Don't Mention The War

by John Ramsden

The Times decided in 1891 that "Germany does not excite in any class among us the slightest feeling of distrust or antipathy"—the zenith of a century in which Britons admired German culture and British monarchy was closely involved with Germany royalty. Yet 25 years later began the era of world wars in which Britain and Germany were twice pitted against each other. After 1945, it seemed that Britain would learn to co-exist on happier terms with newly democratic Germany, yet persistent memories of 1940 have slowed that process, hesitations reinforced by the showing of war films on television, chants on the terraces, and populist tabloid gibes. John Ramsden's groundbreaking book looks at every aspect of Anglo-German relations for the last 100 years—from the wars themselves to how they have been seen by the tabloids as re-enacted in subsequent football matches. And he asks "What is the British problem with Germany?" As Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin once said "I tries 'ard, but I 'ates 'em."

Genres: History, Germany, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way we (English) have treated Germans since 1945 is utterly embarrassing. Macmillan's generation had an excuse, even Thatcher's to an extent, but since 2006 things have only got worse. I love working class Brits but going on about the Wars and 1966 all the time is boring and offensive. Probably will remain the same for the forseeable future, not sure whether Brexit will have a positive or negative impact here.

[Karin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the best word for this is 'dry'. Expecting to dive right into the realities of late Victorian relations (that whole "since 1890" bit of the subtitle), the reader is instead treated to a history lesson that goes back to the Middle Ages. The World Wars felt glossed over, and then way too much time was spent discussing movies.