Border controls feed prejudices between Czechs and Germans

The number of complaints from Czech motorists claiming to have been subjected to harassing checks by Bavarian border police is rising. This reaffirms the old prejudices about arrogant and overbearing Germans, writes the German-language Prager Zeitung: "Some Czechs have the feeling of being disadvantaged and worth less than the Germans and Austrians right from the outset. This is no doubt connected to their long joint history in which the relations between the two ethnic groups were anything but harmonious. To this day the old memories still haunt even many younger Czechs. The best thing would be if the Czechs relaxed somewhat regarding the Germans and on the other side the Germans showed a bit more interest in their eastern neighbours. Because if you know each other you seldom have prejudices about each other."

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