The Unfathomable Ascent: How Hitler Came to Power Paperback – 25 August 2022

I bought this book on a whim. At the time, there were no other written reviews, but nevertheless I thought it worth trying, and I'm very pleased to say I was right.The period before Hitler came to power, following his release from prison in 1925 during the Weimar Republic, is fascinating. I have read about it in other books, but never in such detail, and never so clearly and easily set out.The book is divided into 55 short chapters, and never gets bogged down. It's really well written and very easy to follow. There are copious notes for each chapter at the back, but mostly I didn't need to refer to them. It has an excellent index and a comprehensive bibliography.Quite frankly, I've found it hard to put down, but the way it's written, when I've had to, it's been very easy to pick up the story again later.It's always been a mystery to me why Hitler was voluntarily made Chancellor in 1933, but I think I now understand it. The author has really got to grips with the subject.There are lighter moments. I particularly liked "Goering's social skills made him good company among the elites; he never saw a banquet he did not like", on page 255. But mostly, it's a more serious study of how 'a nobody from nowhere' rose to become the dictator of Germany in 1933.Criticisms. I have but two. There were a few instances where I read things along the lines of 'Hitler overcame this...', but I didn't feel it was completely clear how he did so. Further research on my part, now I know what to look for, is the obvious answer though. And it's written in American, so if you're not, be prepared for 'train station', 'honor', and other similar US language.But those are the most minor of quibbles. Having recently finished both volumes of Frank McDonough's splendid 'The Hitler Years' series, I consider this book to be the perfect prequel to them. It's a cracking read, and I heartily recommend it to you.

Although we all know the outcome of Adolf Hitler's effect on the world's stage, it isnonetheless absolutely fascinating to live through those early days, when our manwas a virtual nobody, going nowhere, affecting no-one.The author's style is so clever that you feel that you're actually in those beerkeller'syourself, watching the arm-waving, finger-snapping, electrified orator, ripping hisfiery, animated horror-show to all and sundry.Then you get all the political infighting for power of a sad demoralised Germany,but with just the one man determined to rule alone, at all costs.The various characters that we all know slip in and out of the story, but through theauthor's slick writing, they virtually come alive in your living room whilst you'retrying to eat your evening meal.If you're keen to know of the Hitler age, then this book is a must; a kick-start to whatwe all know is on the horizon; the beginnings of the creation of what becomes arguably,the greatest war machine the world has ever seen.And all of that from a guy who wasn't even German!