The Third Reich in German history textbooks since 1945

The presentation of the nazi period, 1933-45, in German history textbooks has been completely different in West and East Germany. Each side declared the other to be the direct continuation of and no less dangerous than the nazi system. While the interpretation remained basically the same throughout the existence of the German Democratic Republic (1949-90), the main focus in the Federal Republic of Germany changed several times. At first, textbooks to a certain extent maintained nazi positions (in accordance with conservative nationalist policy) on many questions of national interest, engagement and expansion. Thus there was hardly any mention of the mass crimes, including the killing of Jews. Later, the Holocaust was allocated a prominent position. It was not until the end of the Cold War that anti-Slav racism and war crimes received the same attention. Authors also changed their underlying theories about national socialism. In the first decade, the 'Hitlerism and single accident' interpretation was strongly held, as opposed to that of the victors who believed in 'German historical continuity and collective guilt'. Quite early on, the communist theory of 'fascism' as an instrument (almost a conspiracy) against socialism was put forward in the East and the theory of 'totalitarianism', i.e. communism and national socialism as hostile twin brothers, was officially promoted in the West. In western textbooks, the placing of the nazi period (and crimes) in the continuity of German history and society was not seriously discussed before the 1980s.