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Fritzsche uses diaries, letters, contemporaneous memoirs, and secondary sources to bear witness how ordinary Germans, mostly Gentile but also some Jews, viewed the Third Reich, Hitler'due south policies, and the war, and how they behaved in response. Ane response was to wait away - every bit Jews were being deported, their clothes and property sold and redistributed to non-Jews, or as emaciated prisoners might be glimpsed doing slave labor in one'southward town. Fritzsche shows how the Jews were demonized so thoroughly that Fritzsche uses diaries, letters, contemporaneous memoirs, and secondary sources to show how ordinary Germans, mostly Gentile but likewise some Jews, viewed the Tertiary Reich, Hitler'southward policies, and the war, and how they behaved in response. Ane response was to look away - as Jews were being deported, their apparel and property sold and redistributed to non-Jews, or as emaciated prisoners might be glimpsed doing slave labor in one's boondocks. Fritzsche shows how the Jews were demonized and then thoroughly that many Germans viewed them as the source of all their problems, rather than Hitler's innocent victims. Propaganda taught Germans that if they didn't get rid of the Jews now, while they could, the Jews would get rid of them after; after all, they controlled all the globe's capital, so it was entirely possible.While most Germans probably had no clue of the modern machinery of the extermination camps until the terminate of the war, more knew nigh the pogroms and massacres in the east, such every bit Babi Yar. Soldiers who had taken part in them wrote home, or came home on visits and talked virtually it. One German attitude was "things are very bad for us here at home, so how can we spare any pity for Jews? We're existence persecuted too." And while Hitler himself did lose appeal for some (many?) Germans equally the war got tougher, particularly after the loss at Stalingrad, the Third Reich remained something to cling to. The armed forces and political failures from Versailles through Weimar meant that Germans could envision a prosperous and militarily successful Deutschland without Hitler, only not without Nazism.
This is a very readable history, but the first section is very blandly and boringly written, which is the principal reason for my three-star rating.
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Very well done, well-researched, and engaging book. This book is heavy on the principal sources, extensively taking from firsthand documents written at the fourth dimension of the events, mostly through diaries, journals, messages, speeches, and the similar. It taps into the overarching, bones questions that most everyday people ask when the Tertiary Reich is brought up: "Why?" and "How?" Why did they do the things they did? And, how did "they" convince a whole state to follow forth with it? I'g a huge history buf
Very well washed, well-researched, and engaging volume. This book is heavy on the main sources, extensively taking from firsthand documents written at the time of the events, by and large through diaries, journals, letters, speeches, and the like. Information technology taps into the overarching, basic questions that almost everyday people ask when the Third Reich is brought up: "Why?" and "How?" Why did they practice the things they did? And, how did "they" convince a whole country to follow along with it? I'm a huge history buff and World War Ii researcher. Considering of that, I get asked those two questions a lot by friends/acquaintances that are not greatly schooled on Earth War Ii, and as well by students of mine that genuinely don't empathize how and why such things happened. Granted, there are multifaceted answers to both of these questions, and information technology ordinarily would take me longer than nearly people want to listen for me to adequately attempt to explain the reply to them. It takes a lot of backstory and intertwined stories to even be able to explain fifty-fifty a modest, basic gist of it if you're really wanting a person to sympathise the answers to the questions. In whatever example, this volume is i of the best that I have seen at adequately explaining the reply to those 2 questions while also being concise. It uses micro-examples to assist you better empathise the macro. It also just does a good job of breaking things downwardly and explaining, even for the layman. Information technology does a skillful task of covering pre-war events that help you meliorate empathise the German language mentality of things that happen during the war. A lot of books take a tendency to gloss over or condense a lot of the 1918-1939 events in order to get into the so-called meat of the war. But, in gild to understand World State of war Two (at to the lowest degree the European Theater), you really need to be able to know and sympathise the inter-war years in Germany. The book is also good at explaining and dispelling the mail service-war myths of the then-chosen "clean" Wehrmacht, the "good" Germans vs. the "evil" Nazis, and the "just following orders" and "nosotros didn't know" rhetoric. If you lot're looking for another book that deals with putting to rest those sometime post-state of war myths that were fed to the world by High german citizens, and then read "Hitler'due south Willing Executioners" past Daniel Jonah Goldhagen.
