The Coming Darkness: The Rise of the Third Reich

This set of 4 lectures explores the origins of the Nazi Party in the aftermath of World War One and how Adolph Hitler took control of Germany and created a totalitarian state dedicated to racial purity, regional dominance and deeply ingrained social control. We will examine diverse topics such as the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, the burning of the Reichstag, the night of the long knives, the creation of anti-Jewish legislation, Nazi art and architecture, the night of broken glass and many other topics. This series would be followed in June by a second set of lectures on "The Fall of the Third Reich." This is not a series that extensively covers World War II.