The study examines the significance of the topic of National Socialism for young Germans today. How do the grandchildren of bystanders speak about dictatorship and terror, war and extermination racism? How do they connect their historical knowledge with current discussions on guilt and responsibility of the Germans? Based on open interviews conducted in East and West Germany with individuals born between 1951 and 1967, the investigation distinguishes three fundamental types of engagement with the past: National Socialism is perceived as a personal issue, understood as a closed chapter of history, and used as a thematic medium to portray biographical and political experiences.