I'm Italian, about 10 years ago i was in the erasmus student program in a belgian university. During a class we had to form teams and i ended with a german and a japanese exchange student. So i said that WE HAD to call ourselfs the Axis team, the japanese student thought that it was hilarious and agreed, while the german was horrified and was awkward all the time and stopped talking to us after that class. I still find it funny after so many years. 😅
Jo Jo Rabbit was on TV recently. It came out four years ago but made with mostly British actors & actors from other English speaking countries. The mother in that was secretly against the Nazis as she hid a Jewish girl in her attic & passed her off as her dead daughter. She was pleased that Italy had joined the side of the allies. The main character was ten years old & joined the Jungvolk which was the junior version of Hitler Youth. Boys as young as ten were fighting on the streets of Berlin by the time the allies & the Russians had invaded.
Most Germans I know would sooner complain about how poor the subtitle translation was than concern themselves with the storyline... Agreed. Strange people at times.
@@GratDuForloradeArgumentet I‘m german and it‘s really hard for me to understand his speeches. It was a different kind of german and definitely completely different in the speeches too. So rather just read translations of them ^^
As I read your comment: "Damn I can tell I'm getting r/whooshed..." Then my eyes wandered over to the recommended vids column and directly next to your comment was a vid with THAT logo in the graphic. Like, how did the YT algorithm know I wouldn't get the joke??!!😯😯
We are not responsible for what our ancestors did, and we should not feel guilty. We are responsible only for ourselves. But, it's worth remembering the history in order not to make the same mistakes. Because everything repeats itself, like a spiral. And people repeat and repeat their mistakes
u are only not respoonsible for us ancestors actions once u have accepted them, then u are free, but if u refuse to accept anything they did was bad, then we have situation (japan, turkey)
@@stormstriker2000 Why should we accept and approve of what our ancestors did? They are responsible for themselves, and I am personally responsible for myself and for my actions. We are not responsible for what our ancestors did. But that doesn't mean we approve of everything they did. The most important thing is not to do yourself what goes against your conscience, listen to that quiet voice inside yourself. Because we always feel what goes against our conscience, what is bad, what we should not do... But people often prefer to be obedient and do the terrible things that your superiors order you to do.
@@ЗонаНагваля Because what your ancestors did is like a heritage passed through the generations and is part of what forge your history We should give the Germans credit for acknowledging that and should do the same, especially their former allies during WW2, instead of harassing them with their Nazi past
@@goldflo91 ahah..you didn't understand what I was writing about..but nothing really matters..morality, decency, honesty, responsibility, good/bad - all these are tools in the hands of smart manipulators
Yes it's good that they can laugh about it a little now. But let's look at some things. It is true that there were wars in other places, but still we know that the Holocaust was unique, other wars were nothing like what happened in Germany. It was like the devil looked up at the German people and said these are my guys, Unfortunately even Germans now seem cold to those innocent people dying, and most likely if they were there, would have supported Hitler and his thugs. Not being unkind, just sees factual, this is one reason why the Holocaust is so unique. However, the good thing is, yes, never again. It would be suicide and the total wiping of a nation from the face of the Earth if the Germans attempted this again against the Jews, because they would lose terribly to Israel and other nations who still remember what happened, all coming together. Were it not for someone like Schindler, too extremely rare, Germany could be considered a place with a people of complete unhumanity, but hopefully the youths will simply try to be better people than their nation's past, in their hearts.
I can't stop laughing. I watch you all the time but never comment. You're making it hard for me to resist Germany. If I end up there someday, it's because of you. 🤣
@@RadicalLiving I watched that video, too. Laughed at how you used bread to hammer a nail to a wall. Can you just make a movie already ala Monty Python. Oops, hope I didn't trigger you there. 😃
@@thesmithersy well, I'm a Russian and let me count my Red Army relatives. 3 Great-Grandfathers fighting (tanker, artilleryman, railroad fighter - they had armoured trains). 1 GGF military surgeon and my GGM as his assistant. Two of her brothers fighting in the army and killed. The artillerist's brother served and also died in the war, and his wife's brother also served died in the war, so I do have nine in that war. Maybe even more, because my grandmother has a lot of relatives. And you? For the next generation of Russians it could easily be 8 soldiers plus a female nurse/doctor/sniper/pilot/battlefield paramedic (sanitary instructor their official name is)/intelligence agent/ whatever as straight ancestors. I
@@annasolovyeva1013 Westeners haven't heard of the Immortal regiment and how great is Victory day!! Everyone owes to Russia and the rest former Soviet Countries
When you ask a Germany about World War 2 there are three types of Reaktions 1. Oh i forgoht to buy the beer i will be right back 2. Yea IT was teriblie and we did horrible stuff 3. Ahh yes the good old Times i really miss them...
@@mbl1154 nah the worst one is the guy asking the question, what kind of lunatic would you go to random people to speak about genocides ? Imagine going to an American to ask him about how horrible is his country to have wiped out so many natives with no context whatsoever Only lunatics would do that
@@KaotikBOOO man, but there are a lot doing it. Trust me, have german friends. Tbh I did too, but it‘s a special reason. I knew him since very long time, and he often talked about his grandpa.
3rd scenario is the least likely because you could go to prison for saying that in most of Europe. I believe the only places in Europe that can say that are Spain, Finland, and Ukraine.
As a Polish person I find this pretty accurate. During my Erasmus exchange that was their usual reaction when it came down to this conversation. Except for parties, a little bit of alcohol can work miracles no matter the topic 😅 But yeah, I miss my German friends, we had some great time together.
i olso can confirm as a romanian afther the germans guys had some alchool they started to describe how back then "we will had kill you all.....because you are slavs". They trigered me and start to explain how Romania is Latin nation
I'm Austrian and noone I know would run away from a convo like this. We very much are aware of what has happened, we covered it in schoo for several years and we know and all feel how horrible and gruesome it was and I'm lacking the words tbh to describe how bad we all feel about it. There are still many memoriams and events and movies (f ex "Das weiße Band" is famous) and museums dealing not only with it but reminding us everyday: *"never frogive, never forget"* We don't, however, feel guilty, though, as we didn't fight in the war, but it is out duty that things like that will never happen again. kind regards from Austria!
On behalf of the global community, I implore you Austrians, please do not hurt delicate feelings of the people of art. I also suggest to keep passing grades low, especially in schools of art, just for extra safety.
you are austrian and you are still evil. whole Europe knows that Austria was and still is friendly to russia. you havent changed, still you are not able to choose good side of the history, still you choose evil. Europe will remember the second world war and how austria was acting when russians invaded ukrainians. do austrian children know how many ukrainian childen were raped by russian soldiers ??
@@hurtigheinz3790 as I said, that's how we learn it in school already ;) we are very much aware and the older theory abt the anschlss that was supposedly forced upon us-we know that's bs
My grandfather fought in the war, Spitfire pilot (British RAF). He didn't speak much about it but what he did say was harrowing. He never resented the Germans and viewed them as being similar to the British, he had a great respect for them. After the war he met veterans from both Germany and Italy in later life, they shared drinks together and enjoyed sharing stories.
The humor brings truthful simplicity and I like it. Germans do talk about WW2 stuff every now and then, but they 'kindly' unwelcome it when coming from strangers. As of Erika, it was also featured in Schindler's List, I think that makes it additionally strong of a reference. Kudos!
They should not be "unwelcome" of someone pointing out the past ... its not like they are saying "they are still the same" and nobody born today is responsible for it .. are they
@@IainMcGirr well some people apparently still think Germans are guilty and blame them when most around today haven't done anything I've heard this ober the years
There's an obsession with it in the UK at the moment as the last veteran soldiers & Holocaust survivors are dying off so it's endless films about it being repeated such as Odette, Land Girls, Schlinder's List & Dad's Army & documentary series. To keep it fresh in the minds of the next generation. But it was the English who invented the concentration camp & eugenics in the first place. Holocaust Day is marked each year when it should be Holocausts Day as there was more than one in history such as the one under the Pol Pot regime. We can't be dining out on winning both world wars forever. We need to improve the economy as well & life in the UK.
@@yulee3266 Yeah I include my British English Cousins with that unfortunately whilst not understanding their own imperial past and the crimes . You dont get an Empire by being nice. I have found and if you think about it those whom go ON about Germans being bad for WW2 even today tend to come from former imperial power countries or have a shady past themselves ..ponder on that so their history circulum reflects that. I dont know one Person on mainland UK whom knew that in their own country Northern Ireland foreigners Irish Nationals NEVER got a vote until 1970s and it was a Apartheid state run in good old UK ... even if born there etc. you had no rights unless of a certain group of people FACT .. . nor do you cover the famine in Ireland or elsewhere . Nor do they learn anything negative which Churchill did.. Nor do they cover Stalin much post the war and killing over 20 million ... Nor do they cover what was done in Indian . nor what was carried out in Africa. .I could go on but it proves my point. Said people for former imperial places just LOVE to bash Germans TODAY for WW2...
