The article "Downfall or Liberation" by Eberhard Jackel argues that Germans did not feel liberated on the 8th of May 1945 when World War II came to an end. Therefore, the statement "Germans felt liberated on the 8th of May 1945" is false. Here are eight points that support this contention:
1. Defeat and occupation: Germany was defeated and occupied by the Allies at the end of World War II. This resulted in widespread destruction, loss of territory, and the imposition of new political systems. Being occupied by foreign forces did not inspire a sense of liberation among the German population.
2. Loss of political power: The collapse of the Nazi regime meant that Germans lost their political power and influence. The Nazi party was disbanded, its leaders were either dead or on trial, and the remnants of the regime were purged. This loss of political agency and control over their own destiny did not generate feelings of liberation.
3. War atrocities: The full extent of war crimes and atrocities committed by the Nazi regime was unveiled as the war came to an end. Germans were confronted with the horrors of the Holocaust, forced labor, and mass killings. The recognition of these atrocities and the guilt associated with them undermined any sense of liberation.
4. Displacement and refugee crisis: The end of the war led to a massive displacement of German populations, particularly in the eastern territories. Millions of Germans were expelled from their homes and became refugees, living in harsh conditions with uncertain futures. This sense of being uprooted and displaced further contradicted any feelings of liberation.
5. Economic devastation: Germany was left economically devastated after the war. Industries were destroyed, transportation systems were in ruins, and the currency was virtually worthless. The post-war years were marked by hunger, scarcity, and economic hardship, which did not instill a sense of liberation.
6. Guilt and shame: Germans also had to grapple with the guilt and shame associated with the crimes committed during the Nazi era. The realization of the extent of Hitler's atrocities and the complicity of many Germans generated a collective guilt that overshadowed any notion of liberation.
7. Allied occupation policies: The Allies implemented policies aimed at denazification and demilitarization. Former Nazi officials were removed from positions of power, and the military was disbanded. These policies, although necessary for the post-war reconstruction of Germany, further diminished any sense of liberation.
8. Division of Germany: The defeat in World War II and the subsequent occupation led to the division of Germany into the East and West. The ideological divide between the Soviet-controlled East and the Western democratic states bred political tensions and further suppressed any feelings of liberation.
In summary, the article argues that the German population did not feel liberated on the 8th of May 1945. The devastation of war, loss of political power, guilt and shame associated with the Nazi era, displacement, economic hardship, and division of Germany all contributed to a lack of liberation.
Read the Article by Eberhard Jackel, ‘Downfall or Liberation’, History Today,
May 1995).
1.1. Germans felt liberated on the 8th of May 1945. True or False? Motivate with 8 points
1 answer