Germans...Americans think you guys are ashamed?

Question

Yet, I heard that the German police will arrest any German who discusses the Holocaust. Is this true? What the heck kind of democracy do you have if your people can't discuss your opinion?

Answer 1

Shalom all, Germans are good kind people who never do anything wrong - kabushka!

Answer 2

No, Germany will not arrest any German who discusses the Holocaust. Germans are free to *discuss* anything. The TV here has frequent documentaries about the various facets and impact of WWII, and there are frequent memorial services all over marking different horrors perpetuated under the n***s.

Germans, by the way, feel its a typical American practice to say something about another country that's completely inaccurate.

What is illegal in Germany is to publicly deny that the Holocaust happened, and to display n**i symbols except in documentaries and museum historical displays. And before you get indignant and dismiss such as undemocratic, you need to do some reading about this country's history and learn a bit about its very unique culture. You also need to understand that Germany is not the USA, and individual countries interpret "democracy" differently (believe me, I hear a lot of comments about the USA's undemocratic practices here in Europe).

Germany under the n***s, and its many supporters in Austria and other surrounding countries, attempted to annihilate entire cultures and groups of people, on a massive scale. Unlike other countries, Germany has made the remembrance of such a horrible part of its history an integral part of its culture and life. I am humbled by how much Germans know of their history, good and bad, and how they do not run away from such. Imagine if tour guides in the USA acknowledged the horrors of slavery when leading tours through historical sites where slaves were present, or the mass killings of Indians where tribes used to live and flourish, and if there were documentaries on TV in the USA and city and state-sanctioned memorial events regularly that talked about this, and you might get the idea of what it's like here regarding history.  

In short, Germans are MUCH more aware about their history -- ALL of it -- than people in the USA.

Answer 3

You are touching upon a touchy subject. Germans do not talk freely about this. How do most Germans feel? Hint: Count Klaus von Stauffenberg, the leader of the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, is today a German national hero.

Answer 4

I take it you're not referring to the European cup final performance?  After WWII there were certain words, the use of which was made illegal.  They were stupid laws imposed by the victorious allies - which today are largely ignored.

I'm only aware of one occasion where one of the anti - n**i laws were used and the person was arrested for his use of the word Fuhrer.  However just like in the US, UK or Ireland - the police use this as a tool to arrest him,  The real reason for the arrest was the guy was a Xenophobic, psychotic, racist n**i that was shoving his opinions down the throat of his community.  When the police searched his house they found it floor to ceiling covered with neo-n**i paraphernalia.

I find it fascinating how people jump on the Germans over something that happened over two generations ago, but only once in recent years have we heard of the Swiss treatment of Jewish people during the same period.  I know of Polish and Russian treatment of Jews through little distributed works - again same period.

Of all the countries I've visited - and its quite a few; I recon a lot of people could learn a lot from Germany and the Germans.  Though personally I prefer Austria.

Answer 5

Americans...Mexicans think you guys are cynical? Yes I heard the border patrol will arrest any Mexican that crosses the Rio Grandee, is this true? what the heck kind of democracy do you have if you can't hire people that need work while many in your country live on welfare and refuse to work.

Answer 6

You won't get arrested for discussing Holocaust in Germany, but for denying it.

Answer 7

It's kind of crazy over there Two years ago my G/F toke her mothers birth certificate Toke it to the local information office to try and find  the local of her mother They acted funny and said they did not know We walked out an old man followed us a few block and told us that ''your mother was born in a camp next to that big church they well not tell as they are ashamed''Than he walked away Could not get anyone else to tell us anything

Answer 8

When I was in Germany,I remember talking to my girlfriend about WWII and she said most Germans don't like to talk about it and they feel really bad about it.