Book Description
Masters of the Air is the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler's doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, Donald Miller takes readers on a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden and describes the terrible cost of bombing for the German people.
Fighting at 25,000 feet in thin, freezing air that no warriors had ever encountered before, bomber crews battled new kinds of assaults on body and mind. Air combat was deadly but intermittent: periods of inactivity and anxiety were followed by short bursts of fire and fear. Unlike infantrymen, bomber boys slept on clean sheets, drank beer in local pubs, and danced to the swing music of Glenn Miller's Air Force band, which toured U.S. air bases in England. But they had a much greater chance of dying than ground soldiers. In 1943, an American bomber crewman stood only a one-in-five chance of surviving his tour of duty, twenty-five missions. The Eighth Air Force lost more men in the war than the U.S. Marine Corps.
The bomber crews were an elite group of warriors who were a microcosm of America -- white America, anyway. (African-Americans could not serve in the Eighth Air Force except in a support capacity.) The actor Jimmy Stewart was a bomber boy, and so was the "King of Hollywood," Clark Gable. And the air war was filmed by Oscar-winning director William Wyler and covered by reporters like Andy Rooney and Walter Cronkite, all of whom flew combat missions with the men.
The Anglo-American bombing campaign against Nazi Germany was the longest military campaign of World War II, a war within a war. Until Allied soldiers crossed into Germany in the final months of the war, it was the only battle fought inside the German homeland.
Strategic bombing did not win the war, but the war could not have been won without it. American
airpower destroyed the rail facilities and oil refineries that supplied the German war machine. The bombing campaign was a shared enterprise: the British flew under the cover of night while American bombers attacked by day, a technique that British commanders thought was suicidal.
Masters of the Air is a story, as well, of life in wartime England and in the German prison camps, where tens of thousands of airmen spent part of the war. It ends with a vivid description of the grisly hunger marches captured airmen were forced to make near the end of the war through the country their bombs destroyed.
Drawn from recent interviews, oral histories, and American, British, German, and other archives, Masters of the Air is an authoritative, deeply moving account of the world's first and only bomber war.
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous work!.......2007-10-22
This is the most comprehensive, yet concise, history of the bombing war of WWII in Europe. The subject is covered from the angle of ALL participates, from flight crews to ground crews to the engineering corps who prepared the fields for the build up of the American Forces. A must read!
A "must read" for all those interested in WW II........2007-10-10
This monumental work covers the bomber war in Europe in a more complete way than any other book I have read including anything the great Martin Caidin has written. Mr. Miller tells the story from the perspectives of the tail gunners, waist gunners, radiomen, bombadiers, navigators, co-pilots and pilots as well as the generals who devised the strategys. All aspects of the war are covered from the original construction of the air bases to airplane maintenance to training to missions to time-off at local village pubs. Unlike other books, this one covers the POWs and their horrendous plight especially as the war is winding down and the Nazis more them from location to location ahead of the advancing Allies. Miller also includes stories about Capt. Tibbets of Hiroshima fame and a fascinating story of Chuck Yeager's escape from occupied Europe through Spain and his subsequent return to combat, something almost never allowed because re-patriated flyers knew too much about the french underground that would jeapordize lives if they were shot down a second time. Also of interest was information about what happened to crewmen who elected to land in "neutral" Switzerland in wounded ships. I recommend this book highly.
Masters of the Air.......2007-09-11
A marvelous story about the WW II air war over Europe. Full of interesting details and descriptions. I have shared it with friends that did their 35 missions, and they concur.
The Story of the "Mighty Eighth".......2007-09-08
This well-written and exhaustively researched book chronicles the rise of the American Eighth Air Force from its early days in England to VE Day in 1945.
At the outset of the war, the British believed that night bombing was the best way to attack German cities and industry. However, once America entered the war, they chose a philosophy different from that of the British. The Americans believed that daylight precision strategic bombing was the only way to defeat the Germans. The British, on the other hand, still favored nighttime area bombing. This difference of opinion between the Americans and British was never really settled, but by combining the "round the clock" attacks of American planes during the day and British planes at night, the Germans faced an unending stream of planes and bombs.
When the Eighth flew their first mission in the fall of 1942, they could barely muster thirty planes, but at the end of the war, they were putting up well over one thousand, with several hundred fighter escorts as well. The German Luftwaffe could not match these incredible numbers of planes, and, despite such tactics as underground production and introducing the world's first jet fighter, there was little they could do to stop the Allied bombing.
