The Crisis of German Ideology : Intellectual Origins of the Third Reich

Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal comprehensive examination
Review: I had to read Mosse's book for a graduate seminar on the Holocaust and found this to be absolutely fascinating. Not only does it show the progression of philosophies withing Germany from its roots in Romanticism to Volkish to what would ultimately become Nazi ideologies, but it presents the material in such a way that it becomes understandable exactly how this transition in thought could happen. Though the book is written as a scholarly history for scholars, it is fairly easy to understand, especially in the format in which it is presented. The first section focuses on the roots of Volkish thought and how they progressed from Romanticism in the late nineteenth century to Volkish in the early twentieth century which in turn lead to the Nazi ideals presented by Hitler to the German masses in the 1930s, a perversion of the Volkish. His second section examines how Volkish spread from small groups of idealists into the University system through literature and art, and through this infiltration of the Universities, as well as the German Youth Movement, expose its philosophies to a wider German audience than it had enjoyed before the first world war. The final section addresses Hitler's rise to power and the ways in which Hitler was able to manipulate Volkish and its intrinsic anti-Semitism to a radical degree to serve his purposes. Highly recommended for those interested in the Holocaust and/or Philosophy.

Rating:
Summary: A stimulating political history
Review: Mosse has challenged the set thoughts on the origins of the third reich (such as the Luther to Hitler theories and the idea that the people in Germany were merely subjected to propaganda, which ultimately shows the weakness of human beliefs). A must if one is studying Nazi germany or have an interest in twentieth century political theory.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing!
Review: This is a comprehensive account of the ideological development of the Third Reich. I highly recommend anyone interested in the Nazi Germany to read this book. George L. Mosse has a writing style that I have encountered in few historians. He presents his idea's is simple, but profound manner. I can guarentee this book will get your brain juices flowing in a delightful way.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Amazing!
Review: This is a comprehensive account of the ideological development of the Third Reich. I highly recommend anyone interested in the Nazi Germany to read this book. George L. Mosse has a writing style that I have encountered in few historians. He presents his idea's is simple, but profound manner. I can guarentee this book will get your brain juices flowing in a delightful way.