Denazification: Erasing Nazi Germany’s Ideology

Denazification, as this ambitious undertaking came to be known, represented perhaps the most comprehensive attempt in human history to transform the political culture and moral consciousness of an entire society. The scale of the challenge was enormous. Nazi ideology had penetrated every aspect of German life, from the highest levels of government and military command to local schools, neighborhood organizations, and family structures. Millions of Germans had participated directly in Nazi organizations, while millions more had benefited from or acquiesced to Nazi policies. The task facing the Allies was nothing less than the complete reconstruction of German society's moral and political foundations.