I am thankful that Germany got a second chance from the world

[noname223]

It was rather a third chance. My country was responsible for horrible crimes against humanity. Our country and people brought so much unimaginable pain and suffering to other people. That Germany got another chance was far from being self-evident. Also the reunification could only happen because of the kindness of other countries.

I really have to say when I read what Germans have done I am stunned that the victims could forgive us. Or at least did not want revenge.

In my family there is often silence what my ancestors did during the Nazi regime. I had the feeling some stories were just lies to comfort their conscience.

It is shocking that many people don't seem to learn from history what brought us to genocides and mass-murdering of minorities. I could imagine that history rhymes (similar to repeats).

For example if China invaded Taiwan and Germany's economy would plummet completely the demagogues could succeed.

I think it is important to remind oneself and remember all the horrible crimes my country was responsible for. The contemporary witnesses die but their stories should never be forgotten.

We have to do everything to prevent more genocides to happen. Though not always negotiations and kindness can be the first step to do that. Appeasement is naive in the context of war criminals and bloody mass-murderers.

 

[omlet]

Germany wasn't at fault for the first World War though
Germans weren't the only people who did horrible things to others, Brits caused millions of Indians to die of famine, Belgians mutilated millions of Congolese, and pretty much every country at one point in their history (if not multiple) went to war with another nation that caused destruction, rape and murder of hundreds of thousands of people

 

[Forever Sleep]

I think it's very brave of you to face your countries history and feel shame for it. It's what we ALL need to do to prevent such things happening again.

Like @omlet said though- Germany isn't only to blame. I expect ALL or at least most countries have blood on their hands. The UK (my home) invented the concentration camp. 'We've' done and still do things that I feel mortified by.

Also- and I'm not an expert here- my Dad is interested in war stuff. I think Germany was brought to it's knees financially after the first world war. As a general pattern- we never learn. From what I could see- a similar thing happened after the war in Iraq. Nations are so focused on 'destroying their enemies'. When that's accomplished and they've taken out a lot of the countries' infrastructure to do it- a vacuum is left.

People still living in those countries may be desperate and have little strong leadership. If anyone is suffering, they'll likely be more susceptible to talk of becoming strong again. Not to excuse it but you can see how it happens. People are angry because they are suffering. It only takes a lunatic to come along and channel that anger into hatred towards this or that person.

Sadly also- we all have this vulnerability. If you are told you and your family are being threatened by foreign forces- you will likely (and naturally) want to defend yourself. Perhaps even attack- if you have been convinced you have been wronged by them.

The world history is (sadly) full of unimaginable horrors. I think all we can do is try to be aware of what lies within each of us. Plus- to question if you are asked to do something you find morally wrong.

 

[CowsAgainstCapitali]

Here in a place that most people refer to as the US, which is the name of a State, not a country, we have several million people who strongly believe the abolition of slavery was a mistake. Literally millions of people here are okay with human ownership. The military force that supported these ideals was defeated over 160 years ago, and no one alive from that period has many living person today. Yet, "The South Will Rise Again" <-- (that was my high school's ACTUAL motto)

Where am I going with this? Oh yeah, modern day Germany, a fairly Nazi free place. It's great. Look what they did in ONE generation. Look at the progress. Germany is the defacto leader of Europe. There are people living today who fight on the wrong side who have come to see that and reformed themselves. I am incredibly proud of what Germans have accomplished. It's n small task to switch from world domination to being everyone's best friend.

 

[zeenatax]

It was rather a third chance. My country was responsible for horrible crimes against humanity. Our country and people brought so much unimaginable pain and suffering to other people. That Germany got another chance was far from being self-evident. Also the reunification could only happen because of the kindness of other countries.

I really have to say when I read what Germans have done I am stunned that the victims could forgive us. Or at least did not want revenge.

In my family there is often silence what my ancestors did during the Nazi regime. I had the feeling some stories were just lies to comfort their conscience.

It is shocking that many people don't seem to learn from history what brought us to genocides and mass-murdering of minorities. I could imagine that history rhymes (similar to repeats).

For example if China invaded Taiwan and Germany's economy would plummet completely the demagogues could succeed.

I think it is important to remind oneself and remember all the horrible crimes my country was responsible for. The contemporary witnesses die but their stories should never be forgotten.

We have to do everything to prevent more genocides to happen. Though not always negotiations and kindness can be the first step to do that. Appeasement is naive in the context of war criminals and bloody mass-murderers.

I saw in the news today that a village in Germany elect a man as the Mayor who came as a refugee from Syria in 2015 in the first round with 55.5 % vote. Germany has changed a lot. A confident new Germany. I saw the interview with voters who elected him. Good for Germany as a whole. Germany should be proud of itself. Angela Merkel must be smiling now. Congratulations!

Merkel showed courageous leadership in the time of humanitarian crisis when all other so called leaders acted cowardly. Germany allowed 1 million Syrian refugees. The closest next was Canada with only 25k.