FRG: De-nazification 1945-49 Flashcards
What was the consensus around what should happen to germany and nazis after Germany had lost the war
- nazi party had to go
- allies wanted mass culture and political change
- change national racist identify imposed by nazis onto the public
What were the Nuremberg trials and how many were sentenced
- war trials of nazis who hadn’t escaped/committed suicide
- of 22 defendants -> 12 to death, 3 life prison and 3 acquitted. Remaining defendenats went to prison
What was the German reaction to Nuremberg trials
Surveys showed mist felt they were necessary due to the loss of the war, but feelings Nazi pursuit should end.
Fuhrur myth died down, hitler now seen to blame
What was year 0
- Many Germans felt after war, they needed a life reset and rebuild life (without close attention of what had been done pre 1945).
- policy supported by right wing politicians (eg. Former Nazi chancellor Adenauer)
What were the problems with rounding up people of the Nazi party itself.
How did this affect public opinion on the new allied authorities coming in
- problems with classification
- many only joined party due to jobs and had no real Nazi sympathies.
- also possible for more involved nazis to remove themselves from record.
- thus, process seemed corrupt/messy and didnt encourage people to welcome democratic processes of allies
How did allies try and reform the youth/schools
- may 1946, Nazi schoolbooks, films and racial theory banned
- teachers vetted to remove all nazis from unis and teacher training institutions.
- libraries and librarians similar
Problem with the level of nazification that caused difficulties for allies.
How did ussr and Britain deal with this
Nazification was so through that de-nazification meant not enough ppl to do key jobs, eg. Schools and gov.
No single uniform policy:
- USSR - most ruthless in weeding out nazis
- Britain - more pragmatic, accepted role of some ex-Nazis to ensure gov worked
Reactions to de-Nazification: Resigned acceptance
Germany lost and allies biund to punish them.
Especially widespread in USA between 1945-49, polls showed around2/3rds of country thought de-Nazi faction was necessary. But after 1949 (withdrawal of allied troops) opinion fell to under 1/4 by 1951
Reactions to de-Nazification: indignation
Allies had dropped bombs on Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden etc so why should only Germans be punished for war crimes.
Plus, allies were censoring press, vetting teachers etc, yet critiqued nazis for same thing
Reactions to de-Nazification: avoidance
Nazi supporters wanted to avoid too close of an examination of who did what during the war
Reactions to de-Nazification: Cynicism
Some pointed out that (bar Nuremberg trials) Nazi prosecution was patchy
All allies were guilty of allowing ex-Nazi with useful skills to leave country and start new life (around 1.6k scientists/doctors avoided prosecution by working with USA)
Reactions to de-Nazification: Desire to move on
Ppl and new FRG gov wanted to follow pragmatic course and believed in year 0.
Didn’t pay close attention to ppls past to rebuild country quickly (eg. Schools, civil service), and by 1947 more than 85% of teachers in Bavaria who lost jobs due to de-nazification were back.
By 1960, what was new reaction to de-nazification
- young ppl impatient with year 0 policy.
- wanted to know what their families had done in Nazi times, clearing the air. Angry at sloppy de-Nazification.
- some ppl content that those who were only nazi in name had kept jobs, unhappy more prominent nazis took significant jobs.
- unhappy with amount of ex-Nazi among older teaching staff -> they encouraged formation of right wing student groups etc
Why was national pride hard to distinguish post nazis
Fact that national pride had been so closely associated under nazis meant hard for FRb to express sense of national pride. Further complained by FRG and DRG split.
Thus meaning even FRG saw itself as temporary - even basic law was temporary expedient. These all contributed too national indentity uncertainties.
