When referring to the Germans, I do not mean the ones I know – a phrase that I often use when employing a stereotype like the Germans – came to mind when reading the introduction to Nazis All the Way Down: "We're not talking about the individuals when we talk about Nazis today." What also came to mind was my utter disbelief when most recently the Bavarian politician Aiwanger became even more popular when it was revealed that he was undoubtedly an antisemite in his youth. In his youth? Come on ... seems to be a common reaction that should probably demonstrate how tolerant one believes to be. Well, I belong to the ones who believe people do not change until they must (see also here).
The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history, Hegel famously said. Zachary and Katharina F. Gallant see this differently – they argue that a real Aufarbeitung is needed to prevent future atrocities of the kind experienced during World War II. What so far has happened was at best "Memorial Theater".
The authors of this tome are guided by Santayana's quote, written above Block 4 of the Auschwitz death camp: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." True, the official Germany makes quite some efforts in this regard yet, as Zachary and Katharina F. Gallant point out, the officials however fail to really address what needs to be addressed: the system that made Nazi Germany possible and makes, largely, modern Germany possible.
Social systems in order to properly function rely on major industries. In other words: that Bahlsen, Melitta, Edeka, Dr. Oetker etc. supported and in turn profited from the Nazis is hardly a surprise; neither is it surprising that they are influential contributors to, and profiteers from, the present German system. The reason is simple: We never condemn a system, we condemn persons. As the authors state:
"Everything was Hitler's fault, the narrative goes: and with Hitler gone and the Nazi party defeated, the only goal is ensuring 'Never again.' But Hitler didn't produce Zyklon-B and profit off of its use in the murder of millions: Degesh, Degussa, Henkel, and IG Faben did. Hitler didn't rip the shares of major companies from their Jewish owners, ... major German businesses did ... And it wasn't Hitler who took over houses and properties that had belonged to Jews through Aryanization, it was everyday Germans, many of whose families still live in those homes today."
I've rarely read anything more sobering in regards to the so-called Aufarbeitung. Our human tendency to personalise everything is troubling, our inability to accept that we've become slaves of the industries and institutions that we've created is destructive.
Zachary and Katharina F. Gallant do an excellent job in highlighting our present day predicament. "... as profits associated with the Shoah are being used to finance schools, hospitals, and refugee projects, and these profiteer families and companies remain the largest financiers of Germany's most major political parties, who among us is not benefitting from the late impact of the genocide?"
I must admit that the fact that the same industries that profited from the Nazi regime are now important contributors to the present regime does not come as a surprise for in societies in which profit trumps everything, this – sadly – is to be expected. But of course: What needs to be corrected, has to be corrected.
One way to go about it is to see "Reform as a Moral, not Legal, Obligation". In former times, people understood laws to be God given. Well, they are not – they are the result of the efforts of dominant pressure groups – although they are often treated as if they were God given and could not be changed. This is of course utter nonsense. "At times in history when the law is immoral, the only moral choices are to break or to change the law." This is common sense. Sadly, it is not very common.
Zachary Gallant
Katharina F. Gallant
Nazis All the Way Down
The Myth of the Moral Modern Germany
Westend, Frankfurt am Main 2023
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