Sorry JB,
that's not quite the reality over here. The only thing under punishment is the "Verherr-lichung nationalsozialistischer Symbole,Ideologie und Verbrechen" means "Glorification of national-socialist symbols, ideology and crimes" and that is definitely another story than mentioning some aspects of positive developements of that time.
And let's not forget Volksverhetzung. Perhaps I didn't state it as clearly as I should then. When I said "speak positively in almost any way about that era (and lord forbid publicly)," I was referring to anything National Socialist based. I was not referring to the 1930's or 1940's per s�, or developments independent of, or incidental to, that time period in Germany. Many if not most of the positive developments during that era came from NSDAP initiatives. So are we not splitting hairs here? Or is it you can speak freely about such things as long as you don't have a swastika or lightning bolts pinned on your lapel? Forgive me, but how does such muzzling of expression, when adjudicated and enforced like it is in German courts these days, strike you as anything but discrimination, or at a minimum, a denial of civil rights? Or in current German eyes, do only National Socialists excel at the art of discrimination? Out of curiosity, is the same standard held for Marxist speech? Zionist speech? No, right? So yes, IMO, same old stuff. And if you tell me it would be like screaming "fire!" in a crowded theatre, then how is it places as diverse as the U.S. and Russia allow such things?
If you go more deeply into history studies you will find, that there were of course developements as in every society in this time, which had tendencies for improvements in daily lifes. But these developements were independant of political constitutions of acountry, because they were based on technical inventions, for example better harvesting machines, radio communication, traffic or partition of labour in general, not by political plans.
We do not have to speak exclusively of technical inventions, though the Third Reich produced its fair share of such things also, to include paving the way for man to land on the moon. There were positive developments in practically every phase of German society, from the basic standard of living to the national treasury, from health & hygiene to employment, from state security to state welfare. And I could go on from there, rather easily too. Is it not appropriate to give due credit where due credit is deserved?
By the way the effect of the Autobahn-building in that time on the economy has been very much overestimated. Historians found out the amount of people, who was brought in work by that, was very small. Masses came into work, when the economy was changed to a "Kriegswirtschaft", means "war economy", in which economy has to produce everything to prepare a war and get organized to produce war supply. That was exactly the way to get into the troubles, not to come out of the dust and poverty.
Well it worked, now didn't it? And was marveled the world over at the time. Out went the poverty, in came a little newfound pride. The Autobahn also set a new standard worldwide for highway construction and mass transport. It is still held in high esteem to this day, we all dream of racing down it (well, I do). Then came the humble little Volkswagen to populate them. The VW concept, as you probably know all too well, was based on Hitler and Ferdinand Porsche's admiration of Henry Ford and his mass production principles. The two of them, working together, had the foresight to realize that the typical German worker (= craftsman) was spending too much time producing quality goods that only the elite could afford and enjoy, and thus decided a little "attention to detail" could be sacrificed for the sake of achieving quantity output (via more streamlined production) to help bring the goods to the common folk. That amazing little Beetle was still built with enough quality engineering to become - after the war as things ended up - the symbol of Adenauer's "economic miracle" (with a little help from one Heinz Nordhoff). So what should the Christian Democratic Union be saying, but thanks Adolf!
As for your comment about Kriegswirtschaft being exactly the way to get into troubles, I do know what you mean. I only have to point to the one that has us so deeply mired in the dust and rubble of Iraq. And then there's the Kriegswirtschaft we help Israel maintain year after year, to the tune of billion$ upon billion$ of our American dollars. I only wish we would gather what's left of all this precious "Kriegswirtschaft" from that desert and place it along our porous southern border, with guns lowered! And you might consider implementing one to guard your own more closely HP, and perhaps settle that Turk issue that seems to fester forever. BTW, is the Turk "problem" Nazi based, or did that come a generation later? Ah say no more, we Americans are the LAST who should be pointing fingers.
So it is not the same story at all, if after war Germany has realized, that the nazi-regime was a murderous regime and that this society does not want to afford any propaganda for murder, especially not mass murdering. As this starts with admiring the symbols of this regime and reproducing the humankind disdaining ideologies, which led to mass murdering, it is forbidden today by law. That is correct in my sense as in those of most Germans today. But that does not hinder anybody to come to an understanding of the times and build an opinion about the times and get into critical discussions - in which sense however - about good and bad, positive and negative moments in history. The borderline given by German law is far away from that and settled there, where someone takes part for murder or glorification of mass murdering. The swastika had become a worldwide symbol for that. So, who tries to make his life pretty with such finery ...
Well let's make sure all the facts are on the table and accounted for in the discussion. While you freely disparage that 'murderous regime' of your predecessors, I frankly admire them for attempting to slay the Marxist/Communist beast before all of Europe was enveloped with the Red stain of the Commissars, starting first in Germany and then heading eastward where the movement (and exportable revolution) was being organized, funded and militarized. Yes, the same despicable Communist machination we Americans, thanks to Roosevelt and his red buddies, jumped in bed with to support to the hilt, even against the American people's expressed wishes at the time. Churchill at least saw Stalin and the Bolshevik menace for exactly what it was, but gladly and rather cynically let the Germans and Russians "settle it" at each other's own expense. We on the other hand pumped in life-saving supplies by way of unlimited lend lease through the backdoor ports of Russia to the salvation of the then decimated Red Army. If that key factor hadn't occurred, the German forces would most likely have succeeded.
Now once we had teamed up with the Reds and destroyed Hitler's vaunted warriors, and Roosevelt himself lay in the grave, and as Eastern Europe was being overrun by pillaging Soviet hordes, we suddenly came to our senses and decided it was time to turn the guns on those very same Red Marxists we had been supporting to the hilt - imagine that. LIKE BINGO! And then we proceeded to spend nearly a half a century threatening to annihilate our former pals at every turn and all around the globe, while your nation was split in two, half of it under these same Soviet controllers (after the Allies, in all their wisdom, agreed to give Uncle Joe Stalin a gift of a good 1/3 of it, to include all of Prussia and the ancient Eastern estates, to be divided between the Poles and Russians as recompense :: and reminiscent of the Versailles Treaty once again). [yup, more of the same old story]
When you speak of mass murder, I hope you are aware that the Soviets under Lenin - and even more so under Stalin - had long mastered the art before Hitler was anywhere to be seen. By the time the Third Reich was constituted, wiped out any remnants of poverty and rearmed itself, a showdown was pretty much inevitable, and everyone knew it would most likely be brutal. The Nazis and Communists were sworn enemies, their forces had been battling in the streets of Germany for years ever since WWI ended and Germany was briefly declared a Soviet Socialist Republic by the Spartakusbund. Hitler knew that Stalin's Soviet Union was rearming at a furious pace, and thus had no qualms (in fact was desirous) in striking the first blow. But here again, the Nazis are to be held solely accountable - no point in casting for stones any further, right? Now I also find it very interesting how Germans today are not allowed to question any aspects of the Holocaust. Revisionist thinking in any manner, be it reassessments or examinations of newly discovered data, are taboo, correct? Well don't worry, the powers-that-be rarely allow such things to be presented for full public display here either, at least in any effective manner, so your bases and the good old status quo are well covered. Instead we have pretty much allowed Israel to become the tail that wags the American dog. And it's getting worse every year, trust me.
Now you do realize Israel has both nuclear weapons and long range delivery capabilities courtesy of the never-ending cash cow our far sighted government bestows upon them, right? [At least I still =think= it's our government, I've lost track in all the smoke thru the years. BTW in this particular regard, it doesn't matter one iota whether it's a Democrat or Republican administration :: it's always signed, sealed and delivered]. All I can say is you folks ought to consider getting into that club yourself, you know, "just in case" (in fact you really ought to insist on it). The MAD (mutually assured destruction) deterrent works by all accounts, we Yanks learned that the hard way with the Communists over the years. [oops my oversight, our weapons were cocked and poised at each other for what seemed an eternity from German backyards].
I read your comments before, so I see your interest is a more scientific one in that period of history. All scientific occupation with each and every detail of "Third Reich" aspects is - as far as I can see - not concerned by any actual German law. The practical problem with the law is sometimes, that a lot of clandestine deeply old and new admirers of this gone regime today come along with some scientific attitudes telling their rights of freedom of speech and writing are menaced. So it is not easy for the untrained reader, to get always clear, where this border by law exactly is given. But I can assure you, you are free to have in Germany in public every opinion, you like to have, without being thrown into a prison. So please, do not believe such cruel stories of specially interested little cercles.
Well that would certainly be encouraging if true. Only I am troubled at how aggressive and 'pro-active' the German government - with our own Feds' blessing - has become in recent years at hauling these "glorifiers" in from wherever they deem apropos. The latest fish is a certain Ernst Zundel, all the way from Canada. Have you followed his story? Are these kind of "long snatches" warranted in your eyes also Hans? Maybe a hint of "international big brother" to come? And over a guy who has never done anything more than promote what he believes are the merits of NS and some skepticism as to the details of the Holocaust, all from the sleepy confines of Canada [something which in my eyes everyone should be free to pursue if they so choose, regardless of Nazi, Marxist, Communist, Zionist, Capitalist, Socialist or Democratic stripe]. I don't have to nod in agreement or clap with everything Mr. Zundel professes, but I disagree in a most pointed way with Germany choosing to make itself an International Tribunal on such affairs, and by reeling folks like this into its courts. Tell me, are you proud of this facet of Social Democracy?
Getting back to "Ariernachweis", which is the genealogical aspect in this whole context, one has to state of course, that those, who were not able to show this three generations without any jewish anchestor, were in danger. As there were lots of other possibilities for the administations to find out, who was a jew or not, these genealogies were not the first mean to persecute jews, but it was one, another mean.
Well I suppose this depends strictly on interpretation then. It's back to: is the glass half empty, or half full? As it were, other means were available. While you go on believing the Jews and Communists were nothing more than innocent victims, and only your father's generation was dastardly and deceived, perhaps someday you too will learn a bit more my friend. Hopefully at that time additional material will be available for all there to examine, and some might actually find the interest to dig a little deeper into it (if they can avoid the slammer when doing so). Keep in mind though, many many Americans have views that mirror your own in this regard, so you have plenty of ready-made company as it is. I speak only for myself, I never run with the pack.
I appreciate your comments, and speaking your mind like you always do. If you have any additional details or critiques to add to my original descriptions of those Reich documents, feel free to do so.
Best to you
Hans Peter Albers, Bienenb�ttel
Bests to you also, from hazy lazy SoCal ~ Jb