The conclusion and crowning achievement of an outstanding biography. Ian Kershaw's captivating portrayal of Hitler and his era, from the peak of popularity in 1936 to the downfall in 1945. Following the sensational success of the first volume, the British historian turns to the nine years during which Adolf Hitler led Germany from the heights of national euphoria into a war of annihilation and ultimately to unconditional surrender. Kershaw vividly and accurately illustrates the fatal interplay between Hitler's visions on one hand and the desires and machinations of his followers on the other. It was only through this interaction that warlike megalomania and industrial mass murder could occur. Ian Kershaw sheds light on Hitler's personal role and his dramatic end in the bunker beneath Berlin based on the latest research and previously unconsidered sources. This biography.