This book takes your chronologically through Hitler's rise to power and take over of Germany as well as the history of what was happening in Germany at the time. Each year is a chapter and the book ends at 1939.

I learned an incredible amount from this book. There were lots of primary sources from people's accounts of that time. My only issue with the book is that because it is set up chronologically there are a lot of names and places that get mentioned and it is often hard to keep track of all of the events as they happen blow by blow.

A dense read but a good one.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found the subject matter really interesting. The book was well written and easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This will give the student of Hitler and Naziism a lot of quality information that is at time obscure but very relevant to history. The writting is clean and flowing but at times can be quite tedious. This is a long read and you need to be prepared for that. Well done.

Have you read William Shirer's The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich? Are you interested in early the mid 20th century Germany and the runup to WWII? If so, this is right up your alley (as is volume two, Disaster, which I am reading now).

Triumph is an orderly, year by year examination of Hitler's rise to power. note that it helps immensely if you are aware f the events between the Treaty of Versailles and 1933, including Hitler's personal life during that time and the people he collects around him along the way.

Each chapter details the events occurring in that year, ranging from what Hitler and his cronies were doing, to the economy of Germany as a whole and cities like Berlin in particular, to what was happening in the arts, continued German recovery from the disastrous debt assigned to them by the Allies after WWI, government policies, and so on., Rest assured that other governments are not spared a look - the appeaser Neville Chamberlain, for instance, is there on the page. There is also time spent detailing how other countries viewed Germany and Hitler in his role. Some were convinced that everyday Germans would toss him out, while others laughed at the cartoonish thug, and others began sounding the alarms about the megalomaniac who had methodically made his way to Chancellor.

I often hesitate to use the word "comprehensive', as typically it does not accurately describe the reality of the pages in the book, but McDonough has done an excellent and, yes, a comprehensive job of moving the reader through these formative years of complete Nazi control of Germany government.

Incredibly interesting as well as eminently readable, this is a fine addition to the oeuvre of WWII books that focus on Hitler.

Five out of five stars.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the reading copy.

Excellent, deep immersion into Hitler's political rise and triumph. Highly recommended for casual readers and specialists alike. Well-written, solid analysis and one of the better books on the period.

The Hitler Years: Triumph, 1933-1939 by Frank McDonough

Did you ever shake your head in wonder how Hitler ever was able to wield such power over the Germans and the rest of the world? This
ambitious, rich in details non-fiction explains how that happened.

After the WWI and the great depression, and in a severe economic slump, the German people were searching for a way out. Hitler promised peace and prosperity, garnering larger crowds with every speech.

Putting like-minded people behind him, eliminating the opposition,and being a magnetic orator, he grew more powerful daily.
His true evil had not yet reared its ugly head.

This book explains who was who in the Third Reich, what treaties and pacts mattered, and of Hitler’s shifting loyalties. You will never need another reference to find what you wanted to know about Hitler and the Third Reich.

My thanks to #StMartinsPress#NetGalley for an ARC for this review.

As a lover of history, I have often heard of this author in connection with Hitler and WWII but I have never read anything by him until NetGalley and the publisher offered this book for me to review. I am fairly familiar with the WWII era of Hitler, but not so much of his rise to power. In 1933, Hitler was appointed German Chancellor of a coalition government by then President Hindenburg. Within a few months, he had installed a dictatorship by jailing and/or killing his opponents, terrorizing the rest of the population and driving out Jews. Over the course of the years the author covers, Hitler won over a lot of the population to his vision of a renewed Reich after the devastation of The Great War. He triumphed by cunning maneuvers, pitting neighboring powers against each other and waiting for the moment when he would realize his ambition of a war showing greatness, a dream of vast Eastern European conquests and fanatic racism.

The author shows in great detail, and obvious extensive research, Hitler's rise to power year by year. This is NOT a dry historical tomb, but one that is very readable. I look forward to the second book covering the WWII years.

