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@ 2012-12-21 – 21:17:25
The German-Italian Historians' Commission has just published its findings on German war crimes in Italy during World War 2.
It comes to the conclusion that, on average, the Germans killed 165 Italian civilians, POWs or military internees per day during the German occupation period (8 September 1943 and 8 May 1945).
schumachermaria
Dear Bill,
these crimes were atrocious. But Germany has changed and the German press is reporting about the injustice committed to Italian civilians at the time being.
This is a step forward. However,it will be difficult to charge the relatives of the culprits. Maybe there will never be total justice. Certain crimes against mankind can never be undone. We Germans will have to live with this burden.
Still, I am from a differen generation and did not live at this time. Should I feel guilty for the rest of my life for being a German citizen? This is what I ask myself.
Some of my relatives left the country when Hitler came to power. Not all Germans were like the ones described in the Spiegel article. I had a great uncle who lived in the United States during WW2 and taught Mexican immigrant children English and an great aunt who lived in Rome. She was a nun. Both of them were not involved in politics.
According to my father another remote relative of mine was Annette von Droste-Hülshoff. I do not know if this is true. But she wrote the book "Judenbuche" which inpired me. I come from the same town in Westphalia where she came from. Because of her book she had to leave Westphalia and lived on one of the islands on Lake Constance.
My grand-father was on the red list of the nazis. Thanks God, the British troups marched in and he was not deported. My grand-father would just not shut up and brought our family in trouble. I am proud of him. Everybody in my family have a good opinion about the British and were glad when the war finally ended. Because of that Germans have a good opinion about the British troups. They liberated our country.
Many greetings
Maria
There are some great Germans that could inspire people in different countries. We should not forget that.
Many greetings
Maria
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