Reparation payments, and territorial trimmings against Germany were tried, after WWI, with visibly connectable unfortunate political consequences. I kind of doubt that the total European community is so inclined to forgive and forget the atrocities, or to let the Germans set the whole agenda. Maybe Germans, in an atmosphere and reality(?) of prosperity and security will mellow further. The EU makes borders/divisions *less* significant for Europeans, and that is a favorable trend.

Recently on PBS, I saw a program about another Midwest USA Jew, who was one of the "Mengele twins" (unethical experiments of WWII era). One of Mengele's less-guilty and not-executed medical associates was found, and he acknowledged on camera his part in the gassing/execution, and also apologised. That is a move toward healing the awful wounds, by an implicated German. The lady-twin had decided to forgive the Dr. Mengele, and also attended a meeting in Berlin where the Max Planck institute representative apologised on camera.

Forgiveness has benefits and merits to the forgiver. It is easier to mellow out, if the potato sack is at least half-full. AFAICS, the Germans are not taking their prosperity now without earning/working for it. Germany (actually ethnically diverse) has reason to feel insecure in the middle of Europe, not only from Russia, but from history, past invasions by Mongols, Moslems (Turks?), and a couple of big castle-busting invasions by the French. The Germans include many Francophiles, but then, Napoleon is a historical fact.