"The Hitler Years", by Frank McDonough

Volume 2: Disaster, 1940-1945

The huge canvas this book covers is vividly written and beautifully presented with a body of illustrations, a time machine told in a narrative free of academic jargon, one giving us just enough details into the experiences of Germans during this frightening period: The Times of the Gestapo.

In volume 2, the companion to “The Hitler Years” Triumph, 1933-1939 is not an easy read it tells of the rise and catastrophic fall of the Nazi regime, a descent into barbarism, genocide and war that cost millions of lives. “Disaster” charts the dramatic changes for the Third Reich despite Hitler’s grand ambitions. This book focuses heavily on military campaigns, carefully analyzing each major battle and the turning points they represented. It makes it clear the importance to understand that Nazi Germany was in search of living space and for this to be achieved was through expansion taking lands from racially inferior nations.

Given the scope of the book (656 pages) some may say more attention could have been given to some aspects instead of others: ex. German massacres of prisoners of war. How does one condense satisfactorily so many elements in a single book? ”Disaster” is well-researched, well- structured and well-written.

If you are interested in this period of time both volumes are combinations of expert historical analysis.

Thank you St-Martin press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, this is the way I see it.