Zero hour (1945)

"Stunde Null" redirects here. For the German film, see Zero Hour (1977 film). For other uses, see Zero Hour (disambiguation).
Ruined buildings in Nuremberg, May 1945

Zero hour (German: Stunde Null, pronounced [ˈʃtʊndə nʊl]) is a term referring to the capitulation at midnight on 8 May 1945 and the immediately following weeks in Germany.[1] It marked the end of World War II in Europe and the start of a new, non-Nazi Germany.[2] It was partly an attempt by Germany to dissociate itself from the Nazis.[2] Denazification was encouraged by the Allies occupying Germany.

According to some historians, the term implies "an absolute break with the past and a radical new beginning" or a "sweeping away of old traditions and customs".[1] People at the time were living in a devastated country – roughly 80 percent of its infrastructure was in need of repair or reconstruction[3] – which helped the idea that Germany was entering a new phase of history.

  1. ^ a b Brockmann, Stephen (1996). "German Culture at "Zero Hour"". Carnegie Mellon University Research Showcase @ CMU: 8–36.
  2. ^ a b Chin, Fehrenbach, Eley, Grossmann (2009). After the Nazi Racial State. Michigan: University of Michigan Press. pp. 5–20. ISBN 9780472033447.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Rumler, Frank (2012-11-21). "Rebuilding Post War Germany: A Century-Long Project". Berlin Germany Life: City Info Guide. Retrieved 2016-12-10.