What are some good books to learn about German history/society at the time of the Nazi rise to power?

Question

I don't want texts focused around the political/military exploits of Hitler and his top brass.
I only want interesting glimpses into the society / lives of the common people in Nazi Germany--The rich, middle class, and poor.

Example: Recently I heard on NPR how German homeowners must suffer yearly chimney sweeps by a government regulated/monopoly Chimney Sweep company. Since the chimney cleanings are required, and the gov't doesn't allow competition, it is expensive and the service is less than par.
What was interesting is that the chimney sweepings date back to Nazi Germany, when Nazi politicians passed laws to require all homes to receive chimney cleanings every year in the name of fire safety. The real intent was to create a means for every home in the country to receive inspections by a chimney sweeper who was a Nazi supporter/spy, at regular intervals (make sure your not hiding jews, etc).

So stuff like this, and other basic day-to-day living during Nazi Germany is what I want

Answer 1

I am less familiar with some of more recent books, but two titles I would strongly recommend are below. Both have some "interesting glimpses into the society / lives of the common people in Nazi Germany--The rich, middle class, and poor", but a more detailed look at the leadership.

Inside the Third Reich is a memoir written by Albert Speer, the Nazi Minister of Armaments from 1942 to 1945. It is considered to be one of the most in-depth descriptions of the workings and leaders of Nazi Germany, but is highly controversial because of Speer's lack of discussion of Nazi atrocities and his alleged personal involvement with them.
Speer was the highest-ranking Nazi official to survive both the war and the Nuremberg trials. He was also, even during World War II, described by both sides as one of the few intelligent and sane people in the Nazi hierarchy. Because of these factors, Inside the Third Reich has become the definitive work on the inner workings of Nazi Germany.
Due to his position, Speer was able to describe the personalities of many Nazi officials, including Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Göring, Heinrich Himmler, Rudolf Hess, Martin Bormann and, of course, Hitler himself.


The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by journalist William L. Shirer was the first definitive history of Nazi Germany in English.
The book is based largely on the captured documents of the Third Reich, including the diaries of propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and General Franz Halder. Other sources include confidential speeches, conference reports, taped transcripts of telephone conversations, as well as Shirer's personal recollections during the six years he reported on the Third Reich as a journalist.

Answer 2

Well first of all those so-called people were a society of oppressed the ones that were not in agreement with the third reich hid their feelings very well or they would be slaughtered as well. But believe it or not there were more that agreed with the third reich because those so-called home owners were in the houses of the old, crippled, gay, and Jews, that were slaughtered. So I could care less what they were charged for a chimney sweep, because the money they were using was stolen from either dead or imprisoned people. Proof of this is all in history, and the Swiss bank accounts that were frozen around 10 years ago after 50 years of tracking those stolen billions they finally seized all the money that those theives took. The money is not the issue but the lives are.

Answer 3

Hitler: The Path to Power by George Bracelin Flood
This book covers the social and politcal climate in Germany during Hitler's begginings in politics.
Nazi Culture by George Mosse
This is a hard to find book but is a collection of documents, speeches from the 1930's and 40's that seek to explain the Nazi view of society.

There are countless memoirs out there by Germans but I would caution you as using them as a source because the are very revisitionist, i.e. "I was never one of those Nazi Leute, but supported the resistance" and that kind of thing.
There is a book about the distinguished German-Jewish Klemperer family. They emigrated from Nazi Germany in the late 1930's. Their son Werner is famous for playing Colonel Klink on Hogan's Heroes.
There are tons of German language studies of the Nazi era but few in english. Most books marketable in the USA and Britian are war or holocaust related.

Answer 4

You will find some interesting essays in Berlin A journey in time and place. ISBN 1-904181-76-7

Answer 5

One book I'd suggest is the "Diary of Anne Frank" by Anne Frank. She was a Jewish girl living in Germany during the time Hitler was in power. Anne and her family hid from the Nazis for over two years in Amsterdam, and the diary she kept at the time was later published by her father after he was freed following the war.

Answer 6

1948/1985 "Arch of Trimph" Erich Maria Remarque

Answer 7

Try; "THE DECLINE AND FALL OF NAZI GERMANY AND IMPERIAL JAPAN"
isbn 0-517-12399-1 Gramercy Books

Answer 8

I think that if you could find a german person who actually lived through it, they would be your best bet. It may take some detective work on your part, though. Good luck!