Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II by Keith Lowe
Published by St. Martin's Press
Publication date: July 3rd 2012
Genres: Book Clubs, Non-fiction, History
Bookshop, Amazon
Within the first 15 pages of Savage Continent by Keith Lowe I learned that by the end of World War II:
- The Germans had destroyed 93% of Warsaw’s buildings
- 18-20 million Germans were rendered homeless due to the destruction of their cities
- 70,000 villages in the USSR were obliterated either by the Germans or by their own troops to avoid providing any supplies or refuge to the enemy
- In total 35-40 million people perished (the equivalent of the entire population of pre-war France and Poland)
- 27 million of the dead were in the USSR alone
It’s enough to numb the mind but it is just a jumping off point for the exhaustive research Lowe uses to quantify what happened to the continent of Europe as a whole in the aftermath of the war. What was left of its people, infrastructure, buildings, transportation, environment, and most importantly, its soul. Savage Continent is not a dry academic recitation of statistics, but neither does Lowe shirk from the sheer mass of the destruction. Instead, he uses it to delve into the greater questions: What happens when the persecuted are freed? How can any one country recover when all resources are overburdened and the most basic needs for survival are lost? When the overwhelming motivation for solidarity is gone and old beliefs/religions/politics reassert themselves?
Savage Continent is not easy or enjoyable reading at times. For most of us, the end of the war is viewed from a simplistically visual perspective—the sailor kissing the nurse, the parades, and the joyous relief on faces. For those alive at the time, there was all that, but that was followed the reality of the “landscape of terror” that existed in Germany and much of Europe. By the end of the war Germany was home to 6.8 million displaced persons: forced laborers, prisoners-of-war, internment and concentration camp prisoners. The focus of the book is not on the Holocaust, but neither does Lowe avoid it. It is simply kept in the context of the greater whole—the complete and utter destructiveness of a war that lasted six years and covered the landscape of Europe and much of Russia. It is not the most joyful reading for the holidays, but for a country that has never had a war fought on our soil, never had no homes to return to or entire generations of families lost, it offers a chilling and factual perspective on what intolerance and willful ignorance can bring. And for that, I’m thankful for the reminder.
Catherine, I can’t help but think of those families from war-torn areas of the East (like Syria) who are forced to leave because their homes have been destroyed and they no longer have a place to live, safe from harm. It’s really tough to imagine since, as you’ve pointed out, many of us have never seen or experienced this type of devastation. Just in dealing with tornado victims in my current state and hurricane victims in my home state of Texas, I know that those people seem lost and wander around trying to figure out what to do, how to pick up the pieces…and they have resources! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one; sounds like a powerful read.
It is a sobering book, Tara. It wasn’t even just the devastation but everything that came before. I know how hard you train so this will hit home- in most of the countries during the war rationing got to the point where most adults where subsisting on under 1,000 calories a day for years. Some even 400- and that’s not in the camps- it’s the citizens. There was NO food. And when the war was over there were no livestock or crops. Just so much that is beyond our comprehension.
How did I not know about this book? It sounds like a fascinating, if sobering, read. It’s on my list now. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
It is both! I had to read it in bits because the numbers and the actual accounts of soldiers and citizens made my heart hurt. Such devastation brought about by one evil lunatic.
Well-written review!
Wow, I would like to read this one. The Holocaust gets a lot of attention, as it should, but it has always made me wonder how much the general population knows about the rest of the people’s suffering throughout Europe.
Jennine, it was absolutely fascinating to be reminded that without the internet and limited communications, it took many months for the world to realize that it was Jews that were targeted. Germany had over 8 million forced laborers in the country- not Jews, people from other countries forced to work in the war effort. It wasn’t until they got to Auschwitz which was nothing but a killing a camp and found all the records and warehouses that the pieces came together. And yes, there was the suffering of so many other people cuaght in the wrong place at the wrong time. Difficult but important reading.
I am for sure adding this to my list. But it might take me a while to cross it OFF my list having just finished A Train in Winter. I don’t think I’ve ever read about this period of time actually – most books about the time end in 1945 with celebrations and hope for a peaceful future. The only two books that I can remember hinting at the aftermath are Julia Child’s My Life in France (weirdly) and The Monuments Men.