Differences also existed between the British and Americans regarding target selection. The British favored carpet bombing Germany's cities with little or no regard for civilian casualties. The Americans favored targeting German industry (synthetic oil production, ball bearings, and transportation hubs). The Americans believed that the systematic destruction of the German economy would bring about surrender quicker than the British belief of "terror attacks" designed to break the will of the German people.
An interesting point made by the author is whether or not strategic bombing was effective against the Germans. A preponderance of the evidence would suggest that the answer to this question is "yes", but there are some compelling counter-points made in the book.
This is a fine work of aviation history. The book is well-researched and is easy to read and understand. Every aspect of the Allied bomber offensive in Europe is covered in great detail. The author also includes many personal testimonials from the men who flew the B-17s and B-24s against the Germans. An interesting chapter is also devoted to the Swiss government and how they treated "captured" Allied fliers. The terrifying incendiary raid on Dresden as well as the horrific destruction of Berlin is also told in vivid detail.
I give this fine book my highest recommendation. If you're looking for information on the Eighth Air Force and the air war over Europe, this is the book to read.
Does anyone at Simon & Schuster proofread?.......2007-09-04
Mr. Miller's book includes not only substantial research into prior publications but very interesting research based on letters and interviews he's found on his own. It's a good book. But if you're a member of the word police you'll be annoyed by the many proofreading errors. Here's a sample: "In the heavily defended Ruhr, with its permanent cloud of industrial smoke, the number was only in ten." (p.54) Should have been "within ten miles." Some errors are so simple a spell checker would have caught them: (p.199) "spining" for spinning. And there are some factual errors as well. Miller attributes contrails to wingtips. They're created by engines. It's much easier to criticize than to write. Still, S&S should have, with the several editors listed in the acknowledgments, caught the errors. I have no idea whether they have been corrected in the paperback.
Book Description
Trusted by professors of the humanities survey course for over twenty years, CULTURE AND VALUES covers Western cultures along with important non-Western cultures, providing students solid, accessible introductions to art, music, philosophy, literature, and more. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without end-of-chapter readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Book Description
From train and rail pass skills to strategies for visiting open-air folk museums, who else but Rick Steves can teach travelers the skills they really need when traveling through Europe? Learn how to deal with all of the small details of planning a trip to Europe with Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2007.
America's number one authority on travel to Europe, Rick Steves has done the legwork, discovered the secrets, and made the mistakes — so travelers don't have to. Completely revised and updated, Rick's time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience. Rick's travel tips include:
• Sticking to a budget
• Smart packing
• Planning ahead for visiting major sites
• Personal safety
• Avoiding tourist traps
• Finding Europe's "back door" attractions.
Smart advice is also offered on everything from social etiquette to booking a hotel and ordering food. Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2007 is an essential item on any European traveler's checklist.
Customer Reviews:
Best traveling advices I ever got.......2007-10-21
This is the best reference book I ever encountered for the type of international travel I really love: living like a local, visiting the real places, meeting the real people and spending a lot less money than if I were "going thru the front door" . Thank you very much Rick Steves!
Sincerely, Rolando Zerquera,
Miami, FL
A must have.......2007-09-12
Europe is very different from being in the U.S. Rick Steves offers so much helpful advice on how to blend in and not stand out as a tourist from the USA. I found his advice particularly helpful (and alarming) when it came to tips to avoid being a victim of crime, such as pickpocking, etc. If one is traveling to Europe, you owe it to yourself and those in the countries where you are traveling, to try and communicate effectively, therefore, minimizing stress.
POSSIBLY THE BEST OF THE LOT.......2007-06-27
An excellent resource.
Rick Steves has finished setting up his publishing business and is back on the beat scoping out Europe for you. [BRAVO!]
Combine this book with: Party Europe, Second Edition (Now This Is Life) and give them a read BEFORE your departure and you will be doing yourself and your travel party a great service.
One caveat: the Party Europe book does not cover areas outside the most popular tourist destinations [but by inference it does provide what one may want to look for in those locales].
This is the book that inspires me . . ........2007-06-11
to travel to Europe. I stumbled on it by accident in a bookstore, and couldn't put it down. This book doesn't cover the practical stuff, like where to stay or eat, but how to act, what to expect, how to enjoy.
