The Coming of the Third Reich

Written by Richard J. Evans

Narrated by Sean Pratt

There is no story in twentieth-century history more important to understand than Hitler's rise to power and the collapse of civilization in Nazi Germany. With The Coming of the Third Reich, Richard Evans, one of the world's most distinguished historians, has written the definitive account for our time. A masterful synthesis of a vast body of scholarly work integrated with important new research and interpretations, Evans's history restores drama and contingency to the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazis, even as it shows how ready Germany was by the early 1930s for such a takeover to occur. The Coming of the Third Reich is a masterwork of the historian's art and the book by which all others on the subject will be judged.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ascent Audio
• Release date: Jan 20, 2010
• ISBN: 9781596595163

Reviews for The Coming of the Third Reich

[hadriantheblind · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Important survey of how a society as brilliant yet troubled as Germany could succumb to the threat of Nazism. Evans believes that German militarism and economic catastrophe made an extremist takeover inevitable, with only too disastrous effects for the world.

[iwpoe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful. This book is by far the most interesting and informative general survey of the rise of the Third Reich I've ever encountered. It avoids pedantic moralization and takes Nazi ideas seriously in such a way that the reader is able to judge for themselves the political ethos of Germany at the time.Also, I would like to add that the prior review by gmicksmith is entirely insane (particularly given that, nearly two years later, nothing like what he's predicting panned out) and is, unfortunately, an example of a very common misuse of history (both on the left and the right). What happens is that people take the old adage "history repeats itself" far too literally and, building upon one or a few similarities, they look for the recurrence of a formally equivalent scenario. We don't usually see that at all. History is only cyclical in the sense that historic potentialities can be retrieved: we can take a second look at democracy after Greece and Rome and "do it again" in a sense, but when we found the American Republic, we should not be on the lookout for Julius Caesar himself nor even from someone, say President Obama, who will perform formally equivalent deeds. History isn't the execution of certain programmatic commands on a platform: we're not running the democracy operating system and Hitler, Bush, or Obama aren't all the same application running again under different names.To say it again in a more traditional form: The study of history hooks you up with a consciousness of how different possibilities can work out: it is a repository of human possibilities. It is *not* a catalog of human actualities.Indeed, I think this book has numerous examples of the bad use of history I'm bringing out. The mythologization of Bismarck and then the subsequent search for a strong uncompromising leader to "do what he did" detailed by Evans was problematic not only because it worked with a mythologized history but also because it treated history as a catalog of types or programs which can be found and executed in the present in the very same way they were executed in the past: it sees that A B C D happened in the past and it searches for A again in the certainty that B C and D will follow. That kind of certainty only makes sense if A (the historic individual) is treated as a thing which necessitates the series A B C D: sort of like the strong correlation between 'Water hitting boiling point' and 'water boils' or the necessary correlation between 'All As are Bs' 'All Bs are Cs' and 'All As are Cs', but historic individuals are complexes entirely unlike any of these simple examples. We can reason historically, and use historic example, but we don't get anything like the strong correlation of 'water at boiling point & water boiling' or the necessary deduction of the syllogism. Too much is going on in a thing like Hitler to treat him like 'Water reaching the boiling point' never mind to try and superimpose that logic on top of another complex thing like, say, Obama in order to predict similar results. History *does not* do that, sorry, and if there *are* basic laws of history, they don't look like that.

[jorgearanda_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This, the first volume of Evans' history of the Third Reich, tracks its rise to power from the fringes of German society. It's an absorbing and nearly impeccable book, written for the general public but without compromising the complexity of the story.

