Witnesses of war: children's lives under the nazis

Ophelia

I would like to recommend this book by Nicholas Stargardt about Germany in the Second World War.

I find it very interesting, but I have never read about WWII, so people who are familiar with this topic may already know about this.

The book answers, in the final chapters, a question that has been nagging me for a while.
The War is still present in people's minds in France, partly I think because war films are still being made and shown on TV.
The scenario I always had in mind for the end of the war in Western Europe was:

1- The American troops came, we were liberated (one country after the other), De Gaulle drove up the Champs Elysées, end of story.

Then, out of the blue:

2- Villages and cities were built up again.

3- We built up the EU (in one of its former names).

My parents lived through all this, but somehow what is never mentioned is the period 1945-1950, and particularly what happened in Germany.

The book gives an answer, which is not the one I had expected-- so I had guessed wrong for years but had never felt curious enough to read about it. Or perhaps the collective guilt was too strong for me and other people to explore.

http://www.amazon.com/Witnesses-War-Childrens-Lives-Under/dp/B000GCG9B 6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199476290&sr=8-1

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stcamp · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject:

Hello,

I read this book and liked it. I think many of those who lived through the difficulties of post-war Europe were, and perhaps still are feeling a bit of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. From everything I have read it was not a pretty time. Many cities were in rubble with the bodies still decaying at the bottom of piles of stone. Food was scarce. Few were those who had not lost someone. In Poland it was 1 out of 5 dead.

Regards,

Steve

Ophelia · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject:

Exactly, it was horrific, especially for those who were under the supervison of the Russians.

There is one more book I'd like to suggest, but before that, since to seem to be posting under several headings, would you like to tell us a little about yourself by writing an introduction in the "Introduce youself" threads?

Then I hope, you will fee like joining some of our fiction or non-fiction.

stcamp · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:54 am Post subject:

Hello,

I did write a brief introduction. I like your icon. I used it as wallpaper on my PC for awhile.

I am hoping to join one of the discussions, as that is why I am here. I am waiting for a new discussion to begin rather than leap into the middle of a ongoing conversation.

Regards,

Steve

Ophelia · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:30 am Post subject:

stcamp · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:02 am Post subject:

Hello,

Yes, I am going to buy "No Country for Old Men" today.

No, a full time writer is a path of poverty. I work full-time, have a family, pets, a garden, play music.

I found Booktalk as a part of my plan to shamelessly promote my books. I have decided to stay.

Interesting. I started reading your journal. The French were never known for their love of the Jews. We were in Paris just before the last big riots. In my stack of books to read is "The Last Days of Europe" by Laqueur. What I have read so far in your journal is of interest to me.

Regards,

Steve

Ophelia · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:20 am Post subject:

Ophelia · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

I'll go on discussing Germany in this period in this thread:

http://www.booktalk.org/post31427.html#31427

Ophelia · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject:

"The Last Days of Europe" by Laqueur.

I've looked it up at amazon, it sounds interesting, I'm glad you've mentioned it.
The second part deals with the theme I'm writing about in my diary: immigration from Muslim countries.

I've noted this sentence:


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