It's difficult to believe that one person could have read and summarised all of the source material that Shirer used to write this absolutely incredible piece of work. It is one of the greatest pieces of journalism of all time.
The best non fiction book I've ever read, and every single American and European should read this book - it shows what can happen when a huge power is struggling, if we're not careful.
The book made me think that the Axis powers could have easily won if Hitler had a firmer grasp on reality on the ground and if the Axis leaders could have worked together. If Japan had attacked Russia instead of the US, that would have been a lot smarter from a global perspective. Or if Italy and Germany had coordinated more in their movements. None of those three ever seemed to be on the same page even though they were on the same side.
the whole part from 8:03 until the end of the video is why Im so hesitant to read this book. - "Ill take over the world because...... why not" If this is in the book then its incredibly absurd but its too huge of a topic to develop in a comment section. Basically its for the "struggle" of of the volk - "he refused to pull from stalingrad for no reason" Again if its in the book then this is idiotic. If you read "Hitler and His Generals: Military Conferences 1942-1945" you have actual conferences with everything said there being written down. The reason he did not want to retreat is because then they will have to leave all the artillery and equipment there making it impossible to push again for stalingrad next year. And as far as the "madman hitler myth" do I even need to say anything about this absurdity? Just from the previously mentioned book above u can see his thought process is not one of a madman
I think you have a point here about the madman Hitler myth. It can be easy to pick a simple image of a cartoon villain and say that was Hitler, but the truth is more complicated. As far as Stalingrad goes, the author does make the case that Hitler was being irrational in his approach to Stalingrad. I'm not an expert on the subject and I haven't read the book you mentioned, but isn't it pretty well accepted that Stalingrad was a strategic blunder for the Nazis?
The book mostly deals with the politics of the Third Reich, but he does have one chapter where he talks about their ideology and how the Nazis wanted to shape the world. That is the hardest chapter to read because it gets into the details of the atrocities that actually happened and the atrocities that would have happened if Germany would have won. I think Hitler would win the popular vote for most evil person who has ever lived. This chapter is a good example of why that is. Nazis were all about making assumptions about a person based on their birth circumstances. Poles were inferior to Germans and needed to have German overlords. If terrible things happened to millions of non-Germans, then it didn't really matter. That chapter isn't for the faint of heart.
Given the extent of Hitler's vision for how the world should be, I'm hesitant to make any modern day political comparisons, because I just don't think they fit. However, there is something to be said for the nature of politics between then and now. I actually feel bipartisan on this, because I think on both sides there is the game of trying to manipulate the population into seeing the world a certain way. Moral of the story: don't put your trust in the vague feel-good promises of politicians.
I highly recommend the audiobook on YT. The similarities between the USA today and Germany 1923-1934 are frightening. Americans we deserve to be ashamed of President-elect Donald Trump.
I didn't know the audio version was on TH-cam. Good to know. Also, I feel bipartisan in applying parallels to today. It's the political system that Hitler masterminded through framing the truth and triangulating how he wants the message to land. This is the nature of politics and all politicians play that game. They may not all be as evil as Hitler, but playing that game has an undeniable tendency to corrupt the player.
@@erikhillreviews I think you are ignoring the implicit threat to not tow the line that autocrats typically set. It´s all about loyalty to their version of reality. That falls squarely on one political party in the USA at this time. Just because "they all do it" does not follow that there is equivalency. It reminds me of people responding "There is crime everywhere" when trying to downplay crime in their area or country. Equivalency or significance matters. An attempted coup against our world's primary superpower is equivalent to nothing else. That so many do not understand is a clear indication of people's intelligence.
@@erikhillreviews Drawing equivalency between Donald Trump and all politicians when it comes to honesty is disingenuous. There is no fair comparison. It is an objective fact that Donald Trump engages in unprecedented dishonesty, by any measure. Coincidently similar to the Third Reich.
@@erikhillreviews Didn't the people that later was in danger underestimated Hitler at the beginning? Didn't he became a justified tough-hand savior for those he considered human?
It's difficult to believe that one person could have read and summarised all of the source material that Shirer used to write this absolutely incredible piece of work. It is one of the greatest pieces of journalism of all time.
It really is one of the greatest works of journalism ever read. I'm also baffled at how one guy could put it all together.
I have this book at home. It's a must read for everyone to get educated about this subject
Agreed! It's such a great foundation to understanding the exact mechanics of what made Nazism rise and fall.
The best non fiction book I've ever read, and every single American and European should read this book - it shows what can happen when a huge power is struggling, if we're not careful.
