A new German online search engine is helping people to discover if their ancestors were members of the Nazi Party. Christian Rainer, from Austria, told the BBC he found the name of his grandfather 'within a few seconds.' He found out that he became a member of the Nazi Party around 21st of April 1938, just a few days after the Anschluss, when Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany. The online tool allows people to search through several million Nazi Party membership cards, the 'NSDAP-Mitgliederkartei.' Rainer noted that his grandfather applied to become a member of the NSDAP just five days after it became legal in Austria. The search tool was set up by Die Zeit in cooperation with archives in Germany and the United States.
Rainer never met his grandfather, who died shortly before he was born in 1961, saying, 'I always knew that he was close to the Nazis, but I was surprised that it only took him five days to join them.' This search engine not only revealed details about his grandfather but also helped clear other family members, including his father, of any Nazi affiliations. Many users have reported similar revelations, with some expressing shock at finding relatives involved in the regime. Judith Busch from Die Zeit reported that the response has been overwhelming, being accessed millions of times since early April.
The membership cards have historical significance, with approximately 10.2 million Germans becoming members of the Nazi Party between 1925 and 1945. These records were almost lost during World War II but were saved and now play a crucial role in understanding family histories as people delve into their ancestry and connection to this dark chapter in history.
Rainer never met his grandfather, who died shortly before he was born in 1961, saying, 'I always knew that he was close to the Nazis, but I was surprised that it only took him five days to join them.' This search engine not only revealed details about his grandfather but also helped clear other family members, including his father, of any Nazi affiliations. Many users have reported similar revelations, with some expressing shock at finding relatives involved in the regime. Judith Busch from Die Zeit reported that the response has been overwhelming, being accessed millions of times since early April.
The membership cards have historical significance, with approximately 10.2 million Germans becoming members of the Nazi Party between 1925 and 1945. These records were almost lost during World War II but were saved and now play a crucial role in understanding family histories as people delve into their ancestry and connection to this dark chapter in history.