Europe Through the Back is more about Rick's Ego.......2007-06-08
I thought I would glean some great insight about little known treasures found off the typical tourist routes along with some great restaurants and shopping. Instead the book was primarily about London (not Europe) and no 'insider' tips. Rick's barely veiled 'blame America' feelings are tiresome and more important are not accurate or necessary. I've traveled all over the world including much of Europe and have had wonderful experiences. France and Germany just voted in pro-American governments. Rick needs to get out more!
Book Description
Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to visit Etruscan caves in Central Italy's hill towns, shop for cheeses in Avignon's open-air market, or catch an accordion performance on Amsterdam's city streets? With Rick Steves’ Best of Europe 2007, travelers can experience the best of everything Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland have to offer—economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, Rick Steves’ Best of Europe 2007 includes:
• Opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights
• Friendly places to eat and sleep
• Suggested day plans
• Walking tours and trip itineraries
• Clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot
America’s #1 authority on travel to Europe, Rick’s time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.
Customer Reviews:
Rick Steves' is the Best!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-07-23
Loved this book. I dragged this book all over Europe for 31 days. Wow, this book is the bomb. It led me to many jewels in many countries and it helped me find train stations, find my bearings when lost in Switzerland, led me through Vatican when in Italy. I was so impressed. I swear by this book! Its the best.
Rick Steves' Best of Europe 2007.......2007-07-07
Great book! I love Rick's books. Use them for every European trip. This one is a wonderful overview to really get the Best of Europe. Especially if it's your first trip. Don't miss Rothenburg and Hallstatt!
5 Stars for 2 months of European Travel.......2007-06-22
I traveled in Europe for about 2 months. This book was my main guide book. I also used Eyewitness Europe. This book is excellent because it covers traveling to and from the city, city transportation, the sights in the city (and they are rated so you have an idea of which ones are worth your time,) entrance fees, and any special discount passes that you might benefit from.
The only thing I want to warn you about is the cities the book covers. He covers the major cities in each country, but make sure that the book covers enough of the cities you are going to visit before buying it. Ex: Doesn't cover Munich, Innsbruck, Hanover, anything outside of Prague in Czech Republic. These are just a few examples. For us it was perfect because it was our first trip to Europe and we wanted to see the main sights and cities.
Best guide I have reviewed ever.......2007-05-08
I have been planning a family trip to Europe for a long time, after reviewing this guide, I adjusted all my travel schedule as well as Hotel reservations. It is very well organized and has great tips.
Very detailed. Highly informative. Offers opinions rare in other publications.......2007-04-10
Steves take the time to not only provide details of destinations, but also gives the reader rankings of Countries and Cities to visit first plus he ranks the sites within the country. EXACTLY what a first time visitor needs. I will combine his recommendations with those of friends and family. Of course, I will be sure to read at least two other sources before developing a game plan for our first trip to Europe. I grow tired of fru-fru books that say everything is great and every city is great. Steves sticks his neck out with opinions and details to back up those opinions. I have every reason to believe that all of the more specific guides will be similar. I HAVE ALREADY SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED MY OPINIONS OF WHERE WE WILL GO ON THE FIRST TRIP. Is it exactly as he recommends? NO. Not at all. We prefer the out of the way smaller uncongested cities vs Paris, Rome and London. Not for us, thanks. BUT, we have already developed an initial list to investigate based on his info of those smaller "second tier" locations that suit OUR interests. After all, it is OUR trip. But with this guide, we have saved dozens of hours of research. Highly recommend for anyone. Beat Michelin big-time
Book Description
Trusted by professors of the humanities survey course for over twenty years, CULTURE AND VALUES covers Western cultures along with important non-Western cultures, providing students solid, accessible introductions to art, music, philosophy, literature, and more. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without end-of-chapter readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Book Description
In 1945, many Europeans still heated with coal, cooled their food with ice, and lacked indoor plumbing. Today, things could hardly be more different. Over the second half of the twentieth century, the average European's buying power tripled, while working hours fell by a third. The European Economy since 1945 is a broad, accessible, forthright account of the extraordinary development of Europe's economy since the end of World War II. Barry Eichengreen argues that the continent's history has been critical to its economic performance, and that it will continue to be so going forward.
