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The Man With the Miraculous Hands: The Fantastic Story of Felix Kersten, Himmler's Private Doctor
Physician to the high-demon of the Third Reich, Heinrich Himmler. Kersten could alleviate Himmler's severe stomach pains with his hands using massage and manipulation. In return, Kersten bargained with Himmler to order the release of innocent prisoners condemned to die.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
103 people are currently reading
2539 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Kessel
308 books197 followersJoseph Kessel was a French journalist and novelist. He was born in Villa Clara, Entre Ríos, Argentina, because of the constant journeys of his father, a Lithuanian doctor of Jewish origin. Kessel lived the first years of his childhood in Orenburg, Russia, before the family moved to France. He studied in Nice and Paris, and took part in the First World War as an aviator.
Kessel wrote several novels and books that were later represented in the cinema, notably Belle de Jour (by Luis Buñuel in 1967). He was also a member of the Académie française from 1962 to 1979. In 1943 he and his nephew Maurice Druon translated Anna Marly's song Chant des Partisans into French from its original Russian. The song became one of the anthems of the Free French Forces.
Joseph Kessel died in Avernes, Val-d'Oise. He is buried in the Cimetière de Montparnasse in Paris.
Kessel wrote several novels and books that were later represented in the cinema, notably Belle de Jour (by Luis Buñuel in 1967). He was also a member of the Académie française from 1962 to 1979. In 1943 he and his nephew Maurice Druon translated Anna Marly's song Chant des Partisans into French from its original Russian. The song became one of the anthems of the Free French Forces.
Joseph Kessel died in Avernes, Val-d'Oise. He is buried in the Cimetière de Montparnasse in Paris.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
February 24, 2023
Did you know SS-Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler, the man in charge of overseeing the entire Third Reich extermination machinery, had as his personal massage therapist a man who quietly saved thousands of Jews? No? Then you're in luck, this book will tell you the whole story, often quite unbelievable.
The man was a German naturalised Finnish by the name of Felix Kersten, a masseur and physiotherapist by occupation, who had "magical hands" that alleviated Himmler's chronic health complaints and thus allowed him to get on the SS chief's good graces as well as some in the top Nazi sphere. Using this cover, he meddled in the Reich's persecution of the Jews and was able to save a number of them (some claim it was 350,000) that's still debated. The ways in which he did it are amazing, you really need to read this book to see, or you'll be thinking I'm exaggerating!
Unfortunately for Kersten, he was never recognised for his work, although there's been pressure on Israel to acknowledge his efforts. And compared to other famous saviours, he's completely unknown unless you're a historian or a WWII history aficionado. Kessel's book, now translated and republished in English, comes in handy to help make Kersten's remarkable story known. And yes, he was a flawed individual and not free of controversy, and although not everything is on this book, you'll get an idea of it all that is precise.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The man was a German naturalised Finnish by the name of Felix Kersten, a masseur and physiotherapist by occupation, who had "magical hands" that alleviated Himmler's chronic health complaints and thus allowed him to get on the SS chief's good graces as well as some in the top Nazi sphere. Using this cover, he meddled in the Reich's persecution of the Jews and was able to save a number of them (some claim it was 350,000) that's still debated. The ways in which he did it are amazing, you really need to read this book to see, or you'll be thinking I'm exaggerating!
Unfortunately for Kersten, he was never recognised for his work, although there's been pressure on Israel to acknowledge his efforts. And compared to other famous saviours, he's completely unknown unless you're a historian or a WWII history aficionado. Kessel's book, now translated and republished in English, comes in handy to help make Kersten's remarkable story known. And yes, he was a flawed individual and not free of controversy, and although not everything is on this book, you'll get an idea of it all that is precise.
I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2023
The Man with Miraculous Hands by Joseph Kessel is the story of a Russian born, Finnish citizen named Dr Felix Kerston. He used Chinese massage to alleviate pain in his patients, one of these patient’s was one of the biggest monsters of all-time. The man in charge of the SS and the Gestapo, the man responsible for Nazi Concentration Camps, responsible for the death and torture of millions and a part of Adolf Hitler’s inner circle. Heinrich Himmler.
Dr Kerston used manual manipulation to alleviate the disabling pain experienced by Himmler, this pain rendered him helplessly immobile. Himmler had tried conventional medicine to no avail, Dr Kerston was able to relieve Himmler’s pain instantly. This made Kerston indispensable to Himmler, he was essentially permanently on-call. Himmler considered him a friend – possibly his only friend. During their sessions over the years, Himmler was incredibly open and frank with Kerston. The good doctor also was able to befriend Himmler’s private secretary – Brandt – which was very useful.
Dr Kerston and Himmler
Kerston was able to use his influence and ‘friendship’ with Himmler to secure the release of many, many prisoners held in camps or prisons. He was also able to secure favourable treatment for many other victims of the Nazi crime machine. These details were extracted from Dr Kerston’s diary.
