Germany's duality has long made it one of the world's most fascinating countries. As the birthplace of some of the Western world's best loved music, including that of Beethoven and Bach, and a producer of great writers and philosophers, Germany has long been an important center of learning and the arts. Yet, it is also a county stained with the blood of two world wars. Stunning photographs, illuminating artifacts, government documents, and original manuscripts enhance this indispensable guide through a country steeped in culture and contradiction.