Feeling the Stigma

For most West Germans, no matter what their age, the pomp surrounding the 40th anniversary of the Normandy landings came as a painful reminder that even after 35 years as a democratic country, the Federal Republic is not regarded in quite the same way as other West European nations. The D-day ceremonies posed a dilemma for West Germans. They would have liked to be part of a commemoration, but they could hardly be—and were not—expected to join in the celebration of what was for them a historic defeat. On the other hand, as key members of NATO, they could not ignore...

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