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It will take some time, until facts like these about German history will be more wildly known, for example the liberal time of the 1920s. The NS era is just suc

It will take some time, until facts like these about German history will be more wildly known, for example the liberal time of the 1920s. The NS era is just such a huge part of history lessons in school, militarism and just pure evil is by far the dominating notion of a German thinking about history. While glorifying their own shortcomings in the past, the English view on Germany [0] is much more differentiated, acknowledging the good parts like the Hanse [1] or thousand year old organizations like the Teutonic Knights [2] without just thinking about 20th century Germany's imperialism. Anecdotally Wagner, whose 200th birthday would have been 2 years ago, is casually mentioned in the article as being able to be interpreted liberally, while he is viewed much more critically in Germany [3]. Questions like whether or not one should enjoy art, whose creator was evil are not that uncommon. I think recent events like the reunion or the comeback of German football starting with the world cup in 2006 changed peoples perception about Germany quite a bit. With the Euro crisis Germany finally stopped behaving like an awkward giant Switzerland and took some responsibility in the world again. [0]: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/germany_memories_of_a_nation.aspx http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/germany_me... [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teutonic_Knights http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teutonic_Knights [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner#Controversies http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner#Controversies

cbd1984 12y ago
> It will take some time, until facts like these about German history will be more wildly known, for example the liberal time of the 1920s. Back when life was a cabaret? > The NS era is just such a huge part of history lessons in school, militarism and just pure evil is by far the dominating notion of a German thinking about history. When a whole generation still living had to stop one of the clearest Moral Lessons ever to grace the page of history, it takes a while to rebuild a more nuanced view. Granted. However, it wasn't just that. The end of WWII is Year Zero for a lot of what we're still living with, from the Cold War to modern computing technology to the roads we in America drive on, because it was so destructive it erased the previous world in a way few things had. > With the Euro crisis Germany finally stopped behaving like an awkward giant Switzerland and took some responsibility in the world again. And isn't it interesting that when Europe begins to get unified, Germany is right there leading the way.
- allendoerfer 12y ago
  > Back when life was a cabaret? Yep. All visitors were wearing a Bubikopf. > However, it wasn't just that. The end of WWII is Year Zero for a lot of what we're still living with, from the Cold War to modern computing technology to the roads we in America drive on, because it was so destructive it erased the previous world in a way few things had. My point was, that other countries are glorifying their past empires or at least acknowledge, that they once beat the British, while Germany is much more limited. Compare for example how Poles and people from Eastern Germany see Russia. > And isn't it interesting that when Europe begins to get unified, Germany is right there leading the way. Well, initially it was the other way round. Germany was unified and Europe united and integrated partly because of a growing Germany. [0] [0]: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-price-of-unity-was-the-deutsche-mark-sacrificed-for-reunification-a-719940.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-price-of-uni...
- brazzy 12y ago
  > And isn't it interesting that when Europe begins to get unified, Germany is right there leading the way. Is that in any way noteworthy, given that it's the continent's most populous and economically powerfuly nation?

cbd1984 12y ago

> It will take some time, until facts like these about German history will be more wildly known, for example the liberal time of the 1920s. Back when life was a cabaret? > The NS era is just such a huge part of history lessons in school, militarism and just pure evil is by far the dominating notion of a German thinking about history. When a whole generation still living had to stop one of the clearest Moral Lessons ever to grace the page of history, it takes a while to rebuild a more nuanced view. Granted. However, it wasn't just that. The end of WWII is Year Zero for a lot of what we're still living with, from the Cold War to modern computing technology to the roads we in America drive on, because it was so destructive it erased the previous world in a way few things had. > With the Euro crisis Germany finally stopped behaving like an awkward giant Switzerland and took some responsibility in the world again. And isn't it interesting that when Europe begins to get unified, Germany is right there leading the way.

allendoerfer 12y ago
> Back when life was a cabaret? Yep. All visitors were wearing a Bubikopf. > However, it wasn't just that. The end of WWII is Year Zero for a lot of what we're still living with, from the Cold War to modern computing technology to the roads we in America drive on, because it was so destructive it erased the previous world in a way few things had. My point was, that other countries are glorifying their past empires or at least acknowledge, that they once beat the British, while Germany is much more limited. Compare for example how Poles and people from Eastern Germany see Russia. > And isn't it interesting that when Europe begins to get unified, Germany is right there leading the way. Well, initially it was the other way round. Germany was unified and Europe united and integrated partly because of a growing Germany. [0] [0]: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-price-of-unity-was-the-deutsche-mark-sacrificed-for-reunification-a-719940.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-price-of-uni...
brazzy 12y ago
> And isn't it interesting that when Europe begins to get unified, Germany is right there leading the way. Is that in any way noteworthy, given that it's the continent's most populous and economically powerfuly nation?