A Village in the Third Reich
by Julia Boyd
with Angelika Patel
I remember reading an article stating that Nazi Germany and World War II are the most popular subjects among young students of history. These tragic chapters of the 20th century also seem to exert a dark fascination on “general readers” of history. There are so many books on the subject that one is tempted to ask – is there anything new to say about Hitler’s Germany? Turns out there is, and Julia Boyd is distinguishing herself in a crowded field thanks to her unusual approach to the history of the era. Her book Travellers in the Third Reich described the rise of the Nazis through the eyes of foreigners who visited Germany before the war. She has now followed this with A Village in the Third Reich, a book which describes the impact of Hitler, Nazism and World War II on everyday life through the eyes of the inhabitants of the Bavarian mountain village of Oberstdorf. Researched and written with the help of Angelika Patel, herself a native of Oberstdorf, this volume draws on reports, letters, interviews and memoirs to provide a surprisingly intimate portrait of a village facing unprecedented change and then heading into war.
One of the major philosophical and moral questions linked to Nazi Germany is how much ordinary people were aware of the injustices suffered by Jews and minorities at the hands of the regime. Boyd’s book does not seek to whitewash the responsibility of those who supported the Nazis or who might have disagreed with them while remaining silent. The advantage of approaching the subject through the “microcosm” of one village, however, helps to provide a nuanced view beyond simplistic collective condemnation.
Of course, there were many Germans who, for various reasons, embraced the novel, evil ideology of their leader. But one should also consider that the Nazis consciously sought to nip in the bud any attempts at criticism and dissent, and their violent tactics were unfortunately effective at silencing opposition. And yet, even the heavy shadow of the regime could not quell some brave souls. Boyd finds examples of humanity, sometimes in the most unexpected of places – a case in point is Oberstdorf’s mayor who, despite being a committed Nazi, also protected several Jews living in his village.
After the initial chapters on the rise of Nazism, the book also describes the outbreak of war and the war itself, including poignant stories of Oberstdorf soldiers fighting on the Eastern Front. Indirectly, the book also reveals the social change brought about not only by Nazism and war, but also by other factors. Oberstdorf, for instance, was originally a relatively inward-looking Catholic village in the mountains, but tourism was already changing it into a relatively “cosmopolitan” settlement.
A Village in the Third Reich is an engrossing work of social history which
approaches well-known historical events through unusual viewpoints.
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