Hitler 1889-1936: Hubris

It probably goes without saying that every American citizen should read at least one critical biography of Adolf Hitler over the course of a lifetime. It is hard to conceive of anyone who has influenced American life, foreign policy, and human sensitivities more than Hitler in our own times. There are past and prospective readers of this work who fought the War that he essentially started and fueled, and very few American families are untouched by his legacy of destruction.Given his place in history, detested as that may be, it would be hard to cite a better biographical sketch of Der Fuhrer than that of Professor Ian Kershaw of the University of Sheffield in England. We all know that Hitler was bad. Kershaw takes us for a two-volume excursion that explains, as well as anyone can, how he became bad and how his evil was allowed to ferment, verily to thrive, when others in power could have squashed him.The first volume traces Hitler's life up to and including the German reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1937, a daring but bloodless military foray that left both the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations in tatters. One might suspect that Hitler's flaunting of international law might have been halted midstream by the appropriate checks and balances of German government, business, the military and popular opinion. Obviously, this did not happen. The genius of this volume, in my view, is Kershaw's penetrating analysis of the national conditions of German life and politics that carried Hitler's agenda to fruition, at ultimately terrible cost.Alois Schicklgruber changed his name to Alois Hitler in 1876, thirteen years before the birth of his son Adolf in 1889. [Heil Schicklgruber?] There are hints in "Mein Kampf" and other sources that Adolf Hitler's overbearing mother was unable to protect him from his father's physical outbursts of anger, though materially the family was comfortable. His secondary school reports describe him as an unmotivated underachiever, and he seems to have left formal schooling with enthusiasm only for history. In his late teens and early adult years Hitler lived an existence described by Kershaw as "parasitic idleness," drawing from inheritances and fancying himself an artist. In actuality he was refused admission on multiple occasions to institutes of advanced artistic training.When his money ran out, Hitler gravitated to Vienna and painted postcards. He was something of a beer hall bum who worked only enough to survive in a public shelter and pontificate with other down and outers on issues of the day. Kershaw describes in vivid detail the social and political currents of Austria at the time. Nostalgic/apocalyptic pan-Germanic dreams, anti-Semitism, quirky eugenics theories, an uneven economy, and general frustration with ineffectual bureaucratic government led to the rise of energetic but scattered right wing political movements prior to World War I. Bombarded by but very congenial to such influences, Hitler's political philosophy of German preeminence began to form, and the outbreak of international hostilities seemed to galvanize and energize him.Hitler volunteered for military service in Munich [though legally he was required to do so in Austria and barely escaped prison.] He served primarily as a messenger to the front lines, an unglamorous but respectable tour of duty, and at one point he was temporarily blinded in the line of duty. After hostilities ceased, a thoroughly demoralized Hitler was ordered to work as a teacher in a program to indoctrinate German soldiers to the dangers of Bolshevism, now a major threat to Germany's east in the wake of the Russian Revolution. In actuality such indoctrination was a closet rallying of German nationalism in the military under the restrictions of Versailles. Hitler surprised himself, and many of his influential superiors, with his rhetorical prowess. Throwing his lot with the German Workers Party, a collection of right wing militarists/socialists, Hitler gained national recognition as a spokesman of discontent with the economy and post war shame. His message was hardly unique, though-72 other such parties crowded for influence.In 1921 he became his own party's leader, and in this capacity led a 1923 ill-timed and poorly conceived revolt against the sitting Reich government known today as the "Beer Hall Putsch" [named for its place of proclamation, not conception.] Kershaw examines the Putsch as a prime example of the way that Hitler himself was used by discontented men of influence from a variety of interest groups. By rights the Putsch should have cost Hitler his life-a treasonous act that killed several. But before a sympathetic judge, Hitler used his trial-with the judge's compliance-as a national podium to articulate his vision of a reformed and restored Germany. Here he broke ahead of the pack of other like-minded rivals for national influence. He received a ludicrously brief prison sentence in quarters that allowed him to write, receive and entertain guests, and continue to expand his political influence. After release, he was banned from speaking for a time [outdoors!] Any chance to beard the lion by the state was now lost forever.Hitler's nationalist party, easily the loudest of Germany's political parties in the early 1930's, never captured more than a third of the popular vote, but on January 30, 1933, with Hindenburg's government in crisis, Hitler himself wrangled the position of Chancellor, second only to Hindenburg. Upon Hindenburg's death in 1934 he seized full control of the government, with the help of extensive street violence and a propaganda machine second to none. Immensely popular with the masses, he embraced wholesale rearmament and survived the resulting economic upheaval by the dramatic Rhineland venture.Kershaw discusses Hitler's notorious anti-Semitism at considerable length, though at the conclusion of this first volume there are no clear indications of the genocide that lie ahead. Hitler spoke of segregation and exportation of Jews in private and public addresses and diplomatic meetings through 1937. The death camps, with many other horrors, were not in focus just yet.

