The Oxford Illustrated History of the Third Reich

At age thirty in 1919, Adolf Hitler had no accomplishments. He was a rootless loner, a corporal in a shattered army, without money or prospects. A little more than twenty years later, in autumn 1941, he directed his dynamic forces against the Soviet Union, and in December, the Germans were at the gates of Moscow and Leningrad. At that moment, Hitler appeared — however briefly — to be the most powerful ruler on the planet. Given this dramatic turn of events, it is little wonder that since 1945 generations of historians keep trying to explain how it all happened. This richly illustrated history provides a readable and fresh approach to the complex history of the Third Reich, from the coming to power of the Nazis in 1933 to the final collapse in 1945. Using photographs, paintings, propaganda images, and a host of other such materials from a wide range of sources, including official documents, cinema, and the photography of contemporary amateurs, foreigners, and the Allied armies, it distils our ideas about the period and provides a balanced and accessible account of the whole era. "A richly illustrated and textually dense assessment of the Hitler regime... essential for students of modern history, marked by fresh scholarship and little-seen photographs."- Kirkus , Starred Review"This richly illustrated history distils our ideas about the period and provides a balanced and accessible account of the whole era."- Eye Spy Intelligence Magazine"Written by a team of leading historians, this is a serious history of the Third Reich, but one that is richly illustrated... This is a thoughtful and well-balanced read on a complex subject."- Keith Robinson, Military History Magazine"Uncertainty over the future of the European Union makes The Oxford Illustrated History of the Third Reich [...] required reading... [a] hard-hitting collection of essays by experts on the subject."- Andy Ffrench, Oxford Times"Robert Gellately's The Oxford Illustrated History of the Third Reich provides a splendid, authoritative, and state-of-the-art portrayal of the Third Reich. Written by an all-star team of historians, this visually stunning book is as interesting to a lay readership as it is stimulating to expert readers."- Thomas Weber, author of Becoming Hitler and Hitlers First War."Plentifully illustrated with propaganda images, rare photographs, paintings and drawings...It is an excellent and thoughtful resource for anyone interested in the period."- The Jewish ExponentAbout the Author At Age Thirty In 1919, Adolf Hitler Had No Accomplishments. He Was A Rootless Loner, A Corporal In A Shattered Army, Without Money Or Prospects. A Little More Than Twenty Years Later, In Autumn 1941, He Directed His Dynamic Forces Against The Soviet Union, And In December, The Germans Were At The Gates Of Moscow And Leningrad. At That Moment, Hitler Appeared - However Briefly - To Be The Most Powerful Ruler On The Planet. Given This Dramatic Turn Of Events, It Is Little Wonder That Since 1945 Generations Of Historians Keep Trying To Explain How It All Happened.00this Richly Illustrated History Provides A Readable And Fresh Approach To The Complex History Of The Third Reich, From The Coming To Power Of The Nazis In 1933 To The Final Collapse In 1945. Using Photographs, Paintings, Propaganda Images, And A Host Of Other Such Materials From A Wide Range Of Sources, Including Official Documents, Cinema, And The Photography Of Contemporary Amateurs, Foreigners, And The Allied Armies, It Distils Our Ideas About The Period And Provides A Balanced And Accessible Account Of The Whole Era. Introduction: The Third Reich / Robert Gellately -- The Weimar Republic And The Rise Of National Socialism / Matthew Stibbe -- The Nazi Seizure Of Power / Hermann Back -- Elections, Plebiscites, And Festivals / Hedwig Richter And Ralph Jessen -- Architecture And The Arts / Jonathan Petropoulos -- Photography And Cinema / David F. Crew -- The Economy / Peter Hayes -- The Holocaust / Omer Bartov -- War And Empire / Dieter Pohl -- The Home Front / Julia S. Torrie -- Decline And Collapse / Robert Gellately -- Appendix: Daily Inmate Numbers In The Ss Concentration Camps. Edited By Robert Gellately. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 353-361) And Index. At age thirty in 1919, Adolf Hitler had no accomplishments. He was a rootless loner, a corporal in a shattered army, without money or prospects. A little more than twenty years later, in autumn 1941, he directed his dynamic forces against the Soviet Union, and in December, the Germans were at the gates of Moscow and Leningrad. At that moment, Hitler appeared - however briefly - to be the most powerful ruler on the planet. Given this dramatic turn of events, it is little wonder that since 1945 generations of historians keep trying to explain how it all happened. This richly illustrated history provides a readable and fresh approach to the complex history of the Third Reich, from the coming to power of the Nazis in 1933 to the final collapse in 1945. Using paintings, propaganda images, and a host of other such materials from a wide range of sources, including official documents, the cinema, as well as the photography of contemporary amateurs, foreigners, and the Allied armies, it distils our ideas about the period and provides a balanced and accessible account of the whole era"--Book jacket Introduction: The Third Reich -- Robert Gellately The Weimar Republic and the rise of National Socialism -- Matthew Stibbe The Nazi "seizure of power" -- Hermann Beck Elections, plebiscites, and festivals -- Hedwig Richter and Ralph Jessen Architecture and the arts -- Jonathan Petropoulos Photography and cinema -- David F. Crew The economy -- Peter Hayes The Holocaust -- Omer Bartov War and empire -- Dieter Pohl The home front -- Julia S. Torrie Decline and collapse -- Robert Gellately Appendix: Daily inmate numbers in the SS concentration camps. A thought-provoking assessment and documentation of one of the most terrible periods in history — the rise and fall of the Nazi Party.