I had really started this book iii years ago. I had gotten through the first of four major sections of the book before misplacing it. We were remodeling our business firm at the time and it got shuffled effectually so much that I lost track of where it was. I was very excited to find it three days agone when I was milling around some things nosotros've had stored. Needless to say, I finished the other three sections very chop-chop. It'south divided into 1. Reviving the Nation, 2. Racial Preparation, 3. Empire of Destruction, and 4. Intimate Knowledge.
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This book has two reading levels for me. Ane, the directly related to the theme. Information technology's an important contribution for the interpretation of ane of the mains events of the 20th century. the back up of Hitler past the Germans earlier and during WW II. The text is clear and well organized and may be enough for the interested reader or may even be a starting indicate for farther reading over this theme.
The 2nd reading level is the personal questioning it implies for the reader regarding other political s This book has two reading levels for me. One, the directly related to the theme. Information technology'southward an of import contribution for the interpretation of i of the mains events of the 20th century. the support of Hitler by the Germans before and during WW II. The text is clear and well organized and may be enough for the interested reader or may even be a starting point for further reading over this theme.
The second reading level is the personal questioning it implies for the reader regarding other political situations, most probably not directly comparable to the one reported. In some way, even in modern democracies, there are situations were political pressure level impinge on the people, trying to brand the public opinion curve to the projects of a few. The German History is an alert for exactly that. ...more
And then BORING but some of the quotes from German people were interesting I approximate.
Very tough volume to get started in. In one case at that place though the author uses everyday German's diaries, boxes of momentos, etc. to found what the average german knew and felt at any detail time during Hitler's reign and the firsthand backwash of World State of war two. People'southward feelings alter from one of exulatation to one of feeling sad for one's self and country. Of course Germany is never actually guilty of much in the optics of the average german of this period and is pushed to practice the things they do as Very tough volume to get started in. Once in that location though the author uses everyday German's diaries, boxes of momentos, etc. to establish what the average german knew and felt at any detail time during Hitler's reign and the firsthand aftermath of World War 2. People's feelings alter from one of exulatation to one of feeling sorry for one's self and country. Of grade Germany is never actually guilty of much in the optics of the boilerplate german of this menses and is pushed to practice the things they do as a defensive posture. The author slices correct through revisionist history which has managed to lay arraign for the Hitler era on a handful of personalities but afterall weren't for the most function giving the people what they wanted. ...more
Both a social history and a determined, patient, compassionate, simply unforgiving attempt to understand why the citizens of Deutschland went along with the Nazis. He used a lot of master sources--diaries and letters--and while many of the diarists were people I'd encountered earlier, some of them weren't, and the way Fritzsche used his material offered me new insights nigh how and why the Third Reich happened. Both a social history and a adamant, patient, empathetic, simply unforgiving endeavour to understand why the citizens of Germany went along with the Nazis. He used a lot of primary sources--diaries and letters--and while many of the diarists were people I'd encountered before, some of them weren't, and the fashion Fritzsche used his material offered me new insights nearly how and why the 3rd Reich happened. ...more
I'm not likely to become dorsum to this... It makes a strong example, on the basis of letters and diaries, for the broad popular support of Nazism in the 1930's, which is what i would expect. It was only the war, and the hardships that it brought in its train, that turned the public abroad from Hitler. A chip dry for my tastes, merely this is largely a function, I think, of the genre. I'chiliad not likely to go back to this... It makes a strong case, on the basis of letters and diaries, for the broad popular support of Nazism in the 1930's, which is what ane would expect. It was only the war, and the hardships that it brought in its train, that turned the public away from Hitler. A bit dry for my tastes, but this is largely a function, I think, of the genre. ...more than
Intense, compelling and and totally upsetting.
This is an emotionally difficult book to read, and I confess I was much relieved to cease information technology. When I bought it, I though this would be a citizen'southward view from within the Reich, and I was darkly curious given the unprecedented state of affairs here in America, what that might look similar. Early on, the author purports to explore the result of denizen collaboration - is it mere conformance or enthusiastic, full on complicity? As the range and scope of hereto inconceivable atrocities expand - "This hor This is an emotionally difficult book to read, and I confess I was much relieved to finish it. When I bought it, I though this would be a citizen'southward view from inside the Reich, and I was darkly curious given the unprecedented state of diplomacy here in America, what that might look like. Early on, the author purports to explore the event of citizen collaboration - is it mere conformance or enthusiastic, full on complicity? Equally the range and scope of hereto inconceivable atrocities expand - "This horror is and then inconceivable that imagination rebels at grasping information technology equally a reality," writes one diarist - the question becomes moot. Rapidly Fritzsche's narrative hits its step, rising by dramatic levels until its appalling climax. It begins with the pogroms: nifty storefronts and torching synagogues isn't enough for the terrorizing mobs - in i case men armed with axes tempest into Jewish home, assaulting the family unit, dishes smashed to the last piece, property destroyed - a scene so horrifying that the male parent dies of a centre attack on the spot.
Subsequently the author'due south curtailed descriptions and chilling selections from diaries darkly portray the wholesale slaughter of whole Jewish families and communities in Poland and behind the front lines in Russia, including a scene from Babi Yar, (notably the subject field of Shostakovich's 13th Symphony) in Kiev. Jewish residents, mainly the elderly, women and children lured out by German signage to be resettled elsewhere, are instead stripped down of their clothing and possessions before beingness slaughtered wholesale, but not before they take hold of sight of the dead bodies in the ravine below them, grimly foreshadowing their own imminent demise.
Nosotros're even more than familiar with the industrialized extermination camps where "showers" are really gas chambers and bodies are cremated nearby - Auschwitz-Birkenau campsite had the chapters to murder 10,000 people a solar day (!) merely that doesn't really spare u.s.a. from the author's unflinching clarity as he recounts details nosotros'd rather forget. Of course that's rather the point - it's enshrined in the original motto "never forget" a spooky reminder as we witness a global upsurge in all the varieties of dehumanization: nationalism, antisemitism, sectarianism and racism.
...more Astounding. This is the most insightful book on German fascism and the Holocaust I have read withal. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking to gain a deeper agreement of the worst side of human nature. Much of the volume is nausea inducing and difficult to tum. The second half of the book (with its focus on the Holocaust and genocide more than by and large) captured the horror of these atrocities then vividly that information technology made me want to vomit. Reading Life and Death in the Third Reich is in
Astounding. This is the nearly insightful book on German fascism and the Holocaust I have read notwithstanding. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the worst side of human nature. Much of the volume is nausea inducing and difficult to stomach. The second half of the book (with its focus on the Holocaust and genocide more mostly) captured the horror of these atrocities and then vividly that it made me want to vomit. Reading Life and Death in the Third Reich is in many ways similar visiting a Holocaust museum, in the sense that it is a difficult but immensely important learning feel.
One of the most important takeaways from this volume, in my view, is the fact that fear tends to play a central role in producing the worst human behavior. The emergence, development, and atrocities of Nazism were shaped not merely by megalomania, dehumanizing rhetoric, bullheaded obedience, and the hypnotism of Hitler's charisma, but past the fear that German language society was on the brink of extinction.
As soon equally Germans came to believe that their society was fundamentally threatened past a wide array of internal and external enemies, they could come up to comprehend a radical "solution" (Nazism) that promised to protect German society and make information technology strong enough to save the German customs from extinction. And one time Germans had bought into the notion that their guild was trapped in an existential struggle for survival and domination, whatever and all beliefs confronting the perceived enemies of German language guild came to appear not only necessary, merely justified. The fear that German order was on the brink of extinction played a central office in producing the calamity that was German fascism.
