The book examines ways in which Germans struggle with the Nazi past. It is a reflection upon the reasons why German reckoning with the past became a process of contradictions and shows the specific character of German collective memory in relation to the helplessness and moral condition of a nation defending itself in the face of unimaginable evil.

Using different methods and representing various academic disciplines, the authors of this anthology analyse Polish memory of the Nazi and Stalinist occupations, which are key components of Polish collective identity. The book presents the shape and social conditions of this memory as well as the conflicts and dilemmas related to it.