I was stationed in northern Germany 1985, to 1987, German tv would occasionally have a WWII documentary on. But mostly for younger Germans at the time they would rather forget that it ever happened. I would spend most my free time with Germans because I as trying to learn the language and they are really nice people. I did have a few good conversations with older WWII generation Germans who a fought on the eastern front they were not shy about talking about fighting the Russians one old guy even showed me pictures he had taken in Russia.
Мой дедушка защищал свою страну. Два его старших брата погибли. Он дошёл до Берлина и вернулся домой только в 1947г. Нам с братом он никогда не рассказывал о войне, ненавидел немецкую речь. У него 3 медали "За отвагу" и осколок около сердца, который беспокоил его всю жизнь. Я очень любила своего дедушку. Мы в России бережом память о погибших в этой войне и с большим уважением вспоминаем тех, кто воевал, выжил, а потом построил огромную сильную страну.
I think you should make a video on how to make foreigners uncomfortable on WWII. I remember walking around Berlin with a friend, not talking about anything to do with WWII, we just happened to be walking through all of the memorials... He then just announced "we do too much to remember all of this, it takes so much support from taxes, we have felt guilty long enough." 😶
The memorials are not there for us feeling guilty. They are supposed to remind us of what might happen, when we neglect history. The rise of the neo-nazis really scares me. 🍒
@@ladynori What rise of communism? The world is ruled by companies and capitalists like it has been in the last couple of centuries. Nothing has changed. All the things right wingers cry about (i. e. the so called "woke" movement) don't put the capitalism in danger, on the contrary, they are used by companies to get more benefits.
As a Ukrainian I spent 6 months in Germany before I accepted an offer from UK company. For the whole 6 months Germans only could raise the topic of war In Ukraine after 3-4 beers in a row because probably they know this topic reveals so many terrible emotions that it is not worth to touch. But In UK whenever Brits get to know that I'm Ukrainian 100 questions come up. How is ur family? How is ur friends? Was ur neighborhood bombed? I really do believe it is just curiosity and some sort of British small talk culture, but still pretty taught
@@Skinok_skin it would the most stupid scenario to answer actually. They are curious what is going on right now in Ukraine, and probably they would like to hear it out of Ukrainian, not from the news. Yeah, Brits in such questions are a bit more straight forward than Germans, they are ignoring the possibility that I just could lose someone in the war and maybe I don't want to talk about it with every stranger only to feed his curiosity
Yeah, honestly, as a German, I really try to avoid the war with the Ukrainians I talk to and let them start the topic if they want to. I'm relatively educated about the current events in the war (thanks to Denys Davidov), especially comparing my knowledge to basically everyone I know, and it's an interesting topic, but I really avoid it with Ukrainians. I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable because I know that what's happening already puts a big toll on them, so I don't need to immediately remind them whenever they managed to forget about the situation for a few seconds.
I feel you. That's why I didn't come to UK, because I had a feeling they would treat as some exotic thing , not caring for my emotions. That's so inappropriate to ask personal questions that can be triggering.
Germans shouldn't feel guilty about this, after all many were born decades after that, you guys should be proud of the country you were born in especially such an important central European country to history like Germany
ANGEL MERKEL IS RESPONSABLE FOR NOT ACCEPTING UKRAINE IN NATO IN 2008. SO ARE ALL GERMANS WHO VOTED FOR HER (AND FOR GERARD SCHROEDER). IN NORD STREAM 2 YOU HAD BLOOD OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN. DO GERMAN CHILDREN KNOW HOW MANY UKRAINIAN CHILDREN WERE RAPED BY RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ??
akward moment: When a person from Kosovo told me proudly that their grandfather was fighting for the SS in WW2 against serbian partizans and that the german occupation was the first time in history they didnt feel opressed
It didn't involve wholesale murder of seven or eight million people based on race or religion, being gay, being handicapped, or just living in the wrong country. Or annexing any land. But most of us other than right wingers think that and Iraq were totally wrong and stupid.
Me: let’s talk about world war 2 German girlfriend: No ! - why do you keep trying to start a conversation about WW 2. Me: I didn’t start it! You did. German girlfriend : No - you started it! Me: But you invaded Poland first ! Special thanks to Mr. Fawlty.
Some Germans could be a pain in the ass. For instance, when I said I am from Colombia, some Germans start to make jokes about Pablo Escobar. I couldn't believe how ignorant could be these people. They think that Escobar is a hero based on they saw in Narco Series. They think that he did less bad things than Hitler, so it is valid to make jokes about it. I would say, German logic is different from us, but it doesn't mean they are better. In conclusion, they don't like to talk about WWII, but make stupid comments about others
the saddest thing for me is in arersfoort camp in netherlands where 3000 soviet soldiers were brought and these 101 were uzbeks my ancestors and they have been treated the worst ways possibe, because of the race, because of they were asian. but because of them today we are living in a save life
Actually, you modern Germans are the example of how to deal with the past for all of us - not to forget, hide or invent an alternative version of the past with "misunderstood heroes". But actually address it & remember it. It blows my mind in a positive way. Am Ukrainian and the most guilt and shame i feel is towards Poland. Because we had our issues throughout history and on multiple occasions it ended up in bloody wars, revolts and massacres. Some of the things that we are accused of are russian propaganda or disproportial representation of what really happened in order to 'divide and dominate'. It's done on both side - we are fed the story how the Poles oppressed us and the Poles are told how barbarian we are and that we start killing at every opportunity. And there were real tragedies, real massacres. We (our ancestors) certainly chose the worst resolution methods to our issues. And, just like the Poles, we paid a high price for our arrogance and anger - we split, and we (Ukrainians) 'temporarily' sided with the moscovites and have been their punch bag for more than 400 years already. The issues we had between us feel bleak in comparison to what was yet to come for both of our nations. Nowadays am very impressed by how the general consensus in Poland - they understood what caused our frustrations, they understood that some of our actions were expected if an imperialistic policy is enforced - and they are actually forgiving. A few months ago i realised that the best depiction of Cossacks i ever saw was in 'Ogniem i mieczem' by Jerzy Hoffman - but it's a movie about how we fought against them! And after the war started Poland was our saviour - to allow so many different people to enter your country at once, to give shelter, food, clothes... So, modern Poles, who suffered no less than us during ww2 & in soviet times, were able to find a resolution in their hearts and both show us the way as well as find compassion to us. This soft power made me reevaluate a lot of the old tales from the soviet times and i hope we too will learn to be better and to take responsability for our actions.
Since you're Ukrainian, l'm curious about something. How do Ukrainians generally feel about Bandera and his actions ? Is it true that he is considered a national hero there ?
@@m.f.m4299 for most of people - they don't really know a lot about him. But he fought for an independent Ukraine and he pisses off russians a lot - so many use his pictures and mention him in silly songs about rushists. Those who studied history more profoundly are not fond of him - he was neither kind nor managed to achieve his goals of independence but instead divided the movement and left us with a questionable legacy.
Honestly, for me it makes no difference if someone is German, French or English..... Or Spanish & Portuguese. They all colonized countries and Germans had their moment with France and Poland and they enslaved people they deemed inferior. I don't personally find the Nazis unique for that at all. Concentration camps or plantations are all the same shit to me.
I remember talking to a Lawyer from Germany about two topics. JS Bach and World War 2. He almost hugged me when we were done talking. I told him that JS Bach was too intelligent to be called a "genius'. I said that as an American I could point out to our bad behavior, like the "Salvador Solution". "Why doesn't anyone talk about the ethnic cleansing in Eastern Europe?""
I was part of an Arma 3 unit (Milsim video game) that did WW2 missions. We had one member who was German. One day we switched it up and played a mission from the German perspective. People were worried how he would take it. He logged on and started to absolutely BELT Erika at the top of his lungs. I get the DISTINCT feeling that Germans react differently when asked about this in person vs through a computer screen lol.
@@wrenchI05 He was great. He had a tendency to default back to German when things started exploding and we always had to remind him that none of the rest of us spoke German, but for that campaign it was … kind of like a comforting ambiance.
Ukrainian here. I have a couple of German friends and I have never asked them that kind of questions because of my education, but I'm still curious to know how do they feel about WW2. Indeed it is ridiculous, like my grandmother had unextractable parts of the explosive in her body for her entire life and now I just can't ask them some questions because you know, guys could feel uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong, I adore germans and Germany, I do realize that Germans, even those from 40-s, weren't all nazis, I pretty aware about how propaganda works, today's generation has really nothing to do with ww2 and has no fault, but still I find it ridiculous and paradoxical. So now it is me who has to be ashamed and educated by them, after all that mess started by Germany, seriously? By the way, love the video. Peace and love.
Just for the records: Hitler killed 20 million people, Stalin killed 30 million, and Mao killed 50 million. I am German, and I don't feel ashamed at all. Why should I, I was born 30 years after the war ended. But I know a lot about WW II and Hitler.
I’m from Poland. I remember on my Erasmus exchange in Finland I was approached by Austrian girl who told me that Hitler was Austrian but it was Germans who attacked Poland in 1939 not Austrians. The worst thing is that she made that comment whilst we were partying, she said it so lightly and started laughing afterwards. She was probably slightly tipsy but but I will never forget that feeling, I felt physically sick. People have no clue what happened to my country in 1939, what atrocities where committed there. It was one of the weirdest encounters in my life so far.
Back when i was 16, we had some exchangestudents from the US. Literally the first question was: we been here for over an hour and we didnt see one nazi, where are they? We told them how it is and then they got drunk by one Radler
Once i was talking to a lady who passed away 2 years ago. She told me her story about working in a concentration camp under Germans yet it was hard and awful, lack of food, but all organized with much of discipline and rules. When ,the liberators' (russians) came all became like a nightmare: rapes, kaos, drunk soldiers. So much about that war tragedy! Meanwhile: VIVA PALESTINA!!!
The most funny thing is: Erika is a love song that was never meant for a Nazi anthem. To think that there's anything Nazi in that song is completely ridiculous.
While visiting Berchtesgaden some years ago, I somehow fell into conversation with an ancient woman who had lived there her whole life. She was very hard for me to understand, since I'm not a native German speaker, her voice was very old and her German was very Bavarian, but she told me about how she had been taken by her mother to see A.H. speak one day. She muttered on for a while about it and I listened politely, losing the thread of the narrative as she began to mumble, but she finished by saying, "Ich habe es nie vergessen (I've never forgotten it)". There was a wealth of feeling tied up in those last five words, but I couldn't tell exactly what the nature of that feeling was. Knowing that Berchtesgaden was historically strongly aligned with the National Socialists, I rather awkwardly acknowledged the interesting story, bid her a good day, and moved on. Whatever it was exactly that she said about the event, I hope that she's written it down somewhere, as it's a memory that provides an increasingly rare insight into life at that time, and especially life in that place, which was essentially the original stronghold of Nazism.
I've had a german friend and we were abroad, basically all the people were asking her about WWII. Than we've had a big dinner one day and someone asked her, what she thinks about hitler. She got so pissed of, that she said: "I liked him a lot, he was my grandfather" :DDDDD I was laughing so hard XD
As a German I do not see the point of that behaviour. How far am I to blame for something that happened decades before my birth? I think when I was abroad for some time, I was the one who started the topic.
I am British but people very rarely talk about the Empire in a bad way, which is a shame really, given the amount of oppression and inhumane treatment in the colonies. Some people even say it was a good thing ( Recently we had a debate in class about whether being proud to be British is a good thing, and some guy said that the empire “helped spread civilisation” exactly what the criminals of the past said)
Ironically, many people who lived in the former colonies don't have that much hard feelings I'm an indo-mauritian. My ancestors were indentured labourers who came after black slavery, practiced by the french, was abolished by the British Empire. The British were actually more humane to us and when the descendents of french colonists tried to treat us badly, the British administration created a new post, "The Protector" whose job was to deal with such incidents The British, many were Irish and Scottish governors, did their best to widen our representation in the assemblies and the ones who pushed back were the franco-mauritian elites. Ironically, I live in France now where the locals are much more welcoming than the franco-mauritians back home. Many former british governors are still kindly remembered in Mauritius because they governed at a time when the empire was trying to make things better. Now we represent the elite and get criticised by the creole population ! How things have changed ! So yes, those who glorify everything about the empire shouldn't be supported but the British Empire were not the worse administrators When I visited the UK in 2012 on holidays during the Olympics, I gladly told a young brit that I came from Mauritius, a former british colony and he answered back in a tired way, "Just like most places on earth" I found that amusing and felt a bit stupid. We somehow think that the former colonial power remembers each and every one of us, that we are somehow special, but we were just one colony out of many even if we still remain the star and key of the Indian Ocean ! And you did spread civilisation to some parts of the world. The Maoris were eating each other !
Bcz most of the former colonies are living the worst being republic. See the standard of living of the countries who are still attached to the Crown and then see the countries who are now republic.
I have a Chinese friend learning Japanese and I’m Ethiopian-American learning Italian. I have a Polish friend and I need to convince him to learn German.
Ahem....side glance... As a native of the Country who had the largest empire ever seen on Earth, built on superior weapon technology, slavery, genocide and horrific racism that lasted for literally centuries.....I can't quite believe how we always seem to dodge a bullet in situations like this 😂🤣 The actions of our ancestors are something to feel slightly guilty about, but acknowledging the wrongs is an apology enough, we can't change the past. There aren't many Countries and societies that have done nothing wrong in their history. Going forward, the memes are going to be all Russia, Germany will get a bit of a break.
Actually an interesting question, where did all the Nazi sympathisers and traitors go after the war--you know, the civilian ones, not the big dogs who were most likely dead or smuggled away to the US and South America. We know how Spaniards haven't been able to come together to condemn the Franco dictatorship, and that leaves a huge divide in society, whereas the Germans seem to unanimously agree on how bad that particular time in history was. But where were these people after the war (in the 50s, 60s, 70s)? I know companies like Gruenenthal, Bayer, VW had these people. Did the society somehow agree to start over with a blank slate? Also where were those American Nazis who rallied in the Madison Square Garden in '39 after the war?
Dark. And not accurate. I have met an indian today, he invited me in his house, and one of the topics were how his great-grandfather fought in italy and mine in Stalingrad... and it wasnt awkward at all.
Don't know if it is different with today's youth, but if you approach a German a decade or three older than this guy here with such a question, you better have prepared yourself well beforehand and have some time on your hands, since you will most likely run into a detailed lecture and demanding discussion about German society and atrocities in the 30s and 40s of last century and the role of Russian and Allied Forces in the destruction of hundreds of German cities, up to Japanese war crimes and the moral implications of nuking Japanese cities.
There was nothing to be ashamed of from the beginning. The shame was laid on us by the victors of that war. That's all. I'm hoping the newer gen, get pass that and proud to be German 🇩🇪 again.
Yes Adam however some of those at the shitty end of that also can write .. Just ask an Indian about famine in India carried out by said man. .I mean you have to get a Nazi to get rid of one but .. what would I know Im just Irish :) However man not getting your point ... plenty of Germans know what they did bad .. yet in the UK all the history is about "How the Empire did this good and that etc.. completely glossing over the fact of being Imperial and having an Empire you dont get by being nice. " Im sure many can inform you of what the English and I seperate that out from British have done to the world .. I would not talk if I was you.. ON that matter you do know even in your Great Union for example in Northern Ireland Irish nationals had NO VOTE could not work in and GOVERNMENT organisation or Police ONE person ONE vote only came in .. in the mid 1970s.. YES really and it was on by the 1980s when "Others other than the Aparteid state of a "Protestant State for a Protestant people ONLY " was changed.. so I would not talk much if your from the UK ..
Im sure like 3/4 of the audience thought the same including me haha , I guess that would have been very predictable and that's why maybe this dude went for other ending
Meanwhile the same scenario in soviet Russia, British empire, U.S.A: War crimes? What war crimes? Not to mention these country's regimes numerous genocides in peace times. Manicheism keeps judging only others but never looks at itself.
It's not your fault. But not taking History seriously - as a source of wisdom - scares me. Seeing the YT videos with ignorant US teenagers, makes me even more scared. I feel sorry for the US school system...
WW2 ... was that the Überfall from France and GB against Germany or the Überfall from Japan against China or the Überfall from UDSSR against Finland and Poland ... did i forget something .... i slept at the beginning from history classes.
I’m American and I’ve loved learning about history (especially WWII history) even since elementary school. I grew up as an US Army brat and lived in Germany two separate times as a kid and my mom is a history major who took me to lots of historical places and encouraged me to read a lot outside of school assignments. I was given tons of nonfiction books growing up because I was so curious about so many things and my parents couldn’t answer many of my questions, so they gave me books and I read without be forced to by school. That being said I never asked sensitive questions to Germans about WWII, because I have tact (and I’m shy).
I am Danish and my father was a communist fighting in the Danish resistance movement against the German occupation forces during WWII. He absolutely HATED everything German right after the war. However, over the years he grew up (!), learned the German language and ended up with German friends and always found a reason to go visit ……. Germany 😊 No more war, but peace 🇩🇰❤️🇩🇪
Erika "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein" English translation On the heath, there blooms a little flower and it's called Erika! Eagerly doted on by a hundred thousand little bees, this Erika! For her heart is full of sweetness, a tender scent escapes her dress of blossoms. On the heath, there blooms a little flower and it's called Erika! Back at home, there lives a maiden and she's called Erika! That girl is my faithful little darling and my happiness. Erika! When the heather blooms in a reddish purple, I sing her this song in greeting. On the heath, there blooms a little flower and it's called Erika! In my small chamber, there also blooms a little flower and it's called Erika! At dawn, it looks at me, as does it at dusk. Erika! And it is as if it spoke aloud: "Don't you dare forget your little bride. Back at home, a maiden weeps for you and she's called Erika!" -------------------------- German original Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein und das heißt: Erika! Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein wird umschwärmt Erika! denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit, zarter Duft entströmt dem Blütenkleid. Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein und das heißt: Erika! In der Heimat wohnt ein kleines Mägdelein und das heißt: Erika! Dieses Mädel ist mein treues Schätzelein und mein Glück, Erika! Wenn das Heidekraut rot-lila blüht, singe ich zum Gruß ihr dieses Lied. Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein und das heißt: Erika! In mein'm Kämmerlein blüht auch ein Blümelein und das heißt: Erika! Schon beim Morgengrau'n sowie beim DämmerscheinTemplate:0 schaut's mich an, Erika! Und dann ist es mir, als spräch' es laut: "Denkst du auch an deine kleine Braut?" In der Heimat weint um dich ein Mägdelein und das heißt: Erika!