I received this an ARC through Netgalley. The Hitler Years provides an in-depth look as to how and why Hitler rose to power. It is extremely detailed and thoughtfully written. The amount of time in research for a book like this must have been immense. The pictures throughout were a wonderful touch. While this is a work of non-fiction, I did not feel that it dragged at all or was difficult to understand. While there are a lot of details shared, I never felt lost in the text. Excited to read the next installment by Frank McDonough.

Author and historian Frank McDonough (http://proffrankmcdonough.com) published the book “The Hitler Years: Triumph, 1933-1939” in 2021. Professor McDonough has published more than a dozen books.

I categorize this book as ‘PG. The book covers the period between 1933 and 1939. Adolf Hitler ascends during this period becoming the undisputed leader of Nazi Germany. The book was an interesting read. It covers the politics and intrigue that went on in 1930s Germany. It follows Hitler as he is appointed Chancellor then as he is named the Fürher. Hitler was brutal to those that opposed him. Many opponents were arrested, beaten, or sent to the camps. Some just disappeared.

Hitler won over the population by creating jobs and stimulating the economy. He and the Nazis used the common sentiment against the Jews. Many felt the Jews were responsible for WWI and for the economic situation. He first drove them out of their positions then gathered them for the camps. Hitler was a clever politician during these early years. He used threats and political arrangements to achieve his goals. He used political maneuvering to bully and intimidate various powers of Europe.

I enjoyed the 16 hours I spent reading this 496-page history. While this book was very academic and full of details, it was also very readable. There was far more political maneuvering during these years than I had realized. I do like the chosen cover art. I give this book a 4 out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

The Hitler Years: Triumph is a non fiction book detailing the situations that led to World War II. This book is a general history of how Hitler rose to power and how the World ignored lot of signs on what was to come. The author has documented very well all the details that happened in Germany during those times economically, diplomatically and financially. It was interesting to read the formation of SS and how SS and Gestapo eventually became so powerful.
This book is definitely huge but definitely will interest readers who are interested in reading about the events leading up to the War. With plenty of pictures this is a good read.

This is a very detailed account of Hitler’s rise to power in the early years of 1933-1939. I definitely want to read the second volume, since it ended a bit abruptly just as the political scene around the world was getting precarious.

The book goes through each year, illustrating Hitler’s political savvy and deception. It helps if readers have some idea of what was happening during these years. I found it interesting that one of the Mitford girls from England was mentioned several times as being a close friend of Hitler’s. Having previously read about the Mitford family, this resonated with me.

What was most chilling about reading this in today’s political climate are the similarities that show up—most especially what is and is not reported to the public. On the other hand, he may have been stopped much sooner it he attempted the same scenario in the present day.

Be prepared to keep track of many names and branches of office mentioned throughout, both from Germany and several other countries. This is a long book and not an especially fast read, but definitely one that will be of interest.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and offer my honest review.

A very detailed overview of Hitler's Years from 1933-1939. Well researched and I found it very interesting. It is a book on history so at times there is a lot of information coming at you, that said it's still quite good.

Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933. For some reason, all the other nations thought they would be able to keep him in check. At first it seemed that would be possible, but he was just reorganizing his plans. Hitler, I found out, was actually quite the politician. He knew how to get things done and could turn things that went against what he wanted to his advantage.

I learned quite a lot reading this book. I always thought that Hitler had started his extermations at the concentration camps. This is not true. A few years before that actually happened he started the T4 program. The program was a way for him to get rid of children under 5 of the less desirable race, the mentally ill and the disabled. Thousands were killed in hospitals by being sent into showers, locked in, then gassed. Just like Hitler had done in the Concentration camps.

Hitler was manipulative. Crazy as Hell, I think. A demon as on person put it in the book. What he did in these 6 years leading up to the invasion of Poland and the start of WWII can't be all laid at his feet though, as I learned. Chamberlain, for one, was so set on peace with Germany, he ignored any other way of handling Germany, until it came to late. When Germany first invaded Czechoslovakia, Britian and France should have stood up to Hitler. Germany's armed forces were small during this time and couldn't have lasted against both of them. They let Hitler get by with what he did, so Hitler thought let me see what else I can do.

