Colin Cross

5223. Adolf Hitler, by Colin Cross (read 25 Nov 2014) Though I read Joachim Fest's excellent biography of Hitler on 21 Aug 1978 and Ian Kershaw's two-volume biography in 2001, I found this work, published in 1973, a lively and well-written book, even though it sort of leans over backward to be "fair" to Hitler in some respects. It is based on a study of Hitler's books and words as reported in books, as well as books by people who knew or have studied Hitler. I found it fresh and was interested in the author's assessment as to why Hitler did the things he did, e.g., why he was so dumb as to declare war on the U.S. when if he had not the U.S. might have fought Japan first and Hitler would have lasted longer. (He feels Hitler did not think it made much difference since the U.S. was helping Germany's enemies already before Pearl Harbor.) The book is full of little touches that I do not remember hearing before, such as that when Mussolini thought Cairo would be captured he was looking for a white horse to ride into Cairo on! This is a refreshing and non-lengthy biography which does a good job looking at Hitler objectively and non-polemicly.… (meer)

Dated, but serviceable account of the emergence of Fascism in Britain between the wars. As you would expect, Sir Oswald Mosley takes centre stage as we follow his career from right to left and then (well and truly) right again. However, Cross also describes the lack of imagination and political will within the Conservative and Labour parties which led to Mosley's impatience, frustration and finally his decision to go it alone. The author also explains Mosley's plans for a corporate state in an easy-to-understand fashion, and explores the roots of anti-semitism in the East End of London, for long seen as fertile ground for Mosley and the British Union of Fascists (BUF).

However, The Fascists in Britain book isn't just about Mosley and the BUF. Weaving his way through the book is Arnold Spencer Leese, founder of the Imperial Fascist League; then there's the British Fascist movement of Rotha Linton-Orman, both of whom pre-date BUF and who were unknown to me.

If you don't know anything about Fascism in Britain then this book is as good a place to start as any.… (meer)