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Intellectuals like Günther Grass saw in unification the breeding ground for fatal ethnic nationalism, while others, such as Martin Walser, openly rejoiced in the prospect of a united Germany, seeing a possible future of the unification of what should belong together (Müller, 2000). Among Germany’s neighbours and allies, fears of the German nation and the German “national character” rekindled. In The Times, Conor O’Brien (1989) warned that nationalism would resume its sway over Germany’s youth. After the end of monarchy, the collapse of a republic, two world wars, as well as genocide, division, and unification, German identity and the German nation were not only as complex as ever but also feared.
A central concern underpinning the debate about postunification Germany is the question of whether the memory of the past still informs German identity. The very notion of what the German nation is, and what identification with the very same can be legitimately, have been tied to the memory of national socialism. The historians’ debate was not the only occasion where critics feared that a change in Germany’s collective memory and identity were under way. Some of Germany’s postunification politics, such as the recognition of Slovenia and Croatia, caused irritation among some of its EU partners, with the chairman of the EC Peace Conference, Lord Carrington, accusing Germany of having “torpedoed” the conference (as cited in Brahimi, 2005, p. 11) and were signs of a “new German assertiveness” (Meiers, 2002, p. 199). The country’s continued commitment to European unification and NATO proved fears of another German Sonderweg unjustified. Support for European integration continued, as did the recognition of France as an important partner. NATO membership also was not questioned, as Germany’s leaders remained convinced that NATO would best serve its security interests (Haftendorn, 1999, pp. 24–25). It seemed that Germany’s political leadership would not desert the policies of multilateralism and would continue to tone down national interests.