Book Recommendation Requests > Beth’s Request

he said: " Prominent historians such as Norman Davies and Antony Beevor who regularly meet Ian Kershaw for drinks will tell you that his TWO volume biography of Hitler is currently the best document available. In Beevor's view, the great contribution of Kershaw is the manner in which he demonstrates that during the Sudetenland and Danzig corridor crises Hitler was not attempting to take advantage of the lack of backbone of the other European powers but was instead actively trying to provoke a war. In the v Prominent historians such as Norman Davies and Antony Beevor who regularly meet Ian Kershaw for drinks will tell you that his TWO volume biography of Hitler is currently the best document available. In Beevor's view, the great contribution of Kershaw is the manner in which he demonstrates that during the Sudetenland and Danzig corridor crises Hitler was not attempting to take advantage of the lack of backbone of the other European powers but was instead actively trying to provoke a war. In the view of Davies, Kershaw's great strength is the manner in which Hitler directed his subordinates into actions by taking advantage of their tendency to 'work towards Hitler.' That is to say his subordinates wishing to be promoted over their rivals would do things that they thought would meet his approval. Kershaw confirms that no order was ever issued to implement the 'endlosung' either in written or oral form. Hitler never mentioned the 'endlosung' in social gatherings and gave out the impression that he was even aware of it taking place. No one who was in his inner circle and survived has ever indicated that that they discussed the issue even in one-on-one conversations. ...more "

he said: " You will have to read the complete TWO volume edition of Kersaw's book. The abridged single volume version will not contribute anything to your knowledge. Why then read Kershaw who highly praises Bullock in his introduction. The first is that since 1953, the diplomatic archives of the French and British were opened to historians. Because of this Ian Kershaw had a dramatic advantage over Bullock. Also, many of those who knew Hitler published their memoirs after Bullock's book was released. Ian Ke You will have to read the complete TWO volume edition of Kersaw's book. The abridged single volume version will not contribute anything to your knowledge. Why then read Kershaw who highly praises Bullock in his introduction. The first is that since 1953, the diplomatic archives of the French and British were opened to historians. Because of this Ian Kershaw had a dramatic advantage over Bullock. Also, many of those who knew Hitler published their memoirs after Bullock's book was released. Ian Kershaw feels that these memoires were all highly self serving. The generals for the most part were concerned with putting the blame for the loss of the war in the East on Hitler and exonerating themselves. You decide for yourself. Kershaw had the highest regard for the skill and intelligence of both Bullock and William Shirer. His one advantage was that he had access to material that Bullock did not have. ...more "