The Wages of Destruction
Encyclopedia
The Wages of Destruction is an award-winning non-fiction
book detailing the economic history
of Nazi Germany
. Written by Adam Tooze
, it was first published by Allen Lane
in 2006.
The Wages of Destruction won the Wolfson History Prize
and the 2007 Longman/History Today Book of the Year Prize. It was published to critical praise from such authors as Michael Burleigh
, Richard Overy
and Niall Ferguson
.
The book argues that, having failed to defeat Britain in 1940 the economic logic of the war drove the Nazis to invade the Soviet Union (to capture the level of natural resources needed to challenge the economic superpower of America) but in doing so was sealing its own destruction as it was precisely that lack of resources that made a victory against the Soviet Union impossible as the Soviet Union was eventually able to get access US aid as well as rely on its own resources.
The book makes the case for the economic impact of the strategic bombing campaign (though argues that the wrong targets were often selected), challenges the idea of an economic miracle under Speer
and rejects the idea that the German economy could have mobilised significantly more women into the war economy.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book detailing the economic history
Economic history
Economic history is the study of economies or economic phenomena in the past. Analysis in economic history is undertaken using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and by applying economic theory to historical situations and institutions...
of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. Written by Adam Tooze
Adam Tooze
Adam Tooze is a British historian and was Reader in Modern European Economic History at the University of Cambridge. In 2002, he was awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize for Modern History. As of Summer 2010, he is a professor of history at Yale University.He is currently best known for his economic...
, it was first published by Allen Lane
Allen Lane
Sir Allen Lane was a British publisher who founded Penguin Books, bringing high quality paperback fiction and non-fiction to the mass market.-Early life and family:...
in 2006.
The Wages of Destruction won the Wolfson History Prize
Wolfson History Prize
The Wolfson History Prizes are literary awards given annually in the United Kingdom to promote and encourage standards of excellence in the writing of history for the general public...
and the 2007 Longman/History Today Book of the Year Prize. It was published to critical praise from such authors as Michael Burleigh
Michael Burleigh
Michael Burleigh is a British author and historian.In 1977 he was awarded a first class honours degree in Medieval and Modern History from University College London, winning the Pollard, Dolley and Sir William Mayer prizes...
, Richard Overy
Richard Overy
Richard Overy is a British historian who has published extensively on the history of World War II and the Third Reich. In 2007 as The Times editor of Complete History of the World he chose the 50 key dates of world history....
and Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson
Niall Campbell Douglas Ferguson is a British historian. His specialty is financial and economic history, particularly hyperinflation and the bond markets, as well as the history of colonialism.....
.
The book argues that, having failed to defeat Britain in 1940 the economic logic of the war drove the Nazis to invade the Soviet Union (to capture the level of natural resources needed to challenge the economic superpower of America) but in doing so was sealing its own destruction as it was precisely that lack of resources that made a victory against the Soviet Union impossible as the Soviet Union was eventually able to get access US aid as well as rely on its own resources.
The book makes the case for the economic impact of the strategic bombing campaign (though argues that the wrong targets were often selected), challenges the idea of an economic miracle under Speer
Speer
Speer is a surname.*Albert Speer, chief architect of Nazi Germany*Albert Speer, Jr., a German architect and city planner, son of Albert Speer*Bill Speer, a retired professional ice hockey player...
and rejects the idea that the German economy could have mobilised significantly more women into the war economy.
External links
- Material connected to A. Tooze, Wages of Destruction (London, 2006) at the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.