of the darkest periods of the 20th century.

Eight decades ago, the world freed itself from the oppressive grip of totalitarian regimes that sowed terror, death, and destruction. Fascism, with its ideology of hatred, racism, and supremacy, threatened to destroy the essential values ​​of freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

The victory over fascism was the result of the sacrifice and courage of millions of people fighting on different fronts: soldiers, resistance fighters, workers, peasants, men and women of all ages and backgrounds who united to defend freedom.

This symbolic mausoleum, where the mortal remains of the sons of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics who served in our country rest, also serves as a platform to highlight the importance of the Soviet people in the fight against fascism.

Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz himself, at the ceremony for the 30th anniversary of this victory, said: “Our own experience serves to give an idea of ​​what the victory over fascism meant for humanity, the decisive contribution of the Soviet people to that victory, the four years of war and destruction and the 20 million dead to save humanity from fascism, to save humanity from the universal domination of fascism.”

“It was precisely the Soviet people and the Soviet army who bore the fundamental and decisive burden in the defeat of fascism. It was the Soviet people who paid the greatest price and who made the fundamental contribution to victory. Without their contribution, the defeat of fascism would have been absolutely impossible. The participation of no other country can be compared to the Soviet contribution…” (End of quote)

The Red Army, through decisive battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk, inflicted crushing blows to the Nazi war machine, marking a crucial turning point that ultimately led to the defeat of the Third Reich and the liberation of Europe from the fascist yoke. This was the victory of the Great Patriotic War against fascism.

Today we must understand the meaning of fascism as the most complete expression of reactionary bourgeois and imperialist thought. Ever since Hitler declared his intention to one day attack the Soviet Union, he proclaimed his racist doctrines and his ideas about the extermination of entire peoples, the enslavement of tens of millions of people, and the conquest of new territories.

After the victory in 1945, American imperialism unleashed the Cold War and founded NATO, which continues to this day with its imperial and aggressive policies. It threatened the world with nuclear blackmail when it intentionally and without any military necessity dropped the atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This anniversary takes place at a time when fascist ideology and practices are trying to reinvent themselves, taking on a wide variety of forms and reminding us that the cruel and ruthless spirit, the denial of all humanism, and the hatred of culture of figures like Hitler and Mussolini remain in the minds of oligarchic and imperialist elites in various countries around the world, especially on our continent.

Comrades:

Cuba is proud of the contribution of the sons of this people in the fight against fascism in the Great Patriotic War. The names of the Vivó brothers, Jorge and Aldo, and Enrique Vilar are the best known; but a thousand compatriots came to save the Spanish Republic, and of them, 250 fell in combat; a testament to the internationalist spirit that survives to this day.

Our Latin America and the Caribbean have suffered the effects of the policies of the US government and its Central Intelligence Agency, aimed at overthrowing progressive and leftist governments. There are plenty of examples of the bloody dictatorships to which peoples like Chile, Nicaragua, and others have been subjected, causing the death and disappearance of thousands of people.

Today, they continue to plot coups, finance subversion plans, and promote rigged prosecutions against the region's leading progressive leaders.

Today we are see manifestations that some try to hide behind other names: deportations, kidnappings, illegal prisons, persecution... the cruel blockades imposed on our countries are also manifestations of the new fascism.

We see a resurgence of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, intolerance, and Holocaust denial. We note the rise of extremist and populist movements that promote division, polarization, and violence. We perceive threats to democratic institutions and human rights in many countries around the world.

How do we describe the wall being built on the southern border of the United States? How do we describe the lack of support for the development of the Haitian nation? How do we describe the extermination taking place in the Gaza Strip? How do we describe the lack of access to water, food, education, and healthcare for thousands of people on the planet?

The events we commemorate teach us that a people determined to fight, united, brave, and heroic, with revolutionary and patriotic traditions, is capable of overcoming any aggression and any obstacle, no matter how enormous. The great epic of the Soviet people is a worthy example to follow and remember.

The victory against fascism, which saved the lives of millions of people, also demonstrated that unity is decisive in every battle and that together we are stronger and more capable of overcoming any adversity. Therefore, it will always be indispensable in this new struggle against imperialism and its current fascist manifestations.

We honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, the concentration camps, the massacres, and all the crimes committed by fascist regimes. Their suffering must not be forgotten, so that such atrocities are never repeated.

Commemorating the victory over fascism is not only about remembering the past. It is also a call to action in the present. Today more than ever, it is necessary to keep the memory of the anti-fascist struggle alive and pass it on to new generations; it is necessary to educate young people about the dangers of fascism and promote the values ​​of tolerance, diversity, inclusion, and respect for human rights.

There is an urgent need to promote international cooperation and multilateralism to address global challenges, such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and migration crises, which can be exploited by extremist movements to sow fear and division.

Compatriots:

Our Party and Government maintain their irrevocable commitment to continue supporting just causes and to practice solidarity.

Eighty years after the victory over fascism, we renew our commitment to the defense of freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

May the memory of those who fought and died for freedom inspire us to build a better world, a world where fascism never again dominates humanity.

Long live the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism!

Eternal glory to the heroes and martyrs of the Great Patriotic War!

Down with fascism!

Long live unity, peace and friendship among peoples!

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