History teaches us that war is inevitable and that to strive idealistically for lasting peace in the realm of real politics is dangerously naive. In this chapter I investigate the possible sources for the origin of this apparently natural link between history and war. I draw on Roland Barthes' analysis of myth to question the nature of this link and its implications for the realm of ethics and responsibility. The results of this investigation are used to assess the relevance and merit of the actions and events that this book sets out to commemorate.