‘In years and generations down the line, there's going to be a right and wrong side of history, and I certainly want to be on the right side’. (Duncan Robinson) Shortly after the end of World War 2 at the Nürnberg War Trials, Hermann Göring, a leading Nazi figure, attempted to absolve himself by claiming, ‘The victor will always be the judge, and the vanquished the accused.’ It’s as if the accusations levelled against him for the horrific atrocities of the Nazi regime and, therefore, the necessity for him to defend himself now on trial, were a consequence of the Allies winning the war and the Nazis losing it. It was an attempt to deflect personal responsibility, to re-present historical facts as politically-construed by the victors. No-one can know for sure if Göring actually believed his own cynical rationalisations. We do, however, know that Adolf Hitler was driven by a similar sentiment at the end of World War 1. He felt a seething resentment that, after all he and his comrades had endured during that war, Germany was now presented to the world as the undisputed guilty party and aggressor. The Allies were able to console themselves that their suffering during the war had been worth it, to defeat the evil enemy. The Germans had no such consolation. They were on the wrong side – and lost. This week, I was in Germany and visited the preserved remnants of the infamous Berlin Wall. I spoke with a friend, Alex, who shared some of his own experiences of visiting this place just after the Wall came down. For some people with whom he spoke in the (now former) Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), they had the feeling of being on the wrong side in World War 2 under the Nazis, and then again under the Eastern (Communist) Bloc. It’s hard existentially to carry a cultural history, an international portrayal, a feeling of guilt: to have been on the wrong side.
26 Comments
Lena Schäfer
31/10/2024 12:40:14 pm
Thank you for visiting our country Nick. Your article is interesting. Perhaps this feeling is one reason why so many young people in East support the AFD (Alternative für Deutschland). They are tired to feel on the wrong side from Nazi and DDR history and want to feel better for themselves. AfD is like Trump rhetorical – “We will make German people great again”.
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 12:57:34 pm
Thank you, Lena. I always love to visit Germany - it's a very special place for me and I have some very close friends here.
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Kevin Lewis
31/10/2024 12:43:51 pm
Hey Nick. You always make me think about things from a new perspective. We had and still have a similar problem for veterans who fought in the Vietnam war. There are high levels of mental health problems. If you’re interested, this paper is worth a glance: “Post-Traumatic Shame Disorder: Undoing America’s Torment of Vietnam Veterans: https://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/events/presentations/9a-Turner.pdf
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 01:01:24 pm
Hi Kevin and thanks for the affirming feedback. Thanks too for sharing the link to that presentation. I found it very helpful.
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Zachary Lopez
31/10/2024 12:58:32 pm
Hi Nick. After so many years and we’re still trying to work out what made the Nazis tick. To be honest, I didn’t think it mattered before. They were evil and guilty. That’s it. Now we have so many political parties swinging to the right in the USA and Europe. That’s dangerous. You’ve made me think again. We must learn from history. Any suggestions where I can find out more?
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 01:11:25 pm
Hi Zachary. Yes, there is an on-going interest in the drivers and dynamics of Nazi ideology and actions that continue to intrigue political sociologists and psychologists. It's as if, if we can understand them, it may help us avoid the risks of similar socio-pathological regimes emerging in the future.
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Amir Hadžić
31/10/2024 02:44:46 pm
Hello Nick. We had this problem in Bosnia. The Serbian nationalists were like Nazis. The world didn't learn from history.
Nick Wright
31/10/2024 02:53:28 pm
Hi Amir. Yes, I remember listening to a young Bosnian woman telling me about the terrible atrocities she witnessed and experienced - including being shot in her leg by a Serbian sniper, her best friend being shot dead in front of her, and her father murdered...all when she was just 13. It makes me wonder how it is that, even though we can see what the Nazis did and the devastating impacts of their sickening ideology and actions, other still choose to follow in their footsteps. Perhaps it's a risk in all of us - the pernicious effects of what the Bible calls sin.
Paula McKenzie
31/10/2024 02:57:02 pm
Nick - did you see "Stacy Dooley - Face to Face with ISIS"? Different uniforms. Different cause. Same psychopathology.
