Germany has, of course, a long and complex history – and it’s one we don’t shy away from. Unlike some other nations, perhaps, that’d rather sweep darker moments under the rug, we’ve taken quite a different approach: full confrontation. So if you’ve ever wondered how a country handles a past that includes both world wars, the Holocaust, and a very divided nation – this is your guide.

We remember

History’s everywhere. If you visit Germany, you’ll notice this quite quickly. And it’s not in a “look at our glorious past!” kind of way – more in a “let’s make sure this never happens again” approach. You can see this, for example, in the Stolpersteine (lit. “stumbling stones”), which are small brass plaques embedded in sidewalks all across Europe – 75,000 of them, marking the last known residences of Holocaust victims. Or in our Concentration Camp Memorials – not hidden away or turned into something else. And, of course, the massive Holocaust Memorial in Berlin itself. The goal is, to not ignore history – and we make sure of it.

But it’s not just the Nazi era, it’s the entire post-war history that is still being displayed. Most recently, the division between East and West Germany (1949-1990). We have, for example, still parts of the Berlin Wall standing, covered in murals and reminders of what life was like under communist rule. Or we’ve got the Stasi Museum and the prison in Hohenschönhausen. It’s also quite humbling to walk through former East German places. I grew up in the west, but studied in the east – and [Ostalgie]¹ is still happening.

We’re being taught

We don’t glorify past military achievements. The Nazi era isn’t romanticised in any way and everything related to it (e.g. swastikas or Nazi salutes) are banned – educational contexts excluded. If you’re showing things like these in public, you can and will get arrested and brought to court. We even have a term for all of what we’re doing (of course we do) – which is [Vergangenheitsbewältigung]². It’s an entire philosophy in Germany that focuses on acknowledging and learning from the past.

It’s a big topic in school, naturally, and things are not glossed over or sugar-coated at all. If you grew up with a history book that only dedicated half a page to the Holocaust, prepare for a shock: we’re being taught the topic for years and usually starting around year 9 until we graduate. It’s mandatory for us to visit a concentration camp – I personally visited three during my school time. Everything isa taught in depth, no “bad things happened, but let’s move on” attitude. We dig into details, causes, and consequences. And all the while, critical thinking is encouraged. For example, we are actively being taught to question authority, expose propaganda and fully understand nationalism, to prevent history from repeating itself. Which is also why we, I believe, have some of the strongest anti-fascist movements in the world: If neo-Nazis try to march, they are met with thousands of counter-protesters.

No room for extremism

We have some of the strictest laws against hate speech, Holocaust denial, and Nazi symbols. Unlike countries that claim “free speech” allows for everything, we draw a line. And if you want to know more about the why, I highly recommend looking into the paradox of tolerance, which describes exactly why it’s so important to not tolerate the intolerant. Here’s an easily understandably comic strip – but as I said, I encourage reading a bit further into it!

That being said, some things are outright illegal. Saying the Holocaust didn’t happen? Straight to court. Hate groups are banned, which includes, for example hatred against national, racial or religious groups. Hate speech on the base of someone’s sexual orientation and gender identity is also banned. And the government is actively tracking extremism – political movements that lean too far right are watched real carefully.

Never again

Germany’s far from being a perfect country (well, no country is), but when it comes to acknowledging history, it has taken responsibility in a way few others have and I am thankful for the amount of education and awareness I have gotten during my childhood and adolescence. And it’s not as a form of guilt. I’ve never felt guilty for the atrocities that happened way, way before I was born. It’s more about awareness and action. Ensuring that mistakes of the past are not repeated – and taking responsibility in educating future generations.

No excuses,. no denial, just lessons learned and a commitment to doing better. Because history sure doesn’t just disappear. And Germany makes sure that no one forgets the important lessons it gives.

[Picture by Michael Fousert – thank you!]

1. Die Ostalgie – A portmanteau of “Ost” (east) and “Nostalgie” (nostalgia) – some former East Germans still very fondly remember parts of life before the reunification (e.g. cheaper rent, guaranteed jobs – and the classic Trabant), while others are more reminded of the oppression and lack of freedom. Germany allows room for both perspectives, without ignoring harsher realities. ↩︎
2. Die Vergangenheitsbewältigung – compound word of “Vergangenheit” (past) and “Bewältigung” (coping), and it means coming to terms with the past. ↩︎