Germany: Gauck visits former WWII POW camp ahead of V-Day

German President Joachim Gauck visited the former World War II prisoner-of-war camp 'Stalag 326' in the town of Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock in northwestern Germany, Wednesday. In his speech, Gauck apologised for the crimes committed by the Nazis in the camp and thanked the Soviet Union as well as western Allies for the liberation from "the Nazi dictatorship." He said the Germans have strong reasons to be "grateful" for the historical event, saying it has allowed the country to live with "freedom and dignity." Gauck's visit is part of a series of events across Germany to commemorate the 70th anniversary of 'Victory Day,' which marks the end of the war. The federal president is scheduled to take part in commemoration events at the Brandenburg and German parliaments later in the week.