The Third Reich in Power

By: Richard J. Evans

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 31 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The definitive account of Germany's malign transformation under Hitler's total rule and the implacable march to war. This magnificent second volume of Richard J. Evans's three-volume history of Nazi Germany was hailed by Benjamin Schwartz of The Atlantic Monthly as "the definitive English-language account... gripping and precise." It chronicles the incredible story of Germany's radical reshaping under Nazi rule. As those who were deemed unworthy to be counted among the German people were dealt with in increasingly brutal terms, Hitler's drive to prepare Germany for the war that he saw as its destiny reached its fateful hour in September 1939.

The Third Reich in Power is the fullest and most authoritative account yet written of how, in six years, Germany was brought to the edge of that terrible abyss.

©2006 Richard J. Evans (P)2010 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

“[Evans’s] three-volume history... is shaping up to be a masterpiece. Fluidly narrated, tightly organized and comprehensive." (William Grimes, The New York Times)

Amazing book!!!

one of the best books on Nazi Germany aside from William L Shirer the rise and fall of the third Reich. This trilogy is very detailed and discusses nearly every aspect of life for the German people under the Nazi regime.

Very informative. This second book of the three gives the most detailed rendering of how the Nazis came to have complete control

This is the best explanation of the hideous ways the Nazis infiltrated their hatred into the fabric of Germany. It is the book I have been looking for.

Fascinating

This amazing audiobook puts into focus on what it was liking living under the Third Reich before the war. How events gradually built up and why decisions we look back as foolish made sense back during this time. Highly recommended for all interested the history of the the Third Reich.

Peace Through Joy

Peace Through Joy and Other Nazi Propaganda Schemes Exposed

I am grateful to Richard J. Evans for this history. His matter of fact narrative somehow makes this subject come alive. One of the most intriguing aspects of Nazi Germany was how they managed to quell the resistance of the German people. They did it by ruthless totalitarian intimidation. It is a study in human depravity and weakness to stand against injustice. Be careful when reading this for you will begin to see Nazis everywhere when you realize that our government is resorting to many of the same propaganda measures the Nazis used. Hitler artificially reported the unemployment numbers by removing the jobs lost from the reporting; our government foes the same thing. And then there is Hitler’s fanatical hatred of the Jews. Here Evans does the best job at explaining this that I have read. Antisemitism had long been a part of European culture, but it was not officially sanctioned. When Hitler institutionalized and authorized hatred of Jewish people he allowed this evil to have free reign and it quickly became a widespread no holds barred cultural obsession not just a series of disjointed acts of closet racial prejudice. It is shameful to realize that members of the human race can actively act in this genocidal manner. It is also shameful to see the Western leaders fail time and time again to act when at many points they could have stopped this reign of terror from ever being launched.

This is one of the most fascinating periods of human history: one, because it did not happen so very long ago that we cannot relate to the world situation; two, because the characters on opposing sides, such as Hitler and Goering, Stalin and Churchill, are so dominant in their own spheres if influence to seem super human caricatures or comic book villains and heroes; and three, because WWII altered the world in which we live so profoundly that we must delve into the causes of this upheaval. I have read and listened to many volumes of lore on the Second World War and find that I still learn something new in every section of this book by Evans. I have recently listened to THE STORM OF WAR by Andrew Roberts, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH by William L. Shirer. This book covers the topic from an entirely different, and more insightful, angle.

Sean Pratt again does a great job at reading giving clear pronunciation throughout. His voice is pleasant and never becomes a distraction.

Excellent and Frightening

Once again Evans paints a meticulous picture of a horrifyingly oppressive regime that invaded every part of German life during the 1930s. That it all came together in 6 years is frightening and a teachable history lesson.

The whole story! Great detail!

Great Detail telling the whole story!
Best book if you want the to know the real story.

The details of political actions before WWII

We know how Germany absorbed its
neighbors in the early Nazi years. This fills in the complex task involved before 1939.
A good filling in of the complex tasks needed
to get a war started and missing the many
chances that were missed to avoid WWII

Great book, annoying narrator

This is a thorough and well-organized history of post Weimar Republic Germany before the actual outbreak of war. My only gripe would be the narrator, who often pauses mid-sentence (not at a comma) and reminds one of a high school student. He mispronounces even some common words. To top it off, he narrates with a sarcastic tone which makes his mediocre reading ability even more annoying. BTW, you won't notice these things in your "sample listening." It will take you about an hour of listening for him to really begin getting on your nerves.

A Master Class History Lesson

Evans' work far surpasses anything written by other expert historians in his trilogy of the Third Reich. This second volume is the most intriguing since it covers the years when the Hitler regime assumed power but had not yet propelled its armed forces into war. The pyschology of the German people was certainly unique as they were the only civilized nation to collectively start two world wars and descend into barbarism in the modern industrial age. The best book ever written about pre-world war Nazi Germany.

Great follow up

The second installment of Evans' masterwork. Very detailed and also very listenable. The narrator is great.