Mar 23, 2005 02:01 PM
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(Updated Mar 23, 2005 02:01 PM)
The Rise & Fall of The Third Reich is a voluminous showcase of History during the second world war. As the title suggests, it deals with Nazi Germany & more specifically ADolf Hitler & his brand of the Superior ''Aryan'' race.
I was gifted this book by a very close friend since I was searching for an authentic view of Nazi Germany. The book starts of with the birth of hitler, his childhood & his brand ogf ideals. The pace is very meticulous & credit must go to the writer to script Hitler's Childhood. The Pace slowly quickens as Hitler moves to Austria & how he is made to go by a trial by Fire literally.The Beer Hall Putsch where Hitler turns a defeat into a personal victory is quite amazing.
Through Hitler's rise to the Pinnacle of power, we are made aware of the Europe in those times & how all diplomacy was to be of no avil. The normal activities of Germans & the life for them in those days was quite an eye opener.It still amazes me as to how the Germans could not have seen thru the facade of Hitler. The book is also generous in mentioning the speeches of Hitler verbatim ( translated in English ) & how the fan following was built up. Large doses of Mein Kampf also are scattered through out the book.
One highlight that needs mention is the writer's analysis of how Hitler did exactly what he said he would do in Mein Kampf!!! The war started by Hitler by invading Austria Poland Finland & his close association with the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini is an amazing lesson on how the obvious can be missed!!!the initial victories of the Nazis & the treaty of Compegne ( the fall of France ) is truly insightful. The writer has emphasised on the Foreign office correspondences & it gives an amazingly clear picture of the goings on between USA, UK, France to stop the war that was inevitable. Hitler's machievelli traits were clearly evident when he managed to rope in Stalin on his side to keep the eastern front of Germany clear.
There are enough stories on how the Luftwaffe were initially successful & how the genocideof Jews took place. Truly gut wrenching as the writer has explained in detail the various means adopted by the Nazis. The Pearl Harbour impetus to the war & USA joining the Allies are explained in depth.
The Final pages of the book talk about how Hitler refused his troops to retreat inspite of them losing the battle against USSR.It gives an insight into the man's thinking & those of his people around him. The fall of Berlin & the race for the Allies & the Russians to capture Hitler has been very crisply created by the writer.
I would like to mention here that as a person who wanted to know of the World War II in its true form, this book did exceed my expectations. To all those who want to know more of the Third Reich,, this book is a must read. As mentioned right at the begining, this is a heavy book & certain pages will really turn your stomach upside down. Read this book objectively & certain myths of WW II & Europe & USA will certainly be shattered.
