Russia and Germany: A Century of Conflict Updated edition by Walter Laqueur (1990) Paperback

by Walter Laqueur

Despite changes in the international constellation since Russia and Germany initially appeared in 1965, the relationship between these two nations remains the most important single issue in European politics and East-West affairs. This study of what Russians and Germans have thought of each other and the fateful consequences of their interacting ideas is of lasting significance.The fact that Russia and Germany have embodied extreme manifestations of the totalitarian plague in the twentieth century. After briefly exploring the historical origins of Russophobia in Germany and of anti-Germanism in Russia, Laqueur reviews in detail the confrontation of Nazism and Bolshevism that culminated in World War II. He deals with the Russian origins of National Socialism and the ideology of the Russian far right from the days of the "Black Hundred" to its recent revival.This edition includes a major new introduction by the author, reviewing developments in the relationship between Russia and Germany in the last 25 years, and speculating about its future. Long out of print, Russia and Germany will be again welcomed by political scientists, students of international relations, and all those with an interest in recent history and current events.

Genres: Germany, History, Russia, Politics

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Walter Ze'ev Laqueur was an American historian, journalist and political commentator. Laqueur was born in Breslau, Lower Silesia, Prussia (modern Wrocław, Poland), into a Jewish family. In 1938, he left Germany for the British Mandate of Palestine. His parents, who were unable to leave, became victims of the Holocaust.

Laqueur lived in Israel from 1938 to 1953. After one year at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he joined a Kibbutz and worked as an agricultural laborer from 1939 to 1944. In 1944, he moved to Jerusalem, where he worked as a journalist until 1953, covering Palestine and other countries in the Middle East.

Since 1955 Laqueur has lived in London. He was founder and editor, with George Mosse, of the Journal of Contemporary History and of Survey from 1956 to 1964. He was also founding editor of The Washington Papers. He was Director of the Institute of Contemporary History and the Wiener Library in London from 1965 to 1994. From 1969 he was a member, and later Chairman (until 2000), of the International Research Council of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington. He was Professor of the History of Ideas at Brandeis University from 1968 to 1972, and University Professor at Georgetown University from 1976 to 1988. He has also been a visiting professor of history and government at Harvard, the University of Chicago, Tel Aviv University and Johns Hopkins University.

Laqueur's main works deal with European history in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially Russian history and German history, as well as the history of the Middle East. The topics he has written about include the German Youth Movement, Zionism, Israeli history, the cultural history of the Weimar Republic and Russia, Communism, the Holocaust, fascism, and the diplomatic history of the Cold War. His books have been translated into many languages, and he was one of the founders of the study of political violence, guerrilla warfare and terrorism. His comments on international affairs have appeared in many American and European newspapers and periodicals.

(Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Russia and Germany by Walter Laqueur is a classic look at the special relationship between Russia and Germany from the expansion of the German state under Bismarck to the height of the Cold War with Berlin (at least East Germany) under Russia’s thumb. The first chapters look at the rise of the Nazi’s and the intellectual leaders that helped shape the country until Hitler fully took power. The middle chapters focus on Russia and the rise of communism culminating in the rule of Stalin. The real collision took place on the realpolitik assumptions of both Hitler and Stalin and continued the mistrust and animosity that had proceeded both of their times in power. If you are reading this expecting a military account of their struggles or even a geopolitical one you will likely be disappointed. This book focuses on ideological differences and the first couple chapters relevance do not become apparent until much later in the book and feel like a long slog at the time of reading. For those who have read widely on Germany and Russia this book does provide some fresh insights but if you are stating out you will find much of the information irrelevant as it presumes a pretty deep knowledge of each countries history and not much explanation to get people going.

[kamonegix · Rating 4 out of 5]

russia and Germany are in couples counseling and Eastern Europe is the therapy couch unfortunately