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#WeAreEuropeans since I was a teen learning at school about the crimes of our people #Holocaust a had an ambivalent feeling of being a German. We had good teachers giving us all information, but it was hard to get into the depths
I started reading but for me and thousands a controversial 🎞 “Holocaust “airing in 1979 made the unbelievable atrocity a physical impact, that all documentary couldn’t achieve, cause numbers are difficult to feel
I remained critical towards my German identity until my exams as a vet. In 1989 to get your vet licensure you needed papers. Not only a criminal record certificate but most important a citizenships certificate!🧐
I had to proof that not only I was a native German,but also my father and grandfather to get it. This was difficult because they were born in former Schlesien, now Poland. After separating my grandpa remained in former GDR until death
His birth certificates got lost and not to get copies from Poland. I had to search for documents in #BerlinDocumentCenter, but not found. Relief on one hand that grandpa hadn’t been a serious Nazi, but still searching
Finally found papers showing him wounded in World War One, this was sufficient 😏This ridiculous procedure to me was a shock.😨 To be a native citizen of Germany having to proof your identity to obtain full rights made me😡
This was the moment I realized I wasn’t feeling proud to be German, but rather being proud to be European. I 🤔 this ( hopefully) made me resisting nationalism #WeAreEuropeans
Being European means accepting other cultures even if I not understand all of them, but learning, traveling and speaking with people is the goal @roobloo1 @ruhithallon