Challenging standard views that basic economic forces were behind postwar Europe's success, Eichengreen shows how Western Europe in particular inherited a set of institutions singularly well suited to the economic circumstances that reigned for almost three decades. Economic growth was facilitated by solidarity-centered trade unions, cohesive employers' associations, and growth-minded governments--all legacies of Europe's earlier history. For example, these institutions worked together to mobilize savings, finance investment, and stabilize wages.
However, this inheritance of economic and social institutions that was the solution until around 1973--when Europe had to switch from growth based on brute-force investment and the acquisition of known technologies to growth based on increased efficiency and innovation--then became the problem.
Thus, the key questions for the future are whether Europe and its constituent nations can now adapt their institutions to the needs of a globalized knowledge economy, and whether in doing so, the continent's distinctive history will be an obstacle or an asset.
Book Description
For introductory-level survey courses in Western Civilization and European History and Civilization; or a supplemental text in Art History or other basic cultural history survey courses.
This highly visual brief survey of Western civilization provides an exceptionally balanced survey of the political, social, and cultural development of Western civilization-its strengths and weaknesses, and the controversies surrounding it. The Teaching & Learning Classroom edition of the highly successful The Western Heritage, Ninth Edition provides your students with the most help available in reading, thinking, and applying the material they are learning in the text and in lecture. A series of pedagogical aids, in text and out of class study companions, as well as complete instructor presentational and assessment support makes this text the perfect choice for those looking to make history come alive for their students.
Book Description
Trusted by professors of the humanities survey course for over twenty years, CULTURE AND VALUES covers Western cultures along with important non-Western cultures, providing students solid, accessible introductions to art, music, philosophy, literature, and more. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without end-of-chapter readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Amazon.com
Among the seven essays collected in Russian Thinkers is perhaps Isaiah Berlin's most famous work, "The Hedgehog and the Fox," which begins with an ancient Greek proverb ("The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing") before taking on Leo Tolstoy's philosophy of history, showing how Tolstoy "was by nature a fox, but believed in being a hedgehog." The other half dozen pieces examine other Russian writers and philosophers, including Alexander Herzen, Ivan Turgenev, and Mikhail Bakunin--although the latter, Berlin says, "is not a serious thinker. There are no coherent ideas to be extracted from his writings of any period, only fire and imagination, violence and poetry, and an ungovernable desire for strong sensations." Few, if any, English-language critics have written as perceptibly about Russian thought and culture as the Latvian-born Berlin, and the history covered in Russian Thinkers is a unique elaboration of Berlin's theses concerning the impact of ideas upon culture.
Customer Reviews:
Berlin at his best - the true fox .......2004-11-11
This study of Russian thinkers is profound and moving. Isaiah Berlin was capable of writing about 'ideas' and their ' development' in a constantly fascinating way. His most well- known essay ' The Hedgehog and the Fox' is in this volume and it seems that Berlin himself was one of those who knew many things and wanted to know many things. His political ideas also took the shape of recognizing conflicting value systems as having validity even when those came from within a single person. Here he writes about the great Russian social and political thinkers Tolstoy, Herzen,Belinsky , Bakunin , Turgenev with characteristic insight, irony and sympathy.
This is a volume anyone interested in the history of ideas should not miss.
Highly Useful Historic Resource.......2002-10-28
This book provides an excellent introduction to the history of Russian thought. I supplemented it with the pertinent chapters of Billington's "The Icon and the Axe" to piece together a general outline of the evolution of Russian political philosophy. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention to Berlin's own philosophizing, but then that wasn't my objective. I found one of his general observations about Russian thought to be particularly useful, i.e. the tendency to follow an idea through to its fullest consequences, no matter how extreme or objectionable. The book nicely sets the stage for how Marxism was able to take hold, showing that it was in some ways an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, intellectual development. The problem is, now that the book has allowed me to cobble together a general framework of Russian thought, the only possible next step is to start directly reading Hegel and Marx! And who wouldn't try to put off a daunting task like that?
Worth the read but...........2002-10-09
Berlin is an interesting and I agree knowing commentator, but one gets the feeling that he understands there is something awry in Communism, but he's not quite sure what. His ideas of freedom are on the mark, but in the post-Communist world they don't quite get to the point. I highly reccomend papal biographer and political pholosopher George Weigel's recent commentaties, (available online). Liberalism was not and is not a sufficient answer to utopian ideology, which Berlin nevertheless correctly asserts will inevitably degenerate into totalitatianism. Even more, in the post-cold war world, relativism has usurped "true" freedom, which presents perhaps an even more dangerous problem than the Soviet one.
