Hitler

A groundbreaking biography of Adolf Hitler by the respected historian Brendan Simms reveals unexpected aspects of the infamous leader's motivations. Although Hitler has been extensively studied, Simms argues that common assumptions about his driving forces are misguided. Contrary to widespread belief, Hitler's primary concern was not the threat of Bolshevism. Instead, he was chiefly worried about international capitalism and the Anglo-American powers. These concerns fueled his anti-Semitism and his quest for Lebensraum, or "living space," in a world dominated by the British Empire and the United States.Brendan Simms utilizes newly available sources to explore how Hitler's ideology developed in the aftermath of World War I. He viewed the United States and British Empire as templates for what he wanted to achieve with Germany—an empire built on land appropriation, racism, and violence. Hitler envisioned a future where Germany would rise to global prominence; otherwise, it faced not only irrelevance but potential extinction due to emigration and foreign influence. The central conflict, as he perceived it, was not just between Germans and Jews or Germans and Slavs, but primarily between Germans and the "Anglo-Saxons." Ultimately, only world domination could fulfill Hitler's ambitions, leading to a global coalition formed to defeat him.Simms's biography is the first to thoroughly explain the ideological roots of Hitler's policies, illustrating how powerful ideas can drive the most destructive actions.