Best of
Germany

2007

The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy


Adam Tooze - 2007
    But what if this was not the case? What if the war had its roots in Germany's weakness, not its strength? This is the radical argument in this pathbreaking book, the first account of the Nazi era for the twenty-first century and our globalized world.There was no aspect of Nazi power untouched by economics, yet Adam Tooze is the first to place economics alongside race and politics at the heart of the story of the Third Reich. And America, in Tooze's view, is the true pivot for Hitler's epic challenge to a shift in the world order. Hitler intuitively understood how Germany's relative poverty in the 1930s was the result not just of global depression, but also of Germany's limited resources. He predicted the dawning of a globalized world in which Europe would be crushed by America's overwhelming power, against which he saw only one last chance: a German super-state dominating Europe. Doing what Europeans had done for three centuries, he sought to carve out an imperial hinterland through one last land grab to the east, to give him the self-sufficiency to prevail in the coming superpower competition. With the odds stacked against him, he launched his underresourced armies on their unprecedented and ultimately futile rampage across Europe.Hitler knew by the summer of 1939 that his efforts to prepare for a long war with the West were doomed to failure. Ideology drove him forward. Hitler became convinced that Jewish elements in Washington, London, and Paris were circling round him, and from 1938, the international "Jewish question: was synonymous with America in his mind. Even in the summer of 1940, at the moment of Germany's greatest triumphs, Hitler was still haunted by the looming threat of Anglo-American air and sea power, orchestrated by, he believed, the world Jewish conspiracy.Tooze also casts a stark new light on Albert Speer's role in sustaining the Third Reich to its bloody end, after the catastrophe of the Soviet invasion. Speer, Tooze proposes, was no apolitical agent of technocratic efficiency but a Hitler loyalist who would stop at nothing to continue a hopeless battle of attrition, at the cost of tens of millions of lives.The Wages of Destruction is a chilling work of originality and tremendous scholarship that will fundamentally change the way in which we view Nazi Germany and the Second World War.

Abandoned and Forgotten: An Orphan Girl's Tale of Survival During World War II


Evelyne Tannehill - 2007
    Abandoned and Forgotten is the memoir of a young girl growing up in the then-German province of East Prussia by the Baltic Sea. Orphaned at the age of nine and left to fend for herself in a hostile world, Evelyne Tannehill witnessed firsthand what happens when law and order break down and self-preservation becomes the only thing that matters. Her journey is a poignant example of how resilient the human spirit can be, even in the face of war's greatest horrors.

Swansong 1945: A Collective Diary of the Last Days of the Third Reich


Walter Kempowski - 2007
    Together, they present a panoramic view of four tumultuous days that fateful spring: Hitler’s birthday on April 20, American and Soviet troops meeting at the Elbe on April 25, Hitler’s suicide on April 30, and the German surrender on May 8. An extraordinary account of suffering and survival, Swansong 1945 brings to vivid life the end of World War II in Europe.

Death of the Wehrmacht: The German Campaigns of 1942


Robert M. Citino - 2007
    In this major reevaluation of that crucial year, Robert Citino shows that the German army's emerging woes were rooted as much in its addiction to the war of movement-attempts to smash the enemy in short and lively campaigns-as they were in Hitler's deeply flawed management of the war. From the overwhelming operational victories at Kerch and Kharkov in May to the catastrophic defeats at El Alamein and Stalingrad, Death of the Wehrmacht offers an eye-opening new view of that decisive year. Building upon his widely respected critique in The German Way of War, Citino shows how the campaigns of 1942 fit within the centuries-old patterns of Prussian/German warmaking and ultimately doomed Hitler's expansionist ambitions. He examines every major campaign and battle in the Russian and North African theaters throughout the year to assess how a military geared to quick and decisive victories coped when the tide turned against it. Citino also reconstructs the German generals' view of the war and illuminates the multiple contingencies that might have produced more favorable results. In addition, he cites the fatal extreme aggressiveness of German commanders like Erwin Rommel and assesses how the German system of command and its commitment to the independence of subordinate commanders suffered under the thumb of Hitler and chief of staff General Franz Halder. More than the turning point of a war, 1942 marked the death of a very old and traditional pattern of warmaking, with the classic German way of war unable to meet the challenges of the twentieth century. Blending masterly research with a gripping narrative, Citino's remarkable work provides a fresh and revealing look at how one of history's most powerful armies began to founder in its quest for world domination.

