In June 1933, 38 leading German professors of dentistry met in Leipzig to commit themselves to the Nazi "leader principle". This study examines this hitherto overlooked group of dentists, their relations to National Socialism and their career paths – before and after 1945. The
focus was on the following research questions: What made these men stand out? Which characteristics did they share, which separated them? But above all: How did the early and explicit commitment to the National Socialist leader principle affect the professional careers of individuals? Who
was able to succeed and who was not, and what were the main reasons for this?<br/> The study is based on a wide range of archival sources, in particular the Federal Archives in Berlin as well as various university, state, and city archives. These archival sources have been supplemented
and compared with the relevant existing secondary literature. The results of the analysis can be summarized in four key statements: (1) For the majority, participation in the "Einheitsfront" proved to be career-promoting. (2) The group of younger university teachers (under 40) and those who
had joined the SS and the NSDAP benefited more than the others. (3) Career setbacks were experienced primarily by lecturers who were either subsequently regarded as politically unreliable or who – despite being National Socialists – got into power struggles within the NSDAP. (4)
Those who were able to expand their careers during the Third Reich also found their way back on the road to success after denazification. These findings are discussed and illuminated on the basis of individual cases.
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