THE GERMAN-RUSSIAN CENTURY – History of a Special Relationship

Cold proximity: how German-Russian relations shaped the 20th century.

Germany and Russia – there are almost no other states in the world whose relations have been shaped anywhere near as profoundly by revolution and turmoil, by terror and violence, as well as isolation and rapprochement during the last 100 years. Time and again, these three mutual realities dictate world events and have an effect to this day. This is all the more true now, at a time when bilateral relations are not at their best. And this raises the question: what will the current century bring for German-Russian relations?

Stefan Creuzberger writes about the tension-filled history of an epoch chequered with dramatic ruptures, reconciliations and changes. His analysis aims to help readers interested in history gain an insightful understanding of the complex overall context of the fascinating relationship between Germans and Russians.

"Is it possible to understand war? To understand Vladimir Putin, or contemporary Russia? – Probably not. But what we can understand, in retrospect, is how events develop and what they lead to. What Stefan Creuzberger describes here is a history of German-Russian relations: the tsarist era, revolution and upheaval, World War I, the Soviet Union, World War II, the Cold War, Willy Brandt’s Moscow and Warsaw Treaties and, finally, the fall of communism and the present. Creuzberger’s brilliant presentation of details is impressive, revealing a wealth of interconnections in our shared history that helps us to better understand our relationship with Russia today. At the same time, his interpretation of the present is also a revelation." Jury's evaluation German Non-Fiction Prize