Inferno: The Fiery Destruction of Hamburg, 1943


Keith Lowe - 2007
    For ten days they pounded the city with over 9,000 tons of bombs, with the intention of erasing it entirely from the map. The fires they created were so huge they burned for a month and were visible for 200 miles.The people of Hamburg had no time to understand what had hit them. As they emerged from their ruined cellars and air raid shelters, they were confronted with a unique vision of hell: a sea of flame that stretched to the horizon, the burned-out husks of fire engines that had tried to rescue them, roads that had become flaming rivers of melted tarmac. Even the canals were on fire.Worse still, they had to battle hurricane-force winds to escape the blaze. The only safe places were the city's parks, but to reach them survivors had to stumble through temperatures of up to 800C and a blizzard of sparks strong enough to lift grown men off their feet."Inferno" is the culmination of several years of research and the first comprehensive account of the Hamburg firestorm to be published in almost thirty years. Keith Lowe has interviewed eyewitnesses in Britain, Germany, and America, and gathered together hundreds of letters, diaries, firsthand accounts, and documents. His book gives the human side of an inhuman story: the long, tense buildup to the Allied attack; the unparalleled horror of the firestorm itself; and the terrible aftermath. The result is an epic story of devastation and survival, and a much-needed reminder of the human face of war. Includes nineteen maps and thirty-one photographs, many never seen before.350 pages narrative, 489 pages in total

Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1933-1945


Saul Friedländer - 2007
    Friedländer also provides the accounts of the persecutors themselves—and, perhaps most telling of all, the testimonies of ordinary German citizens who, in general, stood silent and unmoved by the increasing waves of segregation, humiliation, impoverishment, and violence.The second part covers the German extermination policies that resulted in the murder of six million European Jews—an official program that depended upon the cooperation of local authorities and police departments, the passivity of the populations, and the willingness of the victims to submit in desperate hope of surviving long enough to escape the German vise.A monumental, multifaceted study now contained in a single volume, Saul Friedländer's Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1933-1945 is an essential study of a dark and complex history.

Home Run: Escape from Nazi Europe


John Nichol - 2007
    They were alone and on the run in enemy territory with just one goal - to get back to Britain and to safety. Some made solitary treks through hundreds of miles of enemy territory, others attempted precarious sea crossings in stolen boats. Many placed their lives in the hands of brave civilians who risked the wrath of a brutal regime if they dared to offer assistance. Life for the evaders hung in the balance and if they were to survive they had to rely on guile and sheer luck. John Nichol and Tony Rennell tell the dramatic story of the heroes who made it home ...and those who did not.

Christmas Around the World: A Pop-Up Book


Chuck Fischer - 2007
    Featuring France, Germany, Russia, Latin America, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States, every spread is packed with delights: a luxurious central pop-up image, plus removable booklets, pullouts, mini pop-ups, and more. The text illuminates unique Christmas traditions, gift legacies, and portraits of mythic figures, such as England's Father Christmas and Italy's Le Befana. Like Christmas in New York, CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD is destined to become a treasured keepsake and a bestseller for years to come.

