American and German High School Students Share Thoughts on World War 2

[maxiking5011]

@zorax15 But you actually know that without the nuclear Bomb the war could have lasted 5-10 years longer with much more casualties? The Japanese built a base on almost every island between Japan and Hawaii to slow the Americans down. Some Japanese soldiers were found about 20 years later after the war ended.

I think that "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" were and still are incredibly cruel, but you you can't take responsibility for a danger you don't even know properly...

[zorax15]

@maxiking5011 If you had read the last 2 posts down on this page you would have realised that this is not true. In fact the Russians were about to declare war on Japan. And with the USSR and the US there 5-10 years is just nonsense. Stalin didn't care about human losses as could be seen on the eastern front in Europe. So even if Japan had not surrenderd shortly the USSR would have crushed Japan. But the cold war had already started and therefore Rus intervention was not an option.

[Renagade1325]

@zorax15 Excuse me? The US does not experiment on other people like the Germans, Russians, Japanese did in WWII. When the US falls apart, the world will go to shit and you will wish the US was back.

Russia couldn't have crushed Japan... Russia had basically no navy. A large majority of their ships were from WWI and another large majority were given to them by the US with the lend-lease act. You understand very little about history.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 No your country just took the results of these experiments and waterboards and deprivates people in the present and change laws to make it a "legal" act. You understand very little what is going on around you.

The USSR declared war on Japan and entered Manchuria and Kuril Islands 2 weeks later. Look where the Kurill Islands are placed. You no shit about history.

[Renagade1325]

@zorax15 Name a single modern country that doesn't change laws.........

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 do you actually know what the NDAA is about? No? You may want to read it and then show me a "modern country" that also took a step back to stone age.

[zorax15]

Boy, what a poor conference. There is the possibility for students of different countries to talk about any subject they like and everything they can come up with are some lame ass questions about things that happened in the past? Wow, I mean just wow.

What about questions about US foreign policy in the present? What about questions about Germany within the EU? and so on. And everything they both sides come up with is some ww2 stories and stupid questions about jews and Russian treatment today.

[berlincitymec]

Americans killed the indians& had slavery.

Russians killed millions.

Belgians killed millions in congo.

Japanese killed millions of chinese.

French&English killed many during colonialism. And i am leaving out many others.

Still, the only ones who assume, who take the blame and guilt for past actions are the germans.

The question is not "Do we feel guilty?.

The question should be: Why don't YOU (all the others) feel guilty as well???

[YatsuNoko]

they hook up via web cam and all they do is talk about the war? what the fuck is this shit ?! ....stupid fuck

[idiotchild998]

honestly? yea they totally fill all their books with propaganda that totally makes sense right... if you even go to germany and so much as say the word heil youll have the trash beaten out of you

[colt553]

Most of the American questions were insulting. I didn't hear the German students asking the Americans idiotic things like "do you know anyone who owned slaves?"

[MrJyooo]

AMERICANS AND EUrOPEANS RARE THE SAME :D Its a True Story Bro :D

[teebeutelrap]

die haben 2010 nichts besseres mehr zutun als über hitler zu reden?

[oXbOxr00X]

@teebeutelrap Nö, weil es nix anderes gibt es wir angestellt haben! Würden wir eine Zettel schreiben mit allen schlimmen sachen der Amis und uns ... einer geht bis zum Mond und auf einem stehen 5 sachen! ... Es ist einfacher uns fertig zumachen als über ihre probs nachzu denken! Willkommen in der Amerikanischen Kultur!

[JearlKing]

Mein Opa starb im KZ!!

er fiel vom wachturm.....

[jaknife99]

Why is she smiling about her great grand father dying on d-day?

[oXbOxr00X]

"My Granddad was the first who got shot!" who cares? its over. 75Years over and ended! We German get it we are evil! But i'm glad that not all ppl just Naive and see the bad-ass in us! Did we changed? NO! We are just the old Germans... We changed in 1930-1945 but now we are back at the old level (before 1930) Come to germany and see how it is, before u ruing us! Indeed we got Teached what we did in the ww2... it was just a tyranny... not more and not less! But we all did it in the paste! <3 GER!

[irishmobster60]

@oXbOxr00X You bring of a great point. The past is the past you have to learn from it but not live like its still in the present Also i've been taking German Classes here in the States and i'm plannig on going to Germany This SUMMER i've heard great things and can't wait to go!

