EUC Commemorates 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with Screening of "Downfall"

By Noam Zipris, undergraduate research assistant at the European Union Center

On April 21, the European Union Center held a film screening—cosponsored by both the Department of History and the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign—of the award-winning historical drama Downfall (German: Der Undertag) which depicts the fall of the Nazi regime and the end of WWII in Europe. This event was held to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, which occurred on May 8, 1945. The EUC was honored to be joined by guest speakers Dr. Stefan Djordjevic, the associate director of undergraduate studies and lecturer in the History Department, and Dr. Konstantinos Kourtikakis, associate teaching professor in the Political Science Department. Dr. Djordjevic discussed the historical context of the scenes depicted in Downfall and the mentalities of the German populace under a crumbling regime. Dr. Kourtikakis continued the discussion by exploring the impact of WWII on European Integration and the formation of the European Union.

Downfall is a harrowing and disturbing film that places the audience in the difficult position of viewing Nazi authority figures in a humanizing light. The viewer is forced to empathize with and relate to figures who committed acts of evil based upon a rationale of national and racial identity. The movie’s main character is Hitler’s private secretary, Traudl Junge, who stays with him in his bunker until his death. The film is sandwiched by two clips of the real Traudl Junge, an addition which adds to the feelings of authenticity and reality that surround the work. This picture is a masterpiece of cinematography and historical accuracy which is best watched in the company of others.