Yesterday: The " Beatles " Once Upon A Time


Astrid Kirchherr - 2007
    

God, Honor, Fatherland: A Photo History of Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" on the Eastern Front 1942-1944


Thomas McGuirl - 2007
    Formed in 1942 by the expansion of Infantry Regiment (motorized) "Grossdeutschland," the new division quickly earned its reputation on the Eastern Front of being the elite of the German Army. Twice the size of most other divisions, it was an immensely powerful and hard-hitting mechanized formation that cut a large swath through the Red Army, whether in the attack or on the defense. Its carefully selected officer and non-commissioned officer corps ensured that no matter what the odds, the division would always give a good account of itself in battle and would possess an esprit de corps enjoyed by few other comparable divisions, including those of the Waffen-SS.The thousands of volunteers from every land and province in Germany who fought and died while serving in the ranks of Panzergrenadier Division "Grossdeutschland" represented a cross-section of German society, a radical departure from the manner in which most German divisions of the era were created. Now for the first time, the faces of these men, at rest and in battle, can be seen through the images gleaned from hundreds of photographs taken by the division's war correspondents or Kriegsberichter. This outstanding selection of photographs, which until recently remained unseen for decades in a European archive, have been recovered and painstakingly researched by authors Remy Spezzano and Thomas McGuirl. Together with the assistance of the division's Veterans' association, they identified hundreds of men, living and dead, as well as dozens of combat vehicles, items of equipment, and specific engagements the division took part in from April 1942 to September 1944. Accompanied by a detailed narrative that ties each of the photos within the context of the war on the Eastern Front, "God, Honor, Fatherland" represents a milestone in the study of the war in the East and shows the face of the German soldier as he has never been shown before.

A View of the Ocean


Jan de Hartog - 2007
    He adored his wife and didn't like anyone else around to claim her attention. Their sons saw him as a monster of egocentricity, a tyrant, a blustering bully; to her he was a sensitive, shy, helpless man with a mission. She believed in him from the moment they met, and under the wings of her faith in him as a philosopher, he became one.During their thirty years of marriage this woman's only concern was to enable her husband to hearken to "the voice of God."After his death she discovered somewhere deep inside a core of drop-forged steel. She rose to the challenge of widowhood and, continuing his work, took his place in the world. The full splendor of this tiny, frail woman's character, intelligence, and courage became evident during her World War II internment in a Japanese camp in the Dutch East Indies, when she managed to arrange a cease-fire between the Dutch Army and Indonesian guerillas.After her release from prison camp, she returned to Amsterdam, and resumed her simple life, offering spiritual advice to those seeking solace. Finally, she was faced with the ultimate test of her spirit: a diagnosis of a cancer too far advanced for treatment.De Hartog tells us how his mother's blazing courage through it all inspired his own spiritual awakening as he found, in her final months, the strength, the power, and the acceptance to see her through to the end.

The Devil's Handwriting: Precoloniality and the German Colonial State in Qingdao, Samoa, and Southwest Africa


George Steinmetz - 2007
    During this period, dramatically different policies were enacted in the colonies: in Southwest Africa, German troops carried out a brutal slaughter of the Herero people; in Samoa, authorities pursued a paternalistic defense of native culture; in Qingdao, China, policy veered between harsh racism and cultural exchange.Why did the same colonizing power act in such differing ways? In The Devil’s Handwriting, George Steinmetz tackles this question through a brilliant cross-cultural analysis of German colonialism, leading to a new conceptualization of the colonial state and postcolonial theory. Steinmetz uncovers the roots of colonial behavior in precolonial European ethnographies, where the Hereros were portrayed as cruel and inhuman, the Samoans were idealized as “noble savages,” and depictions of Chinese culture were mixed. The effects of status competition among colonial officials, colonizers’ identification with their subjects, and the different strategies of cooperation and resistance offered by the colonized are also scrutinized in this deeply nuanced and ambitious comparative history.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Berlin Alexanderplatz


Klaus Biesenbach - 2007
    The first German novel to adopt the technique of James Joyce, it tells the story of ex-con Franz Biberkopf. Struggling to survive among the poverty, unemployment, crime, and burgeoning Nazism of 1920s Germany, fate teases him with a little pleasure before cruelly turning him in. In 1980, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the genius of New German Cinema, adapted Doblin's novel into a legendary and controversial TV series starring Hanna Schygulla, Barbara Sukowa, and others. Presented in its re-mastered movie version at the 2007 Berlin film festival to unanimous acclaim, it will be on view in an international travelling exhibition. This book features over 500 color film stills from the series, the complete script, and essays by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Susan Sontag, and exhibition curator Klaus Biesenbach.

Fighting Men of World War II: Uniforms, Equipment and Weapons


David Miller - 2007
    Also included are popular items, such as lighters, that were carried by many troops but were not standard issue. The accompanying text describes the items and also compares them to those of other armies. The result is a complete picture of the daily life and conditions of the fighting men of all countries. It is an essential reference work for all military historians, collectors, and general readers. A second volume covering the Allies will be published in Fall 2008.

Collins German Dictionary


Maree Airlie - 2007
    Among the features of this dictionary are - the latest words and phrases from contemporary German and English, thousands of examples of authentic German in context, cultural notes providing insight into life in German-speaking countries, and a language in use supplement to help you communicate in natural, idiomatic German.

Cosima Wagner: The Lady of Bayreuth


Oliver Hilmes - 2007
    After Wagner’s death in 1883 Cosima played a crucial role in the promulgation and politicization of his works, assuming control of the Bayreuth Festival and transforming it into a shrine to German nationalism. The High Priestess of the Wagnerian cult, Cosima lived on for almost fifty years, crafting the image of Richard Wagner through her organizational ability and ideological tenacity.The first book to make use of the available documentation at Bayreuth, this biography explores the achievements of this remarkable and obsessive woman while illuminating a still-hidden chapter of European cultural history.

The Nazi Hydra in America: Suppressed History of a Century


Glen Yeadon - 2007
    While Eisenhower's troops defeated The Third Reich on the battlefields of Europe, the war against fascism was lost on the home front, to the same cadre of American elitists who built Hitler's war machine. At the center of this small confederacy two firms stand out: Brown Brothers & Harriman, and Sullivan & Cromwell. At the very eye of this oligarchy one family name stands above all others. Spanning over 90 years and 4 generations, the Bush family has chosen to ally themselves with Nazism and warmongering at home and abroad, ever willing to advance the Nazi agenda of global corporatism.

U-Boat Combat Missions: The Pursuers & The Pursued: First Hand Accounts Of U-Boat Life And Operations


Lawrence Paterson - 2007
    

The Ministry of Truth: Kim Jong-Il's North Korea


Christian Kracht - 2007
    For the visitors, actors often represent pedestrians, and the consumer goods seen in stores are unavailable to the public at large. The statistics heaped upon the visitors are dubious at best.Kim Jong Il's People's Republic of North Korea is a gigantic installation, a simulation, a play. Eva Munz, Christian Kracht, and Lukas Nikol traveled to this land to take pictures of a country from which there are no pictures. What they show in The Ministry of Truth is a window view of the gigantic 3-D production of Kim Jong Il, who writes the nation's statistics and authors its film script. Because no accurate view is available of this total installation, the authors make the only one possible: They comment on their photos with quotations from a didactic book on the art of film written by the dictator—who not only collects wine and Mazda RX-7 sports cars, but also has an enormous film library.Christian Kracht is a celebrated journalist and author and the editor of the German cultural magazine Der Freund. The photographs of Eva Munz and Lukas Nikol have had numerous international exhibitions.

Action Sorgenkind


Mawil - 2007
    

Writings of Rosa Luxemburg


Rosa Luxemburg - 2007
    Contains "Reform or Revolution?", concerning the reformist program of parliamentary socialism; "The Socialist Crisis in France", concerning the entry of the Socialist Party into the French Government; and other essays.

The Congress of Vienna and Its Legacy: War and Great Power Diplomacy after Napoleon


Mark Jarrett - 2007
    In September 1814, the rulers of Europe and their ministers descended upon Vienna to reconstruct Europe after two decades of revolution and war, with the major decisions made by the statesmen of the great powers - Castlereagh, Metternich, Talleyrand, Hardenberg and Emperor Alexander of Russia. The territorial reconstruction of Europe, however, is only a part of this story. It was followed, in the years 1815 to 1822, by a bold experiment in international cooperation and counter-revolution, known as the 'Congress System'. The Congress of Vienna and subsequent Congresses constituted a major turning point – the first genuine attempt to forge an 'international order', to bring long-term peace to a troubled Europe, and to control the pace of political change through international supervision and intervention. In this book, Mark Jarrett argues that the decade of the European Congresses in fact marked the beginning of our modern era, with a profound impact upon the course of subsequent developments. Based upon extensive research, this book provides a fresh look at a pivotal but often neglected period.

History Of Psychiatry And Medical Psychology


Edwin R. Wallace IV - 2007
    This title traces this evolution in its social, political, and philosophical contexts, charting the rise of psychology as a legitimate field of scientific pursuit, and of psychiatry as a medical specialty.

Theories Of Memory: A Reader


Michael Rossington - 2007
    It traces the history of the philosophical problematisation of memory as well as its insistent and urgent demand to be recognised and defined.

To D-Day and Back: Adventures with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Life as a World War II POW: A memoir


Bob Bearden - 2007
    Their mission: defend the west bank of the Merderet River against German counterattack. After long months of training they were finally taking the war to the Germans. Beardens time in combat proved shortlived, however, when he was captured on D+2, June 8.This was only the beginning of a new war for his very survival through multiple German POW camps and ultimately on an epic journey that would take him largely on foot all the way to Moscow on his journey home, all of which makes for exciting reading in this remarkable memoir.

Knopf Guide: Egypt (Knopf Guides)


Alfred A. Knopf Publishing Company - 2007
    In many ways, their desire for eternity has become realized as their civilization -- nearly 9,000 years after its birth -- still captures the imagination and hearts of travelers. Travel to this country and witness the Pyramids at Giza -- the only one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.Journey through the Valley of the Kings and discover the spectacular Temple of Hatshepsut, the mysterious Sphinx, the dramatic interiors of the great pyramids and mosques. Visit the Egyptian Antiquities Museum of Cairo with Tutankhamun's gold and treasures. Read about the daily life of the pharoahs, their gods and sacred funerary rites Learn about sand dunes, desert oases, and the fertile Nile delta. Travel to Alexandria -- once the second largest city in the Roman Empire -- and navigate its open-air markets and then steal-away to a quiet walled-garden. The Knopf Guide to Egypt is packed with all the essential, practical information you will need including where to stay, shop and enjoy local cuisine, as well as how to order a coffee ziada (sweet), mazbut (fairly sweet) or sada (bitter). It is a perfect companion to this engaging and sometimes challenging destination.

I Saw It Happen in Norway


C.J. Hambro - 2007
    We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

London, 1933-1935: Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, Volume 13


Dietrich Bonhoeffer - 2007
    This enlightening volume provides an almost daily documentation of his deepening engagement against the placid backdrop of his two London pastorates.Detailing Bonhoeffer's extensive contacts with German expatriates, ecumenical partners and allies, and friends and family, London: 1933-1935 impressively records both Bonhoeffer's involvement in the rapidly developing clash with the deutsche Christen and the means by which he pursued it.The bulk of the material consists of his wide correspondence but also includes records and minutes of his congregational meetings, excerpts from the diaries of Bonhoeffer's friend and London colleague Julius Rieger, reports from international conferences from 1934, and more than twenty sermons he preached to his London congregations. The wealth of this material, says editor Keith Clements, allows us to experience a dramatic slice of this history and see the many and complex facets of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's personality.

Conservative Party and Anglo-German Relations, 1905-1914


Frank McDonough - 2007
    Drawing on a wide variety of original sources, it examines the Conservative response to the German threat, and argues that the response of the Conservative Party towards Germany showed a marked absence of open hostility towards Germany. Overall, this important new study provides a powerful and overdue corrective to the traditional depiction of the Conservative Party in opposition as 'Scaremongers' and the chief source of Germanophobic views among the British political parties.

