FOCUS 2
FOCUS 2 – History
Is it important to study our history?
It is quite literally the most important thing any German should do. The Holocaust remains the most important lesson that as Germans we are responsible for carrying forward and into the future, especially now that so few of the survivors of the Holocaust are still alive. My generation was of course not responsible for the crimes committed by the Nazi regime, but we are responsible for keeping the memory of what was done in the name of our nation alive and present in the minds of everyone in Germany—not only to ensure that this never happens again, but also because nobody else will do it for us. There are of course lots of other parts of German history that are fascinating, like the Thirty Years’ War and the Reformation, or the fact that Germany did not become a unified country until 1871. All of these parts of our history have shaped our present, and to fully understand the country that we live in we need to know our past. —Torben
I believe that in general every country should be aware of its history. Only if a country understands its past, can it improve and move towards a more prosperous future. I believe, however, that Germany is in a somewhat unique position due to its problematic past. I think it is important for every German to be aware of our past and assume historical responsibility. Just because my generation was not yet born during the time of the Third Reich, does not mean there aren’t people alive today that have not been hurt or otherwise directly affected by this part of our history. It is important to acknowledge and respect this pain in order to make sure it never happens again. —Annika In recent times, it seems that many human beings did not learn much from their past. Yet, I think it is crucial to know about German history. Especially, the dark times from 1910 to 1989. —John
It is very essential to study our history in order to understand why certain things happened. In order to comprehend our world and our lives nowadays we have to know about the past. —Melanie
It is always important to have an understanding of a country’s history. We can learn from our past mistakes. At the same time, there is an enhanced importance for us as Germans to make sure that our history will never repeat itself.
Yes, history is always imperative in order to learn from the past. Furthermore, everyone in Germany should understand where we came from to understand where we are heading.
—Benni
—Lenz
GERMANY IN FOCUS
A Transatlantic Outreach Program Instructional text for secondary educators
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