This is a fascinating inside look at the way the Nazi hierarchy viewed the world, also of how Himmler’s mind worked and his obsession with pleasing and following Hitler. There have been some reports that Kerston’s impact has been somewhat exaggerated – and I did find it interesting how his this account recorded what Himmler was thinking at times – but even if only 50% of what Dr Kerston claimed to influence was true, he saved numerous lives. I think, to be fair, his impact was significant, his efforts are well-documented and involved the cooperation of other significant parties – such as the Finnish Government of the day – and they could easily dispute his claims if untrue.
An excellent read for those interested in this shameful period of human history. This book has given me reason to spend some time watching various movies like The Pianist and Inglorious Basterds, I think I’ll keep watching more material of this period for a while (again). Also, Woody Harrelson will be starring in an upcoming movie of this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for my review.
4 Stars
Dr Kerston used manual manipulation to alleviate the disabling pain experienced by Himmler, this pain rendered him helplessly immobile. Himmler had tried conventional medicine to no avail, Dr Kerston was able to relieve Himmler’s pain instantly. This made Kerston indispensable to Himmler, he was essentially permanently on-call. Himmler considered him a friend – possibly his only friend. During their sessions over the years, Himmler was incredibly open and frank with Kerston. The good doctor also was able to befriend Himmler’s private secretary – Brandt – which was very useful.
Dr Kerston and Himmler
Kerston was able to use his influence and ‘friendship’ with Himmler to secure the release of many, many prisoners held in camps or prisons. He was also able to secure favourable treatment for many other victims of the Nazi crime machine. These details were extracted from Dr Kerston’s diary.
This is a fascinating inside look at the way the Nazi hierarchy viewed the world, also of how Himmler’s mind worked and his obsession with pleasing and following Hitler. There have been some reports that Kerston’s impact has been somewhat exaggerated – and I did find it interesting how his this account recorded what Himmler was thinking at times – but even if only 50% of what Dr Kerston claimed to influence was true, he saved numerous lives. I think, to be fair, his impact was significant, his efforts are well-documented and involved the cooperation of other significant parties – such as the Finnish Government of the day – and they could easily dispute his claims if untrue.
An excellent read for those interested in this shameful period of human history. This book has given me reason to spend some time watching various movies like The Pianist and Inglorious Basterds, I think I’ll keep watching more material of this period for a while (again). Also, Woody Harrelson will be starring in an upcoming movie of this story.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for my review.
4 Stars
June 2, 2021
Chcela by som učiť deti literatúru. Rozprávať sa s nimi o knihách, nepísať suché poznámky z učebníc, ale hovoriť o románoch, ktoré by sme spolu čítali a prepájali tak predmety. Keby na dejepise preberali druhú svetovú vojnu, čítali by sme Josepha Kessela a jeho knihu Muž so zázračnými rukami.
Román je o vzťahu lekára Félixa Kerstena a jeho výnimočného pacienta Heinricha Himmlera, s ktorými sa fyzioterapeut pôvodom z Estónska, dušou Švéd a srdcom Holanďan spoznal v poslednú mierovú jar v roku 1939. Odvtedy ho liečil svojimi rukami, masíroval jeho svaly, ktoré boli ochabnuté a telo spustošené chorobami. A Kersten ich stretnutia využíval na to, aby zachraňoval ľudí odsúdených na smrť pre ich pôvod.
„Ráno, čo ráno sa Kersten znova púšťal do boja za spásu ľudí, ktorí zomierali v táboroch,“ píše Kessel. Jeho román nie je preplnený informáciám, ťažisko je na osobe lekára, ktorý si za päť rokov získal dôveru a priateľstvo, aké Himmler nedoprial nikomu inému. Jeho rozprávanie je miestami neskutočné a silné. Pri kapitole o tom, ako sa vďaka Kerstenovi transport s 2700 Židmi otočí z východu do Švajčiarka som sa plakala.
Toto je kniha, ktorú by sme si mali prečítať, aby sme o druhej svetovej vojne vedeli viac ako len dátumy, názvy vojenských operácii a prehraté bitky. Toto je kniha so skutočným príbehom o človeku, ktorý si počas jedenej bezsennej noci dal sľub, že bude zachraňovať ľudí zakaždým, keď sa mu naskytne príležitosť.
