The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer is an epic that portrays the intricacies of Hitler and the Nazi Regime’s rise and fall. Shirer tells the tale as a uniquely privileged journalist to have witnessed much of Hitler’s rise in person in Berlin. He was also given expansive access to the papers, documents, and diaries of many of the critical figures in the saga. This allows Shirer to put together a masterful depiction of the evil, brilliant, charismatic, fickle, brazen Hitler.

Hitler’s early years and growth included a tumultuous period after his parents had passed away in which Hitler was a homeless struggling artist in Vienna. This allowed him the time, space, and connection to help form the basis of the National Socialist (Nazi) party. Important to Hitler’s growth as a leader were his reflections on the successes of other political parties, many books (especially antisemitic ones), and a budding influence in a social circle in Vienna.

As Hitler’s status grew, from the Beer Hall Putsch to the Reichstag Fire, Hitler became a master manipulator of people. He would only accept the most fervently loyal and rooted out dissenters. This allowed him to eventually consolidate power at the top of the German political sphere and eventually amongst the armed forces as well.

Hitler was also a masterful negotiator, if only because his intention was never to settle. This was shown time and again in the lead up to WW2 when Hitler was able to execute bloodless coups of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Lithuania. He played many of the pacifists for fools, especially Neville Chamberlain, who was unable to recognize the fact that Hitler was just a common blackmailer who’d always increase his demands.

The ironic fact of this book is that the same traits that allowed Hitler to rise to power (overconfidence, stubbornness, ruthlessness) were the same traits that ultimately spelled doom for the fuhrer. Since no one except Hitler believed him that he could conquer all of Europe, he began to see the Third Reich as invincible. This caused him to awaken the sleeping dragons of the Soviet Union and America. The entrance of these superpowers into the war ultimately sealed Hitler’s black fate.