Why We Still Use “Horsepower”
Horses were omnipresent in the West until only a few generations ago, but then they were replaced by machines and disappeared from our streets as well as our consciousness.
How Consumerism Sold Democracy to Postwar Germany
After World War II, the United States was battling the Soviet Union for cultural influence. In divided Berlin, the tactics included lavish consumer goods exhibitions.
How the Nazis Created the Myth of Stalingrad
The battle of Stalingrad was the first major defeat of the Nazis in World War II, and presented the Nazis with a propaganda quandary.
The Nazis’ Nightmarish Plan to Starve the Soviet Union
Before the infamous Wannsee conference, Nazis had another meeting during which they planned the mass starvation of millions of Eastern Europeans.
The False Promises of Wellness Culture
Wellness is everywhere today: juice cleanses, Soulcycle classes, self-care. The roots of the trend can be found in nineteenth-century health-consciousness.
The Unlikely Hippies of the USSR
On the little-known hippie youth culture of the USSR.
Do You Know Fascism When You See It?
It may seem obvious, but a generic definition of fascism has been hard to pin down.
The Largest Forced Migration In European History
Trump's comments on deporting 11 million undocumented migrants have precedent: the forced migration of millions of ethnic-Germans in the aftermath of WWII.
The Persecution of the Romani by the Nazis
Like the Jews, the Romani were victims of the Nazi's ideology of race.
In Greece, “Ochi” Again
The Greeks rallied under the word "ochi", or no, as the Italians attempted to gain control of Greece during 1940-1941.