This is the first book of a two volume biography of Adolf Hitler. This is an outstanding pair, although the first volume is better than the second. This first book covers the period from Hitler's birth in 1889 up to the reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1936; the second the period from 1936 until the end of WWII. This pair (but particularly the first volume) is more than just a biography of Hitler: Kershaw also weaves a detailed synthesis of how and why the Nazis came to power in Germany. It is the latter aspect that really gives this pair enduring value. As a biography, little new ground is covered, but as a description (and interpretation) of events, particularly between the wars, that led to Hitler and the Nazis taking power, this book may be unparalleled.This is a well written, engaging book, and although dense and packed with information, is quite readable. All of the major events of Hilter's early life are described (to the extent that specifics are known) including his early life and family, his aspirations of becoming an art student and life in Vienna, and his service in WWI. It is after this introductory material where the real meat lies. Much of the rest of the book is spent describing the political machinations of Hitler and the German Worker's party (NSDAP) as they transform themselves from a fringe ultra-nationalist party after WWI to seizing (or being given) power approximately 15 years later. Kershaw outlines how the combination of cold calculation, ruthless action, indecision and hesitation by opponents, and simple luck all worked toward Hitler becoming the Fuhrer of Germany. Many other aspect of Hitler's life and events surrounding his life are described including his time in prison, writing Mein Kampf, his relationship with Geli Raubal, and the destruction of Ernst Rohm and the SA.There are several individual points of interest brought up by Kershaw that I think are particularly compelling. First, Kershaw argues that while both Hitler and the Nazi party were products of their time, neither would have achieved their positions without the other. In particular, national socialism probably would not have become a serious political force in post-WWI Germany without the demagogic oratory of Hitler, but Hitler was also a product of his times and reflected the hopes and desires of a larger group.Second, I found it interesting that the National Socialists (and the right-wing ultranationalists in general) were looking toward a military dictatorship immediately after WWI. They viewed themselves as preparing the way for a military hero from WWI to seize power, probably Ludendorff, and `save' Germany. It wasn't until the mid-20s that Hitler really started to view himself as this leader. Hitler's fervent belief and fiery oratory made it simple for him to step into this role, there were already a large group of followers waiting for the leader.Third, another theme that Kershaw pursues is the idea of the `Fuhrer Cult'. Once the Nazis became a national political force, there was a clear effort to paint a very positive image of Hitler, one of a great leader above politics who has the good of the country at heart and therefore should be trusted and not questioned. The picture of the postcard `The Fuhrer as animal lover' is just ludicrious.Overall, this is an outstanding book. If you are looking for a biography of Hitler coupled with a clear explanation of how and why he and the National Socialists came to power in Germany, this book is what you are looking for. This is a scholarly book, so it is rather dense, but well written and compelling. It is easy to read and well worth the money.

The author, Ian Kershaw, an acknowledged expert on Adolf Hitler, has written a two-part history of the man. This book is the first half of a two part series, and covers: Hitler's birth, youth, time spent in Vienna, his move to Germany, his time in the German Army, his move into politics, his putsch attempt, imprisonment, his improbable recovery, rise to power, and the reoccupation of the Rhineland.The author carefully unpicks the mythology that Hitler created about his own life, and the lies told in Mein Kampf. It is unlikely that a better history will ever be written on the subject.

THIS IS AN THE BEST RESEARCHED BOOK on Hitlers early life , NEMESIS ,the time he was in power. The geezer was a raging nutter but we all know that.........this book explains hjs early begging's as a spoilt brat to his time as leader. The second book is just as brilliant and worth reading , but I found this one that bit more interesting since most books on the **** are just about his time after the first world war. He was complete and utter hate filled nutter who found power in all the sycophants he found flocking round him......ALLWAYS QUESTION AUTHORITY

I enjoyed reading this book very much, I would have given it four and a half stars if I could.It is the first book about Hitler I have read, having avoided the subject of the Third Reich, despite a deep interest in history, for many years.I found it very interesting especially in that Kershaw suggests that while Hitler was a man of many talents, the development of Germany in the twenties and thirties was not, of course, solely down to his influence. Germany, he argues, had an appetite for totalitarian rule and anti-semitism was already highly developed. Having said that, while Kershaw documents prejudice against Jews mainly because of their success in business, he does not offer any in depth analysis of this. Nor for that matter does he offer any history of the Weimar republic, nor of Germany at all except in as much as it relates directly to Hitler. This is not a criticism but it is a limitation. A biographer might reasonably not expect to have to provide any more background than is strictly necessary to tell his tale of a personal development, but if you lack that historical knowledge you will have to go elsewhere to find it.Kershaw makes it clear from the information he provides that Hitler was a man of profound oratorical gifts, and also a man with supreme political instinct and timing who almost infallibly knew how to ride the waves of feeling in Germany. Perhaps, if you like, he was in tune with the national Zeitgeist. However I felt that Kershaw at times wanted to underplay Hitler's talents and call him lucky, I wasn't sure if he was being strictly honest in doing so, perhaps he was anxious not to be seen to be praising Hitler in any way.If you are unsure whether to buy this book I urge you to read the reviews on Amazon.com. As if often the case they are far more lucid and well-informed than those on this site in my opinion.

I read the one volume shorter version a decade ago and reading the two volume version I am still impressed with Kershaw's take on the Third Reich through the prism of Adolf Hitler. I have always been nervous about any focus upon specific individuals (Caesar, Cromwell, Napoleon, Stalin etc)But Kershaw consistently addresses both thec strengths and weaknesses of biography.

Essential in depth analysis that complements Kershaws second part 'Nemesis'. It also sits well as a companion book to William L. Shirers 'Rise & Fall of the Third Reich'. Its a 'Go To' purchase for those studying this period in history and the forces that created Hitler and allowed his philisophy and message to prosper. Lessons still not learned to this day.