This book has been in the works for several years, and along the way, I have received support from many people. I will always be grateful for the encouragement, the critical feedback, and the distractions that helped me continue my labors. The research started in the Federal Archives in Ko- blenz, Germany, a most welcoming place for any historian. Gregor Pickro in Koblenz represents one of the many archivists I could reliably count on. Herr Pickro suggested I contact the Backe family, and reading this book, you will know where this led me. David Schoenbaum deserves credit as my mentor early on, for it was his critical eye that pushed me much further than I thought I could go. I also owe a large debt to my students at the University of the Pacific, whose curiosity is a constant source of energy. My colleagues in the history department and beyond have been wonderful and inspirational.