They are not all dead im afraid, and more worrying, for some, the memory of these monsters is motivation for them to follow in their steps. Synagogues and minorities are still targetted across the world in the same xenophobic manner as they were in 1938. Not just Germans, but like it or not many people look to German traditions and beliefs for their inspiration, such as the modern day PLO, who still publish an Arabic version of Mein Kampf (their 3rd or 4th most popular book I believe) to this day. But even if you want to argue that the main players are dead, if you study the history, I think it necessary to undertake a forgiveness process , but not a forgetting process. Germany today does not have the same problems as existed 70 years ago, but some of the values that led to that situation do remain in some.
But I was referring to the people that did it, and quoting from the society that allowed this to happen. It wasnt me that made those observations, I just quoted them, and Im not going to make any apologies for what they said because they might lead to some sort of online equivalent of a ceremonial book burning of these great men's opinions , in one case it was a member of the Prussian ruling class himself, in one case, and in another a European philosopher. For me their credentials are worthy of respect
Saying "they are all dead", seems to suggest "we have nothing to worry about now". If that implication is what you believe, I disagree. We have plenty to worry about because it could easily happen again. There is a two stage process to go through if you have been personally touched by these events from so long ago, on the receiving end i mean. The first is to forgive the crime, that just doesnt happen if the perpetrator is dead, the crime lives on after them. For the victims and their descendants, and even those, like me, that have known some of them and the suffering they still endure. Without forgiveness, hatred and vengeance will result. The second stage to that healing is a defensive process, to not forget. Forgiving is necessary as a letting go process. Not forgetting is making sure it doesnt happen again.
As far as the German people are concerned, the average Germans are law abiding, decent people. Most of them that fought their war were the same. But the principal of collective guilt did apply, however distasteful and counter that is to our western values. Someone started the war, someone sustained it. That just wasnt a fluke of nature. It happened because a people carried with them a belief system that the regime could rely on. The war wasnt caused by just a few Nazis hijacking the nation. German war guilt, as a nation,. was established in as fair a way as could be contrived after the surrender. Cockeyed and unjust, I would have to agree. But history I think generally judges that Germany as a nation was responsible for the outbreak of the war. Other people have different views to that, I can respect that, but I dont agree, im sorry.