My comment might not be read, since it’s way at the end, but nevertheless I want to convey my appreciation for the message you have so skillfully delivered in this video. I have been watching your videos for years, and have felt a deep connection to you since my sister lives in Portland, Oregon, and I visit her often. I also raised six children and my four boys were thoroughly involved in football with one continuing to play in college. I was born in 1948 in Germany, the daughter of a young American serviceman and a young German girl of 18. My father had fought in World War II in the Pacific theater, and was stationed in postwar Germany as the occupation began. Soon after I was born, my parents moved back to the United States, where my father stayed in the military, and with my mother staying behind in San Francisco with then two young children, my father was deployed to Korea for 13 months. My mother totally embraced the American culture never speaking German, dressing like a young American complete with rolled-up blue jeans, bobby-socks, and loafers, and learned to cook all of the standard American dishes. It wasn’t until later that she told me about instances where she was met with a great deal of prejudice because of her German heritage and accent. Nevertheless, my mother loved being a United States citizen, and talks about standing on the deck of the ship when they reached New York and my father, explaining to her, as he pointed out the Statue of Liberty, that here she was free to speak her mind. She could not, at that time, begin to understand the concept of liberty. And when she talked about it, her eyes would always fill with tears. Years later, when I was teaching, I asked her to come into my classroom to talk about growing up during the Third Reich. She said she could never do that, because of the guilt that she felt. I tried to explain that she was just a young girl, but she said that didn’t matter, that she was so ashamed of what her country had done. Later, I was able to convince her to make recordings of her memories, and added them to a presentation along with many black-and-white photos from her albums. She and all her siblings were forced to become members of the Hitler youth. She and her oldest brother attended the music Academy in Frankfurt, and she was there the night Frankfurt was bombed. She was able to escape climbing out of the basement over the bodies of her dead classmates, and wondered through the streets as a 15-year-old girl in shock until she found a streetcar that was still running that took her home in the small town nearby. Her oldest brother was drafted into the German army at the age of 17 towards the end of the war. He had been studying to be a symphony conductor, and was anything but a soldier, and he was soon captured and spent the remainder of the war in a Russian prison camp. Her youngest brother came to the United States to live with her where he joined the United States Air Force. After 35 years, he retired after two tours of duty in Vietnam. He, too, often talked about the guilt he felt over Germany. Even in her last years, living in Laurel Parc retirement home in Portland, Oregon, my mother was verbally assaulted by ladies who were English war brides, telling her that she had “bombed the hell out of them”. If you had known my mother, it would have broken your heart. She was the kindest, sweetest lady and had served almost 40 years as an army wife. Thankfully, she had enough American friends who stood by and helped her providing her support and counsel. I spent half of my life living near Frankfurt, where my father was stationed. I was fortunate because much of my mother‘s family were still living there, and we were able to learn German, and to fully immerse ourselves into the German culture. I refuse to be ashamed of my heritage, and I am proud of my family and my “second home“. Again, I want to thank you so much for this video. It warms my heart…

Jung was a Nazi himself, at least for a period.

I can say I don't use the word guild. The last person that had to get okay with their involvment where my grand parents. But like you said, I see it as a democratic duty and a responsebility to do my part so we stay on a better path.

Right now, the Russians invade a neighboring country and destroy everything they can. And the „German guilt“ has lead to the fact that German‘s chancellor is too cowardly to make the necessary decision and to deliver the necessary weapons so that Ukraine can defend itself! Let‘s see, whether there will also be a „Russian collective guilt“ one day. Probably not, unless Russia is defeated (as the Germans were).

I am a foreigner, married to a German, have two children and we are all live and work in the north of Germany. I am proud of the Germans. I have respect for the Germany, its people, culture and their way of doing things. I completely reject foreign views of Germany and its people that were taught in my school syllabus. The focus was on Germany, and so it today. In my view, materials that taught us about Germany were highly "selective" and put emphasis on the what the "Nazi past" (not all Germans in generic term), and what the Nazis did (Holocausts). There are more to Germany in history from the early ages to present day than the few years of Hitler's ruling. The world need to change itself! I have deep respect for Germany and its people, the country I call my homeland after moving here years ago.

