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This important addition to modern German studies treats the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich as a continuum, exploring its themes through the 1920s and 1930s without artificial breaks. John Hiden looks at key issues in political, social and economic history, and in international relations. He highlights Germany's potentially constructive role in Europe before Hitler; analyses the country's structural problems; considers the importance of personalities and personal responsibility in the period; and examines the legacy of the Third Reich to postwar Germany. Filled with energy and ideas, the book has an intellectual substance far beyond its relatively modest length.
List of contents
Acknowledgements Abbreviations and AcronymsIntroduction 1.Policy for the sake of the RepublicThe conditions of peaceA note on German 'revisionism'The illusion of East-West choices 1921-23 Stresemann and the primacy of Westpolitik Stresemann and RussiaTrade and OstpolitikThe role of the Auslandsdeutsche2.Democratic ProspectsThe Weimar constitution3.The PartiesThe German Socialist Party The Centre PartyThe German Democratic PartyThe German People's PartyThe German Nationalist People's Party The German Communist PartyThe National Socialist German Workers' Party4.The Practice of ParliamentCoalition patternsInterlude - the election of President Hindenburg Sectional interests in politicsAn indecent burial 1930-335. Governmental Plurality in the 'Single-Party State'The debate on polycracy The practice of polycracy Hitler in government6.Life at the Top; State Economic Policy and BigBusinessSome economic facts of lifeGovernmental strategies in the Weimar RepublicBriining's economic policyThe view from the board room; big business, the Republicand the rise of Hitler'Governmental strategies in the Third ReichBig business and 'full fascism'The economy and war preparations7.Drudgery for Germany; The Path from Worker toSoldier of LabourTrade unions and the lawThe decline of the unionsThe German Labour FrontThe conditions of workLabour in the Third Reich8.Feeding the Reich; Farmers and PoliticsThe strains within German agricultureNSDAP and agriculture before 1933Darn 's work and ideasThe Reich Food Estate and the Law of HereditaryEntailmentThe burdens of honour9.The Middle Classes; Angst and RealityCase study - civil servantsThe NSDAP's appeal to the MittelstandExpectation and coordination10.Policing the 'People's Community'The Gestapo; Limits to policinglV Qualifying the 'SS State' The VolksgemeinschaftResistance without the people11.The 'Racial War' and its Legacy The genesis of the 'Final Solution' The challenge of explaining genocide Living with genocide12.The Quest for German Hegemony in EuropePolicy before powerThe vain pursuit of BritainThe imperatives of foreign trade Hitler's obsession with Russia Strategy and foreign policyThe limits to 'opportunism'Bibliographical EssayIndex
About the author
John Hiden
Summary
This study treats the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich as a continuum, exploring a series of key themes through the 1920s and 1930s, without artificial breaks. It considers political, economic, social and foreign policy issues across the period and examines the legacy of the Third Reich.
