1960: Failure of Denazification

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Von Schadewald
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Location: Israel

1960: Failure of Denazification

#1

Post by Von Schadewald » 24 Apr 2023, 05:55

Nazism in its heyday almost took on the status of a religious order - Eine Ordenung as Hitler called it. The process of Denazification was deemed to have been largely successful by 1960.

WI Nazism had so possessed the German soul and mindset, that just like in Islamic Taqiya, where to this day a Muslim will not betray or inform on another Muslim, that Entnazifizierung failed? And that already in 1950 it was perceived by the Allies that it was not going to work, or would take many decades?

How would this effect W and E Germany and their being re-armed and their joining of the EEC and Warsaw Pact.

Could W and E Germany have remained social and moral outcasts to this day, the German Plain being reduced to being a simmering Morgenthau agrarian society?

Peter89
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Re: 1960: Failure of Denazification

#2

Post by Peter89 » 24 Apr 2023, 08:14

Von Schadewald wrote:
24 Apr 2023, 05:55
Nazism in its heyday almost took on the status of a religious order - Eine Ordenung as Hitler called it. The process of Denazification was deemed to have been largely successful by 1960.

WI Nazism had so possessed the German soul and mindset, that just like in Islamic Taqiya, where to this day a Muslim will not betray or inform on another Muslim, that Entnazifizierung failed? And that already in 1950 it was perceived by the Allies that it was not going to work, or would take many decades?

How would this effect W and E Germany and their being re-armed and their joining of the EEC and Warsaw Pact.

Could W and E Germany have remained social and moral outcasts to this day, the German Plain being reduced to being a simmering Morgenthau agrarian society?
It is highly questionable whether Nazism ever possessed the German soul and mindset as much as Islam possessed . After all, Hitler never even had 50%+ majority on elections, while democratic, communist and other political powers had palpable and enthusiastic supporters.
And even though there was some Nazi-nostalgia in postwar Germany, there was also anti-Nazi sentiment and the power gradually and decisively shifted to the hands of businessmen and intellectuals, who, like churches, tend to cooperate with the current power.

On top of this, the Nazi cause was clearly a lost cause, something that is not really attractive to believe in, so I guess popular support would wane as years went by over the smoldering ruins of German cities.

But, assuming that somehow Germans remain or become ardent Nazis after WW2, they would have a hard time in GDR and in GFR as well. In the east, they would probably try to sabotage the system; it is questionable, however, how they would react to Hungarian, Polish and Czech uprisings against the Soviets. Would they follow the "traditional" Nazi diplomacy to push aside natural allies based on racial inferiority, or would they make a pact with them to join forces? Also how long would it take to transform Nazism into something like a resistance movement against Soviet occupation? Because we can not take it for granted that Hitler's ideas would outlive Hitler without a single bit of a change.

As for West Germany, the historical reality dictated a reapproachment with France, the BeNeLux and Italy, and thus the European integration project. Again the question is what does being a Nazi mean, especially in West Germany, where the Nazi support was traditionally lower (however, the large number of refugees, about 1/5 of the German population back then, probably changed the picture), and cohabitation with the neighbours was less problematic. Also it is impossible to predict how the ATL nazis would treat Italians: brothers in arms, traitors, or useless Latin folks?
In any case, if Germany did not embark on the European integration project, it was not to be rearmed, and if they'd exhibit Nazi attitudes (especially if they turn to autarchy instead of the Exportschlacht), there would be no chance for an economic growth.

And there is of course Austria, which would probably be divided and occupied until the Soviet Union collapsed.
"Everything remained theory and hypothesis. On paper, in his plans, in his head, he juggled with Geschwaders and Divisions, while in reality there were really only makeshift squadrons at his disposal."


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