A life in the shadow of Hitler : an oral history of Dorthea Franke's life / by Christine C. Issel.

A life in the shadow of Hitler: An oral history of Dorthea Franke's life (1890-1995) focuses on the years in Germany from 1932-1951. It encompasses Hitler's rise to power and the difficult post-war years from the viewpoint of a contemporary woman. Every life is unique, yet each of us is a victim of the times and circumstances shared with others. Dorthea's oral history is not an indictment, nor an apology, nor is her story spectacular. It records her personal experiences as an "average citizen" under Hitler. It is a life where she went right on trying to live and do the things she had always done. The thesis is a written transcript of taped interviews which captured Dorthea's account of history as she lived it. This history has been supplemented by footnotes of explanations, differing viewpoints, and collaborating information to place Dorthea's life in the broader scope of history.