Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich, 1945-1955
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- Create Date：2022-01-11 17:21:07
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Harald Jähner
- ISBN：B09285M183
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Reviews
Fran Hawthorne
，
In his first book， veteran German journalist Harald Jahner takes an unusual approach to analyzing postwar Germany: He describes， in rich detail， daily life during the decade immediately after World War II， from the rubble on the streets， to abstract art in the museums， to sex。 The details are indeed fascinating， but the problem is that he largely ignores the Holocaust and the issue of collective German guilt， until the last couple of chapters。 That makes this book oddly generic; it could be abou In his first book， veteran German journalist Harald Jahner takes an unusual approach to analyzing postwar Germany: He describes， in rich detail， daily life during the decade immediately after World War II， from the rubble on the streets， to abstract art in the museums， to sex。 The details are indeed fascinating， but the problem is that he largely ignores the Holocaust and the issue of collective German guilt， until the last couple of chapters。 That makes this book oddly generic; it could be about almost any vanquished nation in the industrial era。The good part: Aftermath is full of pinpoint snapshots in wonderfully readable prose， translated by Shaun Whiteside。 （One favorite tidbit: “Gone with the Wind” and Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush” – but not， obviously， “The Great Dictator” – were among the most popular movies that the U。S。 Occupation brought。）This is an important addition to the library of Holocaust literature， but it must not be read by itself。（Please see my longer review at the New York Journal of Books https://www。nyjournalofbooks。com/book。。。 ） 。。。more
Eamonn Barrett
，
Good insights into the strange reality of Germany immediately after the defeat of 1945。
Μίλτος Τρ。
，
Η σοκαριστική περιγραφή των 10 πρώτων ετών της ηττημένης και διαλυμένης Γερμανίας， ένα fucked up οδοιπορικό， μια ρεαλιστική μικρογραφία της ανθρωπότητας。 Υπέροχο βιβλίο， αποτροπιαστική πραγματικότητα。 Must read。 Πού θέλετε και πολέμους。
Christine Bonheure
，
Door het lezen van dit boek ging een onbekende wereld voor me open， want ik wist nagenoeg niets over wat er in de jaren na WOII in Duitsland is gebeurd。 Enorm veel nieuwe kennis opgedaan。 Nu weet ik waarom het land zich zo heeft kunnen herbronnen。 Wist je dat het kapitaal van hen die dat nog hadden werd aangeslagen en verdeeld onder hen die alles verloren hadden？ Ook de invoering van de Duitse mark – iedereen kreeg hetzelfde bedrag – zorgde ervoor dat mensen weer een basis hadden om op verder te Door het lezen van dit boek ging een onbekende wereld voor me open， want ik wist nagenoeg niets over wat er in de jaren na WOII in Duitsland is gebeurd。 Enorm veel nieuwe kennis opgedaan。 Nu weet ik waarom het land zich zo heeft kunnen herbronnen。 Wist je dat het kapitaal van hen die dat nog hadden werd aangeslagen en verdeeld onder hen die alles verloren hadden？ Ook de invoering van de Duitse mark – iedereen kreeg hetzelfde bedrag – zorgde ervoor dat mensen weer een basis hadden om op verder te bouwen。 Het boek staat vol prachtige iconische foto’s die wat wordt verteld nog duidelijker maken。 Je leest over een sterke generatie， vooral vrouwen， die niet bij de pakken bleef zitten en alles in het werk stelde om te overleven。 Het enige minpunt？ Er wordt niet uitgeweid over wat er gebeurde met de SS’ers en de nazi’s na de oorlog。 Ik moest me tevredenstellen met hier en daar een zinnetje， “mocht omwille van zijn verleden tot 1950 geen openbare functie meer uitoefenen”。 Ik bleef ook wat op mijn honger zitten in het hoofdstuk dat probeerde de spreidstand van de modale Duitser uit te leggen， van Hitler-idolatrie naar pure ontkenning in amper een paar weken tijd。 Wellicht een keuze gebaseerd op levensbehoud？ Vlot vertelde geschiedenis。 Aanrader！ 。。。more
John Carlsson
，
Enligt författaren finns det ett stort tomrum i historieskrivningen om 1900-talets Tyskland。 Det som uppstått mellan andra världskriget och dess slut och uppdelningen av Väst- och Östtyskland。 Detta försöker Jähner råda bot på genom den här boken som belyser perioden 1945-55 efter Tredje rikets fall。 Han gör detta i essäform genom bokens tio kapitel。Och mycket kan man lära sig här。 Till exempel att antisemitismen knappast försvann från Tyskland i och med Hitlers fall， utan även fanns i angränsan Enligt författaren finns det ett stort tomrum i historieskrivningen om 1900-talets Tyskland。 Det som uppstått mellan andra världskriget och dess slut och uppdelningen av Väst- och Östtyskland。 Detta försöker Jähner råda bot på genom den här boken som belyser perioden 1945-55 efter Tredje rikets fall。 Han gör detta i essäform genom bokens tio kapitel。Och mycket kan man lära sig här。 Till exempel att antisemitismen knappast försvann från Tyskland i och med Hitlers fall， utan även fanns i angränsande länder vilket gjorde livet svårt för judiska familjer som försökte återgå till ett normalt liv efter splittring， förföljelser och koncentrationsläger。 Hur tyska kvinnor under kriget upptäckte att de kunde försörja sig och klara sin tillvaro på egen hand när männen var ute i strid， och hur detta blev uppenbart på ett ganska plågsamt sätt för männen när de stukade återvände till ett liv i ett besegrat land。 Författaren verkar vilja göra upp med en bild av att Tyskland gjorde upp med sin historia och därför blev en framstående nation de kommande decennierna。 Tesen som presenteras är att man knappast gjorde upp med sin historia under dessa år utan i största mån valde att blicka framåt och såg sig själva som lika stora offer för nationalsocialismen som de värst drabbade folkgrupperna och de länder Tyskland bedrev krig mot。 Intressant bok - jag rekommenderar att ha ett finger i notförteckningen under hela läsningen för största utdelning。 。。。more
Hildegard
，
A well written summary of those times and a good read into the bargain。This book is full of information as well as often overlooked and forgotten facts from this time period。 I was born during that time and was grateful that the author made it a point to write a thorough， tough but honest and fluid account of these years。 For a documentary of sorts it is very enjoyable reading。 Something that even my grandchildren might be interested to peruse someday。
Beata
，
The non-fiction that aims at explaining the paths Germany took after WW2 was over to become a democratic country it is now。 Comprehensive and readable， the book offers an insight into the first post-war decades， focusing on individuals and social rather than political changes。 I was quite unaware of the hostile moods that prevailed towards the Germans who arrived having been explelled from the territiories formely belonging to Germany in the wake of new borders drawn at the conferences in Tehera The non-fiction that aims at explaining the paths Germany took after WW2 was over to become a democratic country it is now。 Comprehensive and readable， the book offers an insight into the first post-war decades， focusing on individuals and social rather than political changes。 I was quite unaware of the hostile moods that prevailed towards the Germans who arrived having been explelled from the territiories formely belonging to Germany in the wake of new borders drawn at the conferences in Teheran and Jalta。 And the idea the Author puts forward that the success of Germany may have been in its diversity is quite interesting。 The Germans deported to their new homeland were forced to seek ways to establish themselves in totally new environment and were open and energetic which allowed them to become successful。 *A big thank-you to Harald Jahner， Random House UK， and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review。* 。。。more
Joanna
，
⭐️4，5/5Znakomita pozycja przybliżająca powojenne losy Niemiec i Niemców。 Autor - dziennikarz i historyk Harald Jähner ujął temat przekrojowo i wnikliwie i kompleksowo zanalizował i opisał poszczególne zagadnienia。 Poza często przytaczanymi w literaturze faktu historiami powojennego życia obywateli niemieckich czy problemami ekonomicznymi i kryzysem gospodarczym autor oddzielne obszerne rozdziały poświęcił mniej oczywistym， można by rzec niszowym kwestiom jak m。in。 wpływ II wojny światowej na des ⭐️4，5/5Znakomita pozycja przybliżająca powojenne losy Niemiec i Niemców。 Autor - dziennikarz i historyk Harald Jähner ujął temat przekrojowo i wnikliwie i kompleksowo zanalizował i opisał poszczególne zagadnienia。 Poza często przytaczanymi w literaturze faktu historiami powojennego życia obywateli niemieckich czy problemami ekonomicznymi i kryzysem gospodarczym autor oddzielne obszerne rozdziały poświęcił mniej oczywistym， można by rzec niszowym kwestiom jak m。in。 wpływ II wojny światowej na design， przemysł erotyczny czy samochodowy。 Jähner wszystkie zagadnienia potraktował rzetelnie - nie wybiela nazistów， przytacza świadectwa jak wielce tragiczna była sytuacja ludności cywilnej w powojennych Niemczech。 Nie unika ciemniejszych kart historii zarówno Niemiec jak i Polski czy ZSRR - sporo miejsca poświęcił na ukazanie udokumentowanych przykładów jak brutalnych i bestialskich aktów od tych dwóch narodów doświadczyli jego rodacy。Ogromnym plusem „Czasu Wilka” jest ogromna ilość przykładów， konkretnych historii osób przewijających się na kartkach książki bądź ich wspomnień， które doskonale obrazują i uwierzytelniają przytaczane， często trudne do uwierzenia， dane i informacje。 Nie jest to literatura faktu naszpikowana niemal wyłącznie samymi suchymi nazwiskami， nazwami miejsc i liczbami， dzięki czemu pomimo ogromu zawartych informacji， „Czas Wilka” czyta się płynnie， gdyż stylem bliżej mu do reportażu niż akademickiej książki historycznej。 Bez dwóch zdań jeden z najciekawszych tytułów przeczytanych w tym roku。instagram | facebook | blog 。。。more
John Keith
，
Exceptionally clearly written study of a critical period in the development of Europe。 Intellectually stimulating and challenging without disappearing into obscure philosophical knots。 Challenges some cosy narratives about post war Germany and the question of the guilt of individual German citizens。 At the same time contains a clear eyed assessment about the preconditions for rebuilding a shattered civil society。 The final page contains a quote from 1946 which could not be more apposite for our Exceptionally clearly written study of a critical period in the development of Europe。 Intellectually stimulating and challenging without disappearing into obscure philosophical knots。 Challenges some cosy narratives about post war Germany and the question of the guilt of individual German citizens。 At the same time contains a clear eyed assessment about the preconditions for rebuilding a shattered civil society。 The final page contains a quote from 1946 which could not be more apposite for our own time:"Let us learn to talk to one another。 That is， let us not merely repeat our opinion， but hear what the other person thinks。 Let us not only assert， but reflect in context， listen for reasons， remain prepared to reach a new insight。。。 Grasping what we hold in common within contradiction is more important than hastily fixing exclusive standpoints with which the conversation draws hopelessly to an end"Perhaps we are just not sophisticated enough as a species to ever achieve that！ 。。。more
Hans Moerland
，
Niet voor allen zal ieder onderwerp of iedere analyse in het boek even interessant zijn， maar o wat een schat aan informatie en inzicht verschaft Harald Jähner zijn lezers met "Wolfstijd"。 Bovendien doet hij dat op uiterst genuanceerde wijze en met de nodige relativering， en ook nog eens met behulp van uiterst illustratief beeldmateriaal。Wel jammer dat de lezers van de， overigens erg prettig leesbare， Nederlandse vertaling， strijk en zet worden geconfronteerd met het pleonastische 'zoals bijvoor Niet voor allen zal ieder onderwerp of iedere analyse in het boek even interessant zijn， maar o wat een schat aan informatie en inzicht verschaft Harald Jähner zijn lezers met "Wolfstijd"。 Bovendien doet hij dat op uiterst genuanceerde wijze en met de nodige relativering， en ook nog eens met behulp van uiterst illustratief beeldmateriaal。Wel jammer dat de lezers van de， overigens erg prettig leesbare， Nederlandse vertaling， strijk en zet worden geconfronteerd met het pleonastische 'zoals bijvoorbeeld'， alsook met verwijzingen in noten naar 'in ibid。'; weg met dat voorzetsel。 。。。more
LittleSophie
，
Eines der besten Geschichtsbücher die ich in den letzten Jahren gelesen habe， stilistisch ein Genuss und inhaltlich eine lehrreiche Lektüre。 Jähners Augenmerk auf sonst vernachlässigten geschichtlichen Aspekte wie Magazine für Frauen und Untergrundtheater haben zu Folge， dass nicht nur diverse Klischees über die Nachkriegszeit über Bord gewerfen werden， sondern auch， dass die Lektüre echten Genuss bereitet und ungemein fesselnd ist。
Bruno Pauwels
，
Voor wie zich afvraagt hoe een geradicaliseerd land op relatief korte tijd terug 'normaal' is geworden。 Interessant en actueel（！）。 Voor wie zich afvraagt hoe een geradicaliseerd land op relatief korte tijd terug 'normaal' is geworden。 Interessant en actueel（！）。 。。。more
Martin Poulsen
，
There's thousands of books about the Nazi era and it's downfall， but very little is written about the decade following Stunde Null。 Harald Jähner describes in detail how the German social， economic， artistic and religious fabric was restored。 The book has a strong focus on how America through a variety of initiatives changed German moral， outlook， social and economic conditions to pave the way for at democratic minded Germany。 Unfortunately there's very little in the book concerning the Eastern There's thousands of books about the Nazi era and it's downfall， but very little is written about the decade following Stunde Null。 Harald Jähner describes in detail how the German social， economic， artistic and religious fabric was restored。 The book has a strong focus on how America through a variety of initiatives changed German moral， outlook， social and economic conditions to pave the way for at democratic minded Germany。 Unfortunately there's very little in the book concerning the Eastern Zone and how the Soviet Union created an very different Germany， and there's virtually nothing about how the British restored its zone of occupation。 The book hints at a suggestion that post-war Germany is almost entirely an American affair。 。。。more
