Debrecen4U May 11, 2026

Commemorations Held on Occasion of 9 May

To mark the 81st anniversary of the end of fighting on the European theatres of the Second World War, the Municipality of Debrecen held a commemorative ceremony and wreath-laying on 9 May 2026 at the Second World War memorial on Medgyessy Promenade.

In his speech, Mayor László Papp stated that today we remember that, following five and a half years of unimaginable destruction, the Second World War in Europe came to an end on 9 May 1945. Military and civilian losses amounted to many tens of millions. The number of dead and wounded, and the masses bearing the scars of physical and psychological trauma, were almost incomprehensible to contemporaries. More than eight decades later, this remains equally shocking for us today, especially as we are now confronted not only with the victims of the two world wars and fascism, but also with the devastation caused by decades of communism across Europe and Asia. The twentieth century was one of the most destructive periods in European history. On 9 May 1945, the war that had begun in the autumn of 1939 came to an end in Europe, having brought loss and sacrifice to almost every European family. In this respect, it may indeed be described as Victory Day in Europe. It can also be considered a day of victory because, following the defeat of Hitler, Germany and fascism, there was finally a chance for a more peaceful era to emerge on the continent.

9 May is also Victory Day in the sense that the Jewish populations of Hungary and many other European countries were freed from constant fear and the certainty of death following the German capitulation. For us Hungarians, however, who fought on the side of Germany during the war, this day is far from being solely about victory. It is also about our losses and suffering during and after the war – and these, too, cannot be concealed on 9 May. Although the country had already been “liberated” a month earlier, on 4 April, from German fascism and the terror of the Hungarian Arrow Cross regime that collaborated with the occupiers, it would have been difficult for those on the losing side to celebrate “Victory Day” in 1945, and it remains difficult even today.

For us Hungarians, this day is also about repentance: acknowledging the mistaken political and military decisions made before and during the war. Even today, it is not easy for our Jewish compatriots to celebrate, given that in this country many of them were humiliated by Hungarians, confined to ghettos and subjected to actions that contributed to the deaths of hundreds of thousands, either here in Hungary or in the death camps of the Nazi regime. Nor is it easy even today to celebrate together with the former victors – the Americans, British and Russians – those whose bombers and tanks attacked Hungary’s most important cities, industrial centres and transport hubs. For us, one especially painful memory is the carpet bombing of Debrecen on 2 June 1944 and the attacks that followed, when not only the Great Railway Station and its surroundings were devastated, but numerous streets in the city centre and industrial facilities were also destroyed. For Hungarians and other East-Central European nations, it is also difficult to remember the end of the war as a victory because we now know what only a few suspected in 1945: that the horrors of fascism were followed by the inhumanity of communism. Thus, while for the victorious powers the hopes of May 1945 appeared to be fulfilled and Western Europe embarked on a path towards a better and seemingly easier future, for us here in Hungary and throughout the wider region this process could only begin decades later, with the political transition of 1990 – and even since then it has been marked by setbacks and interruptions.

Since the democratic transition of 1990, however, on occasions such as this year’s commemoration, now 81 years after the end of the Second World War, we have at last been able to reflect freely on our losses, on mistaken decisions and on the lasting consequences of both Nazism and communism. We can also reflect on the danger of forgetting, on the fact that very few people remain among us who personally witnessed those horrors, and that most of them were only children during the war.

It is worth recognising that while those of us belonging to today’s middle generations were still able to hear directly from our parents and grandparents about specific named victims within our families, about the tragic fates of relatives and acquaintances, and also about uplifting moments of humanity and the flickering hope that emerged in the spring of 1945 after the war had ended, our children and grandchildren can now learn about these things largely only through us. If we fail to pass on these stories, if we do not speak to them about the wounds borne by our cities and communities, then future generations will not understand the horrors of the world war, nor will they know of the hope that nevertheless began to emerge in the spring of 1945, or of the destruction wrought during the decades of communism.

We must therefore recognise that remembrance and the duty to remind others have now become our responsibility. On this 81st anniversary and in the years ahead, it largely depends on us whether future generations will understand – and more deeply experience – the meaning of the symbol visible on this memorial as well: the phoenix rising from its ashes, which holds particular significance for the people of Debrecen. The mythical bird is not only an allegory of Christ, nor merely a symbol of the medieval and modern city repeatedly reborn after fires. In the ruined, broken column behind me lies the hopeful possibility of reconstruction, while our heraldic creature symbolises rebirth – just as Debrecen and the Hungarian nation have repeatedly renewed themselves after wars throughout past decades and centuries. On the five-hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Mohács, this may be stated with certainty.

Just as Hungary and Debrecen have proven capable of renewal during the hardships of recent years and decades – amid a war-torn international environment, economic and social challenges, the global pandemic of a few years ago and increasingly dangerous climatic changes – so too am I convinced that through cooperation and unity we will continue to be capable of responding to similar challenges in the present and future. When remembering the end of wars, we must especially bear in mind the lesson that seeking peace and supporting mutually beneficial agreements – within ourselves, within our communities and between nations – is our greatest responsibility and task. War is the worst possible solution to conflicts, and therefore it is our duty to do everything possible to prevent it. This is our shared responsibility,” László Papp concluded his speech.

Following the commemorative speeches, representatives of the municipalities of Debrecen and Hajdú-Bihar County, armed services, political parties and civil organisations placed wreaths at the base of the Second World War memorial.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu