The book explores the contribution of German historical science to overcoming the Nazi past. The main stages of the evolution of historical consciousness in the GDR and Germany are considered. An attempt was made to capture the changing forms in which German society reproduces and evaluates the image of Hitler's totalitarian regime. The publication is addressed to scientists, teachers, graduate students, students studying the history of the Nazi regime and World War II, high school teachers, as well as a wide range of people involved in the problems of modern German history and the history of Russian-German relations.