„Ako v takýchto podmienkach dúfať, že sa vo vodcoch takého neľudského režimu pohne ľudskosť? Ako pomyslieť, hoci len na okamih, že z koncentračných táborov sa dajú vyslobodiť muži a ženy, ktorí sú pre Hitlera, Himmlera a ostatných nacistických veliteľov rebelmi, zradcami, svätokrádežníkmi, Židmi? Ako toľkej necitlivosti a pohŕdaniu vytrhnúť obete, ktoré dozorcovia z SS považujú za mrciny, hoci ešte dýchajú?“
Román je o vzťahu lekára Félixa Kerstena a jeho výnimočného pacienta Heinricha Himmlera, s ktorými sa fyzioterapeut pôvodom z Estónska, dušou Švéd a srdcom Holanďan spoznal v poslednú mierovú jar v roku 1939. Odvtedy ho liečil svojimi rukami, masíroval jeho svaly, ktoré boli ochabnuté a telo spustošené chorobami. A Kersten ich stretnutia využíval na to, aby zachraňoval ľudí odsúdených na smrť pre ich pôvod.
„Ráno, čo ráno sa Kersten znova púšťal do boja za spásu ľudí, ktorí zomierali v táboroch,“ píše Kessel. Jeho román nie je preplnený informáciám, ťažisko je na osobe lekára, ktorý si za päť rokov získal dôveru a priateľstvo, aké Himmler nedoprial nikomu inému. Jeho rozprávanie je miestami neskutočné a silné. Pri kapitole o tom, ako sa vďaka Kerstenovi transport s 2700 Židmi otočí z východu do Švajčiarka som sa plakala.
Toto je kniha, ktorú by sme si mali prečítať, aby sme o druhej svetovej vojne vedeli viac ako len dátumy, názvy vojenských operácii a prehraté bitky. Toto je kniha so skutočným príbehom o človeku, ktorý si počas jedenej bezsennej noci dal sľub, že bude zachraňovať ľudí zakaždým, keď sa mu naskytne príležitosť.
„Ako v takýchto podmienkach dúfať, že sa vo vodcoch takého neľudského režimu pohne ľudskosť? Ako pomyslieť, hoci len na okamih, že z koncentračných táborov sa dajú vyslobodiť muži a ženy, ktorí sú pre Hitlera, Himmlera a ostatných nacistických veliteľov rebelmi, zradcami, svätokrádežníkmi, Židmi? Ako toľkej necitlivosti a pohŕdaniu vytrhnúť obete, ktoré dozorcovia z SS považujú za mrciny, hoci ešte dýchajú?“
December 31, 2024
A must read !!!
July 30, 2024
I was forced to add a review of this mendacious, self serving farago of misinformation delusional grandstanding when I discovered that a new English language print edition came out in 2023 and that it was bought for the London (UK) library system. Felix Kersten was a liar who did nothing except, post war, seek to burnish his reputation with the help of various royals from the Netherlands and Scandinavia with fraudulent claims of helping rescue not simply thousands of Jews but the entire population of the Netherlands. Lies, all lies.
Please ignore the mountain of credulous writing this blowhard has attracted and read the section on Kersten in Ian Burman's 'The Collaborators, Three Stories of Deception and Survival in World War II'. It is a scandal that scarce resources are spent putting this book into libraries. It is even more scandalous that people continue to promote this odious little toady as a great humanitarian when those who did extraordinary, risky things, often at the cost of their lives (please see Martin Gilbert's 'The Righteous') are unremembered.
Please ignore the mountain of credulous writing this blowhard has attracted and read the section on Kersten in Ian Burman's 'The Collaborators, Three Stories of Deception and Survival in World War II'. It is a scandal that scarce resources are spent putting this book into libraries. It is even more scandalous that people continue to promote this odious little toady as a great humanitarian when those who did extraordinary, risky things, often at the cost of their lives (please see Martin Gilbert's 'The Righteous') are unremembered.
August 27, 2017
There are two books that I've read that have blown my mind and this is one of them. It's written so well. It's a view point I had never known about or considered. It's about the relationship between Heinrich Himmler and his personal physician Felix Kersten. It's an amazing story and everyone should know it. Dr. Kersten is an amazing human who took the most horrible job in history and turned it into a rescue mission. I would highly recommend it.
March 20, 2022
Un livre absolument hallucinant sur un destin bien trop méconnu de la seconde guerre mondiale. Le style est très documentaire, j’aurais peut-être préféré plus de romanesque encore, mais ça n’empêche pas le lecteur de vibrer autour des enjeux colossaux des décisions de Kersten. Une vraie découverte.
February 22, 2025
Nepoznala som osud a životný príbeh doktora Félixa Kerstena. Muž, ktorý dokázal nemožné len svojimi rukami... Svojimi vynikajúcimi masérskymi skúsenosťami, fyzioterapeutickými znalosťami ovplyvnil Heinricha Himmlera, ktorý trpel bolesťami brucha a popri liečbe od neho získal slobodu a milosť pre mnohých. Narodil sa v Estónsku, žil vo Fínsku, Holandsku, Nemecku a Švédsku. Vyštudoval fyzioterapiu a učil sa od čínskeho majstra tibetských liečebných masáží, neskôr viedol medzinárodnú prax. A takto sa dostal aj do Nemecka a priamo ho odporučili k šéfovi gestapa a vojenských zložiek. Získal si dôveru jedného z najvyšších veliteľov Tretej ríše a svojím umením sa stal osobným lekárom HH. Pomohol však zachrániť deportácii miliónov Holanďanov a takisto bol pri zrode dohody, ktorá zabránila zničeniu koncentračných táborov pred oslobodením spojeneckými vojskami. Nechápem, vôbec nič som o ňom nečítala... a pritom všetko je podložené reálnymi dokumentami. Odporúčam, ak si chcete rozšíriť vedomosti o 2. svetovej vojne z pohľadu osobnosti, ktorá milovala jedlo a ženy a svoju prax.
September 6, 2021
Extraordinary. A book like none other, a true story that left me breathless.
February 9, 2025
Admirable ❤️
On pense avoir tout lu sur la seconde guerre mondiale, dans tous les sens et de tous les côtés, et puis on tombe sur cette pépite. Au delà de l'écriture et des sujets abordés par Kessel, toujours pertinents, ce roman (re)donne foi en l'espèce humaine au travers du docteur Kersten. A lire en ayant en tête qu'il s'agit d'une histoire réelle.
On pense avoir tout lu sur la seconde guerre mondiale, dans tous les sens et de tous les côtés, et puis on tombe sur cette pépite. Au delà de l'écriture et des sujets abordés par Kessel, toujours pertinents, ce roman (re)donne foi en l'espèce humaine au travers du docteur Kersten. A lire en ayant en tête qu'il s'agit d'une histoire réelle.
April 6, 2020
Espectacular, toda una revelación. La mezcla perfecta entre una trama increíble y una construcción impoluta.
Empiezo a estar un poco cansada de los relatos sobre la segunda guerra mundial pero al leer este libro me di cuenta de cuántas cosas desconozco todavía sobre este episodio tan negro de nuestra historia reciente. Y cuántos episodios, cuántos personajes interesantísimos me quedan todavía por descubrir.
Es increíble que la historia del doctor Kersten no sea mundialmente conocida. Es injusto que el mundo no sepa cuántas vidas consiguió salvar. Es cierto que, como Kessel nos advierte al principio de la novela, en ciertos pasajes el lector se ve tentado de creer que lo que se cuenta no es más que ficción. Y, sin embargo, el autor nos asegura que todo se basa en pruebas fehacientes.
Un libro muy bien escrito, que no se hace en absoluto pesado a pesar de todas las notas históricas que introduce para situarnos. Los personajes están muy bien desarrollados, Kessel retrata al detalle la psicología de cada uno de ellos. Tanto, que por momentos llegamos a comprender e incluso a sentir pena o ternura por Himmler.
Uno de mis nuevos libros favoritos. Sin duda.
Empiezo a estar un poco cansada de los relatos sobre la segunda guerra mundial pero al leer este libro me di cuenta de cuántas cosas desconozco todavía sobre este episodio tan negro de nuestra historia reciente. Y cuántos episodios, cuántos personajes interesantísimos me quedan todavía por descubrir.
Es increíble que la historia del doctor Kersten no sea mundialmente conocida. Es injusto que el mundo no sepa cuántas vidas consiguió salvar. Es cierto que, como Kessel nos advierte al principio de la novela, en ciertos pasajes el lector se ve tentado de creer que lo que se cuenta no es más que ficción. Y, sin embargo, el autor nos asegura que todo se basa en pruebas fehacientes.
Un libro muy bien escrito, que no se hace en absoluto pesado a pesar de todas las notas históricas que introduce para situarnos. Los personajes están muy bien desarrollados, Kessel retrata al detalle la psicología de cada uno de ellos. Tanto, que por momentos llegamos a comprender e incluso a sentir pena o ternura por Himmler.
Uno de mis nuevos libros favoritos. Sin duda.
June 3, 2017
Fascinating and often unbelievable récit of the influence Félix Kersten had on Himmler during the war. I can't believe this/he is not more widely known about, and had to independently fact check through the book. Incredible. Sobering. Absorbing.
January 3, 2024
Very interesting story. Clearly not 100% accurate, but no doubting the events occurred and that he may have assisted in saving lives, but not to the extent he tries to portray. The forward said as much, and after doing some fact checking, I found it was the case.
Still a very easy read and entertaining enough if you can decipher where fact stops, and fiction begins.
Still a very easy read and entertaining enough if you can decipher where fact stops, and fiction begins.
August 19, 2024
Livre hyper intéressant sur un sujet méconnu : Felix Kersten, un docteur qui a eu un rôle essentiel durant la seconde guerre mondiale.
