“I’ve not come across that with any of the veterans I know, was wondering if this was a little revisionism on the part of the author.”
There could be some revisionism, or it could be old men doing whatever possible to deal with the facts of their youth.
They did and witnessed terrible things that they never would have imagined outside of hell itself. I can not begin to imagine what they think of in their private moments.
A neighbor of mine, gone 20 years now, brought back many souvenirs from his time in George’s 3rd army.
The first rifle I ever fired was a Mauser he took from a Wermacht soldier he killed.
He brought back several firearms and some posters and banners.
He viewed his souvenirs as spoils of war taken in combat.
He never hated the men of the Wermacht but despised the SS.
I wish that I had talked less and listened more the single time he was discussing it, but at 16 (or so) for me there were always going to be more conversations, always would be plenty of chances and plenty of time. An opportunity lost, but a good lesson learned, and perhaps that's what he was aiming for, in retrospect.
I think that the best term - mine, not his - for his feelings towards the German people would be "respect".
The few things that he brought home were quietly treasured. When asked about them, he just said, "Meh, everyone got one.", or something noncommittal.