On entend souvent dire qu’Hitler et les nazis sont arrivés au pouvoir par la voie des urnes, en emportant légalement la majorité des suffrages. Or, cette affirmation est fausse. Depuis sa création et pendant toute la durée de la république de Weimar, le parti nazi n’a jamais remporté plus de 37% des voix. Et lorsqu’Hitler fut appelé au poste de chancelier par le président Hindenburg, son parti venait de perdre des sièges au Reichstag au scrutin de novembre 1932. Que s’est-il donc passé pou...

*A TIMES AND TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR*WHAT CAUSED THE FALL OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT IN TWENTIETH-CENTURY EUROPE, AND THE RISE OF THE MOST TERRIFYING?In the 1930s, Germany was at a turning point, with many looking to the Nazi phenomenon as part of widespread resentment towards cosmopolitan liberal democracy and capitalism. This was a global situation that pushed Germany to embrace authoritarianism, nationalism a...

A "fast-moving, absorbing" account of the years leading up to WWII—a tale of democratic crisis, racial conflict, and a belated recognition of evil ( New York Times Book Review)."Thought provokingly, Hett notes that commonalities between the 1930s and today . . . he suggests that lessons learned by dealing with the Nazi regime could be applied today. This compelling work is highly recommended for those interested in World War II or in the history of ...

Named "Book of the Week" by CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS"At a time of deep distress over the stability of democracy in America and elsewhere, Benjamin Carter Hett's chronicle of the collapse of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Adolf Hitler could not be more timely. 'The Death of Democracy' makes for chilling reading." **—**The Washington PostA riveting account of how the Nazi Party came to ...

During a 1931 trial of four Nazi stormtroopers, known as the Eden Dance Palace trial, Hans Litten grilled Hitler in a brilliant and merciless three-hour cross-examination, forcing him into multiple contradictions and evasions and finally reducing him to helpless and humiliating rage (the transcription of Hitler's full testimony is included.) At the time, Hitler was still trying to prove his embrace of legal methods, and distancing himself from his stormtroopers. The courageous Litten revea...

**"[Narrator Steven Crossley's] British accent gives his narration an academic-sounding quality fitting for the text. He is clear and precise in pronunciation and enunciation and is suitably expressive throughout." — AudioFile MagazineThe Death of Democracy is a riveting audiobook account of how the Nazi Party came to power, and how the failures of the Weimar Republic and the shortsightedness of German politicians allowed it to happen.**Why did democracy f...

A panoramic narrative of the years leading up to the Second World War—a tale of democratic crisis, racial conflict, and a belated recognition of evil, with profound resonance for our own time.Berlin, November 1937. Adolf Hitler meets with his military commanders to impress upon them the urgent necessity for a war of aggression in eastern Europe. Some generals are unnerved by the Führer’s grandiose plan, but these dissenters are silenced one by one, setting in motio...

During a 1931 trial of four Nazi stormtroopers, known as the Eden Dance Palace trial, Hans Litten grilled Hitler in a brilliant and merciless three-hour cross-examination, forcing him into multiple contradictions and evasions and finally reducing him to helpless and humiliating rage (the transcription of Hitler's full testimony is included.) At the time, Hitler was still trying to prove his embrace of legal methods, and distancing himself from his stormtroopers. The courageous Litten revea...

Demokratian luisu diktatuuriksi on hälyttävän helppoa.Demokratian kuolema on karmivan ajankohtainen kuvaus siitä, miten natsit nousivat valtaan - ja miten sen sallittiin tapahtua.Adolf Hitlerin puolue kasvoi baijerilaisesta roskajoukosta määrätietoisesti Saksan valtaansa ottaneeksi mahdiksi. Miksi kansallissosialistien nousua ei pysäytetty ajoissa? Benjamin Carter Hett näyttää Demokratian kuolema -kirjassaan, miten natsipuolueen suosio kasvoi, kun globalisaatio näytti käänt...

In February 1933, Adolf Hitler had only a tenuous grasp on power. Chancellor of Germany for merely four weeks, he led a fragile coalition government. The Nazis had lost seats in the Reichstag in the recent election, and claimed only three of thirteen cabinet posts. Then on February 27th, arson sent the Reichstag, the home and symbol of German democracy, up in flames. Immediately blaming the Communists, Hitler's new government approved a decree that tore the heart out of the democratic cons...

In February 1933, Adolf Hitler had only a tenuous grasp on power. Chancellor of Germany for merely four weeks, he led a fragile coalition government. The Nazis had lost seats in the Reichstag in the recent election, and claimed only three of thirteen cabinet posts. Then on February 27th, arson sent the Reichstag, the home and symbol of German democracy, up in flames. Immediately blaming the Communists, Hitler's new government approved a decree that tore the heart out of the democratic cons...

Wenn Geschichte zur Warnung wirdEin hochaktuelles Buch, das die Lehren aus dem Scheitern der Weimarer Republik auf die Herausforderungen unserer Gegenwart überträgt – fundiert, provokant und relevant für alle, die unsere Demokratie stärken wollen.Was wir aus Weimar lernen müssenWarum scheiterte die erste deutsche Demokratie so schnell – und was bedeutet das für uns heute? In "Wenn das Gestern anklopft" versammeln der Historiker