2. As regards the first question I had read the book by Raul Hilberg "The destruction of the European Jews" which provides a detailed insight into the "how" of barbarism but little explanation of the "why ". Whatever methods (historians) are the same: the study of German archives, mainly those captured by US troops in 1945.
3. I found that the subject of the book is treated intellectually brilliant way: the author recounts the events forcefully figures without being drowned by the details and each step it provides a synthesis that allows the reader to follow the story and draw conclusions. The steps -not always unanimes- Nazi officials described with rigor, without caricature.
4. It is difficult to summarize this work. For my part I will mention here what struck me most (but is not necessarily essential):
-The Nazism was able to win because of the 1929 crisis and the sacrifices we made weigh on the German people to pay reparations to the allies of the 1st World War.
-The Nazi research strategy for living space in the east and with the elimination of serfdom population of the conquered territories was inspired by the colonial strategy of the 19th century British and French and also, to some extent, the colonization of United States.
-The French defeat of 1940 was due more to a masterful trick of German staff than actual superiority of the German army.
-Regardless of the ethical issues, the German defeat was inevitable because of the gap between the economies of the Axis powers and those of allies.
5. Incidentally, although published by "Les Belles Lettres", it seems that the French translation conceals weaknesses. For example, among others, often use "potato" to "Potato" and "scrap" for "ferrous product."