August 11, 2023
" Hitler l'a dit. Il y a trois catégories d'êtres : celles des hommes, celles de bêtes et celles des Juifs. Et ces derniers doivent être détruits pour que les deux autres puissent exister "
C'est sur ces paroles d'Himmler que nous nous rendons compte de l'emprise des idées d'Hitler sur le peuple allemand.
J'ai adoré en savoir plus sur Kersten, un héros oublié du monde, alors qu'il a durement œuvré pour sauver des milliers d'hommes et de femmes des griffes des nazis.
C'est sur ces paroles d'Himmler que nous nous rendons compte de l'emprise des idées d'Hitler sur le peuple allemand.
J'ai adoré en savoir plus sur Kersten, un héros oublié du monde, alors qu'il a durement œuvré pour sauver des milliers d'hommes et de femmes des griffes des nazis.
December 7, 2025
Not entirely sure how accurate all the content is, but very amusing to think about an overweight doctor clapping back at Himmler. The good doctor was also not a Ribbentrop fan (shock), and was “dismayed to see such a stupid man holding such an office.”
January 3, 2025
This type of literature is peculiar ; it helps us grasp the dilemmas and realities of this period even more deeply than a straightforward, pragmatic essay could.
September 3, 2025
Hyper intéressant comme livre!
February 1, 2023
I am going to have to disclaimer the heck out of this review. Which is fair because the foreward of the book is a giant disclaimer.
First, this is a re-release of a book which was published in 1961. Second, the title character, Felix Kersten, was part of the Nazi war machine but also kind of not. He was definitely Himmler's physician. Third, Kersten definitely saved lives but also exaggerated excessively about how many he saved. Finally, he claimed to not benefit from being a Nazi and that he was forced into it.
Got all that? Ultimately, the foreward of the book does an excellent job explaining all of this and making the case the book is still important. We get a look at the Nazi inner court and Kersten may be a liar, but he also was at least partially a hero. Scholars agree he saved lives. How many is still very much up for debate.
Where does this leave the story? Joseph Kessel, the author, clearly was taken in by Kersten. He tells a fawning story which very much excuses Kersten for collaborating. Is it fair to judge a book from the 1960s with our expectations today, though? It doesn't ask tough questions about inherent benefits. It does not do good enough scholarship to catch Kessel in his lies. It does, however, give us a glimpse at the workings of one of the most vile humans to ever live in Himmler.
Ultimately, I couldn't recommend this book but I would not say it is without merit. If you want to know everything about World War II then it may be worth it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson Books.)
First, this is a re-release of a book which was published in 1961. Second, the title character, Felix Kersten, was part of the Nazi war machine but also kind of not. He was definitely Himmler's physician. Third, Kersten definitely saved lives but also exaggerated excessively about how many he saved. Finally, he claimed to not benefit from being a Nazi and that he was forced into it.
Got all that? Ultimately, the foreward of the book does an excellent job explaining all of this and making the case the book is still important. We get a look at the Nazi inner court and Kersten may be a liar, but he also was at least partially a hero. Scholars agree he saved lives. How many is still very much up for debate.
Where does this leave the story? Joseph Kessel, the author, clearly was taken in by Kersten. He tells a fawning story which very much excuses Kersten for collaborating. Is it fair to judge a book from the 1960s with our expectations today, though? It doesn't ask tough questions about inherent benefits. It does not do good enough scholarship to catch Kessel in his lies. It does, however, give us a glimpse at the workings of one of the most vile humans to ever live in Himmler.
Ultimately, I couldn't recommend this book but I would not say it is without merit. If you want to know everything about World War II then it may be worth it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson Books.)
September 30, 2016
Amazing true story of the private doctor of Himmler, Hitler's righthand man. He becomes Himmler's confidant while treating the debilitating pain that he often has due to intestinal problems. He finds ways to talk Himmler out of plans that would have killed millions - including forcing everyone in Denmark to walk to Poland (resettling Denmark with Germans), buying up the food on the French black market to starve the French and feed Germany, blow up all of the concentration camps before the allies could find them, and many others. He also negotiates the release of tens of thousands of political prisoners and Jews, sometimes one at a time and as groups. An inside look at the madness of the Nazi regime, and someone who gained their trust in order to temper their policies - and had to survive at least one assassination attempt from zealots who didn't like the impact he was having. Makes you wonder about other crazy plans that the Nazis had that we never heard about. Could be a great movie someday. BTW this is in French, don't know if it has been translated.
September 9, 2018
"...il arrivait que je refusais d'accepter certains épisodes du récit. Cela ne pouvait pas être vrai (...). Il sortait simplement avec un demi-sourire, une lettre, un document, un témoignage, une photocopie. Et il fallait bien admettre cela, comme le reste". Ces quelques mots tirés du prologue au roman de Joseph Kessel concerne un homme bien peu connu de l'histoire, au regard des exploits qu'il aurait accompli pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Cet homme, et ses Mains du miracles dont il est question, c'est Félix Kersten. Une bande dessinée en deux tomes, qui m'était un peu tombée des mains il y a quelques années (le dessin ne me plaisait pas), avait bien peu excité ma curiosité. Je laissai donc cela dans les rayons de mon vendeur favori et oubliai cette histoire, jusqu'à la découverte dans un vieux carton de cette édition ancienne. La suite ici: https://pagesdhistoires.blogspot.com/...