[oXbOxr00X]

@irishmobster60 indeed Germany is AWESOME! Its easy to ruing one.. but u need balls to re-respect him and give him a 2nd chance we start 2 wars ( 1 becuzs ww2 was just the first ww but not the point) We need more like who who give us the chance to show we are differnt now.. we change but other countries dont-- and he ruing us as Nazis... why 90 of the Americans title us Nazi? he did fight in the war! the country is so dumb and fucked? u seams nice pls explain me.. greetz from Cologne!

[irishmobster60]

@oXbOxr00X lol well i'm American, i dont know if we are so dumb but we are definately fucked economically how are things in Germany right now with all this Greece bailouts lol gotta say you Germans have always been the hardest working people in Europe bar none.

[oXbOxr00X]

@irishmobster60 Sorry, i dont mean all America are dumb.. but starting it with the words: My grand grand dad was the very first how died.. and it sound so Arrogant .. the only one how really get it is the black guy .. thx for your warm words! and we will rescue Greece and become a strong Europe back.. greetings from Cologne, Alex.

[jovid22]

@aaaaa895

thank you for these very nice words

you say ich liebe deutschland and for that i love you (but in hetero way ) haha

[MisantrophSK]

it was so fucking clear that they will talk about this shit when it comes to germany... i feel really weird living in that country. i am not born there but that created "guilt" is just a pain in the ass.

[oXbOxr00X]

@MisantrophSK do not fell guilty! for what? rescue Europe? my age have nothing to do with ww1 or ww2 or any other stupid thing we did in the history... for me only the future count, and indeed it have to stop that each time if we hear 'Germany' at the same time Hitler and WW2 comes up as topic... i dont ruing the us-americans for raping the nativs.... but in 200years the germans are still the nazis... creepy ha?!

[pavelthe2]

If I were in that class, I would have been annoyed. Seems like the only thing people nowadays associate with Germany is the whole Holocaust thing.

What about their current economy?

Der Schwarzwald? Helgoland and other islands? The Autobahn?

Germany has many interesting things to learn about. It's a shame that people like these kids tend to only focus on something that supposedly happened seven decades ago.

[TheEnviroFriend]

@pavelthe2 The whole topic of the discussion is ww2, look at the title. It's important to talk about these things rather than act like they never happened, and I do think it is a shame that many Germans are taught to feel guilty for things they didn't do.

But it's no different with Americans and the war in the middle east, everyone blames us and not the politicians that started the damned wars. It's impossible for us to have a political conversation with Europeans without them bringing up Iraq.

[zorax15]

@TheEnviroFriend I don't know why it should be not a shame to teech anybody to feel guilty for what has happenend 70 years ago.

The situation how the US is seen abroad is different. Most of the people can distiguish between the people of the USA and the Bush government. The hate goes not towards the people. In fact I believe that your soldiers in the middle east are convinced to do something good to the people. (cont)

[zorax15]

@TheEnviroFriend The Problem with most of the US people I get to know on the internet is that they tend to describe that their country is the greatest no matter what. And any criticism towards foreign policy will be either be ignored or seen as personal insult towards the whole country.

Many US people just don't realize that US foreign policy does not only affect the US but the whole western world. Therefore it's absolutely legit that certain things are criticized. (cont)

[zorax15]

@TheEnviroFriend There are some US posters that act more reasonable on these topics but the loudmouths are in the majority by far. And you better not tell the people you are German because then the topic will be derailed and becomes a shitstorm. This very fact is very exhausting. I don't know if is a common reflex to defend the own country or what. But it certainly adds to some prejudices people have towards the US.

[plus17tech]

@ForImperium

Forgive my horible comment but I feel the need to say it

Tell your comments to those murdered Jewish people.

Those killings had zero justification

[plus17tech]

@ForImperium

What in the world do you mean

Its over and Germany lost

[plus17tech]

@ForImperium

I find your comments offending and false.

[glmiri]

"Hard feelings towards the french!" WHAT ????

[RuraLSnipers]

God, the first questions would be about Hitler. GODDAMN people it's been sixty fucking years get over it.

