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Comment by baxtr | Hacker News Reader

The most amazing change in relationships happened between France and Germany. After having fought against each other for centuries they have developed a very close partnership. Germans love French culture/wine/food, French people admire Germany’s economic success.

PS: yes I know, all anecdotal

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Although when you get to areas close to the German border you still can feel the resentment from time to time. Can't really blame them after WW1 and 2. But overall I have been treated extremely well as a German all over Europe (and the world). This often surprises me.

Only superficially.

How easily we forget the Carolingian Empire.

Not that amazing. Vichy France was an ally of Nazi Germany

Are you implying that the Vichy government made the typical French citizen more friendly toward Germany? I'm not French and I wasn't there, but that seems... unlikely.

> The most amazing change in relationships happened between France and Germany.

I think we tend to forget that wars are started by governments, not people. People usually have no hatred for people beyond their borders. Hatred is created through politics and brainwashing.

Nope, personal experience can lead to hate in individuals, or questioning their hate. People form opinions based on the examples they see. If the examples are bad, there is no need for any propaganda to instigate hate.

To start a war government needs the support from a significant part of the people. Sure, they are brainwashed, yet that doesn't make them blameless.

> To start a war government needs the support from a significant part of the people

There's a bunch of recent wars that had virtually no widespread popular support. Vietnam, Iraq, Syria... it does not seem to be a necessary condition anymore for any military action.

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