DIE ZEIT Launches Tool to Search Nazi Party Membership Records

For many Germans, the question of whether their ancestors were members of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) has long been a sensitive and difficult one to answer. Until now, accessing such information often meant navigating the complex bureaucracy of the German Federal Archives or struggling with the often-unreliable online offerings of the U.S. National Archives.

DIE ZEIT recognized the need for a more accessible and user-friendly approach. We have undertaken the significant task of processing and analyzing millions of index cards from the Nazi era. Our new online tool, developed from this comprehensive dataset, now allows individuals to search for their family members directly. This is a crucial step in making historical research more transparent and personal.

Our tool initially offered access to approximately 4.5 million index cards and has since been updated to include an additional 8.2 million documents. This vast collection, meticulously organized by name and place of birth, provides an unprecedented resource for genealogical research. We believe that by providing direct access to these records, we empower individuals to explore their family history and understand a complex period of German history in a more direct way. This initiative reflects DIE ZEIT's commitment to shedding light on historical truths and making them accessible to the public.