What do you think?
Rate this book
Germany and Israel: Whitewashing and Statebuilding
According to common perception, the Federal Republic of Germany supported the formation of the Israeli state for moral reasons--to atone for its Nazi past--but did not play a significant role in the Arab-Israeli conflict. However, the historical record does not sustain this narrative.
Daniel Marwecki's pathbreaking analysis deconstructs the myths surrounding the odd alliance between Israel and post-war democratic Germany. Thorough archival research shows how German policymakers often had disingenuous, cynical or even partly antisemitic motivations, seeking to whitewash their Nazi past by supporting the new Israeli state. This is the true context of West Germany's crucial backing of Israel in the 1950s and '60s. German economic and military support greatly contributed to Israel's early consolidation and eventual regional hegemony. This initial alliance has affected Germany's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the present day.
Marwecki reassesses German foreign policymaking and identity-shaping, and raises difficult questions about German responsibility after the Holocaust, exploring the many ways in which the genocide of European Jews and the dispossession of the Palestinians have become tragically intertwined in the Middle East's international politics. This long overdue investigation sheds new light on a major episode in the history of the modern Middle East.
Daniel Marwecki's pathbreaking analysis deconstructs the myths surrounding the odd alliance between Israel and post-war democratic Germany. Thorough archival research shows how German policymakers often had disingenuous, cynical or even partly antisemitic motivations, seeking to whitewash their Nazi past by supporting the new Israeli state. This is the true context of West Germany's crucial backing of Israel in the 1950s and '60s. German economic and military support greatly contributed to Israel's early consolidation and eventual regional hegemony. This initial alliance has affected Germany's role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the present day.
Marwecki reassesses German foreign policymaking and identity-shaping, and raises difficult questions about German responsibility after the Holocaust, exploring the many ways in which the genocide of European Jews and the dispossession of the Palestinians have become tragically intertwined in the Middle East's international politics. This long overdue investigation sheds new light on a major episode in the history of the modern Middle East.
Unknown Binding
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 23, 2026
About a week ago, a friend commented under one of my reviews and mentioned this book. I don’t think they actually suggested I read it, but I did anyway. And now I can’t remember who it was or which review they commented under to check. Anyway, that’s my way of thanking them. I’m so terrible with names. I’m the sort of person that would forget their wife’s name when introducing them. It’s like a part of my brain was removed at birth. “And this is my wife, Sweetbuns, or, at least, that’s what I call her – maybe she won’t like it nearly so much if you do, hard to say.”
This book is very interesting. Not least due to how hidden much of the relationship between Israel and Germany is and has been over the years. This is to be expected in some parts of the story – the book explains that Germany may have helped fund Israel’s nuclear program, so, hardly surprising that that isn’t something either side would boast about. All the same, that isn’t the only part of the relationship that has been hidden over the years.
It isn’t in the least bit immediately obvious that Germany would become after the Second World War Israels chief supporter in Europe. You might think that this was driven by German guilt due to the holocaust. But the book makes it clear that this didn’t really play as large a part as would otherwise seem obvious. It makes the point that it was only much later that films and documentaries and books came out that explained the depth of the German population’s complicity in the Nazi atrocities that German national guilt became embedded in its psyche. For decades following the war, most Germans knew of the holocaust, but could sidestep responsibility by assuming this was really all due to a small number of Nazis.
The reparations paid by Germany to Israel were done at least as much to ensure the FRG would be welcomed into Europe and continue to be supported by America. Up until the 1960s, Germany was the main financial and military support for Israel and it is likely that Israel would have struggled to continue to exist without that support. This included direct payments and ‘loans’ that, as the book says at one point, where effectively grants. And, as the book also says, this level of support was not extended to other victims of Nazi atrocities. And often, in the case of say communists, those victims had been the main resistance to Nazism – and yet, you would barely know that now.
What is also interesting in this is that Israelis were anything but delighted to have so soon normalised relations with Germany. That too would seem hardly surprising. The part of this book that is particularly interesting is the discussion around the massacre of Israeli Olympic team members in Munich. I was too young at the time to have followed this – but the book makes it clear that Israel did not feel Germany had done nearly enough, either during the incident or after, to either stop it or to punish those responsible. This is interesting in so many ways. Not least since both sides moderated their response to ensure ongoing, friendly relations.
This book is well worth reading. Like I said at the start of this review – the idea that is completely logical that Israel and Germany should have such close relations is mostly based on hindsight bias. I wonder how many people would have guessed that would be the outcome in 1948?
This book is very interesting. Not least due to how hidden much of the relationship between Israel and Germany is and has been over the years. This is to be expected in some parts of the story – the book explains that Germany may have helped fund Israel’s nuclear program, so, hardly surprising that that isn’t something either side would boast about. All the same, that isn’t the only part of the relationship that has been hidden over the years.
It isn’t in the least bit immediately obvious that Germany would become after the Second World War Israels chief supporter in Europe. You might think that this was driven by German guilt due to the holocaust. But the book makes it clear that this didn’t really play as large a part as would otherwise seem obvious. It makes the point that it was only much later that films and documentaries and books came out that explained the depth of the German population’s complicity in the Nazi atrocities that German national guilt became embedded in its psyche. For decades following the war, most Germans knew of the holocaust, but could sidestep responsibility by assuming this was really all due to a small number of Nazis.
The reparations paid by Germany to Israel were done at least as much to ensure the FRG would be welcomed into Europe and continue to be supported by America. Up until the 1960s, Germany was the main financial and military support for Israel and it is likely that Israel would have struggled to continue to exist without that support. This included direct payments and ‘loans’ that, as the book says at one point, where effectively grants. And, as the book also says, this level of support was not extended to other victims of Nazi atrocities. And often, in the case of say communists, those victims had been the main resistance to Nazism – and yet, you would barely know that now.
What is also interesting in this is that Israelis were anything but delighted to have so soon normalised relations with Germany. That too would seem hardly surprising. The part of this book that is particularly interesting is the discussion around the massacre of Israeli Olympic team members in Munich. I was too young at the time to have followed this – but the book makes it clear that Israel did not feel Germany had done nearly enough, either during the incident or after, to either stop it or to punish those responsible. This is interesting in so many ways. Not least since both sides moderated their response to ensure ongoing, friendly relations.
This book is well worth reading. Like I said at the start of this review – the idea that is completely logical that Israel and Germany should have such close relations is mostly based on hindsight bias. I wonder how many people would have guessed that would be the outcome in 1948?
January 29, 2025
Excellent research and easy writing style that would allow the non-academic to get a good grasp of the topics. Just wish it was more comprehensive and gave more context, but understand that the research was already substantial. Highly quotable.
November 10, 2025
Want to learn why Germany's politics is so weird when it comes to Israel, and feel frustration and anger along all 238 pages?
It will not make you feel hopeful, and mind you, it was published in 2020. It's only downhill from there.
I wanted to understand Germany's side. And the book delivered. I understand Germany's actions better now. It's your regular whitewashing, profiteering and racism of different flavors. Germany is less weird for me now, or weirdly logical. I am less angry about Germany, but I'm also less hopeful. Germany is like that by design, it can't help it. German ruling class worked hard to make it this way. Can it change? Search what Ai Weiwei thinks about Germany to get an answer for this one.
There is plenty on Israel as well, and I will leave it at that.
The book is good. Easy to read, author does not mince words, full of sources and quotes, no not skip the notes. Plenty of ammo for X debates. Zero hope.
10 out of 10, probably.
It will not make you feel hopeful, and mind you, it was published in 2020. It's only downhill from there.
I wanted to understand Germany's side. And the book delivered. I understand Germany's actions better now. It's your regular whitewashing, profiteering and racism of different flavors. Germany is less weird for me now, or weirdly logical. I am less angry about Germany, but I'm also less hopeful. Germany is like that by design, it can't help it. German ruling class worked hard to make it this way. Can it change? Search what Ai Weiwei thinks about Germany to get an answer for this one.
There is plenty on Israel as well, and I will leave it at that.
The book is good. Easy to read, author does not mince words, full of sources and quotes, no not skip the notes. Plenty of ammo for X debates. Zero hope.
10 out of 10, probably.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews