The Defense

Although Slaughterhouse Five, was written so the Germans were the enemies, I do not think that Vonnegut is making an attack on the Germans. In contrast, I think that he is defending the Germans in many aspects of the book. 

I first had a feeling that Vonnegut was trying to defend the Germans was when the American POW was shipped to the temporary British POW camp. When Vonnegut described that the British was getting along very well with the Germans, I understood what Vonnegut could be telling us. The Germans did not try to take away the British's extra food (when they could have obviously done that with a gun), but they traded their own stuff to ensure that both sides has what they want.

I also think that Vonnegut was trying to defend the Germans because of the reaction after the Dresden bombing. If the Germans were all completely bad and filled with hatred, why would they provide shelter to enemies who just destroyed  their home?

The fact that Vonnegut's family was ashamed of their heritage itself proved that the Germans weren't all bad. Their shame towards what the Germans did in WWII displayed their regret towards their own country. Although I can understand the reason behind their attempt at culture conformity, I do not agree. I don't think that one should be ashamed of their own heritage merely because of the fault of a few. After all, isn't that what Vonnegut is trying to tell us? To live in the present, and not mope about your past. To just leave it us that: the past. 

Poo-tee-wee
                                                           - Yuemin