An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List
Episodes Referencing This Book
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
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.
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
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'