Finding Democracy Through the Lens of a Young German Woman, 1944-1950

As the U.S. Army's 8th Air Force attacked Berlin on February 3, 1945, nineteen-year-old Tilly escaped fires engulfing the city and dodged strafing by fighter bombers to reach safety, only to flee again from invading Russian troops intent on inflicting an orgy of revenge. She joined a migrating sea of displaced and bewildered refugees, traveling through the American occupation zone to reach the historic Bavarian town of Freising. There, she worked for U.S. Army forces, chronicling an in-depth picture of the American occupation from the viewpoint of a young German woman. Her perspective offers insights into how American officers influenced her understanding of democratic life after experiencing Nazi fascism. As a young woman seeking to survive war and reshape her fate, Tilly's coming-of-age journey enriches World War II histories by bringing new images and documents to light. By revealing Tilly's experiences tempered with a U.S. military perspective, this story leaves a legacy of greater understanding and serves as an urgent warning from the past that remains relevant today.