Poles and Germans reconcile over tragic war history

Radio Polonia ^ | 01.09.2006

[lizol]

Poles and Germans reconcile over tragic war history

01.09.2006

‘With Exceptional Brutality. Crimes of the Wehrmacht in Poland in September and October 1939’ is the title of a documentary exhibition opened in Heidelberg, one of the most renowned German academic centers. The exhibition had been previously staged in Berlin and Bonn. The present showing has been brought to Heidelberg by the Partnership Initiative With Poland, an organization grouping Germans and Poles, to mark the 67th anniversary of the outbreak of World War Two.

Gabriela Skolaud from the Initiative said the decision had been a difficult one, as the subject is a sensitive issue for many Germans, especially from older generations. Recalling the war period, many of them cannot come to terms that even their family members and friends could have participated in crimes against humanity committed by regular army units. But only learning the truth about the painful and tragic history can bring about reconciliation among Poles and Germans based on goodwill, Gabriela Skolaud emphasized. The exhibition has been jointly prepared by the German Historical Institute in Warsaw and Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance.

[lizol]

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[PzLdr]

While there were documented abuses by individual soldiers of, and some small unit formations of the German Army, by and large they conducted themselves within the rules of war in Poland.

The SS , on the other hand, was another matter. In addition to atrocities committed by individual Waffen SS troops, and Waffen SS formations, Poland was a precursor to Barbarossa for Reinhardt Heydrich. He set up einsatzkommandos under the overall command of Udo von Worsych to follow the front line troops in, and kill all the Jews, priests and potential leadership prospects they could identify, e.g, teachers, intellectuals, etc.

The German military governor of Poland Col. Gen. von Blaskowitz was relieved for complaining to Hitler about what was occurring in Poland, and for trying to court martial SS troops for their conduct. Although Blaskowitz, who had commanded an Army in the Polish campaign,later commanded larger formations [Army Group G in France, 1944], he was never promoted again.

[DTA]

>>>>>>>>Heidelberg, one of the most renowned German academic centers. <<<<<<<

University of Heidelberg was the place where Nazi ideologues hid after WII.

[PAR35]

Is there going to be a companion exhibit "Crimes of the Red Army in Germany - 1945"?

[lizol]

I don't know how it was with "documented abuses by individual soldiers of, and some small unit formations of the German Army".

But I know how the situation looked like in September 1939 - just in my small piece of Poland (in and around town of Lowicz).

1) The first building in the town, that was bombed by the Luftwaffe and burnt in September 1939 was a hospital - clearly marked with a Red Cross on the roof.

2) German troops detained and then shoot group of around 20, teenage boy scouts walking from Poznan to Warsaw (now on that place there is a memorial commemorating those boys, near my house).

3) In villages Bohen and Guznia, German troops gathered, and then shoot group of around 30 civilians, farmers. Their grave and memorial on the local cemetery is right next to my grandparents' grave.

[Revolting cat!]

he was never promoted again.

Poor thing "conducting himself within the rules of war." Unprovoked, brutal war of aggression, we might add.

[lizol]

The Bombing of Wielun is also a pretty good example of German armed forces' way of conduct in Poland.

[Spirited]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Warsaw

http://www.lostbooks.net/cgi-bin/lbn455/19571.html?id=bNCnr8GS

[Michael81Dus]

What´s with individual guilt? Could you have looked in the eyes of a abused 10 year old girl 1945 and say: "well, you deserved it!"???? And your tagline quotes Heinrich Heine... what a shame.

[dfwgator]

Forgive me, this isn't PC at all, but in 1945 the Germans deserved it.

The Nazis and their supporters sure did, but then we did the right thing after the war and instituted The Marshall Plan. Sadly, Poland did not get such benefit.

[Schweinhund]

Yes and every German living in Now-Poland was a Nazi. Du Vogel.

[Schweinhund]

"German viewers (although I doubt they can feel like human beings)"

Go fuck yourself, you racist retard.

[ozzymandus]

You're interfering with the culture of victimhood.

[Schweinhund]

Very funny.