Götz Aly in dialogue with Peter Altmaier, former Federal Minister and Chairman of the ‘Freunde der Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin e. V.’ (Friends of the Berlin State Library)
‘How could this happen?’ The answer is complex. The NSDAP promised the Germans advancement and prosperity, at the same time people were kept on the move, no breathing space, no time for reflection, and so it went towards war.
Image gallery
Links das Titelbild des Buches und rechts Foto des Autors
When the belief in victory waned, the national community became a criminal community. Everyone was aware of the guilt the Germans had brought upon themselves and the fear of what would happen after defeat was deliberately fuelled.
In his narrative, Götz Aly describes the methods of rule used by the Nazi rulers to turn millions of Germans into compliant enforcers or into war-dulled fellow travellers - quite a few of which are frighteningly topical.
Götz Aly (born 1947) is a historian and journalist. His books have been translated into many languages and he himself has been honoured with numerous awards. His most important works include 2011's "Warum die Deutschen? Why the Jews?‘, 2013 ’Die Belasteten. 'Euthanasia' 1939-1945‘ and in 2017 the major study on the European history of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust ’Europe against the Jews 1880-1945". In 2020, the Friends of the Berlin State Library awarded the Max Herrmann Prize to Götz Aly.
Peter Altmaier (born 1958), former Federal Minister and member of the German Bundestag from 1994 to 2021, has been Chairman of the Friends of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin e. V. since 2024.
(IN GERMAN)
Additional information
Accessibility
Barrier-free access is possible; a lift is available.
Participating artists
Götz Aly
Peter Altmaier
Dates
September 2025
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