[BORATITSNIIICE]

US=A NOISY COUNTRY, JUST LIKE THE MOTHER IN LAW, and thats coming from an AMERICAN CITIZEN

[AnonaThetan]

These kids are at a private school near Washington, DC..Politicians kids...Now I understand

[AnonaThetan]

I know a guy that was shot down over Nazi Germany..In the POW camp he said if he ever felt bad about the conditions he could always look out the window and see how they were treating the Russians..he had a building in winter while the Russians did not..oh and shoes

[guitarsgplayer]

if i have to think about the us in world war 2 i just have to say the bombing of dresden like all the other bombings of german cities, after the allies had won every battle easly against the german forces was and is still a crime.. but what i hate realy when you talk about the us, that they were never called to account for what they did in japan... The World we know today is controlled by military freaks in the US .

[AlohaBay]

God the American students sound so STOOPID! And their speaking in their native tongue! Imagine if they had to converse in German. I am from America by the way. Please pardon my fellow Americans for sounding like a bunch bullshit regurgitating nimrods.

[moonlightcrawler]

AAww How sweet! Young German and American students getting together and discussing topics about WW2 and presupposing that Nazis were monsters and the 1930's Germans wanted themsleves to be liberated from the Evil Nazis.

"Is the Jewish community treated fairly now in your opinion?" (implied: or are you still burning them alive in gass ovens and making lampshades out of the skin like the sick racist fucks your great grandparents were?)

[pary16]

american students are just ignorant

no offense but i go to school here and their image of other countries is that everywhere is bad except for america

its pretty sad

[mgunar]

The Americans in this video sound really dumb. They ask a bunch of dumb questions and make dumb responses. Why would the events of 66 years ago have any impact on the Germany of today? Most of the "remembering" is done by greedy Jews who keep finding new ways to sue the Germans for what *supposedly* happened.

[richtofenkevin]

OMG hahahahahahahhahahaahahahaha

[runr100]

@Forimperium Thank you for saying these things. I am American and have been shocked at how politically biased my public school education was. We were never taught about the huge Soviet atrocities of socialism. The most massive killing of humans was by the Soviet socialists in Ukraine, not by Hitler. Both sides were horrible, but the philosophy of socialism is the core problem.

[TheKotzkatz]

amerikaner sind dumm wie brot... sie fragen allen ernstes OB SCHWARZE IN DEUTSCHLAND NOCH AUS ANDEREN WASSERSPENDERN TRINKEN MÜSSEN ALS WEISSE??????? ihr wisst ja nicht mal wo DEUTSCHLAND LIEGT -.-' spasten

[hardstyle905]

i think americans are pretty stupid but i'd still fuck that bitch at 0:43

intercultural sex yay!! see, im not racist...

[inotaishu1]

Study about th Holocaust in every class? Is this for real, it has been ten years since I went to school has it changed that much?

[aaaaa895]

People who thing that Germany and Germany people are like Nazi are idiots and stupid. Believe me, I lived with Germans for 5 years, and I worked as a scientist for 5 years with a German scientists. It the best country that I have ever lived. The people are so friendly, not all, but most of them are, and above all, they are polate and they are cultured people. I would go back to Germany even tomorrow, if I had any chance. It is the best country in the world people.

Ich liebe Deutschland.

[afaik1Ben]

@aaaaa895

So where are you from? I'm very interested in the differences between the people and culture in germany and your country.

[ForImperium]

This is a joke right?

Ask us Russians about the mass killings in Ukraine, in Germany, etc. Or the Americans in the nuking of two cities,or the fire bombing in Dresden etc.

The reality is that Germany killed far less people than the Allies did, in fact the Soviet Union killed more people before WW2 started in Eastern Europe than Hitler was responsible for.

The only thing that makes Germany special is that somehow they have inherited a guilt for a crime they, nor their parents committed.

[aaaaa895]

@ForImperium

i agree with you

[EvilsOfFeminism]

@ForImperium You sure said it. The censorship and brainwashing of my German relatives into a slow genocide, death and permanent destruction is absolute horse shit, and it is time that more people called out the "Holocaust" in Russia in 1921, Russia in 1909, Poland in 1919, Romania in 1919, Ukraine in 1919, and then the magical Sixth Claim of Six * 10 ^ 6 Jews. 6 million Jews/Hexs/Curses = 6 6 6. Germans have been enslaved to Babylon for far too long!

[toothfareie]

@ForImperium the soviet union killed more people because they were in a CIVIL WAR, and the deaths were counted during WW2 for the death toll because that hadn't withdrawn from the war.

[ForImperium]

Political groups killing civilians is not a civil war.

Was the Holocaust a civil war?

[bimini121663]

@ForImperium You show a lack of respct for what the Americans did for Europe. The English ran most of the stradegy of bombing. The Americans simply did what they were ordered to do. The English bombed by night the Americans by day. The Riussians were not at all interested in a free Germany. If America was not in Germany in the end Russia would have killed and tunred Europe into a large prison( East Germany style)

[ForImperium]

Lack of respect?

You Americans help fund two world wars, made billions of dollars; your Government was then and continues to remain under the yolk of warmongers .Even after WW2 you sought a nuclear conflict that risked the rest of the world simply because you funded and created the beast that was the Soviet union. As you did with Iran, Al-qaeda, and as you are doing now with the future Libyan terrorist state.

American banks funded the Communist revolt, you create enemies because war is profit.

[bimini121663]

@ForImperium My grandfather was German/American. American sent him to Germany becuase he was a steel expert in America. They asked him to help rebuild Germany in ww2. Gulf wars: not a single drop of oil was taken by America. The wars cost America 800 billion per yr. It comes out of taxes. No mineral rights were given to Americans as of yet. The banks have nothign to do with this.

Are you an uneducated German? ( I have German relatives so I know one when I see it)

[ForImperium]

Destroying then rebuilding nations is where most of the money is made. KBR, Halliburton, etc, and the cost of munitions are vast considering most contracts are awarded to those who lobby incumbent administration. They don't need energy or oil deposits, they just need to control who holds these. The irony of an American calling one a fool is not lost of me; I am in fact a Russian.

Why do you think President Eisenhower last address warned of the Industrial Military Complex manipulation to wars?

[bimini121663]

@ForImperium You again show a lack of understanding of history. Yes, I have been to Russia and have talked this over many times with Russians. Even Russians I know say we stopped Nazi of the entrie hemisphere. Would it be a good idea for Nazi Germany to rule today over Russia,Europe and sooner or later America. Why do you think Americans start wars? No they finish them. They solve problems. Amercians would rather buy cell phones than tanks dude. .

[ForImperium]

They finish them? Look at Korea, Iraq, South America, they still continue. Your Government starts wars then withdraws. They only stay if there is a geopolitical interest. Also it was the Red Army which caused most of the Heer casualties, Americans lost 418,500, we lost 23,400,000. You can't even begin to compare.

War does not solve problems brother, it just creates them.

FYI I mean your Govt, not the people, I love Americans just not your leaders.

Perhaps agree to disagree, brother?

[bimini121663]

@ForImperium I like your ideas. I will try and think about it. I liked debating with you. I think we both have to realize that if America would have not got involved in ww2 or Korea, or the Gulf wars..you name it-what would the world be like? If communist china were in our seat? Hey Americans want people to be safe, and sound. I wonder if what the world would be like without us? better or worse? Not sure. I think if we pull back Iran will take over the middle east. China will take over?

[icepincess]

@ForImperium the germans started both world wars. They deserve their guilt. I agree with you though that Stalin was waaayyyyy worse and killed more people than Hitler! Its just that hitler was the most publicised and just a nutcase. The Allies and Germany were all murderers. Everyone has to hold their share of shame. But the germans arent innocent when it comes to the war

[ForImperium]

By Germans I am referring to their descendants whom are displayed here.

The Germans today did nothing, they should feel no more guilt then you or I, ie none.

No one's hands were clean from that war, we should learn that as humanity peace is the way, but to feel guilt for a war that you nor your parents fought is just stupidity and in some respects counterproductive in establishing peace.

[wissenschaftler400]

@ForImperium For mass killings in Ukraine you should ask Soviets, not Russians.

[ForImperium]

Ask the Soviets not the us Russians about the mass killings in Ukraine? I agree.

Ask the National Socialists not the Germans about the Holocaust.

These children did NOTHING, their parents did nothing, chances are even most of their grandparents did nothing but fight to defend their country when England, France and the United States respectively declared war upon them in 39 and 42.

History is written by the victors my friends, the Germans lost the war, not their dignity.

[TheAndroid86]

@ForImperium Thank You for these true words !!!!

Ich liebe America UND ich liebe Deutschland

both are great countries with great people

peace

a german

[Renagade1325]

@ForImperium This is not a joke. Germany killed 10 million innocent people. 60% were Jewish, much less than you would think. Japan killed another 10 million, mainly Chinese. Not only were these people murdered, they were brutally murdered. They were put into ovens, hung, decapatated, buried alive, starved to death, and much more.