This book is an immensely valuable read. 5/five
...more than I'yard not the biggest WWII buff, so there were a lot of things here that I was completely unaware of and enjoyed learning about. Peculiarly, I idea Fritzsche'southward argument that the broad High german want for a "Volksgemeinschaft," and the Nazis purported deliverance of it, enabled the Nazi regime to win pop support was critically important. Earlier reading the book I had some ambiguous notions of why ordinary Germans supported the regime, only I was unaware of Volksgemeinschaft. This was probably I'm not the biggest WWII vitrify, so there were a lot of things here that I was completely unaware of and enjoyed learning about. Particularly, I thought Fritzsche's argument that the broad German desire for a "Volksgemeinschaft," and the Nazis purported deliverance of it, enabled the Nazi government to win popular back up was critically of import. Before reading the book I had some ambiguous notions of why ordinary Germans supported the regime, simply I was unaware of Volksgemeinschaft. This was probably my biggest takeaway of the book. I likewise enjoyed Fritzsche'due south use of diaries to elucidate the history of reactions to the Nazi regime. Past using the diaries, Fritzsche was able to show German reactions to Nazi decision-making in "real time." While it was not entirely surprising that there were diarists, like Klemperer, who were critical of the regime, it was all the same refreshing to read the diaries.
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This had potential, but Fritzsche's frequent contradictions weakened his case. His argument was that Germany was entirely responsible for the Nazi Regime and the Holocaust. The physical evidence is quite damning. However, he kept seeming to apologizing for the "practiced" Germans at almost every plow. Yeah, some German gentiles did some courageous things just virtually willingly went forth with Hitler. That was the truth. Let'southward not whitewash the Nazi era and the Holocaust. Germany was responsible for it. Fr This had potential, but Fritzsche's frequent contradictions weakened his case. His argument was that Germany was entirely responsible for the Nazi Regime and the Holocaust. The physical prove is quite damning. However, he kept seeming to apologizing for the "good" Germans at almost every turn. Aye, some German gentiles did some courageous things only most willingly went forth with Hitler. That was the truth. Let's not whitewash the Nazi era and the Holocaust. Germany was responsible for it. Fritzsche should not accept to be apologetic for telling the truth. I liked the previous book I read about Germans and the Holocaust because the author, who is High german by the way. made no bones about what happened. ...more
A bit disjointed - more than like a serial of essays than a tightly argued narrative - Fritzsche notwithstanding makes an important contribution to the literature of agreement how Germans accepted the Nazi government and the crimes done in their names. The latter chapters on the Holocaust were not necessarily novel, just the first chapter - on how the Nazis presented themselves as the answer to a decade of political anarchy - made the book worthwhile entirely on its own.
Very interesting. Examines the human relationship between the Nazis and the Germans. Generally engaging and interesting through the book. I would read information technology once more. Fritzsche Gas a great understanding of the Holocaust and the Nazi Reich. Very thought provoking and intense. I learned a lot from this volume.
Covers the field of study of the title. Very depressing. Even so doesn't explicate how a whole, supposedly decent, nation went mad, which is what I was hoping for Covers the subject of the title. Very depressing. Still doesn't explain how a whole, supposedly decent, nation went mad, which is what I was hoping for ...more
Super interesting topic, but the book was so boring! I was expecting it to be more than of a story, but it was basically merely similar reading a textbook.
Anyone who thinks wearing a mask/getting vaccinated is equivalent to Nazi Germany needs to read this book. And everyone else should read it too.
Read this since it was assigned reading for a college course. Was pleasantly surprised at how proficient it was and how well it explained the workings of the Third Reich.
This review has been subconscious because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Just started reading the book. It is what I had both discovered and suspected about this subject. As a Navajo who has always live around the white people. There had always been a blank spot effectually them that I could experience but non know. Yet, slowly I had begun to place the pieces together. This book along with Goldhagens' and many others that I have read has described, finally assembled a recognizable structure of the white people.
Having been attacked repeatedly by them I had many reasons to wond But started reading the book. Information technology is what I had both discovered and suspected about this bailiwick. As a Navajo who has always live effectually the white people. There had ever been a bare spot around them that I could feel simply not know. Yet, slowly I had begun to place the pieces together. This book along with Goldhagens' and many others that I have read has described, finally assembled a recognizable structure of the white people.
