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In Hitler's Germany: Everyday Life in the Third Reich
Uses interviews with ordinary citizens to recount what life was like in Nazi Germany, discusses work, family life, blind loyalty, and secret opposition, and describes the author's own experiences
335 pages, Hardcover
First published December 12, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 22, 2024
Lost in translation. That’s how I would sum up the subtitle of this condensed volume of the two volume German original, which implies a story of how everyday people lived during one of the worst episodes of human history. But the actual subtitle, Wie wir die Nazizeit erlebten—How we experienced the Nazi Era—is more about one person’s experience, one that was hardly commonplace or typical. This is not a criticism, but reader beware. If you really want to get a sense of what everyday life was like during this era, then Victor Klemperer’s diaries from 1933-41 and 1942-45 are more appropriate. Even Hans Fallada’s
Every Man Dies Alone
would be better, although it is fiction loosely based on real events. Engelmann’s autobiographical account is anything but one that I would describe as being about “daily life” in the Third Reich. Engelmann’s account is worth reading, although I must admit at times, it had a Forrest Gump-ish feel to it; that of being coincidentally near a variety of historical events and twists of fate.
Engelmann came from a liberal, social democratic family who obviously instilled in him a strong sense of self-assuredness, fairness, justice, and confidence. He was a seemingly mature twelve years of age when Hitler came to power. His story intertwines his recollections with reminiscences and discussions with people decades after the war, when he was a journalist. He chronicles his interactions with relatives, friends, and neighbors, some like-minded liberals, some true-believing Nazis, others opportunistic bureaucrats. When he finished school, he joined the military as a radio operator prior to the beginning of the war in the hope that he would finish his service before fighting began so that he could leave the country. His father stayed in Britain while on a business trip and eventually spent most of the war living in Australia. The outbreak of the war in September 1939 thwarted their plans to leave.
Because of his position, he did not have to take up arms, but was still near the action during the invasions of Belgium and France, so he did see some of the effects of war on the front lines. He immediate superior was also an opponent of the regime who was later apprehended for subversive activities. While he was in the military, he used his furloughs to support activities of small cells who helped smuggle Jews and other opponents in the regime either out of the country or establish fake identities within it. After manipulating his release from military service through bureaucratic means, he became a staff member of a small firm which provided information about foreign media and press reports to government officials, which allowed him to travel more than the average German and conduct his activities in other parts of the Reich. One of his closest collaborators was a Nazi official who secretly smuggled people out of the country. He was betrayed through the fear of one he tried to help near the end of the war, which led to his arrest and subsequent shuttling to various work and concentration camps until he ended up in Dachau shortly before it was freed by Americans.
The history of the Third Reich is too often compartmentalized in black/white, either/or terms, especially for those who didn’t live through it, have been weaned on absolutist views of history, and are sure, with the distance of time, how they wouldn’t have acted as the majority of Germans did. Thankfully, Engelmann’s account highlights the many grays of the era—how seemingly innocuous activities were brave and principled and how people either shined with authenticity, betrayed their humanity, or, in many cases, were oblivious to it all, even decades after the reality of Nazism became inescapable. The latter make up the most memorable parts of his story to me. His interactions with a cousin whose husband was a high-ranking Nazi official in Poland who was eventually executed after the war. To her, the war was an adventure, a life of luxury. After the war, she lived in relative comfort and was feted by American soldiers who wanted to marry her. But the valuable pension she received from the post-war German government was too valuable for her to ever consider those overtures. Engelmann recounts a number of stories like that—of Nazi officials and perpetrators who lived comfortably decades after the war in relative affluence. It is a truth that is maddening to this day.
Engelmann came from a liberal, social democratic family who obviously instilled in him a strong sense of self-assuredness, fairness, justice, and confidence. He was a seemingly mature twelve years of age when Hitler came to power. His story intertwines his recollections with reminiscences and discussions with people decades after the war, when he was a journalist. He chronicles his interactions with relatives, friends, and neighbors, some like-minded liberals, some true-believing Nazis, others opportunistic bureaucrats. When he finished school, he joined the military as a radio operator prior to the beginning of the war in the hope that he would finish his service before fighting began so that he could leave the country. His father stayed in Britain while on a business trip and eventually spent most of the war living in Australia. The outbreak of the war in September 1939 thwarted their plans to leave.
Because of his position, he did not have to take up arms, but was still near the action during the invasions of Belgium and France, so he did see some of the effects of war on the front lines. He immediate superior was also an opponent of the regime who was later apprehended for subversive activities. While he was in the military, he used his furloughs to support activities of small cells who helped smuggle Jews and other opponents in the regime either out of the country or establish fake identities within it. After manipulating his release from military service through bureaucratic means, he became a staff member of a small firm which provided information about foreign media and press reports to government officials, which allowed him to travel more than the average German and conduct his activities in other parts of the Reich. One of his closest collaborators was a Nazi official who secretly smuggled people out of the country. He was betrayed through the fear of one he tried to help near the end of the war, which led to his arrest and subsequent shuttling to various work and concentration camps until he ended up in Dachau shortly before it was freed by Americans.
The history of the Third Reich is too often compartmentalized in black/white, either/or terms, especially for those who didn’t live through it, have been weaned on absolutist views of history, and are sure, with the distance of time, how they wouldn’t have acted as the majority of Germans did. Thankfully, Engelmann’s account highlights the many grays of the era—how seemingly innocuous activities were brave and principled and how people either shined with authenticity, betrayed their humanity, or, in many cases, were oblivious to it all, even decades after the reality of Nazism became inescapable. The latter make up the most memorable parts of his story to me. His interactions with a cousin whose husband was a high-ranking Nazi official in Poland who was eventually executed after the war. To her, the war was an adventure, a life of luxury. After the war, she lived in relative comfort and was feted by American soldiers who wanted to marry her. But the valuable pension she received from the post-war German government was too valuable for her to ever consider those overtures. Engelmann recounts a number of stories like that—of Nazi officials and perpetrators who lived comfortably decades after the war in relative affluence. It is a truth that is maddening to this day.
April 6, 2016
An excellent source for small details of how people reacted to the organized state terror of the Nazi regime. Some actually resisted, secretly to avoid being sent to concentration camps or killed. Others saw themselves as small cogs in a big machine, the overall objectives of which they supported. Still others denied knowing anything, although that was clearly impossible.
The sections dealing with Kristallknacht are particularly poignant, including the fate of one relatively low-ranking planner, who sent out orders to attack and destroy and murder Jews, and who, subsequent to a brief imprisonment by the Allies after the war, retired on a "fat pension" since he had been promoted to the rank of General in the Waffen-SS.
Six million dead; this Nazi pig retired on a fat pension!
The sections dealing with Kristallknacht are particularly poignant, including the fate of one relatively low-ranking planner, who sent out orders to attack and destroy and murder Jews, and who, subsequent to a brief imprisonment by the Allies after the war, retired on a "fat pension" since he had been promoted to the rank of General in the Waffen-SS.
Six million dead; this Nazi pig retired on a fat pension!
June 11, 2012
Pretty interesting read. The author was a teen as the Nazis took over Germany, & he just found himself helping victims of oppression & violence so often that he gradually became involved in the resistance--even while performing mandatory service in the military. The author talks about those days & visits with some of the people he knew back at the time so that we learn what eventually became of them.
Here in this book we encounter the full range of human reactions to the 3rd Reich from gung-ho nazis, to the spineless, to those who lived in denial, to those who benefited, to serious resisters, etc.
For myself, the history of those times took a backseat to the psychology of how people react under extraordinary circumstances. All the varieties are described here & one can see people in our own lives today that have the traits that would surely evolve into people like those in this book.
I don't know what some reviews here meant about this book not being translated well. I had no problems whatever with it.
I'd recommend it to those looking for the human interest aspect of those 12yrs. in German history.
Here in this book we encounter the full range of human reactions to the 3rd Reich from gung-ho nazis, to the spineless, to those who lived in denial, to those who benefited, to serious resisters, etc.
For myself, the history of those times took a backseat to the psychology of how people react under extraordinary circumstances. All the varieties are described here & one can see people in our own lives today that have the traits that would surely evolve into people like those in this book.
I don't know what some reviews here meant about this book not being translated well. I had no problems whatever with it.
I'd recommend it to those looking for the human interest aspect of those 12yrs. in German history.
May 17, 2012
This was a wonderful memoir of youth in Nazi Germany. Filled with engrossing snapshot type memories and first-person accounts.
October 25, 2018
I read this book when I was in highschool (A Romanian edition that appears to not be listed on goodreads).
Back then I was quite shocked to hear this kind of memoirs. I loved as a kid to watch history channel but this was a perspective that I totally missed and never thought about it back then. I realized that not all germans were nazis, but as it usually happens they gave passive acceptance of the power grab. And that there were brave germans who resisted and helped the ones persecuted by the regime. Interesting still was that despite the fact Hitler got them in the mess the war ended up to be... They fought to save the nation, not necessary for Hitler. The author was part of the Wehrmacht, and I learned that Wehrmacht was not the Nazi or SS.
I think if someone has the idea that all german people = Nazi he is in a very wrong state of mind. This book gives a good nuance to those times that many people today tend to ignore.
Back then I was quite shocked to hear this kind of memoirs. I loved as a kid to watch history channel but this was a perspective that I totally missed and never thought about it back then. I realized that not all germans were nazis, but as it usually happens they gave passive acceptance of the power grab. And that there were brave germans who resisted and helped the ones persecuted by the regime. Interesting still was that despite the fact Hitler got them in the mess the war ended up to be... They fought to save the nation, not necessary for Hitler. The author was part of the Wehrmacht, and I learned that Wehrmacht was not the Nazi or SS.
I think if someone has the idea that all german people = Nazi he is in a very wrong state of mind. This book gives a good nuance to those times that many people today tend to ignore.
August 18, 2021
A little biased in his views towards Nazi Germany, I don't feel like I really gained any insights. Just the same old "evil Germany" narrative. In addition the interviews with Germans that lived during the reich are often abbreviated and I feel edited to fit the standard narrative and Engelmann's specific viewpoint.
October 22, 2022
I was pleased to find this on my local library's discarded stock sale shelf - a fascinating read. I'd love to read the original two volume edition but I fear my rusty O Level German would not be up to the job!
March 11, 2023
An interesting book.
Want to read
January 3, 2024I learned of this book from Linda
May 28, 2016
An excellent overview of the types of individuals living in Germany during Hitler's reign. Personal narratives ranging from the fearful to the proud to the resistant all tired together in one cohesive storyline following the author. I enjoyed reading it even when I was appalled by the actions of some of the people.
June 19, 2008
This was amazing. It's one of those books that makes history extremely intersting and attainable. Helps you get a real feel from Nazi Germany from a man whol lived through it.
June 7, 2012
amazing book about everyday life in nazi germany told by regular germans themselves.very interesting.
August 9, 2016
The author was 12 when Hitler came to power, and spent the next 12 years as part of a network that helped Hitler's victims, particularly Jews, to escape. Very well written, incredibly interesting.
December 6, 2014
An interesting "inside" story of the Third Reich (rise to fall) from a man who was 13 when Hitler came to power in 1933.
April 23, 2016
Read for paper for HIST 3729
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews