Dictatorships and Authoritarianism in Modern German History provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the history of dictatorships in Germany since the French Revolution. Dictatorships have been a defining feature of modern German history. The Nazi dictatorship between 1933 and 1945, which brought about the Second World War and the Holocaust, is still taught in schools and universities as the prime example of the destructiveness of ideologically driven regimes in the 20th century; the state-socialist regime in the German Democratic Republic that lasted for over 40 years bore many of the same dictatorial features. Understanding the factors that made these two regimes possible, their inner workings, but also their impact on the lives of many people, is key to understanding the course of modern German history as a whole and this is discussed at length in this absorbing volume. The book moves beyond the familiar historical narratives to incorporate analysis of key political thinkers and their interpretations of the problem of authoritarian and totalitarian rule. The discussion of these political dimensions is given further depth with the examination of the impact of dictatorship on German society as well as key figures of the 20th century.

Autorentext

André Keil is Senior Lecturer in Modern European History at Liverpool John Moores University, UK.

Klappentext

Dictatorships and Authoritarianism in Modern German History provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the history of dictatorships in Germany since the French Revolution. Dictatorships have been a defining feature of modern German history. The Nazi dictatorship between 1933 and 1945, which brought about the Second World War and the Holocaust, is still taught in schools and universities as the prime example of the destructiveness of ideologically driven regimes in the 20th century; the state-socialist regime in the German Democratic Republic that lasted for over 40 years bore many of the same dictatorial features. Understanding the factors that made these two regimes possible, their inner workings, but also their impact on the lives of many people, is key to understanding the course of modern German history as a whole and this is discussed at length in this absorbing volume.
The book moves beyond the familiar historical narratives to incorporate analysis of key political thinkers and their interpretations of the problem of authoritarian and totalitarian rule. The discussion of these political dimensions is given further depth with the examination of the impact of dictatorship on German society as well as key figures of the 20th century.

Inhalt

List of Illustrations
Part I - Tracing the History of Dictatorship in Modern Germany
Introduction: Liberty, Authoritarianism, and Modernity

1. Nationalism, Modernity, and the Allure of Authoritarianism in the German-Speaking Lands, 1789-1914
2. A Permanent State of Exception? The Problem of Constitutional Dictatorship, 1914-1933
3. The Complexities of the Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-1945
4. Dictatorship and Freedom in the Two Germanies, 1949-1989
   Part II - New Directions and New Questions
5. Comparative History: How Unique Was the German Experience of Dictatorship?
6. Living in Dictatorships: Mentalities, Experiences, and Biographies
   Appendices
   Bibliography
   Index