The Rush to German Unity (Paperback)

by Konrad H. Jarausch (Author)
Key Phrases: negotiating accession, liberal bloc, monetary merger, Round Table, East German, East Berlin (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is contemporary history at its best....Securely based on a wealth of primary and secondary sources and an in-depth familiarity with the subject, his reflective analysis is always balanced and thoughtful. The book provides interesting and stimulating reading for the scholarly as well as the general audience."--Choice
"A good piece of contemporary history....A useful guide to a tangled, improvised history, with adequate attention to the major voices in both Germanies."--Foreign Affairs
"Impressive....Filled with new information and insights...throw[s] much light upon the current complexities of the German scene."--Gordon A. Craig, New York Review of Books
"The Rush to German Unity merits a wide readership. the comprehensiveness of Jarausch's research makes the book a must for scholars interested in German politics...Its lucid style makes it an excellent choice for teaching graduate students and advanced undergraduates, as well as for general reading by members of the public interested in German issues."--Slavic Review
"As we have learned to expect from Konrad H. Jarausch, this book makes another critical contribution to a sujet du jour in German history...This book will stand for some time as an indispensable foundation on the newest quasi-revolution in Germany."--American Historical Review


Product Description
The bringing down of the Berlin Wall is one of the most vivid images and historic events of the late twentieth century. The reunification of Germany has transformed the face of Europe. In one stunning year, two separate states with clashing ideologies, hostile armies, competing economies, and incompatible social systems merged into one. The speed and extent of the reunification was so great that many people are still trying to understand the events. Initial elation has given way to the realities and problems posed in reuniting two such different systems.

The Rush to German Unity presents a clear historical reconstruction of the confusing events. It focuses on the dramatic experiences of the East German people but also explores the decisions of the West German elite. Konrad H. Jarausch draws on the rich sources produced by the collapse of the GDR and on the public debate in the FRG. Beginning with vivid media images, the text probes the background of a problem, traces its treatment and resolution and then reflects on its implications.

Combining an insider's insights with an outsider's detachment, the interpretation balances the celebratory and the catastrophic views. The unification process was democratic, peaceful and negotiated. But the merger was also bureaucratic, capitalistic and one-sided. Popular pressures and political manipulation combined to create a rush to unity that threatened to escape control. The revolution moved from a civic rising to a national movement and ended up as reconstruction from the outside. An ideal source for general readers and students, The Rush to German Unity explores whether solving the old German problem has merely created new difficulties.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195085779
• ISBN-13: 978-0195085778
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,067,193 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A good objective review, July 3, 2009

By	R. L. Huff "An old reader" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mr. Jarausch has writen a detailed and comprehensive look at the latest German revolution and recreation of the German State. Beginning with the first tentative steps of protest to the packed streets of the Wende and the first holes in the Wall, we end the book with an elected and reunited Germany and an honest assessment of its pros and cons.

Very helpful here is that Mr. Jarausch eschews triumphalism, which mars the majority of works on German reunity. Whether you're in the pro or anti-reunion camp (and I'm in the latter) you can't fault Mr. Jarausch's thorough examination of causes and events, and deep insights into the motives and character of all parties concerned. I'll spare the reader my opinions as to why I think this unity was a rush job in more ways than one, and for less than noble motives, except to endorse a thorough reading of this book for all those interested in modern Germany and Europe.

One criticism to the publisher: it's annoying to change type fonts, especially in the middle of sentences. Printed on a Gutenberg press, perhaps?