World War II was the focal point of the 20th century; without a deep understanding of this momentous conflict, we would not be able to comprehend either Hitler’s Weltanschauung or the post-war era and the subsequent division of Germany and Europe. Despite countless previous studies, this book closes a significant gap in scholarship of the period by delivering succinct and focussed answers to the most fundamental questions.
Was the Second World War a continuation of the First? Why did the Allies misjudge Hitler for so long? How did this European conflict become a global war, how did this affect the Holocaust and what role did the German army play in its horrors? And why did Germans follow their Führer into the abyss?
Reuth’s exploration of the irrational nature of German politics explains why World War II developed into a conflict like no other before or since. His compellingly concise book delivers a panoramic perspective that reveals the roots of World War II, how it unfolded and why its effects are still felt to this day.
