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At Hitler's Side: The Memoirs of Hitler's Luftwaffe Adjutant 1937–1945
Published for the first time in English, a firsthand account by the Luftwaffe aide always at Hitler's side during the war, giving essential insight into the heart of the Nazi state and military machine.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 1980
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 13, 2023
Nicolaus von Below was with Hitler for 8 years as Luftwaffe Adjutant. He was close to Hitler during these years and has first-hand information on many happenings of the period. This book is different from all others I have read in that it portrays Hitler quite favourably. In that sense, would say it is brave, though obviously it overlooks a lot of what the world has come to know of Hitler’s atrocities.
Nicolaus von Below always wanted to be a soldier. He rose through the ranks and when Hitler's Adjutant was killed in an accident, Goering asked to meet him and wanted confirmation of his full loyalty. A fairly detailed account of key incidents and Hitler’s decision making since he started working with him follows in the book. He mentions that Hitler was very hard working, an insomniac who worked till early hours of the morning. He had varied interests – especially music. He could talk on a variety of subjects with others and listened carefully. In contrast to the general assumption, I had made that he would have had a dictatorial style, as per Below, he was polite with others, debated matters on merit and in detail, sought to build consensus and convince others, and issued commands only in the last year of the war. As regards Hitler’s invasion of Poland, Below almost entirely lays the blame on an intransigent Poland & Britian. Hitler’s interest was primarily in Danzig and the Polish corridor which he regards as a legitimate demand (and he says almost all in Germany thought so as well, that the Versailles treaty was grossly unfair in this respect). The press was also reporting the ill treatment of German minorities in Poland, with many fleeing. Hitler offered to negotiate but a belligerent Poland declined, emboldened by a pact they had signed with Britain. He goes on to mention that Hitler received a very popular welcome in Danzig. Below says that Hitler did not want to go to war with Britian and thought negotiations were possible once Germany’s strength was realized – for instance with a swift defeat of France. Though he had entered into a pact with Soviet Union, Hitler considered them unreliable and felt he would have no choice but to go to war at some point of time. There are details of Hitler’s attack on rest of Europe, Britain and the Soviet Union.
By 1942, the doubters on whether Germany would win went up significantly, but Below says most people still believed Hitler, a great man, who had restored Germany's stature would find a way to maintain the Reich. Below was in the room when a bomb went off in the room, plotted by Stauffenberg. He refers to the 13-14 Feb 1945, USAAF and RAF bombing of Dresden as appalling where between 135,000 to 300,000 civilians were killed (a Wikipedia article has a number of 25,000). This was an incident I did not know much about and read up later. Germany’s last hopes were on the V2 bombers and new age aircraft but everyone realized it was too late with the allies having made their landing. Eva Braun arrived at the bunker in Mar 1945, and Below compliments her for her composure and maturity. As Hitler and Eva Braun decide to end their lives, the mood was sombre, and Below carefully refers to Hitler as a great man, not morally, but as a political revolutionary. Below sought permission to leave the bunker and Hitler agreed and wished him luck. The notes at the end mention his imprisonment in 1946, and he was released in 1948.
This book largely reads like a war diary, viewed from a German perspective. It humanizes Hitler, which is brave of the author, but obviously controversial (Below does not attempt to justify all of Hitler’s actions though). In multiple instances he refers to Hitler as a pleasant person, calm and open-minded. At the same time, the question is also how honest Below has been. He denies any knowledge of the concentration camps (though he claims knowledge of all else), which only finds sketchy mention, and says all he knew was Jews being asked to self-identify themselves. There is a detached view he takes of the wars and violence Hitler initiated with no reference to the suffering which ensued.
The interesting parts of the book are the personal details the author provides, and his perspective of various matters (such as the Danzig/Polish corridor, Dresden bombing etc) which I suppose might have been typical views in Germany at that time. The moral question of Hitler’s views and actions is largely unexplored and is the most disappointing aspect of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
Nicolaus von Below always wanted to be a soldier. He rose through the ranks and when Hitler's Adjutant was killed in an accident, Goering asked to meet him and wanted confirmation of his full loyalty. A fairly detailed account of key incidents and Hitler’s decision making since he started working with him follows in the book. He mentions that Hitler was very hard working, an insomniac who worked till early hours of the morning. He had varied interests – especially music. He could talk on a variety of subjects with others and listened carefully. In contrast to the general assumption, I had made that he would have had a dictatorial style, as per Below, he was polite with others, debated matters on merit and in detail, sought to build consensus and convince others, and issued commands only in the last year of the war. As regards Hitler’s invasion of Poland, Below almost entirely lays the blame on an intransigent Poland & Britian. Hitler’s interest was primarily in Danzig and the Polish corridor which he regards as a legitimate demand (and he says almost all in Germany thought so as well, that the Versailles treaty was grossly unfair in this respect). The press was also reporting the ill treatment of German minorities in Poland, with many fleeing. Hitler offered to negotiate but a belligerent Poland declined, emboldened by a pact they had signed with Britain. He goes on to mention that Hitler received a very popular welcome in Danzig. Below says that Hitler did not want to go to war with Britian and thought negotiations were possible once Germany’s strength was realized – for instance with a swift defeat of France. Though he had entered into a pact with Soviet Union, Hitler considered them unreliable and felt he would have no choice but to go to war at some point of time. There are details of Hitler’s attack on rest of Europe, Britain and the Soviet Union.
