The Assault: Germany Before the Outbreak and England in War-Time

An American journalist who spent thirteen years living in Berlin writes from the inside, recalling a decade of reporting for both U.S. and British newspapers. He describes the bustling streets, the confident optimism of a nation that seemed at its peak, and the subtle signs of an emerging militaristic mood. His account captures the everyday conversations, the political cafés, and the uneasy undercurrents that preceded the great conflict, offering listeners a vivid sense of Europe on the brink.

The narrative turns personal when the author is arrested as an “English spy” on the eve of war, revealing the tension between national loyalties and journalistic duty. Filled with contemporary photographs, facsimiles of documents and cartoons, the book paints a nuanced portrait of a people caught between pride and dread. It provides a balanced, thoughtful perspective on the forces that drove Germany toward war, without descending into hatred, making the early days of the 20th‑century drama both accessible and compelling.