Germany, 1920–1969: British Foreign Office Confidential Print Coming Soon Key Data

Comprising over 55,000 images sourced from The National Archives (UK), this collection surveys Foreign Office material relating to Germany and its nearest neighbours. The collection contains a wide variety of documents, all of which were selected by the Foreign Office for inclusion in its Confidential Print series, on the basis of their significance.

The twentieth century was a time of great change and turmoil for Germany. In just fifty years, it experienced post-war revolution, an experiment with liberal democracy, the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party, the establishment of a brutal dictatorship, the horrors of war and genocide, occupation by foreign powers, and division into two ideologically-opposed states.

Throughout this period, Britain’s fate was closely entwined with Germany’s. The two countries shared a number of important similarities and, as two of the most powerful states in Europe, their relations could have serious implications for the continent and beyond. During the two world wars, they were bitter adversaries, but at other times, they enjoyed periods of peaceful and friendly co-operation.

The government files in this collection reveal how well-informed British officials and diplomats perceived, interpreted, and responded to Germany throughout much of this critical period, offering an unrivalled English-language insight into the frequent and significant changes which Germany experienced during that time.