The Third Reich

The Third Reich re-appraises one of the most closely studied issues in European history — the appeal of the Nazi party — and analyzes the reasons behind the remarkable and sustained success of National Socialism in Germany. David Welch challenges previously held assumptions about the effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda, summarizes the major current debate arguing that, in order to be successful, propaganda must preach to the partially converted. This second edition brings the book up-to-date with a revised introduction and postscript to reflect the historiographical debates of the 1990s. It includes new material on many topics such as the continuities and discontinuities between Weimar and the Third Reich, the medium of radio, the ‘Hitler myth’, Nazi targeting of specific classes and social groups and racial purity.