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Walter Schellenberg: The Memoirs of Hitler's Spymaster
This is a chilling memoir by the head of Hitler's Foreign Intelligence Service. This unique account of Hitler's corrupt regime illuminates more vividly than any other the deepening atmosphere of terror and unreality in which the Nazi leadership lived as the war progressed. Schellenberg recounts with first-hand knowledge the motivations and machinations surrounding the Nazi Army's every move and offers vivid accounts of the countless incidents in which he played a major part including Heydrich's assassination, plans to kill Roosevelt and Stalin, and an attempt to kidnap the Duke of Windsor. But this remarkable inside account is perhaps most memorable for its riveting portraits of Adolf Hitler, and the men whom Schellenberg calls, with stunning lack of irony, 'Hitler's willing executioners' - Heydrich, Himmler, Mueller, and Kaltenbrunner.
- GenresWorld War II
597 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
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85 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 22, 2016
Some interesting insights, although Schellenberg makes sure he distances himself from the really gruesome stuff and has a tendency to overestimate his importance.
January 28, 2022
Memories of German Nazi spy? How curious! And it had been interesting until I realized Schellenberg was writing with two goals in mind:
1. Presenting himself in a better light during the whole madness called World War 2. In fact, you'll wonder how Reich governed by the clown could actually function. Another factor to consider. Contrary to the portrait he'd love the reader to believe in, reading between the lines, he had a change of his heart only after Germans started to lose the war. I get a sense he was trying here to distance himself from the crimes against humanity committed by Nazis. I'd love to read more about Canaris, though. Fascinating person.
2. Gaining the support of the British and Russians for his cause.
After I finished the book I was tired of him, of his story, and of his tactful failure to fully mention his own role in the regime. Therefore, if you're looking for honest reflections of a repentant Nazi dignitary, you will find his memoir disappointing.
1. Presenting himself in a better light during the whole madness called World War 2. In fact, you'll wonder how Reich governed by the clown could actually function. Another factor to consider. Contrary to the portrait he'd love the reader to believe in, reading between the lines, he had a change of his heart only after Germans started to lose the war. I get a sense he was trying here to distance himself from the crimes against humanity committed by Nazis. I'd love to read more about Canaris, though. Fascinating person.
2. Gaining the support of the British and Russians for his cause.
After I finished the book I was tired of him, of his story, and of his tactful failure to fully mention his own role in the regime. Therefore, if you're looking for honest reflections of a repentant Nazi dignitary, you will find his memoir disappointing.
May 8, 2015
Excellent read. Fascinating details from inside the SD. While Schellenberg avoids sticky issues (i.e., the Holocaust), what he provides is enlightening, particularly his relationships with Heinrich, Himmler, and Canaris.
June 23, 2020
Memoirs of a "decadent lawyer".
An enlightening account of the workings within the Nazi hierarchy. Schellenberg was without doubt a schooled and intelligent individual. However, I couldn't help but see Hitler's description of him as a "decadent lawyer". He had an uncanny ability to influence while avoiding consequences sometimes through skill and other times by luck. I have read various opinions/descriptions of Schellenberg running the gamut from good to bad. In this book, he like so many others of the surviving hierarchy, conveniently leaves out any knowledge of the atrocities of which he had to know about. Still, all in all an enlightening volume of work.
An enlightening account of the workings within the Nazi hierarchy. Schellenberg was without doubt a schooled and intelligent individual. However, I couldn't help but see Hitler's description of him as a "decadent lawyer". He had an uncanny ability to influence while avoiding consequences sometimes through skill and other times by luck. I have read various opinions/descriptions of Schellenberg running the gamut from good to bad. In this book, he like so many others of the surviving hierarchy, conveniently leaves out any knowledge of the atrocities of which he had to know about. Still, all in all an enlightening volume of work.
July 23, 2024
While I've no doubt that memoirs often have to be taken with a grain of salt, this is a fascinating book for anyone with an interest in espionage, WWII, or the Third Reich. I do wish the editing of the narration had been a little better, and I listened at 1.20x, but the content itself is very clearly written and translated. Sparked my interest in further reading into some topics.
March 2, 2022
What a monster...
January 4, 2020
Walter Schellenberg: The Memoirs of Hitler's Spymaster
When I got assigned to write a podcast episode about Spymaster Walter Schellenberg, I was thoroughly perplexed. I had never heard of this man who was apparently Hitler's Spymaster during WWII. Who was Walter Schellenberg and what did he do to earn such a moniker?
Why not go straight to the source -- these are Walter's own words about his life and experiences in the Nazi Party during WWII and it was FASCINATING. Much of what he said strangely enough resonated with things happening still today. It was an intimate, creepy look at the inside of the Nazi Party. Obviously Walter must've left some stuff out to make himself look better, but for the most part, he opens our eyes to things that happened before and during the infamous, deadly war.
In his memoirs, Walter claims to have been trying to end the war peacefully and he did help negotiate the freeing of POW from concentration camps. He did do good but whether it was because he wanted to look good or truly cared is hard to say. What is important to say is that this insider look at something so terrible and from such a personal viewpoint was very informative and interesting.
And if you want to listen to my podcast episode on this very subject, go here: https://www.parcast.com/espionage
When I got assigned to write a podcast episode about Spymaster Walter Schellenberg, I was thoroughly perplexed. I had never heard of this man who was apparently Hitler's Spymaster during WWII. Who was Walter Schellenberg and what did he do to earn such a moniker?
Why not go straight to the source -- these are Walter's own words about his life and experiences in the Nazi Party during WWII and it was FASCINATING. Much of what he said strangely enough resonated with things happening still today. It was an intimate, creepy look at the inside of the Nazi Party. Obviously Walter must've left some stuff out to make himself look better, but for the most part, he opens our eyes to things that happened before and during the infamous, deadly war.
In his memoirs, Walter claims to have been trying to end the war peacefully and he did help negotiate the freeing of POW from concentration camps. He did do good but whether it was because he wanted to look good or truly cared is hard to say. What is important to say is that this insider look at something so terrible and from such a personal viewpoint was very informative and interesting.
And if you want to listen to my podcast episode on this very subject, go here: https://www.parcast.com/espionage
August 24, 2019
Nacistinės Vokietijos šnipo prisiminimai apie karjeros pradžią, pabaigą, slaptas operacijas, bendravimą su vadovais.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews