The Crash of Ruin : American Combat Soldiers in Europe During World War II

This book offers a compelling account of how America's combat soldiers experienced Europe during World War II. It paints a vivid picture of the GIs' struggles with its natural surroundings, their confrontations with its soldiers, their encounters with its civilians, and their reactions to uncovering the holocaust. The book shows how these harrowing experiences convinced the American soldiers that Europe's collapse was not just the result of the war, but also of the Old World's deep-seated political cynicism, economic stagnation, and cultural decadence. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Nature....Pages 3-25 Front Matter....Pages 27-27 The Soldiers — Introduction....Pages 29-30 The Allies....Pages 31-49 The Enemies....Pages 50-99 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 The Civilians — Introduction....Pages 103-108 The Labyrinth of Nations....Pages 109-148 The Limits of Communication....Pages 149-190 The Totality of War....Pages 191-217 The Old World....Pages 218-248 Front Matter....Pages 249-249 The Apocalypse....Pages 251-264 Epilogue....Pages 265-267 Back Matter....Pages 268-325