100% agree. So eye-opening!
Awesome review, as usual.
Thanks! This one was really fun to put together. It always helps when I love the book.
The book made me think that the Axis powers could have easily won if Hitler had a firmer grasp on reality on the ground and if the Axis leaders could have worked together. If Japan had attacked Russia instead of the US, that would have been a lot smarter from a global perspective. Or if Italy and Germany had coordinated more in their movements. None of those three ever seemed to be on the same page even though they were on the same side.
the whole part from 8:03 until the end of the video is why Im so hesitant to read this book.
- "Ill take over the world because...... why not" If this is in the book then its incredibly absurd but its too huge of a topic to develop in a comment section. Basically its for the "struggle" of of the volk
- "he refused to pull from stalingrad for no reason" Again if its in the book then this is idiotic. If you read "Hitler and His Generals: Military Conferences 1942-1945" you have actual conferences with everything said there being written down. The reason he did not want to retreat is because then they will have to leave all the artillery and equipment there making it impossible to push again for stalingrad next year.
And as far as the "madman hitler myth" do I even need to say anything about this absurdity? Just from the previously mentioned book above u can see his thought process is not one of a madman
I think you have a point here about the madman Hitler myth. It can be easy to pick a simple image of a cartoon villain and say that was Hitler, but the truth is more complicated. As far as Stalingrad goes, the author does make the case that Hitler was being irrational in his approach to Stalingrad. I'm not an expert on the subject and I haven't read the book you mentioned, but isn't it pretty well accepted that Stalingrad was a strategic blunder for the Nazis?
great review
Thanks!
The book mostly deals with the politics of the Third Reich, but he does have one chapter where he talks about their ideology and how the Nazis wanted to shape the world. That is the hardest chapter to read because it gets into the details of the atrocities that actually happened and the atrocities that would have happened if Germany would have won. I think Hitler would win the popular vote for most evil person who has ever lived. This chapter is a good example of why that is. Nazis were all about making assumptions about a person based on their birth circumstances. Poles were inferior to Germans and needed to have German overlords. If terrible things happened to millions of non-Germans, then it didn't really matter. That chapter isn't for the faint of heart.
That Austrian artist sure was a troublemaker.
The Bible and the rise and fall of the third Reich are my 2 favorite non fiction books.
Yeah, who would have guessed that one failed Austrian artist could be so consequential?
The Fourth Reich is how a Reality Show personality became the 45th President of The United States.
Given the extent of Hitler's vision for how the world should be, I'm hesitant to make any modern day political comparisons, because I just don't think they fit. However, there is something to be said for the nature of politics between then and now. I actually feel bipartisan on this, because I think on both sides there is the game of trying to manipulate the population into seeing the world a certain way. Moral of the story: don't put your trust in the vague feel-good promises of politicians.
Congratulations little Joe! You just won stupid post of the week! Yay!
You didn't say 47th....lol
@@richardwhite2460 There's a Reason For That, He just killed The U.S. Presidency. Now it's gonna be a Monarchy led by a Clown.
I highly recommend the audiobook on YT. The similarities between the USA today and Germany 1923-1934 are frightening.
Americans we deserve to be ashamed of President-elect Donald Trump.
I didn't know the audio version was on TH-cam. Good to know. Also, I feel bipartisan in applying parallels to today. It's the political system that Hitler masterminded through framing the truth and triangulating how he wants the message to land. This is the nature of politics and all politicians play that game. They may not all be as evil as Hitler, but playing that game has an undeniable tendency to corrupt the player.
@@erikhillreviews I think you are ignoring the implicit threat to not tow the line that autocrats typically set. It´s all about loyalty to their version of reality. That falls squarely on one political party in the USA at this time. Just because "they all do it" does not follow that there is equivalency. It reminds me of people responding "There is crime everywhere" when trying to downplay crime in their area or country. Equivalency or significance matters. An attempted coup against our world's primary superpower is equivalent to nothing else. That so many do not understand is a clear indication of people's intelligence.
@@erikhillreviews Drawing equivalency between Donald Trump and all politicians when it comes to honesty is disingenuous. There is no fair comparison. It is an objective fact that Donald Trump engages in unprecedented dishonesty, by any measure.
Coincidently similar to the Third Reich.
@@Mark-gg6iy Of course I disagree, but the good news is that we'll see who has the stronger case in four years.
@@erikhillreviews Didn't the people that later was in danger underestimated Hitler at the beginning? Didn't he became a justified tough-hand savior for those he considered human?