Intervention by Reinhold Weismann-Kieser, Deutsche Kommunistische Partei (German Communist Party –DKP)

http://www.dkp.de, mailto:dkp.pv@t-online.de 

On the results of Second World War in the public consciousness and in education in Germany

Since 1990 the official Germany (diplomacy, education) and mainstream mediums have two outstanding items regarding the results of the war of the coalition against the facist Germany and the postwar history:

1.         According to the treaties of 1990 the united Germany had to accept the borders of Poland and Czechia. Therefore it was impossible to prosecute an unmasked revanchist politic. Instead the topic changed to the population transfers according to the Agreement of Potsdam and the Decrees of the President Beneš. Germans as “victims of illegal banishing” moved into the focus of public debates. The crimes committed by Germans in these areas before got out of sight. Just nowadays the “European Center Against Banishing” is a virulent point of dispute in the relations between Germany and Poland.

2.         The most favourite story which is told in government statements, parliament debates, in talk shows, columns of mainstream papers etc. is the story of the two German dictatorships. The Federal Republic as a democracy and the GDR as a state of injustice. The “Stasi” as a monster similar to the GeStaPo. In order to delegitimize the GDR the authors of this story wilfully give an appearance of harmlessness to the crimes of German fascism. The foundation of the FRG by disregarding the Agreement of Potsdam, the Cold War, the rearmament with war criminal officers - there is nothing to find in this story.

The 20th anniversary of the opening of Berlin Wall gave many opportunities to feature the “legend of the peaceful revolution” in the GDR. These commemorations came at the right time on the climax of the worldwide financial crisis, to give legitimating to the free market economy.

Education is in the responsibility of the countries of the FRG. In their parliaments there are resolutions, to implement such topics into the lessons of schools.