Having been attacked repeatedly by them I had many reasons to wonder who they where. Here in this book are some of the answers that I was wondering most. The thing with them is that they put up a screen about themselves that obscures who they actually are. By identifying the ideological mechanisms of what occured in Federal republic of germany the author has pulled away the covers over what they where actually all about.
The thing is this is a living history. What was washed to the Jews had already been practiced against the American Tribes. It is withal going on under innocuous sounding labels or sweet sounding excuses. Only when the Whites theaten you with death or serious beatings or when I or someone I knew was assaulted did I begin to seriously await at their ideologies and the actions that menstruum from them.
And then, this volume finally gives some light to their violent, angry racism. Unlike others I know WWII as a religious war. (The code discussion for invading the USSR was the name of a Christian crusader.) Every bit well, Hitler describes his vision of how Germany will deal with the "East" with a clarification of how the United States used its' political sub-divisions to split up and destroy the Indian nations.
The Whites today think of themselves every bit benign and practiced. Exactly the way the Germans convinced themselves that they were in the book. History is living not expressionless. The carry of the Germans in the xxx's and 40'due south is the conduct of the White peoples in the countries they have subjugate and colonized today. Hitler would be proud of what he would meet in America today.
The political 'double speak' that the Nazis practiced then is widely accepted every bit truth today. The wonder and facsination is that it is so easily believed by and then many. I had come up to this subject with the feelings that something was in the way of a total agreement of what the Nazis were all almost. With this book and others it slowly becomes articulate that they are/were no greater than an extension of the sometime Christian-European rules of conquest, empire, greed and war. The Germans aren't something dissimilar than other Europeans just more than of the aforementioned vicious grab for power. Here you lot know that it is not the "end of history" simply only more of the same. That bit of a misleading is more than fume to hide another round of bloody "settlement" and "culture". ...more
What I found almost compelling about this book was its dedication to analysing not just the thinking of the most virulent Nazi fanatics merely also that of the broader High german population throughout WWII. One of the most incomprehensible - and consequently one of the most preoccupying - factors of this state of war was its sheer calibration, non merely in the amount of people who died simply also in the numbers who participated in or orchestrated the killings. Fritzsche here provides accounts from numerous diaries, memoir What I found nigh compelling about this book was its dedication to analysing not only the thinking of the virtually virulent Nazi fanatics but also that of the broader German population throughout WWII. One of the most incomprehensible - and consequently one of the nearly preoccupying - factors of this war was its sheer calibration, not only in the corporeality of people who died just too in the numbers who participated in or orchestrated the killings. Fritzsche here provides accounts from numerous diaries, memoirs and other primary sources in such a mode as to make it frighteningly intelligible only how and why and so many were persuaded to participate in these atrocities. He too demonstrates just how circuitous and often self-enlightened High german interest in the Holocaust was, and the varying emotions with which different individuals regarded the Nazi party. What is perchance the almost disturbing are the clear parallels which can be seen between Nazi propaganda and some of the political rhetoric with which we are all simply too familiar in the 21st century. A definite must-read for anyone interested in the flow who has never been able to quite get their head effectually the "why" of the Shoah as well as the "what," the "when" and the "how." ...more
This is the first Holocaust literature that I've read where information technology discusses the Nazi policies, their agenda and how and why they endorsed these outrageous demands and cruelty. The writer starts from the early 1930's through 1945, using numerous diaries, letters from the front and other primary sources. The author lets the people of Frg tell much of the tale and it's a huge piece of coverage…an historical account to the nth degree. It is the story of how Hitler came to power and then much telling This is the beginning Holocaust literature that I've read where it discusses the Nazi policies, their calendar and how and why they endorsed these outrageous demands and cruelty. The writer starts from the early 1930'due south through 1945, using numerous diaries, letters from the front and other principal sources. The author lets the people of Frg tell much of the tale and it'southward a huge piece of coverage…an historical account to the nth caste. It is the story of how Hitler came to power and and so much telling about how the Germans reacted, their complicity, their lives during this time, and their lack of power, as well. The writer takes a wholly objective approach to the subject which is always appreciated past the reader. I recommend this volume to anyone interested in the events of that time flow, history buffs, and serious and coincidental students of the 3rd Reich. The heed fix of the individuals is arresting if not truly contemptible. 3/14/2011 ...more
