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Heinrich Himmler: The Sinister Life of the Head of the SS and Gestapo
Authors Roger Manvell and Heinrich Fraenkel, notable biographers of the World War II German leaders Joseph Goebbels and Herman Goring, delve into the life of one of the most sinister, clever, and successful of all the Nazi leaders: Heinrich Himmler. As the head of the feared SS, Himler supervised the extermination of millions. Here is the story of how a seemingly ordinary boy grew into an obsessive and superstitious man who ventured into herbalism, astrology, and homeopathic medicine before finally turning to the "science" of racial purity and the belief in the superiority of the Aryan people.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1965
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 5, 2016
This book is book three of a trilogy; the other two books were “Joseph Goebbels” and “Hermann Goring”. I understand this was the first in-depth biography of Himmler. This book on Himmler was first published in 1965.
Roger Manvell (1909-1987) died in 1987; he was born in London England. He was the first director of the British Film Academy. He was the author of many books on film making and on Nazi Germany. In 1975 he became a professor at Boston University. Manvell wrote this book with Heinrich Fraenkel (1897-1986). Fraenkel was a well known biographer of Nazi War criminals. Fraenkel was born in Leszno, Poland. At the time of his birth it was known as Posen, Germany. Fraenkel immigrated from Nazi Germany to Britain. He was also a well known chess player.
Himmler was the head of the SS and he supervised the extermination of millions. The authors follow his life from boyhood to his death. He is thought to have developed the Nazi “science” or racial purity theory and the idea of the superiority of the Aryan people. The book covers some of the most difficult periods of the Nazi rule.
I found the book a fascinating study of Himmler and the people around him. This book goes into how the Nazis rose to power in Germany and what they did with this power. The book is well written and meticulously researched. The authors reviewed all the archived documents on Himmler as well as diaries, correspondence and other materials. They also interviewed people involved with Himmler including his family.
Audible Studies produced and published this as an audiobook in 2013. Joe Barrett has won multiple “earphone awards” for narration of audiobooks. Barrett’s narration of the book was excellent.
Roger Manvell (1909-1987) died in 1987; he was born in London England. He was the first director of the British Film Academy. He was the author of many books on film making and on Nazi Germany. In 1975 he became a professor at Boston University. Manvell wrote this book with Heinrich Fraenkel (1897-1986). Fraenkel was a well known biographer of Nazi War criminals. Fraenkel was born in Leszno, Poland. At the time of his birth it was known as Posen, Germany. Fraenkel immigrated from Nazi Germany to Britain. He was also a well known chess player.
Himmler was the head of the SS and he supervised the extermination of millions. The authors follow his life from boyhood to his death. He is thought to have developed the Nazi “science” or racial purity theory and the idea of the superiority of the Aryan people. The book covers some of the most difficult periods of the Nazi rule.
I found the book a fascinating study of Himmler and the people around him. This book goes into how the Nazis rose to power in Germany and what they did with this power. The book is well written and meticulously researched. The authors reviewed all the archived documents on Himmler as well as diaries, correspondence and other materials. They also interviewed people involved with Himmler including his family.
Audible Studies produced and published this as an audiobook in 2013. Joe Barrett has won multiple “earphone awards” for narration of audiobooks. Barrett’s narration of the book was excellent.
February 25, 2015
There's a saying about the banality of evil. Heinrich Himmler, one of Adolf Hitler's henchmen and one of the architects of the Final Solution, proves the point. The man didn't have horns or a cloven foot. He didn't have the word EVIL stamped on his forehead. In fact, from all descriptions of those who knew him, he was a rather fussy, nondescript office-type bureaucrat who suffered from bad health his entire life. So how was it possible that someone so ordinary could wreck such havoc on millions of innocent people and help destroy an entire country? Moreover, how did so many good people enable such a murderous regime to operate unchecked for so long?
This was an incredibly fascinating study of not just Himmler, but those around him vying for the attention of a charismatic megalomaniac while also trying to keep and retain power for themselves. It's about conspiracy and co-conspiracy. It's about socially-sanctioned prejudice turned into state-sanctioned murder on a scale that still boggles the imagination (and that some wish to deny simply because the idea is so horrific). It's about the mental gymnastics and hypocrisies such people contorted themselves in order to justify to themselves the necessity of evil.
Lastly, this isn't just Himmler's story as researched by Manvell, but a warning that those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Look at Germany pre-WW2: war-weary, under economic strain, high unemployment, uncertain. Sound familiar?
This was an incredibly fascinating study of not just Himmler, but those around him vying for the attention of a charismatic megalomaniac while also trying to keep and retain power for themselves. It's about conspiracy and co-conspiracy. It's about socially-sanctioned prejudice turned into state-sanctioned murder on a scale that still boggles the imagination (and that some wish to deny simply because the idea is so horrific). It's about the mental gymnastics and hypocrisies such people contorted themselves in order to justify to themselves the necessity of evil.
Lastly, this isn't just Himmler's story as researched by Manvell, but a warning that those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Look at Germany pre-WW2: war-weary, under economic strain, high unemployment, uncertain. Sound familiar?
August 9, 2019
Interesting book on the life of HH. Maybe not so informative or detailed on some levels, but still a good introduction in the life of the guy that was Heinrich Himmler. Like I saw on some documentaries on youtube, and presented also here, in more than half a book, his life is very related to the one of Heydrich, the pupil that could outclass his Master if he had lived until the end of the War.
Another point that I knew, but now has cleared a few aspects for me, is that the Reich was in utter chaos at the institutional level, not having like the Americans for example, a Joint Chiefs of Staff, because of Hitler`s policy to divide and rule, so it is an amazing thing that they resisted the war for so much time.
Anyway, overall, this has been a truly interesting book to read.
Another point that I knew, but now has cleared a few aspects for me, is that the Reich was in utter chaos at the institutional level, not having like the Americans for example, a Joint Chiefs of Staff, because of Hitler`s policy to divide and rule, so it is an amazing thing that they resisted the war for so much time.
Anyway, overall, this has been a truly interesting book to read.
October 16, 2010
Interesting, but a little difficult and confusing. The author points out that something is a fact, then contradicts himself towards the end of the book.
otherwise, not particularly enjoyable read, but full of information. Not a juicy book.
otherwise, not particularly enjoyable read, but full of information. Not a juicy book.
October 5, 2016
Among the leaders of the Nazi regime, Himmler was the one who initiated a lot of the 'final solution program'. Even after reading this book, it's hard to understand why his total disregard for human life was only directed at the Jews and Slavs. In all other respects he was only bureaucrat, albeit a rather clever and devious one, and totally ineffective in most other areas. He thought himself to be a great leader and general, but his attempts to actually control military forces all ended in defeat.
All accounts seem to indicative that he was a very quiet and unimposing figure compared to most of his colleagues. This introverted personally meant that he was easily bullied into procrastination and non-action by people like Hitler and Goering. When speaking of Goering's love for hunting he was known to have believed that "People should be brought up to love animals, not hunt them for sport." Kind of strange considering the atrocities he perpetrated on human beings. Towards the end of the war he did make some attempts to end the suffering in the concentrations camps and had some of the people there shipped to Switzerland and Sweden. But, that stopped when Hitler found out what was going on. Himmler could never stand up to Hitler so the program continued. Hitler also ordered that concentrations camps blown up so the Allies never found about them. We know that never happened.
From the historical viewpoint this was an informative, but very disturbing, biography. As with most books of this type, there are large number of names and dates mentioned. Luckily there is a decent index.
All accounts seem to indicative that he was a very quiet and unimposing figure compared to most of his colleagues. This introverted personally meant that he was easily bullied into procrastination and non-action by people like Hitler and Goering. When speaking of Goering's love for hunting he was known to have believed that "People should be brought up to love animals, not hunt them for sport." Kind of strange considering the atrocities he perpetrated on human beings. Towards the end of the war he did make some attempts to end the suffering in the concentrations camps and had some of the people there shipped to Switzerland and Sweden. But, that stopped when Hitler found out what was going on. Himmler could never stand up to Hitler so the program continued. Hitler also ordered that concentrations camps blown up so the Allies never found about them. We know that never happened.
From the historical viewpoint this was an informative, but very disturbing, biography. As with most books of this type, there are large number of names and dates mentioned. Luckily there is a decent index.
