Building a New Germany: Denazification and Political Re-education, 1944–1948 - Contextual Essays

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Building a New Germany: Denazification and Political Re-education, 1944–1948

Contextual Essay

Text on a beige background, with the title Zone Executive Instruction No. 54 in the centre of the image.

Denazification, Re-education, and Internment in British-Occupied Germany

IntroductionBritain’s attempt to “re-educate” Prisoners of War (POWs) belonged to a suite of measures aimed at eradicating German militarism and Nazism. During and after the Second World War there was much discussion about the responsibility—even the guilt—of the entire German... Read more →

Andrew Beattie

Published 25th July, 2025

A typewritten document from September 1944, stamped as Secret. It is from the War Cabinet, and has a heading of Re-education of German Prisoners of War.

Re-educating German POWs: British Policy and Public Initiatives

On 18 December 1939, Viscount Halifax (Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) circulated “an interesting memorandum” among the War Cabinet. Prepared by the Department of Enemy Propaganda, the missive provided information on German Prisoners of War (POWs) and interned enemy... Read more →