After the Reich

In 1945 Germany was a nation in tatters. Swathes of its population weredespairing, homeless, bombed-out andon the move. Refugeesstreamed towards the West andsoldiers made their way home,oftenscarring the villages they passed throughwith parting shots of savagery. Politically the country was neutered, carved into zones of occupation. While Britain and America were loathe to repeat the crippling reparations demands of the First World War, Russiabayed for blood,stripping their own zone of everything from rail tracks to lavatory bowls. After the Reichis the first history to givethe fullpicture of Germany's bitter journey to reconstruction. Giles Macdonogh expertly chartsthe varied experiences ofallwho found themselves in theGermanmelting pot.Hispeople-focused narrativeunveils shocking truthsabout how people continued to treat each other, evenoutside the confines of war.It is a crucial lesson for our times.