Hitler, the Path to Power


Book Description

Explains how Hitler gained the political experience he needed to make himself the leader of Germany, covering his life up to the writing of Mein Kampf.




Mein Kampf


Book Description

Madman, tyrant, animal—history has given Adolf Hitler many names. In Mein Kampf (My Struggle), often called the Nazi bible, Hitler describes his life, frustrations, ideals, and dreams. Born to an impoverished couple in a small town in Austria, the young Adolf grew up with the fervent desire to become a painter. The death of his parents and outright rejection from art schools in Vienna forced him into underpaid work as a laborer. During the First World War, Hitler served in the infantry and was decorated for bravery. After the war, he became actively involved with socialist political groups and quickly rose to power, establishing himself as Chairman of the National Socialist German Worker's party. In 1924, Hitler led a coalition of nationalist groups in a bid to overthrow the Bavarian government in Munich. The infamous Munich "Beer-hall putsch" was unsuccessful, and Hitler was arrested. During the nine months he was in prison, an embittered and frustrated Hitler dictated a personal manifesto to his loyal follower Rudolph Hess. He vented his sentiments against communism and the Jewish people in this document, which was to become Mein Kampf, the controversial book that is seen as the blue-print for Hitler's political and military campaign. In Mein Kampf, Hitler describes his strategy for rebuilding Germany and conquering Europe. It is a glimpse into the mind of a man who destabilized world peace and pursued the genocide now known as the Holocaust.




Hindenburg, Ludendorff and Hitler


Book Description

They are two of twentieth-century history's most significant figures, yet today they are largely forgotten - Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, Germany's First World War leaders. Although defeat in 1918 brought an end to their 'silent dictatorship', both generals played a key role in the turbulent politics of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazis.Alexander Clifford, in this perceptive reassessment of their political careers, questions the popular image of these generals in the English-speaking world as honorable 'Good Germans'. For they were intensely political men, whose ideas and actions shaped the new Germany and ultimately led to Hitler's dictatorship.Their poisonous wartime legacy was the infamous stab-in-the-back myth. According to the generals, the true cause of the disastrous defeat in the First World War was the betrayal of the army by politicians, leftists and Jews on the home front. This toxic conspiracy theory polluted Weimar politics and has been labeled the beginning of 'the twisted road to Auschwitz'.Hindenburg and Ludendorff's political fortunes after the war were markedly different. Ludendorff inhabited the far-right fringes and engaged in plots, assassinations and conspiracies, playing a leading role in failed uprisings such as Hitler's 1923 Beer Hall Putsch. Meanwhile Hindenburg was a vastly more successful politician, winning two presidential elections and serving as head of state for nine years. Arguably he bore even more responsibility for the destruction of democracy, for he and the nationalist right he led sought, through Hitler, to remold the Weimar system towards authoritarianism.




Hitler's Forgotten Ally


Book Description

This book is the first complete study in English of Antonescu's part in the Second World War. Antonescu was a major ally of Hitler and Romania fielded the third largest Axis army, joined the Tripartite Pact in November 1940 as a sovereign state and participated in the attack on the Soviet Union of 22 June 1941 as an equal partner of Germany.




Hitler


Book Description

This detailed reference guide, based on a vast amount of source data, traces every known detail of Hitler's career, with extensive quotation both from Hitler's own speeches and writings and from those of his contemporaries. This new edition features an enlarged and updated bibliography and introduction.




The Unfathomable Ascent


Book Description

The chilling story of Adolf Hitler's eight-year march to the pinnacle of German politics Adolf Hitler's insurgent path to power, 1925-1933, is one of the most dramatic, startling, and important stories in world history. Culminating in Hitler's historic climb to totalitarian reign, this period marks his progression through the shifting political maze of the Weimar Republic and the tumultuous rise of the Nazi Party. Far from an irresistible force of politics, Hitler's passage was one underscored by personal power plays, economic instability, gloating triumphs, and near failures. A political chapter that spans Germany's wobbly recovery from World War I through years of growing prosperity and crippling depression, this period marks Hitler's unrelenting struggle for control over his radical, raucous movement. It includes brushes with power and quests for revenge, non-stop electioneering and American-style campaign tactics and, for Hitler, moments of immense success and feared humiliation. Following an improbable, serpentine journey, The Unfathomable Ascent is a complex story with one dangerous climax: Hitler's sweeping ascent into political power, and the western world's descent into historic darkness.




