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Germany 1945: From War to Peace
“Fascinating….Bessel does an excellent job of evoking the blasted landscape of a conquered Germany.”
—The New Yorker
“A sober yet powerful account.”
—New York Times Book Review
Authoritative and dramatic, Germany 1945 by distinguished British historian Richard Bessel is groundbreaking history that brilliantly explores the devastation and remarkable rebirth of Germany at the end of World War II. Called “a masterly account by a first rate historian,” by Ian Kershaw (Hitler), Germany 1945 is sure to become the definitive work on the subject.
—The New Yorker
“A sober yet powerful account.”
—New York Times Book Review
Authoritative and dramatic, Germany 1945 by distinguished British historian Richard Bessel is groundbreaking history that brilliantly explores the devastation and remarkable rebirth of Germany at the end of World War II. Called “a masterly account by a first rate historian,” by Ian Kershaw (Hitler), Germany 1945 is sure to become the definitive work on the subject.
522 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
54 people are currently reading
777 people want to read
About the author
Richard Bessel
26 books12 followersRichard Bessel is Professor of Twentieth Century History. He works on the social and political history of modern Germany, the aftermath of the two world wars and the history of policing. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of German History and History Today.
He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies.
He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 16, 2020
Page 175 (my book)
As Charles Keegan, a colonel with the American Third Army bluntly informed one German: “Rights? You got no rights. You’re conquered, ya hear?”
This book explores the tumultuous changes undergone by Germany during 1945. As the author states, in many ways it was “year zero”.
In 1945, unlike previous years, Germany experienced war first-hand. Prior it was something they had done in other countries. More Germans (civilians and soldiers) died in 1945 than any previous year. The bombing campaign became even more intensified.
Germany experienced refugees in the millions. Arguably during that year there were more refugees in the world than in any year since. The refugees started during the war when millions of German civilians fled from their homes to avoid the oncoming Soviet Armies. This also included soldiers who wanted to surrender to the British or Americans and not the Soviets.
Also, Poland acquired a huge amount of German territory in what was then eastern Germany (and the Soviet Union acquired Polish territory in what was then eastern Poland). This created ethnic cleansing, Germans in what was now Poland were “strongly urged to leave”. This newly acquired territory of Poland was known as the “Wild West” – crime was rampant and no one felt safe. There was also ethnic cleansing of Germans who had lived in Hungary and the Sudeten region of Czechoslovakia. Most of the German refugees were women, children and senior citizens who felt vulnerable and were often beaten or worse as they left their homes and wandered on bombed roads to try and reach a safe haven.
The German nation was close to non-functional. Transportation was non-existent as many railroad centres had been bombed. Bridges had also been destroyed. Due to non-stop bombing homes in cities had been ruined making for millions of homeless people. And there were the millions of foreign workers (slave labourers) in Germany who were now free and wanting to return home.
In addition to this Soviet troops rampaged, looted, murdered and raped in whatever territory they occupied.
All of this created a sense of victimhood for the German people. Due to the very limited transportation and communications their world became confined and very limited. Their primary concern became safety, food, and shelter. It must be remembered, as the author points out, that this had been a way of life for the rest of Europe since the war began in 1939. The German people had been oblivious to this.
Unlike 1918, Germany experienced total obliteration. She was occupied and divided up by her conquerors. Unlike the ending of the First World War there could be “no stab in the back” myth – an expression perpetuated and used frequently by Hitler and bought by the German people.
This cataclysmic ending to the war erased all memories of the Nazi era – and obligated for a completely fresh start. It also erased their sense of being perpetrators of vast crimes against humanity that they were responsible for. This guilt would only come much later. First, from the ruins, they had to build a successful liberal democracy.
This book outlines logically the many transitions that took place in “year zero” and how Germany changed and started to evolve during 1945. It provides many pictures of the varied life undergone by Germany and the German people.
As Charles Keegan, a colonel with the American Third Army bluntly informed one German: “Rights? You got no rights. You’re conquered, ya hear?”
This book explores the tumultuous changes undergone by Germany during 1945. As the author states, in many ways it was “year zero”.
In 1945, unlike previous years, Germany experienced war first-hand. Prior it was something they had done in other countries. More Germans (civilians and soldiers) died in 1945 than any previous year. The bombing campaign became even more intensified.
Germany experienced refugees in the millions. Arguably during that year there were more refugees in the world than in any year since. The refugees started during the war when millions of German civilians fled from their homes to avoid the oncoming Soviet Armies. This also included soldiers who wanted to surrender to the British or Americans and not the Soviets.
