The Theme of the Second World War in Modern Literature

Abstract

At the beginning of the 21st century, the world came face-to-face with a horrible armed aggression against Ukraine. There are no logical explanations for the horrible events and crimes experienced by Ukrainians. This cannot be forgotten. But it must be understood in order for us to survive and protect our freedom and independence. Modern writers often refer to the theme of the Second World War. Their works about the war do not contain fantasy or fun adventures, but they are worth reading in order to understand the value of human life and the means of opposing violence. The stories about the Second World War make us realise that war can be overcome not only physically with weapons, but also spiritually if we save and preserve the culture and people around us. On May 10, Germany annually celebrates Book Day. This date reminds us of the horrors of fascism. It was on May 10, 1933, that inhumane book burning took place in Berlin and some other German cities. On March 20, 1995, the memorial “The Drowned Library” was presented to the public in Berlin. In the center of the square, under the thick glass, there is a white room with empty shelves. The words by Heinrich Heine are inscribed on the memorial board: “Where books are burned, people will be burned.”