The British Army of the Rhine: Turning Nazi Enemies into Cold War Partners
Peter Speiser
Peter Speiser charts the BAOR's fraught transformation from occupier to ally by looking at the charged nexus where British troops and their families interacted with Germany's civilian population. Examining the relationship on many levels, Speiser ranges from how British mass media representations of Germany influenced BAOR troops to initiatives taken by the Army to improve relations. He also weighs German perceptions, surveying clashes between soldiers and civilians and comparing the popularity of the British services with that of the other occupying powers. As Speiser shows, the BAOR's presence did not improve the relationship between British servicemen and the German populace, but it did prevent further deterioration during a crucial and dangerous period of the early Cold War.
An incisive look at an under-researched episode, The British Army of the Rhine sheds new light on Anglo-German diplomatic, political, and social relations after 1945, and evaluates their impact on the wider context of European integration in the postwar era.
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About Peter Speiser
Reviews for The British Army of the Rhine: Turning Nazi Enemies into Cold War Partners
H-Net Review "[Speiser] offers a new insight into the unique situation of the two former enemies now practicing cohabitation in a European context."
Journal of Contemporary History "Speiser's monograph is valuable because he thoroughly covers a subject that has received little treatment."
Journal of Modern History "Speiser breaks entirely new ground. The assessment of the impact of British public opinion on servicemen's attitudes toward Germany is particularly well done. The extensive use of the German archives is commendable."
Ian F. W. Beckett, editor of Citizen Soldiers and the British Empire, 1837–1902 "Speiser provides a well-researched, lively account of how, not always successfully, after 1945 the British attempted to use their Rhine Army to win German hearts and minds. In addition to its value as a historical narrative, Speiser's work throws out issues of direct contemporary relevance."
Clive Emsley, author of Soldier, Sailor, Beggarman, Thief: Crime and the British Armed Services since 1914