Also, Poland acquired a huge amount of German territory in what was then eastern Germany (and the Soviet Union acquired Polish territory in what was then eastern Poland). This created ethnic cleansing, Germans in what was now Poland were “strongly urged to leave”. This newly acquired territory of Poland was known as the “Wild West” – crime was rampant and no one felt safe. There was also ethnic cleansing of Germans who had lived in Hungary and the Sudeten region of Czechoslovakia. Most of the German refugees were women, children and senior citizens who felt vulnerable and were often beaten or worse as they left their homes and wandered on bombed roads to try and reach a safe haven.
The German nation was close to non-functional. Transportation was non-existent as many railroad centres had been bombed. Bridges had also been destroyed. Due to non-stop bombing homes in cities had been ruined making for millions of homeless people. And there were the millions of foreign workers (slave labourers) in Germany who were now free and wanting to return home.
In addition to this Soviet troops rampaged, looted, murdered and raped in whatever territory they occupied.
All of this created a sense of victimhood for the German people. Due to the very limited transportation and communications their world became confined and very limited. Their primary concern became safety, food, and shelter. It must be remembered, as the author points out, that this had been a way of life for the rest of Europe since the war began in 1939. The German people had been oblivious to this.
Unlike 1918, Germany experienced total obliteration. She was occupied and divided up by her conquerors. Unlike the ending of the First World War there could be “no stab in the back” myth – an expression perpetuated and used frequently by Hitler and bought by the German people.
This cataclysmic ending to the war erased all memories of the Nazi era – and obligated for a completely fresh start. It also erased their sense of being perpetrators of vast crimes against humanity that they were responsible for. This guilt would only come much later. First, from the ruins, they had to build a successful liberal democracy.
This book outlines logically the many transitions that took place in “year zero” and how Germany changed and started to evolve during 1945. It provides many pictures of the varied life undergone by Germany and the German people.
July 27, 2012
Germany 1945:From War to Peace is an examination of what Germany went through in 1945. It's a look at what the Germans experienced in the last five months of World War II and how Germans began the recovery from the Nazi years and the massive destruction of their country in the months following the end of the war in Europe.
It's a straightforward account and one that I found to be very interesting. You might not agree with all of Bessel's conclusions (does anyone ever?), but it is a well researched book and easy to read. Germany 1945 covers a time that tends to be brushed over by other historians in their rush to get from the end of the war to the start of the Cold War a couple of years later. I actually purchased this book from the bookstore at Dachau. It's a suitable "souvenir" from that visit. I recommend it if you're interested in seeing how the Germans began their climb from the darkest time in their nation's history to become the democratic and economic leader of modern Europe.
It's a straightforward account and one that I found to be very interesting. You might not agree with all of Bessel's conclusions (does anyone ever?), but it is a well researched book and easy to read. Germany 1945 covers a time that tends to be brushed over by other historians in their rush to get from the end of the war to the start of the Cold War a couple of years later. I actually purchased this book from the bookstore at Dachau. It's a suitable "souvenir" from that visit. I recommend it if you're interested in seeing how the Germans began their climb from the darkest time in their nation's history to become the democratic and economic leader of modern Europe.
December 20, 2018
Τι συνέβει στη Γερμανία μετά τη συνθηκολόγηση τα γνωρίζουμε αποσπασματικά. Το βιβλίο αυτό παρουσιάζει την πτώση του ναζισμού, το σοκ της μεταπολεμικής Γερμανίας, τις δυσκολίες, τις ελλείψεις, τη διαίρεση της χώρας στα 4, την απώλεια εδαφών με ότι αυτό συνεπάγεται. Σημαντικά στοιχεία δίνονται για την ψυχολογία των ηττημένων, τη διάλυση οικογενειών, τη βία στις γυναίκες, τις λεηλασίες. Για μεγάλο διάστημα ο πιο νομοταγής λαός της Ευρώπης, δρούσε ανεξέλεγκτα και απρόσμενα.
Διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο αρκετές φορές σκέφτηκα ότι οι Γερμανοί μετά από δύο ήττες, με τη δεύτερη πιο επώδυνη από την πρώτη, χωρίς ανδρικό εργατικό δυναμικό, με τα αρνητικά αισθήματα που δημιουργούσε στους υπόλοιπους, κατάφερε να ορθοποδήσει (ναι με τη βοήθεια των συμμάχων). Σπουδαίος σύγχρονος λαός.
Σίγουρα η περίπτωση τους αξίζει μελέτης και στοχασμού. Όταν τα ελληνικά ταμπού πέσουν και διδαχθούμε σύγχρονη ευρωπαική ιστορία, θα υπάρχει μια μικρή ελπίδα ανάκαμψης. Ως τότε ας μείνουμε στα κλισέ των βελανιδοφάγων και του πιο έξυπνου λαού του σύμπαντος που δεν μπορεί να εφαρμόσει ούτε τον ΚΟΚ.
