Abstract

This article threats synthetically the lifelong relationship of Benedetto Croce with German philosophy, literature and culture. The most important personal friendships and relationships are reviewed, as well as the powerful Croce's work finalised to the reciprocal knowledge of the two cultures. However, the Author stresses how, after the First World War, the German contemporary history leads Croce to revise some of his former positions, especially about Hegelian philosophy. Notwithstanding his negative global judgement on contemporary German culture and society, Croce tried to maintain, even during the Second World War, a dialogue with some scholars and writers coming from non-academic and unofficial culture. Some unknown contacts and relationships are revealed here, as his correspondence with the Alsatian humanist Albert Schweitzer.