Re-education durch Rundfunk - repOSitorium - Universität Osnabrück

Verbreitung von Dokumenten zu NS-Verbrechen 637 mündete in eine
Grundsatzdebatte um die „German guilt“. Michael Balfour, der schon in der
Diskussion um die „Projection of Britain“ eine Rolle gespielt hatte, sah in der
Vergangenheitsbewältigung den Schlüssel zum Neubeginn in Deutschland:
“The question of guilt is fundamental to our future relationship with the German
people. Unless their guilt (or responsibility) can be established, there can be no
chance of establishing the justice of the peace settlement which is being imposed
on them.” 638
Im Verlauf der Diskussion innerhalb der Besatzungsbehörde warf Balfour die Frage
auf, ob es zu diesem Thema nicht besser eine planmäßig durchstrukturierte
Informationskampagne geben sollte:
„Unless such a planned scheme is undertaken, the whole subject should be
avoided, since superficial treatment of it (especially if conducted in a tone of
blame, as tends to occur) does harm rather than good. [...] One of the chief
concepts which must be planted in Germany if real democracy is to take root is
the personal resonsibility of the individual for the moral validity and political
structure within which he lives. This idea cannot be handled without reference to
the past.” 639
In der Kontroverse um eine gezielte Medienkampagne zum Schuldthema
überwogen die Gegner, die auf die Probleme der Gegenwart und die
637 “It is of great importance for the re-orientation of the German mind to convince the German
public by documentary proof of the fundamentally aggressive and evil nature of the National
Socialist regime”, Major-General Hennessey (Chief PR/ISC Group) an M.G.I. CCG (BE),
Documentary Material, 12.10.1945, PRO/FO 1056/27.
638 Michael Balfour (PR/ISC Group, Berlin) an Brigadier W.A.L. Gibson, German Guilt – to plug or
not to plug, 23.01.1946, PRO/FO 1056/25. Dem vorausgegangen war ein Papier des Chefs von
PR/ISC Alexander Bishop: “One problem which is today of particular interest and complexity, is the
manner in which the ‘war guilt’ theme should be presented.” W.H.A. Bishop, Can we Re-educate
Germany?, Nov. 1945, PRO/FO 1056/21.
639 Major-General Balfour (PR/ISC Group, Berlin) an Chief Political Division (Adv. HQ), Treatment of
German responsibility for Hitler etc. in publicity in the British Zone, 04.02.1946, PRO/FO 1056/25.
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