Looking back. Looking ahead. 2020-2025

POLITICS AND SOCIETY | SPEECHES   161 collapsed to inhumane levels. And yet the Nazi regime still found ways to surpass its own barbarity. Think of the death marches that took place in April 1945 as the liberation forces drew near – in an attempt to leave no traces and erase as much as possible. As the U.S. Army advanced, prisoners were driven mercilessly towards Dachau. At least 5,000 died only days – even hours – before liberation.When the American soldiers liberated Flossenbürg, they found 1,500 people in a horrifying state. Anyone who has seen photographs from that time knows how unbearable they are. It is inconceivable how, after centuries of supposed civilisation, such a complete   abandonment of the most basic moral principles – of humanity itself – could ever have been possible. It was against this backdrop that I found my own political awareness at a very young age, when I first saw pictures   of concentration camps in school and learned about what   the National Socialists had done. I found it unfathomable.   It must never happen again. The crimes committed by the National Socialists were not just another terrible crime among many – they were the worst crimes in human history. Anyone who tries to relativise them – or reduce them to a brief episode in a long chain of events – is gravely mistaken, and I will say that to their face. These crimes were unparalleled – and remain so to this day. That is why our fundamental obligation as democrats in Germany is not only to remember, but to fight even the faintest possibility of repetition. I have attended many commemorative events in my life. “Never again!” is a phrase often spoken. And in earlier times, it came relatively easily:“It must never happen again”… “It can never happen again”… “Germany has learned”… “Europe has learned”… But does that still hold true today? Can we still say it with confidence? No, we cannot. “Never again!”must not become an empty phrase recited by politicians. It must be a clear commitment – backed by decisive action. And without compromise! There can be no compromise on this question.We must take a stand and defend our values. Our country is currently witnessing the resurgence of antisem- itism and right-wing extremism with a force not seen since the end of the SecondWorldWar. It begins quietly. But when it goes unchallenged, it becomes bolder, louder, more aggressive, more brazen. And before you know it, the scourge of right-wing radicalism and antisemitism has revealed itself for all to see. Dr Josef Schuster, the highly esteemed President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, was once asked:“Have you packed your bags to leave the country?”. He replied:“No, I haven’t packed them yet. But we know where they are”. This is pain- ful to hear – but I understand why he said it. And when I see someone like Dr Charlotte Knobloch standing courageously in Parliament and confronting a certain political party with unwavering resolve on days of remembrance, I recognise the kind of civil courage we so urgently need. This courage is something every one of us can and must show – not only at official ceremonies, but also in sports clubs, at regular gatherings, in conversations with our colleagues – wherever we are. Otherwise, we will soon notice a subtle process of erosion, triggered by people who stand by in silence and say trivialising things like “everyone is entitled to their opinion”. At a time when hatred and incitement are once again eating their way into our society, one principle is more impor- tant than ever:We must take a stand and defend our values. Otherwise, our values will be lost. Always remember that evil thoughts beget evil words, and evil words can turn into actions. Everyone should understand – as history has taught us – that it all begins with a minority. But if the rest do not stand in solidarity, everyone will be affected in the end. Let me make one thing clear: Hatred, incitement and contempt for human- ity have no place in our society. Anyone who feels threatened can rely on the protection of the state. Because whoever   targets these people targets our society as a whole! Antisemitism often appears in hidden forms as well – and sometimes catches us completely by surprise. All of a sudden, antisemitic statements are emerging from circles where   I would never have expected them – including from the   political left.We must oppose that as well. It is clear that attempts are being made – not only by the   far right, but also by some Islamist groups – to promote   antisemitism under the guise of “criticism of Israel”.We do not have to approve of everything Israel does – its own citizens do not approve of everything either. Indeed, there is hardly any other country whose population examines its own govern- ment’s actions with such scrutiny. But when it comes to Israel’s right to exist and its security, it is vital that Israel knows it can rely on us – and not just because we feel morally obliged to do so, but because we share common values. And let us remem- ber: Israel is the only established democracy in the Middle East