Διαβάζοντας αυτό το βιβλίο αρκετές φορές σκέφτηκα ότι οι Γερμανοί μετά από δύο ήττες, με τη δεύτερη πιο επώδυνη από την πρώτη, χωρίς ανδρικό εργατικό δυναμικό, με τα αρνητικά αισθήματα που δημιουργούσε στους υπόλοιπους, κατάφερε να ορθοποδήσει (ναι με τη βοήθεια των συμμάχων). Σπουδαίος σύγχρονος λαός.
Σίγουρα η περίπτωση τους αξίζει μελέτης και στοχασμού. Όταν τα ελληνικά ταμπού πέσουν και διδαχθούμε σύγχρονη ευρωπαική ιστορία, θα υπάρχει μια μικρή ελπίδα ανάκαμψης. Ως τότε ας μείνουμε στα κλισέ των βελανιδοφάγων και του πιο έξυπνου λαού του σύμπαντος που δεν μπορεί να εφαρμόσει ούτε τον ΚΟΚ.
May 29, 2012
Brilliantly researched, poorly written and edited (extremely repetitive).
July 8, 2017
This was a book where I learned some things about WWII and its aftermath. My grandfather was born in the area of Stettin, Germany in the 19th century. After WWII, the borders changed and Stettin became Szczecin, Poland. Did you ever wonder how borders get changed after a war? Of course they draw new lines and what was Germany, becomes part of Poland, but how does that actually take place? Well, Richard Bessel tells exactly how this takes place and in this book, he uses Stettin as an example which was of great interest to me. When I started this book, I had no idea that this would be one of the topics covered by the author. It was my favorite chapter because you want to know exactly how something took place. In this case, I now know.
May 18, 2012
A good, easy read about the events leading to the final capitulation of Germany. Bessel, for the most part write in an objective manner, which is refreshing considering the topic.
October 24, 2020
This book encompasses the last year of WWII through 1946 as experienced by those resident in Germany at war's end. It pays little attention to the victors except in terms of their dealings with the residents. It asks then how it was that the German nation went from rapacious warlike fascism to economically productive near-pacifism, seeking to find the answers in a study of that critical period. It answers this question minimally by establishing that the trauma of defeat constituted a clean break from the past, barely treating the political and economic recovery in the following years. Moreover, the author's answers were, to my taste, overly wordy and repetitive. The 400 pages of material could have been handled in 300.
I did, however, learn some things I hadn't known. First, that the Germans during this period, excepting some of the jailed or exiled social democrats, communists and Christians, had little sense of responsibility for the havoc caused by the Nazi government they had supported and, for a time, benefitted from. Instead, their prevailing feelings were those of victimization. Second, that the French were nearly as bad as the Soviets in exploiting German weakness to their own benefit. Of course, unlike the more generous Americans and British, the French, like the Soviets, had suffered much under German occupation.
I did, however, learn some things I hadn't known. First, that the Germans during this period, excepting some of the jailed or exiled social democrats, communists and Christians, had little sense of responsibility for the havoc caused by the Nazi government they had supported and, for a time, benefitted from. Instead, their prevailing feelings were those of victimization. Second, that the French were nearly as bad as the Soviets in exploiting German weakness to their own benefit. Of course, unlike the more generous Americans and British, the French, like the Soviets, had suffered much under German occupation.
May 18, 2012
I thought this was well written and discusses a topic that I have never thoroughly read about before, basically because it isn't written about nearly enough. Bessel discusses the German population and their circumstances at the end and after WW2. He concentrates more on the populace than the government or military. I think it's objectively written and based on facts. Although it tries to be fair to Germany (unlike many other books on WW2), which funnily enough has drawn some criticism from some reviewers here (who must hope for, and expect, German-bashing in every WW2 book they read), I think he does German bash a little. But I give him credit for not going overboard.
July 25, 2011
Deeply researched history of the destruction and reinvention of Germany in the last few months of the war and afterward. Convincingly explains why the Germans in general remained stubbornly guilt - free about their central role in the death and suffering of millions : " we also suffered terribly ". And as laid out in harrowing detail by the author, they did. Not apologist, but honestly describes the German experience and psychology in the aftermath of the war. A bit textbook - like at times. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if I could, but lets call it 3.
March 2, 2017
It is very easy for British readers to get the impression that the Second World War effectively ended almost immediately after the failed Arnhem battle (Operation Market Garden) in September 1944, with little of interest happening until VE day in May 1945, at which point peace broke out and all was well again. In this impressive book, Richard Bessel shows that the experience for the Germans was entirely different.
In many ways, Germany itself had almost failed to experience the war prior to the beginning of 1945. The massive land battles of the preceeding years had all been fought on foreign fields, and even the Allied bombing campaign had been pretty limited in its scope. As 1945 opened, the Allied armies still stood almost everywhere outside the boundaries of the Reich. The end result of the war may have been obvious to all external observers, but the Germans could still believe that their fortunes might turn around. The cataclysm that befell the country was all the more shocking as a result. The Allied bombing finally reached a genuine obliterating force, while the country itself became a battleground, as the Nazis sought to halt the invaders at all costs. Bessel draws the interesting conclusion that it was this desperate defence that finally destroyed the Nazis' credibility in the eyes of ordinary Germans, as it became clear that Hitler and his associates had no interest or care for the people, and so were prepared to see all Germans killed rather than admit the defeat of their ideology. But the cost was overwhelming, as hundreds of thousands were slaughtered, by both the Allies and the Nazis themselves.
Whereas May brought peace to the Western Allies, Bessel also shows that the killing and dying continued for the Germans, through the rape, murder, and expropriation of the German population, and then by the forced expulsion of millions of Germans from the areas of Germany ceded to Poland and from the Sudetenland. The lack of interest in the suffering of the Germans on the part of the Allies, understandable though this may have been, is striking.
Equally, Bessel shows how minimally prepared the Allies were for the task of governing the millions of impoverished civilians for whom they had taken responsibility. The four powers took very different approaches in their zones, not only acting in ways that were contradictory between zones, but also taking steps within their own zones that were mutually inconsistent, such as dismantling German industry, while at the same time seeking to maximise reparations through seizing manufacturing goods. Conversely, he demonstrates how quickly some elements of normality returned, with millions of PoWs released within months, and the political parties that had been suppressed under the Nazis already starting to hold regional meetings within weeks of the fighting ending.
Overall, this is a fascinating, though disturbing, account, which ranges across the full range, of different topics and different levels of the picture, from the individual to the strategic. Highly recommended.
In many ways, Germany itself had almost failed to experience the war prior to the beginning of 1945. The massive land battles of the preceeding years had all been fought on foreign fields, and even the Allied bombing campaign had been pretty limited in its scope. As 1945 opened, the Allied armies still stood almost everywhere outside the boundaries of the Reich. The end result of the war may have been obvious to all external observers, but the Germans could still believe that their fortunes might turn around. The cataclysm that befell the country was all the more shocking as a result. The Allied bombing finally reached a genuine obliterating force, while the country itself became a battleground, as the Nazis sought to halt the invaders at all costs. Bessel draws the interesting conclusion that it was this desperate defence that finally destroyed the Nazis' credibility in the eyes of ordinary Germans, as it became clear that Hitler and his associates had no interest or care for the people, and so were prepared to see all Germans killed rather than admit the defeat of their ideology. But the cost was overwhelming, as hundreds of thousands were slaughtered, by both the Allies and the Nazis themselves.
Whereas May brought peace to the Western Allies, Bessel also shows that the killing and dying continued for the Germans, through the rape, murder, and expropriation of the German population, and then by the forced expulsion of millions of Germans from the areas of Germany ceded to Poland and from the Sudetenland. The lack of interest in the suffering of the Germans on the part of the Allies, understandable though this may have been, is striking.
Equally, Bessel shows how minimally prepared the Allies were for the task of governing the millions of impoverished civilians for whom they had taken responsibility. The four powers took very different approaches in their zones, not only acting in ways that were contradictory between zones, but also taking steps within their own zones that were mutually inconsistent, such as dismantling German industry, while at the same time seeking to maximise reparations through seizing manufacturing goods. Conversely, he demonstrates how quickly some elements of normality returned, with millions of PoWs released within months, and the political parties that had been suppressed under the Nazis already starting to hold regional meetings within weeks of the fighting ending.
Overall, this is a fascinating, though disturbing, account, which ranges across the full range, of different topics and different levels of the picture, from the individual to the strategic. Highly recommended.
August 22, 2021
‘Germany was the first country in modern history to achieve total defeat…its infrastructure was smashed..its government had ceased to exist…Germany had become a land of death.’
‘Germany 1945’ is an exhaustively researched (if stat heavy and somewhat tedious) accounting of what Germany went thru right after its govt basically evaporated after WWII.
What is engrossing is not so much the writing itself, but the subject matter - and the actuality surrounding it. Not much weight, or sympathy, or understanding has been given (relatively) to what that losing side had to endure after the war ended. While it’s kind of accurate to say ‘they brought it on themselves’, what is generally set aside is that the bulk of the violence, brutality, destruction, and societal upheaval after the war fell on civilians - mostly women, children and the elderly. And the amount of refugees created were mostly Germans disproportionally - the majority of them who had lived in their homes and lands for generations, only to see themselves unceremoniously and without compensation basically thrown out of their cities/villages etc and left to fend for themselves.
What also is interestingly reported is that while most know of the brutal tactics of the Red Army towards the German civilians as far as looting, killing, and rape are concerned, for some Germans it was the French and Poles who terrorized them more, and they actually left their occupation zones to go to Red Army ones to escape them.
While probably most of the German civilians suffering could have been said to be tainted by the ‘Nazi’ association, it is also safe to say that they suffered comparatively way more than the Nazi hierarchy - so therefore, it does give them legitimate grounds for any sympathy afforded them in this book, not to mention the bitterness many of them still harbored years later because of it. So if it was the author’s intent to hammer home these aspects, he certainly succeeded. It’s also to his credit that he can show the Germans in a somewhat sympathetic light at all, considering their collective guilt. So it goes to say that the author, while not an apologist, is far from a basher either.
However, the book recounts all these horrors in a repetitive style that makes the story somewhat drone on and on. While the sympathy for the German survivors and refugees is not lessened much by the style, the actual read becomes a bit of a slog about 2/3rds through.
So informative to a large degree; but a bit monotonous to say the least.
‘Germany 1945’ is an exhaustively researched (if stat heavy and somewhat tedious) accounting of what Germany went thru right after its govt basically evaporated after WWII.
What is engrossing is not so much the writing itself, but the subject matter - and the actuality surrounding it. Not much weight, or sympathy, or understanding has been given (relatively) to what that losing side had to endure after the war ended. While it’s kind of accurate to say ‘they brought it on themselves’, what is generally set aside is that the bulk of the violence, brutality, destruction, and societal upheaval after the war fell on civilians - mostly women, children and the elderly. And the amount of refugees created were mostly Germans disproportionally - the majority of them who had lived in their homes and lands for generations, only to see themselves unceremoniously and without compensation basically thrown out of their cities/villages etc and left to fend for themselves.
What also is interestingly reported is that while most know of the brutal tactics of the Red Army towards the German civilians as far as looting, killing, and rape are concerned, for some Germans it was the French and Poles who terrorized them more, and they actually left their occupation zones to go to Red Army ones to escape them.
While probably most of the German civilians suffering could have been said to be tainted by the ‘Nazi’ association, it is also safe to say that they suffered comparatively way more than the Nazi hierarchy - so therefore, it does give them legitimate grounds for any sympathy afforded them in this book, not to mention the bitterness many of them still harbored years later because of it. So if it was the author’s intent to hammer home these aspects, he certainly succeeded. It’s also to his credit that he can show the Germans in a somewhat sympathetic light at all, considering their collective guilt. So it goes to say that the author, while not an apologist, is far from a basher either.
However, the book recounts all these horrors in a repetitive style that makes the story somewhat drone on and on. While the sympathy for the German survivors and refugees is not lessened much by the style, the actual read becomes a bit of a slog about 2/3rds through.
So informative to a large degree; but a bit monotonous to say the least.
July 10, 2019
I got this book idea from a friend, and I thought the book theme was a very good idea. I was very curious about how this momentous period in history, and all the various forces and differing civilizations and cultures which had come together in a defeated Germany in 1945 - would begin to turn disaster into recovery. What I found was an author who in 500 pages made too many words, too many factual examples, and a tendency to dwell on the horror and dismal settings of it all. Bessel did a good job of picking various facets of the problem, for instance the problem of so many people uprooted from their homes and forced to stay in parts of Germany after the war that were not their choices. And he wrote of logistic problems like transit and food, and recovery problems like why there were few jobs and of extreme inflation. He did a good job of providing the backdrop story of how the war wound down to a close, and how each of the Allies and host countries (each German province, and neighboring countries Poland, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands) were affected and incented. But the flaw was that his writing style was tedious, overly burdened with facts, figures and geographic cites. And he went overboard on dwelling on the death, and suffering statistics. I could only read this story in doses.
All in all, I’m glad I read it, and found it uniquely informative. But I’m glad I’m done with it. I think another author would have done it differently. I don’t think I’ll be eager to try another Bessel book.
All in all, I’m glad I read it, and found it uniquely informative. But I’m glad I’m done with it. I think another author would have done it differently. I don’t think I’ll be eager to try another Bessel book.
February 23, 2019
O livro é mais ou menos dividido em três partes: a primeira conta o final da guerra (de janeiro a maio de 1945). A segunda aborda de forma minuciosa as migrações dos alemães tanto para o leste (desde o início da guerra), como a migração de volta para o oeste com o avanço soviético. E a terceira dá uma visão geral da economia e sociedade alemã no final de 1945 (infelizmente essa parte não é muito detalhada).
A narrativa fica um pouco repetitiva algumas vezes, por exemplo:
“Os soldados alemães continuaram a infligir sérias baixas a seus adversários e eram, apesar de tudo, em geral mais eficientes em combate homem a homem do que as tropas de infantaria britânicas ou americanas, e muito mais do que seus adversários soviéticos. Apesar da superioridade de efetivos e armas dos inimigos, os soldados alemães eram mais eficientes na luta homem a homem do que os soldados aliados.”(pag 34)
Há uma falha na formatação do texto que ao deixa-lo no formato “justificado” fez com que várias linhas ficassem sem espaços entre as palavras (ou com espaços quase imperceptíveis), não atrapalha muito a leitura, mas com certeza não faz bem aos olhos. Isso acontece em várias páginas ao longo de todo livro.
A narrativa fica um pouco repetitiva algumas vezes, por exemplo:
“Os soldados alemães continuaram a infligir sérias baixas a seus adversários e eram, apesar de tudo, em geral mais eficientes em combate homem a homem do que as tropas de infantaria britânicas ou americanas, e muito mais do que seus adversários soviéticos. Apesar da superioridade de efetivos e armas dos inimigos, os soldados alemães eram mais eficientes na luta homem a homem do que os soldados aliados.”(pag 34)
Há uma falha na formatação do texto que ao deixa-lo no formato “justificado” fez com que várias linhas ficassem sem espaços entre as palavras (ou com espaços quase imperceptíveis), não atrapalha muito a leitura, mas com certeza não faz bem aos olhos. Isso acontece em várias páginas ao longo de todo livro.
October 4, 2022
The book will probably not please everyone because it's very detail heavy, there's also some level of repetition especially in the language used. But for me, it didn’t stop me enjoying this. The immediate aftermath of the war, has always intrigued me and as of yet I had not found an account which delved into the various angles until Bessel. Massive credit to the author, who must have slaved over reports and archives for years to find who the British, Americans, French and Soviets went about trying to re-organize the country after it’s complete and utter devastation.
But Bessel goes even further, also analyzing the psychology of all the main players involved, including the German population, who suffered greatly when the war finished and saw themselves as victims of the allies, even though the atrocities committed in their name by Nazism were easily forgotten by them. The human element was another feature I appreciated greatly, learning about the displaced people, POW’s, Jews, Foreign workers, German refugees from the East, an angle that deserves more focus as it mirrors even today what happens in some parts of the world.
For any WW2 and history buffs, this serves as a great conclusion to WW2 and a superb introduction to the beginnings of the cold war.
But Bessel goes even further, also analyzing the psychology of all the main players involved, including the German population, who suffered greatly when the war finished and saw themselves as victims of the allies, even though the atrocities committed in their name by Nazism were easily forgotten by them. The human element was another feature I appreciated greatly, learning about the displaced people, POW’s, Jews, Foreign workers, German refugees from the East, an angle that deserves more focus as it mirrors even today what happens in some parts of the world.
For any WW2 and history buffs, this serves as a great conclusion to WW2 and a superb introduction to the beginnings of the cold war.
January 12, 2021
This is an engaging and well researched book. The argument that Germany 1945 was actually a "zero-hour" (Stunde null) for many Germans I think is a fair one. Particularly valuable is Bessel's discussion of the way Nazi magical thinking played an important role in weakening the bonds between the Nazis and the German people, an event that helped make the Allies' job easier. There is lots of information about the similarities and differences between the occupying powers policies and valuable. I had long known the French occupation had been different and in some ways more comparable to the Soviet occupation, but not known the details. This helped a lot with that. The last chapter discusses the emergence of the black market and mentions the cigarette economy, but that is something I wold liked to have learned more about. That said, this is about 1945, and the cigarette economy would last until 1948, so there isn't much there. I suspect this time frame also limits the discussion of how and the British and Americans went from grave suspicions about the Germans as highly indoctrinated Nazis were allayed, which I would like to learn more about
March 11, 2025
It took me months to actually finish this book, not because it's too long (given the amount of ground Bessel covers, it's not) or badly written (there's a little too much repetition, but aside from that Bessel writes clearly and descriptively) but because there's a lot to take in and a lot of that is fairly horrifying. The sheer scale of the rape of hundreds of thousands of German women by Russian (and British, French and American troops) is thoroughly disturbing reading. The sections dealing with the dead bodies and the destruction of a nation's towns and cities are a tough read as well. Yes, the Nazis started the war but the sheer devastation of Germany that their savagery and hubris led to is staggering. Impeccably sourced (almost a third of the book is references) Bessel's study of almost all aspects German life in 1945 and into '46 is a tremendous work of historical enquiry and curiosity that has made me think entirely differently about the roots of Germany's post-war 'miracle.'
December 28, 2021
A study of the year which made modern Germany. It began with the Nazi state in its death throes, and it ended the with country devastated, physically smaller, divided between four harsh occupiers, and with the people eking out a pitiful existence. Bessel argues that this was actually a positive in the long run: the sheer level of devastation wrought by the Allies as they defeated Nazism not only exposed Nazism for the evil it was, but laid the foundations for the social transformation of Germany into a more peaceful society.
May 1, 2018
this book focus on who World War II, the think about this book that i like is that tel you who World Was II was, how many people died who hard was the life during the war, and the thing that i don;t like about this book is that it need some description about who was the life to the Americans and to the German's people and the jew's and really like book that have a lot of description on them and the book was awesome, i really like this book
June 23, 2020
Great resource for research and to find out more about the end of the war and its impact on the countries involved, primarily Germany. Definitely worth a read to see a little more from the other side. Interspersed with personal quotes and remembrances, this is definitely a work which hits home. I highly recommend it as a read for anyone who is a history lover, seeking more detailed info about the end of WWII, and wanting to see a new perspective on how the war ended.
December 8, 2024
very interesting indeed!
When one normally thinks of the second world war, it’s usually the war time itself, full of excitement and danger. But Richard Bessel does a great job of making the story of the aftermath of the war into a very compelling story. Very interesting, very readable, very informative. I’m very glad I read it.
When one normally thinks of the second world war, it’s usually the war time itself, full of excitement and danger. But Richard Bessel does a great job of making the story of the aftermath of the war into a very compelling story. Very interesting, very readable, very informative. I’m very glad I read it.
May 16, 2017
A detailed retelling of the chaotic and tumultuous days in Germany towards the end of WWII. A very informative read.
June 6, 2018
Good book, I learned a lot about conditions in Germany after WWII.
June 7, 2021
A comprehensive & engaging telling of the conclusion of The Second World War. Full of context, accounts & facts, there is no stone left unturned by the end.
July 9, 2009
Addressing a long-overdue topic in broad strokes, Bessel brings his considerable historical expertise on modern war's fallout to illuminate each and every catastrophic corner of Germany at the end of the Second World War. He obviously has to move swiftly and can only outline only a fraction of the horror stories he finds. As a result, some will find his tone to be breezy. This shouldn't stop you, for what is here is often heartbreaking, eye-opening and first-of-its-kind-in-English stuff.
The unparalleled pace through which Germany went from wartime riches (things were pretty good in Germany through most of 1942) to the rags of unconditional surrender (obviously disastrous in mid-1945), Bessel claims, heavily informed the way in which Germans first came to structure postwar life. An emphasis upon survival and a focus on the catastrophe of defeat are an essential background to understanding the economic miracle of the 1950s and 60s, and continue to influence the way Germans approach foreign and domestic policy today. I found this argument a tad simplistic, but Bessel is clearly on to something. Those looking for an overview of Germany's final collapse and first inklings of postwar renaissance will not find a better book in any language.
The unparalleled pace through which Germany went from wartime riches (things were pretty good in Germany through most of 1942) to the rags of unconditional surrender (obviously disastrous in mid-1945), Bessel claims, heavily informed the way in which Germans first came to structure postwar life. An emphasis upon survival and a focus on the catastrophe of defeat are an essential background to understanding the economic miracle of the 1950s and 60s, and continue to influence the way Germans approach foreign and domestic policy today. I found this argument a tad simplistic, but Bessel is clearly on to something. Those looking for an overview of Germany's final collapse and first inklings of postwar renaissance will not find a better book in any language.
July 21, 2014
After reading David Kynatons excellent series on Britain Post-War, I was keen to gain an understanding of Germany's experience during this period. Seeking a similar approach, I bought Richard Bessels 'Germany 1945', but the two authors have very different approaches.
While Kynastons books, like Bessels are thoroughly researched, they are also easier to engage with and provide a more rewarding read.
One of the main issues with this book lies with it's sheer volume of statistics. While facts and figures are important to illustrate points, they can be very dull for the reader and can mire down the narrative. There are also issues with the editing, especially in the latter half of the book, and at times it feels if though Bessel is laboring a point repeatedly (the 'Zero Hour' argument being a case in point.
Positively, the excerpts of Victor Klemperers diary added a much-needed personal feel to the book, and the research is extensive and impressive. Sadly, this is not a book I felt that greatly added to my understanding of this period, as I spent much of the time hoping to finish it rather than being absorbed and informed.
For readers interested in the German Post-War experience, I'd recommend 'A Woman in Berlin'.
While Kynastons books, like Bessels are thoroughly researched, they are also easier to engage with and provide a more rewarding read.
One of the main issues with this book lies with it's sheer volume of statistics. While facts and figures are important to illustrate points, they can be very dull for the reader and can mire down the narrative. There are also issues with the editing, especially in the latter half of the book, and at times it feels if though Bessel is laboring a point repeatedly (the 'Zero Hour' argument being a case in point.
Positively, the excerpts of Victor Klemperers diary added a much-needed personal feel to the book, and the research is extensive and impressive. Sadly, this is not a book I felt that greatly added to my understanding of this period, as I spent much of the time hoping to finish it rather than being absorbed and informed.
For readers interested in the German Post-War experience, I'd recommend 'A Woman in Berlin'.
June 16, 2015
I wanted a book that delved into the finer details of how ordinary German citizens lived in the immediate aftermath of WW2 in the face of the total destruction of their social system, such as how they kept themselves fed, what the young people were doing in the absence of a functioning school system and so on.
This book focused on 1945 only and as such did not go all the way to rebirth, but the author did a good job of explaining the depth and causes of the destruction and some of those details that I was curious about. Moreover it was largely readable, which many history books, sadly, are not. So from that perspective this book satisfied my itch.
That being said, the author was really repetitive. Remember that eighth-grade formula for writing papers? Tell them what you're going to tell them (the intro), tell them (the body), tell them what you told them (the conclusion). The author did that for every single chapter and in many instances for sections within a chapter. More than once I was driven to say aloud, "Yes, I know (fill in the blank); you've told me four times now!" That was frustrating to the point that I had to put down the book several times, so that it took me well over a month to finish it. Hence the three stars.
This book focused on 1945 only and as such did not go all the way to rebirth, but the author did a good job of explaining the depth and causes of the destruction and some of those details that I was curious about. Moreover it was largely readable, which many history books, sadly, are not. So from that perspective this book satisfied my itch.
That being said, the author was really repetitive. Remember that eighth-grade formula for writing papers? Tell them what you're going to tell them (the intro), tell them (the body), tell them what you told them (the conclusion). The author did that for every single chapter and in many instances for sections within a chapter. More than once I was driven to say aloud, "Yes, I know (fill in the blank); you've told me four times now!" That was frustrating to the point that I had to put down the book several times, so that it took me well over a month to finish it. Hence the three stars.
November 3, 2009
Bessel writes about the events of the final days of the war. The brutality of the Nazis on their own people and how it brought about a more docile Germany. He argues that Germans saw themselves as traumatized, victims of the Nazis who were preoccupied with their own suffering to concern themselves with the sorrows of others. Therefore, they were able to break with their past and their responsibility or involvement in the Nazi party or support of Hitler and create a new Germany. Overall, the premise was interesting, well written and easy to understand. Although I could understand what he was arguing I don't think he completely made his point. My biggest frustration of the author was a school book tendency to summerize the points before going on to the next point. It made the book unneccesarily repetitive. I also thought the author should have included maps of the occupied zones.
September 16, 2011
An interesting study of the postwar climate of Germany. Unfortunately, it does not dwell so much on the de-Nazification effort or the climate of denial that existed, so much as it does upon the suffering of Germans themselves. Regardless the human cost to the country, the fact remained that they had started it all. I would also have liked more focus on the struggles of the DP population, and their efforts to return to their homelands. rather than the complaints of the Germans as to the "criminality" of the DP's. (Also, I did not like the overused term "Heimat" as to that of the displaced German's population's). As my father (who was there) remarked, "we didn't blame them one bit".
December 24, 2010
Generally a well-written book that tries to portray the situation in Germany near the end of WWII and the rest of 1945. Bessel portrays the situation primarily from the perspective of the citizenry rather than the government and military, although their actions are touched on as well as a lead in to the period after surrender. I do feel that the book dragged somewhat in the latter chapters, and seemed repetitive - the last 50-100 pages seemed difficult to finally get through. But, being fascinated with WWII and thirsty for any historical material on that period, it is always interesting to see that time period portrayed from a non-military perspective. A "goodread" overall.
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