About the book
World War II and its aftermath brought devastating material losses to millions of West Germans. Military action destroyed homes, businesses, and personal possessions; East European governments expelled 15 million ethnic Germans from their ancestral homes; and currency reform virtually wiped out many Germans' hard-earned savings. These “war damaged” individuals, well over one-third of the West German population, vehemently demanded compensation at the expense of those who had not suffered losses, to be financed through capital levies on surviving private property.
Michael Hughes offers the first comprehensive study of West Germany’s efforts to redistribute the costs of war and defeat among its citizenry. The debate over a Lastenausgleich (a balancing out of burdens) generated thousands of documents in which West Germans articulated deeply held beliefs about social justice, economic rationality, and political legitimacy. Hughes uses these sources to trace important changes in German society since 1918, illuminating the process by which West Germans, who had rejected liberal democracy in favor of Nazi dictatorship in the 1930s, came to accept the social-market economy and parliamentary democracy of the 1950s.
Editions of Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807824948
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807871614
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469619538
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890869791
Read an Excerpt
World War II and its aftermath brought devastating material losses to millions of West Germans. Military action destroyed homes, businesses, and personal possessions; East European governments expelled 15 million ethnic Germans from their ancestral homes; and currency reform virtually wiped out many Germans' hard-earned savings. These “war damaged” individuals, well over one-third of the West German population, vehemently demanded compensation at the expense of those who had not suffered losses, to be financed through capital levies on surviving private property.
Michael Hughes offers the first comprehensive study of West Germany’s efforts to redistribute the costs of war and defeat among its citizenry. The debate over a Lastenausgleich (a balancing out of burdens) generated thousands of documents in which West Germans articulated deeply held beliefs about social justice, economic rationality, and political legitimacy. Hughes uses these sources to trace important changes in German society since 1918, illuminating the process by which West Germans, who had rejected liberal democracy in favor of Nazi dictatorship in the 1930s, came to accept the social-market economy and parliamentary democracy of the 1950s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat about?
World War II and its aftermath brought devastating material losses to millions of West Germans. Military action destroyed homes, businesses, and personal possessions; East European governments expelled 15 million ethnic Germans from their ancestral homes; and currency reform virtually wiped out many Germans' hard-earned savings. These “war damaged” individuals, well over one-third of the West German population, vehemently demanded compensation at the expense of those who had not suffered losses, to be financed through capital levies on surviving private property.
Michael Hughes offers the first comprehensive study of West Germany’s efforts to redistribute the costs of war and defeat among its citizenry. The debate over a Lastenausgleich (a balancing out of burdens) generated thousands of documents in which West Germans articulated deeply held beliefs about social justice, economic rationality, and political legitimacy. Hughes uses these sources to trace important changes in German society since 1918, illuminating the process by which West Germans, who had rejected liberal democracy in favor of Nazi dictatorship in the 1930s, came to accept the social-market economy and parliamentary democracy of the 1950s.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat?
History and Archaeology > History > European history
Where can I read a sample of Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807824948
How long is Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat and how many pages does it have?
Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat has 280 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat?
Michael L. Hughes
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807824948) and paperback(ISBN 9780807871614) and ebook(ISBN 9781469619538) and pdf(ISBN 9798890869791)
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Where can I buy Shouldering the Burdens of Defeat?