To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 11:51:29 -0500
Subject: [WSFA] Re: German policy
From: ronkean at juno.com
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net>

On Wed, 03 Apr 2002 09:20:30 -0500 "Michael Walsh"
<MJW at mail.press.jhu.edu> writes:

> The German policy on the display of the Nazi flag is undoubtedly a
> result =
> of the Allies post-war management of the country.
>
> mjw
>

When western Germany was occupied by the western Allies after the war,
there was much worry that there might be a resurgence of Nazism.  The
authorities embarked on a 'de-Nazification' program which mainly
consisted of trying to keep formerly prominent Nazis out of positions of
power and influence, in government and in business, while promoting the
advancement of some of the former anti-Nazis.  Very few Nazis were
actually imprisioned.

But western Germany became fully independent in 1955 (though it was not
admitted to the U.N. until 1973), and my impression is that in the years
since 1955, Germany has continued to suppress symbols of Nazism as
vigorously as before 1955.  The point I find interesting is that the
Germans have chosen to ban Nazi symbols, while their real aim is to
surpress Nazism itself.  It's sort of like tyring to suppress smoking by
banning the advertising of cigarettes.

Ron Kean

.

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