Germany news: Germany holds national day of remembrance
Events are being held for Volkstrauertag, a day commemorating victims of war and oppression. Meanwhile, experts say the country is headed for a budget crisis. DW has more.
Germany held a national day of remembrance on November 14, 2026, known as Volkstrauertag. The event commemorated armed forces personnel and civilians who died in armed conflicts, as well as victims of violent state oppression. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen attended the main ceremony, reflecting the many Austrians who died while fighting for the German Wehrmacht during World War II.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the event's patron, delivered a speech and laid a wreath. Steinmeier previously expanded the commemoration to include those persecuted and killed by the Nazis due to their sexual identity, as well as police officers killed in the line of duty. A remembrance ceremony took place at the Jewish Cemetery in Berlin for those of Jewish faith killed in World War I. German parliament speaker Julia Klöckner called for society to defend democracy, urging it to not let tyranny and contempt for human dignity prevail.
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