An historic event of the first magnitude, German unification has transformed the face of Europe. In one stunning year, two separate states with clashing ideologies, hostile armies, competing economies and incompatible social systems merged into one. The speed and extent of the rupture has been so great, that people are still trying to figure out what happened. Initial elation about liberation has given way to deep depression over the consequences of unity.Written by a distinguished German historian who has followed the unification question for nearly thirty years, The Rush to German Unity is the first attempt at an historical reconstruction of the momentous events. Jarausch draws on the rich sources produced by the collapse of East Germany to examine the dramatic experiences of the German people. From the public debate in West Germany, Jarausch explores the decisions of the West German elite which made unification possible.Ideal as a resource for the student of modern Germany, and for the lay reader wanting an informed analysis of the events, The Rush to German Unity's thoughtful reconstruction of the unification process is an invaluable guide to current debates about the new Germany.