PLMET:

click here to follow the link

Alternative title:

Illusory non-Entanglement: Third Reich in Antifascist Narrative the Case of German Democratic Republic

Subject and Keywords:

antifascism   GDR   Third Reich German   Holocaust   illusion   propaganda

Abstract:

Antifascism, a historiographical doctrine formulated in the 30s of the twentieth century by G. Dimitrov, as aresult of the Soviet victory over the Third Reich acquired the status of official narrative in countries of the Communist Bloc. It played aparticular role in GDR as a primary source of state’s legitimization, especially in the early postwar years. Relating on selected historical sources and extensive literature on this subject to mention, among others, D. Diner, J. Herf, S. Kattago, A. Wolff-Powęska, K. Wóycicki, J. McLellan, M. Fulbrook Iintend to capture the disingenuous­ness of East German antifascism. Making use of lies, illusion or denial, applying selectiveness on facts or specific way of their interpretation, the GDR authorities managed to integrate the society around apositive yet erroneous myth of victorious mass resistance of the German working class against fascism. What is more, such antifascism played adefensive supervisory function: „univer­salizing” the period of 1939–1945 as another stage of long-term rivalry between the proletariat and capitalists it discursively blurred the historical continuity between the GDR and the Third Reich, and sustained the illusion of lack of guilt for the Holocaust which actual i.e. Jewish specificity remained unrecognized.

Place of publishing:

Wrocław

Publisher:

Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego

Date issued:

2016

Date copyrighted:

2016

Identifier:

ISSN 0239-6661   ISSN 2300-7249

DOI:

10.19195/2300-7249.38.3.5

Source:

PAd P 101182 II

Language:

pol   eng

Abstract Language :

pol   eng

Relation:

Acta Universitatis Wratislaviensis, ISSN 0239-6661, No 3777, Studia nad Autorytaryzmem i Totalitaryzmem. 2016, 38, nr 3, s. 75-99

Access rights:

The use of this material is allowed only with accordance of applicable rules of fair use or other exceptions provided by law, and any broader use requires the permission of the authorized entity

License:

Making materials available on the basis of the agreement with the owner of the property copyrights

Rights holder:

Copyright by Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego Sp. z o.o.

Autor opisu:

WR U/PAdbg