Two separate conflicting events concerning Germany took place last Sunday.

It was the day when, in Poland, a ceremony was held to commemorate Germany’s invasion of the neighbouring state 80 years ago, an event that sparked the start of the Second World War in 1939. During the activity, which saw the participation of several heads of state including Malta’s President George Vella, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmaier expressed regret for the suffering his nation inflicted on Poland and the rest of Europe, while warning against the dangers of extreme nationalism.

Not too far away from where European and world leaders were commemorating one of the worst periods of world history, something in sharp contrast with the sombre remembrance was taking place.

Sunday was also the day when, in Germany, a far right party made strong gains in two state elections in the eastern part of the country. Although opponents from the political mainstream won both votes, keeping their place as the most popular political group and giving some relief to the national government, the election results were yet another sign of the far right’s resurgence. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in fact nearly doubled its vote in Brandenburg – up from 12.5 per cent five years ago to 23.5 per cent – and nearly trebled its vote in Saxony – up from 9.7% in 2014 to 27.5 per cent last Sunday.

On the same day that the actions of the Far Right 80 years ago were being labelled by the German President as a “historical debt” his country would always have towards the rest of the world, one-fourth of the voters in two German state elections were giving their preference to a Far Right group.

On the same day that Steinmaier asked for forgiveness and bowed “in mourning to the suffering of the victims”, AfD co-leader Joerg Meuthen was telling journalists that “things can’t go much better than this”.

Of course, there is a huge difference between the atrocities perpetrated during the Second World War and the actions of Far Right parties during the last years. But no-one can dispute that fact that more and more people are disillusioned with the current political class and unhappy with the traditional parties, and are turning more towards groups who embrace extremist views. And this is not only happening in Germany.

There is no doubt that migration issues have greatly contributed to the way people think and why so many of them are moving closer to Far Right ideology. The influx of people from the south and from the east into the west of Europe has significantly altered societies and led to a revival of nationalism. Last Sunday’s elections in Germany are a clear sign that people are using their vote to express their disdain at the way migration issues have so far been tackled, and there is an evident need that Europe cannot ignore these signals.

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, whose leadership was instrumental in bringing down Nazism in the 1940s, had told the House of Commons in 1948 that “those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it”.

This is a risk that Europe cannot afford to take. And yet this risk is being taken. The German President last Sunday spoke about the need for Europe to remain united but, even here, there are signs pushing in the other direction, including – but not only – Brexit.