March 17, 2023
The Man with Miraculous Hands is an excellent historical book.
We get to know the biography of the excellent doctor Felix Kersten.
He was Heinrich Himmler's masseur.
With his miraculous hands, he helped Himmler relieve pain.
Let me tell you, he was playing with fire.
Kersten's life has been in danger more than once.
He had many friends, but also many enemies.
He tried to rescue Jewish prisoners from the camps.
How did he do it?
Was his mission successful?
What did Himmler say about all this?
I encourage you to read this amazing book.
Thanks to her, I learned new information about World War II.
I am delighted with this biography.
We get to know the biography of the excellent doctor Felix Kersten.
He was Heinrich Himmler's masseur.
With his miraculous hands, he helped Himmler relieve pain.
Let me tell you, he was playing with fire.
Kersten's life has been in danger more than once.
He had many friends, but also many enemies.
He tried to rescue Jewish prisoners from the camps.
How did he do it?
Was his mission successful?
What did Himmler say about all this?
I encourage you to read this amazing book.
Thanks to her, I learned new information about World War II.
I am delighted with this biography.
January 14, 2024
4,5 - Vraiment fascinant. Au final, il ne se passe pas grand chose, mais j'ai tout de même été happée par le récit. C'est comme une partie d'échecs très bien écrite! C'est d'autant plus intéressant que c'est une histoire vraie.
September 14, 2016
A very interesting story about a doctor and his extraordinary patient.
January 27, 2021
Krásna kniha o liečiteľovi Himmlera ktorý pomohol tisíckam ludi uniknúť pred smrťou. Koncentračné tábory sa spomínajú len veľmi jemne ak by ste na tuto tematiku nemali žalúdok.. treba prečítať!
September 27, 2025
Une histoire bien trop méconnue de la seconde guerre mondiale !! À lire
March 5, 2023
'The Man with Miraculous Hands' is the incredible story of Heinrich Himmler's doctor, who claimed to have saved millions of lives by carefully timed requests. Himmler, who suffered from excruciating stomach aches and flatulence, would call on Felix Kersten in times of need, as being the one man who could do something - through massaging the affected areas - to alleviate the pain. In time, Himmler came to depend on this Finnish doctor, not just as someone who could heal him but as someone he could trust. Kersten manipulated this relationship to his own ends, to keep people safe, and to rescue people from the concentration camps - including (according to Kersten) the entire Dutch nation. After the war, Kersten's fame spread: he was awarded one of the highest Dutch honours and nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize, while Hugh Trevor-Roper (at the time Oxford's foremost specialist in contemporary history, and who verified Kersten's memoirs) considered him to be a 'shining example for human behaviour'. The book, written by a bestselling novelist who interviewed Kersten, is a fast-paced narrative of this special relationship and the benefits it reaped. It has now been picked up by Hollywood, with the rotund Kersten played by Woody Harrelson in the upcoming film.
'The Man with Miraculous Hands' is presented, in effect, as an oral history. It is one man's jaw-dropping story, told through his eyes. But given that it was penned by a novelist, it has all the traits of a thriller: there is action, there are plot twists, there is intrigue, character development and suspense. The language, while simple, is effective, emotive, and to the point, making the book immediate and pacy.
This is useful in more ways than just making the book extremely readable: it reminds the audience that it is, at least in part, a work of fiction. Although Kersten's memoirs were given a glowing recommendation by Trevor-Roper - who, as brilliant a historian as he was, didn't have a particularly good track record in verifying Nazi documents - the text is littered with half-truths, exaggerations and, possibly, outright lies. The most obvious of these is the claim that he saved the entire Dutch nation from deportation. As the foreword rightly points out, although Hitler mooted the idea, there is no evidence whatsoever that even cigarette-packet-level plans were ever drawn up, let alone scrapped on the insistence of this doctor. But there are also little issues here and there: for example, a quick scan of the Nuremberg trial documents shows that the man who introduced Kersten to Himmler had no 'secret fear' of the Reichsführer (as Kersten had claimed), but had actively supported the Nazis (and funded them) since 1931. Kersten also claims that he did not profit from the Nazi regime, that everything he did was done out of sympathy for the suffering of his fellow man, and out of heroism. Yet regardless of whether he was actually paid in cash or no (the subject of money comes up early on and then is quietly dropped), he still profited: being able to satisfy his extreme gastronomic demands when all around him starved is one such; keeping a whole staff of unpaid servants is another. But all the while the point is belaboured: Kersten was a thoroughly good, kind, gentle man - his massive womanizing and gluttony, let alone his connections, are mere character quirks - and he deplored everything for which the Nazi regime stood.
