Takeover

(Paperback)

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A dramatic narrative of the six months leading up to President Paul von Hindenburg's decision to appoint Adolf Hitler as chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933.

Takeover brings to life the secret meetings, political manoeuvrings, and shifting loyalties involved in Hitler's rise, using contemporary sources without the advantage of historical hindsight.

Historian Timothy W. Ryback illuminates just how close Hitler came to not ascending to power. The ageing von Hindenburg had promised to never appoint the Nazi leader as chancellor and succeeded in humiliating Hitler during their meeting on 13 August when refusing his demands. The Nazi party was facing electoral defeats, internal divisions, declining membership and was hemorrhaging cash, as was Hitler himself. Yet, despite these challenges, Hitler continued his quest 'to destroy democracy with democracy', holding rallies in sixty German cities, and he emerged victorious.

Deeply researched with newly accessed archives, Takeover vividly captures this decisive historical turning point while providing fresh insights into Hitler's private and political life along with those in his circle.

Reviews

Timothy W. Ryback tells a grippingly important tale. His meticulous detailing of the dramatic days before Hitler assumed power make for salutary reading in our times. Will the tragic failure of civil courage and political will be repeated - Germany 1933, America 2024 It's hard not to imagine. -- Philippe Sands
Timothy W. Ryback tells a grippingly important tale. His meticulous detailing of the dramatic days before Hitler assumed power make for salutary reading in our times. Will the tragic failure of civil courage and political will be repeated - Germany 1933, America 2024 It's hard not to imagine. -- Philippe Sands

Author Bio

Timothy W. Ryback is the author of Hitler's Private Library, which was named on the Washington Post Best Nonfiction list in 2008 and The Last Survivor: Legacies of Dachau, a New York Times Notable Book. He has written for The Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. He divides his time between Paris and Berlin.