The Wages of Destruction Book Summary - The Wages of Destruction Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

The Wages of Destruction summary

The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy

4.2 (40 ratings)
20 mins

Brief summary

The Wages of Destruction by Adam Tooze is a comprehensive study that delves into the economic factors that drove the Nazi war machine. It offers valuable insights into how Hitler's regime was able to sustain its aggressive expansion.

Table of Contents

    The Wages of Destruction
    Summary of 6 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 6

    Ideology underpinned Nazi Germany’s war effort

    The story of the Second World War has been told many times, and each generation of historians has tended to emphasize different factors in the conflict. Between roughly 1945 and the mid-1970s, for example, narratives in the West tended to focus on the Western front. 

    These accounts emphasized pivotal battles fought by American and British forces: the Battle of Britain, the North African campaigns, the invasion of Italy, and D-Day. Hitler, in short, had been defeated in the West. Of course, historians didn’t forget about the Eastern front – Germany had faced severe setbacks at Moscow, Leningrad, and Stalingrad. But Eastern Europe was usually regarded as a secondary theater in the war. 

    These accounts were challenged in the ‘70s as a new generation of historians began to pay more attention to the Eastern front. They pointed out that over 80 percent of all losses suffered by the German army had been inflicted in Eastern Europe, primarily by the Soviet Union. A second factor also contributed to this narrative shift. Growing awareness and historical examination of the Holocaust in the 1980s and 1990s underscored the importance of the Eastern front: it was here, after all, that the true evil of the Nazi regime was most evident. 

    These interventions were an important correction to the historical record, but they also suffered shortcomings of their own. Historians now suggested that Nazi Germany had essentially fought two different kinds of war simultaneously. On the Western front, it had waged a “rational” war shaped by pragmatic concerns about strategy and the balance of power. On the Eastern front, by contrast, it had waged an “ideological” war to eliminate Europe’s Jewish population and create Lebensraum – “living space” for future German colonists.

    But this view overlooks the complex nature of Nazi ambitions and strategies. It suggests that ideology was exclusively influential on the Eastern Front, while pragmatism ruled in the West. In reality, Nazi Germany’s military and political strategies were deeply intertwined across all fronts. 

    Although the nature of war differed in Western and Eastern Europe, Germany’s ambitions on both fronts were shaped by the same ideological goals. Put simply, Hitler believed that Germany could only challenge its Western rivals – above all the United States and the British empire – if it controlled as much territory and as many resources as those powers. The racial “purification” of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, in other words, was a means to the “rational” goal of outcompeting the Western powers.

    Want to see all full key ideas from The Wages of Destruction?

    Key ideas in The Wages of Destruction

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is The Wages of Destruction about?

    The Wages of Destruction (2006) explores the economic dynamics that underpinned Nazi Germany’s aggressive expansion and ultimate downfall during World War II. Delving into Adolf Hitler’s ideological goals, it challenges traditional narratives to reveal the inherent weaknesses and unsustainable ambitions that led to Germany’s catastrophic failure.

    The Wages of Destruction Review

    The Wages of Destruction (2006) by Adam Tooze is a captivating account of how Nazi Germany's economic policies played a central role in World War II. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • Provides a detailed examination of the economic strategies that shaped the Nazi regime, shedding light on the motivations and consequences of their actions.
    • Offers fascinating insights into the complex relationship between economics and warfare, challenging conventional wisdom and providing a fresh perspective.
    • By presenting the information in a clear and accessible manner, the book manages to bring this complex topic to life, keeping readers engaged and informed.

    Who should read The Wages of Destruction?

    • History enthusiasts curious about WWII’s economic underpinnings
    • Readers interested in military strategy and political decisions
    • Academics studying the impacts of economics on warfare outcomes

    About the Author

    Adam Tooze is a historian and the author of several acclaimed books including Crashed, The Deluge, and The Wages of Destruction. His work has earned him prestigious awards such as the Wolfson Prize for History, the Longman-History Today Book of the Year Prize, and the Lionel Gelber Prize. Tooze has held teaching positions at Cambridge and Yale and currently serves as the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History at Columbia University.

    Categories with The Wages of Destruction

    Book summaries like The Wages of Destruction

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    36 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Get started

    The Wages of Destruction FAQs 

    What is the main message of The Wages of Destruction?

    The main message of The Wages of Destruction is the economic factors that fueled and sustained Nazi Germany's military aggression.

    How long does it take to read The Wages of Destruction?

    The reading time for The Wages of Destruction varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is The Wages of Destruction a good book? Is it worth reading?

    The Wages of Destruction is a captivating and insightful book. It provides a unique perspective on the economic dimensions of World War II and is definitely worth reading.

    Who is the author of The Wages of Destruction?

    The author of The Wages of Destruction is Adam Tooze.

    What to read after The Wages of Destruction?

    If you're wondering what to read next after The Wages of Destruction, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Leadership Strategy by Powerful Business Solutions
    • Magic Pill by Johann Hari
    • Follow the Science by Sharyl Attkisson
    • Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari
    • Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price
    • The Sleepwalkers by Christopher Clark
    • Of Grammatology by Jacques Derrida
    • History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides
    • Atomic Habits by James Clear
    • The Art of Encouragement by Jordan Montgomery