Exorcising Hitler

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Not since the fall of the Roman Empire has Europe witnessed a collapse like that of Germany in 1945. Once a beacon of industriousness and creativity, home to many of civilization's greatest minds, Germany entered the twentieth century as a united and prosperous nation. However, the aftermath of World War I and the devastation of the 1930s led to the rise of National Socialism. Within a generation, Germany's cities lay in ruins, its industries shattered, and its cultural heritage seemingly lost. The perception of Germans shifted to that of evil monsters. In the wake of six years of warfare, the victors faced the unprecedented challenge of rebuilding a nation. Frederick Taylor's narrative explores Germany's "year zero" and the subsequent years. He details the final Allied campaign, the eradication of Nazi resistance, the mass displacement of populations, and the attitudes of the conquerors. Amidst hunger and devastation, initial efforts to eradicate Nazism evolved into a more pragmatic approach. This combination of conservatism and enterprise ultimately facilitated the economic miracle of the 1950s. It was only when the children of the Nazi era began to confront their parents' past that Germany began to awaken from its 'sleep cure.'