The "Third Reich" was the name given by Hitler and the Nazi Party to the dictatorship that began in 1933 and ended twelve years later with the total destruction of Germany and Hitler's suicide. Defined by the subversive, iconic figure of the Führer, the Third Reich was one of the defining periods of the modern era. From its small beginnings in the 1920s, Hitler's movement came to dominate German society in the 1930s, bringing with it the militarization of German society, the mechanism of state terrorism, and a policy of violent discrimination against political opponents and the so-called 'unstables': gypsies, homosexuals, and, most notably, Jews. The history of the Reich is tied to territorial aggression, total war, and genocide. The final result was the total defeat of Germany and the extermination of millions of Europeans, a historical drama without precedent that still casts a shadow over modern Germany. Richard Overy describes the rise and fall of the Nazi power in a fascinating narrative of the period, enhanced by extensive citations from documents, letters, diaries, and oral testimonies, accompanied by many authentic and striking images of the era. There are also event frames that explore many of the significant aspects of the Third Reich in greater detail. Authentic, informative, and anthologized, written by a scholar deeply familiar with the period, the "Third Reich" brings the bloody realities of war, conquest, and genocide vividly to life. It is an ideal book for anyone who is fascinated by the turbulent history of the 20th century, World War II, and the age of dictators.