How Could This Happen? Germany 1933 to 1945

Götz Aly is one of the most renowned authors on the history of Nazism and the Holocaust. Here he poses the fundamental question: How could this happen?

In the depths of a severe crisis, the NSDAP was elected in 1932 as by far the strongest party. Soon it was able to seize power and could rely on growing public support. Hitler needed war - the people feared it. Yet 18 million German soldiers ultimately ravaged Europe. How did this come about? Why did hundreds of thousands participate in unprecedented mass murders?

The answer is multifaceted. The NSDAP promised Germans prosperity and advancement, while keeping the population in constant motion - no respite, no time for reflection - heading toward war. As faith in victory waned, the national community became a community of crime. Everyone could know what guilt the Germans were taking upon themselves; fear of what would happen after defeat was deliberately stoked.

Götz Aly describes in a compelling narrative the methods of rule by which Nazi leaders transformed millions of Germans into obedient executors or war-numbed participants - and many of these methods remain disturbingly relevant today.

The event takes place in cooperation with the alliance "Gemeinsam für Vielfalt", the "NRWeltoffen" office in Herford, Arbeit und Leben in Herford DGB/VHS e.V., and Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. in Westphalia-Lippe.

The stated end time is approximate and may vary depending on the course of the reading and discussion.

Tickets are available online at www.reservix.de, at the box office on the day of the event, and in advance at vhs Löhne and authorized ticket outlets.