Question about description of German's in WW2?

[Pongo]

I am not..I am trying to get you to make a defininite statement on the issue so Its worth my time to track down a rubuttle.

[AKIron]

A likely factor that made it easier to vilify the Nazis, rather than the Germans, was the fact that a large number of Americans were of German descent.

[GRUNHERZ]

Originally posted by AKIron
A likely factor that made it easier to vilify the Nazis, rather than the Germans, was the fact that a large number of Americans were of German descent.

Possibly, but what about WW1?  The demographics for german americans prolly not change too much in comparsion to all other groups between ww1 and ww2. The only reason I could imagine that would be a factor is the much much greater size of ww2 enlistments vs ww1.

[AKIron]

Originally posted by GRUNHERZ
Possibly, but what about WW1?  The demographics for german americans prolly not change too much in comparsion to all other groups between ww1 and ww2. The only reason I could imagine that would be a factor is the much much greater size of ww2 enlistments vs ww1.

There were no Nazi's in WWI.  

[-tronski-]

Originally posted by AKIron
A likely factor that made it easier to vilify the Nazis, rather than the Germans, was the fact that a large number of Americans were of German descent.

I think it was because it was easier to vilify a well known easily identifiable enemy like Hitler/Goebbels than perhaps try to demonise lesser known Japanese leaders (except perhaps Tojo)

 Tronsky

[Replicant]

Thanks for the replies, but it still hasn't really answered my original question.

What I'm more interested in is how German's are described in WW2 from the German perspective today.  I know that many German's weren't Nazi's and they were simply fighting for their country.  It was the 'Enemy of the Gates' advert that made me think on broader terms saying that it was against the "Nazi's".  Is this a way of classing all good/bad things about the German war machine during WW2 as Nazi's?

[Ping]

Lets put it this way.
I have no guilt about what happened during the 30's and 40's.
I wasn't there. I did not participate in what happened and I will not hold it against myself or others not there for what my ancestors committed against others. Just as many here will not hold themselves responsible for what happened to the N. American Indians in the 17 and 1800's.
 I do however try to be sensitive to others who have lost friends or family during this time.
 I also do not excuse what those responsible had commited and believe that anyone who had commited war crimes or genocide should be tried irregardless of age or time passed.

[lucull]

There are very few german war films in difference to the english or american films from the 60s. So, there is not much to refer.

The impression that I have about this is, that there is always made a difference between the Nazis (active party members, politicians), the para-military groups (for example SA) , the SS/Totenkopf-SS and the Wehrmacht.
It's the difference between the mass murders, the people giving the orders, the people following the orders and the people closing their eyes.
We have an exhibition about the warcrimes of the Wehrmacht and it's discussed very active and controverse. Which country makes an exhibitions about their warcrimes and send it through the whole country?!

I never saw a glorification of mass murders and Nazis in the media. People would get punished and send to prison. We definetly not deny what happened,   but after 60 years it's hard for mostly the young people to feel guilty for something that even their parents didn't experience themselves.

If you have foreigners visiting and they talk to germans and how they feel about WW2, Nazis, Jewish, ...  they are mostly impressed by the way how germans are still arguing about it and feel guilty about what happened 60 years ago.
Any one (politician, writer, ...)  that asks in public for a "normalization" and a "looking forward" attitude are brandmarked and big public discussions start to nip it in the bud and anyone who supports them.

It's the germans themself that let them not forget what happened in the third Reich 1933-1945.

[Replicant]

Originally posted by lucull
There are very few german war films in difference to the english or american films from the 60s. So, there is not much to refer.

The impression that I have about this is, that there is always made a difference between the Nazis (active party members, politicians), the para-military groups (for example SA) , the SS/Totenkopf-SS and the Wehrmacht.
It's the difference between the mass murders, the people giving the orders, the people following the orders and the people closing their eyes.
We have an exhibition about the warcrimes of the Wehrmacht and it's discussed very active and controverse. Which country makes an exhibitions about their warcrimes and send it through the whole country?!

I never saw a glorification of mass murders and Nazis in the media. People would get punished and send to prison. We definetly not deny what happened,   but after 60 years it's hard for mostly the young people to feel guilty for something that even their parents didn't experience themselves.

If you have foreigners visiting and they talk to germans and how they feel about WW2, Nazis, Jewish, ...  they are mostly impressed by the way how germans are still arguing about it and feel guilty about what happened 60 years ago.
Any one (politician, writer, ...)  that asks in public for a "normalization" and a "looking forward" attitude are brandmarked and big public discussions start to nip it in the bud and anyone who supports them.

It's the germans themself that let them not forget what happened in the third Reich 1933-1945.

Thank you Lucall, that's what I was mostly looking for.  As I mentioned before, I was mostly surprised how the TV company advertised the film 'versus the Nazis', because not all German's were Nazi's.  

My interpretation was that it was advertised 'versus the Nazis' so that people shouldn't be embarrassed to watch it; it was 'Nazis' and not German's, in a way to distance itself from the past, but also one to remind of what actually happened under Nazi rule.

I understand and respect that people shouldn't live in the past.  Of course we can learn from our mistakes, each country makes them, but it is very important to move on and ensure such things never happen again.