Nonconformity, Dissent, Opposition, and Resistance in Germany, 1933-1990 : The Freedom to Conform

“This book brings fresh light to previously marginalized subject in German history. It is an original approach, up-to-date written without scholarly jargon, easily accessible to students, both at undergraduate and graduate. It is highly focused departing from the usual “histories” of a single country arguing for the “two German states”, and the three political systems.”- Prof. Dr. László Kürti, Institute of Applied Social Sciences, University of Miskolc, HungaryThis book contrasts three very different incarnations of Germany – the totalitarian Third Reich, the communist German Democratic Republic, and the democratic Federal Republic of Germany up to 1990 – in terms of their experiences with and responses to nonconformity, dissent, opposition, and resistance and the role played by those factors in each case. Although even innocent nonconformity came with a price in all three systems and in the post-war occupation zones, the price was the highest in Nazi Germany.. It is worth stressing that what qualifies as nonconformity and dissent depends on the social and political context and, thus, changes over time. Like those in active dissent, opposition, or resistance, nonconformists are rebels (whether they are conscious of it or not), and have repeatedly played a role in pushing for change, whether through reform of legislation, transformation of the public's attitudes, or even regime change. Preface Pronunciation of German Vowels and Consonants Contents About the Author Acronyms List of Maps List of Tables Chapter 1: Introduction: The Freedom to Conform National Identity and Conformity The Argument in This Book Chapter 2: Nazi Germany, 1933–1945: Nonconformity as “Degeneration” The Nazi State Race—The Foundation of the Nazi Understanding of National Identity Reconstructing National Identity Madagascar or Palestine? Other “Life Unworthy of Life” The Lebensborn Program From Ghettos to Genocide The Holocaust Nonconformity in the Third Reich Dissent and Opposition in the Religious Sphere Protestant Opposition in Bavaria The Assault on Religious Instruction Protests by the Holy See and Bishops of Both Major Christian Churches Further Protests Policing Sexuality and Youth Women and Marriage Organizing the Youth Repressing “Unnatural” Desire German Identity and the Arts The Struggle Against Degenerate Art The Struggle Against Degenerate Music From Opposition to Resistance Conclusion Chapter 3: Democratic Reconstruction Under Allied Occupation, 1945–1949: Neither Tradition nor “Degeneration” Denazification The Nuremberg Trials Dismissals of Nazis Pro-Nazi Sentiments in Society at Large Demilitarization Reeducation and Culture Change Democratization Imposing Democracy by Undemocratic Means? Dissent Among Catholic Intellectuals Conclusion Chapter 4: The Soviet Occupation Zone, 1945–1949: Building New Structures of Conformity The Transformation of Justice and Administration Reparations and Expropriations The SED and the Bloc Parties The Establishment of the SED Opposition from the CDU Denazification Schools and Religion The Educational Sector Religion and the Churches The Status of Women Art and Music Reconstructing Political Culture Conclusion Chapter 5: The German Democratic Republic, 1949–1990: Conformity as Alienation Constructing a New East German Identity Political Abrenzung The June 1953 Uprising Internal Opposition, Act I Internal Opposition, Acts 2 and 3 Defining the Limits of Nonconformity Weaning Youth from Religion Nonconformists in Gender Roles Political Dissent and Cultural Nonconformity Political Dissent Robert Havemann Wolf Biermann Rudolf Bahro The Struggle over Culture Formalists and Other Deviants in Pictorial Art The Struggle Against Nonconformity in Orchestral Music Jazz and Rock Fiction Reiner Kunze Christa Wolf Children’s Literature The Illusion of Stability The Failure of Nation-Building, the Triumph of Nonconformity, and Dissent—A Conclusion Chapter 6: West Germany, 1949–1990: Nonconformity as Alienation Building a New State Neo-Nazis and Anti-Semites Crafting a New State for a Reconstructed Nation The Weight of the Recent Past From Adenauer to Kiesinger Arenas of Noncompliance and Obstruction Feminist and Gay Dissent Nonconformity in Art Political Dissent and Opposition Hard-left Resistance The Social Democrats in Power, 1969–1982 German Identity in Play: The Historikerstreit Toward the Reunification of Germany Conclusion Chapter 7: Conclusion Further Reading The Third Reich Occupation Zones The German Democratic Republic West Germany Index “This book brings fresh light to previously marginalized subject in German history. It is an original approach, up-to-date written without scholarly jargon, easily accessible to students, both at undergraduate and graduate. It is highly focused departing from the usual “histories” of a single country arguing for the “two German states”, and the three political systems.” - Prof. Dr. László Kürti, Institute of Applied Social Sciences, University of Miskolc, Hungary This books argues that nation-building and identity (re)construction in Germany from the Wilhelmine period until the present day has involved debates about and struggles over religion, education, sexuality and the arts, as well as the country's past. Contrasting three very different incarnations of Germany - the totalitarian Third Reich, the communist German Democratic Republic, and the democratic Federal Republic of Germany up to 1990 - this book examines their experiences with and responses to nonconformity, dissent, opposition, and resistance, and the role played by those factors in each case. It is worth stressing that what qualifies as nonconformity and dissent depends on the social and political context and, thus, changes over time. Like those in active dissent, opposition, or resistance, nonconformists are rebels (whether they are conscious of it or not), and have repeatedly played a role in pushing for change, whether through reform of legislation, transformation of the public's attitudes, or even regime change This book brings fresh light to previously marginalized subject in German history. It is an original approach, up-to-date written without scholarly jargon, easily accessible to students, both at undergraduate and graduate. It is highly focused departing from the usual histories of a single country arguing for the two German states, and the three political systems.- Prof. Dr. Lszl Krti, Institute of Applied Social Sciences, University of Miskolc, Hungary This book contrasts three very different incarnations of Germany the totalitarian Third Reich, the communist German Democratic Republic, and the democratic Federal Republic of Germany up to 1990 in terms of their experiences with and responses to nonconformity, dissent, opposition, and resistance and the role played by those factors in each case. Although even innocent nonconformity came with a price in all three systems and in the post-war occupation zones, the price was the highest in Nazi Germany. . It is worth stressing that what qualifies as nonconformity and dissent depends on the social and political context and, thus, changes over time. Like those in active dissent, opposition, or resistance, nonconformists are rebels (whether they are conscious of it or not), and have repeatedly played a role in pushing for change, whether through reform of legislation, transformation of the publics attitudes, or even regime change. "This book contrasts three very different incarnations of Germany--the totalitarian Third Reich, the communist German Democratic Republic, and the democratic Federal Republic of Germany up to 1990--in terms of their experiences with and responses to nonconformity, dissent, opposition, and resistance and the role played by those factors in each case. Although even innocent nonconformity came with a price in all three systems and in the post-war occupation zones, the price was the highest in Nazi Germany. It is worth stressing that what qualifies as nonconformity and dissent depends on the social and political context and, thus, changes over time. Like those in active dissent, opposition, or resistance, nonconformists are rebels (whether they are conscious of it or not), and have repeatedly played a role in pushing for change, whether through reform of legislation, transformation of the public's attitudes, or even regime change." -- Back cover