Reviews
"A breakthrough in international history,A Breath of Freedomshines a penetrating light on the neglected story of African American troops in Europe. Hohn and Klimke are the first scholars to situate black GIs' experience in the broad context of the twentieth century's wars and achievements. At the same time, the impressive scope of this exhaustively researched work never shortchanges the humanity of the individual soldier."Brenda Gayle Plummer, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Rising Wind: Black Americans and U.S. Foreign Affairs, 1935-1960 "This deeply moving book perfectly captures my own experience as a black soldier in the segregated U.S. army during WWII who took part in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald. Hohn and Klimke vividly illustrate the fundamental impact these events had on my own life and on the lives of so many veterans who later became foot soldiers in the civil rights movement. Our encounters during and after the war in Germany, however, not only spurred our fight for equality and against discrimination wherever it occurred; they also created a long-lasting bond across the Atlantic of an intertwined past and hope for a better future."Leon Bass, WWII veteran, civil rights activist, and former principal of Benjamin Franklin High School, Philadelphia"Even for those of us who were involved in the civil rights movement during the 1960s, this book is an eye-opener. Today, black Americans who were once denied the right to serve side-by-side in battle with other U.S. citizens have achieved some of the highest ranks in our military and government. This book helps increase awareness of the noble contributions of black veterans to our nation: it not only illuminates the irony of their struggle to defeat Nazism in World War II in the face of racial discrimination back home but also highlights their crucial role in advancing the civil rights and liberties that all Americans enjoy today."Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee"With this book, Hohn and Klimke make an enormous contribution to African-American History, German History, Military History - and how they intersect. It is beautifully written, persuasively argued, and expertly researched."Gerald Horne, University of Houston, author ofBlack and Brown: African-Americans and the Mexican Revolution, 1910-1920"Nearly three million African American soldiers served in West Germany in the years from the end of World War II to the end of the Cold War. In this vital and riveting book, Hohn and Klimke trace how black GIs' encounters abroad offered both a space to experience the freedom denied them in the United States and a chance to build an internationalized civil rights movement in concert with German activists. A story of transnational alliances grounded in complex local realities,A Breath of Freedomis a stellar work of international history."Adriane Lentz-Smith, Duke University, author ofFreedom Struggles: African Americans and World War I "This book profoundly enhances our understanding not only of the history of the civil rights movement but also of the history of the Cold War. With a clear and undogmatic style, Hohn and Klimke convey the fruits of an impressive amount of research in German and American archives. They provide a compelling narrative that is essential reading for anyone interested in the ways in which transnational connections reshape national histories."Akira Iriye, Harvard University, former president of the American Historical Association andauthor ofThe Globalization of America"As a young GI in Germany in 1945, 'œA breakthrough in international history, A Breath of Freedom shines a penetrating light on the neglected story of African American troops in Europe. Höhn and Klimke are the first scholars to situate black GIs' experience in the broad context of the twentieth century's wars and achievements. At the same time, the impressive scope of this exhaustively researched work never shortchanges the humanity of the individual soldier.'�'”Brenda Gayle Plummer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rising Wind: Black Americans and U.S. Foreign Affairs, 1935-1960 'œThis deeply moving book perfectly captures my own experience as a black soldier in the segregated U.S. army during WWII who took part in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald. Höhn and Klimke vividly illustrate the fundamental impact these events had on my own life and on the lives of so many veterans who later became foot soldiers in the civil rights movement. Our encounters during and after the war in Germany, however, not only spurred our fight for equality and against discrimination wherever it occurred; they also created a long-lasting bond across the Atlantic of an intertwined past and hope for a better future.'�'”Leon Bass, WWII veteran, civil rights activist, and former principal of Benjamin Franklin High School, Philadelphia 'œEven for those of us who were involved in the civil rights movement during the 1960s, this book is an eye-opener. Today, black Americans who were once denied the right to serve side-by-side in battle with other U.S. citizens have achieved some of the highest ranks in our military and government. This book helps increase awareness of the noble contributions of black veterans to our nation: it not only illuminates the irony of their struggle to defeat Nazism in World War II in the face of racial discrimination back home but also highlights their crucial role in advancing the civil rights and liberties that all Americans enjoy today.'�'”Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee 'œWith this book, Höhn and Klimke make an enormous contribution to African-American History, German History, Military History - and how they intersect. It is beautifully written, persuasively argued, and expertly researched.'�'”Gerald Horne, University of Houston, author of Black and Brown: African-Americans and the Mexican Revolution, 1910-1920 'œNearly three million African American soldiers served in West Germany in the years from the end of World War II to the end of the Cold War. In this vital and riveting book, Höhn and Klimke trace how black GIs' encounters abroad offered both a space to experience the freedom denied them in the United States and a chance to build an internationalized civil rights movement in concert with German activists. A story of transnational alliances grounded in complex local realities, A Breath of Freedom is a stellar work of international history.'�'”Adriane Lentz-Smith, Duke University, author of Freedom Struggles: African Americans and World War I 'œThis book profoundly enhances our understanding not only of the history of the civil rights movement but also of the history of the Cold War. With a clear and undogmatic style, Höhn and Klimke convey the fruits of an impressive amount of research in German and American archives. They provide a compelling narrative that is essential reading for anyone interested in the ways in which transnational connections reshape national histories.'�'”Akira Iriye, Harvard University, former president of the American Historical Association and author of The Globalization of America 'œAs a young GI in Germany in 1945 and 1946, I discovered that the early American occupation was a microcosm of the racial and civil rights struggle that would emerge later in my life. My own experience thus anticipates and validates the main thesis of Höhn and Klimke's A Breath of Freedom.'�'”David Brion D, A breakthrough in international history,A Breath of Freedomshines a penetrating light on the neglected story of African American troops in Europe. Höhn and Klimke are the first scholars to situate black GIs' experience in the broad context of the twentieth century's wars and achievements. At the same time, the impressive scope of this exhaustively researched work never shortchanges the humanity of the individual soldier."—Brenda Gayle Plummer, University of Wisconsin-Madison,Rising Wind: Black Americans and U.S. Foreign Affairs, 1935-1960 This book profoundly enhances our understanding not only of the history of the civil rights movement but also of the history of the Cold War. With a clear and undogmatic style, Höhn and Klimke convey the fruits of an impressive amount of research in German and American archives. They provide a compelling narrative that is essential reading for anyone interested in the ways in which transnational connections reshape national histories."—Akira Iriye, Harvard University, former president of the American Historical Association andauthor ofThe Globalization of AmericaThis deeply moving book perfectly captures my own experience as a black soldier in the segregated U.S. army during WWII who took part in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald. Höhn and Klimke vividly illustrate the fundamental impact these events had on my own life and on the lives of so many veterans who later became foot soldiers in the civil rights movement. Our encounters during and after the war in Germany, however, not only spurred our fight for equality and against discrimination wherever it occurred; they also created a long-lasting bond across the Atlantic of an intertwined past and hope for a better future."—Leon Bass, WWII veteran, civil rights activist, and former principal of Benjamin Franklin High School, PhiladelphiaEven for those of us who were involved in the civil rights movement during the 1960s, this book is an eye-opener. Today, black Americans who were once denied the right to serve side-by-side in battle with other U.S. citizens have achieved some of the highest ranks in our military and government. This book helps increase awareness of the noble contributions of black veterans to our nation: it not only illuminates the irony of their struggle to defeat Nazism in World War II in the face of racial discrimination back home but also highlights their crucial role in advancing the civil rights and liberties that all Americans enjoy today."—Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs CommitteeWith this book, Höhn and Klimke make an enormous contribution to African-American History, German History, Military History - and how they intersect. It is beautifully written, persuasively argued, and expertly researched."—Gerald Horne, University of Houston, author ofBlack and Brown: African-Americans and the Mexican Revolution, 1910-1920A fascinating exploration of an important but previously ignored topic. Through their rich history of black GIs in Germany, Höhn and Klimke have demonstrated that the American story of race was indeed a transnational one."—Stephen Tuck, Oxford University, author ofWe Ain't What We Ought to Be: The Black Freedom Struggle from Emancipation to ObamaNearly three million African American soldiers served in West Germany in the years from the end of World War II to the end of the Cold War. In this vital and riveting book, Höhn and Klimke trace how black GIs' encounters abroad offered both a space to experience the freedom denied them in the United States and a chance to build an interna, "This book makes an important contribution not only to the history of the civil rights movement but also to the history of the Cold War. With a clear and undogmatic style, Hohn and Klimke convey the fruits of an impressive amount of research in German and American archives. They tell a fascinating story that is essential reading for anyone interested in the ways in which transnational connections reshape national histories."--Akira Iriye, Harvard University"By honoring the service of African American soldiers and their families, this powerful and comprehensive book successfully shines a spotlight on the historic intersection of the defeat of Nazism and the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Honest and straightforward in describing the circumstances under which these GIs volunteered to serve, Hoehn and Klimke meticulously document their sacrifices and contributions at a pivotal time in history. Acknowledging the present day challenges that remain with respect to racial prejudice and discrimination both sides of the Atlantic, the book is an important reference and required reading for students, scholars, and the many veterans and families who share this story through their personal experience."--Rosemarie Pena, President, Black German Cultural Society"A Breath of Freedomis a fresh breath of air in the field of African American history, providing fascinating new insights into the transnational dimensions of the black freedom struggle and the role that African American soldiers played in that struggle. Its historical detail and great story telling will make this book equally appealing to both general audiences and scholars."--Simon Wendt, University of Frankfurt, author ofThe Spirit and the Shotgun: Armed Resistance and the Struggle for Civil Rights"Maria Hohn's and Martin Klimke's carefully researched and lucid Breath of Freedom stands for a paradigm shift in our reading of the civil rights movement and deserves to become a classic in the field; not only does it invite the movement's relocation in a transnational context; it also succeeds in illustrating the innovative potential of this global perspective by its in-depth case study of the specific intersectionality of post World War II Germany and African America."--Maria Diedrich, University of Muenster, author ofLove Across Color Lines: Ottilie Assing and Frederick Douglass, "By honoring the service of African American soldiers and their families, this powerful and comprehensive book successfully shines a spotlight on the historic intersection of the defeat of Nazism and the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Honest and straightforward in describing the circumstances under which these GIs volunteered to serve, Hoehn and Klimke meticulously document their sacrifices and contributions at a pivotal time in history. Acknowledging the present day challenges that remain with respect to racial prejudice and discrimination both sides of the Atlantic, the book is an important reference and required reading for students, scholars, and the many veterans and families who share this story through their personal experience."--Rosemarie Pena, President, Black German Cultural Society"A Breath of Freedom is a fresh breath of air in the field of African American history, providing fascinating new insights into the transnational dimensions of the black freedom struggle and the role that African American soldiers played in that struggle. Its historical detail and great story telling will make this book equally appealing to both general audiences and scholars."--Simon Wendt, University of Frankfurt, author ofThe Spirit and the Shotgun: Armed Resistance and the Struggle for Civil Rights"Maria Hohn's and Martin Klimke's carefully researched and lucid Breath of Freedom stands for a paradigm shift in our reading of the civil rights movement and deserves to become a classic in the field; not only does it invite the movement's relocation in a transnational context; it also succeeds in illustrating the innovative potential of this global perspective by its in-depth case study of the specific intersectionality of post World War II Germany and African America."--Maria Diedrich, University of Muenster, author ofLove Across Color Lines: Ottilie Assing and Frederick Douglass, "The book begins with official U.S. attitudes toward black soldiers in World War I and details the struggle up until the 1970s, when commissions found that blacks were still treated unfairly by a variety of measures, including promotions and the military justice system. It is filled with surprises." - Stars and Stripes "This thoughtful, innovative study operates on several levels, prompting readers to think about the issue of race relations in US history as it relates to both domestic and international politics. Highly recommended." - CHOICE "A Breath of Freedomis an important book. By telling the story of African American GIs sent as part of a military occupation designed to teach and instill democratic values in a nation that had recently been ruled by the Nazi party, the authors also tell the story of America's own racist history and practices. Impeccably researched and well written, the authors' passion for the subject is what makes this book as good as it is." - Counterpunch "Höhn and Klimke's book is intended for, and deserves, a wide audience. A Breath of Freedom takes in the full sweep of the twentieth century and more ... A Breath of Freedom is a well-presented book that makes a convincing case for the importance of its subject. Scholars will like the new transnational angle. Popular audiences will like the writing and presentation. Teachers will like the Web site and the book's easy pairing with works of popular culture, such as recent films about race and the Allied military. It is a good time for this book. It is also a good time for the more critical treatments of this important subject that are sure to follow." - H-1960s "A breakthrough in international history, A Breath of Freedom shines a penetrating light on the neglected story of African American troops in Europe. Höhn and Klimke are the first scholars to situate black GIs' experience in the broad context ofthe twentieth century's wars and achievements. At the same time, the impressive scope of this exhaustively researched work never shortchanges the humanity of the individual soldier." - Brenda Gayle Plummer, University of Wisconsin-Madison, author of Rising Wind: Black Americans and U.S. Foreign Affairs, 1935-1960 "This deeply moving book perfectly captures my own experience as a black soldier in the segregated U.S. army during WWII who took part in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald. Höhn and Klimke vividly illustrate the fundamental impact these events had on my own life and on the lives of so many veterans who later became foot soldiers in the civil rights movement. Our encounters during and after the war in Germany, however, not only spurred our fight for equality and against discrimination wherever it occurred; they also created a long-lasting bond across the Atlantic of an intertwined past and hope for a better future." - Leon Bass, WWII veteran, civil rights activist, and former principal of Benjamin Franklin High School, Philadelphia
