War and Economy in the Third Reich [Paperback]

When Hitler came to power in 1933 he had two aims for the economy: a rapid recovery from the depths of the Great Slump and the creation of a vast economic foundation for Germany's renewed bid for world power. These eleven essays explore the tension between Hitler's vision of an armed economy and the reality of German economic and social life. Richard Overy argues that the German economy was much less crisis-ridden in 1939 than its enemies supposed, and that Hitler, far from limiting his war effort, tried to mobilize the economy for total war from 1939 onwards. Only the poor organization of the Nazi state and the interference of the military prevented higher levels of military output. Many of these essays challenge accepted views of the Third Reich. In his introduction Richard Overy reflects on the issues the essays raise, and the ways in which the subject is changing. Often thought-provoking, always informed,War and Economyopens a window on a essential aspect of Hitler's Germany.

Offers a powerful and compelling interpretation that casts serious doubts on the previously accepted notion of Germany's concept ofBlitzkriegand the implications for our understanding of Nazi politics and society...A most valuable collection of articles, which no historian of the Third Reich can afford to ignore. --Business History Review

Richard Overy has long been recognized as a leading expert on the economic history of the Third Reich...HisWar and Economy in the Third Reichbrings together his most important essays on the topic and provides a useful and cogent statement of Overy's position on four interrelated issues...Indispensable for understanding the relationship between state and economy in the Third Reich. --Journal of Military History

Over the past decade, Richard J. Overy has emerged as one of the leading economic historians of the Third Reich in the English-speaking world....This collection of his molÃ*