Germans still grapple with WWII legacy

Andy Eckardt Producer

MAINZ, Germany - German policymakers will gather for an official state ceremony in the Berlin parliament on Sunday to commemorate the victims of Nazi tyranny, 60 years after Germany capitulated to Allied forces at the end of World War II.

At the same time, only a few blocks away, several thousand neo-Nazis are expected to march through the streets.

Even though modern-day Germany shows no resemblance to the "Third Reich" of Hitler's Nazi Germany, the historic burden of that era still haunts the lives of young and old.

As a nation, Germany must navigate the fine line between recognizing and learning from the tragic legacy of the Nazi regime, and not dwelling on that past so much that it is incapable of creating a modern national identity.

Ghosts of the past
Only three months ago, nearly 5,000 neo-Nazis gathered in the eastern German city of Dresden to stage their own commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Allied bombing of the city, calling the air raid on Feb. 13, 1945, "a bombing holocaust.”

The right-wing demonstration triggered a wave of dismay among Dresden locals and politicians. Up to 50,000 people spontaneously gathered in the city center that same night to form the words, "This city is tired of Nazis," with an ocean of candles.

Slide show   End of the war Allied forces make the final push to defeat Germany and celebrate Victory in Europe Day 60 years ago. Click for images.

This weekend, for the anniversary of the end of World War II, almost 30,000 people are expected to stand in a 20-mile long line, holding candles in silent protest of the neo-Nazi march. German locals, peace activists and politicians are due to gather in large numbers at Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s historic landmark, showing the world that today's Germany opposes extremist tendencies.

The far-right demonstration will be kept away from sites dedicated to the victims of the Nazi regime — like the new Holocaust memorial. But, the gathering is still a thorn in the eyes of a great majority of Germans and especially of those politicians, who had tried to ban the march.

However, Germany's liberal rules on demonstrations and free speech prevented an overall ban of the expected march.

But, the regained strength of the country's far-right and especially the extremist right wing party, known as NPD, is a political phenomenon which has come and gone in waves over the past 10 years. And, it remains a worry for the country. Experts warn that the problem should not be underestimated.

Ongoing discussion
"The violence is real," wrote Jürgen Leinemann in a special edition of Der Spiegel magazine, which addressed the impact of history on today's Germany.

"As in other European countries, a considerable potential of racist and anti-foreigner sentiments in a reunified Germany is indisputable," wrote Leinemann.

It is nearly impossible for many Germans not to think back to the Nazi regime when they see that extreme right-wing groups are still managing to recruit new members.

"In the Federal Republic of Germany, dealing with the Nazi past has become an element of cultural identity," German historian, professor Norbert Frei, told Der Spiegel magazine.

Yet, a recent study, conducted by German television ZDF and Die Welt newspaper, revealed that only every second German under the age of 24 can associate the term "Holocaust" with the murder of more than 6 million Jews.

Constant need to revisit history
"That is why we as journalists have a strong responsibility — that is why it is so important to continue the education of future generations," said professor Guido Knopp, a historian and TV producer.

Knopp has produced several prize-winning documentaries about Nazi history for German television, ZDF. A total of 4.6 million viewers tuned in to a recent documentary on the bombing of Dresden.

"There is no such thing as collective guilt, guilt is always linked to individuals," Knopp said. “But there is a collective responsibility in Germany not to forget," he added.

For many years, Knopp and his team have been traveling across the country to collect eyewitness reports and to do interviews with the World War II veterans.

"After the end of the war, many tried to forget their horrible experiences, concentrated on building families and rebuilding the country," Knopp said.

"Only when they reached retirement age, did they find the time and were they willing to reflect on their wartime past," Knopp said.

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