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Poll in Germany Shows Large Proportion of Youth Believes in Nazism

October 11, 1959
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The German Institute of Social Research today released the results of a nation-wide poll of West German youth indicating such youth is still influenced to a considerable degree by Nazi ideology.

A majority replied in the affirmative when asked if they considered the German nation superior to other nations. Twenty-five percent replied “yes”; and 42 percent said “no.”

To the question as to whether Hitler would have been Germany’s greatest man had there been no war, 42 percent said “yes,” 36 percent said “no,” the remainder giving indefinite replies. An older group–in the 30-to-44-year-old bracket–were asked the same question. Fifty-five percent said “yes,” 35 percent said “no,” and the remainder said they did not know. The youth group interviewed was in the 18-to-29-year category.

Another question asked whether it was better or not better for Germany to have Jewish citizens. Forty percent said Germany should, 24 percent said it should not, and the rest did not know or had no opinion.

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