The late James Steiner, a naval officer and World War II veteran, was a weapons systems manager and engineer. He lived in Encino, California.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments      List of Maps and Figures      Preface      Introduction      1. The Interwar Years: Foundation of the Third Reich      2. Military Reaction to Hitler as Chancellor: Leadership Changes Produce a Reliable Team      3. An Emerging Wehrmacht Upsets Versailles: Promises of Restored Sovereignty Are Persuasive      4. Conspiracy to Make War: Hitler Overcomes Officer Corps Opposition      5. The Anschluss/Czech Transition: The Pan-German Era Brings Expanded Military Opportunity      6. The Inevitable Hot War: Poland’s Rapid Defeat Leads to Wehrmacht Hubris      7. Phony War and Attack on France: Rapid Victory Keeps the Military Interested      8. Interlude after France Falls: The Führer Seeks Additional Victories—But Where?      9. The Russian Quagmire: Wehrmacht Doubts Grow as the Leadership Sees the Apogee      10. The U-boat Versus Surface Ship War: Initial Victories, Then Heavy Losses, Concern the Forces      11. The Africa-Italy Campaigns: Victory Becomes Tenuous      12. Aftermath in Italy: Defeat Impacts the Once-Aggressive Wehrmacht      13. Invasion: The Tables of Victory Begin to Turn      14. Hitler as Commander-in-Chief: Revealing a Disjointed Organization Command      15. A Futile Pursuit of Freedom: Support for the Führer Wanes at the Top      16. Aggression’s Price: Twelve Years of Rampage Have a Cost      Conclusion: The Military’s Napoleonic Dreams Lead to Catastrophe      Appendix A. International Military Tribunal Indictments      Appendix B. Chronology of the Third Reich      Appendix C. Treaties and Agreements      Appendix D. Comparative Army Ranks      Appendix E. Definitions      Appendix F. Significant Figures      Chapter Notes      Bibliography      Index