New Books in Sociology

Richard J. Evans, "Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich" (Penguin, 2024)

Dec 8, 2024
Richard Evans, a leading expert on Nazi Germany and author of the acclaimed The Third Reich Trilogy, discusses his latest work, *Hitler's People*. He delves into the intricate lives of key Nazi figures, revealing their personal ambitions and failings. The conversation touches on the evolution of Holocaust discourse and the moral responsibilities of historians today. Evans highlights how the ordinary backgrounds of these individuals fueled extraordinary horrors, drawing parallels with contemporary populism and the complexities of historical interpretation.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Childhood Curiosity

  • Richard Evans's interest in German history stemmed from witnessing bomb sites in London's East End as a child.
  • He questioned who was responsible and why, sparking a lifelong fascination with the period.
ANECDOTE

From Witness to Writer

  • Richard Evans's involvement in the David Irving libel case led him to write his acclaimed Third Reich trilogy.
  • He was asked to recommend a reliable history of Nazi Germany, but finding none, decided to write his own.
INSIGHT

Unifying Factors

  • A common thread among Nazi figures was their acceptance of Hitler's leadership and anti-Semitism.
  • Hitler's anti-Semitism stemmed from a conspiracy theory blaming Jews for Germany's defeat in World War I.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app