The Definitive Hitler Book
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What can be said about this book that hasn't already been said? When partnered with it's counterpart, 1889-1936: Hubris, this represents the best, most definitive account of Hitler. The scale and scope of both of these books is tremendous, and covers every detail about his life in an exhaustively researched & accurate way.
Some reviewers have given negative reviews on this book, but these are mainly in relation to the military and events of the second world war. As Kershaw states in the introduction to these books, they are not an account of the second world war and how certain battles faired. As he states, there is already an exhaustive amount of work in relation to these out there, and besides, this is a book about Hitler, not what divisions the Waffen-SS was fielding on the Eastern Front in August 1944, for example. This is about Hitler and his actions/reactions to what was happening around him. In that respect, this book is flawless and also makes it slightly more interesting than the first book. Whilst the first book helps to explain Hitler himself a little more, it is the war-hitler that everyone seems to be interested in, which is where this books triumphs.
If you have even the slightest interest in this area of history, and even if you already own a Hitler book, I can still recommend this. It makes even more sense to buy it in conjunction with it's predecessor and make a discount!
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Nothing more to be said
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As the book was published already some years ago, I have read it many times since. It certainly is the definitive account of Germany's war-years and Hitler's downfall. I enjoyed most Kershaw's healthy detachment from his subject - I would, maybe wrongly, ascribe it to what we believe is British coolness; more probably it is due to the advantage of being a foreigner and retelling some of another country's darkest hours. It can't be done well from within, you're getting too much involved with what it all meant to those who survived. But history is one thing and post-war ideological strife another, and it is best to keep both separate. Meanwhile, Kershaw's study of Hitler has been recognised as the standard account in Germany as well. In any case, when looking at Kershaw's achievement which must have cost him many years, I freeze in awe and ask myself: Who am I to praise his work? But certainly it merits only praise, because it is, not only for the moment, the most detailed, reliable, thoughtful and readable biography of Hitler; there is nothing more to be said for a long time to come. It is a irony of history that persons who least deserve it sometimes find the finest biographers. So it is in this case.
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The Ultimate Biography On Hitler
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Having read both books I found this to be the more engaging but that is no reflection on the quality of the first. Rather I found as I assume most people would Hitler is at his most interesting and puzzling during the period 1936 - 1945. Together they form a superb and comprehensive biography on Hitler but they are also fine as stand alones. This is not a book about WWII but the events of WWII in relation to Hitler so people expecting a comprehensive summary of the war will be dissapointed. Some of the most significant events are covered in only a few pages i.e. the fall of France and the Ardennes offensive. However this is probably my only criticism and one which I have no right to make given that this is a biography of Hitler and not a history of the war. However it gives an superb 800 page insight into the man and the world he was surrounded by. Kershaws writing style is engaging and the level of research he has undertaken makes this a credible document. I would certainly recommend it as being the ultimate biography of a man who has his fair share of them. The world can be thankful that Mr Kershaw had no need for a third book on Hitler (1946 - ????) although its absence is a loss to readers of fine historical writing.
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Good, but with several holes and mistakes
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This book, naturally, beginns where first one ended. We follow Germany's bloodless victories (Austria, Czechoslovakia) and WW2. As first part this book gives excelent look behind the scenes of german leadership and look into Hitler's mind. But there are several weaknesses. Military side is covered in very generally. e.g. fall of France in 1940 is covered in couple of pages (Kristallnacht is covered in at least twice as much pages). Also there is no mention of how and why Waffen-SS units were established. And when they are mentioned, Kershaw states that their officers were inexperienced (which any military historian will tell were not). Kershaw describes Hitler's grandiose plans for post-war Europe, yet doesn't mention foreign volunteer units. Also while he describes most Hitler's speeches he doesn't mention Hitler's visit to Maribor when he said he wanted this land (Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia) be made German again.All in all good book, worth your time and money, but could be better.
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Kershaw has produced a gem
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Ian Kershaw's follow-up to the peerless 'Hubris' matches and even surpasses the achievements of the first half of this splendid biography. Whereas Hubris addressed Hitler's upbringing and rise to power, Nemesis concerns Hitler's central role during the second world war and with it the final demise and collapse of the third reich. Kershaw's prose is accessible for laymen, whilst remaining packed full of detailed analysis for academics. The author considers both the structuralist and intentional approaches to the third reich, and also whether Nazi policy was determined by economic necessity, or ideological goals.
Nemesis also provides a fabulous insight into the mind and world of the centuries most infamous and destructive figure. It also highlights and ponders the role of those around Hitler and their relationship to him. The author also attempts to understand the reasons for Hitler's murderous determination to implement policies of genocide and dogged continuance of the war even when he knew it was lost.
The two works together represent an excellent study in the workings of the Nazi government and the mind of a dictator. These two works follow the already excellent work on the Nazis and seek to examine how and why these ideologues came to power in a rational and highly educated civlised state. Hopefully works of this quality will help aid us from preventing it from happening again.
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