The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler

Starting on BBC2 tonight (12 November 2012), the first of 3 episodes looking at the charisma and personality of Adolf Hitler. Written by Lawrence Rees', aclaimed for his previous series 'Nazis: A Warning from History' and 'Auschwitz: the Nazis and the 'Final Solution', this will be recommended viewing!

'Adolf Hitler seemed an unlikely leader - fuelled by anger, incapable of forming normal human relationships and unwilling to debate political issues. Such was the depth of his hatred that he would become a war criminal arguably without precedent in history. Yet this strange character was once loved by millions. How was this possible, and what role did Hitler's alleged 'charisma' play in his success?'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p01pm

Read an introductory article here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20237437

I was Hitler's neighbour...

A fascinating article about a young German Jewish boy, Edgar Feuchtwanger, who lived on the same street as Hitler in the 1930s. The article details what life was like for him and his family in the 1930s and mentions schooling, Kristaknacht, and it was like living in the same street as the Fuhrer.

Read the article here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20210025

You can also listen to a podacst of the interview with Feuchtwanger here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/witness

There are also some other interesting podcasts here which may be of interest, such as the one on Lebensborn, the Nazi's secret plan to breed pure Ayran children.

Nazi Legacy: What's in a name?

The names of Himmler, Goering, Goeth and Hoess still have the power to evoke the horrors of Nazi Germany, but what is it like to live with the legacy of those surnames, and is it ever possible to move on from the terrible crimes committed by your ancestors?

Read the full article from the BBC here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18120890

ww2history.com now free to all!

ww2history.com

This fantastic website, created and maintained by the acclaimed historian Laurence Rees, is now free to all, having previously been only available on subscription.

It is packed with a whole wealth of information which is helpful for the 'From Kaiser to Fuhrer' unit such as an interactive timeline, videos, interviews with leading historians and first hand testimonies.

I will also add some links to the quick link sections as I come across items which tie-in directly to the course, but well worth a look...

http://ww2history.com/

Auschwitz - Then and Now

BBC News article about the publication of a book by the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland. The book shows photographs taken in the extermination camp alongside pictures of the same locations as they are today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17095519