Some historical facts about Germany… (WWII)
I think not many people know what it means to be a “German” or what it means to grow up in a country that was responsible for millions of deaths. And even today there are too many people who don’t really know what happened before WWII and what happened after that….
To grow up in this country, also means, to know its history very well and the effects to the world until today…
It means to hear stories of people who were part of this time and it means feeling guilty because it happened.
Yes, I still feel guilty – more than 60 millions people died during this war and I often asked my grandma why they didn’t stand up – it is very difficult for me to understand that.
I heard the same again and again – we had no choice, as we recognized what happened it was too late – let it not happen again!
I am very “sensible” and I cannot deal with death very well, no matter who has to die and the number of 60 million people including more than 6 million Jews, is a number which has etched on my memory – and it will be there my whole life!
During the cold war, we learned to use diplomacy…. we did it because the danger was too great for everyone, for the whole world. There were too much “red buttons” and they still are there.
Anyway, I cannot go back in time (I really wish I could) but I want to bring this time closer to you, because there are still too many people who are missing some important facts.
Lets start with the many effects WWII had to the whole world…
“The effects of World War II had far-reaching implications for the international community. Many millions of lives had been lost as a result of the war. Germany was divided into four quadrants, which were controlled by the Allied Powers.
The war can be identified to varying degrees as the catalyst for many continental, national and local phenomena, such as the redrawing of European borders, the birth of the United Kingdom’s welfare state, the communist takeover of China and Eastern Europe, the creation of Israel, and the divisions of Germany and Korea. In addition, many organizations have roots in the Second World War; for example, the United Nations, the World Bank, the WTO, and the IMF. Technologies, such as nuclear fission, the computer and the jet engine, also appeared during this period.
For the first time in modern history, geopolitical power shifted away from western and central Europe. That multipolar world was replaced by a bipolar one dominated by the two most powerful victors, the United States and Soviet Union, which became known as the superpowers.
At the end of the war, millions of refugees were homeless, the European economy had collapsed, and most of the European industrial infrastructure was destroyed.”
As I was in London the first time with my school class, a women stopped and asked my friends and me if we were from Germany – I think she heard it because we talked in German – as we answered with a nod, she pointed with her finger of us and asked how we can live with our history, how we can live with the death of millions of people and how we can live with the fact that our parents or grandparents are responsible for the death of her whole family. I know that I grew stiff, I couldn’t speak because I had a lump in my throat and I just starred at her with tears in my eyes… she looked at me and asked me again.
I don’t know why she asked me – I always felt guilty… but I couldn’t answer I just could say: I am so sorry… but she cut me short and asked again:” How you feel? Shame on you…” She didn’t say it loud – she said it in a low voice and I remember her eyes… she starred at me with empty eyes!
I didn’t know what I should do – I was 16 years old… tears run down my cheeks and I put just out my hand, but she turned her back on me and wanted to walk away with tears in her eyes. After a few steps she came back… she looked at my hand, because I stood there “stunned” and she took my hand. She didn’t speak, she said nothing, she just took my hand and went away…
My teacher was outraged as he saw it – it was my history teacher – and he wanted to go after her, but I stopped him…
We talked about that later in the evening – because the whole class was shocked and also anxious. He had a lot of work to explain the whole issue and I think he did it very well.
Well…. That’s the burden we have to bear. Also those who didn’t live at that time.
It has many effects of our way of life till today and it also will be a fact for the next generations…
We are watched in everything what we do…
Would we sharpen our immigration law it would be told, ah… Germany went back in history…
Would we support a boycott against Israel, it would be told… ah, Germany is against the Jews….
Just a few examples…
And we have to use a lot of diplomacy, we have to look at things not only from one side, we have to find a Middle Way in everything what we do! And it brings a lot of problems!
Time changed, people changed and obviously history and historical facts are confusing people the more time goes by.
When I was in the US, I was surprised how much “alive” Hitler is in US news channels. He is mentioned there at least once a day… and many people seem to believe that Germans voted for Hitler, supported the war and are those who are responsible for what happened.
This is not really true. Hitler never got the popular vote during the elections, in fact he got less votes with every election.. A terrible mistake in the German constitution at that time and a Hindenburg mistake was responsible that he became chancellor and was able to change the laws…
I think these documantaries are providing some great historical facts. Facts, not many people seem to know.
Personally, I think the video below is one of the most important documentary series, with lots of background facts and interviews of people who lived during this time, some of them knew Hitler personally etc…. worth watching!
The Nazis – a warning from history
Another great series is “The world at war”
This series begins with a documentary, called “The New Germany”
In this first episode, the producers show the terrible cost of the war — worldwide devastation and the deaths of 55 million people. The program examines the politics and economy of Germany that brought forth the Nazi Party and the leadership of Adolf Hitler and explains the Nazi rise to power through promises of food, water, jobs, money and prosperity to a country full of unemployment and disdain for how they were treated in the Treaty of Versailles.
2. WWII – Inside the Reich of NAZI Germany (Germany 1940-1944)
3. WWII – The Aftermath (1945 and after)
After the War Conquering Germany (BBC Documentary)
Behind Closed Doors – Stalin, the Nazis and the West [documentary]
http://www.pbs.org/behindcloseddoors/
Not many people know what happened to Germans, especially German women after WWII… (two videos above cover it a little bit) and sadly, there are still too many people who believe they didn’t deserve it better…
Here are some articles about that…
