Focusing on Carl Schmitt's public career, the book re-evaluates his impact on political and legal theory through new archival evidence and personal papers. It argues that Schmitt's late Weimar writings aimed to thwart the rise of the Nazis, challenging the perception of his role during that tumultuous period. Professor Bendersky's analysis provides a fresh perspective on Schmitt's intentions and contributions, highlighting the complexities of his political thought.
The book offers a comprehensive overview of Nazi Germany, highlighting the political, economic, and social dynamics that led to the Third Reich's rise and fall. Joseph W. Bendersky integrates recent research and explores themes such as the politics of memory and the experiences of non-Jewish victims. It examines the complexities of social life under the Nazi regime and the influence of racial ideology on policies. Through engaging storytelling, Bendersky illustrates how ordinary citizens navigated the oppressive environment, making this work both historically significant and relevant today.
This balanced history offers a concise, readable introduction to Nazi Germany. Combining compelling narrative storytelling with analysis, Joseph W. Bendersky offers an authoritative survey of the major political, economic, and social factors that powered the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The book incorporates significant research of recent years, analysis of the politics of memory, postwar German controversies about World War II and the Nazi era, and more on non-Jewish victims. Delving into the complexity of social life within the Nazi state, it also reemphasizes the crucial role played by racial ideology in determining the policies and practices of the Third Reich. Bendersky paints a fascinating picture of how average citizens negotiated their way through both the threatening power behind certain Nazi policies and the strong enticements to acquiesce or collaborate. His classic treatment provides an invaluable overview of a subject that retains its historical significance and contemporary importance. -- Text refers to later edition.