Preußen Ohne Legende by Sebastian Haffner

A concise historical and cultural study that dismantles the romanticized image of Prussia by tracing its development from the 19th century through the collapse of the Weimar Republic, arguing that a rigid bureaucratic-military tradition, social elitism and a culture of obedience shaped German politics and helped pave the way for authoritarianism; the book blends narrative history with sharp critique to explain how institutional habits and myths of honor and duty produced both administrative efficiency and moral blind spots with catastrophic consequences.