True, I had some D-Bag going off about "Nazi" cars/vehicles and I reined him in with the car was never a member of the National Socialist party during the Second World War, its just a car, full stop. I honestly feel we in North America are more anal and up tight about the Second World War then any country in Europe. Canada was NEVER invaded, or OCCUPIED nor SUFFERED under German occupation during 1939-45. Little Holland, a country that DID SUFFER greatly under the occupation now runs an event in Overloon (Milittracks
http://www.militracks.nl/en/ ) that showcases German wartime vehicles. Going one step further the CWM has one of AH staff cars on display and a couple pieces of German armour on display are those so "offended" by anything German not going to not see these "just because". Even todays younger generation of Germans have moved on and not going to be perpetually handwringing over the actions of a couple generations back in history. Yes it is good to remember, respect the history, not forget, but keep it all in perspective that it is 70 years after the fact.
Well said!
My story below is not posted with any hate or malice towards the original poster.
He deserves his point of view and I will back him up on that.
He is a good man and I have met him many times at gun show and exhibits.
That being said;
My Mother and Father both served in WW2.
Mom was a Canadian Red Cross Corps Nurse, Dad was Canadian Merchant Navy.
My Mother's family is 100% German Heritage that came to Canada in late 1800's to 1901.
Her Grandfather's Brother was Gustav Höhne (17 February 1893 – 1 July 1951) was a General in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held commands at the division and corps levels.
He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.
She once told me a story of growing up out in Rivers, Manitoba (if I recall that right as they moved around a bit at the beginning of WW2), anyway's, she was standing at a rail crossing when a German POW train came through town and had to stop right in front of her at the crossing.
Some of the POW's where singing and they all stopped when they saw here.
They where speaking to her in German saying what a beautiful girl, yada, yada, yada and my Mother just stood there not saying a thing.
The sad part of the story she said was, she understood everything as she was German Heritage herself, but since it was WW2, she was afraid to speak.
She said later in life, she regretted not speaking.
My Father did many Atlantic crossing in WW2 in the Merchant Navy.
He had many stories, good and bad, right up to including having beer in a Bar in a Neutral Country in Africa. (Portuguese East Africa)
There where German Naval Submariners buying beer for the Merchant Mariners out of mutual respect.
How is that for strange happenings!
He even has a few pictures.
After WW2, my Father worked at Ford in Oakville, Ontario which was full of German WW2 POW's that came back after WW2 to live in Canada.
We had many of family friends from these former POW's.
Mom and Dad have both passed on now and had no problem what so ever with me collecting Milsurp Firearms or doing European Battlefield Tours that included visiting everywhere right up to Berchtesgaden, Germany.
I even have a brick and other goodies from Hitler's retreat the "Berghof".
They both said, that's History right there.
Yes, atrocities happened on all sides of war, Never Forget!
Side note, Dads Ship;
On the 23 February 1945, at approximately 14:00,
Point Pleasant Park was sailing independently approximately 500 miles (800 km) north west of Cape Town, South Africa, when U-510, skippered by Kapitänleutnant Alfred Eick, found her.
U-510 was en route to Germany with a load of tungsten from the Far East when she encountered Point Pleasant Park.
U-510 fired on Point Pleasant Park at 29°42′S 09°58′E. A torpedo from U-510 hit Point Pleasant Park in the area of the quarters for the engine-room crew.
The explosion immediately killed eight of the crew and trapped 38 others below.
The 38 crew were eventually rescued by the officers with only 6 inches (15 cm) of air space left in their compartment.
Twenty minutes after the torpedo struck Owen gave the order to abandon ship.
Forty-nine men took to the sea in three open boats.
The boats moved off and stood by.
Ten minutes later U-510 surfaced, fired two bursts from her 37mm AA gun into the waterline of the bow to flood the forward holds, and then moved off on the surface in a westerly direction.
As the submarine moved off, Owen attempted to return to his ship but before the crew could get alongside Point Pleasant sank.
As she sank, hull stress caused the steam whistle to sound in a long final salute.
Did my Father have cause to hate Germany and all that she stood for?
He never did.
Rest in Peace Mom and Dad.
Thank you for your service.