Yes it was very harsh Victoria_purple, in fact cruel, although it is also true that in many European countries there was a severe lack of food that winter. Throughout Europe many were hungry, cold, desperate, and everywhere there were those who died from the conditions.
For the Germans even worse than this happened though, and given the mood at the time it was explained away as justified retribution for Nazi Germany's wartime atrocities.
However if every German was responsible for what happened during WWII, then we as Allies were also responsible for what was done in our name to German noncombatants after it. As well as reading the history of it all, have been told personal accounts by folks who lived through that period. I had no idea before of just what had taken place, and to hear what happened to them, what they had to live through, was a shock.
As 1947 began the British and US occupation zones merged policies to make one economic area, known as the Bizone, and this was a beginning to Germany's economic self-sufficiency. After this, at least in these areas, things began to improve noticeably.
As to General Clay the more one learns of him and his various activities during his time in Germany, and of course with the benefit of hindsight, the less of a 'celebrated' hero he sounds.
Francine A. McKenna - German Culture Editor
German Culture Site -
German Culture Facebook Avatar: HOHENZOLLERNBRÃœCKE Cologne with CATHEDRAL and LUDWIG MUSEUM. The Bridge a symbol of how Germany was rebuilt after WWII, it was left in ruins, the Cathedral with roots in the 13th century represents the country's history, Museum of Modern Art the present day.
