In the 80's I visited Munich and literally stumbled upon the knowledge that Dachau was nearby.When I learned this I asked several Germans if they could help me get there.Nobody wanted to be involved.I didn't realize until later that that was because the typical German...at that time,at least...was very,*very* uncomfortable talking about the Nazis.It seems to me that a sense of national guilt is still driving them.
Also,it must be noted that Merkel is an *East* German..educated in their schools,subject to their propaganda,subject to their culture.East Germany was founded on a hatred of the Nazis that was stronger than that found in Britain,France,the US.And that's as well as a hatred for the West.Having her as "Prime Minister" is a lot like us having Bill Ayers as President,IMO.
The largest ethnic group in Stalin’s party killing machine were great Russians. The second largest group was Russian jews. Huge sections of Russia’s jews moved to Israel. I’ve read Israeli journalists who freely acknowledge this —go to Germany and try to talk about it—as a way to bring the Germans out of their guilt torpor. But the Germans wouldn’t have it.
I visited Dachau in 1992. Drove past it twice before I saw a small sign pointing to the parking lot. Also went to nearby raven where German soldiers took a truck load of prisoners out each day for target practice.