The twelve years of the Third Reich casts a dark shadow over history. Fierce debates still rage over many of the hows, whys and wherefores of this perplexing period.

Leading expert on German history, Martin Kitchen, provides a concise, accessible and provocative account of Nazi Germany.  It takes into account the political, social, economic and cultural ramifications, and sets it within the context of the times, while pointing out those areas that still defy our understanding.

This lively account addresses major issues such as the reasons for Hitler’s extraordinary popularity, his hold over the German people even when all seemed lost, the role of ideology, the cooption of the elites, and the descent into war for race and space, culminating in the horrors of the holocaust.

This book shows how a charismatic leader preyed on ordinary German’s yearning for stability in a time of economic, political and social crisis.  It goes on to give a complete and up-to-date analysis of The Third Reich; it’s implications for and place in history.

Abbreviations

Authors Acknowledgements

Publisher's Acknowledgements

List of Maps

1. Background
2. The origins of National Socialism
3. Hitler as chancellor
4. Reordering society and the economy
5. The churches and education
6. The arts and propaganda
7. The SA, SS and police
8. Foreign policy
9. The Shoah
10. The war

Notes

Further Reading

Index