Posted on 10/16/2004 10:11:44 AM PDT by Pikamax
British bid to mend war scars Roger Boyes, Berlin October 16, 2004 BRITAIN has taken an important step towards healing the scars of World War II by publicly acknowledging the horrors of RAF bombing raids carried out on the cities of the Third Reich.
The gesture comes shortly before a state visit to Germany by the Queen and marks a new stage in relations between the two countries.
The Queen will host a concert in Berlin in November to raise money for the final restoration of Dresden's Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), destroyed in an Allied bombing raid in February 1945.
Another raid was recalled in a moving ceremony in a cathedral in the north German city of Brunswick. Britain's ambassador to Berlin, Peter Torrey, paid tribute to the 560 victims of the RAF's raid, exactly 60 years ago, on Brunswick.
"It was a bleak and terrifying moment in the modern history of Brunswick," said Sir Peter in the nave of the cathedral. "How can we explain to our children the madness that was unleashed in those days? How can we explain that such a beautiful and historical city as Brunswick became the target of attacks from the air?"
Tears ran down the cheeks of survivors of the attack in the congregation. Never before has a representative of the British Government given voice to their suffering.
"This is a highly significant moment for our city and for relations between our two countries," said Werner Hempel, the cathedral dean.
The subtle realignment of the relationship between Britain and Germany has been under way for some time, but the past few months have been critical. In speeches in Hamburg and Dresden, British officials have accepted the German wish to mourn their dead openly and without shame.
However the British have not gone so far as to apologise for the raids. Sir Peter offered no apology and stressed Brunswick had military targets including a tank factory, an aircraft repair works and a railway junction. Moreover, British cities were also under heavy bombardment.
"Two years before the Brunswick attack, in April 1942, Bath was bombarded two nights in succession by German aircraft. Over 400 people were killed, 12,500 homes damaged or destroyed."
The new mood in the British-German relationship stems from two facts. The first is a British recognition that the partnership is still mired in World War II. The second element is that Germans feel they should no longer be judged against the yardstick of Hitler's crimes.
The Times
Why should the Brits have to apologize for bombing German cities? this smacks of the worst kind of appeasing, PC, doublethink to me.
I dont see the Germans apologizing for the launching of the V rockets and the bombing runs on London during the late 30's and early 40's....
"I dont see the Germans apologizing "
really? where have you been for the last 60 years?
On a similar note, former Navy LT John Kerry offered Vietnam and China an apology for his shipmates' having had the bad taste to shoot back at the Communists who tried to kill them during the Vietnam War...
Sound like the Brits might be having second thoughts about the justification of defending themselves during WWII. Since many Brits now question the relationship with the US and are focusing on Europe, they seem have forgotten the horrors that the Germans inflicted on them. The Brits are only a shell of their former selves.
"they seem have forgotten the horrors that the Germans inflicted on them".
Not at all. They are merely acknowledging some of the horrors visited upon German non-combatants and cities at their hand.
The peoples of Dresden and Coventry have joined hands in solidarity against terror bombing of cities. Why do you feel that you have to defend it?
Thank you! My thoughts exactly. What a twisted pile of rubbish.
Who started WW2? the Brits?
"Who started WW2? "
This article is not an argument about who started WW2, but an acknowledgement that it is over and should not affect relationships between the modern British and German states.
I know it is a hard concept to accept, but some things that were done TO German civilians were at least regretable, and that is what this article says . . .
The people in Germany now were mostly not of voting or fighting age in WWII.
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