For weeks now, workers have been busy on a stretch of the Tiergarten in central Berlin building a monument to the Jehovah’s Witnesses murdered and persecuted by the Nazis.
An abstract tree-like structure made from bronze reached by a winding path carved into the grass, it’s the latest in a series of striking memorials in the capital to the victims of German atrocities during World War II.
Germany’s culture of remembrance is world-renowned. But its ability to apply some of the lessons of history is in question.
Last week, Germany failed to win one of two non-permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council for the first time in its history. It’s hard to interpret the defeat any other way than a vote on its global standing.
Germany’s dejected foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, attributed the snub to several factors, including its staunch support for Ukraine and Israel.
A Russian operation to thwart Germany’s UN bid is plausible. Yet Berlin’s absence from the international condemnation of Israel’s military actions under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks like a more rational explanation.
Berlin regards Israel’s security as a matter of German national interest due to its historical responsibilities.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Netanyahu in Israel in December, praising their countries’ “precious” relationship, despite Netanyahu being wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes.
In March, after Netanyahu joined the US in attacking Iran, Germany deepened its defense ties with Israel.
Yesterday, the UK, France, Australia, Canada and Norway imposed sanctions aimed at making “extremist” Jewish settlers in the West Bank accountable. Again, Germany was absent.
Back in 2006, Germany hosted a World Cup tournament that came to be known as the Summer Fairytale.
Twenty years later, Germany feels like a different country. Optimism is lacking in popular and political discourse, with support for far-right politicians rising and Merz scoring record levels of voter dissatisfaction.
Now it seems Germany’s league of international fans has dwindled, too. — Alan Crawford