The majority of Germans perceived the "peace years" of the Third Reich from 1933 to 1939 as a return to normalcy under the leadership of a charismatic leader, who seemed to succeed in everything. At the same time, however, the authorities laid the groundwork for war and genocide right before everyone's eyes: through massive military rearmament, the destruction of the rule of law, and the establishment of a system of violence that was solely committed to the "will of the Führer." The book analyzes the pivotal decisions of these years in politics, economics, society, and culture, providing guidance based on an increasingly vast body of international research.