Elon Musk, the AfD, and Shadows of the Past: When Historical Memory Becomes a Battlefield

„Sins of the Ancestors” or the Duty of Remembrance?

Controversies Surrounding Elon Musk’s Remarks Against the Backdrop of German History

Elon Musk, known for his polarizing statements, once again finds himself in the crossfire of criticism. During a virtual appearance at a rally for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Musk declared that “children should not bear the guilt of their parents’ sins, much less those of their great-grandparents.”

This comment, set against the weighty backdrop of German history, echoed as a call to diminish accountability for the crimes of the Third Reich.

The 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation: Musk’s Words Amid Holocaust Memory

Musk’s remarks came just days before the world commemorated the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation by the Red Army. Auschwitz-Birkenau, an enduring symbol of the Holocaust, witnessed the murder of over a million people—among them, 1.1 million human beings: Jews, Poles, Russians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma, and others who fell victim to Hitler’s regime.

It bears repeating that it was the Red Army that liberated this site of unspeakable atrocities, a fact etched in the annals of history. On January 27, 1945, soldiers of the 60th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front opened the gates of Auschwitz. Among them was Lieutenant Anatoly Shapiro, a Russian Jew and commander of a storming battalion. These soldiers found some 7,000 emaciated prisoners, survivors of the camp’s liquidation and the grueling death marches.

The liberation of Auschwitz marked the symbolic end of Nazi genocide and the unfathomable tragedy of the Holocaust.

AfD and Historical Revisionism: A Political Threat to the Boundaries of Memory

In the context of this solemn anniversary, Musk’s suggestion that Germans should “move on” and cease their preoccupation with reckoning the past feels particularly egregious. What of reparations to Poland, Mr. Musk?

The AfD has long sought to downplay Germany’s guilt for the crimes of World War II. One stark example is the infamous statement by one of its founders, Alexander Gauland, who dismissed the Third Reich as “just a speck of bird droppings” on over a thousand years of German history.

This party also often touches upon contentious topics like Poland’s post-war borders, hinting at revising territorial agreements. Statements from AfD figures, such as Petra Lowsa’s reference to “historic German territories” encompassing cities like Wrocław or Szczecin, signal a dangerous flirtation with revisionism.

Relativizing Nazism: Yad Vashem’s Warning and Lessons from the Past

Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, condemned such remarks as an affront to the victims of Nazism and a threat to Germany’s democratic future. Relativizing responsibility for the Holocaust raises fears of diminishing historical memory, a slippery slope that could lead to dangerous repetitions of history.

Will Elon Musk Repeat Ford’s Mistake? Troubling Parallels in Industrial History

Musk’s comments, seemingly aligning with AfD’s narratives, carry international implications. Abraham Foxman, former director of the Anti-Defamation League, has warned that such rhetoric erodes the memory of totalitarianism’s victims and undermines democracy’s foundations.

This moment invites reflection on a dark chapter in American industry during the Third Reich. Prominent figures like Henry Ford faced criticism for their indirect support of the Nazi war machine. Ford Werke AG, the German branch of Ford, manufactured vehicles for Hitler’s army and relied on forced labor during the occupation. General Motors also maintained operations in Nazi Germany, sparking enduring controversy over their complicity.

One can only hope Musk avoids becoming a modern-day Ford, remembered for actions that contradict the principles of justice and historical accountability.

Why Auschwitz Remains Vital: Confronting New Forms of Historical Denial

We must resist the temptation to “sweep the past under the rug,” especially in the face of growing historical relativism. Auschwitz endures as a stark symbol of evil, demanding that its memory be preserved as a warning for future generations.

Contemporary Threats to Historical Truth: Musk, AfD, and the Question of Responsibility

The relativism championed by Elon Musk and AfD looms like a dark shadow, threatening to obscure historical truth unless forcefully denounced. Musk’s appearance at an AfD rally—a party openly advocating revisionism and minimizing Germany’s culpability—represents not merely a misstep but a profound danger to the principles of justice and the preservation of Holocaust memory.

Let us not forget: Auschwitz was first built by the Germans for Polish prisoners. This lengthy reminder aims to emphasize that accountability for the past forms the bedrock upon which we must construct our future—regardless of political leanings or personal beliefs.

—Tomasz Wybranowski

Photo A frame from a recording of the AfD party