There is quite simply a lot to unpack in this still of the film “To Be or Not To Be”  However I would like to focus on the “errinerungskultur” aspect of this image in regards to a German/American viewpoint. Here you can easily see the satire regarding the use of the Nazi salute in the Second World War. From a German perspective, this is absolutely unacceptable and highly problematic. Since the Germans bear the blame for the atrocities done in the war they shy heavily against bringing it up at all. Using the nazis in any form is tasteless and should be avoided at all costs.

From an American perspective, I believe that simply repressing the past and shoving it deep inside will only make the problem worse in the long run. I am by no means advocating for the improper use of the Nazis, but instead, have a healthy discussion about what happened and how to improve vastly from whence that stemmed. America has its own set of dark pasts and in only now just starting to scratch the surface of bringing these topics to light. So far sensible discussions have only brought more understanding between Americans. So hopefully the Germans will also start to adopt this mindset in order to tackle their past as well.

This image truly shows that even back in WW2 other nations and cultures were already willing to use a dark past in order to bring good things to light.