1970 65438+February 7th, the coldest day in eastern Europe after heavy snow. Just after a state visit to Czech Republic and Poland, then Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt braved the cold wind and came to Warsaw Jewish Memorial Hall. After laying a wreath in front of the monument, he bowed his head solemnly and suddenly fell to his knees, praying, "God forgive us and may the suffering soul have peace." Brandt expressed deep condolences to the innocent Jews killed by the Nazi Party in World War II, and sincerely made amends for Nazi-era Germany.
Hurley, then President of the Federal Republic of Germany, also published the famous book Atonement to the whole world. When the news came, peace-loving people all over the world applauded. 19711On February 20th, Brandt won the Nobel Peace Prize.
In an interview with farage, a famous Italian journalist, Brandt talked about her feelings of taking this unexpected action at that time. He said: "I clearly distinguish between sin and responsibility. I have a clear conscience. I think it is unfair to blame our people and our generation for Nazi crimes. Crimes can only be borne by Hitler and other war criminals who started the Second World War. Although I left Germany a long time ago (Brandt was exiled abroad during World War II and engaged in the anti-fascist struggle), I also feel jointly and severally responsible for Hitler's coming to power to engage in fascism. After becoming German Chancellor, I feel that I have a social responsibility to make amends for Nazi Germany. When I woke up that morning, I had a strange feeling that I could not just put a wreath in front of the monument. I have a hunch that something unexpected will happen, although I don't know what it is. After laying the wreath, I suddenly felt the need to kneel down. Is this subconscious? "
Brandt knelt down in front of the Jewish monument in Poland and apologized, which was hailed as "the strongest expression of apology in Europe for about 1000 years". Gerhard schroder, the current German Chancellor, personally went to Poland to unveil the Brandt Monument engraved with the scene of kneeling and apologizing. Germany also built a memorial to the victims of the Nazi Holocaust near the famous Brandenburg Gate in the capital Berlin, which made Hitler's descendants decide never to get married and have children because of a strong sense of shame, thus uprooting the evil family.