The World Hitler Never Made: Alternate History and the Memory of Nazism (New Studies in European History)

What if the Nazis had triumphed in World War II? What if Adolf Hitler had escaped Berlin for the jungles of Latin America in 1945? What if Hitler had become a successful artist instead of a politician? Originally published in 2005, Gavriel D. Rosenfeld's pioneering study explores why such counterfactual questions on the subject of Nazism have proliferated within Western popular culture. Examining a wide range of novels, short stories, films, television programs, plays, comic books, and scholarly essays appearing in Great Britain, the United States, and Germany post-1945, Rosenfeld shows how the portrayal of historical events that never happened reflects the evolving memory of the Third Reich's real historical legacy. He concludes that the shifting representation of Nazism in works of alternate history, as well as the popular reactions to them, highlights their subversive role in promoting the normalisation of the Nazi past in Western memory. Gavriel D. Rosenfeld's Pioneering Study Explores Why Counterfactual Questions On The Subject Of Nazism Have Proliferated In Recent Years Within Western Popular Culture. Examining A Wide Range Of Novels, Short Stories, Films, Television Programs, Plays, Comic Books, And Scholarly Essays That Have Appeared In Great Britain, The United States, And Germany Since 1945, Rosenfeld Shows How The Portrayal Of Historical Events That Never Happened Reflects The Evolving Memory Of The Third Reich's Real Historical Legacy. He Concludes That The Shifting Representations Of Nazism In Works Of Alternate History, As Well As The Popular Reactions To Them, Highlights Their Subversive Role In Promoting The Normalization Of The Nazi Past In Western Memory.--jacket. Great Britain Defeated : Between Resistance And Collaboration -- The United States And The Dilemmas Of Military Intervention -- Germany's Wartime Triumph : From Dystopia To Normalcy -- Other Nations : A Dissenting View -- The Fugitive Führer And The Search For Justice -- The World Without Hitler : Better Or Worse? -- Hypothetical Holocausts And The Mistrust Of Memory. Gavriel D. Rosenfeld. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 492-509) And Index. What if the Nazis had triumphed in World War II? What if Adolf Hitler had escaped Berlin for the jungles of Latin America in 1945? What if Hitler had become a successful artist instead of a politician? Gavriel D.Rosenfeld's pioneering study explores why such counterfactual questions on the subject of Nazism have proliferated in recent years within Western popular culture. Examining a wide range of novels, short stories, films, television programs, plays, comic books, and scholarly essays that have appeared in Great Britain, the United States, and Germany since 1945, Rosenfeld shows how the portrayal of historical events that never happened reflects the evolving memory of the Third Reich's real historical legacy. He concludes that the shifting representations of Nazism in works of alternate history, as well as the popular reactions to them, highlights their subversive role in promoting the normalization of the Nazi past in Western memory. "Gavriel D. Rosenfeld's pioneering study explores why counterfactual questions on the subject of Nazism have proliferated in recent years within Western popular culture. Examining a wide range of novels, short stories, films, television programs, plays, comic books, and scholarly essays that have appeared in Great Britain, the United States, and Germany since 1945, Rosenfeld shows how the portrayal of historical events that never happened reflects the evolving memory of the Third Reich's real historical legacy. He concludes that the shifting representations of Nazism in works of alternate history, as well as the popular reactions to them, highlights their subversive role in promoting the normalization of the Nazi past in Western memory."--BOOK JACKET. Great Britain defeated : between resistance and collaboration The United States and the dilemmas of military intervention Germany's wartime triumph : from dystopia to normalcy Other nations : a dissenting view The fugitive fuhrer and the search for justice The world without Hitler : better or worse? Hypothetical holocausts and the mistrust of memory.