ZERO HOUR

DEFINITION: ZERO HOUR

"Zero Hour" is a term that originated in Germany after World War II to describe a new beginning or a fresh start. It refers to the moment when a society or a nation is faced with the challenge of rebuilding itself after a period of destruction, chaos and crisis. In the case of Germany, "Zero Hour" specifically refers to the period immediately after the end of World War II when the country was devastated and its infrastructure was in ruins. It marked a time when Germans had to come to terms with their past, rebuild their country, and create a new identity for themselves. 

KEY POINTS:

• Zero hour is an abstract term which marks the Third Reich's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945
• The term also stands for a new beginning
• The Potsdam Conference set the course for Germany's future 

IMPACT OF WORLD WAR 2

The impact of World War 2 was devastating. Most German cities were reduced to rubble and the roles of perpetrators and victims merged. The term "zero hour" marks the Third Reich's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, and the time up to the reestablishment of a German country in 1949. It represents the state of shock and grief on both sides. In addition, it symbolizes Germany's low point if one takes into consideration the high casualties, the loss of almost 25 percent of the national territory, the German expulsion of the eastern territories, lootings, and other crimes against German society. No one knew what to expect from the future, and some had low expectations concerning their time to come. Some committed suicide, while others lived in the here and now, blanking out the past and future.

On the other hand, zero hour also stands for a new beginning. It was an attempt to draw a line under National Socialism. Most Germans slowly got out of their mass hypnosis caused by successful indoctrination. Today, there is a division on whether the term "zero hour" is adequate to represent the German period after World War 2. One reason is that different parts of the population made different experiences during this uncertain period. Rural inhabitants were able to cope with the situation better than people who had to sleep in the ruins of their bombed cities.

Moreover, was it really possible to put an end to National Socialism? There may be no absolute answer, and some may argue that the ideologies of Manifest Destiny, which legitimized the westward movement in American history, were as evil as National Socialism if one takes the murdering and butchering of human beings into account. Both concepts had an evil background, and there is no need for evasive excuses. However, others argue that the systematic and industrialized persecution and murder of minorities cannot be compared to anything else in world history. Therefore, it would be entirely impossible to reset Germany's history at zero. It is a mental frontier that cannot be crossed. Other, more reasonable voices say that National Socialism is part of German history and promotes a responsible approach to the nation's past rather than a feeling of guilt for generations to come. Feelings of patriotism were long suppressed in German society to avoid a similar repetition. Still, the human psyche is not connected to nationality. Within the context of the fact that such evilness can happen somewhere else too, the question remains whether it makes sense to suppress a healthy concept of patriotism that fosters national unity.

Indeed, most people agree that "zero hour" is an abstract term, particularly when referring to an administrative act that results in the end of a nation's existence from outside forces. Some argue that a nation cannot simply vanish into thin air, and in fact, Germany did not disintegrate into the 39 individual states that existed before 1871. Instead, the country was occupied and artificially divided into four zones, and the political system was once again forcibly changed, this time into two ideologies depending on the occupied territory. It would take almost half a century for the split Germany to reunite, and even then, the nation's full sovereignty was only granted after East and West Germany regained their independence. Moreover, modern Germany has lost parts of its former land area compared to its previous size.

Germany's future was determined at the Potsdam Conference, held from July 17 to August 2, 1945. The "big three" - the heads of government of the United States (President Harry S. Truman), Russia (Joseph Stalin), and Great Britain (Winston Churchill, later replaced by Clement Attlee) - met for the last time during the war. They agreed on the D-4 Program, initiated by the United States, which aimed at demilitarization, denazification, decentralization, and deindustrialization of Germany. France also agreed to the decisions of the conference on August 7. As a result, Germany was divided into four occupied zones, and Berlin was split into four sectors.

On August 30, 1945, the Allied Control Council formed the governing body of the occupied zones in Germany. German civilians had to respond to questionnaires, but only a few major culprits were convicted during the process of denazification. The majority of the victims were the small fish. The Nuremberg Trials were an exception to this rule. They were a series of military trials carried out in Nuremberg from November 1945 to October 1946, primarily aimed at punishing war crimes against humanity. Additionally, the Allies redrew the political map of Germany, and the state of Prussia was dissolved on February 25, 1947.

Some major events during the years from 1945 to 1949 were the currency reform of 1948, in which the Deutsche Mark was introduced to replace the Reichsmark shortly after the Western zones combined to form "Trizonia." The Soviet zone also underwent a currency reform. Another significant event was the Berlin Blockade, which took place from August 4, 1948, to May 12, 1949. This was a Soviet undertaking aimed at forcing the American, British, and French forces out of Berlin. In response, the Western Allies launched an operation known as the Berlin Airlift, which provided daily goods for West Berlin by air.

THE ROLE OF THE WOMEN

After World War II, Germany was left in ruins, both physically and economically. The country was devastated, and it seemed as if there was no hope for the future. However, a group of women, known as the "Trümmerfrauen" (literally translated as "rubble women"), played a crucial role in the rebuilding of Germany.

The Trümmerfrauen were ordinary women, often in their 30s or 40s, who volunteered to clean up the debris and rubble left over from the war. They worked long hours, often in dangerous conditions, and with little equipment or support. They cleared the streets, rebuilt buildings, and helped to create a sense of normalcy in a country that had been torn apart by war.

Many of these women had lost their homes and families during the war, but they remained determined to rebuild Germany. They worked tirelessly, often with their bare hands, to clear away the rubble and start anew. They showed incredible resilience and strength in the face of adversity, and their efforts laid the foundation for Germany's post-war recovery. Today, the Trümmerfrauen serve as a symbol of the strength and resilience of the German people. They remind us that even in the darkest of times, ordinary people can make a difference and help to build a brighter future.

A NEW BEGINNING

Sources / Quellenangabe

Naumann, Günter. Deutsche Geschichte. Wiesbaden: marixverlag, 2018.

Sabrow, Martin. "Die 'Stunde Null' als Grenzerfahrung " Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, 16 January 2020.