Post-World War II, Germany has developed a complex relationship between its remembrance of the Holocaust and its support for Israel. This intertwining has shaped Germany's national identity, emphasizing public remembrance of its past crimes through education and monuments. In recent years, particularly since the reunification, a culture centered on the Holocaust has been deeply institutionalized. This has been reflected in political discourse regarding Israel's security, especially following the recent conflict involving Hamas, which saw a significant surge in German arms sales to Israel, stirring controversy amidst humanitarian crises in Gaza.
In recent decades, solidarity with the Jewish state has burnished Germany's proud self-image as the only country that makes public remembrance of its criminal past the very foundation of its collective identity.
Monuments, memorials and museums across the country commemorate the victims of German crimes, creating a strong Shoah-centred memory culture.
German arms sales to Israel surged tenfold in 2023; the vast majority of sales were approved after 7 October, with officials fast-tracking permits.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated the national orthodoxy: Israel is a country that has a right to defend itself, even amid widespread condemnation.
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