Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Anniversary of Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union speech, 18 June 2021
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We are here to remember the huge contribution of the men and women from the ranks of the Red Army who fought against Nazi Germany. We remember their courage and resolve, we remember the millions who risked and the many who lost their lives alongside their American, British and French allies as well as all the others, in order to free us all from the National Socialist tyranny. I profess my deep respect for their fight against – as Yehuda Bauer writes – "the worst regime that has ever disgraced this planet". I bow in sorrow before the Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian victims – before all victims of the former Soviet Union.

— Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Soviet Union

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "We are here to remember the huge contribution of the men and women from the ranks of the Red Army who fought against Nazi Germany. We remember their courage and resolve, we remember the millions who risked and the many who lost their lives alongside their American, British and French allies as well as all the others, in order to free us all from the National Socialist tyranny. I profess my deep respect for their fight against – as Yehuda Bauer writes – "the worst regime that has ever disgraced this planet". I bow in sorrow before the Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian victims – before all victims of the former Soviet Union." in the context of "Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Anniversary of Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union speech, 18 June 2021" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Quote Image
Source: Wikiquote: "Soviet Union" (Quotes, S) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
Frank-Walter Steinmeier

About Frank-Walter Steinmeier

Frank-Walter Steinmeier (born 5 January, 1956) is a German politician serving as the president of Germany since 19 March 2017. He was previously the minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2017, and vice-chancellor of Germany from 2007 to 2009. He was chairman-in-office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2016.