This text investigates the central problem of asymmetrical modernization as the primary driver of Germany's political, economic, and social development from 1871 to the present day. Dietrich Orlow, a scholar of German history, utilizes a narrative, problem-focused framework to synthesize complex historical data. By examining the trajectory from the Imperial era through the 1945 division and subsequent reunification, the author provides a comprehensive analysis of the forces that shaped the modern German state.

This work is regarded as a standard academic survey, noted for its consistent thematic focus on the challenges of modernization within the German context. The text is widely utilized in university-level history courses due to its structured approach and comprehensive coverage of the modern era.