Victory Was Beyond Their Grasp: With the 272nd Volks-Grenadier Division from the Hurtgen Forest to the Heart of the Reich


Douglas E. Nash - 2007
    While the Wonder Weapons such as the V-2 missile are widely recognized, the Volks-Grenadier Divisions (VGDs) are practically unknown. Often confused with the Volkssturm, the Home Guard militia, VGDs have suffered the undeserved reputation as second-rate formations, filled with young boys and old men suited to serve only as cannon fodder. This ground-breaking book shows that VGDs were actually conceived as a new, elite corps loyal to the National Socialist Party and equipped with the finest weapons available. Come follow along with the soldiers of the 272nd VGD's Füsilier Company from their first battles in the Huertgen Forest to their final defeat in the Harz Mountains . . . learn the enormous potential of VGDs . . . and feel their soldiers' heartbreak at their failure.

Panzergrenadier Divisions (The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide): 1939-45


Chris Bishop - 2007
    Organized chronologically by division and formation date, the book describes in depth the various models of tank and other armored and soft vehicles in service with each panzergrenadier division, with listings of unit commanders, vehicle types and numbers and unit structure. Each divisional section is further broken down by campaign, accompanied by orders of battle, a brief divisional history of the campaign and any specific unit markings. Every motorized division is featured, including the elite Grossdeutschland and Fallschirmjager Herman Goring divisions.With information boxes accompanying the full-color artworks, all drawn to the same scale for easy comparison, The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide: Panzergrenadier Divisions, 1939-45 is a key reference guide for modelers and military history enthusiasts with an interest in the motorized divisions of the Wehrmacht.REVIEWS..".useful in providing a clear history of every unit in one place... beautiful introduction to the motorized divisions... a nice "big picture" type of overview, useful to those looking beyond individual units or specific battles. ...a valuable addition to any armor library" Internet Modeler, 10/07..". a worthy addition to anyone's library along with Mr. Bishop's Companion volume The Essential Tank Identification Guide: Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions 1939-45 ."Armchair General 02/2008"highly recommended and could stand as a basic overall reference book on the Panzergrenadier Divisions"IPMS, 10/07

How Jews Became Germans: The History of Conversion and Assimilation in Berlin


Deborah Hertz - 2007
    With the help of church officials, a vast system of conversion and intermarriage records was created in Berlin, the country’s premier Jewish city. Deborah Hertz’s discovery of these records, the Judenkartei, was the first step on a long research journey that has led to this compelling book. Hertz begins the book in 1645, when the records begin, and traces generations of German Jewish families for the next two centuries. The book analyzes the statistics and explores letters, diaries, and other materials to understand in a far more nuanced way than ever before why Jews did or did not convert to Protestantism. Focusing on the stories of individual Jews in Berlin, particularly the charismatic salon woman Rahel Levin Varnhagen and her husband, Karl, a writer and diplomat, Hertz humanizes the stories, sets them in the context of Berlin’s evolving society, and connects them to the broad sweep of European history.

The Complete Guide to Rope Techniques, 2nd: A Comprehensive Handbook for Climbers


Nigel Shepherd - 2007
     The Complete Guide to Rope Techniques provides the essential knowledge needed for normal day-to-day climbing, from basic tying-on and belaying methods to more advanced skills needed for competitive climbing. Each technique is presented in a simple and straightforward manner and is broken down into its individual components. Look inside to find: • Useful knots and basic techniques• Top and bottom roping• Snow, rock, and ice anchors• Abseiling• Ascending a fixed rope• Escaping from the system• Direct belays and belaying techniques• Glacier travel and crevasse rescue• Improvised rescues• Short roping• Double-rope technique• Single pitch climbing• And much more

The Problem Of Human Life: As Viewed By The Great Thinkers From Plato To The Present Time


Rudolf Christoph Eucken - 2007
    This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

Hitler's "National Community": Society and Culture in Nazi Germany


Lisa Pine - 2007
    Beginning with a focus on Nazi attempts to forge a new national identity and awareness, the book goes on to consider the role and fate of all those excluded form this new national community. Author Lisa Pine interweaves her analysis of society with a look at the Nazis' post-war social legacy, supplying a fresh overview of a much-studied area.