Ullrich summons a chorus of eyewitnesses along the way to this apocalyptic outcome, including the noted diarist Victor Klemperer and Sebastian Haffner, whose memoir, “Defying Hitler,” is one of the masterpieces of the era. It is Haffner who gives the most indelible description of the nation-shaking hyperinflation that hit the young republic in 1923. In the face of this profound economic instability, experience and expertise also lost their value, an
Continue Reading on New York Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.