American Military Communities in West Germany: Life in the Cold War Badlands, 1945-1990

by John W. Lemza

Overview

On April 28, 1946, a small group of American wives and children arrived at the port of Bremerhaven, West Germany, the first of thousands of military family members to make the trans-Atlantic journey. They were the basis of a network of military communities--"Little Americas"--that would spread across the postwar German landscape. During a 45-year period which included some of the Cold War's tensest moments, their presence confirmed America's resolve to maintain Western democracy in the face of the Soviet threat.

Drawing on archival sources and personal narratives, this book explores these enclaves of Americanism, from the U.S. government's perspective to the grassroots view of those who made their homes in Cold War Europe. These families faced many challenges in balancing their military missions with their daily lives during a period of dynamic global change. The author describes interaction in American communities that were sometimes separated, sometimes connected with their German neighbors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476624105
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/16/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	308
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

John W. Lemza, Ph.D., retired after serving more than 20 years in military service including eight years abroad in Europe and Asia. His research interests focus on post–1945 American cultural, social and political history. He lives in Midlothian, Virginia.
John W. Lemza, Ph.D., retired after serving more than 20 years in military service including eight years abroad in Europe and Asia. His research interests are Post-1945 American cultural, social and political history. He lives in Midlothian, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acronyms and Abbreviations delete viii
Preface delete
Introduction delete
One. From First Arrivals to Established Network (1946–1967) delete
Two. The Footprint of American Culture and Consumerism (1946–1967) delete
Three. Religion, Race, Stereotyping and the Media (1946–1967) delete
Four. Anti-Communism and Nuclear Concerns (1946–1967) delete
Five. Challenge to American Economic Dominance (1946–1967) delete
Six. Fast Food, Violence, Crime and Drugs (1967–1990) delete
Seven. Race, Feminism and Media Manipulation (1967–1990) delete
Eight. Testing ­German-American Bonds (1967–1990) delete
Nine. Economic Challenges (1967–1990) delete
Conclusion delete
Chapter Notes delete
Bibliography delete
Index delete

Editorial Reviews

Lemza presents an engaging account of US military personnel, civilians, and their families as they lived in West Germany during the Cold War. One of the monograph’s strengths is the prodigious research that it evidences...a useful and stimulating work. Highly recommended”—Choice; “a significant and insightful study of the American military experience on this frontier of the Cold War….[the] depth of research is very impressive…superbly researched and well-crafted study”—International Journal of Military History and Histiography.

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