Hitler, A Biography by Longerich, Peter -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover page Halftitle page Titlepage page Copyright page Acknowledgements Contents Abbreviations Introduction Prologue: A Nobody

Linz Vienna Munich World war

I. The Public Self

1. Back in Munich: Politicization

Munich after the crushing of the revolution Hitler’s indoctrination by the Reichswehr

2. Joining the Party

The DAP and the extreme right-wing scene in Munich The Kapp putsch and the Emergence of Bavaria as a ‘Cell of Order’ Propaganda for the NSDAP

3. Hitler Becomes Party Leader

Hitler’s entourage The seizure of power in the Party Heading for conflict with the Bavarian government Looking for donors in Berlin and Munich

4. The March to the Hitler Putsch

From ‘drummer’ to ‘Führer’ 1923: The crisis year The Putsch: Hitler takes on the role of ‘Führer’

5. The Trial and the Period of the Ban

The Nazi movement without its ‘Führer’ Mein Kampf

II. Creating a Public Image

6. A Fresh Start

Creation of the Führer Party The Führer personality

7. Hitler as a Public Speaker

The speaking ban is lifted

8. A New Direction

Positioning after the 1928 elections ‘The lesser of two evils’: Rapprochement with the right-wing Conservatives

9. Conquering the Masses

Upheavals in the Reich and the Party The 1930 Reichstag elections Breakthrough Soundings Hitler’s policy of legality on trial In the spotlight

10. Strategies

‘Nationalist Opposition’? The dynamics of the crisis Going it alone An approach to the Centre Party?

11. On the Threshold of Power

Election battle and Prussian coup Triumph and humiliation November elections Crisis in the Party Towards a Hitler–Papen government

III. Establishing the Regime

12. ‘The Seizure of Power’

Stage 1: Neutralizing the political Left Stage 2: The removal of basic rights Stage 3: ‘Cold revolution’ Stage 4: Exclusion and coordination Stage 5: Labour market and rearmament Stage 6: The end of the political parties and development of policy towards the Churches Evolution rather than revolution Summer break

13. First Steps in Foreign Policy

Recognition and demarcation: the Concordat Rearmament and détente: flexibility towards the western powers Ideology and activism_ the Austrian question and the Soviet problem

14. ‘Führer’ and ‘People’

A ‘Führer’ without a private life

15. Breaking out of the International System

Plebiscites as a tool of government Overcoming isolation?

16. Becoming Sole Dictator

Church policy Party and state More and more ‘grumblers and whingers’ The crisis comes to a head A bloody showdown The Austrian putsch The death of Hindenburg

IV. Consolidation

17. Domestic Flashpoints

The economy in the shadow of rearmament Failure to ‘unite’ German Protestantism A crisis of confidence and a show of loyalty

18. Initial Foreign Policy Successes 19. The Road to the Nuremberg Laws

Hostility to Jews, the Churches, ‘reactionaries’: unrest among Party members Hitler’s decision to introduce the Nuremberg Laws

20. A Foreign Policy Coup 21. ‘Ready for War in Four Years’ Time’

A new alliance Summer Olympics Hitler’s Four-Year Plan Plans for the anti-communist bloc Domestic consequences of the preparations for war

22. Conflict with the Churches and Cultural Policy

Cultural politics ‘The Third Reich’s Master Builder’ Politics but not a cult

23. Hitler’s Regime

The ‘Führer’ between state and Party Intervening and directing Hitler’s charisma

V. Smokescreen

24. Resetting Foreign Policy

Hitler’s plans to acquire living space

25. From the Blomberg–Fritsch Crisis to the Anschluss

Austria

26. The Sudeten Crisis

‘The week-end crisis’ Decisions on military policy Economic consequences and a crisis of morale The campaign against the Berlin Jews Discontent among the military leadership The Sudeten Crisis intensifies The Munich Agreement

27. After Munich

A further increase in rearmament Pogrom: ‘The Night of Broken Glass’ Economic bottlenecks Visits from foreign statesmen Hitler as ‘Prophet’: War against domestic and foreign enemies The occupation of Prague The annexation of Memel

28. Into War

Hitler’s decision to attack Poland Sabre-rattling and fear of war Alliances Hitler’s war scenarios Summer performances Getting the generals on board for war German–Soviet rapprochement War aim: ‘The destruction of Poland’ War or peace?

VI. Triumph

29. The Outbreak of War

War and terror in Poland Mobilization for war and ministerial decisions Continuation of the war The ‘ethnic reorganization’ of Poland ‘Euthanasia’

30. Resistance

Preparations for the attack in the West Mussolini, a reluctant ally ‘Weserübung’ [Weser Exercise]

31. War in the West

From ‘Sea Lion’ to ‘Barbarossa’ Madagascar The Blitz

32. Diplomatic Soundings

Molotov: A tough opponent

33. The Expansion of the War

Hitler’s ‘warning’ and the radicalization of anti-Jewish policy Final preparations for the war in the Balkans The Balkan War Failure to secure a strategic agreement with Japan The Hess affair Towards the war of racial extermination Victory and beyond: Hitler’s plans for world power

34. Operation Barbarossa

Initial military operations and conflicts Hitler’s further war plans Occupation fantasies Occupation policy The propaganda war

35. The Radicalization of Jewish Policy

The ‘war against the Jews’

36. The Winter Crisis of 1941/42

War with the United States Conflict with the generals

37. The Pinnacle of Power

The development of rearmament The radicalization of the murder campaign Crisis in the judiciary The conduct of war in spring 1942 Heydrich’s death and its aftermath The summer offensive The reorganization of the judicial system

38. Hitler’s Empire

The regime at home Hitler’s charisma in the Second World War

VII. Downfall

39. The Turning Point of the War and Radicalization

Stalingrad ‘Bearing’ The destruction of the 6th Army Goebbels’s total war Hitler’s total war Further setbacks The dismissal of Mussolini The intensification of the air war and ‘retaliation’ Italy capitulates

40. With His Back to the Wall

Power struggles How to proceed? The invisible ‘Führer’: Repercussions for the regime Crumbling alliances Stand firm, whatever the cost Hungary: The last chapter in Hitler’s Jewish policy

41. Defeat Looms 42. 20 July 1944 43. Total War 44. The End Conclusion

Notes

Introduction Prologue: A Nobody Back in Munich: Politicization Joining the Party Hitler becomes Party leader The March to the Hitler Putsch The Trial and the Period of the Ban A Fresh Start Hitler as a Public Speaker A New Direction Conquering the Masses Strategies On the Threshold of Power The Seizure of Power First Steps in Foreign Policy ‘Führer’ and ‘People’ Breaking out of the International System Becoming Sole Dictator Domestic Flashpoints Initial Foreign Policy Successes The Road to the Nuremberg Laws A Foreign Policy Coup ‘Ready for War in Four Years’ Time’ Conflict with the Churches and Cultural Policy hitler’s regime Resetting Foreign Policy From the Blomberg–Fritsch Crisis to the Anschluss The Sudeten Crisis After Munich Into War The Outbreak of War Resistance War in the West Diplomatic Soundings The Expansion of the War Operation Barbarossa The Radicalization of Jewish Policy The Winter Crisis of 1941/42 The Pinnacle of Power Hitler’s empire The Turning Point in the War and Radicalization With His Back to the Wall Defeat Looms 20 July 1944 Total War The End

Bibliography Illustrations Index

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