Nick Wright
31/10/2024 03:00:44 pm
Hi Paula. Yes, I did. I found it incredibly harrowing. The courage of the Yazidi woman was truly amazing. And yes, absolutely: 'Different uniforms. Different cause. Same psychopathology.'
Linh Pham
31/10/2024 01:03:23 pm
Hello Nick Wright. Please where did you find that great photograph? It is very sad. Thank you.
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 01:12:43 pm
Hi Linh. I took that photo this week on a graffiti wall, not far from the Berlin Wall in Germany. Yes, I found it very moving too.
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Léa Marchand
31/10/2024 01:14:51 pm
It’s the same in Russia, I believe. When the Soviet Union has collapsed, many politicians in the West said it prove capitalism it's better. Russians felt humiliated. They felt like the West said they were the “wrong side”. They must change to be like the West. Russian people felt powerless and bullied by West countries and NATO. Vladimir Putin saw this opportunity for himself. Strong man who will resist West and make Russians feel good again. So many Russian people support him. Like Americans support Donald Trump. Crazy leaders but people like them because make feel better to themselves now.
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 01:19:29 pm
Hi Léa. Thanks for sharing those interesting reflections. Yes, I broadly agree with you and share some similar thoughts here, in case of interest? https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/think5843248
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Dylan Clark
31/10/2024 01:20:13 pm
Hi Nick. The Nazis thought they were on the right side of history. They were deluded and dangerous psychopaths. They were on the wrong side.
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 01:22:45 pm
Hi Dylan. I agree - absolutely.
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Tyler Hall
31/10/2024 01:25:15 pm
You’re a Christian and obviously interested in psychology. What do you make of these things from that perspective. I mean, as a Christian? I'm a Christian and struggle to make sense of it all. We meet in church every week to pray for Ukraine. Shouldn't we be praying for the wrong side too?
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 01:30:05 pm
Hi Tyler. Those are difficult and incredibly important questions.
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Zinhle Ngwenya
31/10/2024 02:03:57 pm
Hi Nick. Thanks for writing this. The Nuremberg War Trials were set up to create a public record of crimes committed by the Nazis and hold those who led those crimes to account. The trials focused on punishing the perpetrators and issued a warning to future dictators and war criminals (https://www.dw.com/en/nuremberg-trials-a-warning-to-war-criminals-and-dictators/a-55634256)
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Nick Wright
31/10/2024 02:37:20 pm
Hi Zinhle - you're welcome. Thank you, too, for sharing those insights from the South Africa experience. Yes, I remember vividly hearing about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's work. It was an incredibly humbling, courageous and hope-inspiring approach that has inspired people and communities all over the world. There are some parallels in Marshall Rosenberg's approach to Non-Violent Communication (NVC).
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Zinhle Ngwenya
31/10/2024 02:42:11 pm
Thanks Nick. It was our way of bringing the right side and the wrong side into a new possibility of relationship grounded in accountability, forgiveness and reconciliation. I've never heard of Marshall Rosenberg or NVC. I'll Google it now!
Nick Wright
31/10/2024 02:47:09 pm
Hi Zinhle. Yes, and I heard it had a transformational effect on both victims and perpetrators and society as a whole. That reminds me of the philosophy and practice of Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
Mila Schneider
1/11/2024 10:40:02 am
Hello Nick. When the Allies bombed cities and civilians in Germany and Japan during WW2 was it also a war crime? The Nazis and Imperial Japan were terrible without excuse. The Allies were not innocent.
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Nick Wright
1/11/2024 10:43:36 am
Hi Mila. Thank you for raising that question. It's an ongoing debate and is very pertinent today too, especially in view of the severe conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon. On the WW2 situation, this short review aims to help answer that question - or at least to consider some of the factors in reaching a conclusion:
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Pete Chapman
1/11/2024 11:20:40 am
Hi Nick. Great article. And an excellent set of comments.
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Nick Wright
1/11/2024 11:38:48 am
Thanks Pete. Yes, I'm grateful - as always - to all who contribute so insightfully and constructively to these conversations. A continual source of stimulus and learning for me..!
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Nick WrightI'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? Get in touch! Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
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