ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism

The European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism is a day when people in Europe remember and commemorate those who were harmed by the crimes of two types of authoritarian leaders.

Stalinism is the name for the type of government that was led by Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union during the 20th century. He was a very powerful leader who controlled many aspects of life in the Soviet Union. He did this by punishing and killing people who disagreed with him, which meant that many people were hurt or killed as a result of his rule.

Nazism, on the other hand, refers to the type of government led by Adolf Hitler in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. This government was responsible for the Holocaust, which was a terrible event in which six million Jewish people were killed because of their religion.

The European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Stalinism and Nazism happens once a year, and it’s a time when people in Europe come together to remember those who were affected by these two types of government. People might participate in ceremonies or discussions about what happened and how we can prevent similar things from happening in the future.

This day is important because it helps us remember the lessons of history and understand the consequences of authoritarian leaders who hurt people in the name of power. It reminds us to value the things that make our societies strong, like freedom, democracy, and human rights, and to protect them for future generations.