One of mine, too, although I don’t know if he was enthusiastic about it.
If you were of that age in Germany at the time, apparently you joined, as everyone did. It sounds like it was considered more likely than joining the Boy Scouts in the US.
Seconded.
“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges, if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.” - George Washington, 1783
Thank you for your service to this great republic, Quasimodem. We’re glad you’re here.
You couldn’t have been born earlier. Your American soldier dad wouldn’t have met your German mother before the war. The only way he meets your mom is during the war or after it. So really, you have just as much reason to feel bothered about what might have been if you were born in Germany before the war as any of us, because its equally implausible. (ie, what if my great grandma moved to Germany instead of America in 1910, and the next 3 generations had their baby’s as teenagers instead of in their 30’s, resulting with me being born in 1932 in Germany? Would I have been a Hitler Youth? Probably.)
Quasi, I’m not able to grok your issue. If I’d been born 100 years earlier I would have been part of the attempted eradication Native American heathen savages. I have loads of ancestors who were; as well as loads who were into slavery back when it was cool. Go back far enough and I have family that slaughtered invading Muslims, upstart Christians & even God-damned Canaanites.
Blood doesn’t splash forward in time, it only covers those who inspired and precipitated the spill. You’re not them. I was born during the Vietnam thing so I really can’t comment on what things were like in the USA then because I was too young. Maybe you can feel guilty about participating in that if you want, but I don’t see it as anywhere near as nasty as what Germany got up to under Hitler, or the USSR under Stalin.
The life you’ve lived has been kinda the opposite of oppressive accessory to murder and THAT’S a truth. Stick with the truth you know. You don’t owe squat for what your ancestors did. People are indebted to YOU for stuff YOU actually did.