The making of German democracy: West Germany during the Adenauer era, 1945-65


The making of German democracy: West Germany during the Adenauer era, 1945-65
The making of German democracy: West Germany during the Adenauer era, 1945-65 by Armin Grunbacher

This is the first English language source reader that deals with post-war (West) Germany. Over 160 commented sources describe the political, social and economic developments that changed Germany from the abyss of Nazism into a prosperous ally of the West and into one of the driving forces of European integration. The sources, which include official Allied and German documents, parliamentary debates, contemporary newspapers articles, diaries and a large number of previously unpublished archival materials, allow for the first time a source-based study of post-war Germany for non-German speakers. The sources allow an assessment of the changes of Allied policy in the immediate post-war years which led to the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany; explain the country's role in the intensifying Cold War; and encourage a re-evaluation of the 'economic miracle' and whether the Federal Republic signified a 'new start' for Germany or a 'restoration' of the old social forces and patterns. The chronological and thematic structure makes the book an ideal tool for anyone who wants to know how and why events in (West) Germany developed 'After Hitler'. The book will be of great benefit to students of German post-war history from A-level to Masters degrees. It offers a unique opportunity for teachers and lecturers to go well beyond the traditional sources explaining German History and the Cold War.

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Lists Appeared In
The 100 Greatest German History Books