For Germany the end of World War 2 officially occurred on 8 May 1945; but the end of suffering did not. Not only did the Red Army in the east take revenge for the crimes of the Nazis; so too did the Americans and French in the west.
'Crimes and Mercies' describes the appalling effects of the Allies' occupation policy on the German civilian population after 1945. Using recently released documents from the USA as well as detailed research in the Moscow archives, Bacque demonstrates how millions of Germans died unnecessarily - from starvation, disease and forced homelessness. The governments responsible have never acknowledged these mass deaths and have kept silent until this day. The Allies did not come as liberators and rescuers, but as judges and avengers. This is a devastating book to read, and an important contribution to our understanding of war - and its aftermath.
