The War Aims and Strategies of Adolf Hitler

Many have commented upon Hitler’s inexplicable behavior during World War II. He failed to invade England; he neglected his air force; he engaged enemies on multiple fronts. Viewed in terms of Germany’s struggle against the West, these and other actions made little sense. In truth, however, the war against Western powers had little to do with Hitler’s grand plan: to conquer Russia and lands to the east of Germany, eradicate or enslave their populations, and create a vast Teutonic empire. In light of this goal, Hitler’s actions were consistent throughout. In line with his dictum of “All or Nothing,” once Hitler failed to defeat Russia in December 1941, he conducted the rest of the war with the sole purpose of inflicting maximum bloodshed and desolation, including upon Germany itself. Weakened, sensing defeat, he knew he was a drowning man—and he was determined to take friend and foe alike down with him.
This evaluation of Hitler’s objectives in World War II expands upon a theory gaining prominence among historians: Hitler’s true motive was a crusade against the East, and he had little interest in waging war with England, much less the United States. It examines the different nature of the war on the Eastern and Western fronts; the disparate treatment afforded the two groups of POWs and civilians; and Hitler’s scorched-earth policy, adopted after his primary objective proved beyond his grasp. In poignant, painful detail, it recreates the Russians’ devastating four-year struggle against Germany, which went much further towards ensuring its defeat than any of the comparatively belated Western efforts.

Oscar Pinkus survived both the German and Russian occupations of Poland, his homeland. A writer and engineer with six previous books to his credit, he lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Oscar Pinkus
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 545
Bibliographic Info: 59 photos, maps, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2005
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2054-4
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
List of Terms, Code Names and Abbreviations      vii

PART ONE: THE WRONG WAR      5
1. The Leader      7
2. The Program      14
3. The Bloodless Conquests      19
4. Gate to the East      43
5. The September Weekend      64
6. Blitzkrieg in Poland      68
7. Sitzkrieg in the West      81
8. The Occupation of Denmark and Norway      88
9. The Collapse of France      98
10. The Aftershocks      117
11. The Turnabout      131
12. The Wrong Enemy      135
13. Fortress Europe      153

PART TWO: THE HOLY WAR      167
14. Barbarossa      169
15. The Black and the Red      185
16. Untermensch and Übermensch      207
17. Death of Barbarossa      224
18. December 1941      242
19. The Subhuman East      261
20. The Russian POWs      271
21. The Final Solution      276
22. Stalingrad      287

PART THREE: THE SMART WAR      307
23. The Reluctant Allies      309
24. British Strategy      326
25. The Bombing of Germany      331
26. Ultra-Secret      341
27. African Laurels      344

PART FOUR: ANNUS IRAE 1943      355
28. From Kursk to Kiev      357
29. The Fall of Italy      365
30. Defeat of the U-Boats      385
31. Satan as Prophet      393

PART FIVE: EXTINCTION      411
32. Barbarossa in Reverse      413
33. Liberation of France      428
34. Loss of the Balkans      445
35. Raking the Ashes      450
36. Invasion of Germany      469
37. Self-Immolation      478
38. The Finale in Berlin      485
39. Unconditional Surrender      498

Epilogue      507
Appendix: Names and Positions of Key Personnel      523
Bibliography      527
Index      535

“well written and an easy read…highly recommended”—Catholic Library World.