Did you know that the “Kristallnacht” night of terror in Nazi Germany was triggered, in large part, because Hitler’s socialist government was broke and about to default on some big debt payments? I didn’t either.

This is just one of a multitude of fascinating insights you’ll find in a new book by Gotzy Aly titled, “Hitler’s Beneficiaries: Plunder, Racial War, and the Nazi Welfare State.”

If this era of history interests you, check out David Frum’s oustanding review of this book here.