The Unfree Professions : German Lawyers, Teachers, and Engineers, 1900-1950

How could educated professionals have supported the Nazi movement and collaborated with Hitler's inhuman policies? Jarausch examines this fascinating and largely unexplored subject, tracing the social, ideological, and political development of three representative German professions--law, teaching, and engineering--from the late Empire to the early Federal Republic. Based on a reformulated professionalization theory and on authoritative statistics, he describes professional prosperity and prestige in the Second Reich and analyzes the social crisis brought on by hyperinflation, stabilization, and Depression during the chaotic Weimar years. Threatened with the loss of livelihood and frightened by cultural disorientation, many experts embraced neo-conservative ideas and cooperated in Hitler's seizure of power. Welcoming the apparent restoration of their authority in the early Third Reich, professionals collaborated in the racial purges and warping of ethics, practices, and organizations under Nazi rule. During the Second World War, the radicalization of SS terror threatened the very survival of the professions so that most practitioners were only too happy to be rescued by Allied victory. Exploring the reluctant democratization of the post-war professions, Jarausch concludes with a reflection on the lessons of the German experience for the relationship between professionalism and liberty. Contents......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 14 Tables......Page 16 1. Professionalization German Style......Page 20 The German Concept of Profession......Page 21 Professions in Imperial Germany......Page 25 Neocorporate Professionalism......Page 39 I: PROFESSIONS IN CRISIS......Page 42 2. Democratizing the Professions......Page 44 The Challenge of Reform......Page 48 Structural and Ideological Constraints......Page 57 Interest Group Professionalism......Page 68 3. Regaining Professional Stability......Page 71 The Price of Normalcy......Page 72 Professions and Politics......Page 83 Toward Republican Professionalism......Page 92 4. The Breakdown of Liberal Professionalism......Page 95 The Impact of the Great Depression......Page 97 The Rise of Nazi Alternatives......Page 109 Collapse of Interest Republicanism......Page 124 II: PROFESSIONALS AS ACCOMPLICES......Page 130 5. The Illusion of Reprofessionalization......Page 132 Compulsion or Self-Coordination?......Page 133 Restoring Professional Authority......Page 142 From Nationalist to Nazi Professionalism......Page 157 6. "Germanizing" the Professions......Page 160 Nazification of Personnel and Practice......Page 162 The Spoils of Collaboration......Page 173 Abnormal Nazi Normality......Page 184 7. Deprofessionalization in the Third Reich......Page 187 Professions at War......Page 189 The Warping of Professionalism......Page 198 Professionalism Instrumentalized......Page 213 8. Perils of Professionalism......Page 218 Rebuilding the Professions......Page 219 The Travails of German Practitioners......Page 233 Professionals and Liberty......Page 243 Appendix A. Statistical Tables......Page 246 Appendix B. A Note on Sources......Page 274 Notes......Page 280 A......Page 352 C......Page 353 D......Page 354 E......Page 355 G......Page 356 H......Page 357 K......Page 358 L......Page 359 N......Page 360 O......Page 361 P......Page 362 R......Page 364 S......Page 365 T......Page 366 V......Page 368 Z......Page 369 How Could Educated Professionals Have Supported The Nazi Movement? This Fascinating Subject Is Explored By Tracing The Social, Ideological, And Political Development Of Three Representative German Professions In This Period. Professionalization German Style -- The German Concept Of Profession -- Professions In Imperial Germany -- Neocorporate Professionalism -- Professions In Crisis. Democratizing The Professions -- The Challenge Of Reform -- Structural And Ideological Constraints -- Interest Group Professionalism -- Regaining Professional Stability. The Price Of Normalcy -- Professions And Politics -- Toward Republican Professionalism -- The Breakdown Of Liberal Professionalism -- The Impact Of The Great Depression -- The Rise Of Nazi Alternatives -- Collapse Of Interest Republicanism -- Professionals As Accomplices. The Illusion Of Reprofessionalization -- Compulsion Of Self-coordination? -- Restoring Professional Authority -- From Nationalist To Nazi Professionalism -- Germanizing The Professions -- Nazification Of Personnel And Practice -- The Spoils Of Collaboration -- Abnormal Nazi Normality -- Deprofessionalization In The Third Reich -- Professions At War -- The Warping Of Professionalism -- Professionalism Instrumentalized -- Perils Of Professionalism -- Rebuilding The Professions -- The Travails Of German Practitioners -- Professionals And Liberty -- Appendix A. Statistical Tables With Eric John Yonke -- Appendix B.a Note On Sources With Ingrid Rehm Richards. Konrad H. Jarausch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 263-334) And Index.