German magazine raises fears over country 'once again embracing' Hitler's evil beliefs

After decades of trying to shake off the shadow of Hitler, a German news magazine has sparked speculation that the country might probably be embracing the Fuehrer’s evil beliefs once again.

Der Spiegel, Germany’s biggest news magazine, says the heady days of partying epitomised when Germany hosted the World Cup in 2006 are long gone.

“The reality is that there is hardly anything that interests the Germans as much about themselves as their relationship to the Hitler era,” the Daily Mail quoted the magazine, as stating.

According to the paper, in a lengthy essay, the journal says: “This year, amid fresh debates over xenophobia, many are left wondering if the ugly German is back.”

“When the Greeks or the Spaniards protest against the supposed dictatorship of the Germans in euro policy, some of their posters depict Nazi motifs,” it said.

“When we look back at the media reports of 2012, there is much about this year that hints at the country’s Nazi past. And there doesn’t seem to be anything left of the happy, cosmopolitan Germany of 2006, nor of the exciting summer of 2010, when a young German team thrilled the world with its coltish and offensive approach to football at the World Cup in South Africa,” it added

“At the end of 2012, it seems as if we are the gloomy Germans once again, the Germans who either cannot or don’t want to shed their horrific past. It seems that it’s time for us to adjust our self-image once again,” it contined.

The magazine published its essay against the backdrop of Right-wing crimes dominating news headlines despite government attempts to ban the biggest neo-Nazi party, the NPD, the paper said.

Der Spiegel further said, “The scandal is that young Germans in the 21st century feel the need to be neo-Nazis.”

It points out that other countries, such as Hungary and France, have elected far-Right politicians.

But it adds: “Even after almost 70 years, it does make a difference whether an act of xenophobia happens in Germany. We remain a special case, because Hitler is one of us.”

Source http://www.indianexpress.com/news/german-magazine-raises-fears-over-country-once-again-embracing-hitlers-evil-beliefs/1045754/0