World Enemy No. 1

In this groundbreaking history, acclaimed historian Jochen Hellbeck reexamines World War II by highlighting the vital role of the Soviet Union, which Nazi Germany saw as its primary existential threat. By drawing on newly declassified archives and firsthand testimonies, Hellbeck reveals how the Nazis' obsession with "Judeo-Bolshevism" shaped their genocidal policies and the brutal conflict on the Eastern Front. This compelling narrative not only documents critical events like the Battle of Stalingrad and the liberation of concentration camps but also addresses the enduring neglect of the Soviet Union's monumental contributions and sacrifices during the war.