Germany

includes German Democratic Republic (East) and German Federal Republic (West)


This country page describes, in brief, data that TJET has compiled on regime transitions, intrastate conflict episodes, and transitional justice mechanisms. For details on the data included on this page, view the FAQ.

For Germany, TJET has collected information on: five amnesties between 1972 and 1990; 24 domestic trials starting between 1991 and 2020; five foreign trials starting between 2015 and 2020; two truth commissions mandated between 1992 and 1995; and three vetting policies starting between 1990 and 1992.

Select any transitional justice mechanism in the table below to view a timeline in the figure.


Country Background

Democratic Transition

Based on well-known democracy data, TJET records one democratic transition starting in 1990.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.

Violent Conflict

Based on the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, TJET records no episodes of violent intrastate conflict in Germany between 1970 and 2020.


Transitional Justice Data

As of 2020, Germany ranks 165th out of 174 on TJET’s legacy of violence index. For a full list of country rankings over time, view the index page, and for an explanation of the index, view the Methods & FAQs page.


Amnesties

Germany had five amnesties between 1972 and 1990. Five amnesties released political prisoners.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.Predecessor country in parentheses.


Domestic Trials

TJET has compiled data on 24 domestic prosecutions between 1991 and 2020. These include six transitional human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which ten persons were convicted; and 18 regular human rights prosecutions of state agents, in which twelve persons were convicted. In three trials that involved high-ranking state agents, three persons were convicted.

Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.Predecessor country in parentheses.


Foreign Trials

Nationals of Germany were defendants in five foreign prosecutions in Germany beginning between 2015 and 2020.

Click on accused records for data on convictions. Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.Predecessor country in parentheses.


Truth Commissions

Germany mandated two truth commissions in 1992 and 1995. The commissions completed their operations in 1994 and 1998. The commissions issued final reports, which are publicly available. The reports included recommendations for reparations and institutional reforms.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.Predecessor country in parentheses.


Vetting Policies

Germany had three vetting policies, starting in 1990; one of these ended by 2019. These policies provided sanctions based on past individual conduct.

Data up to 2020. Hover over column labels for definitions.Predecessor country in parentheses.


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