Dealing with a dark past

The actions of Nazi Germany has left a scar on Germany; of that there is not much doubt. What is interesting, is how Germany has dealt with this past. It has been over 60 years since the end of World War 2, but I think, much of this reconciliation with the past has been more recent.



For example, the holocaust memorial (The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe) is a recent addition, and other memorials of the victims of the Nazi party policies (such as homosexuals) are still in the planning stage.


And it is not only that. Exhibitions such as the Topography of Terror, which documents the Third Reich's rise to power, their brutal methods, all in the grounds of the headquarters of the Nazi security service, is brutal, forceful reminder. But again, it is a fairly recent addition, and started only a few years before the fall of the wall.


It has to be remembered that during WW2, there were also German deaths, and the Neue Wache - the memorial to war and tyranny - is probably the most apt memorial of the victims of war I have ever seen, in any country.

Germany has an important lesson to teach other countries that have come through strife. It is important to note that it has taken a long time for the scarring to heal, and that inclusiveness in remembering the victims is important. This is particularly important for South Africa, where we are building Freedom Park to remember the lives of freedom fighters that fought Apartheid. In the context of Neue Wache, and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, I wonder, if it is really appropriate to inscribe the names of the victims (as in memorials such as the Vietnam War Memorial in the US). Yes, remembrance of names is important, but will we ever get everyone? And yes, like it or not, young 19 year old guys, sent out to enforce apartheid laws are in some ways also victims of apartheid.

Maybe memorials such as the ones discussed in this post are too abstract. Maybe they are too impersonal, too intellectual - and the simplicity of the Vietnam Memorial is more desirable. This will be, and already is, an eternal debate - but healing takes time. But most of all, we must not forget; and hopefully we should recognise the traits, and prevent them happening again. The actions of the Nazi party is eerily similar to that of other dictators, notably Robert Mugabe. If we do not learn from our past, what use is any of this?