January 22, 2021
I liked this book because of the amount of research and detail that went in to it. I don't understand how holocaust deniers can refute this documented information. At times the book feels like a novel as the authors place you in the middle of dialog between characters So far this is my third book on Nazism this year' having read part of this trilogy of Himmler, Goring and I am currently reading Gobbles. I have also read Hitler's Hangman about Heydrich and lastly a book about the Gestapo I mentioned those because I thought I would be over saturated by the topic but no, this speaks about these authors' writing that every book seems fresh and different. If you want to read about the psychology and pathology of Himmler this is not the book. Instead it immerses the reader in the day to day workings of the killing machine that was the holocaust. I found very disturbing how Himmler described how he envisioned the plans that the Nazis had to deal with lebensraum including how to dispose of millions of people through starvation and murder as though they were a plague of insects. Another disturbing issue was using human beings as guinea pigs for medical experimentation. The man was without conscience, a true sociopath. As disturbing as this book is I found it to be a must read because it is important to understand the inherent inhumanity that we humans have. There is no psychopathology in Himmler' life that would indicate the murderer he would be, he just believed it was his patriotic duty to carry out Hitler's agenda.
June 12, 2022
This is a detailed, almost legalistic exploration of Himmler's life drawn on multiple primary sources, including those from Himmler and writings/recollections of Adolf Eichmann, negotiating parties, and more. A lot also is covered on his tutor in Nazi philosophy Reinhard Heydrich and Felix Kersten his ambitious massage therapist working to free Jews from the Holocaust. Apparently, Himmler actually allowed himself to be an agent in this and even put out feelers to Western powers seeking to surrender and join forces against Russian in a post-Hitler Germany, which Hitler was very disappointed to learn. In the chaos of spring 1945 Hitler's denunciation of Himmler was slow to circulate. The book includes very detailed reporting of Himmler's final flight over his last several days before finally committing suicide while under arrest.
July 16, 2015
I've been picking up all the biographies of the Nazi leadership I encounter, hoping thereby to understand how such a regime became possible and to inoculate myself against becoming a tacit ally of such tendencies in my own society. Having done several biographies of Hitler and Goering, I was very pleased to finally found one on Himmler.
Heinrich Himmler, like most of the others, was not a monster in all respects. Indeed, he was exceptionally gentle and considerate in many of his personal relationships. He was also, however, the person most responsible for the Nazi genocide programs. How was this possible? This biography makes every effort to answer the question.
Heinrich Himmler, like most of the others, was not a monster in all respects. Indeed, he was exceptionally gentle and considerate in many of his personal relationships. He was also, however, the person most responsible for the Nazi genocide programs. How was this possible? This biography makes every effort to answer the question.
April 20, 2020
Disappointing. A very essentialist view of everyone involved, which does not feel like historical research, but moral storytelling.
Lots of good facts, I am just disappointed by the moralistic tones/lack of interest in his intellectual makeup (the whole teutonic knights thing could have been explored a lot more: how on earth did he get to that idea, beside because his nature was shy and with a liking for things of the past... was it a trend at the time? did he meet other people who influenced him?)
It felt more like a history of WWII that would only tell about the parts with Himmler than a history of Himmler.
Lots of good facts, I am just disappointed by the moralistic tones/lack of interest in his intellectual makeup (the whole teutonic knights thing could have been explored a lot more: how on earth did he get to that idea, beside because his nature was shy and with a liking for things of the past... was it a trend at the time? did he meet other people who influenced him?)
It felt more like a history of WWII that would only tell about the parts with Himmler than a history of Himmler.
November 11, 2016
A dated (some of the history has been refuted) and sometimes disjointed biography of Heinrich Himmler. The authors do have a tendency to jump around in the chronology. Overall a good primer to the life of Himmler.
January 3, 2020
not detailed enough biography
December 21, 2020
Like reading an intelligence report on Himmler rather than a book written by a professional author. Not recommended. There must be better books out there on this truly evil, delusional man.
February 20, 2021
Good account of his early life and rise to power within the Nazi party. Parts of the book end up reading more like a history of the SS and SD than a biography of Himmler.
October 1, 2021
Certainly not an enjoyable read with the author's obsession with every conceivable intrigue and dry personal anecdote to the point when one forgets what one is even reading about.
