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Denazification

Denazification means the Allies’ policy to persecute National Socialists after the Second World War as well as to fight against National Socialist ideology persisting in society and public institutions. The National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) as well as its organisations and symbols were prohibited. The Allies conducted war crime trials as well as procedures to determine and investigate the crimes of individual citizens. The denazification processes varied according to the different occupation zones. The denazification processes were supposed to free German society from National Socialist ideology and support the creation of a democratic society. However, many former National Socialist kept their public positions in the Federal Republic of Germany.