They Thought They Were Free

They Thought They Were Free examines the lives of ten ordinary German men under Nazi rule, revealing how they rationalized their support for the regime. Through postwar interviews in a pseudonymous town, Mayer explores their perceptions of freedom, morality, and complicity, offering a chilling study of how authoritarianism takes root in daily life.

It blends personal narratives with ethical inquiry, probing how fear, opportunism, and incremental normalization enabled widespread acceptance of atrocities. Its 2017 reissue includes historical context about postwar Germany’s militarization, underscoring enduring questions about individual responsibility in oppressive systems.