Peter Fritzsche offers an interesting and compelling book almost the transformation of a nation into Nazis in just over twelve years. Fritzche uses journals and letters of citizens and soliders in Nazi Federal republic of germany to show the slow merely gradual conversion to National Socialism. Fritzsche likewise uses various pieces of journals and letters from both German and Polish Jews to try to convey to the reader the absolute terror the Jews faced later on 9 Nov 1938. With these documents, Fritzsceis is able to exp Peter Fritzsche offers an interesting and compelling book about the transformation of a nation into Nazis in only over twelve years. Fritzche uses journals and letters of citizens and soliders in Nazi Frg to show the irksome but gradual conversion to National Socialism. Fritzsche besides uses various pieces of journals and letters from both German language and Shine Jews to effort to convey to the reader the absolute terror the Jews faced after 9 November 1938. With these documents, Fritzsceis is able to explicate the ascent of the Nazi party, the development of what would become Hitler'south Aryan race, the destruction of the Jewish community and Eastern Europe, and the collapse of the Third Reich. Without the bystander accounts of these events, Fritzsche'south book would not have the same impact equally information technology does. ...more
Enlightening and comprehensive account of the attitudes and complicity of the German citizens (military and civilian alike) before, during,and afterwards WWII. Pretty chilling to understand how they could become so accepting and/or blind when it came to the atrocities being carried out against the Jewish population right in forepart of their faces. But 3 stars because the timeline and locations jump all around, all the time, and I would take appreciated some overviews and charts laying out those terrif
Enlightening and comprehensive account of the attitudes and complicity of the German citizens (military and noncombatant alike) before, during,and later WWII. Pretty spooky to understand how they could become so accepting and/or blind when it came to the atrocities being carried out against the Jewish population right in front of their faces. But iii stars because the timeline and locations jump all effectually, all the fourth dimension, and I would have appreciated some overviews and charts laying out those terrifying statistics (3 meg Jews murdered in Poland in 1942, for example) in an easier-to -read format.
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A surprisingly excellent critical reconfiguration of the 3rd Reich's history, masquerading every bit however-some other full general survey. For all its brevity and relative accessibility (this is probably grad educatee curricula material), Fritzsche forwards a number of evocative new interpretations that well-nigh always left me shaking my head in agreement. Thoroughly enjoyable read. A surprisingly excellent disquisitional reconfiguration of the Third Reich'southward history, masquerading as all the same-another general survey. For all its brevity and relative accessibility (this is probably grad student curricula material), Fritzsche forwards a number of evocative new interpretations that almost always left me shaking my head in understanding. Thoroughly enjoyable read. ...more
This volume is based, in part, on the diarists of the Tertiary Reich, such as Victor Klemperer. It is very readable, but needs to be taken in small portions due to the intensity of the cloth. Though I take read quite a chip about this topic, there were amazing insights here. I recommend this scholarly work to anyone, no matter what their depth of knowledge on the Third Reich and the Holocaust.
If you have e'er wondered, "Did the German peoples know what was happening during the Nazi regime?" If so, you will discover the answer to this question inside this book. Using chief sources, Fritzsche shows that the German peoples were walking the lines betwixt life and decease while in the 3rd Reich. This was a great read, highly recommend information technology. Required class text.
A well-written study of German attitudes toward Nazi racial policies. It concentrates on how people tried to rationalize their knowledge (admittedly very incomplete) of deportment that would accept been unthinkable in the pre-nazi era.
this almost sums it up: ""fifty-fifty after the state of war, more people identified with the overall program of National Socialism than with Hitler himself. Historians have been uncomfortable with the proposition that nigh Germans desired the Nazis" 37 this well-nigh sums it up: ""even after the war, more people identified with the overall program of National Socialism than with Hitler himself. Historians take been uncomfortable with the proposition that virtually Germans desired the Nazis" 37 ...more than
So many other books accept covered this subject soooo much better.
Yet another proposition from a Western Civilization professor (unlike 1 from The Western Way of State of war), and yet another good history book.
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