Scott
，
https://fivebooks。com/best-books/nonf。。。 https://fivebooks。com/best-books/nonf。。。 。。。more
Philip De Bot
，
Heel goed geschreven en super interessant onderwerp
LilyRose
，
Aftermath by Harald Jähner is a fascinating and detailed exploration of post war Germany。 This nonfiction book examines German society and reconstruction following WW2 when the country was left in ruins， shocked and divided。 It is a sensitive， emotive look at how the country attempted to rebuild and renew。 The book presents a variety of evidence from journalists， diaries and philosophers to highlight how society recovered both physically and psychologically。 The sources identify the initial prob Aftermath by Harald Jähner is a fascinating and detailed exploration of post war Germany。 This nonfiction book examines German society and reconstruction following WW2 when the country was left in ruins， shocked and divided。 It is a sensitive， emotive look at how the country attempted to rebuild and renew。 The book presents a variety of evidence from journalists， diaries and philosophers to highlight how society recovered both physically and psychologically。 The sources identify the initial problems of finding food， warmth and shelter and the long term difficulties of rejuvenating industry， economy， culture and Germany’s global perspective。 It is a well researched and engaging book that explores the voices and the silence of a wounded country and it’s inhabitants。 I highly recommend this book for fans of nonfiction and modern history。 4。5 Stars ⭐️。Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback。 。。。more
Jake Goretzki
，
Terrifically insightful study of the immediate post-war era in Germany and its reflection on society and culture。 It's not 'revisionist'， but it blows aside several of the orthodoxies about the era that many of us will have grown up with， which portrays that time as a period of silence， contrition and 'heads down' application。 Instead， we see a society that has barely begun to process what it had enabled during the Third Reich and was wallowing in relativist victimhood and the comfortable myth t Terrifically insightful study of the immediate post-war era in Germany and its reflection on society and culture。 It's not 'revisionist'， but it blows aside several of the orthodoxies about the era that many of us will have grown up with， which portrays that time as a period of silence， contrition and 'heads down' application。 Instead， we see a society that has barely begun to process what it had enabled during the Third Reich and was wallowing in relativist victimhood and the comfortable myth that Germans had been seduced by demons （and were here themselves， too， victims）。 Jewish victims are barely mentioned。 （The Germans grew out of that; the Austrians are still at it）。 It's also a time where pretty much everyone becomes， by necessity， a wheeler-dealer and a petty thief - shortages and rationing sending thousands on long tramps into the countryside and flexing their native cunning to source pretty much anything that might be sold or bartered。 Amid the death and destruction， we also see the blossoming of culture and a kind of self-abandoned hedonism among that resembles the sixties already: partying， shagging and （poor bastards） jazz。All the while， the beginnings of kind of feminism （I love the aside on Beate Uhse）， as men return from war angry， depressed and emotionally humiliated （that one rings a bell in my family） and women， well， just get on with it。 In a similar depleted vein， we see the increasingly frustrated takes of assorted exiled writers （Alfred Doeblin and Hannah Arendt stand out）， who look on in horror at the chatty denial of German society in the late 40s / early 50s and despair。 On higher cultural planes， some very interesting insights on the quasi-state role of abstract art in the Federal Republic （it was literally an arm of the CIA; 'so what？' I say）。 The sense of sins unrecognised points， in the official narrative， to the sixties， when we tend to read that only then was Auschwitz and parental complicity confronted。 According to Jaehner， that's not entirely true: plenty of writers were raising the subject and young people in the fifties were already looking at their parents with open mouths。 The sixties generation did of course start the ball properly rolling， but as Jaehner points out， their tendency to present the dull， prosperous market economy prosperity of the Federal Republic as a form of 'fascism' too was wildly misguided and ahistorical。 The Federal Republic was / is a miraculous achievement; Ulrike Meinhof and Co are rotting in hell。Fantastic social history， bursting with contemporary gems。 Highly recommended。 。。。more
Jan Vernieuwe
，
Zeer leerrijk， al was het maar om te leren dat de CIA achter de moderne kunstontwikkeling in Duitsland zat en dat de sociaal-realistische kunst een reactie hierop was en do weer verder。Boek is wel vooral vanuit Westers standpunt geschreven， de DDR-kant komt maar sporadisch ivm Berlijn aan bod。
Jan-Willem
，
Dit boek heeft mijn beeld over Duitsland in het decennium na de Tweede Wereldoorlog geheel op zijn kop gezet。 Op basis van diverse bronnen （literatuur， dagboeken， tijdschriften， reclames） schetst Jähner hoe de totale ontreddering zich al snel omzette in verder leven。 In een levenskracht die zich niet teveel wilde laten verstoren door terugkijken。 Dat zou voor een belangrijk deel nog tien twintig jaar op zich laten wachten。 Het boek is thematisch en niet chronologisch opgebouwd。 Het voert van kam Dit boek heeft mijn beeld over Duitsland in het decennium na de Tweede Wereldoorlog geheel op zijn kop gezet。 Op basis van diverse bronnen （literatuur， dagboeken， tijdschriften， reclames） schetst Jähner hoe de totale ontreddering zich al snel omzette in verder leven。 In een levenskracht die zich niet teveel wilde laten verstoren door terugkijken。 Dat zou voor een belangrijk deel nog tien twintig jaar op zich laten wachten。 Het boek is thematisch en niet chronologisch opgebouwd。 Het voert van kampen vol Displaced Persons， zwarthandel naar de uitbouw van het door Hitler opgezette Wolfsburg （de stad van Volkswagen） en de voorkeur voor onhandige niertafeltjes。 Tekst en afbeeldingen （in de lopende tekst， niet in een apart katern） brengen het uit de ruïnes oprijzende Duitsland tot leven。 Prachtig boek kortom。 。。。more
Louis Waelkens
，
Steengoed boek die je dankzij tal van getuigenissen meeneemt door deze bijzondere periode。
Staffan Lingärde
，
Spännande om Tyskland efter kriget。 På få år åstadkoms ett ekonomiskt under både i öst och väst。 Men i begynnelsen var det ruinhögar och svält。 Parallellt med denna beskrivning den ständigt återkommande frågan om skulden och hur den skulle bearbetas。 En stark 4a！Jonke tog över boken under Höstköret。Ett alternativt tips är Stig Dagermans bok "Tysk höst"， mycket bra reportageartiklar från hans resa i Tyskland （1946？）。 Spännande om Tyskland efter kriget。 På få år åstadkoms ett ekonomiskt under både i öst och väst。 Men i begynnelsen var det ruinhögar och svält。 Parallellt med denna beskrivning den ständigt återkommande frågan om skulden och hur den skulle bearbetas。 En stark 4a！Jonke tog över boken under Höstköret。Ett alternativt tips är Stig Dagermans bok "Tysk höst"， mycket bra reportageartiklar från hans resa i Tyskland （1946？）。 。。。more
Niki Sarrazyn
，
Ik snap de hype niet。 Is het omdat het onderwerp super interessant is？ Want dat is het wel。 Maar hier had een veel beter boek kunnen uitkomen。 Op geen enkel moment blijft een getuigenis of beschrijving beklijven。 En ook literair gezien is het geen hoogvlieger。 Zonde。
Mary Arkless
，
Very interesting and informative book about what happened in Germany immediately after WWII。Borrowed from the library。
Kinga
，
How did Germans live after the Second World War？ How did the country go from being the pariah of Europe to an economic powerhouse？This book does an excellent job addressing these questions， including looking at post-war migration from Germany's former eastern territories （East Prussia， Silesia） and social life after the war。 I found the topic really interesting and the author did an excellent job exploring the immediate post-war years in Germany。 How did Germans live after the Second World War？ How did the country go from being the pariah of Europe to an economic powerhouse？This book does an excellent job addressing these questions， including looking at post-war migration from Germany's former eastern territories （East Prussia， Silesia） and social life after the war。 I found the topic really interesting and the author did an excellent job exploring the immediate post-war years in Germany。 。。。more
Tom Hendrikx
，
Een goed en prima leesbaar boek dat vanuit diverse perspectieven beschrijft hoe een land na ongekende misdaden tegen de menselijkheid en een verdiende desastreuze nederlaag vanaf punt nul opgebouwd werd onder geallieerd bestuur in de periode 1945-1955 tot een beginnende democratie。
John
，
An interest tour of the less explored texture of social life in Germany in the five years that followed the end of World War 2。 Jahner has researched a wide range of evidence detailing the different human reactions of Germans - those who had stayed and survived， those who were returning as expats after fleeing in the 1930s， and those that were expelled from the lands to the east following the post-war redrawing of frontiers - when for the first time they contemplated the destruction around them An interest tour of the less explored texture of social life in Germany in the five years that followed the end of World War 2。 Jahner has researched a wide range of evidence detailing the different human reactions of Germans - those who had stayed and survived， those who were returning as expats after fleeing in the 1930s， and those that were expelled from the lands to the east following the post-war redrawing of frontiers - when for the first time they contemplated the destruction around them and tried to rebuild their lives under the eyes of the victors， respectively the Soviets to the east and the American-English-French allies to the west。 The book covers the early scramble for food and shelter， followed by the dichotomy between those suffering from emotional abdication and depression versus those embracing a new lust for life through music， dance， greater sexual freedom， and experimentation in the field of art and design。 Other chapters delve into the operation of the black market， currency reform and taxation。 [All of which may lie ahead in various forms for the modern Western world， so you can treat the book as a partial survival guide！]“The intention of the book [is] to explain how the majority of Germans， for all their stubborn rejection of individual guilt， at the same time managed to rid themselves of the mentality that had made the Nazi regime possible” - a mentality that， Jahner concludes， their children in 1968 subsequently did not believe had been fully eradicated or it’s fans amongst the older parents’ generation fully punished by the legal cases brought before the courts in the 1945-55 period。[The figures provide by Jahner should worry us: of the 24 leaders brought in front of the courts at Nuremberg in 1946 only 12 were given the death penalty and of the 900，000 brought to trial in civil courts only 1667 were graded “major offenders”。 All this clemency may have been an i dispensable factor in the reconstruction of a democratic and non-belligerent Germany， but: If that is an accurate forensic dissection of the Nazi command structure， it implies that it only needs a core cabal of some 1700 fanatics to cause a civilised nation of 67 million to reroute towards catastrophe]。 。。。more
Judith
，
Beste boek dat ik las in jaren。 Zoveel dingen die ik niet wist over hoe Duitsland na de tweede Wereldoorlog weer door is gegaan。 Met name de reactie van Duitsers op moderne kunst is fascinerend
Stan Fleetwood
，
Fascinating。
Nicola Bennett
，
A fascinating look at a little known area of history。 The only book I had read about the aftermath of the war in Germany was the Anonymous ″A Woman in Berlin″。 That spoke specifically about the breakdown of society at the immediate end of the war。 Somehow I had never thought about what happened afterwards， because the Germany I was aware of growing up was an efficient and wealthy democracy。（The book mainly concentrates on West Germany and Berlin， although there are references to East Germany。）Th A fascinating look at a little known area of history。 The only book I had read about the aftermath of the war in Germany was the Anonymous ″A Woman in Berlin″。 That spoke specifically about the breakdown of society at the immediate end of the war。 Somehow I had never thought about what happened afterwards， because the Germany I was aware of growing up was an efficient and wealthy democracy。（The book mainly concentrates on West Germany and Berlin， although there are references to East Germany。）This book looks at many aspects of life as people try to adjust in the wake of defeat。 The destruction of buildings， which gives rise not only to the problem of where people are going to live， but how do you actually get rid of all the rubble？ The shortage of food - in the few months after May 1945， the occupying forces managed to provide enough food for survival and rationing was introduced， but as time went by the ration was cut and the black market flourished， necessitating most of the population being drawn into criminal acts。 The return of defeated soldiers， often wounded in mind as well as body， and mostly strangers to their families。 （I was reminded of the video that Arnold Schwarzenegger made after the January 6 riot where he talks of his Austrian father being often drunk and violent， but so were all the neighbours who had been soldiers。） The problem of ″displaced persons″ as camps were emptied out and people tried to make their way home， if home still existed。 Particularly poignant was the plight of young people who might only have known camps as their home and struggled to integrate into society。This isn′t a huge tome but it covers a lot of ground。 I found it very readable because it was giving so many insights into not only Germany in the 20th century， but the end of the war as a whole。I had a copy of this book early through Netgalley 。。。more
emma
，