A Deep Exploration of the Rise, Reign, and Legacy of the Third Reich
For its brief existence, National Socialist Germany was one of the most
destructive regimes in the history of humankind. Since that time,
scholarly debate about its causes has volleyed continuously between the
effects of political and military decisions, pathological development,
or modernity gone awry. Was terror the defining force of rule, or was
popular consent critical to sustaining the movement? Were the German
people sympathetic to Nazi ideology, or were they radicalized by social
manipulation and powerful propaganda? Was the "Final Solution" the
motivation for the Third Reich's rise to power, or simply the outcome?
A Companion to Nazi Germany addresses these crucial questions with
historical insight from the Nazi Party's emergence in the 1920s through
its postwar repercussions. From the theory and context that gave rise to
the movement, through its structural, cultural, economic, and social
impacts, to the era's lasting legacy, this book offers an in-depth
examination of modern history's most infamous reign.
- Assesses the historiography of Nazism and the prehistory of the regime
- Provides deep insight into labor, education, research, and home life
amidst the Third Reich's ideological imperatives
- Describes how the Third Reich affected business, the economy, and the
culture, including sports, entertainment, and religion
- Delves into the social militarization in the lead-up to war, and
examines the social and historical complexities that allowed genocide
to take place
- Shows how modern-day Germany confronts and deals with its recent
history
Today's political climate highlights the critical need to understand how
radical nationalist movements gain an audience, then followers, then
power. While historical analogy can be a faulty basis for analyzing
current events, there is no doubt that examining the parallels can lead
to some important questions about the present. Exploring key
motivations, environments, and cause and effect, this book provides
essential perspective as radical nationalist movements have once again
reemerged in many parts of the world.
