The Racial State: Germany 1933–1945

*Review written originally for a course review with this book as the main source*By in large, I agree with what B.W. is saying, although I think that there are some holes in their presentation that should be addressed, but are also commonly overlooked by many other authors that I have read as well. I have challenged B.W.'s conclusions on a number of occasions throughout the course, that I think are either understated or over simplified. I think that B.W.'s conclusion about the Nazis being modern or anti-modern is a valid question, but I don't think they address it properly throughout their work. I think its common that many historians automatically revert to the aftermath of WWI to explain the rise of Nazism, which of course set the economic, political, and social atmosphere in which the Nazis emerged. But, I think its foundations go back further. Upon beginning to read the second chapter in B.W., I was pleased that it began with ideological descendants such as Nietzsche, Chamberlain, Goubineau, and some mention of Wagner. These were all mid to late 19th Century men, and three of them were dead before WWI even began. Even so, these men are among the few who are directly named by Hitler and other leading Nazis, such as Goebbels, as sources of inspiration. I don't think that enough attention was paid to their contributions to Nazi ideology by B.W. It is pointless to debate whether the Nazis were modern or anti-modern without examining what anti-modern was or is. Also, "anti-modern" itself seems a bit awkward of an expression to me. Perhaps "nostalgic" seems too positive a term to be associated with Nazis, but I think it is a more accurate term. I think that objectivity is rare when studying the Third Reich, and for good reason. Nobody wants to be accused of being a sympathizer, but objectivity was something I felt was far lacking in B.W.'s work. The harm in this is that it fails to present the Nazis' ideology and the policies and programs that were shaped by it as the German people viewed it, and many accepted fanatically, except from the victim's point of view. I don't believe in "brainwashing" theories in such a short span of time, and the mechanisms of the media were not in full Nazi use until 1933, after being voted into power. Even then, Germany was a highly sophisticated, educated, and politically active people in a democracy in the years before the Nazis rose, and that says something. I think that B.W. does not pursue these concepts to their proper ends, which leads the interpretation of the Nazis' rise to something of a highjacking by extremists who manipulated and lied their way into power. In fact, the Nazis were very articulate about what they believed often and in the open, from the Party Program which was written in 1920 (and made no mention of in B.W.) to the extermination of the Jews and the conquest of Lebensraum to be found in the Soviet Union, as stated in Mein Kampf. I am no sympathizer for the Nazis or what they did, but I am equally not an apologist either.

Other reviewers already pointed out that this book is very useful and thorough, so I'd just like to add that - even if you are not a history buff and even if you think you already know a lot about Nazi Germany, this book will be a fascinating read. For example, it is one thing to know that certain ethnic groups were persecuted in Nazi Germany, but seeing a leaflet that shows a dark-haired and a light-haired woman and points to the light-haired one as the correct choice of a partner, seeing questionnaires that were used so that officials could decide whether someone should be killed, incarcerated or sterilized, or official instructions and reports on how to deal with the "undesirables"... all this will give you new, visceral realizations about the horrors of this abominable regime.

Book in great shape! Super fast shipping. Thank you!

The Racial State: Germany 1933-1945 (Burleigh) (Purchased on 11/19/2010)by Michael BurleighI have yet to receive the book but have purchased it knowing it will answer all my questions for the study of HIST324 Ashes to Ashes, at University of New England, NSW, Australia.I am sure it will get to my PO tomorrow?!Thanks, J9 (Janine)

Well done.

Really helpful and informative

The book was advertised as "like new." It has obvious pen markings, worn and bent pages, and a large bookstore sticker.

Historically accurate, unbiased, and doesn't get caught up in personal opinions. Burleigh and Wipperman explain and analyze the Nazi party and their influence on Germany and the world in scrutinizing detail. Had to read this book for a class but was easily one of the more interesting of the bunch.

A disturbing read of what some idiots on the internet look back on as somehow being a golden era which mankind could havebenefitted from. Wrong , a book which tells it as it was murder guided by ignorane and racial notions which firmly belong in the dustbin of history but one from which we should be able to learn something about the time, the era and ourselves.The activities of the NSDAP , what they hoped to achieve and the methods so willingly employed should sicken the reader.When one sees what is written and presented on the internet by people bioth misguided and by others who are simply twisted - well they should be confronted by this authors findings.A glimpse of what has been rightly described as our "warning from history".A well written and thought provoking read.

An insight into a nation gone insane. Both repellent and fascinating.