The Denazification Policies of the Allies (1945-1949)

Question 1

Describe the “year zero” policy adopted by many Germans and right-wing politicians.

Answer 1

The belief that Germany should move forward from the legacy of the Nazis rather than prosecute all those who had been associated with the NSDAP. Many Nazi Party members had been important members of society and were needed to rebuild Germany.

Question 2

Who was the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany?

Answer 2

Konrad Adenauer.

Question 3

Identify three ways the Allies tried to de-Nazify Germany after the Second World War.

Answer 3

• The Nuremberg Trials which began on October 18, 1945. High profile Nazis were either executed or imprisoned (out of 22 accused, 12 were executed, 3 imprisoned for life and 3 acquitted).
• Thousands of Germans were forced to visit concentration camps in their neighbourhoods to confront the reality of Nazi rule.
• Ex-Nazis were banned from all leading positions of power. By 1946 nearly 250,000 ex-Nazis had been arrested and imprisoned.

Question 4

Identify three pieces of evidence that suggest that Germans were not in favour of de-Nazification.

Answer 4

• “Year zero”. The idea that the aim of West Germany should be to move on and start a new.
• Approximately 10% of the German population had been Nazi Party members and many were skilled professionals needed to rebuild Germany.
• In 1951 (after the Allies had withdrawn their troops) only 25% of Germans viewed de-Nazification as necessary.

Question 5

Identify three reasons that explain why the de-Nazification process in Germany was Limited.

Answer 5

• ex-Nazis were sewn into the fabric of Germany and thus would be hard to remove.
• Many Germans, including the chancellor believed in “year zero”.
• Approximately 10% of Germans were ex-Nazi party members. Many were skilled professionals who were needed to rebuild Germany.