Guilt? No, we don't feel guilt. But responsibility to not repeat things likes the Holocaust? Yes, very much. And I don't need to know your nationality to say that this should be your responsibility, too, regardless of the location. Edit: The part where you said many have told you they liked what you said about Germany: well, we just critizise a LOT. For example the train network. This mostly isn't about the history of our nation, but our very past, the time right now. I don't know if you know the saying 'Nicht gemeckert ist gelobt genug' which basically means 'Not critizising is enough praising'. And this really happens a lot. So every little positive bit will feel worth a lot more.

Dear Nalf, "Stolpersteine" does not mean stepping stones. It literally means tripping stones. They are supposed to stop people on their way and make them think and remember the past.

Thank you very much for this video!

If only other countries would look at their dark histories as Germany does, the world would be a more peaceful one. But its easyer to go on and ignore hundreds of years of political and religious atrocities, genocides, slavery and exploitation, than to learn from history... . Sometimes I think mankind ist not made for living in peace.

I don’t think the concept is oversimplified when taught in German schools. All the movements that led to the Nazi Regime and World War 2 are analyzed in depth. What I studied in school was more detailed than what I could find in my mom’s US college textbook on World History. So I don’t think many of us view it as a German problem but rather, because it happened here, we as a people (now and for future generations) hold a higher responsibility.

As I talked about the Confederated free elections of independence from Washington D.C. and the denial of self determination to the CSA by the Yankees, my comment suddenly got censored. I guess self determination is just demanded that the germans comply with when other people living in german borders want to break free. Like in Czech republik 1940 about 50% of the population was german. The only choice the angloamericans gave them to be deported or forcefully assimilated or shot. They denied to germans all self determination. And I not even talked about Texas or California which was spanish and under the pretext of self determination the angloamericans took that away from Spain and Mexico, claiming self determination of illegal immigrated english settlers to Texas and California. Not even to talk about Florida and there is even an state called New Mexico, maybe just coincidentally called like that or for an reason?). History is clearly written by the victors or would you think an statesman as Hitler would take the risk to be internationally isolated by pulling of an Holocaust for no reason? There must be strong reasons to pull such thing off since that presents an very high internatinal risk. And I not even talked about Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Surprisingly all negative comments against the Nomenclatura of the USA and perceived anti jewish comments are most likely censored and erased while japping against Hitler or the germans is highly welcome by KZbin. No, there is absolutely no need for any german Volksschuld. The housing crisis (jewish landlords) and german tenants who could not pay the rent was an major cause people elected Hitler - and he eliminated then the landlord (jews) and previously threw out all jews from public positions since they acted like foreign agents (spies) for the angloamericans and undermined all german efforts for economic solutions to misery. The whole justice system was prior to 1933 controlled by jews in the German Empire. Germans where thrown out of their rental houses by jewis landlords and attorneys, judges in middle of the winter and froze to death on the streets. Things have to be analysed more deeply from both sides. Then in Russia, Bolschewism was initiated by the jews, like my ancestors knew very well who was behind that and they flooded Germany with agents to propagate communism prior to 1933. That all Hitler was stopping and that is the reason why he had such an broad support by about 85% of the population.

When I started watching this video I instantly wanted to say, ‚Hey, the word „guilt“ is the problem here!‘… But I waited and watched the whole thing… and now I just have to say: THANK YOU! That is one of the best videos I have ever seen on the topic. I am Austrian, btw… and as a psychotherapist (Existential Analysis) I follow the great Viktor Frankl, who survived several concentration camps, in saying: There is NO collective guilt! But of course, you are responsible for your own actions. If you haven‘t seen Frankl‘s wonderful speech on this (which was a scandal at the time in Austria), please watch it! (Just google: Viktor Frankl, Kollektivschuld… I am sure there are versions with English subtitles.)

