Hagemann, Manuel/Patt, Gregor (Hrsg.) Rheinischer Adel in der Zeit zwischen 1918 und 1950

The abolition of the nobility as a distinct legal estate in 1919 marked a profound turning point in its self-conception. From that point onward, it navigated a field of tension defined by political reorientation, economic pressure, confessional ties, and the loss of traditional avenues of influence. Yet, the nobilitys role during the Weimar Republicand particularly under National Socialismis often reduced to sweeping generalizations: Did the nobility, as a collective entity, act as enablers for the National Socialists? Or were all members of the nobility, conversely, engaged in resistance? Drawing on fifteen contributions, the present volume examines the stance of the Rhenish nobility and selected key figures. These analyses rely primarily on previously untapped archival sources and eyewitness testimonies, painting a nuanced picture: situated between the poles of collaboration and resistance, a diverse spectrum of political gradations and individual patterns of action emergesdynamics that evolved significantly over the course of those years.