First published 2016
Adolf Hitler remains history's most studied and reviled figure, yet misconceptions persist about the man behind the monster. Volker Ullrich dismantles the notion that Hitler was simply an unintelligent political animal without normal relationships. This first volume of a two-part biography follows Hitler's path from childhood through his Vienna failures, World War I service, and rise to political power. Ullrich reveals Hitler's political cunning, oratory skills, and instinctive grasp of power alongside his megalomania and twisted worldview. Drawing on unseen documents and recent research, this fifth major Hitler biography illuminates how a ruthless opportunist exploited Germany's postwar humiliation, Weimar crisis, and economic collapse. Rather than focusing solely on broader social conditions, Ullrich shows how Hitler shaped the Nazi Party and seized control through political talent and brutality. The biography brings readers closer to understanding how Hitler experienced his world and formed his beliefs.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, non-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: political-intrigue, rise-to-power
Setting: Germany, Vienna
Period: World War I, Weimar Republic
1008 pages · Hardcover · Alfred A. Knopf
Content warnings: violence