Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949

The article examines the process of theoretical formulation and practical implementation of “denazification” program of internee German prisoners of war who were dislocated on the territory of the United States of America. On the basis of the Military Department orders, the Military Governor’s repor...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mykhailo Boiko, Oleksandr Ivanov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv 2018-04-01
Series:Американська історія і політика
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.americanstudies.history.knu.ua/en/plan-and-first-denazification-experience-of-german-prisoners-of-war-in-the-united-states-of-america-during-1945-1949/
_version_ 1797385561571328000
author Mykhailo Boiko
Oleksandr Ivanov
author_facet Mykhailo Boiko
Oleksandr Ivanov
author_sort Mykhailo Boiko
collection DOAJ
description The article examines the process of theoretical formulation and practical implementation of “denazification” program of internee German prisoners of war who were dislocated on the territory of the United States of America. On the basis of the Military Department orders, the Military Governor’s reports, memoirs of the US political figures, the memories of former German prisoners of war, diaries of staff who was responsible for the denazification program, materials of German newspapers on the territory of the American occupation zone, the authors studied the main mechanisms, directions, and issues of “denazification” carried out in camps for the prisoners of war 1943-1945. The denazification project originated in the United States migrant communities. The ideological founder of the “recharacterisation” course, British Edward Davidson, formed the basic provisions during 1943-1945, shared to interned German prisoners of war, who took the “recharacterisation” within the framework of acquaintance with the political system, economic conditions and the cultural heritage of the United States on the territory of Fort Jetta, Corny, Weserill. Denazification helped to reveal the criminal nature of the Nazi regime, to discredit the National Socialists and to facilitate the get away tendency from Nazi ideology. Within the framework of the Special Project, more than 39,000 former Wehrmacht soldiers were ready to serve under the guidance of officers of the Military Administration across the American Occupation Zone. Edward Davison’s efforts have not been succeeded because of bureaucratic barriers in Germany, as former prisoners of war were not provided with jobs on administrative positions. The United States intended to create a new type of citizen by integrating different instruments of political socialization such as the media, schools and civil society. Rarely, when the nation has undergone such an attempt to change political relations in a democratic direction in such a short time.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T21:55:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4ef98a03fa05464bba89361211e00025
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2521-1706
2521-1714
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T21:55:56Z
publishDate 2018-04-01
publisher Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
record_format Article
series Американська історія і політика
spelling doaj.art-4ef98a03fa05464bba89361211e000252023-12-19T21:00:56ZengTaras Shevchenko National University of KyivАмериканська історія і політика2521-17062521-17142018-04-015114128Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949Mykhailo BoikoOleksandr Ivanov0Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, KyivThe article examines the process of theoretical formulation and practical implementation of “denazification” program of internee German prisoners of war who were dislocated on the territory of the United States of America. On the basis of the Military Department orders, the Military Governor’s reports, memoirs of the US political figures, the memories of former German prisoners of war, diaries of staff who was responsible for the denazification program, materials of German newspapers on the territory of the American occupation zone, the authors studied the main mechanisms, directions, and issues of “denazification” carried out in camps for the prisoners of war 1943-1945. The denazification project originated in the United States migrant communities. The ideological founder of the “recharacterisation” course, British Edward Davidson, formed the basic provisions during 1943-1945, shared to interned German prisoners of war, who took the “recharacterisation” within the framework of acquaintance with the political system, economic conditions and the cultural heritage of the United States on the territory of Fort Jetta, Corny, Weserill. Denazification helped to reveal the criminal nature of the Nazi regime, to discredit the National Socialists and to facilitate the get away tendency from Nazi ideology. Within the framework of the Special Project, more than 39,000 former Wehrmacht soldiers were ready to serve under the guidance of officers of the Military Administration across the American Occupation Zone. Edward Davison’s efforts have not been succeeded because of bureaucratic barriers in Germany, as former prisoners of war were not provided with jobs on administrative positions. The United States intended to create a new type of citizen by integrating different instruments of political socialization such as the media, schools and civil society. Rarely, when the nation has undergone such an attempt to change political relations in a democratic direction in such a short time.http://www.americanstudies.history.knu.ua/en/plan-and-first-denazification-experience-of-german-prisoners-of-war-in-the-united-states-of-america-during-1945-1949/prisoners of war (pow)denazificationthe united states of americanational socialismgermany
spellingShingle Mykhailo Boiko
Oleksandr Ivanov
Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949
Американська історія і політика
prisoners of war (pow)
denazification
the united states of america
national socialism
germany
title Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949
title_full Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949
title_fullStr Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949
title_full_unstemmed Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949
title_short Plan and first denazification experience of German prisoners of war in the United States of America during 1945-1949
title_sort plan and first denazification experience of german prisoners of war in the united states of america during 1945 1949
topic prisoners of war (pow)
denazification
the united states of america
national socialism
germany
url http://www.americanstudies.history.knu.ua/en/plan-and-first-denazification-experience-of-german-prisoners-of-war-in-the-united-states-of-america-during-1945-1949/
work_keys_str_mv AT mykhailoboiko planandfirstdenazificationexperienceofgermanprisonersofwarintheunitedstatesofamericaduring19451949
AT oleksandrivanov planandfirstdenazificationexperienceofgermanprisonersofwarintheunitedstatesofamericaduring19451949