After the Second World War, the British Army remained in Germany as an occupation force, helping to rebuild a devastated and divided nation.
In this talk, Dr Peter Speiser will discuss the relationship between soldiers in the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and the German people as they learned to live and work alongside each other under the growing threat of Soviet expansionism.
Drawing on testimonies from British soldiers who were stationed in Germany, Dr Speiser will consider official BAOR attitudes towards the German people, the reaction of the German press to the Allied occupation, and the efforts made to improve relations.
Dr Peter Speiser is Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Westminster. His work has focused on Anglo-German relations in the 19th and 20th centuries, the British Army of the Rhine and the history of London.
He is the author of two works: 'The British Army of the Rhine: Turning Nazi Enemies into Cold War Partners' and 'Soho: The Heart of Bohemian London'.
Following their victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, the Allies were faced with administering a country in ruins. British soldiers had a leading role in this, helping to hunt war criminals, rebuild industry and help displaced persons.