To: Wiz
I lived in Germany for four years (87-91) and find this article interesting. When I lived there Poland was just another Communist country that just emerged from Soviet dominance. I visited Poland on a tour in 89, and loved the country and its people. I also loved Germany. The irony is that the people are similar in many ways. Poles and Czechs are the most German of the Slavic peoples and share many values like hardworking natures. Many Germans from middle and northern Germany are not Catholic like the Poles. Poland has been occupied by Germany, Austria and Russia (Soviet Union) for much of the past 250 years, and was more agricultural than its neighbor to the West. There is a tendency for city folk to look down on their more bucolic neighbors.
I don't think Nazi hatred of Jews and Slavs is a problem in Germany, except a little in the former DDR.
You must remember that in general, Germans have always considered themselves special vis-a-vis other peoples. Under Nazism it became more than simple pride, it was horror. Germans still have a bit of that pride, but are much more into that Euro thing. Poland is catching up with Germany's standard of living, and if it avoids the anti-capitalist socialist restrains on its economy, it may very well surpass Germany.
To: GeorgefromGeorgia
I don't think Nazi hatred of Jews and Slavs is a problem in Germany, except a little in the former DDR.It seemed to me that in the DDR, they taught their people that the Nazis were only bad, because they were anti-Communist, and anti-Working class, etc. and not so much because of their racial policies. That probably explains the difference between how the Ossies and the Wessies view the Nazis.
40 posted on
06/30/2006 3:07:51 PM PDT by
dfwgator
(Florida Gators - 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Champions)
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