The Second World War and National Socialism

In short: The Second World War (1939–1945) was the most devastating war in history with over 60 million dead. It was started by Hitler’s National Socialist Germany. The genocide of Europe’s Jews (the Holocaust) is the greatest crime of this era.

In more detail: With the invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 the war began in Europe. Germany set up a dictatorship without free speech and persecuted minorities and opponents.

In detail

• Dictatorship: Forced conformity, propaganda, secret police, concentration camps.
• Holocaust: About six million Jews were systematically murdered; Sinti and Roma, people with disabilities, political opponents and others were also persecuted and killed.
• Course of the war: German victories until 1941, turning point at Stalingrad (1943), Allied landing in Normandy (1944).
• End of the war: Unconditional surrender of Germany on 8 May 1945; Japan surrendered in September after the atomic bombs.
• Consequences: Division of Germany, founding of the UN, Nuremberg Trials.
• Remembrance: “Never again” is part of political culture (kalter-krieg-und-deutsche-teilung).