Hi, Wolfgang,

I am an Englishman, now in his late 50s. Both of my grandfathers fought in, and survived, the 1st World War. Both of my parents lived through the 2nd World War. My father (who died in 2004 - just short of his 91st birthday) was in a reserved occupation so didn't see combat (for which I thank God - no-one should have to experience that unless absolutely necessary). So, to those two generations, Germany was 'The Enemy'. To be fair, I experienced little anti-German feeling at home but it was fairly all-pervasive in popular culture (comics, films etc.) while I was growing up.
As an adult I am very aware of the monstrous crimes committed by the Nazi regime but I am also aware that, although the scale may differ, other regimes, in other times and places, have been/are also capable of similar crimes.
One thing which always sickens me is that there were many other non-German nations (including Britain), in the 30s, who were well aware of what the Nazis were building in Germany but chose to do nothing about it. And, of course, appeasement is alive and well today as we see in the case of Darfur. I believe that, in the 1990s, Germany attempted to take the lead in opposing the murderous Balkan fascist, Milosevic. If other European nations - including my own - had not been so intent on appeasing Milosevic, recognising the independence of Croatia should have protected it from attack. Instead Milosevic was appeased, the Balkan war escalated and Germany was vilified for its actions.
I have visited Germany on several occasions, often talk to German people on holiday and have German friends. I find modern Germans to be polite, articulate and civilised people. I am convinced that Germany long ago atoned for its past and is now a great, leading European nation.