An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

Ian Kershaw

4 books referenced

Books by Ian Kershaw

Hitler: 1936-1945 Nemesis

Referenced in 4 episodes

623. The Nazis at War: Churchill’s Finest Hour (Part 4)

December 04, 2025

Context:

Referenced multiple times as Kershaw's biography of Hitler, discussing topics including British public opinion after Munich, Hitler's attitude toward England, Hitler's strategic thinking about attacking the Soviet Union, and Hitler's views on Franco

532. Hitler's War on Poland: The Fall of Warsaw (Part 3)

January 20, 2025

Context:

Referenced as a biography of Hitler. Cited for identifying September 1939 as the 'Nazi Rubicon' - the moral turning point - and for describing Hitler's enjoyment of watching the bombing of Warsaw.

531. Hitler's War on Poland: The Pact with Stalin (Part 2)

January 16, 2025

Context:

Referenced multiple times as 'Hitler's great biographer' and cited for describing Hitler's 50th birthday extravaganza and Hitler's mindset. Later explicitly mentioned as 'in Kershaw, describes the scene in his biography' when discussing Hitler's meeting with the Swedish intermediary Dalaris.

528. The Nazis' Road to War: Hitler Prepares to Strike (Part 1)

January 06, 2025

Context:

Referenced multiple times as 'his brilliant biography' of Hitler. Kershaw is quoted extensively throughout discussing Hitler's foreign policy achievements and his belief in providence. The biography is clearly about Hitler but the specific title is not mentioned.

Hitler: A Biography

Referenced in 1 episode

622. The Nazis at War: The Fall of France (Part 3)

December 01, 2025

Context:

His biography of Hitler is cited when discussing the hypothetical scenario of British troops being captured at Dunkirk

Hitler (biography)

Referenced in 10 episodes

620. The Nazis at War: Hitler Strikes West (Part 1)

November 24, 2025

Context:

Multiple references to Kershaw's two-volume Hitler biography throughout the episode, including his characterization of Brauchitsch as 'spineless,' his concept of 'working towards the Fuhrer,' and his analysis of Hitler's popularity

530. Hitler’s War on Poland: Countdown to Armageddon (Part 1)

January 13, 2025

Context:

Referenced as 'his biography of Hitler' when quoting a teenage girl from Paderborn whose mother questioned whether Hitler would ever be satisfied after the annexation of Czechoslovakia.

410. The Nazis in Power: The Night of Broken Glass (Part 7)

January 18, 2024

Context:

Referenced as 'Ian Kershaw's biography' (of Hitler) - cited regarding Hitler's mindset connecting the Jewish question with his desire for an apocalyptic showdown in Europe, and regarding the establishment of Heydrich's central office for Jewish immigration as a step toward the Holocaust

409. The Nazis in Power: Hitler's War on the Jews (Part 6)

January 16, 2024

Context:

Dominic refers to 'Ian Kershaw in his brilliant biography of Hitler' multiple times, first when discussing examples of violence against Jews in Breslau, and later when explaining the concept of 'working towards the Führer' - how subordinates competed to find radical solutions to achieve Hitler's goals.

404. The Nazis in Power: The Night of the Long Knives (Part 1)

January 01, 2024

Context:

Explicitly mentioned 'As Ian Kershaw says in his book' when discussing Röhm's final moments and whether he read the newspaper in his last 10 minutes before being shot

404. The Nazis in Power: The Night of the Long Knives (Part 1)

January 01, 2024

Context:

Both authors' 'brilliant books on the Third Reich' are mentioned as discussing the cult of Hitler, including poems, Hitler trees, and Hitler squares and streets

297: The Nazis: Hitler's Triumph (Part 3)

January 23, 2023

Context:

Referenced as 'his biography' and 'Ian Kershaw says in his biography' when discussing Hitler's failed meeting with Hindenburg in August 1932 and how the Nazi regime could potentially have been averted through different political decisions

296: The Nazis: The Beer Hall Putsch (Part 2)

January 19, 2023

Context:

Referenced multiple times regarding Hitler's imprisonment ('less a prison, more a hotel') and the Nazi party loyalty oath ('like medieval vassals swearing undying loyalty'). Likely refers to his Hitler biography.

295: The Rise of the Nazis (Part 1)

January 16, 2023

Context:

Multiple references to Kershaw's biography of Hitler - 'Kershaw says in his biography' and 'Ian Kershaw in his biography describes him' - discussed as a major scholarly work on Hitler's life

64. Hitler, with Ian Kershaw - part 2

June 17, 2021

Context:

Dominic mentions reading Sir Ian Kershaw's biography of Hitler, saying 'I remember reading your biography 20 years ago' while discussing Hitler's administrative incompetence and the concept of 'working towards the Fuhrer'

The Hitler Myth

Referenced in 1 episode

63. Hitler, with Ian Kershaw - part 1

June 14, 2021

Context:

Ian Kershaw mentions his own earlier book when discussing Hitler's belief in his own infallibility, particularly around the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936.