crimes committed by totalitarian regimes - Ministrstvo za pravosodje

Crimes committed by totalitarian regimes
Ronaldas Racinskas *1
Historical justice for Europe: why, when and how?
1. Introduction
A unifying factor for Europe is the system of common values, based on the principles of freedom,
democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. Unfortunately the
20 th century experience was a great contrast to those principles, marked by the establishment of two
major totalitarian regimes, Nazi and Soviet-Communist, which were accompanied by violations of
human rights and freedoms, by crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
During the first half of the 20 th century, two totalitarian regimes emerged and sought to alter the
political structure of the world through universal imposition of their ideologies. The first, and longest
lasting, Soviet-Communism, was based on a pseudo-scientific theory of class struggle; the second, Nazi
Germany, was based on racialist ideology. Europe and its nations suffered from both. Central and East
European (CEE) countries suffered most because they experienced both Nazi and Soviet totalitarian
regimes. Repressions and losses befell all its peoples. However, differences between the two regimes
affected ethnic, social and political groups in different ways. Collective memories have been shaped
accordingly.
The history of 20 th century Europe was also marked by democratic freedom movements in
Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Lithuania and other Baltic States. These movements’ and peoples’
determination to live in free democratic societies broke down the Soviet totalitarian system and opened
doors for today’s Europe without lines of separation.
Appropriate preservation of historic memory, assessment of the crimes of totalitarian regimes and
their ideologies, as well as respect for the victims and freedom fighters, are very important for historical
justice and for the sake of Europe’s future.
Over more than 60 years Western Europe, evaluated and condemned the Nazi totalitarian regime.
Although there is no end to the evaluation as it is an ongoing process, its clear perspective on the Nazi
regime and its ideology has become an integral part of the identity of Europe and the Western world.
Most CEE countries and their societies were cut off from the Free World and the process of
restoration of historical justice; thus they could not participate in historical, legal, and political debates.
After they gained independence and a democratic political system was re-established there, CEE
countries aspired to join the legal and value environment of a united Europe.
On the other hand, CEE countries experienced both the Nazi and the Soviet totalitarian regimes.
Their experience bears a universal meaning because neither the Nazi regime nor the Soviet-Communist
totalitarian system could be prevented from universal establishment by country borders. Besides, recent
decades have revealed a large number of historical facts, vaguely known before, about the crimes by the
totalitarian regimes, which need proper assessment.
Relations between a country and its history were managed differently, as every country follows its
own way predetermined by its unique history.
However there are many things in common, which have a meaning and are significant in a broader
context than an individual national history. The commonalities are universal in a sense that they add
up to the experience of the whole Europe and humanity. This is the common experience that must
be discussed, assessed, and become part and parcel of the European identity. Widespread European
attitudes regarding Nazism already exist. What about Soviet Communism?
* Ronaldas Racinskas, Executive Director of International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation
Regimes in Lithuania.
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