This collection investigates how the profound experiences of violence in the 1940s shaped the subsequent attempts to establish 'normality' in postwar Europe. The essays challenge the notion of a simple return to pre-war patterns, instead viewing the economic and political stability of the 1950s as a deliberate construction built upon the lingering memories of unprecedented conflict. By examining this relationship between wartime trauma and postwar order, the book offers a novel perspective on the cultural and social history of the continent. The collection spans Western and Central Europe, with a particular focus on Germany, and utilizes a diverse range of primary and secondary sources.

This collection is recognized for its novel approach to understanding postwar European history, shifting the focus from a simple return to stability to an active construction of 'normality' in the wake of immense violence. The essays are noted for their comparative perspectives across Western and Central Europe, offering a nuanced view of the period. The work is appreciated for its engagement with the complex interplay between traumatic experiences and the subsequent societal order. The scholarly depth and the breadth of sources employed contribute to its value for historians of the era.