The claim

The videos and photos currently circulating on social media are intended to show that on May 8, 2023, history repeated itself in 1945 and the flag with the hammer and sickle flew over the Reichstag building.

Our conclusion

Unproven! There is no credible evidence of the authenticity of the recordings that have surfaced. The Bundestag administration has no knowledge of such an incident, neither in the recent past nor on May 8, 2023. Details in the images and videos indicate that they were not taken on this date.

On May 8th every year, the German surrender in the Second World War is commemorated. Many people associate this with the iconic image of a Soviet soldier hoisting the red flag with a hammer and sickle on the Reichstag in Berlin. But now, on May 8, 2023, claims are circulating on social networks, including Facebook , that such a flag will once again fly over the Reichstag building, the seat of the German Bundestag. Users rely on supposed photos and videos that supposedly prove the presence of the flag.

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False images of victory: Dubious images of a Soviet flag at the Reichstag on May 8, 2023

Suddenly, on the morning of May 8, 2023, photos and videos appeared on social networks that were supposed to show the “Banner of Victory” - a Soviet flag with a hammer and sickle flying over the west portal of the Reichstag building with the inscription “To the German People.” blows. However, there are several reasons why these recordings do not match the supposed time.

In response to a request from the German Press Agency (dpa), the Bundestag administration stated that it was not aware of any incidents involving such a flag. A spokesman explains: “As usual, only the German and a European flag are flying on the four towers.”

The weather in the alleged video sequences also does not match the current situation. While the sky in the clips shared is rather gray and covered by clouds, in Berlin on Monday the sun shines from a bright blue sky in spring-like temperatures.

The vegetation also does not match the photos. The trees now have significantly more leaves than in some of the photos circulating online. In addition, it is noticeable that in one of the videos, which was allegedly recorded on the morning of May 8, 2023, the sun shines on the western facade of the Reichstag building. But this is only possible in the afternoon.

The video in question also differs from the other alleged recordings in terms of the arrangement of the hammer and sickle. Here the sickle is on the left side while the hammer extends to the right. This contradicts at least two other images and videos in which the flag is in the same orientation but in the exact opposite direction. Apparently, no consistent approach was taken to the alleged image editing.

Real footage from the past? – No evidence of older photos of the controversial flag

It remains unclear whether the images may be older photos taken a few weeks ago. However, there is no convincing evidence for this. The Bundestag administration has not recorded any such incident in the recent past, including the last few weeks. There are no images of the flag available online dated before May 8, 2023, nor have there been any reports of such an incident. The images only began to be distributed on Monday morning, mainly in Russian-language channels on the Telegram messenger service.

There are therefore many indications that the images are elaborately manipulated recordings. Apparently they were specifically published on May 8th this year. However, they also contradict each other in terms of vegetation, shadows and weather. It is therefore unlikely that they were all taken on the same day. These inconsistencies raise considerable doubts about the authenticity of the images and indicate deliberate manipulation.

Conclusion

Mimikama Rating: UNPROVEN

The alleged recordings circulating on social media lack any convincing evidence of their authenticity.

Upon request, the Bundestag administration stated that it is not aware of any incident involving such a flag, neither in the recent past nor specifically on May 8, 2023. This raises considerable doubts about the authenticity of the images and videos.

A close analysis of the recordings also reveals details that indicate that they were not taken on May 8, 2023.

Source:

DPA
Also read: Grim Reaper: Special Guest at the Coronation of King Charles III?

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