As Part of the process of denazification and democratic reeducation in occupied West Germany by the U.S. Military government in (1945-1952) military officials used surveys and studies to understand and influence the occupied population. Found in the OMGUS (Office of Military Government, United States) archives in Munich, are psychological surveys made by the U.S. military to map the democratic tendencies and the psychological attitudes of Germans who until recently lived under National Socialism. While reading these surveys from today’s perspective much of the information corresponds with current political debates in contemporary Germany regarding the rise of the far right, militarization, war, anti democratic tendencies of youth and the future of Germany.
In his new video-work/podcast Gal transforms a selection of these studies into conversational forms and wraps archival material into the contemporary genres of video-podcast and TikTok selfie videos.
Written and directed by Dani Gal
Camera: Itay Marom
With: Lara Babalola and Daniel Stern
Production: Heiner Schirmmacher
Supported by: Hans Purmann Stiftung