The reason I gave this book only 4 ⭐, though it was really good. Some of the pictures in it didn't correspond with the description. I got confused during that time, though there weren't many. Another reason is that I have always wondered what made him want an Aryan race, when he himself was not blonde or blue-eyed. I understand that he blamed the Jews for the loss of WWI, that's why he went after them. But, other than he being crazy as a Bessy Bug, what was he thinking? I mean, God help us, if Germany would have won WWII, but don't you think eventually all the Aryans would have thought, hey, why are we following this brown/black haired, brown-eyed guy, when we are superior. I don't know just a thought. I do know I am very happy Germany lost.

This book was sad to me. To think that one person could literally wipeout a generation of people, for nothing but hatred, is incomprehensible to me. Some of the things the Nazi's did are so inhumane, well let me say just about all they did was inhumane.

This is only the first volume in the Hitler Years. There is a second and I plan on reading it, and spoiler, can't wait until Hitler kills himself, because after all he was just a bully and coward. If you like reading about WWII, this book is a must for you, I think. Happy Reading 😊

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the Kindle Version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a fascinating read and I am looking forward to the next book. This was a very well researched and well written account detailing Adolph Hitler's years from 1933-1939. There was a lot of material in this book that I had not read before along with pictures that I had not seen. This was indeed a very interesting book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this excellent account of Adolph Hitler.

Be warned: if you’re not a major history buff and a fan of footnotes, you will likely want to stay away from this first of two volumes chronicling Hitler’s rise to power and first forays into the spread of the Reich. Densely packed with a chronological layout, this detailed-oriented and anecdotally interspersed work is a real beast. Kudos on the research needed to pack so much in a short space!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

Volume 1: Triumph 1933-1939

This is an intricate portrait of Adolf Hitler’s political rise and the Nazification of Germany. The author presents Hitler as a master of flexibility and improvisation in his takeover of the German government. The country’s economy was weakened after the Great Depression and the promises he made to end unemployment and to take a grip on the nation’s finances struck a chord with the middle-class. Hitler became chancellor in 1933. Mr. McDonough delves deeply into those years: from the rise and fall of the Third Reich. The volume #1 ends after the military defeat of Poland in 1939.

A chapter is dedicated to each year and chronicles the major events during that time the narrative presents an excellent overview. The book in whole covers a lot of ground from political to personal topics. Although the style is fluid I found this topic not to be an easy read, actually I had a very hard time keeping up with what was said. What a terrible beginning: the brutal violence was astonishing, heinous deeds began such as forced sterilization, aggressive zeal and passionate hatred towards groups I can go on and on this and the book tells all, no wonder it led to worst time. In some ways this is a fascinating book that highlights the aggressive arrogance of Hitler and his cohorts and how weak and slow were Britain and France to response to the brutality against the people of Germany.

I am a huge fan of non-fiction even fiction set during the war time but rarely had I the chance to read books during the pre-war years “The Hitler’s Years” opened my eyes with its breathtaking information, numerous photos and footnotes. If you want clarity on events leading to the war in Europe, this account is worth well giving it a try. But be ready lots is transmitted that can be overwhelming.....

This is a very thorough chronological overview of Adolf Hitler’s political activities from 1933 through the end of 1939. This overview touches on the related activities of other politicians in the run-up to World War II as well. A small amount of personal information is given about Hitler, Eva Braun, and others connected to the main political thread. This narrative includes a lot about Neville Chamberlain and Anthony Eden as they were frequently on the receiving end of Hitler’s requests, and later demands. Detail about the involvement of Goebbels and Göring is highlighted, but also that of many others who have not figured largely in books and documentaries. As the political landscape was changing rapidly, the chronological approach with the main focus on one person works quite well.

