Shadowland: The Story of Germany Told by Its Prisoners

Shadowland is a documentary that tells the stories of Germany's prisoners, highlighting the country's treatment of its lowest citizens. The story begins at the end of the Second World War, in a defeated country on the edge of collapse, where orphaned and lost children are forced to live rough, scavenging and stealing to stay alive.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2022
Publisher: Reaktion Books

As Nelson Mandela famously observed, a nation's true character should not be measured by how it treats its most privileged members, but rather by how it cares for its most vulnerable ones. Shadowland offers a poignant and illuminating exploration of the lives of Germany's prisoners, shedding light on the country's past and present in profound ways. The narrative commences at the close of World War II, in a defeated nation on the brink of collapse, where orphaned and abandoned children are compelled to survive through a life of hardship, scavenging, and theft. In this desperate environment, many of these children lay the groundwork for a future characterized by criminal behavior.

While East Germany established secret police detention facilities, West Germany took a different path. Recognizing the need for reform, the West passed prison reform laws that aimed to create a more humane and rehabilitative system. These laws resulted in the construction of "little asbestos walls in Hell," as one prisoner aptly described them.

Shadowland is a powerful testament to Germany as seen through the eyes, experiences, triumphs, and tragedies of its lowest citizens. It serves as a reminder that the history and legacy of a nation are not solely defined by its leaders and institutions, but also by the ordinary people who inhabit its borders. Through the stories of these prisoners, Shadowland offers a glimpse into the human cost of war, poverty, and social injustice, and encourages us to reflect on the responsibilities we all share in building a more just and compassionate world.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 146 x 224 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789146271