Thumbing through an old family photo album, I came across a picture of an SS officer (Nazi). I asked my mom who he was and she screamed at me to throw it away. Subsequently I found a bunch of other pics in photo albums. I know I have family that left Germany for Paraguay and Switzerland. I probably should have put 2 and 2 together. My family won't talk about this and I have a feeling they are hiding something HUGE. What should I do?
2007-08-13 14:50:40 · 36 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
ur adopted!!!
2007-08-13 14:55:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could ask her in private, "Mom, if it's ever safe to talk about it, I'd like to know about my relatives sometime. All of them." Ask quietly and make it clear that you aren't asking to know it now. She could be motivated by shame or by fear for the safety of relatives. Face it, no one who wore any Nazi uniform is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and they're still prosecuting men in their 80s and 90s. Mention it to her just to leave the door open if she agrees to talk some day.
It's nearly impossible to be of recent German descent and not know anyone who served Nazi Germany. It wasn't simply because they were forced, but most acted on the lies they were being fed. It's another form of 'no choice'. An American teenager wrote to her German cousin regularly as part of her German language class in the 1930s. He was a brown shirt--a Hitler youth. He wrote that it was terrible what was happening in America, with people starving by the millions and dying in the streets, and wished he could do something for her and her family. She wrote back that the depression meant that things weren't easy, but he had it all wrong--it wasn't nearly as terrible as that. She never heard from him again and has no idea what happened to him.
2007-08-13 15:46:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry that you are experiencing this. It can be very unsettling. You asked your mother, and she became very upset. I would suggest that you give her some time. You don't know what the story is, or how much pain it has caused her. I would suggest that you make the assumption that it caused her great pain, and be supportive of her at this point. Family secrets never stay hidden forever, and this one will surface. My guess is that if you are mature and supportive of your mother, it will give her some time to formulate how to bring this piece of history to the next generation. Life is not always easy. Try not to feel like the victim. They are shielding you out of love.
2007-08-13 14:59:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to say that you may have Nazi roots. Your family probably fled Germany immediately after the war. They don't talk about it because it may of been a secret to protect a family member from the law. That member has probably already passed, and your family now probably frowns upon their distant relatives past, and want to keep that stuff buried.
2007-08-13 14:59:04 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry you're suffering this. One of your grandfathers was probably involved in something they don't want to dig into. That was a long time ago, though, and this doesn't really change anything for you. Respect their fears and sensitivities. It isn't huge and they aren't ready to talk about it. You might find an aunt or uncle that could explain it--but if your mom doesn't want you to know about it, should you go asking?
2007-08-13 14:58:25 · answer #5 · answered by marshwiggle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it's huge. They're probably just not proud of the fact that some of their family were Nazis. But at that point in Germany if you were German it was join or die, so it's not that big of a deal. It was a horrible time for everyone.
2007-08-13 14:54:00 · answer #6 · answered by janicajayne 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
do some research on your family's history. go to the library and they should be able to help you locate information. don't think that your family is hiding the past from you. they may merely want to "protect" you from the harsh reality of the past. some things are hard for people to talk about..and this sounds like a big one. good luck in your search. hope you find the answers you are looking for.
2007-08-13 14:57:48 · answer #7 · answered by redneckqueen19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think if it's something you should know about, they will tell you. But it will have to be in their good time.
If it is really bothering you, then you need to sit down with someone (whoever you are more comfortable with) in your family and just come right out and ask them.
But remember:
If you might not like the answer, then don't ask.
Sometimes secrets from our past, are better left in our past ;)
2007-08-13 14:57:36 · answer #8 · answered by MommaBear 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
circulate to Germany and locate out! i could be throughout that if i grew to become into touching directly to genuine Nazi's. Which I in all probability am seeing as how my entire relatives is German. i've got purely by no skill got here across the evidence.
2016-10-19 11:45:03 · answer #9 · answered by stever 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you feel like you need to know have a heart to heart with the right person.But I would think long and hard first...somethings are better off left in the past!
2007-08-13 14:59:55 · answer #10 · answered by Singing Suzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Awesome!
Google your last name or the name of your Nazi Relative. if your rich it might be the money was obtained during the war. (sorta like in the Inside man, with Denzel Washington)
2007-08-13 14:57:18 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