Les fondateurs

How to reestablish democracy after nazism? Where to begin with in a destroyed, occupied and divided country? On which experience rely?

In 1945, a handful of trained politicians, both men and women, who had survived war and persecution, initiated the rebuilding of institutions. This book traces back the trajectory of 34 founders of the west-german democracy, representatives elected in the Reichstag before 1933 and in the Bundestag after 1949. Their experience of collapse in 1933 and of the nazi dictactorship turned them into careful democrats and favoured their commitment after 1945. Their entangled narratives offer an original interpretation of the tumultuous german 20th century. They testify to the german democratic tradition beyond nazism.

Aimed at the general public, this publication will interest all those who have questions about the german political culture, but also about the inherent fragility of democracy.

How to reestablish democracy after nazism? Where to begin with in a destroyed, occupied and divided country? On which experience rely?

In 1945, a handful of trained politicians, both men and women, who had survived war and persecution, initiated the rebuilding of institutions. This book traces back the trajectory of 34 founders of the west-german democracy, representatives elected in the Reichstag before 1933 and in the Bundestag after 1949. Their experience of collapse in 1933 and of the nazi dictactorship turned them into careful democrats and favoured their commitment after 1945. Their entangled narratives offer an original interpretation of the tumultuous german 20th century. They testify to the german democratic tradition beyond nazism.

Aimed at the general public, this publication will interest all those who have questions about the german political culture, but also about the inherent fragility of democracy.