Regime Change and the Rise and Fall of German Names in the Twentieth Century

The increase in German names was not a phenomenon instigated by the Nazi regime but had a long prehistory in the nineteenth century, thus giving an indication of its possible causes. The rise in percentage of German names at the beginning of the century is earmarked in particular by a rapid increase during the 1933–1942 period. German names already made up more than 50 percent of all names in Protestant communities at the start of the twentieth century, whereas the percentage of German names in Catholic communities first saw an increase during the First World War and particularly after 1933. The collapse of National Socialism as well as those crimes committed by it in the nation's name had discredited German nationalism in both German states. It is interesting to note how this change was reflected in first names. In the postwar period the percentage of German names declined.