Nigeyb’s Reviews > Hitler > Status Update

Into the abyss. Hitler still won’t countenance surrender as the Allies close in on Berlin

1944 - not a good year for Hitler

Things starting to go badly wrong. The Summer offensive on the Eastern front is not going to plan. The hell that is Stalingrad has started - Hitler adamant is must be taken. Rommel in retreat in North Africa. American troops arrive in Europe. Hitler still publicly bullish. What a magnificent biography.

Winter sets in before the Nazis reach Moscow. Meanwhile, in better news for Hitler, the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbour. Hitler believes this will prevent America from getting involved in the war in Europe

Planning for Operation Barbarossa almost completed and always intended a genocidal conflict as well as an ideological one. I'd never realised that the intention was, in part, to further isolate Britain so she'd negotiate peace terms. The assumption being that Russia would be overrun by the Autumn.

Britain and France now both officially at war with Germany following invasion of Poland. Western powers wake up too late to the threat Hitler poses to peace in Europe

Kristallnacht lays bear the savagery and barbarism of the Nazi regime to a horrified onlooking world

The Anchlaus poised and the Sudentanland crisis in the offing with Germany furiously rearming, and having moved soldiers into the Rhine territories with no reaction from the rest of Europe. So many opportunities to have changed the course of history, in hindsight. Meanwhile Hitlers grip on the party and the army is now complete - which sows the seeds of his hubiristic downfall

Hitler tightening his grip on power

It's fascinating. I've not read a biography of Hitler for many a year and, whilst no expert, cannot imagine anyone else has produced such a compelling and scholarly account. Ian Kershaw explains that this is a slightly abridged version of two earlier books (Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris and Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis), minus the numerous and lengthy annotations. It's certainly very readable and feels extremely even handed.