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2. Germans are slowly and cautiously learning their side of the story about the rise and reign of Hitler and the war. It will not be easy very soon to convince ordinary Germans that Hitler was a mad man, and that the Nazis were nothing but blood thirsty criminals. They must be asking themselves, if all these were true then how come so many Germans willingly sacrificed themselves on the call of Hitler? 3. Germany is the largest unit in EU in terms of economy and population. They remain a disciplined and patriotic society. It is inevitable that in decades to come they will dominate EU. |
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2. Germany's own confrontation with the time 1933-45 is bluntly exemplary. No country, no nation has more recently taken a so mercilessly honest and brutally thorough reckoning with guilt and responsibility as the generation of Germans born after the Second World War. The showdown is repeated with cyclic regularity: Every generation starts from scratch simply by discussing the great existential questions related to the horrendous 12 years during the Third Reich. The war ended over 66 years ago and there is hardly a German left with a personal memory of the Hitler era. Nevertheless, the Germans feel a special obligation to learn from a very special story to guard against duplication and to lead by example. The large, collective displacement of the war was replaced by the war criminal processes in the 1960s and since then every stone has been turned more than once. To accuse Germany not to deal with its past is simply a lack of understanding of German history after the war. 3. For Germany, the EU is in particular a European project that many of its neighbors can only have respect for. The booming Germany could walk alone. But Germany holds on to ideals and its self-imposed obligation - also a tribute to history - to act as the European dynamo. Germany is very much the small EU countries' friend and protector. It is terrifying to think how Denmark had been today, if not Helmut Kohl had acceded to the idea of the four Danish opt to Maastricht in 1992. In every respect, Germany has taken a step back, self-imposed moderation and restraint - and been ready to write large checks out to save the good tone in EU cooperation. Germany's performances in the European sphere and Germany's confrontation with themselves and their history - expressed in German: Vergangenheitsbewältigung (a composite German word that describes processes of dealing with the past Vergangenheit = past; Bewältigung = coming to terms with, mastering, which is perhaps best rendered in English as "struggle to come to terms with the past"). - is from beginning to end entirely admirable. Germany today is a democratic model and a fine example of how one can rise above even the greatest historical trauma, if you have the will to With its central location, Germany has had a decisive influence on European history. Today the country with its 83 million inhabitants is the most populous in Europe. Germany's economy is also the largest in the EU and the third largest worldwide. As the world's largest exporting nation the country is considered the economy engine in Europe. But if you think we will see a nationalist Germany, then you have not understood the process, Germany has been through. |
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I seriously doubt Germany will ever be a threat again. It will never forget the price it paid for the Second World War. Millions killed, whole cities destroyed, half of the country was practically enslaved by the Soviets for decades. Trying to conquer the world just doesn't seem like it's worth the risk.
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Unfortunately, you are forever linked to what history your nation or people had and that will always be a factor regardless of the time. You just have to learn to live with it. Yes, Germany did start the second world war, yes Germany was responsible for the atrocities against the Jews and just about all the horrors that went on in Europe. This will never change and will be present until the day you die. You have to accept that fact.
It's just like us Americans with the Indians and the whole black slave ownership ordeal. Scars are still present in our society today and always come out in debates and arguments. To say it's wrong and unjust for your nation's past to be constantly brought up is actually quite selfish seeing as how many people were lost due to the actions of your grandparents. Just the way it is. I know people take stuff too far and totally miss the point, but I can understand why Germany steers away from National Pride. 55 million long dead souls can agree with me I think if they were around. We all gotta understand where pride leads. Give an inch, some take a mile. Next thing you know, pride turns into anger. Anger turns into vengeance. Vengeance turns into actions and the next thing you know another group has to fly across the world to put some German ass back in it's place. Sorry, but those cats got a track record. Just like North Koreans Palestinians. |
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