HISTORY IN IMAGES: Pictures Of War, History , WW2

The row has broken out again over the issue of the German government paying pensions to German soldiers, including those in the Waffen SS who fought during the Second World War.

According to a recent BBC report a Belgian minister has raised objection to German government paying pension to over 2500 Belgians who fought in Hitler's army during 1939-45.

The subject kicks up a hornets nest now and then even after 80 years since WW2 ended.

The argument is that many of the pension beneficiaries are former Nazis.

We have no argument with Nazis who committed crimes being not only disbarred from pension benefits but if possible being tried.

But why paint all German soldiers with the same brush. For example the men of the Waffen SS were soldiers, barring the Totenkopf. They were elite soldiers, like tahe American Green Berets or Navy Seals.

They fought and fought hard for their country. Their misfortune was Germany lost WW2.

Pin pricking about pensions to these few surviving men seems a bit low.

ALSO READ: Rape of Germany

Even American soldiers committed war crimes during WW2. So did Russian Red Army soldiers who raped millions of German women in 1945.

Did anyone talk about depriving them of pensions?

Germany lost a war in 1945. It suffered untold miseries. It's people were tortured, abused, humiliated. Let us leave the Germans alone, now. Let them deal with the matter as they deem fit. They know their country better than we do.

It is time to stop berating Germans for the sins of a few twisted individuals who controlled their country during that time in history. They have paid much. Let us not open unhealed wounds again. More than 80 years have passed. It will be playing into the hands of the neo-Nazis this incessant harping.

Remember the bible quote about the totally blameless throwing the first stone? No country was totally blameless before, during and after WW2.

Points To Ponder

WHY WAS THE FIGHTING ON THE RUSSIAN FRONT SO FIERCE DURING WW2?

It is difficult to distinguish between the quality of both the German and Russian soldiers. Both were motivated by their love for their motherland. But there were others factors that drove the two sides to such desperate fighting.

One, both sides knew that this was a no-holds bar war. Not fighting was thus not an option.

Second, both Hitler and Stalin had squads that killed any deserter. Turning away from fighting was just not possible.

Thus was seen some of the most bitter, brutal and desperate fighting on the WW2 eastern (Russian) Front.

Quotes....

"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
--Hermann Goering