Facing up to Germany's past, or a homage to Hitler?
|
Monday, 1 Jan. 2011
|18:06 - 19:00 GMT
We’re in Berlin, setting up for Monday’s programme which comes from the ‘Hitler and the Germans’ exhibition at the German History Museum, just opposite the Brandenburg Gate. Such an exhibition, in such a place, could not escape criticism and controversy. Before its opening in October some warned it would become a shrine for neo-Nazis. Others accused museum authorities of seeking to glorify a tyrant.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
18:57
113631290
That''s all for WHYS today. Tomorrow we''re going to be talking to controversial German banker Thilo Sarrazin - who wrote a best-selling book outlining why he thinks immigration has damaged his country. See you then.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:54
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James on Facebook - It is not unusual in human history that the German people accepted Hitler. The influence of religion on Western development has made most of us sheep
Comment sent via BLOG
18:47
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Steve55 on the blog - don't forget the strong feelings against the perceived sense of loss and injustice felt by many people in Germany as the result of their defeat during WWI. It is often said that WWII was really the continuation of WWI.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:47
113631290
Henry on the blog - We can't hide the history, good or bad, to the next generation. What we have to do is to convey to the next generation the reality and also convey the awareness of that reality.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:39
113631290
Thabale on Facebook - Nearly every1 knows the kind of person Hitler was, there4, the less talk about him the better bcoz he alone dented the image of a nation which most people associate with nazi's or racism.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:39
113631290
Pancha Chandra on the blog - While Hitler was hated for his tyranical powers, he was admired for his leadership qualities which inspired awe. Awe-inspiring leaders often mesmerise their citizens or subordinates into positive action
Comment sent via BLOG
18:39
113631290
Inglenda 2 on the blog - Anybody who takes the trouble to read newspapers from the 1920/30s will soon notice how modern day historical presentations differ from the facts (or possibly fictions), published at the time.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:39
113631290
Jennifer on the blog - I have a very hard time attributing murder to madness. However, it's easy to pick on others especially when they are different or being made into a scapegoat.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:38
113631290
Pamela on Facebook - Focusing too much on Hitler risks giving him the illusion of glamour that the foolish associate with those in power.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:34
113631290
Elias on the blog - Its a morbid and disgusting fasination of a terrible & horrifying past that should degrade the present population of Germany, yet the younger generation shold know and realise he was a meglominiac and led Germany on a path of self distruction
Comment sent via SMS
18:32
113994022
What has Tunisians done is realy exiting not for them only but many Arabs and Africans who should carry on the marsh of change via social uprisings.Mohamd-sudan
Comment sent via Facebook
18:25
113631290
Egeonu in Nigeria on Facebook - Tunisians!, you are seen as national heros over here, please don't make us think otherwise
Comment sent via Facebook
18:25
113631290
Onyeka in Abuja, Nigeria on Facebook - Tunisians have sent a clear message, not only to the Arab world but African leaders who are power drunk, to start packing their baggage
Comment sent via Facebook
18:25
113631290
Comrade Nikas on Facebook - When one puppet (Ben Ali) was kicked out (from Tunisia), France has sent another of its puppets (Baby Doc) back home (to Haiti). Sarkozy knows how to manage his puppets!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:24
113631290
Dayvey in Uganda on Facebook - Not a chance that this will be repeated anywhere else. The Tunisian society is a unique one.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:24
113631290
Tom on Facebook - A guy that was into power failed to maintain control. He ran. There is nothing more to it than that.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:22
113631290
Patrick in Malawi on Facebook - it is imperative to ensure that those belonging to Ben Ali's political school of thought should not be given a place.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:22
113631290
Kiprotich in Kenya on Facebook - The unrest in Tunisia to me is something to be encouraged in Africa, because we are finally exposing despots and the sorry state of governance in Africa. I am ready to be part of demonstrations in Kenya.
Comment sent via host
18:22
113631290
We''re now going to move on to look at the Tunisian situation. Should the government include members of the previous regime?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:17
113631290
Gerard in Indonesia on Facebook - I don't understand how an evil monster like Adolf Hitler can be admired by so many people?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:17
113631290
Arthur on Facebook - Hitler is one of the most misrepresented issues in our history. Most of us react from that skewed historical propaganda of the of those bygone and unfortunate times. Everyone was a villain - time to be fair to the Germans as well
Comment sent via Facebook
18:16
113631290
Steve in Bristol on Facebook - I guess Germany are ashamed of their past, did the British Empire have much to be proud of? Maybe we should be ashamed as well but then they do say history is written by the victors...
Comment sent via Facebook
18:16
113631290
Martin in Germany on Facebook - I've lived in Germany for well over 9 years and can assure you that the German's don't hide their past. Does it really matter if you can't see Hitler's face at the exhibition?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:16
113631290
Audrey in Ireland on Facebook - I am sick of hearing about Hitler. The man is dead; there are other monsters still alive. Why are we still hearing about Hitler? Who is keeping this period in the public eye?
Comment sent via BLOG
18:15
113631290
Gary on the blog - An exhibit like this can serve to remind the rest of us that an eloquent and charismatic leader will find followers eager to identify enemies among their neighbors
Comment sent via Facebook
18:15
113631290
James in Worthing on Facebook - Any nation that tries to hide its past is doomed to make the same mistakes.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:15
113631290
JamesIan on the blog - How can we learn from the past if we don't know the whole truth of the past, good and bad.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:14
113631290
Michael in Manhattan on the blog - In the US we have abandoned the teaching of history and our museums, even the Smithsonian, risk the ire of Congress and loss of funding when they attempt to treat any historical topic that anyone might consider "controversial"... From this perspective, it seems to me the German History museum is providing a great service to the people of Germany and the perhaps to the entire world.
Comment sent via host
18:14
113631290
Hello, it''s Ben S here. Two topics on WHYS today. First, does Germany risk making Hitler more potent by limiting exposure to him? Also, as a unity government begins to form in Tunisia, what''s your reaction to the events since Friday when the president fled? We''re live now - listen here:
Facing up to Germany's past, or a homage to Hitler?
| Monday, 1 Jan. 2011 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
We’re in Berlin, setting up for Monday’s programme which comes from the ‘Hitler and the Germans’ exhibition at the German History Museum, just opposite the Brandenburg Gate. Such an exhibition, in such a place, could not escape criticism and controversy. Before its opening in October some warned it would become a shrine for neo-Nazis. Others accused museum authorities of seeking to glorify a tyrant.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
That''s all for WHYS today. Tomorrow we''re going to be talking to controversial German banker Thilo Sarrazin - who wrote a best-selling book outlining why he thinks immigration has damaged his country. See you then.
Comment sent via Facebook
James on Facebook - It is not unusual in human history that the German people accepted Hitler. The influence of religion on Western development has made most of us sheep
Comment sent via BLOG
Steve55 on the blog - don't forget the strong feelings against the perceived sense of loss and injustice felt by many people in Germany as the result of their defeat during WWI. It is often said that WWII was really the continuation of WWI.
Comment sent via BLOG
Henry on the blog - We can't hide the history, good or bad, to the next generation. What we have to do is to convey to the next generation the reality and also convey the awareness of that reality.
Comment sent via Facebook
Thabale on Facebook - Nearly every1 knows the kind of person Hitler was, there4, the less talk about him the better bcoz he alone dented the image of a nation which most people associate with nazi's or racism.
Comment sent via BLOG
Pancha Chandra on the blog - While Hitler was hated for his tyranical powers, he was admired for his leadership qualities which inspired awe. Awe-inspiring leaders often mesmerise their citizens or subordinates into positive action
Comment sent via BLOG
Inglenda 2 on the blog - Anybody who takes the trouble to read newspapers from the 1920/30s will soon notice how modern day historical presentations differ from the facts (or possibly fictions), published at the time.
Comment sent via BLOG
Jennifer on the blog - I have a very hard time attributing murder to madness. However, it's easy to pick on others especially when they are different or being made into a scapegoat.
Comment sent via Facebook
Pamela on Facebook - Focusing too much on Hitler risks giving him the illusion of glamour that the foolish associate with those in power.
Comment sent via BLOG
Elias on the blog - Its a morbid and disgusting fasination of a terrible & horrifying past that should degrade the present population of Germany, yet the younger generation shold know and realise he was a meglominiac and led Germany on a path of self distruction
Comment sent via SMS
What has Tunisians done is realy exiting not for them only but many Arabs and Africans who should carry on the marsh of change via social uprisings.Mohamd-sudan
Comment sent via Facebook
Egeonu in Nigeria on Facebook - Tunisians!, you are seen as national heros over here, please don't make us think otherwise
Comment sent via Facebook
Onyeka in Abuja, Nigeria on Facebook - Tunisians have sent a clear message, not only to the Arab world but African leaders who are power drunk, to start packing their baggage
Comment sent via Facebook
Comrade Nikas on Facebook - When one puppet (Ben Ali) was kicked out (from Tunisia), France has sent another of its puppets (Baby Doc) back home (to Haiti). Sarkozy knows how to manage his puppets!
Comment sent via Facebook
Dayvey in Uganda on Facebook - Not a chance that this will be repeated anywhere else. The Tunisian society is a unique one.
Comment sent via Facebook
Tom on Facebook - A guy that was into power failed to maintain control. He ran. There is nothing more to it than that.
Comment sent via Facebook
Patrick in Malawi on Facebook - it is imperative to ensure that those belonging to Ben Ali's political school of thought should not be given a place.
Comment sent via Facebook
Kiprotich in Kenya on Facebook - The unrest in Tunisia to me is something to be encouraged in Africa, because we are finally exposing despots and the sorry state of governance in Africa. I am ready to be part of demonstrations in Kenya.
Comment sent via host
We''re now going to move on to look at the Tunisian situation. Should the government include members of the previous regime?
Comment sent via Facebook
Gerard in Indonesia on Facebook - I don't understand how an evil monster like Adolf Hitler can be admired by so many people?
Comment sent via Facebook
Arthur on Facebook - Hitler is one of the most misrepresented issues in our history. Most of us react from that skewed historical propaganda of the of those bygone and unfortunate times. Everyone was a villain - time to be fair to the Germans as well
Comment sent via Facebook
Steve in Bristol on Facebook - I guess Germany are ashamed of their past, did the British Empire have much to be proud of? Maybe we should be ashamed as well but then they do say history is written by the victors...
Comment sent via Facebook
Martin in Germany on Facebook - I've lived in Germany for well over 9 years and can assure you that the German's don't hide their past. Does it really matter if you can't see Hitler's face at the exhibition?
Comment sent via Facebook
Audrey in Ireland on Facebook - I am sick of hearing about Hitler. The man is dead; there are other monsters still alive. Why are we still hearing about Hitler? Who is keeping this period in the public eye?
Comment sent via BLOG
Gary on the blog - An exhibit like this can serve to remind the rest of us that an eloquent and charismatic leader will find followers eager to identify enemies among their neighbors
Comment sent via Facebook
James in Worthing on Facebook - Any nation that tries to hide its past is doomed to make the same mistakes.
Comment sent via BLOG
JamesIan on the blog - How can we learn from the past if we don't know the whole truth of the past, good and bad.
Comment sent via BLOG
Michael in Manhattan on the blog - In the US we have abandoned the teaching of history and our museums, even the Smithsonian, risk the ire of Congress and loss of funding when they attempt to treat any historical topic that anyone might consider "controversial"... From this perspective, it seems to me the German History museum is providing a great service to the people of Germany and the perhaps to the entire world.
Comment sent via host
Hello, it''s Ben S here. Two topics on WHYS today. First, does Germany risk making Hitler more potent by limiting exposure to him? Also, as a unity government begins to form in Tunisia, what''s your reaction to the events since Friday when the president fled? We''re live now - listen here: