GI's And Frauleins

6 Pages 1423 Words

In this book, Hohn takes a look at various aspects of the personal and social interactions between the American GI’s and the German civilian population. In the end she comes to the conclusion that then Germans assessed these changes in their lives as a process of Americanization rather than that of Westernization or furthermore modernization. One can say that she substantiated this thesis entirely based upon a number of points. First and foremost, the Germans adapted the American social views on sexuality. This was much to the contrary of even their neighbours to the West France, who were much opposed to this ideology. Second, was the Germans adaptation of America’s role for women in the work place. Many of the German women found great paying jobs working in the U.S. military base. This was much to the opposition of the German Conservatives, and to the views of many throughout Europe who felt the woman’s job was at home. Third, was the implantation of American segregation of the blacks from the whites that became introduced later in the fifties. This was quite the contrary to what was the case prior to this Americanization. For as General Colin Powell once said of his service in Germany in 1958 that, “for blacks, especially those out of the South, Germany was a breath of freedom. For as this Americanization took place Germany went from the number one requested spot for black soldiers to one of the least.” Take those examples along with the Germans assimilations of American fashion, music, and overall lifestyle one can easily say that Hohn substantiated her Thesis.
The basis for Hohn’s research is quite extensive, actually she went well beyond extensive almost to the point of being absurd. The bibliography section of her book is twenty-six pages long, which goes to prove her research was quite extensive. One would have to say that she made extensive use of archival material, for a lot of the things she used she called prim...