If you don't know the origin, you could mistake it for an old folk song but it actually has been composed in the 1930s by a Oberstfeldmeister from the NS-Reichsarbeitsdienst
@@eljanrimsa5843 Wrote "If you don't know the origin, you could mistake it for an old folk song but it actually has been composed in the 1930s by a Oberstfeldmeister from the NS-Reichsarbeitsdienst" What are you trying to say? Are you saying that the song is a Nazi song?
Lol the same awkward moment happens with my german friends when we pass neo nazi graffiti. I get the same awkward situation when I meet someone who is Italian and I say I am Ethiopian. And they apologise to me for the past, which is sweet but Im like er do you want me to tell my great grandma you're sorry? Cuz it's been a long time and hasnt affected me personally. Maybe someone else family experienced the trauma more in 5 year occupation but I guess it is good people are conscious of its existence and not have 'get over it' attitude towards it. It depends from person to person so I dont try to ask people unless they bring it up 😅
They are not hiding it. Some of the concentration camps have been turned into museums (that's why the other guy wanted to go and see it), and they are learning about it in school. It can still be uncomfortable for the Germans, if you insist on talking about their family's role in WW2 and the like.
@@Donnah1979 idk I don't think Germans should feel guilty for what happened. If Germans won, England, France and USA would now feel guilty. It's the winning side that writes the history books
@@hhhhhbztb Well, other parties did not yell they are willing to annihilate some nation. But yes, war crimes are what both sides do in the war, and there are no pure angels during such things.
@@hhhhhbztb But no nation should be forced to feel guilty, it's more about understanding your history, and other's history. There are no good and bad countries, just good and bad decisions, really bad sometimes, that need to be understood so that we don't do them twice
@@neogeor2011 the holocaust was the most systematically planed and efficient genocide in the history of mankind. they fucking made lamps and many other items out of jews skin, nothing else beats this kind of fucked up and cruel behaviour.
If i get asked "are you Feeling guilty about ww2" i awnser the question, with a counter question: "youre feeling guilty about nativ americans, Guantanamo, iraq, Vietnam, syria, Afghanistan and slaves?
Thing is that as an American, I know that we weren’t exactly the best either (enter Iraqi war). Which is exactly why I personally think that in order for our nation to move on from our past atrocities we need to address them to the world and to our own citizens.
The difference is that almost no Germans defend Germany's actions in WW2. On the other hand I've seen Americans still defending the Iraq war. Even worse, I've seen people defend the Vietnam war. The mentality is very different.
You are right. There’s no moving on from the past without acknowledging it, admitting it happened and atoning for it. Germans want to be remembered only for the greats like Beethoven, Goethe, Einstein, but they want to erase Hitler from the history records which is disrespectful towards the millions of victims who were traumatized for life if they were lucky enough to have survived. Not to mention they haven’t paid the war reparations and haven’t given back what they have stolen. No, we can NOT just forget about it. Until that self-realization and owning up to their ancestors' crimes happens, the past is going to come back to haunt them. Now look at what is happening today. They still want to dominate Europe through EU. They still want to tell the member states what they can or cannot do. And if the member states dont listen, they support all the sanctions to be imposed on them. They still support shutting down of businesses in other member states, like coal mines for example, while they keep opening their own, monopolising the member states. Seems like the same thing over again, just this time it is formally legal. Smart move. And what ancestors are talking about? The many of those who are still alive and doing perfectly well, never having faced the consequences of the crimes they committed and living on pension paid for by the tax payers? And their pensions are ample, they live like kings. The german state rewards them for their crimes. And may nobody tell me that Germans do not endorse what happened in WW2. I know germans who still believe in Hitler's propaganda justifying the invasions of other countries. They have no idea what really happened. Not to mention that many of the older Germans now denouncing it and claiming they have never supported nazism, back then supported it en masse. That was the main party in Germany back then. They are still alive. Ask your Oma and Opa about their early life memories, what was their world view. You may be surprised what you'll hear if they even want to talk.
I'm Italian, about 10 years ago i was in the erasmus student program in a belgian university. During a class we had to form teams and i ended with a german and a japanese exchange student. So i said that WE HAD to call ourselfs the Axis team, the japanese student thought that it was hilarious and agreed, while the german was horrified and was awkward all the time and stopped talking to us after that class. I still find it funny after so many years. 😅
Italian here two and had your exact experience while studying in Japan 😂. Are you three still in touch?
Jo Jo Rabbit was on TV recently. It came out four years ago but made with mostly British actors & actors from other English speaking countries. The mother in that was secretly against the Nazis as she hid a Jewish girl in her attic & passed her off as her dead daughter. She was pleased that Italy had joined the side of the allies. The main character was ten years old & joined the Jungvolk which was the junior version of Hitler Youth. Boys as young as ten were fighting on the streets of Berlin by the time the allies & the Russians had invaded.
@@lemsip207 Bot
😂 thanks for sharing that story
@@tomstan6785 average Polish chap. Give them some vodka and they'll forget everything. No hard feelings lad 😉
NEVER ASK:
A Woman - Her Age
A Man - His Salary
A German why his Opa is from Argentina
The worst thing you can say to a German is; “it must be so cool being able to watch WW II documentaries without subtitles”
😂
I try not to mention it. Would sooner talk about Angela Merkel, Boris Johnson or Tony Blair.
Most Germans I know would sooner complain about how poor the subtitle translation was than concern themselves with the storyline... Agreed. Strange people at times.
☠️ That one is dark.
I wish I could understand Hitlers speeches, that would awsome. :) I might learn german just to understand it
@@GratDuForloradeArgumentet I‘m german and it‘s really hard for me to understand his speeches. It was a different kind of german and definitely completely different in the speeches too. So rather just read translations of them ^^
My grandfather was a German electrician as I found his old uniform and it has two lightning bolts on his cap
😂
As I read your comment: "Damn I can tell I'm getting r/whooshed..." Then my eyes wandered over to the recommended vids column and directly next to your comment was a vid with THAT logo in the graphic. Like, how did the YT algorithm know I wouldn't get the joke??!!😯😯
Worth A LOT of cash nowadays original uniforms !
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The two lighting bolts on his uniform is .. SS
We are not responsible for what our ancestors did, and we should not feel guilty. We are responsible only for ourselves. But, it's worth remembering the history in order not to make the same mistakes. Because everything repeats itself, like a spiral. And people repeat and repeat their mistakes
Or the mistakes of others.
u are only not respoonsible for us ancestors actions once u have accepted them, then u are free, but if u refuse to accept anything they did was bad, then we have situation (japan, turkey)
@@stormstriker2000 Why should we accept and approve of what our ancestors did? They are responsible for themselves, and I am personally responsible for myself and for my actions. We are not responsible for what our ancestors did. But that doesn't mean we approve of everything they did. The most important thing is not to do yourself what goes against your conscience, listen to that quiet voice inside yourself. Because we always feel what goes against our conscience, what is bad, what we should not do... But people often prefer to be obedient and do the terrible things that your superiors order you to do.
@@ЗонаНагваля Because what your ancestors did is like a heritage passed through the generations and is part of what forge your history
We should give the Germans credit for acknowledging that and should do the same, especially their former allies during WW2, instead of harassing them with their Nazi past
@@goldflo91 ahah..you didn't understand what I was writing about..but nothing really matters..morality, decency, honesty, responsibility, good/bad - all these are tools in the hands of smart manipulators
Your acting gives us laugh and joy, never ending happiness when we watch your videos. You deserve 1M+ subscribers.
thanks Shakil, glad to hear 😄
Yes it's good that they can laugh about it a little now. But let's look at some things. It is true that there were wars in other places, but still we know that the Holocaust was unique, other wars were nothing like what happened in Germany. It was like the devil looked up at the German people and said these are my guys, Unfortunately even Germans now seem cold to those innocent people dying, and most likely if they were there, would have supported Hitler and his thugs. Not being unkind, just sees factual, this is one reason why the Holocaust is so unique. However, the good thing is, yes, never again. It would be suicide and the total wiping of a nation from the face of the Earth if the Germans attempted this again against the Jews, because they would lose terribly to Israel and other nations who still remember what happened, all coming together. Were it not for someone like Schindler, too extremely rare, Germany could be considered a place with a people of complete unhumanity, but hopefully the youths will simply try to be better people than their nation's past, in their hearts.
I can't stop laughing. I watch you all the time but never comment. You're making it hard for me to resist Germany. If I end up there someday, it's because of you. 🤣
@@denniszenanywhere glad to have you 😄 come to Germany! We've got the best bread 😋
@@RadicalLiving I watched that video, too. Laughed at how you used bread to hammer a nail to a wall. Can you just make a movie already ala Monty Python. Oops, hope I didn't trigger you there. 😃
My German friend on this topic said "actually Hitler was an Austrian" 😄
❤
That's a good one!
Well, he was.
My great grandpa used to call him "the Austrian sergeant" 😂
@@javiercmh He was actually a Gefreiter; and Hindenburg referred to him as “Osterreichiche Gefreiter”
the best chase filmed by a single person ever
"How many of your ancestors fought in the war?" "Nein!"
"Nine? Well, that must have been a bit awkward....."
@@thesmithersy well, I'm a Russian and let me count my Red Army relatives.
3 Great-Grandfathers fighting (tanker, artilleryman, railroad fighter - they had armoured trains). 1 GGF military surgeon and my GGM as his assistant. Two of her brothers fighting in the army and killed. The artillerist's brother served and also died in the war, and his wife's brother also served died in the war, so I do have nine in that war. Maybe even more, because my grandmother has a lot of relatives. And you?
For the next generation of Russians it could easily be 8 soldiers plus a female nurse/doctor/sniper/pilot/battlefield paramedic (sanitary instructor their official name is)/intelligence agent/ whatever as straight ancestors. I
@@annasolovyeva1013 Westeners haven't heard of the Immortal regiment and how great is Victory day!! Everyone owes to Russia and the rest former Soviet Countries
@@G7YNWAyeah. And now russia becomes 4th reich.
@@lpi3 🤡🤡🤡
When you ask a Germany about World War 2 there are three types of Reaktions
1. Oh i forgoht to buy the beer i will be right back
2. Yea IT was teriblie and we did horrible stuff
3. Ahh yes the good old Times i really miss them...
the worst one is the first
@@mbl1154 nah the worst one is the guy asking the question, what kind of lunatic would you go to random people to speak about genocides ? Imagine going to an American to ask him about how horrible is his country to have wiped out so many natives with no context whatsoever
Only lunatics would do that
@@KaotikBOOO man, but there are a lot doing it. Trust me, have german friends.
Tbh I did too, but it‘s a special reason. I knew him since very long time, and he often talked about his grandpa.
4th one: yeah the 3rd empire was bad but the wanzi did not commit any crimes.
3rd scenario is the least likely because you could go to prison for saying that in most of Europe. I believe the only places in Europe that can say that are Spain, Finland, and Ukraine.
As a Polish person I find this pretty accurate. During my Erasmus exchange that was their usual reaction when it came down to this conversation. Except for parties, a little bit of alcohol can work miracles no matter the topic 😅 But yeah, I miss my German friends, we had some great time together.
Are they lefties "linksgrüne" how the most peole on german Unis, or you meet some rare conservatives?
I remember a polish person always tried to talk about it at parties and stuff and it was so awkward as a german.
i olso can confirm as a romanian afther the germans guys had some alchool they started to describe how back then "we will had kill you all.....because you are slavs". They trigered me and start to explain how Romania is Latin nation
That was their usual reaction? How long did it take them to return from Mars? 😅
I'm Austrian and noone I know would run away from a convo like this. We very much are aware of what has happened, we covered it in schoo for several years and we know and all feel how horrible and gruesome it was and I'm lacking the words tbh to describe how bad we all feel about it. There are still many memoriams and events and movies (f ex "Das weiße Band" is famous) and museums dealing not only with it but reminding us everyday: *"never frogive, never forget"* We don't, however, feel guilty, though, as we didn't fight in the war, but it is out duty that things like that will never happen again.
kind regards from Austria!
An Austrian who says "we" when it comes to WW2 instead of "the Germans". As a German, I appreciate that. ;)
On behalf of the global community, I implore you Austrians, please do not hurt delicate feelings of the people of art. I also suggest to keep passing grades low, especially in schools of art, just for extra safety.
you are austrian and you are still evil. whole Europe knows that Austria was and still is friendly to russia. you havent changed, still you are not able to choose good side of the history, still you choose evil. Europe will remember the second world war and how austria was acting when russians invaded ukrainians. do austrian children know how many ukrainian childen were raped by russian soldiers ??
I'm Austrian too, but obviously much older than you.When I went to school in the 70ies and 80ies WWII wasn't covered at all.
@@hurtigheinz3790 as I said, that's how we learn it in school already ;) we are very much aware and the older theory abt the anschlss that was supposedly forced upon us-we know that's bs
My grandfather fought in the war, Spitfire pilot (British RAF). He didn't speak much about it but what he did say was harrowing. He never resented the Germans and viewed them as being similar to the British, he had a great respect for them. After the war he met veterans from both Germany and Italy in later life, they shared drinks together and enjoyed sharing stories.
The humor brings truthful simplicity and I like it. Germans do talk about WW2 stuff every now and then, but they 'kindly' unwelcome it when coming from strangers. As of Erika, it was also featured in Schindler's List, I think that makes it additionally strong of a reference. Kudos!
They should not be "unwelcome" of someone pointing out the past ... its not like they are saying "they are still the same" and nobody born today is responsible for it .. are they
@@IainMcGirr well some people apparently still think Germans are guilty and blame them when most around today haven't done anything I've heard this ober the years
There's an obsession with it in the UK at the moment as the last veteran soldiers & Holocaust survivors are dying off so it's endless films about it being repeated such as Odette, Land Girls, Schlinder's List & Dad's Army & documentary series. To keep it fresh in the minds of the next generation. But it was the English who invented the concentration camp & eugenics in the first place. Holocaust Day is marked each year when it should be Holocausts Day as there was more than one in history such as the one under the Pol Pot regime. We can't be dining out on winning both world wars forever. We need to improve the economy as well & life in the UK.
@@lemsip207 you have a point
@@yulee3266 Yeah I include my British English Cousins with that unfortunately whilst not understanding their own imperial past and the crimes . You dont get an Empire by being nice. I have found and if you think about it those whom go ON about Germans being bad for WW2 even today tend to come from former imperial power countries or have a shady past themselves ..ponder on that so their history circulum reflects that. I dont know one Person on mainland UK whom knew that in their own country Northern Ireland foreigners Irish Nationals NEVER got a vote until 1970s and it was a Apartheid state run in good old UK ... even if born there etc. you had no rights unless of a certain group of people FACT .. . nor do you cover the famine in Ireland or elsewhere . Nor do they learn anything negative which Churchill did.. Nor do they cover Stalin much post the war and killing over 20 million ... Nor do they cover what was done in Indian . nor what was carried out in Africa. .I could go on but it proves my point. Said people for former imperial places just LOVE to bash Germans TODAY for WW2...
I was stationed in northern Germany 1985, to 1987, German tv would occasionally have a WWII documentary on. But mostly for younger Germans at the time they would rather forget that it ever happened. I would spend most my free time with Germans because I as trying to learn the language and they are really nice people. I did have a few good conversations with older WWII generation Germans who a fought on the eastern front they were not shy about talking about fighting the Russians one old guy even showed me pictures he had taken in Russia.
USA nazi and German nazi brothers forever
Мой дедушка защищал свою страну. Два его старших брата погибли. Он дошёл до Берлина и вернулся домой только в 1947г. Нам с братом он никогда не рассказывал о войне, ненавидел немецкую речь. У него 3 медали "За отвагу" и осколок около сердца, который беспокоил его всю жизнь.
Я очень любила своего дедушку. Мы в России бережом память о погибших в этой войне и с большим уважением вспоминаем тех, кто воевал, выжил, а потом построил огромную сильную страну.
@@Nata-nsk now putin is the new hitler 😢
I think you should make a video on how to make foreigners uncomfortable on WWII. I remember walking around Berlin with a friend, not talking about anything to do with WWII, we just happened to be walking through all of the memorials... He then just announced "we do too much to remember all of this, it takes so much support from taxes, we have felt guilty long enough." 😶
The memorials are not there for us feeling guilty. They are supposed to remind us of what might happen, when we neglect history. The rise of the neo-nazis really scares me. 🍒
@@theworldaccordingtokirsch neo nazis will get a good old ass whooping..... what do you know about scoring a hat-rick?
@@theworldaccordingtokirsch and the rise of communism scares me
Fair enough 😂
@@ladynori What rise of communism? The world is ruled by companies and capitalists like it has been in the last couple of centuries. Nothing has changed. All the things right wingers cry about (i. e. the so called "woke" movement) don't put the capitalism in danger, on the contrary, they are used by companies to get more benefits.
It makes it even better that he has blond hair and blue eyes
The irony that Von Braun was an SS officer who used concentration camp labor
“Will you please stop talking about the war!”
“You started it!”
“No we did not!”
“Yes you did, you invaded Poland!”
Aaah, "Basil!!!"
best refefrence evah
Japan casually invading manchuria: Sweating noises
Soviet who invaded Poland at the same time and ocuppy the land after the war ended
Soviet : We saved europe.
As a Ukrainian I spent 6 months in Germany before I accepted an offer from UK company. For the whole 6 months Germans only could raise the topic of war In Ukraine after 3-4 beers in a row because probably they know this topic reveals so many terrible emotions that it is not worth to touch. But In UK whenever Brits get to know that I'm Ukrainian 100 questions come up. How is ur family? How is ur friends? Was ur neighborhood bombed? I really do believe it is just curiosity and some sort of British small talk culture, but still pretty taught
@@Skinok_skin Ah man the crusades, good old times. Just let me get my old pictues.
@@Skinok_skin it would the most stupid scenario to answer actually. They are curious what is going on right now in Ukraine, and probably they would like to hear it out of Ukrainian, not from the news. Yeah, Brits in such questions are a bit more straight forward than Germans, they are ignoring the possibility that I just could lose someone in the war and maybe I don't want to talk about it with every stranger only to feed his curiosity
It's curiosity/empathy. By asking they want to show that they know what's happening and they care.
Yeah, honestly, as a German, I really try to avoid the war with the Ukrainians I talk to and let them start the topic if they want to. I'm relatively educated about the current events in the war (thanks to Denys Davidov), especially comparing my knowledge to basically everyone I know, and it's an interesting topic, but I really avoid it with Ukrainians. I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable because I know that what's happening already puts a big toll on them, so I don't need to immediately remind them whenever they managed to forget about the situation for a few seconds.
I feel you. That's why I didn't come to UK, because I had a feeling they would treat as some exotic thing , not caring for my emotions. That's so inappropriate to ask personal questions that can be triggering.
Germans shouldn't feel guilty about this, after all many were born decades after that, you guys should be proud of the country you were born in especially such an important central European country to history like Germany
As a German i can confirm this would be our reaction to people asking how we feel about ww2
ANGEL MERKEL IS RESPONSABLE FOR NOT ACCEPTING UKRAINE IN NATO IN 2008. SO ARE ALL GERMANS WHO VOTED FOR HER (AND FOR GERARD SCHROEDER). IN NORD STREAM 2 YOU HAD BLOOD OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN. DO GERMAN CHILDREN KNOW HOW MANY UKRAINIAN CHILDREN WERE RAPED BY RUSSIAN SOLDIERS ??
Some people say, Germans only apologized because they lost
winners never apologize 😅
@@RadicalLiving history is written by the winners
0:38 the way you filmed it as if there were 2 identical motorbikes in the garage 😂
maybe there were 😋
akward moment: When a person from Kosovo told me proudly that their grandfather was fighting for the SS in WW2 against serbian partizans and that the german occupation was the first time in history they didnt feel opressed
It was often like that.
Do Americans feel guilty about Vietnam?
Only the cowardly ones just like the cowardly Germans feel guilty about ww2
we kinda dont talk about it, same with Iraq
It didn't involve wholesale murder of seven or eight million people based on race or religion, being gay, being handicapped, or just living in the wrong country. Or annexing any land. But most of us other than right wingers think that and Iraq were totally wrong and stupid.
Me: let’s talk about world war 2
German girlfriend: No ! - why do you keep trying to start a conversation about WW 2.
Me: I didn’t start it! You did.
German girlfriend : No - you started it!
Me: But you invaded Poland first !
Special thanks to Mr. Fawlty.
Great clip! 😂 Looks more like Schwabenland than Berlin...
It's actually Bavaria 😅
@@RadicalLiving OK! Got it wrong! 😟 Spass verboten! 😡
Some Germans could be a pain in the ass. For instance, when I said I am from Colombia, some Germans start to make jokes about Pablo Escobar. I couldn't believe how ignorant could be these people. They think that Escobar is a hero based on they saw in Narco Series. They think that he did less bad things than Hitler, so it is valid to make jokes about it. I would say, German logic is different from us, but it doesn't mean they are better.
In conclusion, they don't like to talk about WWII, but make stupid comments about others
the saddest thing for me is in arersfoort camp in netherlands where 3000 soviet soldiers were brought and these 101 were uzbeks my ancestors and they have been treated the worst ways possibe, because of the race, because of they were asian. but because of them today we are living in a save life
The editing is so good
thanks^^
Actually, you modern Germans are the example of how to deal with the past for all of us - not to forget, hide or invent an alternative version of the past with "misunderstood heroes". But actually address it & remember it. It blows my mind in a positive way.
Am Ukrainian and the most guilt and shame i feel is towards Poland. Because we had our issues throughout history and on multiple occasions it ended up in bloody wars, revolts and massacres. Some of the things that we are accused of are russian propaganda or disproportial representation of what really happened in order to 'divide and dominate'. It's done on both side - we are fed the story how the Poles oppressed us and the Poles are told how barbarian we are and that we start killing at every opportunity. And there were real tragedies, real massacres. We (our ancestors) certainly chose the worst resolution methods to our issues. And, just like the Poles, we paid a high price for our arrogance and anger - we split, and we (Ukrainians) 'temporarily' sided with the moscovites and have been their punch bag for more than 400 years already. The issues we had between us feel bleak in comparison to what was yet to come for both of our nations.
Nowadays am very impressed by how the general consensus in Poland - they understood what caused our frustrations, they understood that some of our actions were expected if an imperialistic policy is enforced - and they are actually forgiving. A few months ago i realised that the best depiction of Cossacks i ever saw was in 'Ogniem i mieczem' by Jerzy Hoffman - but it's a movie about how we fought against them! And after the war started Poland was our saviour - to allow so many different people to enter your country at once, to give shelter, food, clothes... So, modern Poles, who suffered no less than us during ww2 & in soviet times, were able to find a resolution in their hearts and both show us the way as well as find compassion to us. This soft power made me reevaluate a lot of the old tales from the soviet times and i hope we too will learn to be better and to take responsability for our actions.
Since you're Ukrainian, l'm curious about something. How do Ukrainians generally feel about Bandera and his actions ? Is it true that he is considered a national hero there ?
@@m.f.m4299 for most of people - they don't really know a lot about him. But he fought for an independent Ukraine and he pisses off russians a lot - so many use his pictures and mention him in silly songs about rushists. Those who studied history more profoundly are not fond of him - he was neither kind nor managed to achieve his goals of independence but instead divided the movement and left us with a questionable legacy.
😂😂😂why?!
The ending killed me
Every nation has done some messed up shit in the past, times were different with different values
good storytelling and camera action haha
That was actually quite good. Very well done.
Honestly, for me it makes no difference if someone is German, French or English..... Or Spanish & Portuguese. They all colonized countries and Germans had their moment with France and Poland and they enslaved people they deemed inferior. I don't personally find the Nazis unique for that at all. Concentration camps or plantations are all the same shit to me.
My friends say, "Oh, that was before we were born. Why would you want to talk about that?"
The US has done a lot but I don’t think they feel shame or guilt ( the government )
It's strange how Americans still cannot separate wartime propaganda from actual history.
So what do you think of Germany's atrocities during world war II?
I remember talking to a Lawyer from Germany about two topics. JS Bach and World War 2. He almost hugged me when we were done talking.
I told him that JS Bach was too intelligent to be called a "genius'. I said that as an American I could point out to our bad behavior, like the "Salvador Solution".
"Why doesn't anyone talk about the ethnic cleansing in Eastern Europe?""
As an Englishman, I thought I was immune from these questions. But then, somebody on Twitter asked me about The British Empire.
I was part of an Arma 3 unit (Milsim video game) that did WW2 missions. We had one member who was German.
One day we switched it up and played a mission from the German perspective.
People were worried how he would take it.
He logged on and started to absolutely BELT Erika at the top of his lungs.
I get the DISTINCT feeling that Germans react differently when asked about this in person vs through a computer screen lol.
As a german, I am proud of that german member
@@wrenchI05 He was great.
He had a tendency to default back to German when things started exploding and we always had to remind him that none of the rest of us spoke German, but for that campaign it was … kind of like a comforting ambiance.
I’m a Russian, some people ask me if I really like vodka. It’s ok 🤷 but I’m a Muslim so I never had it before
@@hlgi9948 first time you got to use that on someone after people kept telling you that?
Ukrainian here. I have a couple of German friends and I have never asked them that kind of questions because of my education, but I'm still curious to know how do they feel about WW2. Indeed it is ridiculous, like my grandmother had unextractable parts of the explosive in her body for her entire life and now I just can't ask them some questions because you know, guys could feel uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong, I adore germans and Germany, I do realize that Germans, even those from 40-s, weren't all nazis, I pretty aware about how propaganda works, today's generation has really nothing to do with ww2 and has no fault, but still I find it ridiculous and paradoxical. So now it is me who has to be ashamed and educated by them, after all that mess started by Germany, seriously?
By the way, love the video. Peace and love.
@@wilhelmeley6617 thanks for sharing your opinion!
Just for the records: Hitler killed 20 million people, Stalin killed 30 million, and Mao killed 50 million.
I am German, and I don't feel ashamed at all. Why should I, I was born 30 years after the war ended.
But I know a lot about WW II and Hitler.
Russia lost 30 mln ppl in ww2, because of insane führer. And now you are lying about Stalin's repressions.
I don't experienced this talking to Germans about it. Quite the opposite actually.
Must be so psychologically damaging not being able to deal with this issue honestly and openly.
I’m from Poland. I remember on my Erasmus exchange in Finland I was approached by Austrian girl who told me that Hitler was Austrian but it was Germans who attacked Poland in 1939 not Austrians. The worst thing is that she made that comment whilst we were partying, she said it so lightly and started laughing afterwards. She was probably slightly tipsy but but I will never forget that feeling, I felt physically sick.
People have no clue what happened to my country in 1939, what atrocities where committed there.
It was one of the weirdest encounters in my life so far.
cry more please
It be like that 😂 When I asked a friend's grandma how it was meeting Hitler in person she was like "Idk met so many people back then" yeah right 🙃
Back when i was 16, we had some exchangestudents from the US.
Literally the first question was: we been here for over an hour and we didnt see one nazi, where are they?
We told them how it is and then they got drunk by one Radler
Once i was talking to a lady who passed away 2 years ago. She told me her story about working in a concentration camp under Germans yet it was hard and awful, lack of food, but all organized with much of discipline and rules. When ,the liberators' (russians) came all became like a nightmare: rapes, kaos, drunk soldiers. So much about that war tragedy! Meanwhile: VIVA PALESTINA!!!
The most funny thing is: Erika is a love song that was never meant for a Nazi anthem.
To think that there's anything Nazi in that song is completely ridiculous.
He went to the secret 🇩🇪 Mars 🔴 Fuhrer base to report the issue 🦅
While visiting Berchtesgaden some years ago, I somehow fell into conversation with an ancient woman who had lived there her whole life. She was very hard for me to understand, since I'm not a native German speaker, her voice was very old and her German was very Bavarian, but she told me about how she had been taken by her mother to see A.H. speak one day. She muttered on for a while about it and I listened politely, losing the thread of the narrative as she began to mumble, but she finished by saying, "Ich habe es nie vergessen (I've never forgotten it)". There was a wealth of feeling tied up in those last five words, but I couldn't tell exactly what the nature of that feeling was. Knowing that Berchtesgaden was historically strongly aligned with the National Socialists, I rather awkwardly acknowledged the interesting story, bid her a good day, and moved on. Whatever it was exactly that she said about the event, I hope that she's written it down somewhere, as it's a memory that provides an increasingly rare insight into life at that time, and especially life in that place, which was essentially the original stronghold of Nazism.
him trying to go faster on that stupid scooter took me out
I've had a german friend and we were abroad, basically all the people were asking her about WWII. Than we've had a big dinner one day and someone asked her, what she thinks about hitler. She got so pissed of, that she said: "I liked him a lot, he was my grandfather" :DDDDD I was laughing so hard XD
She expose herself(?) xD
As a German I do not see the point of that behaviour. How far am I to blame for something that happened decades before my birth? I think when I was abroad for some time, I was the one who started the topic.
Just found this channel this channel now is a huge W
Huge W?
I am British but people very rarely talk about the Empire in a bad way, which is a shame really, given the amount of oppression and inhumane treatment in the colonies. Some people even say it was a good thing ( Recently we had a debate in class about whether being proud to be British is a good thing, and some guy said that the empire “helped spread civilisation” exactly what the criminals of the past said)
Ironically, many people who lived in the former colonies don't have that much hard feelings
I'm an indo-mauritian. My ancestors were indentured labourers who came after black slavery, practiced by the french, was abolished by the British Empire. The British were actually more humane to us and when the descendents of french colonists tried to treat us badly, the British administration created a new post, "The Protector" whose job was to deal with such incidents
The British, many were Irish and Scottish governors, did their best to widen our representation in the assemblies and the ones who pushed back were the franco-mauritian elites. Ironically, I live in France now where the locals are much more welcoming than the franco-mauritians back home.
Many former british governors are still kindly remembered in Mauritius because they governed at a time when the empire was trying to make things better. Now we represent the elite and get criticised by the creole population ! How things have changed !
So yes, those who glorify everything about the empire shouldn't be supported but the British Empire were not the worse administrators
When I visited the UK in 2012 on holidays during the Olympics, I gladly told a young brit that I came from Mauritius, a former british colony and he answered back in a tired way, "Just like most places on earth"
I found that amusing and felt a bit stupid. We somehow think that the former colonial power remembers each and every one of us, that we are somehow special, but we were just one colony out of many even if we still remain the star and key of the Indian Ocean !
And you did spread civilisation to some parts of the world. The Maoris were eating each other !
Bcz most of the former colonies are living the worst being republic. See the standard of living of the countries who are still attached to the Crown and then see the countries who are now republic.
I have a Chinese friend learning Japanese and I’m Ethiopian-American learning Italian. I have a Polish friend and I need to convince him to learn German.
What did he say
Accurate. My German students know not to touch that subject. Once in a while we mention it and they kind of ask for permission to go there.
the two friends have the same motor cycle 🛵🛵
German: We don’t like German Musics from 1933 - 1945
Also some Germans:
Ahem....side glance...
As a native of the Country who had the largest empire ever seen on Earth, built on superior weapon technology, slavery, genocide and horrific racism that lasted for literally centuries.....I can't quite believe how we always seem to dodge a bullet in situations like this 😂🤣
The actions of our ancestors are something to feel slightly guilty about, but acknowledging the wrongs is an apology enough, we can't change the past.
There aren't many Countries and societies that have done nothing wrong in their history.
Going forward, the memes are going to be all Russia, Germany will get a bit of a break.
🤣This is next level, congrats! Btw: where I live is just the opposite: they are stillll!!! arguing about! I don't know what's worse really...
😅 where do you live?
@@RadicalLiving Slovenia. Then some colaborated with ocupation forces (Italy and Germany), some with partisans.
Erika is a very good song, it just has a very bad backstory.
France: Am I a joke to you? I invaded and ravaged most of Europe long before Germany was unified.
Actually an interesting question, where did all the Nazi sympathisers and traitors go after the war--you know, the civilian ones, not the big dogs who were most likely dead or smuggled away to the US and South America. We know how Spaniards haven't been able to come together to condemn the Franco dictatorship, and that leaves a huge divide in society, whereas the Germans seem to unanimously agree on how bad that particular time in history was. But where were these people after the war (in the 50s, 60s, 70s)? I know companies like Gruenenthal, Bayer, VW had these people. Did the society somehow agree to start over with a blank slate? Also where were those American Nazis who rallied in the Madison Square Garden in '39 after the war?
Dark. And not accurate. I have met an indian today, he invited me in his house, and one of the topics were how his great-grandfather fought in italy and mine in Stalingrad... and it wasnt awkward at all.
You should have looked out the window at the end and said, '' Oh look it's flat after all''
😅 that would be an american thing though^^
@@RadicalLiving no the opposite! without america no one would believe the earth is a ball
@Hungarian Pirate have you heard of Auguste Piccard?
@Hungarian Pirate anyone can "come up" with stories
Oh god, that fridge's shelves. Height levels are so inconsistent here in Germany
Vergangenheitsbewältigung still gripping germany to this day
My soon to be wife's grandfather flew in the Luftwaffe. Ended up finishing out the war in a Gulag after he was shot down over Romania.
This video makes me wanna check it in real life...
I love that he used Erika from Girls und Panzer anime instead of the generic Erika.mp3 which we hear everywhere.
There is a theory that pretend all the Germen were not N.A.Z.I in between 1933/1945 😂😂😂 ...
Don't know if it is different with today's youth, but if you approach a German a decade or three older than this guy here with such a question, you better have prepared yourself well beforehand and have some time on your hands, since you will most likely run into a detailed lecture and demanding discussion about German society and atrocities in the 30s and 40s of last century and the role of Russian and Allied Forces in the destruction of hundreds of German cities, up to Japanese war crimes and the moral implications of nuking Japanese cities.
Erika is a great tune!
i agree, catchy as hell
Nazis and communists made the best songs 😂
There was nothing to be ashamed of from the beginning.
The shame was laid on us by the victors of that war. That's all.
I'm hoping the newer gen, get pass that and proud to be German 🇩🇪 again.
Never met a German I would expect to react like this. And the funny things is: I _am_ German! 😜
"History is written by the victors" - Winston Churchill
Yes Adam however some of those at the shitty end of that also can write .. Just ask an Indian about famine in India carried out by said man. .I mean you have to get a Nazi to get rid of one but .. what would I know Im just Irish :) However man not getting your point ... plenty of Germans know what they did bad .. yet in the UK all the history is about "How the Empire did this good and that etc.. completely glossing over the fact of being Imperial and having an Empire you dont get by being nice. " Im sure many can inform you of what the English and I seperate that out from British have done to the world .. I would not talk if I was you.. ON that matter you do know even in your Great Union for example in Northern Ireland Irish nationals had NO VOTE could not work in and GOVERNMENT organisation or Police ONE person ONE vote only came in .. in the mid 1970s.. YES really and it was on by the 1980s when "Others other than the Aparteid state of a "Protestant State for a Protestant people ONLY " was changed.. so I would not talk much if your from the UK ..
Yeah. German army rules.
I think the best policy is to just never bring it up around Germans. If you have a question, look it up at the library.
So you wanted to show us your new Vespa. Looks great but sounds like a STUKA.. nice try but you cant deceive me 😎
I was kinda expecting that the guy would follow Hans in the rocket...😂
SAME,
what a coincidence
Same here 😆
Yeah that'd be in part 2
I like the music Erika
Im sure like 3/4 of the audience thought the same including me haha , I guess that would have been very predictable and that's why maybe this dude went for other ending
Meanwhile the same scenario in Japan: War crimes? What war crimes.
Meanwhile the same scenario in soviet Russia, British empire, U.S.A: War crimes? What war crimes?
Not to mention these country's regimes numerous genocides in peace times.
Manicheism keeps judging only others but never looks at itself.
I think it's quite the same for Italy as well. Total opposite of Germany 😆
It's a broom sweeping dirt under the carpet... With America's assistance, as it's their new version of Japan. Next topic please.
Based
Meanwhile Americans ,,native Americans? What about them?,,. Most of countries have bad history. Germans just have too much counsions
Japan: what evil side?
That's actually the real answer for such questions
As a german i would have zero problems with his questions xD
Same but my german ancestors worked against the Nazis in Romania therefore I feel proud and not ashamed.
because u signifies your ancestors
Proud of you man, you should not be guilty for something which you never did.
This guy is genius
Check out the Key & Peele 'I said biiiitch' skit if you like this
You can't change past, but you can change future.
if change present, change past, if change past, change future
We Americans hate History Class, but we do this kind of history crap to others. To the world: I am so sorry.
It's not your fault. But not taking History seriously - as a source of wisdom - scares me. Seeing the YT videos with ignorant US teenagers, makes me even more scared. I feel sorry for the US school system...
WW2 ... was that the Überfall from France and GB against Germany or the Überfall from Japan against China or the Überfall from UDSSR against Finland and Poland ... did i forget something .... i slept at the beginning from history classes.
I’m American and I’ve loved learning about history (especially WWII history) even since elementary school. I grew up as an US Army brat and lived in Germany two separate times as a kid and my mom is a history major who took me to lots of historical places and encouraged me to read a lot outside of school assignments. I was given tons of nonfiction books growing up because I was so curious about so many things and my parents couldn’t answer many of my questions, so they gave me books and I read without be forced to by school. That being said I never asked sensitive questions to Germans about WWII, because I have tact (and I’m shy).
Maybe in class, but there are so much interesting documentaries on history. Very entertaining and educational.
Radical living, you still owe us those 2 hundred billion euros from world war 2
To which country?
I am Danish and my father was a communist fighting in the Danish resistance movement against the German occupation forces during WWII.
He absolutely HATED everything German right after the war.
However, over the years he grew up (!), learned the German language and ended up with German friends and always found a reason to go visit ……. Germany 😊
No more war, but peace 🇩🇰❤️🇩🇪
Erika "Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein"
English translation
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika!
Eagerly doted on by a hundred thousand little bees,
this Erika!
For her heart is full of sweetness,
a tender scent escapes her dress of blossoms.
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika!
Back at home, there lives a maiden
and she's called Erika!
That girl is my faithful little darling
and my happiness. Erika!
When the heather blooms in a reddish purple,
I sing her this song in greeting.
On the heath, there blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika!
In my small chamber, there also blooms a little flower
and it's called Erika!
At dawn, it looks at me,
as does it at dusk. Erika!
And it is as if it spoke aloud:
"Don't you dare forget your little bride.
Back at home, a maiden weeps for you
and she's called Erika!"
--------------------------
German original
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika!
Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein
wird umschwärmt Erika!
denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit,
zarter Duft entströmt dem Blütenkleid.
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika!
In der Heimat wohnt ein kleines Mägdelein
und das heißt: Erika!
Dieses Mädel ist mein treues Schätzelein
und mein Glück, Erika!
Wenn das Heidekraut rot-lila blüht,
singe ich zum Gruß ihr dieses Lied.
Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika!
In mein'm Kämmerlein blüht auch ein Blümelein
und das heißt: Erika!
Schon beim Morgengrau'n sowie beim DämmerscheinTemplate:0
schaut's mich an, Erika!
Und dann ist es mir, als spräch' es laut:
"Denkst du auch an deine kleine Braut?"
In der Heimat weint um dich ein Mägdelein
und das heißt: Erika!
Beautiful reminds me of Edielweiss song🌼
If you don't know the origin, you could mistake it for an old folk song but it actually has been composed in the 1930s by a Oberstfeldmeister from the NS-Reichsarbeitsdienst
@@eljanrimsa5843 Wrote "If you don't know the origin, you could mistake it for an old folk song but it actually has been composed in the 1930s by a Oberstfeldmeister from the NS-Reichsarbeitsdienst"
What are you trying to say?
Are you saying that the song is a Nazi song?
@@pamspencer5733"Eidelweiss" was written for the musical!
Lol the same awkward moment happens with my german friends when we pass neo nazi graffiti. I get the same awkward situation when I meet someone who is Italian and I say I am Ethiopian. And they apologise to me for the past, which is sweet but Im like er do you want me to tell my great grandma you're sorry? Cuz it's been a long time and hasnt affected me personally. Maybe someone else family experienced the trauma more in 5 year occupation but I guess it is good people are conscious of its existence and not have 'get over it' attitude towards it. It depends from person to person so I dont try to ask people unless they bring it up 😅
There are two types of germans: Those who want to ignore it and are pissed off when someone talks about WW2, and those who will tell you EVERYTHING.
Embrace history, don't hide it
They are not hiding it. Some of the concentration camps have been turned into museums (that's why the other guy wanted to go and see it), and they are learning about it in school.
It can still be uncomfortable for the Germans, if you insist on talking about their family's role in WW2 and the like.
@@Donnah1979 idk I don't think Germans should feel guilty for what happened. If Germans won, England, France and USA would now feel guilty. It's the winning side that writes the history books
@@hhhhhbztb Well, other parties did not yell they are willing to annihilate some nation. But yes, war crimes are what both sides do in the war, and there are no pure angels during such things.
@@hhhhhbztb But no nation should be forced to feel guilty, it's more about understanding your history, and other's history. There are no good and bad countries, just good and bad decisions, really bad sometimes, that need to be understood so that we don't do them twice
@@neogeor2011 the holocaust was the most systematically planed and efficient genocide in the history of mankind. they fucking made lamps and many other items out of jews skin, nothing else beats this kind of fucked up and cruel behaviour.
If i get asked "are you Feeling guilty about ww2" i awnser the question, with a counter question: "youre feeling guilty about nativ americans, Guantanamo, iraq, Vietnam, syria, Afghanistan and slaves?
Good counter^^
@@RadicalLiving thx ✌️
Thing is that as an American, I know that we weren’t exactly the best either (enter Iraqi war). Which is exactly why I personally think that in order for our nation to move on from our past atrocities we need to address them to the world and to our own citizens.
The difference is that almost no Germans defend Germany's actions in WW2. On the other hand I've seen Americans still defending the Iraq war. Even worse, I've seen people defend the Vietnam war.
The mentality is very different.
US even did something much worse in Vietnam, it's called "Agent Orange".
And I am still amaze it receive less popularity despite it's brutality
@@lotrlmao1648 it was the cold war that time was different than ours with different values
You are right. There’s no moving on from the past without acknowledging it, admitting it happened and atoning for it.
Germans want to be remembered only for the greats like Beethoven, Goethe, Einstein, but they want to erase Hitler from the history records which is disrespectful towards the millions of victims who were traumatized for life if they were lucky enough to have survived. Not to mention they haven’t paid the war reparations and haven’t given back what they have stolen. No, we can NOT just forget about it. Until that self-realization and owning up to their ancestors' crimes happens, the past is going to come back to haunt them.
Now look at what is happening today. They still want to dominate Europe through EU. They still want to tell the member states what they can or cannot do. And if the member states dont listen, they support all the sanctions to be imposed on them. They still support shutting down of businesses in other member states, like coal mines for example, while they keep opening their own, monopolising the member states. Seems like the same thing over again, just this time it is formally legal. Smart move.
And what ancestors are talking about? The many of those who are still alive and doing perfectly well, never having faced the consequences of the crimes they committed and living on pension paid for by the tax payers? And their pensions are ample, they live like kings. The german state rewards them for their crimes.
And may nobody tell me that Germans do not endorse what happened in WW2. I know germans who still believe in Hitler's propaganda justifying the invasions of other countries. They have no idea what really happened.
Not to mention that many of the older Germans now denouncing it and claiming they have never supported nazism, back then supported it en masse. That was the main party in Germany back then. They are still alive. Ask your Oma and Opa about their early life memories, what was their world view. You may be surprised what you'll hear if they even want to talk.
“Good guys can do anything rotten.”
Hawkeye (Alan Alda) Pierce, in an episode of M*A*S*H.