22 Cells in Nuremberg: A Psychiatriest Examines the Nazi Criminals

by Douglas M. Kelley

"Your Children will grow up under communism"-A prediction we scorn.

But here, in 22 cells in Nuremberg, were the men who almost made a reality of your children growing up under the Nazis.

Who were these swaggering overlord? How were they able to gather such power? Why did the German people allow the torture and the murder- Why did they condone the greatest blood-Letting in modern times?

Doctor Kelley studied and tested them all- Hess and Rosenberg and Goering-Jodl, Streicher and Ley- Hans Frank - Speer, even Hitler, Himself, through the words and beliefs of the men in the 22 cells and here, at last , we learn what caused these men to become the greatest collection of murderers in modern History.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Psychology, War, World War II, Holocaust, Historical

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Susan Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sought out this book after seeing the movie called Nuremberg (2025). I enjoyed the movie and then sought out the book.
Because the book was not well received, it was not reprinted, so the book is difficult to find. I had to put a special request into the University library where I had retired and they got it on an inter library loan!
I found it fascinating.
Kelley wrote this for “popular” consumption. It is not an “academic” book, nor is it a history book.
He has written separate, fairly short chapters on each of the 22 German officers held at Nuremberg jail. Kelley had been hired to interview them to ensure they were sane enough to stand trial.
He spent 5 months constantly talking to each one and I found his write up fascinating.
Kelley thought he would make his fame and fortune by identifying what it was about the Germans that allowed them to be so evil.
This is not what he found. His last chapter, where he sounds a warning to the U.S., is frighteningly prescient. This is not what the U.S. wanted to hear post WW2, so his book, his work, his warnings were discarded.
Do we never learn?

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching the movie, “Nuremberg,” I decided to read Douglas M. Kelley’s “22 Cells in Nuremberg” that inspired that movie.

Kelley reveals that the roots to Nazism were already laid during the late 19țh century—not just regarding the “master race” concept, but also regarding slave labor. I’ve found this same insight in a book published approximately fifty years later.

The author revealed that Germans were already preconditioned by the time Hiltler arrived on the political scene. Hitler then got their attention by promising to solve their imminent problems, and,

“…captured emotional control of them by appealing to their conditional beliefs and concepts…” p. 14

Hitler did this, the author posits, by focusing on the country’s ingrained antisemitism and their cultural mythology as Germanic warriors.

Douglas Kelłey was a brilliant man and his analyses were really amazing and spot-on. For example, Kelley discusses Hitler’s fascination with horses, and particularly with stallions, saying,

“…He [Hitler] surrounded himself with pictures and tapestries of the finest stallions, but refused adamantly to do any riding. This is a fairly common reaction in men like Hitler. To him the stallion probably represented a strongly sexually potent animal—all the pictures displayed their sex organs. Hitler surrounded himself with such pictures, enviously admiring their strength and yet actually afraid of the animals themselves, who possessed these qualities which he lacked but most desired. From the pictures, he derived vicarious “sexual strength”—a satisfactory substitute—until faced with the real thing, when the satisfaction turned to hate and fear…” (pg. 155).

Keep in mind that it was just within the past year that scientists discovered from Hitler’s DNA that he had both a micropenis and an undescended testicle. Yet back in 1947 when this book was published, nobody knew.

This book isn’t just about Germany. In fact, this book is a warning for Americans, with Kelley even providing four concrete steps to, “…a functioning political democracy…” (pg. 175). However, this requires emotional maturity that, even when this book was published in 1947, Kelley remarked that the vast majority of citizens were immature.

Douglas Kelley was truly a brilliant man. This book is absolutely critical for all audiences.

[Aly Machacek-Sveeggen]

Kelley documents the truth behind the thoughts and ideas of the most evil people in the world- yet they themselves do not believe that they are evil. They believed that the entirety of the Nazi regime was akin to the reincarnation of Jesus and the ensuring rapture. These men were so entranced by the ideas and words of Hitler that they couldn't even speak against him even in minor ways. Hitler to them was as Jesus is to the apostles.
I deeply wish that I had a chance to read this within an academic setting and was able to have a much deeper conversation about the psychology and final chapter of this book. I do adore the internal conversation that the author has about his own experiences and the guilt he carries however I didn't care for much of the self deprecation and suicidal themes from the authors own commentary. Knowing that he did commit suicide in the 50's using the same cyanide potassium supplement that Goering used in his suicide in Nuremburg is helpful to connect his own mental health to that of the men in Nuremburg.
Kelley cautions that what happened in Germany could happen in America and much of the final chapter is both haunting and preachy. In 2025, these warnings hit a little close to home in our current political environment and make one think that WWIII may be closer than we may like to think. Kelley writes, "...After all, the American racists are just talking or writing, and anyone in America has a right to talk or write as he pleases...The power of spoken work has been emphasized over and over. As a matter of face, human beings in their present state of development are more moved by words that reason." In today's current events- there are too many that are just listening to the words of the powerful and believing them without question. A bloody and horrific history on the verge of repeating itself in the most powerful country in the world.

[Erin Wanek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shorter read and more clinical vibe than Gilbert’s Diary. I liked how he gave every defendant air time- even the B list nazis that Gilbert decided to cut chapters on to shorten the length of his book.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

22 Cells in Nuremberg, particularly the What Does it Mean to America section, is fantastic. Douglas Kelley, as an author and psychiatrist, is keen-eyed and perspicacious, showing an incredibly shrewd insight into the current failures of democracy both in the US and elsewhere. He outlines steps that nations must take in order to ensure a truly functional, political democracy, insuring ourselves against electing those with totalitarian ideals (Hitler, after all, was elected legally and democratically).

It is an incredible shame that this book was not well-received in its own time, as many Americans took offence at his conclusions and warnings in *What Does it Mean to America*. It was, unfortunately, considered an obscene betrayal that Kelley refused to absolve his fellow US citizens from the personalities, behaviours, and ability to be effectively propagandised that lead to Nazism and totalitarianism.

“So much for the leaders of a potential American Naz-ism. What of the followers? Shocking as it may seem to some of us, we as a people greatly resemble the Germans of two decades ago. We have a very similar background of ideological concepts, and we are similarly inclined to base our thinking on emotional rather than on intellectual evaluations. And no one can deny that the basic appeals that Hitler used-demanding minority perse-cution, demanding development of a stronger nation, demanding that veterans take over the government, demanding government control of private business —all are present in the United States today.”

And,

“No, the Nazi leaders were not spectacular types, not personalities such as appear only once in a century. They simply had three quite unremarkable characteristics in common-and the opportunity to seize power. These three characteristics were: overweening ambition, low ethical standards, a strongly developed nationalism which justified anything done in the name of Germandom.

Let us look about us. Have we no ultranationalists among us who would approve any policy, however evil, so long as it could be said to be of advantage to America?

Have we no men so ruthlessly eager to achieve power that they would not quite willingly climb over the corpses of our minorities, if by so doing they could gain totalitarian control over the rest of us?”

Remind you of anyone? It should.

[nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Many people will say that this is a country of free press and of free speech. After all, the American racists are just talking or writing, and anyone in America has a right to talk or write as he pleases. That is quite true. But at the start, Hitler and Streicher and Ley and Rosenberg were just talking also".

he. predicted. it. and what did the american public do to him? they shamed him and made his book run out of print. so that his thoughts couldn't be heard and comprehended by people before it's too late. well, it's too late now and i cannot even begin to express just how disgusted i am by the USA of our time

[Harrison Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1947 (the edition I read was published in 1961), the author was the psychiatrist to the Nuremberg Jail that held the Nazis being tried for war crimes. The author spent a substantial amount of time with each detainee. This book presents the summary of his work, with some historical narrative. The first chapter presents an overview of Pan-Germanism and Nazi ideology, a final chapter addresses Adolf Hitler and the author's view of how each of the detainees were misled by his leadership. Finally, a compelling chapter on "What Does it Mean to America?" offers an interesting analysis of how the German people fell under Hitler's spell, and whether it could happen here in the US. This is particularly interesting reading in the context of today's political environment in this country. A worthwhile read. [A macabre historical side note: The author committed suicide 11 years after publishing this book, by the same cyanide method used by Hermann Goering.]

[Stacie Odeneal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible look at the folks behind the third reich. Not particularly interesting if you are just looking for history. But increasingly and incredibly important as we are in the middle of repeating it

[Caitlyn Sutherland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as scientific or clinical as I expected. Read like Kelly considered himself to be intellectually superior to the world, yet he failed to provide more than roughly formed opinions. Kelly rarely provided in depth analysis surrounding his diagnoses, but rather regurgitated his patients’ words then added a few opinionated sentences as if he had just proven something profound.

I appreciated the closing chapter, but wish Kelly had gone deeper with evaluating the personalities of the individuals throughout the book. Then, what read like opinions could have been grounded in more analytical and factual evaluations. That would have made the final chapter and the parallels between America and Germany (and any other nation), so much more pronounced. He didn’t fully commit to this, which was likely a product of the timeframe in which he wrote the book (where was the field of psychology even at then?)

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Insanity is no explanation for the Nazis. They were simply creatures of their environment, as all humans are; and they were also - to a greater degree than most humans are - the makers of their environment" (Kelley, 1947, p. 11).

The first time I watched "Nuremberg," I started crying once it was revealed that Kelley fought depression for a decade and eventually ended his life. Something in me sank, and I instantly knew I had to read his work. The book is rather short but informative and extensive, going from a historical description of Pan-Germanism and the Nazi ideology to separate potrayals for each of the 22 fellons. While succint and sometimes seemingly superficial, Kelley's descriptions shed some light on the complex personalities that once were Germany's elite. Following his belief in the role of the environment, Kelley also briefly analyzed their childhood, which enabled him to underline why they "worshiped Adolf Hitler like a god" until their last breath. The multi-layered relationships between them and Hitler were fascinating to discover.

I profoundly admire Kelley's courage to speak his truth once he returned to the U.S., not because he criticized American society and politics, but because he did not offer the people what they wanted. Instead of horror stories about psychopathic monsters who come once every few centuries, Kelley chose to be frank: they are just like us . If people nowadays still refuse to accept the "banality of evil" and the idea that all evil is human, I can only imagine their reactions in 1947. Nevertheless, I understand Kelley's enthusiasm, fervor, and feeling of responsibility to publish his findings and raise awareness. It is utterly said that his writer-advocacy failed. Kelley's ideas were defintely ahead of their time. I wish I could claim that their reception would have been different today, but I am sincerely doubtful, which is why more people should critically engage with this book. Overall, a strong work with hearbreaking but real conclusions.

"It is a deeply disturbing experience to return from Nuremberg to America and find the same racial prejudices that the Nazis preached being roused in the same words that rang through the corridors of Nuremberg Jail" (Kelley, 1947, p. 172).

[Hannah Wallis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Douglas Kelly’s “22 cells in nuremberg” examines key figures in the Nazi Party from a first-hand psychiatric perspective. As told by the American Psychiatrist evaluating them for the Nuremberg Trials: the first major trials of the nazi party for their horrific actions during the holocaust. Kelly is able to provide us with a unique perspective, first-hand perspective into what these men were thinking, their motives and reasoning because of the amount of time he spent with these key figures. Majority of this book is Douglas provides us with regurgitated information that the prisoners had told him during various interviews and seasons while they were awaiting trial. This is insightful in providing first hand accounts and giving detailed insights into the men’s backgrounds, thoughts and even particular insights into certain personality characteristics. I would have appreciated more of in-depth psychiatric analysis of the prisoners personalities or Kelly’s own thoughts, input and observations of the men to be put in as well. While Kelly does touch on this and draw some conclusions, I would have found it more interesting coming from a psychology perspective to see more of his thoughts and observations. I liked how Kelly examines all of the key figures on trial, with particular names not usually studied in history or lesser known. Additionally, Kelly closes the book with a chapter warning and applying the rise of the nazi’s to the current society and how there is a chance something similar could happen again in society, I found this an interesting way to end the book - however very insightful and interesting to keep in mind.

[Angelic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only does this book offer a psychological analysis of the strongest personalities behind the nazi terror, describing how they become powerful and why, but it also reflects on how easily human beings can become emotional animals following high-skilled orators. The failure of this book and its message can only be explained by being published too ahead of time, for an audience too self-centred with a saviour and superiority complex, and not ready to listen to Kelley's warnings. Now history is repeating itself, and despite the people who warned us, we are getting closer to the nazis than we ever thought we would.

Some remarkable quotes:
"Are we, then, so very different from those people on whom totalitarianism has been painfully and brutally imposed?"
"It has been made painfully obvious in many elections that a small minority (...) can and does win elections that determine the fate of apathetic, lethargic, nonvoting majority"

[Hanna Brisbois · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you watched the movie Nuremberg, you know this book was not traditionally published. I read the second draft of the manuscript. If you haven't seen the movie, Douglas M. Kelley was the psychiatrist who analyzed the Nazi's who were to be put on trial. Many people wanted to know "how could this happen?", "what's the secret ingredient that makes a person a Nazi?", and "how can we avoid it?". Lieutenant Colonel Kelley gave us an answer, it just wasn't the answer people wanted to hear. He warned that there are people like the Nazis all over the world and in the US, they could even be you or me. His book was unsuccessful, though I cannot find any details as to how many times it was published, nor how many copies. I think it would be worth attempting to republish it today.

Let me quote some of the manuscript to you:

"For the average German, the Nazi appeal was emotional"

"These formal ministries performed propaganda, not by authentic sounding falsehoods or by fear, but by arousing the deep, unreasoned emotions of the masses.'

"In my study of the Nuremberg Nazis, it became apparent that their personalities and their reign of terror in Germany yield information which could well be adapted to our own problems. In Germany we found a businesslike machine set up to control 80 million persons and to assure unlimited personal power for those in charge. This political machine had been developed legally--even democratically. Once in power, however, it rolled like a juggernaut over the rights of the people."

"We must never forget that Hitler was elected by democratic methods, in a democratic system, which we ourselves helped to set up, patterned after our own system."

"Too many of the people of the United States are content to accept the prerogatives endowed on them by the Constitution without ever bother to accept the duties imposed on them by it. Our primary duty is to vote, and if we are to insure ourselves against totalitarianism, we must first remove all voting restrictions from all our citizens."

"Second, at every election every individual citizen eligible to vote must cast his ballot. The larger the vote, the more difficult it is for a machine-guided minority to control elections."

"Third, we must refuse to vote for anyone who makes political capital out of emotion-laden terms as "Jew" or "Gentile", "Protestant" or "Catholic", "White" or "Negro". And we must undertake to free ourselves from the yoke of tradition and from the emotional use of those same terms and others in the same category: "Oriental" and "blood" and "race", etc."

"Finally, we must reform our system of education to teach students to think."

"The United States will never reach it's full potential until we achieve that goal. Actually, of course, we shall never reach that goal until we as a people individually develop beyond our present emotional adolescence. We cannot have a mature nature of infantile citizens."

[nana · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It is up to us to determine whether to foster racial hatreds and prejudices. It is up to us, whether we learn from the holocaust of Europe and apply what we learn to our own lives. It is up to us to develop a truly democratic nation where we and our children can live without bickering, without hatreds, emotionally secure because we are an emotionally mature nation”

4 stars. Curiously enough, I went to the movies to watch Nuremberg, and the movie was not based on this specific book. Instead, the movie was based on The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai. After some research, I found that this book held absolutely no traction, and it was one of the reasons of the demise of its own author.

22 Cells in Nuremberg seeks to find perspective, and understanding on the development of the 22 criminals trialed in Nuremberg post WW2. Dr. Douglas Kelley, studied and tested them, is duty was to verify if they were sane enough to stand trial. However, he wrote this book, mostly in hopes of finding the root of their evil.

“No, the Nazi leaders were not spectacular types, not personalities such as appear only once in a century. They simply had three quite unremarkable characteristics in common— and the opportunity to seize power. These three characteristics were: overweening ambition, low ethical standards, a strongly developed nationalism, which justified anything done in the name of Germandom”

Yet, the author came to the conclusion, that these men were nothing extraordinary. They were just men, simple men, who came to precisions of power and in turn, became the demise of millions.

It is a pity, that this book was not well received by Americans. Ahead of his time, Kelley was tagged a lunatic because of his raging about the possibility of a totalitarian regime coming to power in the States. This book was published in 1961, in today’s political climate, could we still tag this man as a lunatic? I wish everybody took the time to read his warnings.

QUOTES

“…tough as it was, nearly 10 percent of its top Nazi criminals ‘escaped’ the jail by suicide”

“The human element is the decisive one in even the harshest prisons”

“…Nazism was a socio-cultural disease which, while it had been epidemic only among our enemies, was endemic in all parts of the world. I shared the fear that sometime in the future it might become epidemic in my own nation.”

“As Nazism succeeded, Hess became more and more attached to and dependent on the Fuehrer who assumed the role of a mystic father in the eyes of his deputy.”

“Day after day and month after month, he was questioned so interminably, and so often replied, ‘I don’t remember’, that finally, large sections of his life slipped below the threshold of memory. In the end, he was a genuine victim of an induced, even rationalized, amnesia state.”

“Charming as Hermann Goering unquestionably was—‘when, as a prisoner in our hands, it suited him to be so—his own fascinating conversation made it unmistakably clear that he had no sense whatsoever of the value of human life, of moral obligation, or of the other finer attributes of civilized man when they conflicted with his own egocentric aims.”

“…egotism without ethics is dangerous to society, particularly when found in a strong character”

Whenever the conversation turned to Hitler, Ribbentrop became positively fanatical. Again, and again he made this emphatic declaration: “I have always stood behind the Fuhrer and always will”

“I did not see the limit which is set even for a soldier’s performance of his duty”, Willhelm Keitel

One of my top interpreters was a German refugee who had
escaped from Germany in 1939. Like many other German Jews, he was typically “Nordic” in appearance—blond hair, blue eyes, slender athletic body. One day Streicher gave me some notes on the Jewish question. He warned me. to have them translated by “an intelligent Aryan, because a Jew would falsify the translation.” He then handed the notes past me to my Jewish interpreter saying, “Here—you do the translating. You’re a good German.” So much for infallibility!

“He came to hate people who knew more than he did, to tolerate those who knew as much and, to adore those who knew less.”

“Another compensatory device was to surround himself with intelligent people, and then astound them with his superior knowledge. So long as the device worked, Hitler would seem a calm conversationalist. But if a discussion seemed to be getting away from him, he would become more and more outspoken and his voice would rise until he was out shouting all other voices.”

“He was able, by his drive, his intelligence, and his ability in handling people, to reach a position where, in the end, his pathological deviations could disrupt and almost destroy the entire civilized world”

“I am convinced that there is little in America today, which could prevent the establishment of a Nazi-like state”

[Chris T.Etris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating text for a few reasons: given its proximity to World War II (22 Cells… was published in 1947) the portraits of some of the men are surprisingly humanising; the language used very much reflects the limitations of psycho-analysis in the 1940s; and the overall message is not one of heinous villainy, but of fear in how easily ‘normal’, often unremarkable people, can be swayed towards something as violent and uncompromising as hard right fascism.

The book doesn’t try to go too deep into the character of each of the 22 men on trial, but scratches enough through either direct conversation and analysis, supplementary materials provided by those close to the accused, or through historic anecdotes of childhood inferred from publicly available sources, to categorise the men as being either the tragic result of trauma, neurology, or just unscrupulous ‘bad eggs’. Kelley is careful however never to cast aspersions of evil - these were regular men driven, for their own reasons, to evil deeds. Nurture over nature.

The final chapter ‘What does it mean to America?’ hits hardest as it rings terrifyingly true in 2026.

“Many people will say that this is a country of free press and of free speech. After all, the American racists are just talking or writing, and anyone in America has a right to talk or write as he pleases. This is quite true. But, at the start, Hitler and Streicher and Ley and Rosenberg were just talking also.”

“The power of the spoken word has been emphasised over and over. [...] We allow ourselves to be overcome by emotional assault and battery and in turn use it to try to destroy the concepts and ideals of others.”

“They use[d] racism as a method of obtaining personal power, political aggrandizement, or individual wealth. We are allowing racism to be used here for those ends. I am convinced that the continued use of these myths in this country will lead us to join the Nazi criminals in the sewer of civilization.”

Kelley goes on to suggest how the America of the late 40s ought to protect against the same bubbling threat that allowed Hitler and his cronies meteoric rise to power: democracy and education. How depressing that 80 years on, the political landscape is starting to look worryingly similar across the globe.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up 22 Cells in Nuremberg straight after watching the Nuremberg film, and it turned out to be a fascinating companion read. Dr Douglas Kelley’s perspective — as the psychiatrist tasked with assessing the Nazi leaders on trial — offers a deeply unsettling but compelling insight into the minds of the men history has largely reduced to monsters.

What makes this book so effective is its refusal to sensationalise or excuse. Kelley never justifies their crimes, but instead carefully examines how disturbingly ordinary many of these men were once stripped of power, uniforms, and ideology. Seeing how some lived up to their historical reputations while others fell apart — or revealed unexpected traits — adds uncomfortable nuance to figures we think we already understand.

The exploration of susceptibility, obedience, ego, and ideology is particularly striking. It’s chilling to see how easily these men were shaped by the Nazi system, and how rationalisation and self-deception allowed them to participate in unimaginable atrocities while maintaining a sense of normalcy.

At times the clinical tone can feel detached, but that distance arguably strengthens the impact — forcing the reader to confront the reality that evil doesn’t always look dramatic or deranged. An insightful, unsettling, and thought-provoking read that deepens your understanding of Nuremberg without softening its horrors.

[ilham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after seeing the movie. I was very intrigued by the story and wanted to learn more. I was quite surprised and even moved to see how a book from about 80 years ago fully grasped the problem of politics and predicted what would happen today. History truly repeats itself, and this text is proof of that!

The fact that it's not a famous book, but was actually snubbed, says a lot. Americans were offended by the fact that Kelley had the courage to say that Americans are not much different from the Germans of 1945, and it's absolutely true.
The message he conveys transcends time and space and is applicable to any human context we find ourselves in. Because at the end of the day, politicians, and therefore the government, are made up of human beings, and human beings have strengths and weaknesses.

The book primarily analyzes the greatest figures of the Nazi empire, and the author, a psychologist called to speak with the 22 Nazi criminals, analyzes their psyches. We observe that Nazis like Goering, Robbentrop, or Hitler himself are not monsters, but simply ambitious men with low ethical standards and a strong sense of nationalism. These three elements lead to the ruin of any state.
I highly recommend reading this book precisely because it reflects on what is happening today.

[Megan Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching the movie Nuremberg I went on a mission to seek out this book. It seems very hard to come across as it didn't seem to do well at the time it was released but I managed to come across a copy online.

I have a great interest in World War 2 and the Holocaust. I think it's because I have a family link to it and it's been something I have been interested in since I was a child. So as soon as I heard about this book I knew it was something I wanted to read.

I thought this book was brilliant. the time that was spent on each prisoner was brilliant. It wasn't just a focus on the more well known names and merely mention the others. There was clear information on more than just the "well known". I thought it incredibly interesting reading about them, getting an insight of who they were, and in a way it was an insight into their minds as that is what Douglas M. Kelley did. he delved into their minds, talked to them and got some indication of who these men were and why they did the horrible things that they did.

If you have an interest in World War 2, the Nuremberg trials and the men who were on trial I highly recommend you try and get your hands on a copy of this.

[Natalie Mazzini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first found out about this book after seeing the Nuremberg film. As a history teacher, I was immediately drawn into the film and wanted to read the two works mentioned at the end of the film, including this was written by the psychiatrist himself. This was an eye-opening read that simplistically broke down how the Nazi party was able to carry out the atrocities they did.

This book may be hard to find, but if you are at all interested in history, psychology, or psychiatry, I would highly recommend.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend told me once that a book between 150 and 350 pages is not worth it. I think this one falls in the gap of short ideas, not fully developed, which is worth the time. Although it lacks deeper analysis and commitment, liberally I can say it uses an artist's approach of leaving conclusions to the reader. For someone who likes general information, it's a nice treat. For someone who likes something more substantial - it is a bit of a disappointment, if it was not for the last few pages. My advice would be to read it with a more open mind and curiosity rather than judgement and expectations.

[margot lindner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to others here I got curious about the book after seeing Nuermberg. A good friend, talented librarian and a bit persistence and pdf/ scan was found.

Short but fascinating read. Kelley provides sharp insight into the actions, motivations, and psychological states of the 22 defendants/ Nazi leadership members, showing that they were not monsters in the clinical sense, but men who reasoned, justified, and adapted. Despite its 1947 perspective, the book remains a chilling reminder of how easily rationalization can replace responsibility. Highly recommended read!

[Dymphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was added to my TBR because I've seen the 2025 movie 'Nuremburg'. In this book, psychiatrist Douglas M. Kelley recalls his experiences and (expert) opinion of the inmates who stood trial at Nuremburg. The book tries to answer the question of what kind these people those Nazi's really were. My only critique is that I wasn't a big fan of the chapter on Adolf Hitler (because he was never tested by Kelley himself).

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

An insightful history of World War II and the men who profited from it.

Kelley provides an examination of how propaganda, dehumanisation, and the erosion of democratic institutions are used by the few for power and profit at the expense of everyone else.

& chillingly predicts the injustices and atrocities that we are currently witnessing in present-day America.

We must stand together to prevent history from repeating itself ✊🏻

[Berenkova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro muy difícil de conseguir, pero que merece la pena. Una muy buena descripción de la vida y la personalidad de los nazis juzgados en Núremberg, por parte de su psiquiatra el Dr.Kelley.
Lectura muy fácil y muy interesante para aquellos lectores interesados en este acontecimiento histórico.
El autor realiza una muy buena reflexión, por desgracia atemporal, del peligro que supone dejar el mundo en manos de unos pocos que, con las características necesarias (que no son especiales ni únicas), pueden reproducir un acontecimiento como el ya vivido en la 2° guerra mundial. Pese a ser un libro del año 1947, describe de manera muy acertada la situación política actual.

[Sarah Mantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A striking parallel in so many disturbing ways to contemporary politics.

“Have we no men so ruthlessly eager to achieve power that they would not quite willingly climb over the corpses of our minorities, if by so doing they could gain totalitarian control over the rest of us?” History repeats. A definite must-read.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is incredibly difficult to find. I ended up getting it through the library. I read the book after watching Nuremberg. A very interesting book, especially given the state of politics today.

[Maria Sanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It is up to us whether we learn from the holocaust of Europe and apply what we learn to our own lives. It is up to us to develop a truly democratic nation we and out children can live without bickering, without hatred’s, emotionally secure because we are an emotionally mature nation.”

[Bleach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here you can download it. https://dokumen.pub/qdownload/22-cell...
If you are unable to - dm me to send it to you!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

People really should have listened to Kelly.

[Rehanna Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and unsettling book that exposes the everyday face of evil. Kelley’s imperfect narration only adds to its realism.