"On April 28, 1946, a small group of American wives and children arrived at the port of Bremerhaven, West Germany, the first of thousands of military family members to make the trans-Atlantic journey. Drawing on archival sources and personal narratives, this book explores these enclaves of Americanism, from the U.S. government's perspective to the grassroots view of those who made their homes in Cold War Europe. These families faced challenges in balancing their military missions with daily lives during a period of dynamic global change."--Provided by publisher.

Introduction --From first arrivals to established network (1946-1967) -- The footprint of American culture and consumerism (1946-1967) -- Religion, race, stereotyping and the media (1946-1967) -- Anti-communism and nuclear concerns (1946-1967) -- Challenge to American economic dominance (1946-1967) -- Fast food, violence, crime and drugs (1967-1990) -- Race, feminism and media manipulation (1967-1990) -- Testing German-American bonds (1967-1990) -- Economic challenges (1967-1990) -- Conclusion.