The Liberal Predicament.......2002-06-15
This is one of these intellectual & spiritual odysseys of the mind that, after you've digested them, remain embedded in the protoplasm of your mental being. All the Russian 19th century greats (except Pushkin and Dostoevsky ) are here: Herzen, Belinsky, Tolstoy, Turgenev, Bakunin. In a book so saturated with ideas, it is not easy to make a pick- my favorite ones are:
-the hedgehog and the fox metaphor ("The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing"). Human beings are categorized as either "hedgehogs" (whose lives are embodiment of a single, central vision of reality according to which they "feel", breathe, experience and think- "system addicts", in short. Examples include Plato, Dante, Proust and Nietzsche.) or "foxes" ( who live rather centrifugal than centripetal lives, pursue many divergent ends and, generally, possess a sense of reality that prevents them from formulating a definite grand system of "everything"-simply because they "know" that life is too complex to be squeezed into any Procrustean unitary scheme. Montaigne, Balzac, Goethe and Shakespeare are, in various degrees, foxes.)
-precarious position of liberalism-something Berlin was well aware of. A "non-belief belief", liberalism certainly doesn't satisfy "deeper" human needs; also, it managed, following its very nature, to stay away from planned genocides & siren songs of totalitarian power. Yet- Berlin has failed (maybe due to the "history of ideas" nature of this compilation of essays) to answer more fundamental questions plaguing liberal mindset: is it fit to grapple with the 20th/21st century burning issues ? Or- has it mutated into a dark parody of itself, making a pact with postmodern imperial power(s) as represented by X-Filesque military & financial "Free World" greedy elites which batten on the unenviable position of the much of the globe (Latin America, Africa, East Europe & the greater part of Asia) ?
-on strong side, essays on Herzen (Berlin's hero), Turgenev ("Fathers and Children" controversy) and Bakunin (juxtaposed to Herzen) are fresh, universal & not dated at all. Tolstoy is covered unsurpassably, and I doubt it can be done better. On the other hand, some essays, like those on Russia and 1848 revolutions, German Romanticism and Russian populism, although brilliantly weaven, are, in my opinion, more of historical interest than pertinent to our contemporary metastable anxiety condition.
Be as it may: this is an exquisite intellectual tapestry. Buy it.
From Tolstoy to Chernobyl.......2000-06-05
Consider Isaiah Berlin a leading expert on theories of history and Russia an immense problem. The first step is the realization of how big this problem looms in the history of the world. The approach taken by Isaiah Berlin is a combination of history, philosophy, and literature. The most famous chapter of this book, "The Hedgehog and the Fox," examines the falsifications used in WAR AND PEACE to belittle what is usually considered historical in order to prove what Tolstoy believed about real complexity. Some knowledge of calculus (college-level mathematics) might be helpful to get the overall picture. "Our ignorance of how things happen is not due to some inherent inaccessibility of the first causes, only to their multiplicity, the smallness of the ultimate units, and our own inability to see and hear and remember and record and coordinate enough of the available material." (pp. 44-45) The ludicrous embrace of a doctrine like communism was doomed as soon as communism became an enemy of the multiplicity involved in actually getting anything done in a reasonable way, but the people involved needed an ideology to convince them that they had a system for generating nuclear power at Chernobyl, for example. That example is the best, at the moment, for showing how right Tolstoy could be at times. More recent efforts to make Russia function as a free marketplace have demonstrated a danger to which any notion that might be used as an attempt to free a people who don't know the first thing about doing things right could fall prey. All in all, I would rather read this book, as difficult as it is, than be the president of Russia or worse, a newspaper reporter there.
Book Description
In the aftermath of World War II, Prussia--a centuries-old state pivotal to Europe's development--ceased to exist. In their eagerness to erase all traces of the Third Reich from the earth, the Allies believed that Prussia, the very embodiment of German militarism, had to be abolished.
But as Christopher Clark reveals in this pioneering history, Prussia's legacy is far more complex. Though now a fading memory in Europe's heartland, the true story of Prussia offers a remarkable glimpse into the dynamic rise of modern Europe.
What we find is a kingdom that existed nearly half a millennium ago as a patchwork of territorial fragments, with neither significant resources nor a coherent culture. With its capital in Berlin, Prussia grew from being a small, poor, disregarded medieval state into one of the most vigorous and powerful nations in Europe. Iron Kingdom traces Prussia's involvement in the continent's foundational religious and political conflagrations: from the devastations of the Thirty Years War through centuries of political machinations to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, from the enlightenment of Frederick the Great to the destructive conquests of Napoleon, and from the "iron and blood" policies of Bismarck to the creation of the German Empire in 1871, and all that implied for the tumultuous twentieth century.
By 1947, Prussia was deemed an intolerable threat to the safety of Europe; what is often forgotten, Clark argues, is that it had also been an exemplar of the European humanistic tradition, boasting a formidable government administration, an incorruptible civil service, and religious tolerance. Clark demonstrates how a state deemed the bane of twentieth-century Europe has played an incalculable role in Western civilization's fortunes. Iron Kingdom is a definitive, gripping account of Prussia's fascinating, influential, and critical role in modern times.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-09-07
Clear. Easy to read. If you don't know anything about Prussia but you would like to, this book is wonderfull. I recommend it strongly.
Everything you wanted to know about Prussia.......2007-08-27
This is the most indepth and thorough book on Prussia. Everything from wars to religion to the nobility to the common people. I read this book hoping to change my view of Prussia. I admitt I'm among those who have a negative view of Prussia and hoped this book would help me to understand Prussia more. It certainly did. I found the wars of religion very interesting and how Prussia was attempting to keep its balance itself between the powers while it was in the Holy Roman Empire. I liked reading about the common people. Its really an excellent book with only two problems one is how the author kept going back and forth. It would be on 1700s and then jump back to the 1600s or on Frderick the Great and it would jump back to another elector. It was a little annoying. It would have been easier if the author did everything on one subject and then moved on to the next. Or one elector to the next. Secondly the author takes such pains not to blame anything on anyone like if Prussia was in war with France or Austria the author spent so much of the time on why the war wasn't Prussia's fault or France's or Austria's instead of explaining how things started in the war and the reasons for Prussia being in the war (which was what I was hoping learn) that it was hard to understand exactly what the author was trying to say or even what the author's own thoughts were.
The Prussianization of Modern Germany?.......2007-08-23
From the beginning of the 17th century, and particularly from the end of the Thirty Years War (1648)until the end of the Weimar Republic (1933), Christopher Clarke has done a thorough rendering and analysis of how and why the Hohenzollerns succeeded in uniting Germany under Prussian auspices, reaching its apogee in 1871 under Otto von Bismarck, Prime Minister of Prussia and simultaneouly Chancellor of 2nd Reich Germany. However, in the aftermath of World War I, and especially with the onset of the Nazi period in 1933, the analysis seems to disintegrate or is incorrect. Certainly the Weimar Republic was in trouble from the beginning in that the Prussian bureaucracy, to include the justice system, was left in place, and the fact that Hindenburg was elected president twice are illustrative that Prussian-mindedness was still in control and anti-republic. However, while Hitler may have exploited the Prussian mindset and sympathies, he was definitely anti-Prussian. In a sense Hitler was the most genuine "German revolutionary" in the modern era. National socialism was not predicated on Prussianism. One must keep in mind that the NSDAP was a Munich-based and then a Bavarian movement, not a Prussian one. Hitler bludgeoned his way to power by-passing the Prussian military with the S.A. under Ernst Roehm. He only dispensed with the S.A. after the Nazis were already firmly in power and President Hindenburg was dying. By that time Hitler had the Wehrmacht where he wanted it, subodinate to the dictates of the Party. Unfortunately, Professor Clarke tends to gloss over this suggesting that there was a continuum of the Prussian thesis.
Historiography Properly Done..........2007-07-16
.
Heads up, students and scholars: Dr. Clark's tome is a prime example of how historiography is properly done: well researched, well written, well documented, entertaining, informative--(although I do like a few more maps and illustrations).
This could go on any short reading list of European history.
.
Worth the time invested.......2007-06-19
Very well written, Clark keeps the pace going while touching on the many issues involved with the history of Prussia. I bought this book because I found that I had learned very little about Prussia or Germany for that matter in the course of my high school and college education. It seems there is a distaste for the subject that is left over from the association of Nazi fascism and militarism with Prussia. Clark sets out to show that this is an incorrect association and does so convincingly. Full of helpful illustrations, photos, and maps, Iron Kingdom comprehensively covers the political, economic, and social history of Prussia, focusing on the key institutions, people, and moments that influenced its success and then its fall.
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