[pajarita_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

......................................This work of history takes on the task, in the author’s words: “to recount the Nazi’s rise to power through a combination of electoral success and massive political violence”. It also sets out to clarify “how the Nazis managed to establish a one-party dictatorship in Germany within a very short space of time, and with seemingly little real resistance from the German people.” In this it does an admirable job. I, for one, have many times puzzled over the moral and philosophical quandaries presented by the existence and early “success” of the Nazis in 20th century Germany. The Germans that produced Brecht and Kant, Goethe and Hesse, Beethoven and Bach also produced and developed Hitler and the Nazis and Buchenwald and Auschwitz. I’d hoped that a well-written and well-documented history, such as this book, would help me to better understand questions that are, after all, more metaphysical, ontological, and moral--than historical. But I think that the eternal puzzles posed by any essentially metaphysical or moral question always seem to present “answers” that are so enigmatic, contradictory, and frightening that one is frequently left with a feeling of deep dissatisfaction, fear, and confusion. That, unfortunately, is my problem here. Richard Evans has indeed produced a formidable work. It is well presented, well documented, and fills a seriously needed gap in modern historical writing. It is not difficult reading; and it clearly places the Nazi’s rise to power in the context of European and World Historical Events of the early twentieth century. It provides an almost step-by-step recounting of each of the events that not only made the Nazi’s rise to power possible, but almost inevitable. Many of my own questions surrounding the facts of importance, such as the Reichstag Fire, are dissected and displayed for “viewing”. This is a service to the historical record that is difficult to overestimate. And, perhaps, my hope for answers to those metaphysical questions have been confused in my own mind by my hope to better know the chronology of the events as well as facts as they are able to be known. This is a result of a confusion between the metaphysical and the physical. But the chronology is not the same as the cause. Ontogeny does not really recapitulate phylogeny as expressed in that now discredited theory. In other words one cannot really understand the “cosmic why” of an event by knowing the when of an event. This is why this work is so dissatisfying to me through no flaw in the considerable talents of Richard Evans.But if a better understanding of the historical record, and the economic tensions of the times, and the historical background of the German peoples’ predispositions, and the pandemic political climate afflicting post-World War One Germany, etc. is your goal—then you can hardly do better than this very admirable work.But if you want to understand better why we as humans can behave in an organized, barbaric, racist, and criminally political fashion—then maybe God can tell us. But maybe even He (She) doesn’t know.

[wildbill_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first volume in a three volume series. The author has succeeded in writing a comprehensive history that in my opinion will replace The Rise and Fall of The Third Reich as the most authoritative source for an horrific and fascinating era. This book can easily be read by the general audience with little knowledge of the topic and at the same time is full of detail based upon the extensive research shown in eighty pages of footnotes and a fifty page bibliography. The author's analysis of the factors that brought the Third Reich into power is best part of his achievement.The book begins with a discussion of the unification of Germany in 1871. This was brought about by Bismarck whose conservative nationalism set the tone for German politics for years to come. The author shows how these ideas served as the foundation for the Third Reich.The humiliation of the German defeat in World War I was an important factor in the rise of the Nazis to power. I have always thought it was significant that when Germany signed the armistice in 1918 there were no foreign troops on German soil. The German people never felt that they had been defeated and the myth of the "November criminals" and the "stab in the back" crippled the legitimacy of the Wiemar Republic from it's beginning.Beginning with the Spartacist uprising in 1919 Germany experienced a series of crises until the end of the Wiemar Republic in 1933. In 1923 French and Belgian troops occupied the leading industrial district because Germany had fallen behind on reparation payments. The inflation that began mildly in 1918 became hyperinflation by 1923. The price of a rail ticket could go up while you stood in line. The Great Depression devastated the German economy. The growth of the German economy had been based on borrowing and when there was no money to borrow the economy collapsed.Beginning in the early 1920's the Nazis had a simple message. Down with the Wiemar Republic, overthrow the Versailles Treaty, make Germany strong again. The Nazis opposed the Communist Party who gained strength in Germany from the ranks of the poor. Beginning in 1930 the country was in constant crisis. The governments of the Republic ruled by Presidential decree further weakening the process of democratic government.The last third of the book is a detailed narrative of how the Nazis came to power. In the elections of 1930 and 1932 extremist parties, Communists and Nazis gained seats while those in the center lost. All during this time violence increased as the political parties bully boys engaged in pitched battles in the streets. The government was disintegrating and President von Hindenburg, a relic from World War I, allowed his cronies to rule by decree. On January 30, 1933 Franz von Papen persuaded von Hindenburg to form a government with Hitler as Chancellor. The conservative nationalists planned to manipulate Hitler and use the power of the Nazis.On February 27, 1933 Marinus van der Lubbe a young Dutch construction worker, who was quite insane, set fire to the Reichstag. The Nazis portrayed this as an act of the Communists and Hitler used it to grab for power. Immediately a decree was signed and the stormtroopers and SS took over the streets of Germany. The Communists were outlawed and when the jails became full the first concentration camp at Dachau was created to hold the excess prisoners. One more election without the Communists and on March 23, 1933 an Enabling Act was passed by the Reichstag and Hitler became the dictator of Germany. The Nazis became the sole political power in Germany. As the book ends they are imposing their ideology upon the country.In his summing up the author shows how the elites in Germany were predisposed to accept the nationalistic ideas of the Nazi Party. The Nazis were a party of protest. From the end of World War I and throughout the period of the Weimar Republic the German people felt humiliated and betrayed. They still sought their "place in the sun" and that is what Hitler and the Nazis promised them.This was an excellent book. The author told a fascinating story with great skill. He artfully portrayed the tension and suspense of the final days of the Nazi takeover.

[narboink · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a deftly constructed, comprehensive survey of German history from approximately the First World War to the ascension of Hitler as chancellor in 1933. Writing for the general reader with little or no familiarity with the subject, Evans has set out to synthesize a variety of historical perspectives in the existing literature on the subject. The consequence is a welcome achievement. If nothing else, this compendium ("The Coming of the Third Reich" is the first of three books in a narrative series) promises to provide a calmer, more studious and comprehensive alternative to William Shirer's classic tome, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich." Evans constructs a clear, persuasive account of the Nazi's rise to power that contextualizes and explains (rather than dismisses) certain misconceptions and displaced emphases of prior histories. It is often alleged that the simplest explanation of a phenomenon is often the correct one, and Evans' telling of the political complexities of the Weimar Republic tends to reinforce the truth of this axiom. Abstract theorizing on the nature of evil gives way to a cold (and profoundly sad) reality: dictatorship and war would likely have occurred even in the absence of Hitler and his Nazi machine. This is not a book about Hitler, or the Weimar Republic, or the culpability of any specific segment of the German population; it is, instead, a panoramic history that touches on a multitude of causal factors in the story of the Third Reich. As a popular history, it's hard not to view it as the best - and perhaps most definitive - overview on the subject. I highly recommend it.

[fist_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating read. Very well-researched, well-written, without ever losing momentum. "The Weimar Republic" would actually have been a more accurate title (but would probably have attracted less of a readership). How a democracy can be undermined from within by anti-democratic elements, and how well-meaning citizens and politicians let it happen. One is reminded of certain contemporary politicians who obviously must have studied this period closely, because they are copying many of the exact same mechanisms that were used to make citizens dislike democracy and to bring these politicians to power (I'm talking about you, Silvio, and yes, you Rita V.)

[piefuchs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first of a trilogy and I can't wait to get to the other two. The book is partially organized thematically, so you an idea of the growth of Nazism in areas outside of politics. He does an admirable job of desctibing multiple facets involved in the rise of Nazism, and in detaililng the true origins of the party - as urban thugs. Literal fight nights. It is a cry for the end of slippery slope complanancy. Rather than adopting a singualar argument for Hitler's success, Evans details each contributing factors. In the process he killed a number of myths I was a told in high school. Absolutely worth the effort.

[schmerguls · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first volume of a trilogy on the Third Reich. It is expertly done, and the author ahs a sure command of his subject. But one cannot really enjoy the reading since it is so doleful and sad. That I suppose is why I will have to read the next two volumes--so I can enjoy the destruction the Nazi evildoers.

[5hrdrive · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book brilliantly answers the question, "Just how did the Nazi's come to power?" The answer surprised me in many ways. It lost some steam for a while there in the latter third of the book, but picked up again at the end. Very glad to have read this.

[moonswanni · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

How did the Nazis establish a dictatorship with such little resistance? This is the question Evans answers in the first volume of his highly acclaimed trilogy.

The main point the author makes is Hitler didn't happen in a vacuum. Evans wants the reader to understand the Nazis were a product of the times. Antisemitism, paramilitaries, radical groups, extreme nationalism, and violence were fairly common at the time. Evans presents these ideas well with the exception of one - antisemitism. Evans doesn't really explain why the Germans accepted antisemistim. Granted he gives a few reasons, but he doesn't really analyze the subject. I also thought the details on the German Empire and World War I were thin. The German Empire is the origins of the Third Reich, but Evans doesn’t spend much time on it.

