Why some Germans are not interested about the war?

Question

In the late 19th century, Germany was arguably the most enlightened society in the world (try to think of five famous physicists, philosophers, composers or poets without mentioning a German name). This dignity was lost in its entirety, catastrophically, during the national socialist rule. Since then, the Third Reich is *the* central issue of the German national identity and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Every German pupil has to deal with it at about 5 different times during his schooling and most classes visit a concentration camp (most of these sites have been transformed into memorials). Not a single day passes without educational programmes on the public media. Growing up in Germany means growing up with this heritage, and every German hence has developed her or his own way of dealing with the public guilt. For the traveller, this means confusion all the way. You might come across people (especially young ones) eager to talk to you about Germany's history, feeling the

Answer 1

Firstly, welcome to Yahoo!Answers. Thanks for connecting with me. I am now your contact too. I believe some Germans are no longer interested of wars because it is no longer their interests. War do happens in one's country. The German government cannot escape on the real history of one's country. That's why it has been part of school's curriculum to instill to them the past history of Germany. After war there is always peace. I believe every country has its lesson to learn. Others don't want to reminisce their past but acceptance to one's history and culture counts most. What is important is learning to accept our faults and serve us a lesson for us to learn from the past.

Have a wonderful day!

Answer 2

When I was there it seemed that everywhere there were reminders of it. From city centers where it's close to impossible to find a building older than the late '40's or early '50's, to cathedral ruins, or the spots on some of the older buildings where the brick work doesn't match. Every single day I was in Germany I saw physical reminders of WWII everywhere. Not to mention what people and families that would have suffered greatly through out the war and even many years afterwards. Germany had to live with not only the war years but the post war years that saw poverty & hunger well into the 1950's, saw large chunks of their country permanently taken away or in the case of East Germany until 1990. Germans have had to live with and deal with the war much more often and for much longer than most non-Germans realize.

I'm not sure that Germans are necessarily not interested in the war, perhaps a bit reluctant to talk about it to non-Germans maybe. I know that sometimes when people found out that I was not German (which was pretty much immediately since I can only speak enough German to order a couple of beers and ask where the bathroom is) they would point out things that the Allies did that were morally questionable. Like the bombing of Dresden. I sometime felt that some Germans became defensive about the war very quickly and would bring up such things perhaps because they felt that I was judging them. The reaction I thought may have been partly due to guilt but I thought it was more likely brought on by what they would have assumed I was thinking, based on either past encounters with other tourists or more likely the over simplified way Hollywood portrays this war, all things Allied - good, all things German - bad.

I learnt an interesting word there "vergangenheitsbewaltigung" (sp?) my understanding is that it's used to express the process of confronting and dealing with guilty feelings about the past. When a language incorporates a word as specific as this I've got to believe that a lack of interest can't also be part of the same culture.

That's my complete outsider's point of view based on a couple of weeks in Germany and dealings with other Germans encountered traveling. So my apologies if I'm way off base, I understand that I am not the best person to speculate on the feelings and motivations of Germans as a whole.

Answer 3

There was "das große Schweigen" ("the great silence") immediately following the war, during which no one wanted to talk about it, but as for the current generation I have heard the exact opposite from what you are saying; that they are anything but reluctant to talk about the war and Nazism and that it is instead foreigners who hesitate before starting a conversation.

Regarding philosophy, physics, literature, etc., you are absolutely right. The Germans were the European bearer of science and culture from roughly the 1700's up until Bismarck and Hitler, and they deserve to be honoured for that.

Answer 4

Because it's all some people want to talk about, germany is a prestigious country with many times of glory and prestige, yet no one bothers to learn about communism, the first or second reiches (empires) or their royalty, only ever the war. Sometimes it just gets boring.

Answer 5

Your perception is different than mine. As citizens of any country are, they are individuals. Different periods of time catch the attention and focus of individual people. I remember several German people whose first comment when asked an open question about their history would point you to the castles and ruins of Roman towns near by. Of course, they talk with pride of their scientists, composers, and others in the arts as well as politics. I think the "public guilt" has eroded or been healed by time.
Yes, they must remember their leader's actions in WWI and WWII, but then the US citizens must deal with thoughts about War of 1812, the Civil War, Spanish American War, our actions in WWI and WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, and our actions over a decade in the Middle East. It is all taught in our schools in multiple grades. Our "public guilt" has eroded over time about our actions in the above wars. Our people seldom think in the light you portray the Germans.
I do not believe the Germans think in the light you portray them. As in any country, other events of historic proportion have occurred since then. If anything, some talk about the behavior of the eastern portion of Germany before unification.

Answer 6

For germans to touch the War topic what ever it´s the I or II World War is very unconfortable , embarrasing and humilating. After loosing the I WW, they were brainwashed by ultranationalist waco parties that argued the their defeat was not germany´s fault, that the guilty ones were the decadent and corrupt politicians, catholics, comunist, and of course the jews, they had all conspired to bring down the german empire. How could they loose? if they were the Superior Race?.

In the II World War Hitler´s party had all the power, so corrupt politicians had supposedly been eliminated. Communists had been all killed or in jail. Jews were in concentration camps working as slaves, and being exterminated.
So Hitler and associates violated all the world, finally having to confront their guilt, before the solid military alliance of the British Commonwealth, Russia and the United States.
that annihilated them, and now, they had no excuses for their defeat.

So according to their idol´s own words :
"only the fittest will win this war" It was proved that they are not the fittest (superior).
On the way they commited the worst human crimes recorded in history against Jews, Slavs, and Gypsys, as well as raping and bombing peacefull neighbooring countries like, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxemburg, Norway, countries that now hate and don¨t sympathize with germans. That is their guilt and shame. To have tolerated and supported an evil monster that brainwashed them and they eagerly followed him.

"The world is not in danger due to evil persons, but rather because of those that tolerate them."
Einstein.

Answer 7

There are several films you can watch that, although not exactly factual, only names and places have been changed and some chronological discrepancie2s to make a better film..,watch "The Longest Day" "A Bridge too Far," Bridge on the River Qway" Anzio" "Battle of Britain", "The Dambusters," "633 Squadron", Saving Private Ryan" "Tora Tora Tora" the HBO series "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific" read "The boy in the Striped Pyjamas" "The Diary of Ann Frank", to give you an idea

Answer 8

If they are not interested, it is because they have moved on. After all, WW2 ended over 60 years ago. We live in an entirely different world. Yes, we have to learn from it, but not become obsessed by it, as happens, I think, in some places. Just look at the number of questions that get posed on this board about it.

Answer 9

I can only guess that every one, just as I am, have a parent that was a part of the war machine. My Father was an American soldier and spent two years in Europe, most of their parents still alive were a part of Hitlers war machine. Would you stand up and cheer? I think not.

Answer 10

Most German people, one such as myself, are proud of our country and heritage. We are not proud of Adolf Hitley just as you are not proud of George W Bush and Richard Nixon.