I have been interested in World War II for decades, and work permitting I watched documentaries and read books on the subject. Generally, they were on one aspect of The War at a time. This book has a great deal of detail and numerous footnotes which present a significant amount of specific information. It provides the basis of the politics at the end of the Weimar Republic and beginning of the Third Reich.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to clarify their understanding of events leading up to World War II in Europe (only a relatively small amount of the book mentions Japan). The writing is clear and the narrative is engaging; I found it difficult to put down.

I was given an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Mac Nicholas and St. Martin’s Publishing Group, author Frank McDonough, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

The Hitler Years is a chronological exploration of the early years of Hilter's rise to power from 1933 to 1939. It is a very detailed look at both Hilter's personal life and his political movements. However there is an odd combination of historical factuality and assumptions. Overall the book is enjoyable but there are moments as a history buff that make me wonder how McDonough reached some of his conclusions.

The Hitler Years offers a detailed examination of the Rise of Hitler and the Nazis. It's an okay introduction to a novice reader who may have only the barest grasp of history. However, I found nothing new in this book that hasn't already been analyzed numerous times already. A few things did leap out at me that caused consternation. First, the author claims Hitler's regime was not an example of totalitarianism. That claim is ridiculous. Secondly, he questions Hitler's relationship with Eva Braun, speculating that it wasn't real. He also wonders if Braun's ingestion of 25 sleeping pills in 1935 was "a genuine suicide attempt." I was aghast at his assertion. I looked through all of his citations and sources and found only one for Braun. There have been several credible biographies written about her, which McDonough didn't bother to consult. At best, this book offers a cursory look at the rise of Hitler's regime, but it tends to be revisionism history in serval aspects.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I loved this book! Author Frank McDonough has created an historical masterpiece with an amazing amount of detailed research. I have read several books about Hitler and the Third Reich and this one tops them all! There are numerous private meetings and anecdotes presented throughout this book. The relationships among the well-known world figures are extremely well-drawn. I totally recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this period of history - this is THE definitive documentation. I cannot wait for Volume Two!

Absorbing, riveting and fascinating, this book describes the power-hungry and ruthless Hitler's years between 1933 and 1939. He pitted country against country, race against race. He dominated, bullied, used brute force and deceit, January 30, 1933 changed history. As Goebbels said, "The new Reich has been born". Many bought his aggressive fervour and passionate hatred towards groups he felt got in his way. Not only did he despise Jews but felt the mentally challenged, homosexuals, the blind and deaf. He blamed the Jews and Bolsheviks for every problem. It is so hard to believe how many gravitated to such a man but he was charismatic, powerful, used masterful propaganda such as the Olympics and posters and offered economic hope after the Great War. However, Germany's standard of living was 50 per cent lower than that of the US. He capitalized on schisms such as Edward VIII's abdication and Japans Anti-Comintern Pact.

In this comprehensive book the author explains the election campaign with the slogan, "Build with Hitler". The brutal violence was astonishing. In February the Reichstag was started on fire which was a tipping point...it may have been started by the Nazis. Crimes committed by them were pardoned. Their heinous deeds soon included forced sterilization and Aryanization. So-called "degenerate" art was seized and burned. Books were burned. Purging of Jews became law. Not only that but whatever Hitler said became law, no need for voting. All other parties became obsolete. Trade unions were destroyed. Outraged, other countries banded together over the course of complex meetings to decide what was to be done. Stalin, Chamberlain and Mussolini were prominent figures, of course. Hitler was thrilled that Italy, Britain and France were at odds with one another.

My knowledge about this era really increased with reading this. It is the most thoroughly-researched book on the topic I've read. I learned more about Case Green and the complexities of what went on behind the scenes politically including aggressive land division, Germany's outrageous demands regarding Czechoslovakia, the atonement tax and assassination of a German diplomat by a Polish-Jewish refugee. I knew that Kristallnacht was horrific but did not know the extent. My grandparents fled Poland during this time. If only I had asked them more about it.

This book is breathtaking in its information as well as photographs, some of which are in colour which I hadn't seen before. If you desire to learn more about this time period please do read this. The author excels at describing things. Sadly, he experienced much personal sorrow while writing this book.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this sobering and riveting book.