Here's Everything That's Banned on Liberation Day
Once again, Berlin will mark Soviet Victory Day and the city's liberation after World War II by banning flags and walking a delicate political and historical line.
Friday, May 8
It's "Day of Liberation" in Berlin, a two-day commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II, when Soviet troops reached the city and ended Nazi control of the region. Ahead of the planned ceremonies, Berlin police have once again banned the display of Russian and Soviet flags — a rule enforced annually since 2023, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
But authorities haven't stopped at flags; they can ban other Russian and Soviet symbols, and they have. So here's a list of everything you're not allowed to do at the three memorial sites this weekend: