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Der Fuehrer: Hitler's Rise to Power
Journalist Konrad Heiden was one of the first to hear the young Adolf Hitler's rousing orations and to recognize his political ingenuity and perverse, self-serving ideology.
As a staff reporter on the Frankfurter Zeitung Heiden was one of the first writers to take a stand against Naziism, and his is the only contemporary document to give the whole story of Hitler's rise to power from the very beginning to the day in 1934 when the Blood Purge eliminated the last opposition, leaving hom absolute dictator of Germany. As Heiden states: "his path of murder and violence was, in accordance whit Hitler's beliefs, the right path to greatness".
This new edition of Heiden's work shows it to be not only a profound and revealing narrative but an important historical document essential to both historian and layman for a greater understanding of the calamitous events that dominated the twentieth century.
As a staff reporter on the Frankfurter Zeitung Heiden was one of the first writers to take a stand against Naziism, and his is the only contemporary document to give the whole story of Hitler's rise to power from the very beginning to the day in 1934 when the Blood Purge eliminated the last opposition, leaving hom absolute dictator of Germany. As Heiden states: "his path of murder and violence was, in accordance whit Hitler's beliefs, the right path to greatness".
This new edition of Heiden's work shows it to be not only a profound and revealing narrative but an important historical document essential to both historian and layman for a greater understanding of the calamitous events that dominated the twentieth century.
788 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1944
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 26, 2016
When I came to this book, I thought it was written by author many years after WWII and Hitler's death. But it's not, it was first publicized in 1935, so its before the biggest crimes occurred. It was interesting to read how Hitler was seen before all that. I learnt many facts, noted many quotes, even had few laughs. What I didn't like, or found myself trying to skip pages, were descriptions of political, economic and every day situation of Germany in 1920's-1930's. It was mainly because it was not so much in chronological order (or at least i think it was jumping here and there) and i was confused. But, truth be told, i have very little knowledge about that time, so that may have weigh in as well.
In overall, I really enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it.
In overall, I really enjoyed reading the book and I would recommend it.
May 12, 2009
An eye opening book on the process Hilter taking control of Germany. A pretty thick book, but well worth the time for those interested in what it takes to become an anti-christ. I became tired of hearing that Obama is doing what Hilter did. I found how completely different the two are. Conspiracy theorist relax, Obama is not the next Hilter.
November 5, 2022
The first serious biography of Hitler was actually written by Konrad Heiden in the 30's when Hitler was still only Chancellor of Germany. The book starts with some background events that shed some light on what was to come.
About a third of the way through the book, we have an "Interlude" (chapter 10) which gives us a deeper understanding of events that took place in the proceeding century, along with important people, philosophical thinking, nationalism, etc. After the "Interlude" chapter, the book begins to take a rather slow and monotonous nosedive into dryness.
This book's biggest strength is also it's weakness: It was written while it was actually happening. Most of the really crazy stuff hadn't taken place (the book leaves off in 1934 with the murder of Ernst Röhm). We have the closeness of the author having been there. Events were unfolding as they were written. In a sense, the characters are so alive, and the events so current that one feels as if in attendance. In another sense, not enough time has passed for this to be a "definitive" work on Hitler (he was just getting started by the time the book ends).
When I decided to take on the (slightly insane) task of simultaneously reading the seven (as far as I'm concerned) most important Hitler biographies, I realized that this book would be essential. Although Heiden's book became dry in places, I learned things worthwhile. Dispite it's being dated, tiring, and occasionally inaccurate, there were patches of inspired writing. I'm glad I read it, but at the same time I'm happy I'm finished.
About a third of the way through the book, we have an "Interlude" (chapter 10) which gives us a deeper understanding of events that took place in the proceeding century, along with important people, philosophical thinking, nationalism, etc. After the "Interlude" chapter, the book begins to take a rather slow and monotonous nosedive into dryness.
This book's biggest strength is also it's weakness: It was written while it was actually happening. Most of the really crazy stuff hadn't taken place (the book leaves off in 1934 with the murder of Ernst Röhm). We have the closeness of the author having been there. Events were unfolding as they were written. In a sense, the characters are so alive, and the events so current that one feels as if in attendance. In another sense, not enough time has passed for this to be a "definitive" work on Hitler (he was just getting started by the time the book ends).
When I decided to take on the (slightly insane) task of simultaneously reading the seven (as far as I'm concerned) most important Hitler biographies, I realized that this book would be essential. Although Heiden's book became dry in places, I learned things worthwhile. Dispite it's being dated, tiring, and occasionally inaccurate, there were patches of inspired writing. I'm glad I read it, but at the same time I'm happy I'm finished.
November 10, 2010
An incredibly long but highly satisfying read. Takes you on a journey of discovery about Adolf's actions that led him to be the most feared man on Earth.
July 11, 2024
I kept seeing Konrad Heiden's being mentioned in many of the other Holocaust books I've been reading (and, of course, William Shirer, perhaps the most famous historian of them all, also named Heiden). So I spent about two weeks with this massive book, completely mesmerized by Heiden's cogent observations about Hitler's rise and actions up through about 1934, seeing evermore eerie parallels to Donald Trump. Heiden dives into his speeches, his background, his shrewdness, his ineptitude, and the way that he was able to completely manipulate the German public during economic turmoil to become the most evil and dangerous man in human history. Heiden, using a very effective combination of examining documents and reporting on events as they were happening, truly presents us with all the terrible ingredients that cause something as odious as fascism to stifle democracy. He points to the way Hitler wanted to outdo Mussolini. He nimbly notes that Hitler was laughed off when the Weimar Republic was going through economic prosperity once the Reichsmark had stabilized matters. He also gives us the origin stories of many vile villains (Goebbels, Rohm, Hess, and Goring), showing how they used Hitler and were in turn used by him. The angering way in which this evil gang fomented anti-Semitism and insisted that they were victims when these fucks were little more than bullying thugs. Some keen pre-Arendt conclusions on the banality of evil. I was deeply disturbed but thoroughly gripped throughout. This is Hitler, as depicted by an indefatigable journalist, as seen through "the first draft of history." It is vital reading for anyone who despises hate, fascism, and authoritarianism as much as I do.
January 15, 2021
I have, with the completion of this monumental tome, temporarily, at least, departed from the cold, dark shadows of the past. The manipulations and deceitful practices that characterized and branded a regime, are described here in meticulous detail. This book lies a little beyond the scope of interest for most laymen historians of the Nazi regime. It answers questions that everyone may have, but many of those common questions lay hidden within the covers of a seven hundred and seventy four page book.
When the seat of power is struck and violated, the repercussions can continue to be felt like shock waves from an earthquake, for many years to come. Little offenses can become regular and more pronounced and begin to erode the very core of a nation's ideology and self image. This stirs the people to react with either fear or strong feelings of misguided, propaganda-charged patriotic fervor. In either case, they are paralyzed by those they come to see as their inevitable dominators, people who have amassed a great deal of power and influence. It is a surrendering of the will to tyranny.
In the words of George Santayana, "Those who fail to learn the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat it."
When the seat of power is struck and violated, the repercussions can continue to be felt like shock waves from an earthquake, for many years to come. Little offenses can become regular and more pronounced and begin to erode the very core of a nation's ideology and self image. This stirs the people to react with either fear or strong feelings of misguided, propaganda-charged patriotic fervor. In either case, they are paralyzed by those they come to see as their inevitable dominators, people who have amassed a great deal of power and influence. It is a surrendering of the will to tyranny.
In the words of George Santayana, "Those who fail to learn the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat it."
September 26, 2023
I originally became intrested in this book because both William Shirer and Joachim Fest continuously referred to this author and his work in their amazing books on this subject; now I understand why. The author is not only a great historian but an absolutely amazing writer of the highest order. He brings even mundane portions of this subject to life with his vivid language. Lastly, he has a profound insight into all things but particularly this subject as he experienced it from the ground level before the events of 1923. It is a shame that more people are not aware of this book and that it seems to have been tucked away in random, disparate places.
I think that if somebody really truly wants to know what happened during this time and with these people, they can look no further than this book.
I think that if somebody really truly wants to know what happened during this time and with these people, they can look no further than this book.
April 2, 2020
It’s a bit of a slog reading this book about the rise of Hitler, but it is worth the effort. I am learning more about the German ‘mind’ in the century or more leading up to Hitler’s evil influence on Germans.
This book was published in 1944, translated from German and is a rare find. The writer, German journalist Konrad Heiden, really dives into the history that helped turn a house painter into a meme for evil.
This book was published in 1944, translated from German and is a rare find. The writer, German journalist Konrad Heiden, really dives into the history that helped turn a house painter into a meme for evil.
Want to read
August 9, 2015Found this book at a thrift store for $3. It's a first edition, but more importantly, it has cut out newspaper pictures of Hitler and some remarks in the margins.
July 9, 2023
This book was written in German in the early 1940s and translated to English in the USA in 1944 for sale to the English market. The vocabulary in this book is generally OK, however I found the book just a little hard to read. Some of the political terms: socialist, social democratic, anarchism, social revolutionary, modern tyranny, even, intellectual, etc. are not common, or even well defined, in the North American lexicon and the book can be heavy in detail. In places the literature is a little cumbersome by 21st century usage; this could be a result of translation.
The book opens with a brief history of an earlier book originally written in French in 1864 by Maurice Joly titled “Dialogue in Hell, . . . or The Politics of Machiavelli.” Originally written as a satire, this book ultimately documents a technique for dominating masses, continents, then the world using lies, isolation (of information), repetition, violence, a boogey man, and a circus. Similar to some modern politicians. This book becomes essentially Adolf Hitler’s playbook.
Hitler’s childhood, family life, school experience and youth is described in detail. From his father whom he hated, he learned to avoid family, intimacy and work. He was also homeless and impoverished until the start of the Great War. During the period from school to army he pretended to be an artist. The art was terrible, and he created very little of it. He leeched off everybody he could. During the war he learned how to avoid fighting (he was a Colonel’s Aide), people in the military obey orders, and a military government is more efficient than a civilian government.
In the immediate poste war era, 1918 to 1920ish Germany, its government, national and state, and economy were in complete chaos on all fronts. Largely due to the Treaty of Versailles. Nothing was ever completed unless demobilized military groups took it on. Murder for hire was either free, beneficial to the murderer too, or protected by the police. The National Socialists, among many other groups, were formed to take or disrupt power. Hitler was an early member and frequent speaker. His talks became the primary source of funds and he gradually began to have more power within the party. Although active in the National Socialist organization and a public speaker, he had learned to maintain a very low profile. Even his speeches were in private, to groups of party members. As the party become more powerful, it was quite comfortable to utilize the “murder armies” or ex-military party members.
The book goes on to describe the recruitment of key party members and the gradual accumulation of power. Never by legal ways and, if legal, always violent, never ethical and very rarely known to the public. Always there was a boogey man, “the Jew.” It is all their fault, only the German (Aryan) knows what Germans need. As Hitler becomes more personally powerful, he takes over the party and ultimately the government. Every underhanded trick and use of violence (by party members not himself) is described in detail from 1923 to 1944. The use of techniques for gathering information and power are documented along with what he did with the power what he said was planned for the future.
The purpose of all this (750 pages), I believe, was to strengthen the case for the United States to enter the Second World War against Hitler’s Germany. The book was probably too late since the US had already entered the war, before the book was published. It provides a record of what the Nazis did, and who. The book also reminds us how other dictators (such as Vladimir Putin and associates) have placed themselves into power, including how they isolated their publics from the wide range of information sources available. In some cases, they have taken control of information sources (Putin), in others, they merely informed their publics that information sources they dislike (such as CNN) are liars. Their publics have chosen not to explore wider ranges of information and are often handicapped with incomplete information.
The book is very interesting but dense. It is all there but not in summary. Anybody interested in Adolf Hitler or world domination should find this interesting. Three Stars
The book opens with a brief history of an earlier book originally written in French in 1864 by Maurice Joly titled “Dialogue in Hell, . . . or The Politics of Machiavelli.” Originally written as a satire, this book ultimately documents a technique for dominating masses, continents, then the world using lies, isolation (of information), repetition, violence, a boogey man, and a circus. Similar to some modern politicians. This book becomes essentially Adolf Hitler’s playbook.
Hitler’s childhood, family life, school experience and youth is described in detail. From his father whom he hated, he learned to avoid family, intimacy and work. He was also homeless and impoverished until the start of the Great War. During the period from school to army he pretended to be an artist. The art was terrible, and he created very little of it. He leeched off everybody he could. During the war he learned how to avoid fighting (he was a Colonel’s Aide), people in the military obey orders, and a military government is more efficient than a civilian government.
In the immediate poste war era, 1918 to 1920ish Germany, its government, national and state, and economy were in complete chaos on all fronts. Largely due to the Treaty of Versailles. Nothing was ever completed unless demobilized military groups took it on. Murder for hire was either free, beneficial to the murderer too, or protected by the police. The National Socialists, among many other groups, were formed to take or disrupt power. Hitler was an early member and frequent speaker. His talks became the primary source of funds and he gradually began to have more power within the party. Although active in the National Socialist organization and a public speaker, he had learned to maintain a very low profile. Even his speeches were in private, to groups of party members. As the party become more powerful, it was quite comfortable to utilize the “murder armies” or ex-military party members.
The book goes on to describe the recruitment of key party members and the gradual accumulation of power. Never by legal ways and, if legal, always violent, never ethical and very rarely known to the public. Always there was a boogey man, “the Jew.” It is all their fault, only the German (Aryan) knows what Germans need. As Hitler becomes more personally powerful, he takes over the party and ultimately the government. Every underhanded trick and use of violence (by party members not himself) is described in detail from 1923 to 1944. The use of techniques for gathering information and power are documented along with what he did with the power what he said was planned for the future.
The purpose of all this (750 pages), I believe, was to strengthen the case for the United States to enter the Second World War against Hitler’s Germany. The book was probably too late since the US had already entered the war, before the book was published. It provides a record of what the Nazis did, and who. The book also reminds us how other dictators (such as Vladimir Putin and associates) have placed themselves into power, including how they isolated their publics from the wide range of information sources available. In some cases, they have taken control of information sources (Putin), in others, they merely informed their publics that information sources they dislike (such as CNN) are liars. Their publics have chosen not to explore wider ranges of information and are often handicapped with incomplete information.
The book is very interesting but dense. It is all there but not in summary. Anybody interested in Adolf Hitler or world domination should find this interesting. Three Stars
December 27, 2024
If you are a student of the 20th century or World War II, try to get your hands on this book. Yes, the middle third is a slog dominated by economics and complex political moves, but the final third is well worth the fight. I finally get how the Nazis took over and dominated the lives of the German people.
The writing style is dated and at times it can be a blizzard of names, but stick with it.
The writing style is dated and at times it can be a blizzard of names, but stick with it.
November 14, 2025
A masterly study of an embryonic fascist dictator. Written before the worst of his crimes plunged the world into chaos.
Hitler is the person that you are most likely to be compared with if you disagree with people on the extreme left of politics.
l usually disagree with those particular people, but l want to assure everyone that l have no immediate plans to invade Poland.
Hitler is the person that you are most likely to be compared with if you disagree with people on the extreme left of politics.
l usually disagree with those particular people, but l want to assure everyone that l have no immediate plans to invade Poland.
November 10, 2017
Somewhat interesting, but WAYYY too long for my interest in Der Fuehrer.
I got 1/3 way thru and decided life is too short. It covers from the start of his political rise thru WW2, as it was written in 1944. I only got to about 1928.
I got 1/3 way thru and decided life is too short. It covers from the start of his political rise thru WW2, as it was written in 1944. I only got to about 1928.
May 28, 2018
This is a very rich, enlightening account of how Hitler and the Nazi party seized and harnessed power, thereby setting the stage to WW2. Very well written, spanning events from 1918 (end of the Great War and Versailles Treaty) to 1934 when he takes full control of Germany.
July 6, 2023
very good book that gets right into the early history of the nasties and their head honcho - long read but well worth it - only complaint is in the last 60 or so pages of the edition I own - lot of typos - bring back human proof readers
December 21, 2017
Great read. Let me just leave you with the final two paragraphs of the PostScript, which I think wraps it all up very neatly:
"Hitler was able to enslave his own people because he seemed to give them something that even the traditional religions could no longer provide: the belief in a meaning to existence beyond the narrowest self-interest. The real degradation began when the people realized that they were in league with the devil, but felt that even the devil was preferable to the emptiness of an existence which lacked a larger significance... Until that problem is solved, the annihilation of Nazism will be no more than the removal of one symptom of the world's unrest."
"Hitler was able to enslave his own people because he seemed to give them something that even the traditional religions could no longer provide: the belief in a meaning to existence beyond the narrowest self-interest. The real degradation began when the people realized that they were in league with the devil, but felt that even the devil was preferable to the emptiness of an existence which lacked a larger significance... Until that problem is solved, the annihilation of Nazism will be no more than the removal of one symptom of the world's unrest."
August 22, 2019
The first Hitler biography and still retaining a few valuable insights!
March 15, 2017
An very detailed and in-depth review of Hitler and his rise to political power in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s.....the author was a German journalist during that period and provides great insight into the events that surrounded the rise of Hitler and National Socialism.
May 25, 2018
Tough read for me, even being a history major! The content was excellent, just a very detailed book spent a lot of time checking things, so I put the book down a lot.
June 7, 2014
While probably not the definitive biography of Hitler - that distinction unquestionably goes to Joachim Fest - this book is important in two significant ways. The first is its perspective, because it was written not after the facts as were most of the others but while Hitler was still alive - and by someone who had lived in Germany and had observed the Nazi phenomenon first-hand. This gives the author's portrayals of the various luminaries of the Turd Reich a lifelike quality which is typically lacking in the commonly found histories written after the fact.
The second was its initial (and really inconsequential in extent, in the context of the book as a whole) analysis of the origin of the document "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion". Having read the latter, it was obvious to me that it was a forgery as has been claimed by everyone who has analyzed it objectively, if only for the reason that no one conspiring to commit the sort of mayhem ascribed to "The Jews" would ever be so foolish as to commit their plans to writing, since to do so would invite exactly the sort of "retribution" that the forging authors intended to incite. But the "Protocols" is so carefully crafted and so plausible if one simply suspends disbelief, as to cause one wonder at how anyone could possibly forge something of that sort. The author of this book goes through a painstaking analysis of the process of the forgery, beginning with its origins in a rather banal and possibly even satyrical lecture by an obscure academic nitwit, and its rewriting and refinement by stages after its propaganda potential had
been recognized - in particular by the Russian Czar's Okhrana - and finally the mystery is solved, of how the "Protocols" in it final form as used by the Nazis and others to justify mass slaughter of the Jews, came into being. (Despite all that, the Protocols are of course still promoted as genuine by the Jew-haters of today, but what more could expect of a generation educated by Oprah and Sesame Street at best, and the National Education Association at worst...)
The second was its initial (and really inconsequential in extent, in the context of the book as a whole) analysis of the origin of the document "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion". Having read the latter, it was obvious to me that it was a forgery as has been claimed by everyone who has analyzed it objectively, if only for the reason that no one conspiring to commit the sort of mayhem ascribed to "The Jews" would ever be so foolish as to commit their plans to writing, since to do so would invite exactly the sort of "retribution" that the forging authors intended to incite. But the "Protocols" is so carefully crafted and so plausible if one simply suspends disbelief, as to cause one wonder at how anyone could possibly forge something of that sort. The author of this book goes through a painstaking analysis of the process of the forgery, beginning with its origins in a rather banal and possibly even satyrical lecture by an obscure academic nitwit, and its rewriting and refinement by stages after its propaganda potential had
been recognized - in particular by the Russian Czar's Okhrana - and finally the mystery is solved, of how the "Protocols" in it final form as used by the Nazis and others to justify mass slaughter of the Jews, came into being. (Despite all that, the Protocols are of course still promoted as genuine by the Jew-haters of today, but what more could expect of a generation educated by Oprah and Sesame Street at best, and the National Education Association at worst...)
February 14, 2016
This was a very difficult book for me to read. I'm not a WWII buff or a WWI buff. I basically read it because I have been reading some books on FDR and thought I'd switch it up and read something on Hitler or Stalin. I also am interested in the language of propaganda which is adroitly used by President Obama and his media mouthpieces. But this book only got into those things so far.
The main surprise to me in this book is how many times -seemingly dozens- Hitler could have been marginalized, deported, or killed (either due to starvation or someone knocking him upside the head for being a complete jerk when he was toiling in obscurity). What a different place the world could be today if not for his pathological destruction of Jews and Germany itself!!!!
Unless I am going to be doing a deep dive into this area of history I probably would not read this book again. The author is very knowledgeable and appears to have endless resources to reconstruct historical events. But it skips back and forth in time and events and fact vs. observation/opinion. So it was too difficult for me to follow as a novice of this era. The book is quite frankly a "slog" to read. I wanted to quit very badly after the second chapter, but it became a challenge for me to overcome so I read on. I don't necessarily fault the author. I just didn't enjoy how the book was constructed and the vast cast of characters and how they all fit together was just to much for me to enjoy (I use "enjoy" loosely as the subject is a human monster).
The main surprise to me in this book is how many times -seemingly dozens- Hitler could have been marginalized, deported, or killed (either due to starvation or someone knocking him upside the head for being a complete jerk when he was toiling in obscurity). What a different place the world could be today if not for his pathological destruction of Jews and Germany itself!!!!
Unless I am going to be doing a deep dive into this area of history I probably would not read this book again. The author is very knowledgeable and appears to have endless resources to reconstruct historical events. But it skips back and forth in time and events and fact vs. observation/opinion. So it was too difficult for me to follow as a novice of this era. The book is quite frankly a "slog" to read. I wanted to quit very badly after the second chapter, but it became a challenge for me to overcome so I read on. I don't necessarily fault the author. I just didn't enjoy how the book was constructed and the vast cast of characters and how they all fit together was just to much for me to enjoy (I use "enjoy" loosely as the subject is a human monster).
September 29, 2014
Dry but incredibly in-depth examination of the historical and political conditions accompanying (and driving) Hitler's rise to power. What is perhaps most interesting about it is that it was published in 1944 - before the end of World War II - and, being a lengthy tome, must have been written, in large part, in the years preceding the war. This means that it hasn't been as colored by hindsight as most analyses of Third Reich. Although the author lacks any objectivity whatsoever on the events he describes - it's apparent that he detested National Socialism and National Socialists with especial vehemence - he has nonetheless captured a fascinating moment in human history, the years between the world wars, in which no one could have suspected the carnage that would eventually result from a small but nasty political movement.
http://lorilschafer.com
http://lorilschafer.com
August 27, 2018
This book is no doubt a fascinating first-person, "I was there" story about Hitler's rise to power. Unfortunately, Heiden, although he starts out sounding reasonable, ends of being sort of a repetitive crank. I only got 2/3 of the way through it before I gave up in exasperation.
August 4, 2014
Chilling. Published before the death of Hitler. A lot of verbage I glossed over but the similiarty between what went on there and my beloved Venezuela is positively frightening.
July 18, 2011
interesting
March 27, 2012
It begins with the Protocols of Zion and its all downhill from there. Thats all I'm going to say.
October 5, 2012
I would like to say I found this out side at a used book store and had I had no idea this was a novel. And was swept away.. I encourage others to not be thrown by the title. It is a good read.o
October 12, 2012
A timeless account by a brave observer who stood to lose when he wrote it.
April 20, 2013
JUST ANOTHER HISTORY WITH SAME INFO. OK BUT NOT GREAT
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews