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Hello, historians have struggled to explain the enormity of the crimes committed in Germany under adult Hitler.

We've had theories of totalitarianism and have distorted modernity, debates between intentionalists and their opponents, as it were, the structuralists.

The great political philosopher Hannah Arrant said, under conditions of tyranny, it's far easier

to act than to think. But somehow none of these

explanations have seemed quite enough to explain how an apparently democratic

country in the heart of modern Europe was mobilised to commit genocide and to fight a bitter war to the end against the world's

most powerful nations.

With me to discuss Hitler and history struggles to explain him are three brilliant British historians.

Ian Kershaw, who's just published the much anticipated second part of his highly acclaimed biography of the Nazi leader,

volume 2 is called Hitler 1936 to 45, Nemesis.

Also with Ms Neil Ferguson, fellow and tutor in Modern History Jesus

College, Oxford and Mary Fulbrook Professor of German History at University College London.

Ian Kershaw. Mussellolini first coined the phrase totalitarian in the early 20s and he described

his ideal society as all within the state, none outside the state, none against the state. How far do you think this helps to explain, as

Henrietta, what it did, dictators like Hitler and Stalin. Let's stick to Hitler.

I think the term totalitarianism is one that I wouldn't want to see struck from the dictionary

but I think it has a limited value.

It applies to a number of systems in a phase of rule I think which is that of a revolutionary

phase where the entire system is being upturned and where the state or a political movement, a party,

stakes a total claim to control over that society.

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