Hiroshima, Nakasaki, Dresden was estimated .75 million deaths MAX, not all civilian either. Ill agree with the Russia bit, but the US was honestly really good.

[ForImperium]

They killed 12 million, half of which were Jewish. Secondly, Americans killed an equal amount of civilians by mass bombing on Germany and her allies. The nuking of two civilian populated cities illustrates such. Even post war, 1 million German POWs disappeared in allied work camps, particularly in Russian and France where they were used as slaves essentially in mine disposal.

Americans were good? Americans were never good. Two words my friend.

Native Americans, nuff said.

[Renagade1325]

@ForImperium Are you retarded? "Americans killed an equal amount of civilians"? Less than 200,000 people died in BOTH nukes.

German POWs were treated extremely well by the Americans. They ate more food and were treated better as POWs than as regular soldiers. They gained weight. Then the US rebuilt Germany with the Marshal Plan. Read a fucking book.

Atleast Native Americans werent tortured to death. 90% died because of European diseases. Completely different subject btw.

[ForImperium]

200 000 with two bombs, that's not much is it? You fail to see that the US dropped more than two bombs during the entire war, you should recognize that millions died in the 44 bombing campaigns, a total of 8 million.

Look up the "other losses". Why do you think the US invented the Disarmed Enemy Forces to deviate from Prisoner of War status?

Ohh so why did they have to rebuild Germany? Ie they bombed the shit out of it.

At least Native Americans werent tortured to death? Wow, nice logic there

[Renagade1325]

@ForImperium Youre an idiot. First of all, no country has ever rebuilt another country after a war, EVER. Secondly, the United States didn't start the war.

You fail to realize that the two bombs I am talking about were nuclear bombs, and yes only two were dropped.

The Disarmed Enemy Forces was created because all the Germans were surrendering to the US. They didn't want to Russia to capture them because obviously they would be treated better by US. They were still treated extremely well.

[ForImperium]

This entire dialogue is rather superfluous, you refuse to admit that your nation can do any wrong. No country has ever rebuilt another country after a war? I'd say history says otherwise, look at Hispania, North Africa, even modern days it's common for conquers to rebuild nations, ie the expansion of the Reich in the east, Soviets in Afghanistan etc. America was and still remains a conqueror who still occupies Germany today and curses her people with guilt for a war that they never lost.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 "You fail to realize that the two bombs I am talking about were nuclear bombs, and yes only two were dropped."

Do you feel Japan should be thankful you just dropped 2? Japan was a test site. 2 different bombs were tested and you could examine every aspect of the outcome afterwards.

[Renagade1325]

@zorax15 Japan didn't surrender the first time, its as if they were asking for a second.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 Japan was about to surrnder even before the first bomb. Listen what Eisenhower said about the situation. It was a demonstartion of might at the beginning of the cold war and therefore mass murder.

[Renagade1325]

@zorax15 Japanese people aren't like that... at all. They would fight to the last man standing. Ever hear of Seppeku or Bushido? Honor is everything to the Japanese. They are an extremely tenacious people. In my opinion, the nukes were necessary, especially when you take into account all the war crimes they put forth.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 tell me how people can fight when they have nothing to eat. When they act like you say then theere was no need to stop the fighting after the nukes. Fact is that Eisenhower was aginst dropping the bomb because he thought it was not neccessary but Trueman did it anyway. The Russians were about to invade Japan and the US didn't want Russia to have any influence after the war in Japan, so Trueman told Stalin to wait after Potsdam, US dropped the bomb, USSR declared war

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 on Japan and Japan surrendered. Nuclear bomb was not neccessary to win the war just a tool in the new cold war.

Your last sentence when you stated the nuke was justified because the Japanese committed war crimes is a farce. If this is your opinion I wish your country another 9/11 in every major city because the nation that committed the most crimes against humanity in the past decades is the USA. Educate yourself about the US crimes you selfrightous bitch.

