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6 - The legacy of German National Socialism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 April 2011
Summary
[No] different from their allied counterparts, the German scientists worked for the military as best their circumstances allowed. But the difference, which it will never be possible to forgive, is that they worked for the cause of Himmler and Auschwitz, for the burners of books and the takers of hostages. The community of sciences will be long delayed in welcoming the armorers of the Nazis, even if their work was not successful.
From Philip Morrison's review of Alsos (1947)The occupation of Germany
When the victorious Allies finally accepted the unconditional German surrender, what was left of the former Reich was in sad shape. Although with respect to loss of life and general destruction the Germans were better off than many of their neighbours, especially Poland and Russia, the future for Germany did not appear bright. Large portions of the major cities were in rubble, the shrunken Reich was swollen by refugees from parts of former Greater Germany, and there were grave shortages of food and shelter. The Yalta Conference of the Allies in February of 1945 decided on a four-way division and occupation of Germany: the Russians in the east, the British in the north-west, the French in the south-west, and the Americans in the south, with Berlin being split into four pieces.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989