If you’ve made it to this final installment of Evans’ trilogy on the Third Reich, you’re probably already a fan of his style. Having diligently followed the chain of events from Kaiser Wilhelm to Hitler, this book picks up the story where the Nazi regime is at war—essentially, the beginning of the end. And while we know the ending, it’s still shocking to read just how close Hitler and Germany came to winning early on through sheer audacity (long before the war really got going). That said, it’s also wildly reassuring how far from victory they were once the war truly began, especially once the US entered the fray.
(side bar: I am aware that there were heavy losses on all sides, but there is nothing like a bit of WW2 history to make you go rah rah for US capitalism and natural resources)
Evans maintains his balance between narrative and hard data, keeping the reader engaged while offering just enough numbers to ground his account in cold reality. I’ll admit, some of the more figure-heavy sections (e.g., how many tanks were being produced) got skimmed, but the larger picture—the massive difference in production between the Allies and the Axis—stayed crystal clear. It’s a reminder that, for all of Germany’s early “prep,” their actual ability to sustain the war effort was fatally flawed.
While I can’t compare this book to other Third Reich histories—my only other attempt was nearly 20 years ago—I feel confident that it provides as comprehensive and balanced a view as one could hope for. Evans doesn’t get bogged down in any one aspect, but instead presents a broad and clear-eyed overview of the war, touching on military, political, and social dynamics alike.
It also might go without saying that there is a substantial portion of the book that is dedicated to the Final Solution, including exactly how involved the Third Reich was (very), how methodical they attempted to make it (very), how devastating it was to the local Jewish communities (very), and how barbaric the implementation was (very). Evans also includes the effects on other marginalized groups (the Roma, LGBTQ, disabled) and continues the thread from the first book on how the persecution of political opponents led to Nazism’s straight shot to the top.
Surprisingly, I find myself keen to revisit sections of this book again. Evans’ writing makes complex history digestible without feeling dumbed down, and the balance of storytelling and fact is enough to make me consider grabbing a used copy for future reference. This is a solid, compelling conclusion to this trilogy.