The Soviet Zone

Demilitarisation

German forces disbanded after their surrender in May 1945. As there was no German government, there could be no independent German military force. This remained until 1955.

De-Nazification

The Nazi Party was disbanded and major war criminals were tried at Nuremberg. The Soviet zone interned large numbers of former Nazis, many of whom died in the former concentration camps where they were held. Later "nominal" Nazis committed themselves to Communism returned to political life. The Soviets argued that Nazism resulted from capitalis, therefore it had to be destroyed:

• Large landed estates were confiscated and redistributed among landless agricultural labourers.
• Former Nazis' property was taken; some was kept by the state.
• A similar process was adopted later for…