The rise of the Hitler’s Nazi Party is one of the defining aspects of the twentieth century. The manner in which National Socialist ideologies took over life in Germany is difficult to comprehend over 75 years later. This fully illustrated book is a single volume encyclopaedia on all aspects of this period in modern history, and explains how a country’s way of life was revolutionised and warped to fit Nazi ideologies.

It starts with a shattered post-war Germany and charts the violent political tactics used by the Nazis to seize political control in 1933. Consolidation of power and brutal suppression of opponents followed as they coordinated all areas of society. The various paramilitary, political and youth organisations, the Nazis’ methods for maintaining law and order and their use of the press and propaganda to control the people and introduce their racial ideas are described. Chapters also cover the economy, culture, religion, education and the family. There is coverage of the ruthless diplomatic inclusion of Austria and Czechoslovakia into the Third Reich and Germany’s rapid rearmament in preparation for war.