Mitcham, who has written extensively on the military of Nazi Germany, presents an ambitious history of the activities of the German military from the exile of Kaiser Wilhelm through the end of WWII. Tactics, materiel, troops, training, strategy, battles, marches, and defeats are described in succinct prose, with the different theaters of Nazi military action described in separate chapters. The military's organization and leadership are described in tandem with the narrative of the military operations and several appendices contain tables and lists of comparative ranks, staff positions, the chain of command, characteristics of the tanks, and Luftwaffe units. Two chapters provide a detailed discussion of the decisions, personnel, and operation of the Holocaust, with first-hand descriptions that convey the cold-blooded cruelty of its perpetrators and the suffering of its victims. An index of German military units as well as a subject index and bibliography are provided. Two sections of b&w plates are contained in each of the two volumes. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)