German Autumn

Structure and Organization

"German Autumn" is a collection of essays and reports by Stig Dagerman, based on his trip to Germany in the fall of 1946 on assignment for the Swedish newspaper "Expressen." The book is divided into several sections, including reports from cities devastated by post-war bombings, such as Berlin and Hamburg, essays on the daily life of ordinary Germans, filled with acute empathy and attempts to understand the psychology of a people left amidst the ruins of their own country. Dagerman provides detailed descriptions of people's daily lives, their struggle for survival in extreme conditions, facing destruction, hunger, and cold. The author also examines the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by the residents of defeated Germany, emphasizing the complex process of denazification and the nation's self-identification after the war's defeat. The entire book is permeated with deep analysis and attempts to present an objective view of the tragic events of that time.