Refers to the process carried out by the Allies in Germany and Austria after the Second World War to free society, culture, the press, the economy, the judiciary, and politics from all influences of National Socialism and to dissolve National Socialist organizations.
example
Die Entnazifizierung war ein zentraler Bestandteil der Politik der Alliierten in den Besatzungszonen nach 1945.
Denazification was a central component of Allied policy in the occupation zones after 1945.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is structured very logically: The prefix 'ent-' means 'away' or 'to reverse'. The suffix '-ung' turns the verb 'entnazifizieren' (to denazify) into a noun that describes the process.
EXAMPLE
Die Entmilitarisierung war ein weiteres Ziel der Alliierten.
Demilitarization was another goal of the Allies.
Word family
The noun 'die Entnazifizierung' (denazification) belongs to the verb 'entnazifizieren' (to denazify). The verb describes the action of freeing society from National Socialist influences.
EXAMPLE
Die Alliierten versuchten, die deutsche Verwaltung schnell zu entnazifizieren.
The Allies tried to denazify the German administration quickly.
Historical technical term
This word is a specific technical term from historical studies. It is used almost exclusively in the context of the period after the Second World War in Germany and Austria.
EXAMPLE
In der Schule haben wir über die Entnazifizierung in den verschiedenen Besatzungszonen gesprochen.
At school, we talked about denazification in the different occupation zones.
Compare with
near_synonym · confusable
Entnazifizierung vs Säuberung
purge / cleaning
'Säuberung' and 'Entnazifizierung' can both describe the idea that political opponents, people, or influences are to be removed from an area. But the difference is important. 'Entnazifizierung' is a specific historical process after the Second World War, in which National Socialist influences were to be removed from the state and society. 'Säuberung' is much more general and very negative: it can mean persecution, imprisonment, or even killing by a regime. Learners may confuse the words because both sound like 'removing' something. But 'Entnazifizierung' is historical and specific, while 'Säuberung' can be a broad, harsh term for political violence or oppression.
Entnazifizierung
Nach 1945 begann in Deutschland die Entnazifizierung vieler Behörden.
After 1945, the denazification of many government agencies began in Germany.
Säuberung
In dem Geschichtsbuch wird die politische Säuberung unter dem Regime kritisch beschrieben.
In the history book, the political purge under the regime is described critically.
