Ailing Empire: Germany from Bismark to Hitler [Paperback]

Sebastian Haffner (Author), Jean Steinberg (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

German journalist Haffner discusses Germany's characteristic aggression from 1871-1945, arguing that its armed belligerence and self-destructiveness resulted from its geographic location. ``This illuminating survey . . . focuses on the continuities and discontinuities of the modern German Reich and the central role of warfare in the empire,'' said PW.

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Fromm Intl; 1ST edition (April 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880641274
• ISBN-13: 978-0880641272
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.7 x 2.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,169,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ailing Empire : Germany from Bismark to Hitler, November 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ailing Empire: Germany from Bismark to Hitler (Paperback)

Its a pity this book is currently not available in English. I have read this book in German, and found it to be an excellent eye-opener to a catastrophe that began to unfold more than 80 years ago. The catastrophe that ended for Europe, and many other parts of the world, in total chaos and has reshaped the world to lay the foundation of our current international political structure, still holds a mixture of fascination and horror for many a historical minded person. - My grandparents and parents have suffered through the anxiety and often horrors of both world wars and their descriptions I will never forget. However, I often ask myself what was it that actually lead to this tragedy that actually started around 1914. What factors prepared a person like Hitler to have such a far reachiung influence? What psychological background in the societies of those times laid the foundation to the course of things. After all what happened in Germany was no exception in those times. The preparations for war, the elimination of so-called undesirable people, the persecution of humans, etc. was something that was practiced in all countries. Countries like France and Britain did it in their colonies, Russia and China against their own people, or turned it against their neighbors. Only in Germany it was pusued with particular systematic fervor. - All this was possible in highly sophisticated societies, and when it all came into the open people were understandibly very disturbed: why did this happen? The haunt of these events still has not lost its grip on our imagination, and its still practiced in countries that as of yet have not come full circle with these experiences. It can be argued that it is our responsibility to come to terms with this past, to learn from the mistakes and set a new future trend. - However, forbidding inconvenient political parties, political crimes, or touting political correctness, etc. alone won't do it. We have to understand why people want to do this, and at at what point are they ready to take action in the most atrocious way. It has to do with soulsearching each nations history and more so each culture's individual psyche when it comes under pressure, when it is subjected to increased political and economic uncertainty. Are we preparing our children to avoid a catastrophe that came full circle by the end of World War II? - Please read this book, it is written excellently, by a master in language. And ask yourself, try to see parallels in political history in countries other than Germany - recognize these patterns and do something - otherwise you maybe next in line. History has a tendency to repeat itself for those who ignore its lessons - politicians, teachers, parents and other leaders, take heed.