[Renagade1325]

@zorax15 Do you know how many countries would starve without food from the US? Please, educate yourself. The US war crimes are miniscule compared to almost every country that has ever existed. If you are one of those idiots who claims that the US is an empire, take into account how nice of an Empire we really are.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 oh my god. first: what is the connection between your essay and the dropping of the nuclear bomb. The reason for my last post was to suggest you to step off your high horse and judge other countries on the same standards as your own. And you are nowhere better in this matter than other countries are. In fact your congress just passed the NDAA which manifests the cut on human rights under Bush as legal activities. The Bush gov. totally undermined the UN forever etc.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 The US government passed a law that US citizens are not to be jugded in the Hague and furthermore threatened the world with military force if people would try. At the same time your country declares war on other countries on behalf of human rights and justice. Fucking hypocrites.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 I don't think the USA is an empire. I'm not dumb. I think, however, you are too biased to understand the foreign countries concerns towards the US actions in the world. Because it is not your country alone that will suffer from the blowbacks that are caused by all the idiotic decisions in Washington but all the western countries together with the USA.

[zorax15]

@Renagade1325 And it is absurd when US citizens explain why it is justified for the US to do things that they blame other countries on. So please stop to make a fool of yourself by stating you are allowed to violate human rights and commit war crimes just because you send food to Africa and Asia when some of the poverty was caused by US actions.

[MisantrophSK]

@Renagade1325 true, they were mostly shot immediately. do you think it takes any longer to die from gas?

[manop98]

@ForImperium those two bombs were necessary. and if germany had possesion of such wepons do you think they would have hesistated for a second to use them?

[ForImperium]

No they were not necessary, bombing civilian cities is never so. Yes Germany would have certainly done the same, but that's my point, the US is no better than Germany, nor were us Russians, or the English. Yet the Germans must have a guilt complex.

[manop98]

@ForImperium do you think the american public would have stood for one million deaths of G.I.'s on the mainland of japan? and more civ's would have been killed anyway because the entire populace would have fought back. meanwhile the russians were sweeping through manchuria and eventually had plans to invade japan and turn it into a communist state that would have been unacceptable. the americans during ww2 killedd wayy less civs than the germans, and the reasons they did were to help win the war

[ForImperium]

Rationalise the nuking two civilian cities, sure.

The reality exists that they did not surrender after the detonation of those two bombs, only when we started to advance from the North did they concede to the Americans.

Per capita the Americans killed more civilians than the Germans did, even if one factors in the Holocaust, we bombed Germany to the stone age, you can't even conceive that doing so would not wipe out most of the population of the cities.

US is as bad as everyone, no better.

[Renagade1325]

@ForImperium First of all, youre giving Russia way too much credit for the surrendering of Japan. Secondly, Russia did not rebuild afghanistan. It is still a complete shithole and most likely always will be. You also forgot to mention that before Russia left, they planted all sorts off landmines everywhere. Many of them very active today. And who do these landmines kill? Civilians. Get off your high horse. Russia is one of the most corrupt countries on the planet, even today.

[ForImperium]

High horse? When did I say Russia had a good ethical govt?

Also you're confusing Russia and the Soviet Union, but yes you are completely correct that today Russia is a very corrupt nation. I will admit that, it seems that Americans fail to do so with their nation and refuse to acknowledge such.

I am not giving too much credit, the Japanese were. Although the USSR were the largest Allied power so they had good reason to do so.

[Renagade1325]

@ForImperium Russia did a lot in WWII, ill admit it. But without the lend-lease act Russia would have been screwed. They didnt have enough supplies to support their armies so, the economic powerhouse that the US is, supplied all of the allies into winning the war. Russia simply didnt give a shit about its people and that is why millions of them died. Russia also would have never moved multiple divisions of soldiers to fight Germany, had the US not been fighting Japan.

[manop98]

@ForImperium if america did not drop those bombs japan would NOT have surrenderd. america DID NOT commit mass genocide like the germans or kill 20 million of there own people like stalin. america couldnt let japan fall to communism and thats why the bombs were dropped so quickly to not let the russians invade there (which the japs would have let them) also earlier in the war the majority of the allied bombing campaigns were by britsh pilots not americans.

[Kaapo73]

@manop98 You have such strong views on the righteousness of the USA actions. Has it always been helping the suffering and weak people or is this some new stuff I've never heard of?

[manop98]

@Kaapo73 look at POW camps where the german soldiers were kept! they were magnificent! look at how america treated the germans in west germany after the war versus how the russians did.

[charlieiscool1000]

@Kaapo73 How awkward the questions that the American students are asking are just plain ignorant and somewhat rude they could have at least done some research and know that in Germany its illegal to even do the Nazi salute amoung many other things and there isn't a large Jewish community in Germany anymore and as for the question about does WW2 still affect german lives today of course it does but the country has moved on and changed a lot since then that was over 65 years ago people.

