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Vergangenheitsbewältigung in Deutschland: die Auseinandersetzung mit der NS-Diktatur von 1945 bis heute
Von der Entnazifizierung und den Nürnberger Prozessen über den Auschwitz-Prozess und die Verjährungsdebatten bis zur Entschädigung der Zwangsarbeiter und zur immer noch aktuellen Kontroverse um das Holocaust-Mahnmal beschreibt der Autor Peter Reichel, Professor für Politische Wissenschaft an der Universität Hamburg, wie die Deutschen politisch, juristisch und letzlich auch moralisch mit der NS-Vergangenheit umgegangen sind.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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May 11, 2024
This book offers a good overview of the ways in which the Nazi past has been dealt with in German politics, society and especially in its courts. It is also rather easy to read, even for someone whose German is less-than-perfect like me.
The main focus lies on the legal proceedings against former Nazi's and the discussions about these in West-German society. This is not limited to the Nürnberg processes, but also includes various trials during the late 50's, the Auschwitz trials of 1963-65 and some later cases in the 70's. The author discusses these at length.
Especially interesting is the rising and waning of the popularity of these trials throughout the 50's and 60's. At times people seemed to consider them a good thing, at other times they were rather critical of them. Many Germans in this era wanted to forget about the past. At the same time there were still consistent discussions and legal cases about the crimes of the Nazi's. This undermines the later perspective (of the 68 generation) that the past was ignored in this period. The author hereby partially agrees with the arguments Manfred Kittel (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), although he is much more critical of the 50's generation than Kittel was (or so it feels to me at least).
Another fascinating aspect he highlights are the discussions about certain artists and movie-makers who had been darlings of the Nazi's. Especially a particular director who had made the movie Jud Süss became a very controversial figure in the late 50's. This man wanted to make new movies and was criticized, sued and the cause of many protests against him and rallies in his favour. His opponents argued that his movies had contributed to the demonisation of Jewish people and thereby played a factor in enabling antisemitism and the Holocaust. His defenders thought that he had acted under pressure (like so many others claimed to have done) and that he had never been personally antisemitic. Eventually he got off easy and kept on making movies, most notably a rather homophobic movie which he submitted to a festival.
Maybe the one weak spot the book has is its treatment of East-Germany. I feel like the author over promised a little bit in this regard. He does not write as much about it as I would have liked, but maybe there is just not that much to say beyond a certain point (as the East-German government denied any culpality and considered themselves to be the successors of the rebels, not the Nazi's).
Additionally some bits were rather dry, as is to be expected from legal history. In general a rather interesting read however.
The main focus lies on the legal proceedings against former Nazi's and the discussions about these in West-German society. This is not limited to the Nürnberg processes, but also includes various trials during the late 50's, the Auschwitz trials of 1963-65 and some later cases in the 70's. The author discusses these at length.
Especially interesting is the rising and waning of the popularity of these trials throughout the 50's and 60's. At times people seemed to consider them a good thing, at other times they were rather critical of them. Many Germans in this era wanted to forget about the past. At the same time there were still consistent discussions and legal cases about the crimes of the Nazi's. This undermines the later perspective (of the 68 generation) that the past was ignored in this period. The author hereby partially agrees with the arguments Manfred Kittel (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), although he is much more critical of the 50's generation than Kittel was (or so it feels to me at least).
Another fascinating aspect he highlights are the discussions about certain artists and movie-makers who had been darlings of the Nazi's. Especially a particular director who had made the movie Jud Süss became a very controversial figure in the late 50's. This man wanted to make new movies and was criticized, sued and the cause of many protests against him and rallies in his favour. His opponents argued that his movies had contributed to the demonisation of Jewish people and thereby played a factor in enabling antisemitism and the Holocaust. His defenders thought that he had acted under pressure (like so many others claimed to have done) and that he had never been personally antisemitic. Eventually he got off easy and kept on making movies, most notably a rather homophobic movie which he submitted to a festival.
Maybe the one weak spot the book has is its treatment of East-Germany. I feel like the author over promised a little bit in this regard. He does not write as much about it as I would have liked, but maybe there is just not that much to say beyond a certain point (as the East-German government denied any culpality and considered themselves to be the successors of the rebels, not the Nazi's).
Additionally some bits were rather dry, as is to be expected from legal history. In general a rather interesting read however.
Displaying 1 of 1 review