What Germans 🇩🇪 think about the Holocaust.

Over 7 weeks ago , I went to the Büchenwald Concentration Camp Memorial with YFU CBYX.
In this video, I explained my experience when I was walking through the camp and the museum. I also explained what Germans think of their past history & holocaust.

Currently I'm staying in a tiny village called Eichenreid in Bavaria.

Hope you guys learned something from my video, next video will come out sooner.

[wora]

That was absolutely not what I expected an exchange student to report about. Congratulations for a job well done.

[kisoschu]

So about the "feeling guilty" part: We(the people nowadays) don't really feel guilty about what happened bc it's not our fault. We weren't alive back then but born after that. BUT we do feel responsible in the sense of: It's not our fault what happened but it's our responsibility to teach about it, don't forget about it and with that it's our job to not let that happened again. That's why in history class we usually don't learn about the troups stationary location and when we fought in which areas. Instead we learn about how it was possible to let that happen in the society aspect and the economic and political context.

[maraboo]

I want to add 2 things from my perspective.
1. I am German and I do not feel guilty about things that happened long before I was born. Knowing about the past is important to be avoid that it happens again and to avoid to make you guilty for doing nothing against facsism.
2. Talking about holocaust is very often talking about the Jewish victims only. But that is not enough. There were so many other victims as socialists, unionists, gay, communists, sinti, roma... . The list goes on and they should not be forgotten beside the Jewish victims. Fascists are enemies of everybody else. So it is not only a thing to be against them for moral reasons but it is also an act of self defense. I think that should be pointed out much more.

[sleepy]

I also went to Buchenwald with the school as a teenager. It's one thing to read about the subject in books and watch films and something completely different to actually be there. For us it was quite challenging to face it as the disturbing emotions slowly creep up when your losing the distance to the events.

[kisoschu]

I'm not talking for all germans but my personal opinion about German patriotism is that we might seem as we wouldn't be patriotic but really we are just showing it in a more subtle way. So from what I saw about the USA you guys are more the public patriotism type by waving your flag more openly on cars, front yards, hats etc. We germans show our patriotism by following the rules on one hand but also thru openly demonstrate and criticizing/complaining about rules a lot to help get the conversation started and participating in shaping and improving the path of your country. So criticizing your own country is better welcomed/seen in Germany than in the USA (at least that's what I heard from Hailey, a US american youtouber living in Germany.)

[blondkatze]

I think it`s very good that the Holocaust is taught as compulsory history in the 8/9 th grade at all school in Germany .You learn a lot about your German history, this also included seeing a film about a KZ which was very sad for me personally and it was hard to see these pictures. As a grown woman, i had visited the Bergen-Belsen KZ to see all these mass graves it breaks your heart.That`s why such a crime must never happen again.💞🙏

[hape]

I've just discovered your channel and instantly subscribed, of course. Much respect for your thoughtful handling of the most difficult theme for a video I can imagine. You already are a very decent and humane young man with your 16 years – at least that's my impression. I have no doubt you'll grow into a great adult who will live his life to the fullest and has much to contribute to society.

[Mtti]

I think it is important that every german student goes and visits these memorials and the places were it actually happened. Its mandetory for every german student at one point in their life. Thats important. Iam 35 right now my grandfatehr was born in 1911. He lived through both wars and coudl give me a personal viewpoint on how things went bad and how he did his time fighting on the eastern front and on the western front afterwards as a Stalingrad veteran. From a drafted mans perspective there was no glory and only horror he saw. He cried a lot. Now that the people that lived during that period die and you have less time witnesses its important than ever to show what evil can do and never let it happen again. There is a hug shame on every germans head and we can be thankful that other countries helpes us to get back on the right thrack. We got to nevertheless show everybody that come here the ugly side and then show the step we took or evolved. Never forget and never repeat is the right way to go. Hidinig our horro from the world would be hypocritical. SO Its important for everybod that visits to also see the evil that was here and then embrace the new.

[arnodobler]

This is why a student exchange is so important

[dharmachile]

I’m sure you have your hands full, so upload a vid when you can. We’ll be here. Thank You!

[bighikes]

about a dozen of my family dutch Jewish family members on my paternal grandmother's side died in the camps... most in Auschwitz. I really hope to make a visit there someday. Great video.

[Kivas_Fajo]

I've been to Bergen-Belsen and just walking around there in this eery environment with huge mounds with signs in front telling you how many dead there are...was I don't know how to put that in words really, but sufficely to say it was very unpleasant.