My Grandpa Was a Nazi
Bastian Allgeier
The author reflects on their personal experience with their grandfather, who was a Nazi. They describe spending time with him as a child and the stories he would tell, including his involvement in Hitler Jugend and his experiences in the war. The author shares their realization that their grandfather was a cruel and manipulative person, and discusses the complexities of family dynamics and the struggle to confront the past. They emphasize the importance of standing up against fascism and the need to prevent its resurgence.
25 Oct 2024
I'm writing this down because my grandpa turned me into an anti-fascist with all my heart for the rest of my life. I'm not wearing black on an antifa demo to beat up some Nazis. I mean the deep conviction that fascism must never – and I mean never – return to power. I've witnessed his distorted reality. He was a fantastic example for how well humans can manipulate their own memories and the stories they tell – to protect themselves – to hide some brutal truths forever. You cannot argue with someone who's living in a different universe. It took a long time for me to understand that.