“I’m part Kraut. I have little in that part of my heritage to be proud of for obvious reasons. “
Never denigrate your heritage. You weren’t a Nazi. I’m part German too and for that I’m grateful for my work ethic.
Oh there’s parts of it I’m great with. Work ethic. Engineering/craftsmanship, lack of cowardice, deterination. Sense of purpose.. and I’m far from self loathing. But it is the elephant in the room and it’s not going away. Might as well acknowledge it and go from there.