oh please. people were not "left alone". refusing to join the hitler jugend could have serious consequences -- and insiduously, not just for the refuser, but for the parents. we're not just talking about defying the government, but also about getting your family in trouble. it's real easy for people from the safety of today's comfortable life to criticise those who didn't join the resistance. what i've seen in the US after 9/11 makes me understand the ordinary germans under hitler a lot better. most people are extremely easy to fool and cow.

there is plenty for which one can blame ratzinger, but the "nazi supporter" cries are unreasonable IMO. and no, i don't like him at all, and am deeply disappointed (though not surprised) that they elected him pope -- john paul II pretty much set it up for this. i just don't think blaming him for his mandatory HJ and wehrmacht service is the right tack.