European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine fett German president Richard von Wolz tatter during an official trip to Turkey. President Richard von Weizsacker West Germany s most respected Public figure by William Tuohy los Angeles times president Richard von Weizsacker first attracted worldwide attention More than year ago when he gave a remarkable speech to the West German Federal parliament urging West germans to face their wartime past squarely and without flinching. The speech commemorating the 40th anniversary of the German surrender was not popular in every Quarter. The older generation of germans was reluctant to dwell on memories of world War ii the younger generation saw no reason to be reminded. Chancellor Helmut Kohl in fact had decided to Bury the nazi past by taking president Reagan to the Pitburg military cemetery where among the 2,000 Graves there Are those of 49 soldiers of the a Fen s3, the military Armol the nazi party s Schutz Platiel or Security Echelon yet von Weizsacker 66. A decorated infantry Ottar in the War sold the germans and the world beyond. We germans need and we have the strength to look truth straight in he Eye without embellishment and without distortion in our country a new generation has grown up to assume political responsibility. Our Young people Are not responsible for what happened Over 40 years ago. But they Are responsible for the historical a Wenthe Eider generation owe to Young people no the sment of dreams but honesty. We must help younger people to understand Why it is vital to keep noted the jewish adage reeking to Arget makes exile All the longer the secret of redemption lies in remembrance. Von whacker s Appeal to germans to face the awful realities of the country s nazi past was no unique. Other West German leaders especially former social democratic chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt had issued similar appeals and like von Weizsacker. Sought to define the views and responsibilities of the Post War generation in dealing with the Era. Nor has the president engaged in a dramatic display of atonement As Brand did in 1970 when Knell in silent prayer before a memorial in Warsaw Lor the half million jews killed during the German occupation of Poland. Still Van Weizsacker s speech was instantly perceived As morally cleansing it served both at Home and abroad to Salve the prickly feelings raised by Kohl s decision to go ahead with the Reagan visit to Pitburg despite the heated objections. The beautifully crafted speech and the decision to make ii. Help explain Why in his two plus years in office von Weizsacker has easily become West Germany s most respected Public figure. The elegant Silver haired patrician routinely tops Public opinion samplings for his performance As president a five year Post he has subtly upgraded from a ceremonial Rola to one of substance. He is carefully listened to by germans of All political views. For although he is a member of the Christian democratic party von Weizsacker takes a highly Independent and straightforward line on National issues. His Only political Haw in the eyes of party wheel horses la that he regularly outshines Kohl. The party s often bumbling Leader. The bavarian conservative Leader and state Premier Franz Josef Strauss a Man not Given to praising other politicians put it like this he is everyone s Ideal o what a head of state should  von Weizsacker s popularity is such that some commentators suggest that he should succeed Kohl As sunday August 24, 1986 Hadd of government Bui a Clor c aide scotches such talk. The president will never Iun for  he said not Long ago. It is out of the question to by Lions m would diminish Tho office Al president " an associate attributes von Woi Sackor s Success in Large measure to his being something of a political  for this reason he said he can to his own Man in assessing controversial issues and think the people realize this and respect him for  not Long ago. For example von Weizsacker warned that the country should reassess the dangers of nuclear Energy at a time when the government appeared to be in a dither Al the result of Iho april 26 Accident at the soviet nuclear Power station Al chernobyl in the Ukraine we cannot discard modern technology the president said but with its help we Musl learn How to handle it better. Least of All however should we ignore the disaster and carry on As if nothing had happened on another occasion in an address to the International labor organisation von Weizsacker insisted that a free society needs free  and he complimented West Germany s unions to the important Rolo the have played in developing oui free and democratic society this was at a Lime when Tho Christian democratic government was being accused by the opposition of trying to crush Iho Power of West German labor unions. Von Weizsacker has Al o inca to Bridge the ideological Gap Between the two Germany preaching understanding moderation and reconciliation with Eastern neighbors a policy thai was pioneered by Brandt s policy of  he  an associate said that you have to Progress step by step and not necessarily Wail for some great Overall solution to the East West  von Welz biker Reami to have a particular interest in and Appeal for the Young. I want to hear what they have to say what they think tote problems  to has said. He frequently invites youth delegations to visit him Al the presidential residence. And Young people seem to warm to him. What i like about him when i seem him on television is thai to gives straight answers a 16-year-old High school student from Bemberg said. He is not  straight talk is what he gave the germans in his  to the parliament on Way a 1985, he 40th anniversary of the German surrender to the allies in 1945. Today we mourn All the dead of the War and the tyranny he said. In particular we commemorate the 6 million jews who were murdered in German concentration Camps. We commemorate All nations who suffered in the War. Especially Ine countless citizens of the soviet Union and Poland who lost their lives. As germans we mourn our compatriots who perished As soldiers we commemorate the gypsies the homosexuals and the mentally ill who were killed As Well As he people who had to die for their religious or political beliefs. We commemorate the hostages who were executed. We recall the victims of the resistance movements in All the countries occupied by us. As germans we pay homage to the victims of the German anti nazi resistance among the Public the military the churches the workers and Trade unions and the  von Weizsacker. Who is married and has Lour children also spoke to the younger generation declaring there is no such thing As the guilt or innocence of an entire Nalion. Guilt is like innocence not collective but personal. The vast majority of today s population were either children then or had not been born. They cannot profess a guilt of their own for crimes that they did no Commil. No discerning person can expect them to Wear a penitential Robe simply because they Are germans. But their forefathers have loll them a grave legacy. Allol us guilty or not. Old or Young must accept the past. We Are All affected by its consequences and liable for it. Whoever refuses to remember the inhumanity is prone to new risks of infection. There is every reason Lor us to perceive May 8, 1945, As the end of an aberration in German history an end bearing seeds of Hope for a better future he said. The stars and stripes Page 13