The Slow Path Towards ‘Normality’: German Strategic Culture and the Holocaust

Despite being the largest, richest and most populous country in Europe, and despite being situated at the centre of Europe and thus affected by most developments in Europe, Germany is still somewhat reluctant to take on a leading role in Europe – most notably when it comes to security issues. The reason is that German strategic culture is still highly influenced by the collective remembrance of the Holocaust and the lessons Germany has drawn from it. The Holocaust Nation discourse has so far limited and delayed all attempts to develop a more active Germany within foreign and security policy. Germany may be on its way to becoming a more active great power, but it is happening at a slow pace, and the situation is still far from ‘normal’.