Steve Crawshaw
Nathan Stoltzfus is renowned for his groundbreaking work documenting the historic protests by the women of Rosenstrasse in Berlin in 1943. In this fascinating book, Stoltzfus again overturns conventional wisdoms about the Nazi dictatorship, with vivid examples of the impact of resistance and protest even in the harshest of times.”—Steve Crawshaw, author of Easier Fatherland: Germany and the Twenty-First Century and Street Spirit: The Power of Protest and Mischief
German Studies Review
This is an impressive book, which will be of much interest and benefit to scholars and students of German history.”—German Studies Review
Doris L. Bergen
Nathan Stoltzfus has produced an insightful examination of the occurrence and impact of public dissent in Nazi Germany. He succeeds in answering some significant questions that have occupied generations of scholars.”— Doris L. Bergen, author of War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust
Peace News - Ian Sinclair
Though it deals with some
of the darkest events of the twentieth century, Hitler’s Compromises is ultimately a hopeful book, highlighting
how there is political space for dissent, however limited, in even the harshest of dictatorships”— Ian Sinclair, Peace News
Choice
A masterful examination of Hitler’s real responsibility.”—Choice
From the Publisher
"In the end . . . Hitler's Compromises is an exceptionally well-written, cogently argued, and innovative study that recasts our understanding of the Third Reich."—Eric Kurlander, Journal of Modern History
“Though it deals with some
of the darkest events of the twentieth century, Hitler’s Compromises is ultimately a hopeful book, highlighting
how there is political space for dissent, however limited, in even the harshest of dictatorships”— Ian Sinclair, Peace News
“Stoltzfus’s work is a helpful corrective to some popular misconceptions about the Nazi regime”— Richard Weikart, H-Net Review
“A valuable, original interpretation of Nazi rule. Stoltzfus argues that Hitler and his inner circle demonstrated considerable political skill in maintaining a strong base of support. His is a vision of a Hitler constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure that he had the Volk behind him. This is a very compelling new interpretation, beautifully executed.”—Dolores Augustine, St. John’s University
“Nathan Stoltzfus has produced an insightful examination of the occurrence and impact of public dissent in Nazi Germany. He succeeds in answering some significant questions that have occupied generations of scholars.”— Doris L. Bergen, author of War and Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust
“This book is based on a wealth of sources. It rehearses various episodes that give us an insight into the relationship between the Nazi regime and some sectors of society, including the Christian churches, women evacuees in wartime and the gentile wives of Jewish German men. This is done in greater detail than in many accounts, and the detail is very illuminating. Its message is that, again and again, Hitler chose to compromise with a group that stood up to him and his regime, rather than risk outright confrontation, especially in wartime.”—Jill Stephenson, University of Edinburgh
“Nathan Stoltzfus is renowned for his groundbreaking work documenting the historic protests by the women of Rosenstrasse in Berlin in 1943. In this fascinating book, Stoltzfus again overturns conventional wisdoms about the Nazi dictatorship, with vivid examples of the impact of resistance and protest even in the harshest of times.”—Steve Crawshaw, author of Easier Fatherland: Germany and the Twenty-First Century and Street Spirit: The Power of Protest and Mischief
Jill Stephenson
This book is based on a wealth of sources. It rehearses various episodes that give us an insight into the relationship between the Nazi regime and some sectors of society, including the Christian churches, women evacuees in wartime and the gentile wives of Jewish German men. This is done in greater detail than in many accounts, and the detail is very illuminating. Its message is that, again and again, Hitler chose to compromise with a group that stood up to him and his regime, rather than risk outright confrontation, especially in wartime.”—Jill Stephenson, University of Edinburgh
Winnipeg Free Press
Stoltzfus has elaborated a new perspective on the politics of the Nazi regime.”—Winnipeg Free Press
World War II Magazine - Jacob Heilbrunn
Stoltzfus demonstrates that by pretending to be moderate at key points, Hitler worked to enlist Germans to fulfill his mission of building a New Order, a sobering reminder about the threat posed to any democratic society by a crafty demagogue.”—Jacob Heilbrunn, World War II Magazine
Journal of Modern History - Eric Kurlander
"In the end . . . Hitler's Compromises is an exceptionally well-written, cogently argued, and innovative study that recasts our understanding of the Third Reich."—Eric Kurlander, Journal of Modern History
Holocaust and Genocide Studies - Francis R. Nicosia
"A significant and highly original contribution to the scholarly literature on the history of the Third Reich."—Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Dolores Augustine
A valuable, original interpretation of Nazi rule. Stoltzfus argues that Hitler and his inner circle demonstrated considerable political skill in maintaining a strong base of support. His is a vision of a Hitler constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure that he had the Volk behind him. This is a very compelling new interpretation, beautifully executed.”—Dolores Augustine, St. John’s University
Open Letters Monthly
Indispensable reading for students of the period.”—Open Letters Monthly
European History Quarterly
A sophisticated and nuanced account of the Third Reich. . . . An impressive book, which will be of much interest and benefit to scholars and students of German history.”—European History Quarterly
From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY
An in-depth examination of the tactical compromises Hitler made in order to consolidate power . . . A lucid work of historical argumentation that succeeds in establishing compromise as a crucial instrument in Hitler's political arsenal. —Kirkus
Kirkus Reviews
2016-03-31
An in-depth examination of the tactical compromises Hitler made in order to consolidate power.Stoltzfus (Holocaust Studies/Florida State Univ.; Resistance of the Heart: Intermarriage and the Rosenstrasse Protest in Nazi Germany, 1996, etc.) offers a novel interpretation of Hitler's rise to power and continued popularity as a dictator, depicting him as a surprisingly flexible tactician who frequently achieved more through compromise than he did through terror or his oft-cited charisma. In sharp contrast to Stalin's brutal, inflexible methods, Hitler was willing to "compromise with the German people when the political stakes were high enough." While Hitler took the "most extreme and brutal course" against Jews, "homosexuals, unproductive ‘useless eaters,' or other social aliens," he avoided using force whenever possible against "German-blooded" citizens. Stoltzfus convincingly argues that the Führer was obsessed with pleasing his populist base, giving ground or making deals whenever conflicts between the state and the people became exceptionally contentious or visible. The author relies on specific examples to prove his point, including Hitler's determination—after the "notorious failure" of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch—to pursue the "legal course" in his quest for power, despite his loathing of democracy. Stoltzfus explains how Hitler's determination to attend to the whims of the German public grew out of his understanding that "the radical dimensions of the Nazi mission" would require that the Nazi Party "try harder to ingratiate itself to the German masses in every way possible." The author goes on to examine numerous unpopular issues on which the dictator compromised, such as the "euthanasia" policy, attempts to limit the church's influence, and civilian evacuations. Rather than making purely academic distinctions, Stoltzfus advances a cogent argument with broad moral, historical, and sociological implications. While armchair generals might find the material dry, serious students of history will be thoroughly engaged. A lucid work of historical argumentation that succeeds in establishing compromise as a crucial instrument in Hitler's political arsenal.
