Jewish Council Attacks German Plans for New Iron Cross

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Bravery Medal Tainted by Nazis: Jewish Council Attacks German Plans for New Iron Cross - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Germany's Central Council of Jews is opposed to plans to reintroduce the Iron Cross as a new bravery medal for German solidiers. The decoration, they say, is tied too closely with World War II.

The German parliament has been discussing whether to reintroduce a new bravery medal akin to the Iron Cross.

Whilst undoubtedly given for disputed reasons to some German combatants in WWII, this bravery medal has good tradition (awarded initially in Prussia in 1813) recognising originaly Prussian then German soldiers of bravery from the Napolionic wars.
Iron Cross - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I sense the Jewish peoples anguish, yet after such time the importance of forgiveness and recognition of the great tradition and heredity of this medal should enable our German friends to return this honour to their brave combatants.

This is a true matter of honouring those whom earned it in truth and love of their nation in troubled times. This is not about a symbol of hitlers distortion

[Court463]

I would think that after 50 years the jewish community could start to forgive and forget a little bit, Its just a medal. And it was around before the Nazis were, so its not really related to them.

[Matt W]

And the symbol is still used by the German armed forces, just not as a medal.

Regardless, the idea has been rejected:

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | New medal plan for German heroes

The German president has backed a proposal to introduce a top bravery medal for German soldiers - but no return of the Iron Cross is planned. Horst Koehler said he would support a medal for "exceptional bravery" in the army, the Bundeswehr. The German armed forces sport an Iron Cross symbol on their hardware - but the medal itself has been shunned since World War II. The defence ministry said it had no plans to bring back the Iron Cross. It rejected a German conservative MP's call for the medal to be reintroduced.

And Court463 - 50 years is still in living memory - there are still survivors of the Holocaust around. You really expect them to forgive & forget?

[Court463]

Well no, but I think we could cut germany a break I mean most of the original Nazis aren't alive anymore and most Germans aren't anti semites (to my knowledge)

[grandpa]

Quote by: Court463 Well no, but I think we could cut germany a break I mean most of the original Nazis aren't alive anymore and most Germans aren't anti semites (to my knowledge)

Politics change, as does the significance of symbolism.
For example, most of us are aware of how, in American propaganda, Stalin suddenly became cuddly Uncle Joe for the duration of WW2.
The fundamental difference here is that this is a Jewish organization and, obviously, Jews tend to feel very strongly about the Holocaust (not that billions of others don't or shouldn't). After all, Nazi Germany is perhaps the ultimate example of organized depravity.

Grandpa h.

[GHook93]

Quote by: Court463 I would think that after 50 years the jewish community could start to forgive and forget a little bit, Its just a medal. And it was around before the Nazis were, so its not really related to them.

Forgive and Forget, huh? That is pretty easy for someone on the outside to say!

[grandpa]

Quote by: GHook93 Forgive and Forget, huh? That is pretty easy for someone on the outside to say!

What do you mean by "someone on the outside?" Nazi Germany didn't only kill Jews. Plenty were fair game for the death machine.

Grandpa h.

[Court463]

I just thought of something curious, why does Germany have a Jewish Council, and what are there powers. The only reason I can think of its purpose is to keep a repeat of the holocaust. Does any other country besides Israel have such a thing?

[GHook93]

Quote by: Court463 Well no, but I think we could cut germany a break I mean most of the original Nazis aren't alive anymore and most Germans aren't anti semites (to my knowledge)

Give them a break! Give me a break. Not even all of the Holocaust saviors have died off yet and you want to give them a break. Nazism and anti-semitism is still alive and well in Germany, as it is throughout Europe!

[GHook93]

Quote by: grandpa What do you mean by "someone on the outside?" Nazi Germany didn't only kill Jews. Plenty were fair game for the death machine. Grandpa h.

All my European family members were wiped out. I had a very large family from Russia, Poland and France. All of the ones that didn't escape to pre-Israel Palestine and America we massacred.

I would say you are short-changing the Jews with you assessment.

[The Dunedan]

Ballocks. Nazism in Europe today is so completely passe, so utterly anathema in public life, as to be almost invisible. When the skinheads demonstrated/marched in Prague, they were outnumbered 3:1 by the folks who came to call them nasty names and beat them with sticks. Membership in a Nazi organization will get you prison time in Germany, as will Holocaust denial or revisionism, making racist statements, etc.

Learn, THEN speak.

[grandpa]

Quote by: The Dunedan Nazism in Europe today is so completely passe, so utterly anathema in public life, as to be almost invisible.

Almost invisible, but not quite.

Grandpa h.

[Arawn-ap-Hywel]

Quote by: GHook93 Forgive and Forget, huh? That is pretty easy for someone on the outside to say!

GHook it is views like these that enable the worlds biggots to wage endless wars.

We cannot forget

But to fail in any form of forgiveness is a mandate for murder

[GHook93]

Quote by: Arawn-ap-Hywel GHook it is views like these that enable the worlds biggots to wage endless wars. We cannot forget But to fail in any form of forgiveness is a mandate for murder

I believe the Jews have forgiven, see Merkel's speech in Israel, but we should and will never forget!