Fuelled by hate. Unable to form normal human relationships. Unwilling to debate political issues.

In many ways Adolf Hitler seemed an unlikely leader, yet he inspired millions, leading Germany into the cataclysmic events of the Second World War.

But how was Hitler able to exert such power over those around him?

Award-winning historian and documentary maker Laurence Rees draws on twenty years of research into the Third Reich, as well as contemporary accounts of people who knew Hitler, to examine the nature of Hitler's appeal and reveal the role his unique 'charisma' played in his success.

'Offering acerbic insight ... this arresting account asks and answers all the right questions'
Daily Telegraph

About the Author

Laurence Rees is a former Head of BBC TV History programmes and his written nine books focusing on the Nazis and the Second World War. His latest, 'The Nazi Mind – 12 Warnings from History', was a Sunday Times bestseller and was described by the Daily Telegraph as ‘a brilliant piece of work: learned compelling and frankly terrifying’, by the Daily Mail as ‘superb’ and ‘invaluable’, by the Independent as ‘compulsive reading’ and ‘enthralling and chilling’, and the Irish Times as ‘meticulously researched, brilliantly written and passionately argued’.

Many of his books, including 'The Nazis: A Warning from History', 'Auschwitz: The Nazis and the ‘Final Solution’, 'World War II: Behind Closed Doors' and 'The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler', were also documentary TV series, which he wrote and produced.

His book on Auschwitz won the British Book Award, and is the world’s bestselling work on the history of the camp.

Educated at Oxford University, for several years he was a visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science, London University. He holds honorary doctorates from the University of Sheffield and the Open University. His other awards include a BAFTA, a Grierson award, a George Foster Peabody award, a Broadcasting Press Guild award, a Broadcast award, a BANFF festival award, two International Documentary awards and two Emmys.