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Lecture

William Tyler
Fourth Reich and Surrender

Tuesday 11.05.2021

Summary

While many historians believe that WWII ended once Hitler committed suicide, there was indeed a Fourth Reich headed by Admiral Doenitz. During this time, Allied forces moved into Germany, and it was up to Doenitz to negotiate the surrender.

William Tyler

An image of William Tyler

William Tyler has spent his entire professional life in adult education, beginning at Kingsgate College in 1969. He has lectured widely for many public bodies, including the University of Cambridge and the WEA, in addition to speaking to many clubs and societies. In 2009, William was awarded the MBE for services to adult education, and he has previously been a scholar in residence at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.

Historians need to cover the period of time between Hitler’s suicide and the final surrender of the German forces and they like giving funny titles. Technically it’s still the Third Reich. And technically Admiral Doenitz is the second and last Fuhrer of the Third Reich. But if you call it the Fourth Reich, well, it does make sense because the Third Reich really is Hitler. It’s merely terminology.

I’m not sure, Churchill wasn’t thinking of using an atom bomb. He was thinking of using the traditional bomb, that’s why it’s mad. It was going to be like 1812 or 1940 all over again with the same result.

Absolutely not. They had enough of war, twice in a generation as it were. No, and they could not have afforded it.