The Germans were a great people betrayed and destroyed by their willingness to follow vainglorious and insane leaders. I blame the strain of irrational romanticism in the German character for this disastrous wrong turn. I say this as someone who is of half German ancestry with a strong if imperfect affection for German culture.
Yes, ok, I think most of the Germans have the same understanding about that chapter today. But please consider the bad circumstances: The Versailler contract. Just to mention one.