The language of human rights in West Germany

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Human rights language is often seen as abstract and ahistorical, intended to be valid universally. However, this universality poses challenges for historians focused on specific contexts. Lora Wildenthal examines this tension by analyzing human rights language in West Germany from World War II to unification. In the wake of Nazism, genocide, and Allied occupation, and during the Cold War, West Germans were compelled to address rights and international law. The exploration highlights four key purposes for invoking human rights post-World War II. Some organizations aimed to critically reflect on the Nazi past as a means of basic rights education. Others advocated for the rights of Germans, particularly expellees, who suffered as victims of the Allies. Additionally, human rights were framed in opposition to communism, particularly concerning East Germany. By the 1970s, movements emerged to advocate for the rights of foreigners, both abroad and within West Germany. Wildenthal illustrates that the language of human rights, despite its international focus, gains deeper understanding when contextualized within domestic political dynamics.