For decades after WWII, any depictions of national pride were carefully orchestrated. The Germans were ashamed of their past. It was somehow frowned upon to call for patriotism or even wave the german flag in the open. It seems to me, the soccer world-cup 2006, hosted in Germany, was the turning point: All of a sudden it was okay to be proud of Germany, it was okay to say that out loud and it was okay to wave the german flag enthusiastically.
Today, Germans remember their past and accept it, but they no longer walked hunched with a historical burden.

We don't generally discuss the history of WWII. I have a lot of respect for them. They weren't even alive during the Nazi period.

But when the topic does come up and it can't but help to from time to time we have a very frank discussion.

They acknowledge a sense of shame about the atrocities of the Nazi era, not just WWII. The Nazis were guilty of horrendous crimes even during the pre-WWII days.

They do point out that the reparations imposed on Germany after WWI doomed the Weimar Republic. The double-whammy hit them when the Great Depression set in in 1929-1930. They don't use these as excuses but point out that Germany had been broken by the defeat in WWI and especially in the reparations and limitations on arms, etc. imposed as part of the Versailles Treaty.

They then make a very interesting comment. They say one reason many younger Germans (i.e. those born after WWII) are not religious is because they perceive Hitler (and Stalin) as leaders of cults. They view National Socialism as a form of cult, not a political movement. They consider Hitler a very charismatic "leader" who was able to use emotion to get the German people to do all kinds of things they likely wouldn't ordinarily do.

He exploited the economic challenges and the political vacuum after the collapse of the Weimar Republic to seize the people's imagination with promises of greatness, glory and riches.

I think there is something to that.