Germans to stand with Allies for 1st time at D-Day rites

[Mace]

Sixty years ago, the Allied troops storming the Normandy beaches knew one thing for sure: Germans were the bad guys.

But today, Germans are good guys. As a nation, Germany is democratic, prosperous and an integral part of Europe. Germany has an army but is loath to use it for anything other than United Nations (news - web sites)-approved peacekeeping missions.

So it was with surprisingly little controversy that Germany, for the first time, was invited to participate in this year's D-Day remembrances.

In the small villages and towns that dot the Normandy coast, German flags flutter gaily beside the flags of the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Poland, Norway and other nations that contributed men to the D-Day invasion.

At Sunday's ceremonies, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will stand shoulder to shoulder with the leaders of the nations that defeated Adolf Hitler's Germany in 1945.

Ten years ago, this was impossible. According to diplomatic lore, former Chancellor Helmut Kohl wanted to be invited to the 50th anniversary ceremonies but was politely refused. Too soon, he was told.

A few veterans groups in the U.S. and Britain grumbled that it was still too soon, but their objections were muted. Most veterans now seem to have warmed to the idea.

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