Germany Underplays Every War Remembering, Why So?

The memorials might be more than just a thought for prayer, for the world It indeed was a gathering of leaders marking the day as mourning and remembrance of sacrifices in WW1. On German streets in Berlin, it is unmissable the feel of World War still lurking in the shadows. On every pathway, the reminiscences of WW1 do come to hit back. In reality, the ground report looks quite different. When it is about remembering the ghastly war, rarely do people visit the memorials.

Columbiadamm Cemetery in Berlin has 7,000 soldiers lost in the world war. The crosses on the sideways, where they lay are so neatly kept almost unlooked. The management at the cemetery says it’s less about the effort and more about the connection which is seemingly lost with the war itself.

The World Remembers
World War 1 completed its turn of 100 years. Almost everywhere like in Britain, the Armistice day, which is when Germany penned down to the world their surrendering in official terms to the allied powers is remembered in the memory of lost soldiers. As you might have often seen on coats and blazers the pink colour flowers are pinned. These are the flower of Poppies which are pinned as a tribute. Member of the Royal family of Britain lays a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph memorial in London. While in France it’s a national holiday and here the blue cornfield flower takes the stage. The French president as per the tradition has traveled to most of the World War 1 commemorative places and has ended the week in Paris with other international leaders including the United States President. 

In The German World
While here the remembering is rather dull in contrast to their involvement in the world war 1. We can say, that the German way of paying tribute has been rather retrospective in nature. They have always kept a wider berth from all kinds of war memorials, historical tributes, and events when it comes to World War. One can call it the selective memory approach where the Germans remember what they like to. Although foreign invitations are well accepted by Angela Merkel led Government as she was part of the tour Emmanuel Macron did. 

The reasoning well lies under the blanket of acceptance and something that Germany can call as foreshadowing for what they thought was a precursor to the World War 2. The schools in Germany teach that WW1 was an initiator and a warning for bigger losses that can follow and that followed in the WW2 which was more disastrous and much deadlier. Germany somehow tries to underplay the obligation as a German historian quotes “the obligation that there shall be no other war from the German soil ever again.”

While that remains the hope for the world and the German involvement in the wreathing ceremonies and memorials when it comes to wars, especially the two major ones coming out of its soil, a wish for the whole planet.

By Suresh Chouksey

The writer is a student of Journalism and International Relations.