The Life and Times of Adolf Hitler


Book Description

Explore the enigmatic figure of Adolf Hitler and the tumultuous era he shaped with "The Life and Times of Adolf Hitler" by Mahesh Sharma, a comprehensive biography that delves into the complexities of one of history's most infamous figures. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Sharma offers readers a nuanced portrait of Hitler's life, ideology, and impact on the world. Delve into the early years of Adolf Hitler as Sharma traces his humble beginnings in Austria to his rise to power as the dictator of Nazi Germany. With a keen eye for detail and a rich narrative style, the author brings to life the formative experiences and influences that shaped Hitler's worldview and ambitions. Gain insight into the political and social context of Hitler's rise to power, as Sharma explores the economic turmoil, social upheaval, and political instability that fueled the rise of fascism in interwar Europe. Through vivid storytelling and historical analysis, readers gain a deeper understanding of the conditions that paved the way for Hitler's ascent to power. Examine Hitler's ideology and worldview, from his virulent anti-Semitism to his expansionist ambitions and cult of personality. With its penetrating analysis and historical context, Sharma sheds light on the motivations and beliefs that drove Hitler's actions and policies, from the persecution of minorities to the outbreak of World War II. Take a closer look at the key events and decisions that defined Hitler's reign, from the annexation of Austria to the invasion of Poland and the Holocaust. Through meticulous research and detailed storytelling, Sharma offers readers a comprehensive overview of Hitler's life and legacy, allowing them to draw their own conclusions about this complex and controversial figure. The overall tone of the biography is one of historical inquiry and critical analysis, as Sharma seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding Hitler's life and legacy. With its balanced approach and nuanced perspective, this biography offers readers a deeper understanding of one of history's most enduring and enigmatic figures. Since its publication, "The Life and Times of Adolf Hitler" has been hailed as a definitive biography of the Nazi dictator, earning praise for its thorough research, engaging narrative, and insightful analysis. It has become a valuable resource for students, scholars, and anyone seeking to understand the complexities of Hitler's life and times. Designed for readers with an interest in history, politics, or the human psyche, "The Life and Times of Adolf Hitler" offers a compelling portrait of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Whether you're a student of history or simply curious about the forces that shaped the modern world, this biography offers a compelling and informative exploration of Hitler's life and legacy. In conclusion, "The Life and Times of Adolf Hitler" is more than just a biography—it's a journey into the heart of darkness and the complexities of human nature. Join Mahesh Sharma on this compelling exploration of Hitler's life, ideology, and impact on the world, and gain a deeper understanding of one of history's most notorious figures. Don't miss your chance to unravel the mysteries of Adolf Hitler's life and times. Grab your copy of "The Life and Times of Adolf Hitler" by Mahesh Sharma now and embark on a journey of discovery and enlightenment.




The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism


Book Description

From the chief economics commentator of the Financial Times, a magnificent reckoning with how and why the marriage between democracy and capitalism is coming undone, and what can be done to reverse this terrifying dynamic Martin Wolf has long been one of the wisest voices on global economic issues. He has rarely been called an optimist, yet he has never been as worried as he is today. Liberal democracy is in recession, and authoritarianism is on the rise. The ties that ought to bind open markets to free and fair elections are threatened, even in democracy’s heartlands, the United States and England. Around the world, powerful voices argue that capitalism is better without democracy; others argue that democracy is better without capitalism. This book is a forceful rejoinder to both views. Even as it offers a deep, lucid assessment of why this marriage has grown so strained, it makes clear why a divorce of capitalism from democracy would be a calamity for the world. They need each other even if they find it hard to life together. For all its flaws, argues Wolf, democratic capitalism remains far and away the best system for human flourishing. But something has gone seriously awry: the growth of prosperity has slowed, and the division of its fruits between the hypersuccessful few and the rest has become more unequal. The plutocrats have retreated to their bastions, where they pour scorn on government’s ability to invest in the public goods needed to foster opportunity and sustainability. But the incoming flood of autocracy will rise to overwhelm them, too, in the end. Citizenship is not just a slogan or a romantic idea; it’s the only idea that can save us, Wolf argues. Nothing has ever harmonized political and economic freedom better than a shared faith in the common good. This wise and rigorously fact-based exploration of the epic story of the dynamic between democracy and capitalism concludes with the lesson that our ideals and our interests not only should align, but must do so, for everyone’s sake. Democracy itself is now at stake.




The Foreign Policy of the Third Reich


Book Description

In this short outline history of Hitler's foreign policy, Professor Hildebrand contends that the National Socialist Party achieved popularity largely because it integrated all the political, economic and socio-political expectations prevailing in Germany since Bismarck. Thus, foreign policy under Hitler was a logical extension of the aims of the newly created German nation-state of 1871. Trading on his domestic economic successes, Hitler relied on the traditional methods of power politics-backing diplomacy with force. Had he pursued expansionist aims alone, using specific lighting wars as threats or instruments of conquest he might have been more successful. As it was, the scheme went awry when the first phase-European hegemony-was overtaken by and forced to run parallel with the second and third phases: American intervention and “racial purification.” The ideology became too great a burden to bear, stimulating internal resistance, and the Allies of course determined to wage total for a total surrender.




The Folly of War


Book Description

The Folly of War is a hard-hitting, critical analysis of American wars in the 20th century that set a pattern for the early 21st century. Drawing on a wide rage of sources and rigorously marshaling the facts, the book concludes that these wars have been futile, unnecessary and foolish. Rejecting the Left's contention that American foreign policy has been driven by greedy corporate interests, the author starts from the premise that average Americans have supported these wars out of a will to do good" but have failed in that aim, and in the process done much harm. This is a disturbing book that raises questions about how we go to war, how we fight wars, and how we eventually lose wars. Many Americans viewed the military defeat in Vietnam as an aberration, interrupting a string of foreign military successes. This book sees that tragedy as part of a line of politically reckless engagements. Driven by a proud self assurance that is often termed American exceptionalism, the nation arms itself to the teeth and intrudes into every region, pacing on a treadmill of perpetual war to achieve perpetual peace. Writing Chapter 13, "The War on Terror - The Contrived War" in 2003, just as the Bush administration was making its fateful decision to invade Iraq, Schmidt concluded at that time that the discussion among the principals (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, etc.) was stacked with faulty information and the decision was made on an emotional level rather than a rational one. Further, he predicted that nothing good would come of the Iraq venture -- unfortunately that assessment was correct. One of the officials in the Bush White House who participated in the pre-war discussions, admitted the attack was irrational: "The only reason we went into Iraq is we were looking for somebody's ass to kick ... Afghanistan was too easy." (Days of Fire - Bush and Cheney in the White House, by Peter Baker, p 191, Doubleday, 2013). At the end of seven major wars and after one million American soldiers have been killed, we are no closer to the perfect security we seek.