Germany and the Second World War Volume 1: The Build-up of German Aggression

This is the first of a comprehensive ten-volume history of the Second World War, written from the German perspective and translated for the first time into English. The five volumes so far published in German take the story up to the end of 1941, and have achieved international acclaim as a major contribution to historical study. Under the auspices of the Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt (Research Institute for Military History), a team of renowned historians has combined a full synthesis of existing material with the latest research to produce what will be the definitive history of the Second World War. This volume, The Build-up of German Aggression, surveys the forces both within and outside Weimar Germany which paved the way for Hitler. The authors examine the systematic preparation for war, from the outset of Nazi rule, through rearmament, economic autarky, diplomacy, and the penetration of German society at all levels. They consider the extent to which the movement can be regarded as a continuation of historic German nationalism; the limits of Hitler's involvement with the army and big business; and the lack of coordination between the administration and the armed services. The book demonstrates that, despite Nazi propaganda and in stark contrast to 1914, most Germans in 1939 opposed a war which they nevertheless endured with such tragic consequences. Intensively researched and documented, Germany and the Second World War is an undertaking of unparalleled scope and authority. It will prove indispensable to all historians of the twentieth century.

List of figures and maps; Notes on the authors; Notes on the translation; Abbreviations; Glossary of German terms; Introduction; Wolfram Wette: Part 1. Ideology, Propaganda, and Internal Politics as Preconditions of the War Policy of the Third Reich: Militarist and pacifist ideaologies in the last phase of the Weimar Republic; Propaganda mobilization for war; Organizing society in preparation for war; Hans-Erich Volkmann: Part II: The National Socialist Economy in Preparation for War: From international economy to large-area economy; The National Socialist war economy; Job-creation and armament boom; The National Socialist economy under the 'New Plan'; The war economy under the four-year plan; Rearmament economy and aggression; The Third Reich's economic readiness for war; Wilhelm Deist: Part III: The Rearmament of the Wehrmacht: The Reichswehr and national defence; The rearmament of the individual services 1933-1939; The Wehrmacht of the Third Reich; Manfred Messerschmidt: Part IV: Foreign Policy and Preparation for War: Hitler's 'Programme' and the problem of continuity in German foreign policy; The great powers and the aspiring great power; Bilateral foreign policy; Chances of hegemony: Stresa and the break-up of European solidarity; The road to war 1936-1938; 1939: The initial position; Conclusions; Bibligraphy; Index of persons; Maps