An unusual characteristic of the book is Hitler and the Jews are not at the forefront in the book, instead, the focus is on German history. This is refreshing for those who have read books on the topic, and a bad thing, for those wishing to read an account of Hitler or the Jews.

The basic structure of the book starts with some background on the Bismarckian/German Empire. We then move to the political parties of Germany and the effects of World War I. The book slows down and explains the problems of the Weimar Republic including Germany's hyperinflation and unemployment. When the Great Depression hits, the Republic starts to lose control. Street violence becomes rapid and leaders become concerned. They appoint Hitler Chancellor to solve these problems - ironically. The Nazis escalate the violence and start to crush their enemies and political parties. After all this is complete, the Nazis start terrorizing public and social institutions as they see fit. The book ends roughly at the summer of 1933 before Hitler becomes dictator of Nazi Germany.

I highly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the rest of the series. The narrative is well researched and meticulously documented. The pacing is excellent and the prose is lively. Evans has a gift of presenting compact details without boring the reader. He accomplishes this by using social commentary and personal documents. As a result, I got a sense what living in Germany during this period felt like.

Excellent book and highly recommended - despite some misgivings!

Part I: The Legacy of the Past

German Peculiarities: Bismarck Empire
Gospels of Hate: Antisemitism and Racism
Spirit of 1914: World War I
Descent into Chaos: After World War I

Part II: Failure of Democracy

Weaknesses of Weimar: Numerous German Political Groups
The Great Inflation: The Hyperinflation of the 20's
Culture Wars: Media, The Arts, Feminisim, Male Supremacist Youth Movements, Schools, Laws
The Fit and the Unfit: Discrimination, Antisemitism, Racism, Scapegoating

Part III: The Rise of Nazism

Bohemian Revolutionaries: Hilter's Personal and Political Background
The Beer-Hall Putsch: Hitler Tries to Seize Power
Rebuilding the Movement: Nazi's Take Over Various Sectors of Society in the Form of Various Organizations
The Roots of Commitment: Why People Joined the Nazi Movement

Part IV: Toward the Seizure of Power

The Great Depression: Increase Support for the Nazis
Crisis of Democracy: Nazis Become a Force to Reckon With
Victory of Violence: Hindenburg, Papen Coup, Republic Decline
Fateful Decisions: On the Edge of Civil War

Part V: Creating the Third Reich

The Terror Begins: Political Violence and Communist
Fire in the Reichstag: Murder Opponents, Concentration Camps
Democracy Destroyed: Paramilitary Groups & Political Parties Crushed; Catholicism
Bringing Germany Into Line: Repression, Sexual Liberation, Eugenics, Terrorizing Public Institutions.

Part 6: Hitler's Culture Revolution

Discordant Notes: Propaganda & Music
Purge of the Arts: Radio, Movies, Literature
Against the Un-German Spirit: Philosophy, Science, Burning Books, Jews
A Revolution of Destruction: Summary

[fpdc_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is the first of a three volume work on the history of the Third Reich. It covers the pre-history of the Nazi regime, namely Germany before the Great War, the loss of the War, the revolution, and the Weimar regime, and the Nazi party history, from its very beginning, the Beer-Hall putsch of 1923, and the reorganization of the party during the second half of the 1920s. The second half of the book, dealing with the final ascent to power in the wake of the deep crisis brought about by the Great Depression and of the behind the scenes manipulations by a reactionary and utterly preposterous political elite, and with the dramatic changes in every aspect of life in Germany during the first few months of Nazi rule, are absolutely outstanding. If the remaining volumes in this oeuvre will be of the same high level, this work will probably become the standard general work, in English, of this disastrous Era in world's history.

[sharonk21 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is well worth reading for anyone who wants to get an idea of the historical roots of Fascism and/or Nazism. What I like about it is that it does not concentrate on the more dramatic and flamboyant later years--with jackboots in the street and all that--but instead focuses on how that situation came to be. I find that most people have a skewed view of the Fascist-Nazi years, honing in on the exciting revolutionary-democratic seizure of power and the awful holocaust period and forgetting what led up to it. Concentrating on the wrong time period can be dangerous in that it leads to invalid comparisons when contemplating potential modern-day developments.