Hitler: Downfall, 1939-1945

From the author of Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939--a riveting accountof the dictator's final years, when he got the war he wanted buthis leadership led to catastrophe for his nation, the world, andhimself.In the summer of 1939 Hitler was at the zenith of his power. TheNazis had consolidated political control in Germany and a series offoreign-policy coups had restored Germany to the status of a majorworld power. He now embarked on realizing his lifelong ambition: toprovide the German people with the resources they needed toflourish and to exterminate those who stood in the way. Yet despitea series of stunning initial triumphs, Hitler's decision to invadethe Soviet Union in 1941 turned the tide for good.Now, Volker Ullrich offers fascinating new insight into Hitler'scharacter and personality, vividly portraying the insecurity,obsession with minutiae, and narcissistic penchant for gamblingthat led Hitler to overrule his subordinates and then blame themfor his failures; and, ultimately, when he realized the war was notwinnable, to embark on the annihilation of Germany itself in orderto punish the people who he believed had failed to hand himvictory.This is a masterful account of a spectacular downfall, and anessential addition to our understanding of Hitler and the SecondWorld War.