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Several factors of the everyday life of
Germans during the period which Russell writes about extensively were shortages of food and clothing owing to rationing (even though the war had just begun), the shortage of home heating fuel, breakdowns and freezing conditions in train service, and the lack of
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The central argument which
Russell attempts to communicate in his work is that, contrary to opinion in America and elsewhere, the majority of Germans were politically apathetic or even anti-Nazi, with only a small minority actually being overtly in favour of the status quo:
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were still president of the United States, and as unpopular as he was at the time he was defeated for the
Presidency. Imagine that the United States had been forced into a war under his leadership. He would be supported by every man, woman and child...
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proper information on current affairs, owing to censorship and propaganda in the German media. This led, in
Russell's belief, to over-reliance on both frequently incorrect rumours and the (officially prohibited)
273:(whom Russell describes as "...the most hated man in Germany...") is seen to elicit the most hatred. "In three years spent in Germany," Russell wrote "I have never heard one kind word spoken on his behalf."
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The book describes
William Richard Russell's experiences between August 31, 1939 to April 10, 1940, dealing with long queues of desperate people seeking emigrant visas, the outbreak of the
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Many people feel that way in
Germany today. They will support Adolf Hitler until the war is won; as soon as it is over, they have the firm intention of getting rid of him.
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Russell attempts to highlight the cynical view of many
Germans towards the Nazi régime. In particular, he focuses on the popular views of key Nazi figures - including
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However, he also argues that a large number of
Germans (regardless of their political views) chose to side with the Nazis temporarily for the duration of the war:
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I have put down the small things that happened to small people in the hope that they would give the best picture of
Germany as it is today.
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Jokes of the time are frequently inserted to summarise the contempt of many ordinary
Germans to the Nazi leaders.
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There are, perhaps, 2 million members of the Nazi party. That is not many in a nation of seventy million people.
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An unedited reprint was produced (for the United Kingdom market exclusively) by Elliott & Thompson in 2003.
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William Russell (1915–2000) which was first published in late 1940. Russell, who worked at the
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Despite this professed objective, the final chapter is devoted to a study of the character of
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was published in the United States by E.P. Dutton & Co in 1940/1.
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For what exists in Germany today, I have ... a simple illustration:
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between August 1939 and April 1940 during the early phases of the
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Basic Books produced another reprinted version in November 2006.
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I am not a politician, so I have not written a political book.
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during the period in which Russell was writing: the former
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78:E.P. Dutton
489:Categories
327:References
267:Hans Kerrl
174:Phoney War
74:Publisher
354:, p. 398
340:Obituary
313:See also
293:Editions
160:The work
138:diplomat
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61:English
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