In the UK we're taught about how Hitler planned to continue his Cult of Personality by teaching the Nazi Party ideals in schools (Jews are evil, Arians are superior, Hitler is sehr gut, this is what -insert race here- look like). But what happened after the war to everyone who had been socialised into believing this? How valued were their qualifications?
How valued were their qualifications?
In West Germany the folks behind the racial science of the nazi regime kept teaching their subjects using their skills to, for example, measure the skulls of the Canary Islanders. The continuity of West German elites would be a major issue both to East Germany and in the West German public.
But what happened after the war to everyone who had been socialised into believing this?
what was done to "reeducate" or "denazify" Germans has been asked before so here's a primary source on the opinions immediately thereafter:
Report No.12 (28 June 1946) ATTITUDES OF SOME BAVARIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN Sample:250 schoolchildren between the ages of 12 and 18 in Regensburg, Weilheim, Pirkensee, and Burglengenfeld Interviewing dates:not specified. (6 pp.) Although 88 per cent of the children had belonged to Nazi youth organisations, only 12 per cent were members of a new youth organisation. Thirty-seven per cent of their parents had belonged to the NSDAP,a figure about average for the American zone. Eightyfour per cent of the youth were Catholic. Most (48%) would vote for the CSUif they were old enough, 18 per cent for the SPD, and three per cent for the KPD. Almost a third (29%), however, said they would not vote even if they could.
Their principal concern was obtaining food. Thirty per cent said that the type of aid Germany needed most was food, and 26 per cent reported that their greatest wish was for more food. They also desired peace and freedom for their brothers who were prisoners of war. Their secondary concern were jobs, clothing, and shoes. The children seemed to be in good health. Reading, sports, and handicrafts provided recreation.
Almost all the children (98%) claimed to like school. Most (66%) thought themselves to be average students. About one-third considered themselves to be good students. Only a few (3%) admitted that they were bad students. Although they were interested in a wide variety of subjects, they liked best mathematics, German, geography, history, biology, and English. Seventy-four per cent preferred to learn English rather than some other foreign language. The employment aspirations of the youth were generally low. The girls wanted to be saleswomen, dressmakers, clerks, teachers, or hairdressers. The boys wished to be bakers, electricians, or carpenters. None of the boys wanted to teach. More girls (7%) than boys (3%) hoped to become physicians or dentists. The most common reason given (36%) for Germany’s loss of the war was the overpowering strength of the enemy. Second (30%) was Germany’s lack of material. When asked to name the three greatest Germans, about ten per cent named Hitler, a quarter mentioned monarchs, and a third poets. When questioned as to what the respondent would do if he alone knew the secret of the atom bomb, the most common answer given (36%) was to keep it a secret. Democracy to these youths meant freedom for the people (23%) and government by the people (10%). Forty-eight per cent, however, had no opinion when asked what democracy meant.
Almost as many (35%) liked the American soldier as disliked him (39%). More than half of those who disliked the American soldier mentioned his general behaviour as a reason. Most of the youth expected a good, lasting, or just or wise peace from the Allies. Fifty-nine per cent did not expect another war soon. Of the 41 per cent who did expect war, most thought it would be with the Soviet Union.
But what happened after the war to everyone who had been socialised into believing this? How valued were their qualifications?
I don't even understand how their qualifications would be viewed differently.