Eighty years after the capitulation of Nazi Germany, the majority of German citizens express serious concerns about the state of democracy and the likelihood of a Third World War. This is shown by a joint survey by the sociological institutes “Jugau“ and “Zinus“, provided to the German agency DPA, BTA reports.
According to the results, 64% of nearly 2,200 respondents believe that democracy in Germany is under threat. In addition, 60% noted similarities between the current political climate and the period of the 1930s and 1940s, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power.
Some 43% of respondents believe that there is a real danger that Germany will again turn towards an authoritarian regime similar to the Nazi dictatorship. More than half (53%) said they fear that a Third World War could soon break out.
When asked how they perceive May 8, 1945 - the date on which World War II ended in Europe with the surrender of Germany - 45% said that it was the day of liberation. For 15%, however, it is more a date of defeat, while 27% see it as a symbol of both freedom and loss. The remaining 13% do not express an opinion.
In terms of historical responsibility, 75% point to the Nazi regime as the culprit for the destruction, while 27% see guilt in the Allied powers. At the same time, 55% believe that the historical past obliges Germany to take a special moral responsibility for global peace and cooperation.
The memory of the Nazi era remains a subject of controversy in society. Nearly 67% believe that this period continues to influence German national identity, while 34% believe that too much attention is paid to Germany's role in World War II. In comparison, 23% believe that the topic is undervalued.
Around 57% of the participants agreed with the statement: “We focus too much on the dark periods of German history.“
The survey was conducted online between March 21 and 24, 2025 and included 2,196 respondents representing the German population over the age of 18.