By 1942, the doubters on whether Germany would win went up significantly, but Below says most people still believed Hitler, a great man, who had restored Germany's stature would find a way to maintain the Reich. Below was in the room when a bomb went off in the room, plotted by Stauffenberg. He refers to the 13-14 Feb 1945, USAAF and RAF bombing of Dresden as appalling where between 135,000 to 300,000 civilians were killed (a Wikipedia article has a number of 25,000). This was an incident I did not know much about and read up later. Germany’s last hopes were on the V2 bombers and new age aircraft but everyone realized it was too late with the allies having made their landing. Eva Braun arrived at the bunker in Mar 1945, and Below compliments her for her composure and maturity. As Hitler and Eva Braun decide to end their lives, the mood was sombre, and Below carefully refers to Hitler as a great man, not morally, but as a political revolutionary. Below sought permission to leave the bunker and Hitler agreed and wished him luck. The notes at the end mention his imprisonment in 1946, and he was released in 1948.
This book largely reads like a war diary, viewed from a German perspective. It humanizes Hitler, which is brave of the author, but obviously controversial (Below does not attempt to justify all of Hitler’s actions though). In multiple instances he refers to Hitler as a pleasant person, calm and open-minded. At the same time, the question is also how honest Below has been. He denies any knowledge of the concentration camps (though he claims knowledge of all else), which only finds sketchy mention, and says all he knew was Jews being asked to self-identify themselves. There is a detached view he takes of the wars and violence Hitler initiated with no reference to the suffering which ensued.
The interesting parts of the book are the personal details the author provides, and his perspective of various matters (such as the Danzig/Polish corridor, Dresden bombing etc) which I suppose might have been typical views in Germany at that time. The moral question of Hitler’s views and actions is largely unexplored and is the most disappointing aspect of the book.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
May 10, 2017
Rose tinted spectacles
The author presents a Hitler not usually written about. A man prepared to listen, discuss and to be persuaded. I know I know doesn't seem possible does it. It is obvious that von Below fell under Hitler's spell and never quite escaped.
The author presents a Hitler not usually written about. A man prepared to listen, discuss and to be persuaded. I know I know doesn't seem possible does it. It is obvious that von Below fell under Hitler's spell and never quite escaped.
March 14, 2013
Very good memoir of the Third Reich. Unsurprisingly concentrates on the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht and the chaos the military was in during the war. I would describe the style as matter-of-factly rather than analytical.
April 7, 2019
Very entertaining and informative. It was witten after the war without much in the way of notes rather than contemporaneously as was the diary of the Wermacht adjutant Engle; so it seems a bit revisionist and written with influence by post war opinions.
July 12, 2021
At Hitler's Side is a brief history of the war from the perspective of Hitler’s Luftwaffe Adjutant , Nicolaus von Below . It's a very interesting book because although von Below without any doubt was an admirer of his master , he was not a delusional one . Well worth reading.
September 10, 2020
Свидетельства достойного офицера, дворянина фон Белова о годах службы адъютантом АГ.
December 21, 2017
Insider reveals important facts
This was a interesting book about the decisions and goings on with Hitler and his inner circle, before and during WW 2.
This was a interesting book about the decisions and goings on with Hitler and his inner circle, before and during WW 2.
September 17, 2019
Absolutely amazing! Who knew that such thorough, clearly written documentation even existed? Kept this reader up all night. Highly recommended for any 20th century history buff.
February 18, 2023
Très intéressant, mais également très long et quelques passages assez ennuyeux. Même pour des personnes, comme moi, qui lisent beaucoup sur ce sujet, ça peut paraître rébarbatif.
Nicolaus Von Below retranscrit, pratiquement, tout l'emploi du temps de Hitler.
Page 371 -> En novembre 1939 Hitler disait à son état major : "Il s'agit de la vie ou de la mort d'une Nation. Je vous demande de relayer de haut en bas cet esprit de ferme résolution. Je tiendrai ou je tomberai dans ce combat. Je ne survivrai pas à la défaite de mon peuple. Pour l'extérieur pas de capitulation, à l'intérieur pas de révolution." Il savait déjà qu'il mettrait fin à ses jours en cas de défaite.
Je recommande, mais attention, il faut vraiment être passionné par cette période de l'histoire.
Nicolaus Von Below retranscrit, pratiquement, tout l'emploi du temps de Hitler.
Page 371 -> En novembre 1939 Hitler disait à son état major : "Il s'agit de la vie ou de la mort d'une Nation. Je vous demande de relayer de haut en bas cet esprit de ferme résolution. Je tiendrai ou je tomberai dans ce combat. Je ne survivrai pas à la défaite de mon peuple. Pour l'extérieur pas de capitulation, à l'intérieur pas de révolution." Il savait déjà qu'il mettrait fin à ses jours en cas de défaite.
Je recommande, mais attention, il faut vraiment être passionné par cette période de l'histoire.
August 14, 2023
This memoir from Hitler’s air force (Luftwaffe) adjutant is in a diary like form. Below kept a diary that was burned at the end of April 1945 – this book is his reconstruction. He describes his service with Hitler from 1937 until 1945, making note of the policy decisions and conferences he attended while recording Hitler’s intellectual and physical progress over the years, from determined optimism to apathetic despair. At the end, Below still admired Hitler: “We recognised Hitler in all honesty as a great man—not in the moral sense, of course, but as a political revolutionary”.
January 13, 2026
Although not very long, it was dry and dull, like a long military report in telegraph style. That’s how he managed to cover the entire war in so little space. It also seems that he was not prone to criticize Hitler too much.
July 17, 2021
An interesting inside account of life near the Fuhrer. The author was obviously trusted but he doesn't seem to have been to close to the subject on a personal level.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews