The German envoy to Britain took advantage of the anniversary of the World War II Allied victory to accuse Britons of being "obsessed with the Nazi period."
Ambassador Thomas Matussek said Britain and Germany were "drifting apart" because British schoolchildren are growing up with "dangerous misunderstandings," and were not taught "what Germany is about. He said British children, therefore, are "ignorant" about German history after 1945," the Sunday Telegraph reported.
However, he praised the close Anglo-German relationship within the European Union and NATO. Matussek said he welcomed Sunday's VE Day -- Victory in Europe Day -- celebrations as a chance for Germany to join Britain in honoring the some 50 million people who died during World War II.
The chairman of the Royal British Legion in Stratford-upon-Avon, said the ambassador "has it wrong."
"We move on, but we don't forget," said Pete Summerton.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
