A Demon-Haunted Land

Autor*innen

• Monica Black

Parameter

• 352 Seiten
• 13 Lesestunden

• Historisches Thema
• Kriege
• Militärgeschichte
• Sachliteratur
• Zweiter Weltkrieg

Mehr zum Buch

This annotation presents a counterhistory of postwar Germany, revealing a nation grappling with apocalyptic visions, witchcraft trials, and supernatural obsessions rather than merely transitioning to democracy. Following World War II, Germany experienced a wave of supernatural events, with millions suffering from unexplained ailments like blindness and paralysis. Amidst this turmoil, apocalyptic rumors proliferated, and a messianic faith healer gained fame. Prayer groups conducted exorcisms, and large crowds sought apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Notably, accusations of witchcraft surged, leading to court cases for defamation, assault, and murder. These occurrences were linked by a pervasive concern with evil, emerging in the aftermath of the war and the Holocaust. While many histories highlight Germany's swift shift from dictatorship to democracy, this perspective uncovers the toxic mistrust, bitterness, and spiritual malaise that accompanied the economic recovery. Historian Monica Black utilizes previously unpublished archival materials to argue that the rise of supernatural obsessions reflected a nation's unaddressed guilt and shame regarding its recent past. This shadow history reshapes our understanding of postwar Germany, exposing its emotional struggles, moral unease, and the consequences of attempting to suppress a horrific legacy.

• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2022
• Einband: Paperback