How Hitler Was Made: Germany and the Rise of the Perfect Nazi

by Cory Taylor

Focusing on German society immediately following the First World War, this vivid historical narrative explains how fake news and political uproar influenced Hitler and put him on the path toward dictatorial power.How did an obscure agitator on the political fringes of early-20th-century Germany rise to become the supreme leader of the "Third Reich"? Unlike many other books that track Adolf Hitler's career after 1933, this book focuses on his formative period--immediately following World War I (1918-1924). The author, a veteran producer of historical documentaries, brings to life this era of political unrest and violent conflict, when forces on both the left and right were engaged in a desperate power struggle. Among the competing groups was a highly sophisticated network of ethnic chauvinists that discovered Hitler and groomed him into the leader he became.The book also underscores the importance of a post-war socialist revolution in Bavaria, led by earnest reformers, some of whom were Jewish. Right wing extremists skewed this brief experiment in democracy followed by Soviet-style communism as evidence of a Jewish-Bolshevik plot. Along with the pernicious "stab-in-the-back" myth, which misdirected blame for Germany's defeat onto civilian politicians, public opinion was primed for Hitler to use his political cunning and oratorical powers to effectively blame Jews and Communists for all of Germany's problems.Based on archival research in Germany, England, and the US, this striking narrative reveals how the manipulation of facts and the use of propaganda helped an obscure, embittered malcontent to gain political legitimacy, which led to dictatorial power over a nation.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics

295 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2018

Reviews

[Alex Lair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well researched and highly relevant to current events

[Shila Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did this book accomplish its goal, which is to inform the reader of the social, psychological, and environmental conditions that allowed a person like Adolf Hitler to come into a political position overturning the government and becoming a leader of millions? Yes!!! It did indeed accomplish this for me. My 3 star vote reflects my neutrality towards the writing style, that’s personal preference. For some time I’ve had a developing interest in how person’s like Hitler keep reproducing themselves in the world. I’m starting to learn through research and study that his psychological profile in many ways, matches that of colonizers and proselytizers. In the course of their lives, they are taught to devalue life based on how they were treated and what they saw from birth and the ideologies impressed upon them by the society at the time. They may devalue a breathing person because it has been politically and religiously indoctrinated into their mind. I don’t use the term “religion” in this case to mean what it means to me, which is the foundational concepts that have always assisted humans from the beginning of time in our existence and co-existence, but a more modern view and practice of religion, which took the concept of balance and redefined it into something far less balancing, something forceful, something aggressive that is more based on success and possessions and is prone to encourage death.

When a human has been raised in a world battlefield, that’s all of us at this point, the likelihood of producing murderers increases as dehumanization increases. Scapegoats are sought out- people to blame. A person’s mind may have a nervous collapse and seek validation from other tyrants who have successfully conquered land and possessions. Acceptance and rejection have the ability to turn a person. Economics and the ability to live in financial comfort can make or break the human spirit, rebellion manifests in various ways… Hitler did not create anti-Semiticism. It existed in many forms before he ever was born. I want to know where it came from, how it’s definition has changed over time, and to what degree does it still identify with its original intent. I’m still searching. Cool read.

Hitler was a hater, a hater of himself. When you hate yourself as much as he did, you’ll most definitely kill others, eventually killing yourself too. That he did. Furthermore, as the author stated, Hitler was made, and it’s important that we all examine the conditions that create Hitlers. They still exist, heavily permeating all realms of physical existence.

[Amy Salvatore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind boggling how many parallels there are between post war Germany and today in terms of the extreme differences of opinion among the populace on how to move forward. The regional struggles described in the book, particularly Bavaria's vacillation between left and right wing leadership, reminds me of how states are interpreting law and moving ever further from centralized government. The demagogue at the heart of the story, a narcissist who rose through the ranks, backed by opportunists who see in him a way to reach the "common folk", bears a frightening resemblance to Trump. His ability to capture the audience, subvert history with lies, and encourage a following of true believers who saw in him a savior-like quality, is all too familiar these days. The book is well researched but lacking in a deeper history of the prewar WWI period necessary to understand the weak spots of the German federation, despite its union in 1871. That said, Taylor is not an historian but a documentarian; therefore, the book relies on his detailed research on the specifics without a broader scope. The book is good in capturing how Hitler was utilized by parties and factions already in existence and for their own aims, and it also reveals just how dangerous that tactic is when the "chosen one" has a power with the people that goes beyond the message and the aim of the party. Hitler's "popularity" among his devotees became such that those who put him in power to achieve their goals, could no longer control the puppet. Sounds familiar.

[David Lazarus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here, Taylor achieves what he sets out to achieve. It's a detailed account of this early period, giving a sense of the political chaos of the time and how the multifaceted perceived and real threats to the German nation, most self-inflicted, facilitated the far-right movements which nursed Hitler. Amongst other things, we discover how the desperation for a new position of strength after the catastrophic failures of its WWI venture led to a search by the far-right in Munich in particular for a 'strong', focused leader who entirely absolves the nation of guilt and eliminates ambivalence by any means. With the nation generally seeking a unified, nationalist movement, Hitler and his supporters are often and increasingly given favourable treatment in the Bavarian centres of power where the left and others are not, and allowed to prosper and grow.
Starting off as an uneducated outsider, Hitler is groomed for what he becomes, as the political opportunists see only his potential political use and entirely overlook his glaring psychopathy.

(This book has particular significance as the US election which returned Donald Trump the White House happened yesterday, and it's clear the population is similarly seeking someone to clear any new path ahead when their high hopes and ambitions are being thwarted, even if by their own actions.)

[The Unwanted Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye opening read on the start of a nightmare most never saw coming.

I'm brushing up a little on my history. Most of us are made aware of the atrocities that happened in WWII, particularly in Germany. I haven't learned too much on the politics before, and I'm personally looking more into the first World War or the 'Great War' before there was even an inkling there might be a second, but the politics are eerie.

It's an easy read, easy to understand. I'm still a little hazy on memorization when there's so many characters involved, but it sounds like there were quite a few people to have a say and play a part leading up to Hitler's takeover.

Highly recommend

[Thordur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the beginning of the uprising of Hitler. It starts as soon as the great war had ended in 1918 and ends shortly after the conviction of Hitler after the Putsch 1923.

Germany was in chaos in many ways after the Great war and here in this book we will find the scene like it was. With huge violence, communism here, the right wing there, somebody willing to pay the debt because of the war, others not. And then comes A.H.

If you like history books about the beginning of Nazi Germany then this book is for you.

[Stephen Kane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superficial

There was little, or no insight into the effects of events on Hitler. Instead they were listed leaving it up to the reader to make the connections and determine their imprint on a younger Adolph.

[Jenny Reinhorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed look at Germany between WWI and WWII, showing how propaganda and public manipulation led to Hitler’s rise. Best for history buffs. It’s educational more than entertaining. I learned a lot, though I doubt I’ll retain much.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I recommend it to anyone interested in history of postWWI time in Germany

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at German society after WWI until 1933 when Hitler came to power. Very relevant to current events.

[John Goss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have given it a higher rating but it was kinda hard to follow along due to the German names of towns/people etc. It was probably just me though and not the authors fault

[Matthew Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taylor, like many a military historian before him, looks at the things in Hitler's early life, combined with the events over that period, to see how Germany became a dictatorship the minute he assumed power a decade after the period studied (1907 to 1924). Everyone, even his closest associates and bitterest opponents all thought they could control him. Spoiler alert: they couldn't.