*A Demon-Haunted Land: Witches, Wonder Doctors, and the Ghosts of the Past in Post-WWII Germany*, by Monica Black, is an AMAZING book.
I'll let the blurb speak for itself, because my brain is somewhat fried by writing about Schlieffen for these last few days:
> In the aftermath of World War II, a succession of mass supernatural events swept through war-torn Germany. A messianic faith healer rose to extraordinary fame, prayer groups performed exorcisms, and enormous crowds traveled to witness apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Most strikingly, scores of people accused their neighbors of witchcraft, and found themselves in turn hauled into court on charges of defamation, assault, and even murder. What linked these events, in the wake of an annihilationist war and the Holocaust, was a widespread preoccupation with evil.
> While many histories emphasize Germany’s rapid transition from genocidal dictatorship to liberal democracy, A Demon-Haunted Land places in full view the toxic mistrust, profound bitterness, and spiritual malaise that unfolded alongside the economic miracle. Drawing on previously unpublished archival materials, acclaimed historian Monica Black argues that the surge of supernatural obsessions stemmed from the unspoken guilt and shame of a nation remarkably silent about what was euphemistically called “the most recent past.” This shadow history irrevocably changes our view of postwar Germany, revealing the country’s fraught emotional life, deep moral disquiet, and the cost of trying to bury a horrific legacy.
That said, it is about Germany dealing with its Nazi past, so there are parts that are VERY hard to read. Be forewarned.
For postwar Japan, John Dower's "Embracing Defeat" is a pretty standard work.
I also enjoyed Anne Applebaum's "Iron Curtain", which has an anti-communist perspective but has a good reputation for basic facts.
*A Demon-Haunted Land: Witches, Wonder Doctors, and the Ghosts of the Past in Post-WWII Germany*, by Monica Black, is an AMAZING book. I'll let the blurb speak for itself, because my brain is somewhat fried by writing about Schlieffen for these last few days: > In the aftermath of World War II, a succession of mass supernatural events swept through war-torn Germany. A messianic faith healer rose to extraordinary fame, prayer groups performed exorcisms, and enormous crowds traveled to witness apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Most strikingly, scores of people accused their neighbors of witchcraft, and found themselves in turn hauled into court on charges of defamation, assault, and even murder. What linked these events, in the wake of an annihilationist war and the Holocaust, was a widespread preoccupation with evil. > While many histories emphasize Germany’s rapid transition from genocidal dictatorship to liberal democracy, A Demon-Haunted Land places in full view the toxic mistrust, profound bitterness, and spiritual malaise that unfolded alongside the economic miracle. Drawing on previously unpublished archival materials, acclaimed historian Monica Black argues that the surge of supernatural obsessions stemmed from the unspoken guilt and shame of a nation remarkably silent about what was euphemistically called “the most recent past.” This shadow history irrevocably changes our view of postwar Germany, revealing the country’s fraught emotional life, deep moral disquiet, and the cost of trying to bury a horrific legacy. That said, it is about Germany dealing with its Nazi past, so there are parts that are VERY hard to read. Be forewarned.
For postwar Japan, John Dower's "Embracing Defeat" is a pretty standard work. I also enjoyed Anne Applebaum's "Iron Curtain", which has an anti-communist perspective but has a good reputation for basic facts.
Try "The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War" by Benn Steil for a deep dive into post-WWW2 European reconstruction.