Quote Originally Posted by EMFM
What is wrong with honouring our ancestors, who fought and, in many cases, died in the war? They didn't fight for the Nazi government, they fought for the country, or because they were conscripted. You cannot paint the Wehrmacht as an organization of war criminals any more than you can paint the USAAF as one.
When your country is run by Nazis, serving your country is tantamount to serving them. If no one volunteered to invade Poland...

Quote Originally Posted by TSM
What do you mean? Hypothetical: If my brother gave up his life to defend my father who was an abusive drunk murderer, I would honor my brothers sacrifice. I would blame my father even more for causing his death, but the one who sacrificed was doing what he thought was right out of honor.
That's not a very clear scenario to me, but if your brother was protecting your father while he was out murdering, he would have been convicted as an accessory if he lived.

It would be even more sad that my brother died to protect a scumbag.
Amen.

Quote Originally Posted by SwedishFish
Wermacht should be honored as the force it was. The SS, however, as I stated again, the divisions (Such as Wiking) that's sole duty was to fight should be honored for their committment and fighting ability, however, those who were involved with the war crimes need to no further mention for their atrocities. Alexander- the pilot who bombed Dresden was following orders, as was the Panzer Grenadier who was at the Seelow Heights. Both need to be remembered and honored for their fighting ability and bravery. To paint them due to their superiors actions is stupid.
The Whermacht was a force not only with specific war crimes and atrocities on its record, but also one supporting an even ghastlier system. The pilot who bombed Dresden might not have connected the dots between his orders and the thousands of civilian causalties, but still should have rejected them.

We know that there is no such thing as "following orders" - that's one of the rationales at work at Neuremburg!