German TV drama confronts a nation's wartime guilt

A very good subject, when does the guilt end ?

As KB said, every nation has dark chapters in its past. Has Hungry, Romania, Japan, Italy and others ever truly apologized for its WW 2 sins? Recent history would include the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia. Does it end at admitting the transgressions of your nation and pledging change ? I hope so.

I don't want this to be a political statement, but here in America we can not get over debating sins of our past when our ancestors had slaves. It is holding our future hostage and being used as a crutch for today's problems. Some can not move on even with billions of dollars being thrown as a guilt tax.

I applaud the Germans for facing their past and addressing it. I hope it acts as a watershed for other nations to learn and then move on.

 

Not in the 2 episodes I've seen mate.

 

Our mates on talk got a thread on it also.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/books-films-tv-radio/52775-unsere-m%FCtter-unsere-v%E4ter-pt3-added-subtitles-2.html#post578275

 

In this instance i would say yes...they were "among" the perpetrators...and yes are among those who need to apologise, simply because they were involved. Modern Jews should not feel persecuted so shouldnt be seeking an apology...modern Germans werent involved so shouldnt apologise...but they SHOULD acknowledge always that it happened and that it was crap.

 

I think a sufficient amount of time has passed with enough reconciliation and apologies having been given. I would find it disgusting and the height of condescension if someone admitted to thinking today's Germans need to apologize for anything that happened in their past. They can't be held to blame for things that occurred when they weren't born, and the truth is that the generation that follows mine will grow up in a world where only a handful, if any who lived through the war are still with us. I fear that it might turn into "white guilt" payments which are often abused as the case in the US and Canada.

On another note, a close German friend of mine holds a deep hatred for Russians because of what her grandparents went through to get to the west, but I imagine such feelings will fade into memory as well. That is how these things happen, no?

 

CAC, your comments in this tread are extremely useful but for today I'm out of the "likes". Sorry.

The tittle of the film is not 'Polish Fathers, Polish Mothers' but 'Our (German) Fathers, Our (German) Mothers'. There is no doubt that Poles have committed many horrible crimes against Jewish people but the Germans have no moral right to point their fingers to the nation who suffered the most among all nations under the region of the German Fathers and the German Mothers. Every fifth Pole has perished this way or another under the German occupation. Are they preparing yet another film where Jews murder Poles?

From this point of view the film is complete moral failure and an insult both to the Poles and to the victims of Holocaust.

 

Yes, Germany has appologized to Poland. Silently. The image below shows the German president Willy Brandt kneeling before the monument to the Warsaw Ghetto uprising of 1943. This is an outstanding act of sincere appology but, look at the image below, in the left lower corner of the "Der Spiegel" magazine front page there is a grim question:

"Durfte Brandt knien?" (Should Brandt have kneeled?)

For many, this bite appears to be too difficult to swallow even after so many years.

 

I cannot say for certain, but perhaps that is talking about Brandt himself? Brandt had suffered persecution from the Nazis, fled his homeland and became a citizen of another country. I could understand if the question was more to do with Brandt having been victimized himself.

 

... but he was there on official visit as the president of the Federal Republic of Germany. And yes, that is talking also about Brandt himself: he was an extraordinary, honest man.

 

I would just watch this drama, and it is just a drama, as a war movie...bit like Family at war in UK in seventies...No matter the guilt or innocence of anyone...And today's German has no guilt attached...I'd point to other threads on another nation that is doing the opposite and its youth have never had a firm explanation of their role in ww2..Japan for any moral stuff...

Watch this German Drama as a drama, as I've said, if it was made to bring Germany past present or future to attonement then one its not necessary and two it fails in this.

I'll say it again, watch it...Its a bloody good war drama. Enjoy it for what it is not what some perceive it should have been.

 

You're right my friend, that's just fiction like all other TV series, like 'Alo 'Alo!

 

Good moaning,

I thought "Allo Allo" was a documentary?!


As for all this apology stuff I've never understood that. My country has commited appalling crimes against all and sundry but I haven't. I am happy to admit that the English have done many terrible things but I didn't, I don't feel guilty and cannot say sorry for them.

 

Yes...mate you've got it....but with a bit more blood and a few more bangs.....

 

Rene knew better: he fought Wehrmacht with vine and women.

 

Thats got to be the best picture ever posted surely...Wheres the wet lettuce??

 

Belasar will be along shortly...No I mean...Not wet lettuce...Belasar no I mean...well...you know...

 

Are you saying the "Court Jester" has no sense of humor?

In related forum news, the staff announce the largest roundup of Rogues to be sent to the Cooler in years.

Video at 11!

 

I knew Belasar would understand.

For those from the former colonies, the previous photo is from an excellent British WW2 series 'Allo 'Allo dealing with the occupation of France. Even though the series is a comedy, it is quite realistic: the German soldiers have occupied bistros and are sipping champagne with local waitresses, the Resistance is sending messages to London 'Please, come to rescue us.' A great example of sincere collaboration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq1S2B_45XE

 

And a true story...my uncle Urqhsid was one of the RAF pilots hinding in the basket.

 

I can bring up the YouTube link but nothing is available as of 3/29/2013. Is it "off air" ? Would love to watch. I tried to register but that was dormant too. Help !!!

Gaines