This book assesses the role of German minorities in East Central Europe before World War 2. Generalisations made under the influence of wartime propaganda created a stereotype of German minority behaviour according to which all ethnic Germans were fanatical supporters of Hitler, promoters of Nazism and obedient servants of the Third Reich's imperialistic foreign policy. These accusations were used to justify their mass expulsion after the war. The ethnic Germans defended themselves with counter accusations stating that they were the victims of prejudicial generalisations.