Rachel says, "There is no such being, in my opinion… as an 'innocent' German." Given the current Russia/Ukraine conflict, how do you feel this statement is true or untrue today?

Rachel dislikes their building super, who is German and a recent immigrant like herself. She says to her therapist that, "If they aren't guilty of the crimes, then they are guilty of knowing of the crimes and doing nothing. There is no such being, in my opinion… as an 'innocent' German."

How do you feel about this sentiment? 

Given the current Russia/Ukraine conflict, how do you feel this statement is true or untrue today?

I have too often felt that there were no innocent Germans. How could so many turn a blind eye and pretend and/or deny what was happening. The Russian invasion of Ukraine absolutely raises fears that Europe is entering into another Hilteresc era. The thing this book did for me is bring true desperation to light and gave me a better understanding of what people might do in the face of evil and what they would do to save themselves and their loved ones. I became more sympathetic but will not likely let go of my dislike of the German people for what they allowed and what some encouraged.

I disagree with her statement. There were plenty of innocent Germans. It was not only Jews who suffered during the War. In war all people suffer. Many Germans tried to stop Hitler to no avail and they should not be lumped into a general category of turning a blind eye. I could never agree that every German was responsible for what Hitler did.

As we see in the Ukraine war, propaganda works. Putin is evil, but I wouldn't say that every Russian is responsible for his atrocities or that they are turning a blind eye.

It is difficult to pain with such a broad brush. It would be easy to believe that all Germans are to blame, but we know that is not true. We have read too many true accounts of Germans helping their neighbors by hiding them or helping them to escape. Certainly, there were those who also turned their neighbors into the Nazis, but there will always be those who want to feel superior.

There were definitely innocent Germans just as there are innocent Russians, including many who sadly have relatives in Ukraine.

djc minor comes closest to voicing my feelings on this issue. Certainly there were Germans who knew and did nothing. There were also those who risked their lives to save Jews and to oppose Hitler. The Ukrainian situation is similar. Robertaw's point about propaganda is also well-taken. People react to situations based on the information they have. In both Russia and Germany information was heavily controlled, affecting both what people knew and how they perceived their government's actions.

I think a lot of Germans were brainwashed by Hitler’s regime but there were certainly Germans who hid Jews and tried to help. Putin controls the media in Russia and many Russians believe what he says is the fault of the Ukrainians. But there are also Russians standing up to him and putting their own lives at risk

My heart is breaking for the people of Ukraine but I must say I feel bad for the people in Russia that do not agree with what Putin and his followers are doing. I am sure there also were people in Germany that were appalled at what was happening.

Though many or most people bought into the ideas supported Hitler but of course there were a number who did not and tried to help the Jews and some these people paid for their beliefs. Likewise, today Putin has control and most people buy into it or do not know any better but some people resist or help and some of these people will pay the price. My parents immigrated during the Holocaust and shared some stories of people who helped.

My head says there were definitely innocent Germans, just as there are innocent Russians today. I had an aunt who was a German war bride and I didn't think of her as guilty. But, I also understand the people who lived through the war and could not get past their feeling that all Germans (or all Japanese or all Austrians or.....) knew what was going on and supported it. It is difficult to understand how people could vote for such wickedness, but they do. Everyday. In every country.

I do not know how I, or anyone else, would react to being in the situation of the Germans at that time. Would I be brave enough to stand up for the Jews, I do not know. I hope I would. Also, I had a good German friend who lived in Berlin during this time. She said they were taught in school from first grade to hate the Jews. What you learn at that age can have a lasting effect. I believe more Germans should have stood up, but I do not dislike all Germans.

I have very mixed feelings about this question. There were/are a lot of terrible things going on in this world, some of which was/is perpetrated or supported by my country's government and a portion of its population. I think our tendency is to simply shake our heads and say, "Man, that's horrible..." without ever really doing anything about it. Sure, we complain, we discuss, we do what we can to educate those around us, but I feel like we generally don't get involved - not really. Does that make us guilty, or lazy? Or, in the case of an autocracy like Germany then or Russia and China today, do most folks just try to keep their heads down so they're not targeted? Certainly coming out against one's government can lead to arrest and imprisonment there, so I guess I can't really blame folks for looking the other way ("it's them or me" mentality). I also tend to think that while most people knew "something" was going on with Germany's Jews, they didn't know the extent or exactly what that "something" was.

I disagree with Rachel’s statement.There were some innocent Germans that tried to help the Jewish people and there were some who didn’t know exactly what was going on because of all of the propaganda. There also were Germans who knew but didn’t do anything to save their own selves. The Ukraine situation is similar in that a lot of Russians only hear the propaganda that Putin wants them to hear.

I strongly disagree. There were many Germans who tried to stop the progress of the Nazis. I admire the Russians who are opposing the current war at great risk to their selves.

I strongly disagree as well. There have been many who were unaware of what was going on. How many Americans knew about the Japanese sent to camps in the AuS during WWII. As for today’s situation there is little the average citizen can do. Russians who speak out against the war are retaliated against.

I don't think I can fairly judge a situation that I have never experienced. I don't know what it was like to live in Germany during WWII, and I'm thankful that I haven't had to know what it's like. I think there were both Germans who turned a blind eye to the Nazis' treatment of Jews, or even participated, and also Germans who were distressed and felt powerless, but did what they could. Difficult decisions were made between love of family and loyalty to country, and things were not so cut and dry.

Regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict, my heart goes out to the innocent people, on both sides, who are involuntarily caught in the selfish war of one man. With Russia never fully recovering from the dissolution of the former Soviet Union, it is important to remember that the Russian people are part of an authoritarian government where they don't have the same freedoms as those of the United States.

I totally understand Rachel's feelings. I would have been afraid of the super, also! And knowing that many Germans that committed crimes did flee and hide in other countries makes it even more believable that she would have this feeling. As far as the present Ukraine situation, I think we are seeing Russians being lied to and we are also seeing troops not fighting in some instances. There are war crimes being committed so if I was actually in Ukraine I would probably have a different feeling. The Ukrainian People have had cultural ties with Russian people and many have relatives, that must feel like quite a betrayal to them.

I believe there were innocent Germans as well as innocent Russians today. So many people are doing what they can to help the innocent, just as some Germans helped Jews. I don't think any of us could say what we would do in that situation. I believe there are heroes and many brave people on both sides, just as there are cowards and followers on both sides.