Hitler and Nazi Germany

This text is a brief yet comprehensive survey of the Third Reich based on current research findings and it is written for students and general readers who want a deeper understanding of this period in German history. It provides a balanced approach in examining Hitler's role in the history of the Third Reich and includes coverage of the economic, social, and political forces that made the rise and growth of Nazism possible; the institutional, cultural, and social life of the Third Reich; the Second World War; and the Holocaust. Hallmark Features An in-depth portrait of Adolf Hitler, the man and the leader--Coverage includes the influences on his early development, his character traits, his oratorical skills, his messianic pretensions, and an analysis of his ideology based on quotations from his writings and speeches. A thorough examination of the Holocaust--Includes coverage of anti-Semitism in Germany, Hitler's personal racial ideology and vision of Aryan purity, the mechanisms of terror and control, and the machinery of the Final Solution. The Jewish perspective is woven throughout this coverage. Engaging coverage of the following topics: Anti-Jewish policies and the involvement of ordinary Germans in the Holocaust The political scene in Weimar Germany The role of Gregor Strasser in rebuilding the Nazi Party Walter Darré and "Blood and Soil" The internal consolidation of power Party-state relations Early Nazi economic policy The SS and the military between 1933-1939 Provides the most up-to-date research. Pedagogical Features Student Pedagogy--Includes maps, photos, bibliographies, and suggestions for further reading. David Redles, Associate Professor of History at Cuyahoga Community College, contributed his expertise to the latest revision by revising and updating the text in accordance with the most recent scholarship in the field. Coverage of World War I has been reorganized to improve flow. Includes a substantial amount of NEW coverage of cultur.