Germans and the War
Last night I watched a moving TV programme based on a concentration camp at Bergen Belsen, Germany. A few years ago I visited this place, I found it very interesting but also disturbing.
I have spent a long time living in Germany, I have to say I find the older generation of Germans rude, obnoxious and lacking in any kind of personality, some areas of the country are much worse than others. Bavaria is still considered an area that harbours the ethos of the Third Reich.
I often wondered what Germans actually thought of Hitler and the war, I was to find out. In the early 1990’s I was working in Berlin, I ran a small organisation that employed one German, he was in his mid 40’s he had lived in Berlin all of his life. Without doubt he was one of the nicest people I ever met; he was certainly not a stereotypical German. One day I plucked up the courage to ask him a personal question. I asked him what his thoughts were on the war and Hitler. After I asked the question he looked me square in the eyes and started to cry, to say I felt bad would be an understatement. He broke down for about 10 mins, all he said was ‘he felt terrible shame’.
Like all of us we learn lessons growing up, that day I learned some things are better left unsaid. Although I did find comfort in the fact I had a better understanding of the feelings felt by Germans towards the war and the horrific atrocities that were carried out.
I have spent a long time living in Germany, I have to say I find the older generation of Germans rude, obnoxious and lacking in any kind of personality, some areas of the country are much worse than others. Bavaria is still considered an area that harbours the ethos of the Third Reich.
I often wondered what Germans actually thought of Hitler and the war, I was to find out. In the early 1990’s I was working in Berlin, I ran a small organisation that employed one German, he was in his mid 40’s he had lived in Berlin all of his life. Without doubt he was one of the nicest people I ever met; he was certainly not a stereotypical German. One day I plucked up the courage to ask him a personal question. I asked him what his thoughts were on the war and Hitler. After I asked the question he looked me square in the eyes and started to cry, to say I felt bad would be an understatement. He broke down for about 10 mins, all he said was ‘he felt terrible shame’.
Like all of us we learn lessons growing up, that day I learned some things are better left unsaid. Although I did find comfort in the fact I had a better understanding of the feelings felt by Germans towards the war and the horrific atrocities that were carried out.
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