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To: dybdahl who wrote (62021)	3/15/2010 5:31:02 PM
From: KyrosL	2 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217868

German occupation of northern European countries in WWII was different than that of Eastern European and Balkan countries. For example, in Greece, more than 10% of the population perished: 70,000 Jews and more than 700,000 non-Jews. So the suffering was much greater than Denmark. Most Greek families have at least one uncle, parent, or grandparent that perished during the German occupation. In my case, an uncle and both grandfathers. So, I am not surprised that for a number of Greek politicians in their sixties or late fifties, the German occupation is still "fresh" in their minds, even though they did not experience it themselves.

To: dybdahl who wrote (62021)	3/15/2010 7:13:58 PM
From: RJA_	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217868

>>One important story that is often forgotten, is that Denmark managed to get ALL our jews out of the country before the German occupational force could find them and arrest them. All of them. Not forgotten. And in contrast to Norway, which lost half its Jews, although there was some warning. The underground in Norway did help some, in getting about 1/2 to Sweeden, but parts of the police were collaborating and the other half were lost.

To: dybdahl who wrote (62021)	3/16/2010 1:13:44 AM
From: critical_mass	2 Recommendations Respond to of 217868

With regard to the current crises, Germans have fallen trap to the flattery of being called "export champ" without an understanding of how and why that came to be. The Eurosceptics have been ranting for what seems like years that the initial exchange rates in the Eurozone undervalued the DM while overvaluing currencies in Italy and Spain, for example, thus making it easier for Germans to export to those countries. The reduction in interest rates back in 2003 was counterproductive for economies like Italy and Spain accustomed to much higher rates. Unsurprisingly, the low rates increased the amount of debt. Politically, it was feasible to reduce rates in order to get the "engine" of the EU, Germany, running again. The portrayal of Germans as Nazis as well as the Focus cover with an ancient Greek statue giving the EU "the finger" is merely populist bickering and provides a convenient diversion from addressing fundamental problems with the Euro and the ECB. Plans to expand the Eurozone to bastions of transparency like Bulgaria have not been completely shut down in the wake of the Greek crisis. If countries meet the requirements, they will still be accepted. The Greeks misrepresented their positions and received assistance from GS in doing so, but it seems difficult to believe that the ECB did not at least suspect that the something was a bit odd. Perhaps they were completely aware and looked the other way due to political pressure? ------------------------------------------------- "Being part of those millions that were forcefully moved after the end of WW2, in ways similar to the turkish genocide against the armenians, where most Germans died." For most Germans today who repeat this story, it is not even noteworthy that Germans were moved from countries like Poland where German soldiers slaughtered millions and Germans planned to slowly reduce the population, keeping only enough people to function as slave laborers. Germans have decided to portray themselves as victims. I wonder how many people outside of Europe know about Erika Steinbach and the Federation of Expellees. en.wikipedia.org If you maps from the 1950-60s, it is absolutely clear that the Oder-Neisse border was never accepted by a significant portion of the German population. Silesia and Pomerania are marked as "German territory occupied by Poland". Major political parties, e.g. CDU and CSU supported this stance. Even today, Angela Merkel and members of her cabinet go to the Expellee gatherings and pay lip service to their claims despite the group's rejection of the finalization of Oder-Neisse and accusations of Nazi leanings. Germans are not really "ashamed" of a lot that was done.

To: dybdahl who wrote (62021)	3/16/2010 1:34:55 AM
From: Snowshoe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 217868

>>"Ah, Fische"<< Another story like that... German sailor who refused to obey Nazi orders to blow up Bordeaux dies aged 91 . . . in France dailymail.co.uk In Bordeaux in 1944 it fell to Sgt. Stahlschmidt - a weapons and demolitions expert - to lead a detachment that defused British sea mines laid to try to stop German vessels from entering the Bay of Biscay. In August of that year the Allies were steamrolling their way through France following the successful June landings in Normandy on D-Day. On August 19 the order came from Berlin to destroy the entire port infrastructure - stretching over seven miles - before retreating. The date was fixed for August 26. Stahlschmidt, ordered to carry out the devastation, struck first on 22 August. A bunker at Rue Raze in the docks was filled with detonators, explosives, plungers, timers and other hardware needed for the spiteful demolition. He destroyed the lot with dynamite. He said years later he was 'sorry' that some German soldiers had died in the mammoth blast that shook practically the whole of Bordeaux. But he added; "My family were Huguenots (protestant Christians) and I acted according to my Christian conscience. I could not accept that the port of Bordeaux be wantonly destroyed when the war was clearly lost,'