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Polish-German Relations in the Present


celinski 31 | 1,258  
7 Feb 2008 /  #691
I found this artical very interesting.

Study: German Children Born During World War II Not Yet Over Trauma
February 4, 2008 12:56 p.m. EST

"The psychiatrist explained the painful war memories were locked in the children's memories and stayed in their adult subconscious while they tried to live normal lives. Now, as they near retirement age, with no jobs to distract their attention, the memories resurface. The likely symptoms are depression, panic attacks and heart ailments."

allheadlinenews.com/articles/7009927468
shopgirl 6 | 928  
7 Feb 2008 /  #692
Sure, some were in disagreement, but I can;t imagine that only a small group of Germans was all it took to support the biggest slaugher in human history.

I like this quote and I believe in it.
Margaret Mead
Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.


Whether committed people choose to focus on positive change or negative change, I have seen in my own experience that small groups work better. They communicate better and organize better. Large groups are hard to control...

I have been reading a book by British historian Giles MacDonogh that was published 2007, called "After the Reich". I ran across an interesting bit of info in the preface and wanted to share it.

"It is true that some of the old men and a lot of the women hat voted for Hitler, but it should be recalled once again that he never acheived more than 37.4% of the vote in a free election, and in the last one he was down to 33.1%. That meant that, even at his most popular, 62.6 %of the German electorate were unmoved by his programme".

He goes on to say that Hilter's campaign did not openly propose slaughter of European Jews, or the desire to confront Russia, or to enslave the Slavs.

Even with only veiled allusions to his dark desires in his speeches, best spotted in hindsight, Hilter was not a favored leader.

He says that to make all Germans responsible (women old men, children and new born babies) is using the Allied weapon of collective guilt. Collective guilt applied by the Allies deprived Germans of their rights, and kept them at the mercy of the Allies until they could figure out what to do with them. He speaks about the children and accountability...there were boys as young as twelve in the Hiltler Youth. At what age should a child be punished as an adult, as responsible for his actions?

Just wanted to share some of the ideas that I have been contemplating.

I like this quote too...

Victor Frankl
We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances - to choose one's own way.

janekb - | 57  
6 Mar 2008 /  #693
Shopgirl,
There is a difference in character between Slavs and Germans. One can notice that while both are able to commit any imaginable atrocity, the Slavs are more individualistic and spontaneous. In addition being very mistrustful of any authority (for historical reasons) on a long run not willing to follow even the most charismatic ruler.

Germans, on the other hand are known for their perseverance and obedience. That's why Germans make an exceptionally good soldiers, extension of the machine concentrating on perfect execution of the given task without analyzing nature of this task. Historically their rulers served them well, there was no reason to develop mistrust toward government.

These are generalizations, but national character is formed through generations and this is in essence how I see it.
I do not know what is your national background, if you are an American you will have difficulty to follow it since US do not have national ethos (except for moneymaking).
jones101 1 | 349  
6 Mar 2008 /  #694
There is a difference in character between Slavs and Germans.

Yep....bank balances.
Kowalski 7 | 621  
7 Mar 2008 /  #695
When leaving Szczecin toward Germany one can see a put up road sign that says "Achtung! Alles verbotten - 2 km" ( Warning! All forbidden - 2 km).

On that note: we had recently incidents with German police issuing tickets to polish drivers for not having proper (in Germany) first aid medical kit. On polish side our police was ticketing German cars for not having fire distinguisher required. Both sides came to terms already....

Poles living in Loeknitz, Germany (some 40 km from Poland) are often targeted by local right wingers, to the point of many selling of property and moving back to Poland (after media)
Bratwurst Boy 12 | 11,864  
7 Mar 2008 /  #696
road sign that says "Achtung! Alles verbotten

Ha ha ....good joke!
Crow 154 | 9,004  
8 Mar 2008 /  #697
When leaving Szczecin toward Germany one can see a put up road sign that says "Achtung! Alles verbotten - 2 km" ( Warning! All forbidden - 2 km).

hm, when you mentioned road signs

There is a town in central Serbia- Kragujevac

after WWII, on the approaching road to town, people of Kragujevac placed the road sign: ``It is forbidden to any German to enter this town.``

I heard, these days, somebody mentioned idea about placing similar sign on the approaches to Kragujevac, even on all crosroads on Serbian border.

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