Chapter 1 The Founders'' Generation: 1870-1890 The narrative has been tightened throughout, making it more readable and accessible (ex. p. 1-38) Chapter 2 Wihelminian Germany, 1890-1914 General tightening of the narrative, a new "Im Mittelpunkt" feature: Karl May, the most popular author in Wilhelmenian Germany (ex. p. 68-70) Chapter 3 The First World War, 1914-1918 Updated information on military operations in World War I A new "Im Mittelpunkt" feature: Walther Rathenau, the man who organized Germany''s resources in World War I and later became the country''s foreign minister. (ex. p. 124-127) Chapter 4 Revolution, Inflation, and Putsches: The Search for a New Consensus, 1918-1923 The perennial debate on the Treaty of Versailles and the reparations has been brought up-to-date.
New information on the impact of reparations. (ex. p. 115-119) Chapter 5 Fools'' Gold: The Weimar Republic, 1924-1930 Expanded account of Weimar culture with a new "Im Mittelpunkt" feature: Marlene Dietrich, the German-American actress, chanteuse and media personality. (ex. p. 153-155) Chapter 6 From Authoritarianism to Totalitarianism, 1930-1938 Expanded coverage of the rise of the Nazis with a new photo and a new "Im Mittelpunkt" feature on Heinrich Himmler, the head of the Nazi SS and the primary organizer of the Holocaust. (ex.
p. 182-188) Chapter 7 Conquest, Death, and Defeat, 1938-1945 The newest research on the Nazis and the Holocaust has been incorporated into this chapter. This is important because Nazi rule in Germany and Europe continues to be a prime focus of historical research. (ex. p. 195-218) Chapter 8 "Condominium of the Allied Powers," 1945-1949 This chapter features two new photos showing the devastation in Berlin at the end of World War II, and, on the positive side the welcoming of American supply planes during the Berlin Airlift. Two new "Im Mittelpunkt features have been added: Konrad Adenar, the first post-war chancellor of West Germany, and Claus von Stauffenberg, the leader of the failed 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler. (ex.
p. 230-233 and p. 256-259) Chapter 9 The Federal Republic of Germany, 1959-1990 There are no fundamental changes in this chapter, but much new research has been incorporated to provide a more nuanced account of several developments. There include the "Americanization" and later "internationalization" of German popular culture in the 1950s and 1960s, the impact of the Ostpolitik, the role of the East German Stasi in the 1968 West German student revolts, and the recent surge in popularity of Helmut Schmidt, Germany''s chancellor from 1974 to 1982. Chapter 10 The Germany Democratic Republic, 1949-1990 Like the Nazi era, East Germany continues to be a major focus of historical research. This chapter provides new information especially on two aspects of the GDR''s history: the impact of the country''s economic problems and the reasons for the regime''s self-paralysis and ultimate downfall in 1989. There is also a new photo o the GDR''s strong man until 1971, Walter Ulbricht, and anew "Im Mittelpunkt feature on Wolf Biermann, a singer, and songwriter and political activist who was and is popular in East and West Germany. (ex.
p. 320-333) Chapter 11 Germany Since Reunification: Euphoria and Disillustionment, 1990-Present This chapter covers German history from reunification in 1990 until the fall of 2010. The years from 2005 to the present have never been covered in a textbook. The topics treated here include the German-American tensions over the war in Iraq. The rise and fall of the Social Democratic-Green, coalition, and the triumph of Angela Merkel as Germany''s political leader. Also covered are the effects of the financial of the financial crisis in 2008 and its impact on the Euro, Germany''s part in the war on terror, the difficulties of integrating Germany''s Muslims, and the ramifications of the sexual abuse scandal for the German Catholic Church. The chapter includes a new "Im Mittelpunkt" feature on Guido Westerwelle the dynamic and controversial leader of the Free Democrats and Germany''s foreign minister since 2009. There is also a new photo of Angela Merkel, Germany''s chancellor since 2005.
(ex. p. 337-384) Chapter 12 Conclusion The conclusion brings the various strands of Germany''s history since 1871 together, summarizing both the reasons for the "German problem" that dominated the years until 1945 and the underlying positive developments that made German history after 1945 a surprising but genuine success story. (ex. p. 386-390).