Defying liberal democracy, Adolf Hitler transformed Germany into an authoritarian state advocating sovereignty of nations, advancement of labor, preservation of the white race, and commerce based on exchange of wares to replace the international gold standard. Becoming chancellor in 1933, he tackled his country s bankruptcy, massive unemployment, Communist subversion and foreign domination. His social economic programs and diplomacy restored German prosperity and independence in three years, despite opposition from Western democratic leaders. Penetrating the shroud of vilification draping this controversial figure, our study draws on nearly 200 published German sources, many from the National Socialist era, plus documents from British, U.S. and Soviet archives, to describe not just what Hitler did, but why. It also reveals democracy s genuine war aims, a taboo subject for historians, in the ensuing world war against Germany. Challenging the status quo version of the period, here is the book for the student of history who senses that something is missing and seeks answers. Illustrated