I am proud of German history

[Infected Mushroom]

I would say I’m proud of my history because patriotism. I’m an American, therefore I am a patriot for my country. If I were born in nearly any other country, the same would be true for each respective country.

Germany is a very amazing and fascinating country.

[Saiwania]

Germany has a lot to be proud of, like having the best economy in Europe. It has room to become better though, such as repealing all of their hate speech laws. This is the best national anthem video I've found for Germany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6eXyYJ4h5o

The only flaw it has is that it doesn't depict the Third Reich period of their history as if it never happened. This is like excluding Henry VIII's reign for the UK's history just because he killed all those wives. I believe it'd of been better for the video to have included all of Germany's history.

[Perry Conglomerate]

So I went with 4. Guess I've gotta explain then.

I don't consider history as something to be proud of. That's like being proud of having a ton of money you've got cause you were born into the right family. In general I consider myself not "proud" to be German. I'm "glad" to be German.

So, no I would'nt bring up WW2 immediately if it's some random stranger. I feel neither pride nor guilt about our history. Nevertheless I think it's important not to forget how far stupidity can go if you're not careful and keep it under control.

Guess I'm not the most patriotic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Ifreann]

Germany has a lot to be proud of, like having the best economy in Europe. It has room to become better though, such as repealing all of their hate speech laws. This is the best national anthem video I've found for Germany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6eXyYJ4h5o

The only flaw it has is that it doesn't depict the Third Reich period of their history as if it never happened. This is like excluding Henry VIII's reign for the UK's history just because he killed all those wives. I believe it'd of been better for the video to have included all of Germany's history.

Depicting the Third Reich

[The Hazar Amisnery]

Modern Germans shouldn't let something that happened nearly 100 years ago affect them today. That already happened and they can't fix the past so instead they should look towards the more important things in the future. Hating Germans because of the Nazis is technically prejudice and maybe even racist.

[Christian Confederation]

The only reason Germany gets so much crap is they were the last big bad guy the world fought Together. They would've been replaced with the USSR/ Russia but nobody is scared of Communism anymore.
Germany has every right to be proud of they're Country whall recognizing there past.
Every country has a dark spot or 2 in their history, calling out Germany when other nations have done things just as bad if not worse is wrong.
Everyone including Germans have a right to be proud of their country, and besides by the 2040s we're probably going to have a war with China that will make the Nazi atrocities look like a cakewalk.

[Infected Mushroom]

It amazes me that Germany was able to unify so late and yet come to surpass both France and the British Empire in economic and military power on many metrics.

[The Nihilistic view]

It's like everything, broadly speaking would be yes but there are the obvious examples no reasonable person could be proud of. And that's the same for every country, it's just if you are a young German today you are unfortunate to have one of the worst five human atrocities of all time to look back at.

[Ifreann]

The only reason Germany gets so much crap is they were the last big bad guy the world fought Together. They would've been replaced with the USSR/ Russia but nobody is scared of Communism anymore.
Germany has every right to be proud of they're Country whall recognizing there past.
Every country has a dark spot or 2 in their history, calling out Germany when other nations have done things just as bad if not worse is wrong.
Everyone including Germans have a right to be proud of their country, and besides by the 2040s we're probably going to have a war with China that will make the Nazi atrocities look like a cakewalk.

If the US has a war with China there won't be time for any atrocities besides dropping nukes.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Germany has a lot to be proud of, like having the best economy in Europe. It has room to become better though, such as repealing all of their hate speech laws. This is the best national anthem video I've found for Germany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6eXyYJ4h5o

The only flaw it has is that it doesn't depict the Third Reich period of their history as if it never happened. This is like excluding Henry VIII's reign for the UK's history just because he killed all those wives. I believe it'd of been better for the video to have included all of Germany's history.

Depicting the Third Reich

Ngl that's their best song. Also very relevant to this thread I think, its lyrics touch on the topic a lot.

[Keira]

I don't quite get how people can feel proud of places. I think it's likely that in a lot of cases people just feel love and appreciation (or other strong positive feelings), and then somehow misconstrue that as "pride".