[ForImperium]

I agree with some of your sentiment, my point was that no one was the good guys. Sure the US was "lesser evil" but they still did alot of evil perhaps. Also the statement, "america DID NOT commit mass genocide like the germans or kill 20 million of there own people like stalin" is rather funny considering America had already done such to the natives. I do agree with your original suggestion that US had it hand forced perhaps but still, to state they were morally absolved is rather naive.

[manop98]

@ForImperium well of course they weren't "morally absolved". when wars are fought no one is morally absolved but just because you can make a blurry connection between killing millions of people and the nearly forced bombing of a few cities doesn't mean that americas intentions were as bad as everybody elses.In the early stages of american colonization taking the natives land was justified by the church which i am against being an athiest. later the gov was pressured by settlers in the west.

[iamaCD]

@manop98 I think what Germans like to point out is that they're not the only country with a bad history. The situation of the Blacks in the US was nearly as bad as it was for the Jewish in Germany in the beginning. Of course they weren't put into camps, but you have to admit that America has done a few things that weren't human as well.

Germans are aware of their guilt. No country that has ever tried to deal with their past as much as Germany. They hate it when others don't see that.

[grrrdrrr]

@ForImperium no one was the good guys? Well greetings from poland 

[zorax15]

@manop98 You are wrong there buddy. Eisenhower stated that he had advised Rosewelt to not use the nuclear bomb on Japan, since the Japanese had indicated to surrender. It was Rosevelt wanted to drop the bomb anyway to show the Russians waht the US is capable of. It was a political not a neccessary decision.

[manop98]

@ForImperium you obviously don't understand americas situation in the paccific. if we didnt drop those bombs we would have had to invade japan and take over a million deaths. also the russians were soming through china and wanted to invade japan and impose communism so shut the fuck up. stalin was the worst but the japanese and germans werent far behind. do you know how many chinese people the japenese killed?

[MisantrophSK]

@manop98 that are just stupid suggestions, noone knows what would have happened when the us would have invaded japan. but we know what would have happened if they would not have nuked japan: probably over a million less causalities.

not counting the ones in germany who burnt and etc... but its nothing new that the us military is killing civilians on purpose.

[manop98]

@MisantrophSK what the fuck are you talking about?? america based the projections off of there invasions of islands prior to japan in which small amounts of japanese soldiers killed tens of thousands of U.S. troops and were a huge pain in the ass. also the russians clearly had there eye on japan they got very close to it. japan was a fortress and every civillian would have fought the u.s. troops so more of them would have died. shut the fuck up you dont know what you are talking about.

[AryanPersianProdigy]

@ForImperium Yes, these questions aren't even relevant to German culture, schools, lifestyle, etc. Their questions primarily focus on events that occurred during the 1930-1940s...too much focus on the holocaust. This fascination and obsession people have with the Holocaust is startling. Yes it happened, yet it was terrible, but we have progressed significantly since that time period and Germany is a very progressive, formidable..largest national economy in Europe.

[groove420]

It seems none of these kids have a clue about the Treaty of Versailles and the effects it had on Germany regarding the second war.

This treaty put Germany's proverbial back to the wall, and broke its economy pre-ww2. In times of recession, War creates jobs. The spoils of War help fill the pocketbook too. The oil wars in Iraq and Libya draw a parallel.

Today's German kids shouldn't have to pay for their grandfather's mistakes. Germany must move on from its "war-guilt", it's too expensive.

[aaaaa895]

I lived and worked in Germany for 5 years. One thing I can only say about Germany and about German people. It is the best country in the world, and the best people in the whole world. I wish I could go back to Germany again.

[StupidNamexX]

Thats awful... You can really see how bad the students of other countries are clarified about the second world war. No wonder that we still have to fight against prejudices... additionally is racism something you can't blame on one country because it is everywhere. thats unfortunately a fact but we can prevent a new war. And now in the end I'll say something provocative. :D Oddly, the world needed a Hitler so that the time of imperialism could end. Think about it! ;P the world really is strange

[66xXDeathIsNearXx66]

These kids are fucking retarded. Jesus where do they get their information from; fucking pre-school? Of course they study the Holocaust and WW2 in general, it's such a major event in the German history. And that fucking dumbass kid who said did World War II portray positively or negatively towards the U.S. My god, I bet the German students felt horrible after answering those stupid questions.

[poolopis01]

@GameInformerEmployee You hate us for hating your country for its murderous history. 11 million baked in ovens. Your country is disgusting.

[XDrakeX1]

@poolopis01

murderous history? XD

ehm do you americans even know your own history? you americans killed much more people than hitler did. just think about the indians....

[9enine9]

@poolopis01

Nobody acutally hates you or your country. It's neither your fault what happened to Indians, African-Americans or whomever when you weren't alive nor is it the German youths fault what happened in WWII. But it's your and our challange to let it never happen again.

So why not start with being a little more open minded? Germany isn't a disgusting country, it's acutally pretty nice there and Germans really try hard to make sure the third Reich never happens again!

[PemuMaxx]

Did he just say Hitler was smart?

[freakyflow]

@PemuMaxx sure he did .. and he was right think about it ..if you know hitler before he came into power he failed and many things But he started from nothing and look how many followed him unknowing what the future had instore for them. If you had no job no money no food and someone promised you a job feed you and your family after 3 years of bullshit would you follow him not knowing ww2 was starting? sure you would ..thus i give you hitler

[DonaldWMose]

@PemuMaxx hitler was smart but he used his abilities for evil. if you grew up in third reich he would be your idol. if you grew up anywhere else than he would be evil. see there is no good and evil really. there are only perspectives. i believe hitler was smart but evil. he rallied a group of oppressed peoples and almost conquered the world. that was a great accomplishment. but hitler was too ambitious and power eventually corrupted him. he used that power for evil and lost the war.

[inotaishu1]

@DonaldWMose I think you forget that Hitler had many people behind him, but they weren't as visible. Hitler had no real concept of strategy and had many mental issues, especially towards the end of his life. He knew how to present himself but he was not a capable head of state.

[xxxToomy07]

Jeez, still going on about WW2.

[globetrotter0580]

@ih8makinusernames

And don´t make the mistake to reduce german history only to the "evil 12 years" from 33 to 45! We have such a rich history beyond this darker period... at least 1000 years of history. Germany was also home of one of the most regarded scientists, musicians, poets and inventors....!!

[aaaaa895]

@globetrotter0580

I am totally agree with you. I lived in Germany for 5 years, and I have to admit it was the best country in the world that I have ever lived.

[MsGnorts]

@ih8makinusernames do you think Hitler's moustache was for real? l0l

Indeed so many questions are dumb. I agree.

[aaaaa895]

@reklamedamereloaded

I have totally agree with you.

[reklamedamereloaded]

@aaaaa895 Actually, every German student learns A LOT about WWII in school. When you grow up here, people tell you about all the bad things our ancestors did and it is very important to transport to the young people that something like the holocaust must never happen again. I think that is what makes Germany one of the most liberal countries today. F. ex. We have a female chancellor, a gay foreign secretary and a business secretary who was born in Vietnam – and I am proud of that.

[aaaaa895]

@reklamedamereloaded

i know it, since I worked in Germany for many years as a scientist. You can not imagine how I want to go back to Germany. God bless Germany and you too.

Ich liebe Deutschland.

[YouNoobxD94]

@aaaaa895 *Daumen hoch*

[llothar68]

@reklamedamereloaded

Being proud of Rössner and Westerwelle? You must be the only one.

[reklamedamereloaded]

@llothar68 I'm not Proud about those people in particular - but I am proud of the fact that Germans accept gays, immigrants, women and disabled people to take an important role in our government. And I guess - I'm not the only one who thinks that way...

[inotaishu1]

@reklamedamereloaded I am not sure whether Roesler really counts as anything but German. Sure he was born in vietnam but was adopted when not even a year old and grew up and lives hear. So that h was born in Vietnam probably isn't really an important statement. I think he doesn't even count as having a "migration background"

[reklamedamereloaded]

@inotaishu1 Your are right - to ME Roesler is German - but some people still focus on the Vietnamese background. I think it's great that his "foreign looks" seems to be no problem in our German democracy. I know quite a few countries, where that would be a huge problem - unfortunately...

[inotaishu1]

@reklamedamereloaded Well he doesn't look that foreign, lets face it, who would still notice anything if his eyes would be rounder.

Anyway, it also might be that his looks aren't a problem because its not the "right" looks. I mean in all this debate on Turks in Germany does anybody ever mention Nazan Eckes or Guelcan as problems? Or even Turks? Well clearly not, maybe because they look pretty "German".

[crazybubbles18]

that is so cool! :D i wish my school could do that! :) but not only with history, other classes as well!