ABSTRACT

In Germany - The Tides of Power, Michael Balfour sets out to explain the factors which have shaped the German social, political and economic character. Tracing the movement of power from the Middle Ages onwards, he seeks to lead the reader to an understanding of modern Germany - why Germany precipitated, and lost, two major wars this century; how the astonishing growth of wealth over the last half-century was achieved; the meaning behind the recent unification of Germany. As German economic expansion continues into the 1990's, Professor Balfour discusses the power held by this technologically advanced nation - and considers the acceptance of this power by the rest of the world.

chapter 2|24 pages

THE SECOND REICH: 1871–1918

chapter 4|26 pages

THE THIRD REICH: 1933–1945

chapter 5|11 pages

THE POST-WAR SETTLEMENT: 1945

chapter 6|13 pages

TOWARDS TWO GERMANIES: 1945–1948

chapter 7|12 pages

CRISIS AND MIRACLE: 1948–1949

chapter 10|17 pages

ADENAUER’S HIGH NOON: 1955–1961

chapter 11|10 pages

THE ERHARD INTERLUDE: 1961–1966

chapter 12|11 pages

THE GREAT COALITION: 1966–1969

chapter 13|19 pages

THE BRANDT GOVERNMENT: 1969–1974

chapter 14|12 pages

THE SCHMIDT GOVERNMENT: 1974–1982

chapter 15|9 pages

THE KOHL GOVERNMENT: 1982–1989

chapter 16|7 pages

THE IMPOSSIBLE HAPPENS: 1989–1990

chapter 17|8 pages

WHAT NOW?

chapter |10 pages

STATISTICAL APPENDIX

chapter 4|2 pages

THE THIRD REICH: 1933–1945

chapter 5|1 pages

–7 THE POST-WAR PERIOD 1945–1949

chapter 8|2 pages

–14 THE GERMAN REPUBLICS 1949–1982