So can any of you "proud" folk explain to me what it means to be proud of your country or its history? What do you mean by "pride"? Why do you feel/have it? How can you feel pride towards something so distant and abstract as a nation? Are you sure you don't just simply feel glad?

[Ifreann]

Depicting the Third Reich

Ngl that's their best song. Also very relevant to this thread I think, its lyrics touch on the topic a lot.

The video is great as well. Monks eating Germania while a mass of people writhes underneath her. Germania giving birth to Leonberger puppies. Symbolism for days.

[Royal Frankia]

If I were a German citizen I would say I'm proud of German history, particularly in regards to the German miracle. Historically, Germany led the way in scientific innovation and her cultural achievements cannot be denied. Germany was ravaged by wars unparalleled in the Western world, and still emerged from the ruins each time to emerge greater. Leaders come and go, but Germany and the German people will remain.

[Chess Guys]

Germany is younger than America so not much history to be proud of. On the other hand Germany's crimes were similar to Russia's and Japan's but they don't care.

[Royal Frankia]

The only reason Germany gets so much crap is they were the last big bad guy the world fought Together. They would've been replaced with the USSR/ Russia but nobody is scared of Communism anymore.
Germany has every right to be proud of they're Country whall recognizing there past.
Every country has a dark spot or 2 in their history, calling out Germany when other nations have done things just as bad if not worse is wrong.
Everyone including Germans have a right to be proud of their country, and besides by the 2040s we're probably going to have a war with China that will make the Nazi atrocities look like a cakewalk.

What the worst German units did is what the Imperial Army were doing on a regular basis, and the Japanese haven't tried to deal with their past as Germany had. Within 70 years Jews and other minorities are actually fleeing to Germany from Orthodox communities.. That is a remarkable accomplishment, imo.

[Salus Maior]

Yes, because Germany only did bad things in WWII.

Just don't look at what they did in Belgium in WWI, or Southwest Africa.

[Chess Guys]

Speaking of Belgium and Africa

[Mingulay Isle]

When do we consider German history to start? The nation can be traced to 1871's unification, but officially the Germany that exists today was formed in 1990, and the term has been used to refer to the area and it's people since 98 AD. Depending on what you consider "our nation's history" Nazi Germany could make up a significant portion of it's history, be a small, if recent "dark time" in an vast and diverse history, or not be considered part of the history, but of the history of the nation that came before.

[Lady Arcana]

Please consider the following hypothetical:

You are a German, born and raised in Germany. Your age is what it is IRL. If you are a German IRL, then just answer it realistically.

A tourist comes to your and asks you while smiling in broken but understandable German,

“I like Germany. I like what I see here. Your country is very beautiful and very modern. Are you proud of your country’s history?”

Your answers:

1. Yes I’m proud of my nation’s history. Thank you for your fine compliments; I’m glad you’re having a good time in Germany.

2. I am proud of my nation’s history but I’m not proud of what happened in WWII.

3. Truthfully, I’m ashamed of my nation’s history, we did terrible things in World War II.

4. Other (please explain)

Would you as German citizen, when asked this question in a friendly and casual way, feel a need to bring up World War II? Or would you simply give a yes since the question doesn’t require you to bring up WWII?

After all, if you asked a British person “are you proud of being British” they’d likely say “yeah I guess” and not automatically feel obligated to default to “yes I’m proud of being British but I’m not proud of (long list of crimes against humanity*)”

It’s hard to imagine that many Canadians would go “Yes I’m proud of being Canadian but that doesn’t include the historical displacement of natives and the residential schools.”

How would you reply to the tourist?

Please explain.

I would address the question literally and say Yes. The entirety of German history is so great that the unfortunate events of WWII would not require a special mention without prompt. Saying that just makes me sound like I have too much national guilt and self-doubt when for the vast majority of German history, the German region has been a leader in culture, arts, and science. If he specifically asks, only then would I (if comfortable) address the specifics but there’s no reason or obligation to bring up WWII on my own.

You can be both be proud of your nation and appalled at its history, these aren't mutually exclusive.

[Infected Mushroom]

Please consider the following hypothetical:

You are a German, born and raised in Germany. Your age is what it is IRL. If you are a German IRL, then just answer it realistically.

A tourist comes to your and asks you while smiling in broken but understandable German,

“I like Germany. I like what I see here. Your country is very beautiful and very modern. Are you proud of your country’s history?”

Your answers:



Would you as German citizen, when asked this question in a friendly and casual way, feel a need to bring up World War II? Or would you simply give a yes since the question doesn’t require you to bring up WWII?

After all, if you asked a British person “are you proud of being British” they’d likely say “yeah I guess” and not automatically feel obligated to default to “yes I’m proud of being British but I’m not proud of (long list of crimes against humanity*)”

It’s hard to imagine that many Canadians would go “Yes I’m proud of being Canadian but that doesn’t include the historical displacement of natives and the residential schools.”

How would you reply to the tourist?

Please explain.

I would address the question literally and say Yes. The entirety of German history is so great that the unfortunate events of WWII would not require a special mention without prompt. Saying that just makes me sound like I have too much national guilt and self-doubt when for the vast majority of German history, the German region has been a leader in culture, arts, and science. If he specifically asks, only then would I (if comfortable) address the specifics but there’s no reason or obligation to bring up WWII on my own.

You can be both be proud of your nation and appalled at its history, these aren't mutually exclusive.

How? A nation is defined by its history.

[Ethel mermania]

You can be both be proud of your nation and appalled at its history, these aren't mutually exclusive.

How? A nation is defined by its history.

You could be proud of Germany's historic expansion of medical care to all as well as being horrified by its colonialist policies, both roughly in the same time period

[Lady Arcana]

You can be both be proud of your nation and appalled at its history, these aren't mutually exclusive.

How? A nation is defined by its history.

And its society, its cultural practises, its institutions, demographics, religion, and language -- there's a lot more going on than 'its history'. Albeit many of these are a part of and can contribute to said history.

If one is to be proud of their nation, they can be proud of its positive influences while also recognising and being opposed to the negative aspects of it. I can be proud of America and the democratic institutions it has, the can-do attitude of its society, and the values it ascribes to. We can also acknowledge that as a country we have not always lived up to those values and at times even worked against them. I can be appalled at slavery, racism, and other practices that contributed to the divides we still feel today. It's how you learn. And that's what separates your typical patriotism from nationalism.

[Infected Mushroom]

How? A nation is defined by its history.

You could be proud of Germany's historic expansion of medical care to all as well as being horrified by its colonialist policies, both roughly in the same time period

I think you have to make a judgement as a whole (a wholistic judgment).

If you say, I disapprove of Germany’s historical actions in period X… but on the WHOLE I am proud of Germany’s history that’s fine. But if your wholistic judgment is… “we should be ashamed of Germany’s history as a whole” then I can’t see how you’re a patriot.

You have to issue some kind of a positive judgement on the whole of the history.

[Neanderthaland]

How? A nation is defined by its history.

Yeah, but if history was the only thing that defined a nation then Germany would be a thousand tiny princedoms, bishoprics, and city states.

[Cannot think of a name]

Germany has a lot to be proud of, like having the best economy in Europe. It has room to become better though, such as repealing all of their hate speech laws. This is the best national anthem video I've found for Germany: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6eXyYJ4h5o

The only flaw it has is that it doesn't depict the Third Reich period of their history as if it never happened. This is like excluding Henry VIII's reign for the UK's history just because he killed all those wives. I believe it'd of been better for the video to have included all of Germany's history.

I don't know what parts of Germany you've been to, but they absolutely depict that period. They don't exclude it at all, quite the opposite they examine it closely so as to not repeat the mistakes of the past and make sure that Germans understand their history, warts and all.

I suspect your issue isn't that they 'ignore it' but rather think it was a bad thing.