Hitler: The Man and the Military Leader

by Percy Ernst Schramm, Donald S. Detwiler

Percy Ernst Schramm, one of Germany's most distinguished historians, had exceptional insight into Hitler's headquarters while acting as War Diary Office of the High Command of the German Armed Forces. This classic volume, long out of print, contains the introductions written by Schramm to critical editions of Hitler's Table Talk and the official War Diary of the High Command of the Wehrmacht. In addition, there are two appendices: the first consisting of excerpts from a study composed by Schramm for the Nuremberg Trials on relations between Hitler and the General Staff; the second a memorandum written by General Jodl in 1946 on Hitler's military leadership.

Genres: Germany, Nonfiction, History, Biography

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

some interesting speculation of a wide variety of Hitler's attitudes taken from the 'Table Conversations', but they seem a bit dated and, perhaps, take Hitler's own pronouncements too much at face value. Most of the information has been folded into the better modern biographical works by historians.

[Tomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually two essays written by the man who was the diarist for the German general staff under Hitler. It was very interesting. I learned more about Hitler; I was really interested in the fact that he was stuck in the time before World War I. The world had moved on, but Hitler had not. He was a self-educated man who never bothered to study the time he lived in. Schramm did not have personal contact with Hitler regularly, but he caught the essence of the man and answered some of the questions about why Hitler did so much evil. The translator did an excellent job so the book was very easy to read.

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schramm, known as an historian of the Holy Roman Empire, served closely with the German General Staff and Adolf Hitler during the latter war years and was called upon to testify during the war crimes trials afterwards at which time he presented a strong defence of Jodl. This book contains his introduction to Hitler's Table Talk as well as the relevant sections of his and Jodl's testimonies. Clearly organized and concise.