Itis true ( Ihave been living in Germany since 2006) and I work in a school.. WWII is drilled into them from the 7th grade an d I believe the 8th or 9th grade is where the history lesson centers on it..THere is the obligatory trip to a concentration camp...SOmetimes it is a bit too much because you do hear one or the other kid wispering in the back of the class that they have had enough of this guilt...INfact I live in the East of Germany and here they have an Ethics class that makes sure kids grow up with the idea of treating their fellow man well... That said you can overdo it too and make some kids resent this...Others find it bizarrly interesting. I do think that one trait of the Germans may have played a role in them all collectively falling for the Hitler BS....Germans like to follow the rules...SO much so that they do not question them as much as say, Americans do...THey almost have a fetish abut rules...I have lived in many European countries and such a rules fetish is only in Germany...Because of this it is easy for them to be misslead by an evil guy like HItler....THey are really hesitant to go against any rules and tend to be a bit too trusting of their Government...THis said in the East of Germany this is changing...THey are not trusting anything the Government says at all ...SInce Angela Merkel made her famouse mistake.

germany had only labor camps. all other things are lies

I like your take on this subject! It's every humans responsibility and everybody has to know history to learn the necessary lessons! I'm 46 and I was born and am still living in Nürnberg, a city that really does a lot to keep this memory alive.

One of the problems noadays is that a political party like the AfD, is set on par with the NSDAP by people with an agenda. They are nationalistic, sure - BUT nothing close to REAL Nazis. That is just making Nazis pretty look harmless and thus a fatal mistake.

Interestingly, Japan never had to "clean" itself from its fascist past. Even the emperor stayed in place! I wonder if it was a kind of racism that led the Americans to overlook the horrible war crimes that the Japanese committed? What about the forced prostitution of hundreds of thousands of Korean and Chinese women? What about the insane Japanese concentration camps for Australian soldiers and civilians? My father was a resistance warrior in Denmark, always being very careful only to disrupt supplies, but never to kill any Germans. Our family farm is in present-day northern Germany, it was Danish but is now in Germany. I never felt bad about Germans or Germany. They, more than any, have taken responsibility for past atrocities they personally had nothing to do with. There is a lesson there for several major powers around the globe, not the least the UK. The British atrocities in East Africa, with their hanging grounds, rapes, and murders of entire communities were very bad. I don't think people here think of Germans when it comes to war crimes, but rather the Brits. But they never had to pay for their crimes. I have lived for years in A Tanzanian city named after its British hanging grounds.

It happened in Germany. But in fact, it could happen in any country. Nothing is more dangerous than an undignified, humiliated nation. The Treaty of Versailles and the Dagger Stab Legend which was built on it, was the seed of the Third Reich, which overshadowed the whole Weimar period.

That was a very good summon, Nalf, congrats! ❤ Being part of the second post war generation, I have some more thoughts about this topic. I was partially raised by my grandparents, the sweetest "Oma und Opa" you could think of. But my grandfather was a Wehrmacht officer, and one would not become a colonel at that time without obeying to the regime. My grandmother was a typical follower. I am pretty sure, she passionately believed in that idiology and, frankly, never really stopped. When I was in my teens and early twenties we used to have arguments, but at some point I pretty much gave up on them. How do you argue a lady in her eighties who insits on not having known about the Holocaust? 😢 I have raised my children to be open minded and aware of their responsibility as part of this society, and I am really proud that they all are - just that.😊

I am from germany and instantly felt sick seeing this pictures in the beginning. It makes me scary. Something like this may not happen again!

Can we stop making every year 10 Nazee Movies and Nazee Games? There are so many wars and periods that can be made as a movie or game where we are also the bad guys, its really not fair to pinpoint one out.

We, the victims don't need German resposibility for not repeating the history. We, the victims, need accient roman law and modern civil law repayment. This is how you cure damege ever since the issue of demage has been recognized by the human kind. German II WW crimes are damges in civil meaning. Germany has already compensated in a morral aspect by the accknowlagdment.

I think the mentality in Germany is changing because Germany is a big migration country nowadays. Almost 30% of Germans have migration background today, which means that they or at least one of their parents weren't born in Germany. My wife came from Poland and got the German citizenship this year (in addition to her polish nationality). My son is half polish. How are those people are supposed to carry the collective guilt of a generation of people, which did or at least let horrible things happen, but is long dead? Nazi Germany is an example for the potential for evil in every human and every human should try to understand how it happened and how it can be prevented. -but without putting guilt on todays generation of Germans. This kind of practice can be even counterproductive because radical political parties like the AfD are feeding from common repudiation of what is called the "Schuldkult" in German.

I am waiting for a video from NALF about the guilt of Americans in the genocide of Native Americans, inhumane slavery of black people, about 150,000 deaths from just two bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the setting on fire of the entire Middle East by the invasion of Iraq with over a million deaths. Take courage Mr. Alfieri!

I'm missing a word about that "other Germans" and their AfD party at 18% in the polls...

Both supreme commanders had German ancestry. Nimitz' ancestry came from Bremen, Ike's from the Saar.

Who is the speaker at (8:55)?

Thanks a lot for another great video. What I find also interesting is how more easily our neighbors Austria and Italy deal with this topic. The guilt of these countries can certainly not be compared to the one of Germany, but still. Somehow Germany absorbs all of the guilt.

German here: I'm glad, it gets the right spot it deserves in our education. I don't feel guilt, but responsibility. I wish more countries would be so open about their dark pasts. it should never happen again! To anyone! U r right Nalf, that it is the responsibility of everyone, not only Germans (esp. rn with the right rising all over the world - bruuuuh!)! And yet, it is happening at this very moment to thousands of ppl in the Gaza stripe: carpet bombing of civilians, cutting of food-, water-, energy- and medicine supply. It is deeply disturbing what humans can do to other humans once they strip their 'enemy' of all humanity. And what a sick joke of history it is that this is done by the country established by former Holocaust survivors... They should really know better! And the big players in the world r just watching (US: also funding) those atrocities, coz the Israeli government can apparently do no wrong by default?!? And the ppl in America, rightfully trying to call out and demanding an end to this Genocide, r being smeared as 'Nazis'... It's all just so sickening...

there is a lot to unpack here. as an expat american who has lived in germany for over 30 years, with a German and an American side of the family, I wish there was a way to talk to you directly about this sensitive subject

Hi there! I'm a history teacher in Germany (Bavaria) at Realschule. WW2 is the main topic of the second semester in 9th grade and it always includes a trip to a concentration camp (we usually go to Dachau). That's mandatory by the curriculum. I think it's really important to talk and therefore educate about the topic and I have met quite a few people all over the world whith whom it just came up in conversation and I often notice that at first most people are kind of scared and reluctant to mention anything about it at all. Like you said, Nick, apparently they think you can't mention the war to a German. But when they realize that I don't have a problem with talking about it they often don't stop asking questions. I am comfortable talking about the subject since it's part of my job and I feel confident that I know a lot of facts and not just random and superficial "stuff". However, I do understand if others are reluctant talking about it because it also happens quite fast that we (Germans) have to explain or justify ourseslves for what happened during the war. And that really does need to stop. "Not my fault, but my responsibility" :)

Thank you very much! I am amazed by the development of your youtube personality. From Sunnyboy and Sportsman to a real thinker and analyst. You should get a position at a university in the field of philosophy. You would do good!

I as a German am too young to be guilty, but knowing our history is an obligation for me to make sure it never happens again. This responsibility is not a burden, but it is rather a mission that makes me act whenever I observe anything pointing in the direction of fascism.

Regarding the staring - the whole of Europe make a sport of people watching - just look at the cafes in Paris, Italy Germany, Austria, ...

got a sunburn or are you just blushing a lot ;)

I don't feel guilty and I'm not ashamed. That's it. I was born long after Ww2.

If you care about your children, about other people, if you have at least some empathy for others, you make sure this will never happen again. Unfortunately here in Germany not everyone understands this - but hopefully they will change their minds.

Hi there, I watch your content regularly but never comment, but now I will. Yes, I am on the same side with the view that "I am not responsible for the horrible things that have happened, but I have the duty to make sure this will never happen again". I am proud of my country, a lot of good stuff has happened here, but also a lot of bad ... horrible stuff. I will always be aware of it, but enjoy my country and welcome any friend coming here.

German Born 86 here. I’ve no guilt. But I have a responsibility to keep it from ever happening again here. Especially when we look at what is happening with the AfD or Russias aggression and war in Ukraine or how a fascist like Trump is gaining enough traction to disturb the world. It is necessary to prevent the past. It gives me chills when I look to the US, Russia or China. It would be good if other countries would also try to look in a mirror.

As a Pole I completely agree with you, Children are not responsible for what their parents did. We just need to remember not to follow the same path in the future.

Name a country that participated in WW2 and didn't commit war crimes.

At first: Thanks for this video! Only a couple of American you tuber notice our point of view. 14:14 As a German, who is born decades after WW II, I have a little bit different opinion about this topic. No one, who is born after 1943 is guilty. But we Germans have the duty that this never happens again. Not guilty but duty. And I think, we have done a much better job on this than the most other country's in the world. The most of them try to ignore their past and they seems unwilling to learn from it. Some examples: Russia: what about the crimes of Stalin ore the Tsar? USA: what about the crimes against the natives ore slavery? The UK, Spain, Portugal and France.. what about their crimes against the popularity in colonial times? And so on..

Junge, rede über lieber über Amerika, dass sie die Indianer AUSGEROTTET haben und seit bestehen der USA ohne Pause Kriege führen!

The victors write the history and paint the "loser" as evil as possible to cover real evil.

Dear NALF, thank you for your video on German Guilt. I appreciate your stand on the subject. For Germans, the war is ongoing. We go through an education program, designed by the allies, raising us to be anti German. It is, as you say, very sad. We can't see the bars of our own prison. Also, Germans have established a remembrance culture for pretty much all victims of war, BUT their own. This goes as far as anyone paying respects to the millions of civilians (mainly women and children) killed by British terror bombing or Soviet troops sweeping through the east on a killing spree, or millions of boys killed in allied captivity, could be named a Nazi. An estimated 800.000 were killed by neglect by the US army at the Rhine meadows camps. My great grandfather being one of them. I don't mean to upset you in any way. On the contrary, you have earned my respect for speaking out to our defense.

Unfortunately, there are many people nowadays who still like to use the term N*zi to describe Germans without understanding that there are many mixed Germans living here (mainly in the east towards Poland) who are German-Polish and had relatives like my grandfather, who was a prisoner in a concentration camp. This is extremely insulting to our ancestors, who had to suffer terrible things. Please just stop calling every German a Na*i, especially since our current generations can't do anything about what happened 80 years ago 🙂 thumbs up for the video, and many thanks from 🇩🇪

Yep responsibility, not guilt. However, most Germans aren't aware of all the responsibility some even tend to being a bit ignorant and arrogant, while they should rather be humble. ..me included. Many Germans aren't aware of all the people our ancestors had harmed ..not just against Russians and that one religious minority.. inside Germany and abroad. How much slave labor there was, how much theft how much cruelty against average people. One example: During the 2008 💶 and banking crisis, many wanted to be tough on Greece. ..and very irritated, when they (rather some) said they wanted 200 billion Euros from Germany. Now, if you take one very uncomfortable look at what German troops did down there, one has to admit they had a point. First, much of their "intellectual infrastructure" (civil servants etc.) was wiped out because many of them belonged to that certain religious minority. Second, when retreating, German forces destroyed as much machinery and infrastructure as they could. Two things Greece never entirely recuperated from and now some Germans went around in 2008 telling them how stupid, corrupt and undisciplined they were. It was a disgrace.

only a american view. nothing more.

Not guilt, but responsibility. Of course, this is everyone's responsibility, but I'm glad that so many people in Germany take it seriously. And it worries me that more and more people are saying it's been so long, it should end. Right-wing populists are on the rise, both across Europe and in the USA. It is still important to be alert. By the way: I don't watch your mostly very positive videos about Germany because I suffer from the bad image of the Germans. That doesn't bother me, there are also prejudices about US-Americans here. But we Germans like to criticize our country a lot - which is, in principle, a good thing! But sometimes we forget about how good we have it. You remind me of that.

It is a kind of simpleminded when somebody is happy when something positive is said about his country because he "often hears so many bad thing". German Guilt is not a "stigma" it is a burden which brings a special focus on responsibility for not led very bad things happen in the future again. As a German I lived in Israel and apart from some jeust recently converted whitey southafricans I never had a negative hit on me as a person. In fact I had many talks with young and old Israelis (some with German migration background) about the responsibilties for today and tomorrow. So long atory short, people who are NOW talking about German Guilt only want to be irresponsible again. They are actively or as a followers want to delete the important and special responsibility for people living together today. They want to have the right to created scapegoats and are a danger to Germany and a peaceful world. German Guilt is a rightwing framing of German Responsibility.