November 14, 2021
Manvell does a decent job in taking the reader on a full biography of Himmler's life from boyhood to the Third Reich. It covers his inadequacies, as well as his strengths such as being steadfast to details. He also was behind the organization of the SS from their black uniform dress to the different divisions Hitler ordered him to set up as the war grew on, and the Third Reich needed the SS to start recruiting in Holland, Finland and elsewhere.
The book dives into some of the main themes of Himmler's life that I had an interest in; namely, it briefly covers his obsession with Wewelsburg Castle; the Endlösung (The Final Solution); the death of Reihard Heydrich, Himmler's protégè on the rise; the Rote Kapelle conspiracy, the University of Munich controversy, and the Warsaw Ghetto (all very briefly); Himmler becoming a commander in 1944 of the Ersatzheer (Reserve Army) after the Hitler July 20th assassination plot, and Hitler coming to the conclusion that Himmler should be in charge of Army Group Vistula at the end of January 1945.
These last two positions were pleasing to Himmler who had always wanted to be "soldier." Now, finally, he could quit being the toy soldier of the Third Reich.
The book dives into some of the main themes of Himmler's life that I had an interest in; namely, it briefly covers his obsession with Wewelsburg Castle; the Endlösung (The Final Solution); the death of Reihard Heydrich, Himmler's protégè on the rise; the Rote Kapelle conspiracy, the University of Munich controversy, and the Warsaw Ghetto (all very briefly); Himmler becoming a commander in 1944 of the Ersatzheer (Reserve Army) after the Hitler July 20th assassination plot, and Hitler coming to the conclusion that Himmler should be in charge of Army Group Vistula at the end of January 1945.
These last two positions were pleasing to Himmler who had always wanted to be "soldier." Now, finally, he could quit being the toy soldier of the Third Reich.
August 14, 2020
A quick read. Not the best book on the Nazis I've read, it was published more than 50 years ago. One interesting fact is that the authors reference the Nazi regimes reliance on America as an example of how to think about genocide. They reference America's genocide of its American Indians and the enslavement of Black Africans. Another book, just released, "Caste," deals with this as well, and many current readers appear to be shocked by this; however, the focus on Nazi inspiration from America is nothing new. This has been well documented for years. Somehow, we've managed to bury this knowledge. Perhaps in trying to understand how the German people could become the Nazis, we should simply look at ourselves.
I have to say that with every book about the Nazis I've read, every documentary I've seen, I'm stunned with the parallelism that exists with the current administration.
Himmler, by the way, was a man who seems to have been capable of rationalizing anything in service of his puppet master.
I have to say that with every book about the Nazis I've read, every documentary I've seen, I'm stunned with the parallelism that exists with the current administration.
Himmler, by the way, was a man who seems to have been capable of rationalizing anything in service of his puppet master.
August 19, 2025
I read this book because I wanted to know about Himmler's attempt to negotiate a surrender to Western Allies which allow the war on the eastern front to continue. It did not disappoint,
The book gives an insight into this strange man who seems to have had some consciousness of and conscience about the enormity of the evil which he oversaw in the Holocaust but which he overruled in his belief that it was his duty to Hitler personally and the German people to perform.
He appears to have ended the war deluded that the Western Allies would overlook his crimes and place him at the head of Germany with which they would then join forces to wage war on the Soviet Union.
The authors have created an interesting portrait of Himmler, written within 20 years of his death, that I may read a more up to date biography
The book gives an insight into this strange man who seems to have had some consciousness of and conscience about the enormity of the evil which he oversaw in the Holocaust but which he overruled in his belief that it was his duty to Hitler personally and the German people to perform.
He appears to have ended the war deluded that the Western Allies would overlook his crimes and place him at the head of Germany with which they would then join forces to wage war on the Soviet Union.
The authors have created an interesting portrait of Himmler, written within 20 years of his death, that I may read a more up to date biography
August 22, 2019
An Evil Man Who Worshipped Hitler
Himmler was completely brainwashed by Adolph Hitler. He believed completely in the "glory* of The Third Reich, and felt he deserved every promotion Hitler gave him. He felt he was Hitler's right hand man and deserved to take over upon Hitler 's death. Far too late he realized how the end was turning out and tried what he felt was best to calm the Allied Forces to save his own skin. Thankfully that was in vain. It's sad that he managed to commit suicide and not stand trial, but he definitely deserved the poison death that he got.
This book goes deep into Himmler's life and shows how easily one could be brainwashed to believe the death of so many innocents was , in his mind, the right thing to do.
Himmler was completely brainwashed by Adolph Hitler. He believed completely in the "glory* of The Third Reich, and felt he deserved every promotion Hitler gave him. He felt he was Hitler's right hand man and deserved to take over upon Hitler 's death. Far too late he realized how the end was turning out and tried what he felt was best to calm the Allied Forces to save his own skin. Thankfully that was in vain. It's sad that he managed to commit suicide and not stand trial, but he definitely deserved the poison death that he got.
This book goes deep into Himmler's life and shows how easily one could be brainwashed to believe the death of so many innocents was , in his mind, the right thing to do.
February 5, 2020
Kohtalaisen mielenkiintoinen ja varsin kattava katsaus yhteen natsisaksan vaikutusvaltaisimmista ihmisistä. Sairaalloiseen mieheen jolle isoista asioista päättäminen oli ilmeisen vaikeaa, mutta joka kuitenkin samaan aikaan siirsi Hitlerin käskyt kansanmurhasta käytäntöön... paitsi aivan loppuvaiheilla jolloin äijä alkoi jopa pelastaa juutalaisia oman maineensa tahroja kiillottaakseen. Mukana kuvioissa pyöri myös Felix Kersten, kiistelty hahmo eli Suomikytköksin varustettu Himmlerin hieroja joka omien sanojensa mukaan pelasti keskitysleireiltä tuhansia juutalaisia mikä joko on totta tai ei ole; äijästä kun ei kait kovin selkeää kuvaa ole kyetty vieläkään rakentamaan.
July 18, 2020
The book was not written to stand the test of time thats for sure, but how was the author to know. It reads well but jumps around a lot in time. It doesn't really have a chronological feel to it. Fraenkel makes Himmler sound like a weak and meek person which I just don't think was very true based on other accounts I've read. But how am I to know.
Three stars just because it was hard to follow the time line, to much jumping around and the individuals that were associates to Himmler were mostly not discussed in terms of who they were. I spent a lot of time on Google figuring out who was who.
Three stars just because it was hard to follow the time line, to much jumping around and the individuals that were associates to Himmler were mostly not discussed in terms of who they were. I spent a lot of time on Google figuring out who was who.
September 23, 2017
Heinrich Himmler: The Sinister Life of the Head of the SS and Gestapo
This book is well written, however, I’ve learned more about what than about why. Perhaps it’s a question that cannot be answered. The many sides of the Nazi’s are mind-boggling. Fathers, sons, husbands, and killers that revel in the torture and death of others.
It was, none the less, a good and informative read. More like a textbook than a story, but I enjoyed it.
This book is well written, however, I’ve learned more about what than about why. Perhaps it’s a question that cannot be answered. The many sides of the Nazi’s are mind-boggling. Fathers, sons, husbands, and killers that revel in the torture and death of others.
It was, none the less, a good and informative read. More like a textbook than a story, but I enjoyed it.
March 19, 2021
Close look at Himmler. Presented as a mixed bag. Very caring and authentic to those he loved. Good father. Moral. I know it sounds weird to call him moral but in the context of the Nazi cult, he never exploited his position in the party. But his delusional beliefs made him responsible for all the people murdered by the Germans in the war. One gets the impression that if it wasn't for the Nazi cult, he would have made a great grandpa.
November 5, 2021
This was an ok book about these disgusting people who served the maniac HItler.There is some interesting parts but not overall a great book. Mostly about Himmler some about other ss people. They showed how cowardly they were by the way they died especially Hitler Himmler and Goebbels.
September 15, 2018
Great book.
August 26, 2019
The only reason it got a 3 was that it was extremely difficult to get through without thinking about all the men, women and children he had a hand in killing seemingly without regret
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July 15, 20203.5 ⭐️
August 23, 2022
He wild
September 6, 2024
"mein schtummy hurt"
October 22, 2024
quite a bit actually relevant to the MA. Can’t class it as part of the challenge as only 2 chapters were relevant lol
February 19, 2025
Bait and switch. He's right-handed, it turns out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews