Die kürzeste Geschichte Deutschlands

In 250 pages, James Hawes takes us through 2000 years of German history: convincingly and confidently, he leads us from the ancient Romans to the present day. It’s a grand tour through the centuries that culminates in a passionate homage to the Federal Republic. The victory over the Romans in the Teutoburg Forest, the barbaric cruelty of the Thirty Years' War, the rise of militaristic Prussia in the 18th century – these historical events flash like lightning in Hawes' spectacular ride through German history. The overarching question that runs like a red thread through the pages is: Does the heart of Europe belong to the West or the East? For Hawes, it is clear that this country belongs to the West. He sees the Federal Republic, as we know it, in the tradition of true, historical Germany, where state subservience, puritanical zeal, and scarred militarism have always been foreign. Hawes is certain: Germany is today’s greatest hope for Europe.