What is more, the book implies, again and again, that Kersten was somehow fated - destined - to be a saviour: his eastern teacher had a dream that he must pass his knowledge on to Kersten; his Jehovah's Witness 'servants' likened him to an angel sent from heaven; the Fates kept him safe when under attack in an aeroplane. The hagiographical style runs throughout. Like many others in the Nazi regime - up to and including the Führer - Kersten seemed to possess a messiah complex: he was destined to change the world, to save it from itself. I wonder what other Nazi-like characteristics he possessed.
Perhaps one, which is bound to cause some debate and could lead to name-calling, is his willingness to bend - or even ignore - laws and oaths to achieve his own ends. Kersten was a doctor: he was oath-bound to heal and not harm. This is the other reason he gives for treating Himmler. Yet for all of these noble ideas, he used Himmler's pain - manipulating it, drawing it out, and sometimes refusing treatment - to achieve his goals. Many a reader will think 'Why not? Himmler was evil and deserved what he got, and it was for the greater good.' But in terms of a doctor's oath, there is no good or bad. And no matter how deluded, the Nazis likewise believed that the end justified the means - they, too, were trying to save the world. So does the difference actually lie, as always with the historical narrative, with who the victor was?
Despite this long list of faults, 'The Man with Miraculous Hands' is nevertheless a fantastic book. The audience just need to remember to read it critically. The foreword by Norman Ohler in this new (and in the UK, first) edition certainly helps, as it encourages the reader to question from the very start. This is a book told through the eyes of a collaborator (even if he was one who used his position to do a lot of good), as well as a survivor, and it should be treated as such. While not as tear-inducing, heart-wrenching, utterly devastating as either 'Schindler's Ark' or its Hollywood adaptation, it is definitely in a similar vein. But given that its subject had a sizeable hand in the writing of it - and that the author didn't do any independent research to verify it - there is also something of Albert Speer's 'Inside the Third Reich' to it. It is an apologia, full of distortions and excuses. But even with these qualifications, it is still fascinating: reading between the lines, it is possible to get a new taste, a different insight, into life in the Third Reich - and into the SS. Despite everything, it personalizes and humanizes, and helps us to understand how people became caught up in the atrocities of the regime. Given that some version of 'The Man with Miraculous Hands' is likely to be a box office hit, this edition of the book is a particularly important read, if only for the foreword, which will provide some sense of incredulity to a captivating story.
'The Man with Miraculous Hands' is presented, in effect, as an oral history. It is one man's jaw-dropping story, told through his eyes. But given that it was penned by a novelist, it has all the traits of a thriller: there is action, there are plot twists, there is intrigue, character development and suspense. The language, while simple, is effective, emotive, and to the point, making the book immediate and pacy.
This is useful in more ways than just making the book extremely readable: it reminds the audience that it is, at least in part, a work of fiction. Although Kersten's memoirs were given a glowing recommendation by Trevor-Roper - who, as brilliant a historian as he was, didn't have a particularly good track record in verifying Nazi documents - the text is littered with half-truths, exaggerations and, possibly, outright lies. The most obvious of these is the claim that he saved the entire Dutch nation from deportation. As the foreword rightly points out, although Hitler mooted the idea, there is no evidence whatsoever that even cigarette-packet-level plans were ever drawn up, let alone scrapped on the insistence of this doctor. But there are also little issues here and there: for example, a quick scan of the Nuremberg trial documents shows that the man who introduced Kersten to Himmler had no 'secret fear' of the Reichsführer (as Kersten had claimed), but had actively supported the Nazis (and funded them) since 1931. Kersten also claims that he did not profit from the Nazi regime, that everything he did was done out of sympathy for the suffering of his fellow man, and out of heroism. Yet regardless of whether he was actually paid in cash or no (the subject of money comes up early on and then is quietly dropped), he still profited: being able to satisfy his extreme gastronomic demands when all around him starved is one such; keeping a whole staff of unpaid servants is another. But all the while the point is belaboured: Kersten was a thoroughly good, kind, gentle man - his massive womanizing and gluttony, let alone his connections, are mere character quirks - and he deplored everything for which the Nazi regime stood.
What is more, the book implies, again and again, that Kersten was somehow fated - destined - to be a saviour: his eastern teacher had a dream that he must pass his knowledge on to Kersten; his Jehovah's Witness 'servants' likened him to an angel sent from heaven; the Fates kept him safe when under attack in an aeroplane. The hagiographical style runs throughout. Like many others in the Nazi regime - up to and including the Führer - Kersten seemed to possess a messiah complex: he was destined to change the world, to save it from itself. I wonder what other Nazi-like characteristics he possessed.
Perhaps one, which is bound to cause some debate and could lead to name-calling, is his willingness to bend - or even ignore - laws and oaths to achieve his own ends. Kersten was a doctor: he was oath-bound to heal and not harm. This is the other reason he gives for treating Himmler. Yet for all of these noble ideas, he used Himmler's pain - manipulating it, drawing it out, and sometimes refusing treatment - to achieve his goals. Many a reader will think 'Why not? Himmler was evil and deserved what he got, and it was for the greater good.' But in terms of a doctor's oath, there is no good or bad. And no matter how deluded, the Nazis likewise believed that the end justified the means - they, too, were trying to save the world. So does the difference actually lie, as always with the historical narrative, with who the victor was?
Despite this long list of faults, 'The Man with Miraculous Hands' is nevertheless a fantastic book. The audience just need to remember to read it critically. The foreword by Norman Ohler in this new (and in the UK, first) edition certainly helps, as it encourages the reader to question from the very start. This is a book told through the eyes of a collaborator (even if he was one who used his position to do a lot of good), as well as a survivor, and it should be treated as such. While not as tear-inducing, heart-wrenching, utterly devastating as either 'Schindler's Ark' or its Hollywood adaptation, it is definitely in a similar vein. But given that its subject had a sizeable hand in the writing of it - and that the author didn't do any independent research to verify it - there is also something of Albert Speer's 'Inside the Third Reich' to it. It is an apologia, full of distortions and excuses. But even with these qualifications, it is still fascinating: reading between the lines, it is possible to get a new taste, a different insight, into life in the Third Reich - and into the SS. Despite everything, it personalizes and humanizes, and helps us to understand how people became caught up in the atrocities of the regime. Given that some version of 'The Man with Miraculous Hands' is likely to be a box office hit, this edition of the book is a particularly important read, if only for the foreword, which will provide some sense of incredulity to a captivating story.
September 3, 2021
Formé dans les années vingt par le docteur Kô, lama tibétain, à une technique de massage ciblant les points névralgiques, Félix Kersten acquiert au fil des années une telle renommée qu’il est appelé en 1938 au chevet d’Himmler pour soigner ses douleurs abdominales, qu’aucun médecin avant lui n’a jamais su guérir. Il devient rapidement le guérisseur personnel du chef de la Gestapo, ayant acquis toute sa confiance et même son admiration. Sidéré et abasourdi par les idées nazies de son patient et sa dévotion au Führer, il va monnayer ses services contre la libération de milliers d’hommes et de femmes arrêtés par la Gestapo.
Dans cette biographie romancée de Félix Kersten, Joseph Kessel raconte comment, dans l’intimité des séances de massage d’Himmler, le médecin héroïque lui a arraché pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale des gestes de clémence, risquant à chaque fois sa vie en suscitant la méfiance de l’entourage d’Himmler.
Je me suis passionnée pour cette histoire incroyable que retrace Joseph Kessel, rendant ainsi hommage à ce héros de l’ombre qui a miraculeusement sauvé des milliers de vies pendant la guerre.
Dans cette biographie romancée de Félix Kersten, Joseph Kessel raconte comment, dans l’intimité des séances de massage d’Himmler, le médecin héroïque lui a arraché pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale des gestes de clémence, risquant à chaque fois sa vie en suscitant la méfiance de l’entourage d’Himmler.
Je me suis passionnée pour cette histoire incroyable que retrace Joseph Kessel, rendant ainsi hommage à ce héros de l’ombre qui a miraculeusement sauvé des milliers de vies pendant la guerre.
May 12, 2020
Kersten's story seems so ireal but yet it's so full of details we can't doubt it happened. Back when I was reading it for the first time I was wondering if what was telling Kessel was true or not, the question of the place of the fiction came up. After some researchs, I stopped questionning his story even if I think the art of narration has obviously its effect of romanticising everything. It's the main problem with biography; we don't know for sure to what extent the narration is faithful to the real story (I'm still questionning some elements which seem a bit unreal to me but we can't deny Kersten had a major impact on Himmler himself) Now I'm wondering : Why don't we talk more about Felix Kersten ? Why is he not mentioned in history books ? or even class ? Kersten deserves to be more known nowadays for what he did for the Jews during the WW2. "Not all heroes wear capes", it couldn't fit more. I'm glad someone told his story and Joseph Kessel certainly did a great job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2023
Il"Les mains du miracles" raconte l'histoire (vraie mais romancée) de Félix Kersten, masseur de Himmler, chef des SS et organisateur des camps de concentration, pendant toute la seconde guerre mondiale. Par ses massages qui soignaient Himmler de terribles crampes de ventre, il aurait gagné en influence et réussi a sauver des milliers de vies.
On m'avait un peu trop sur-vendu ce bouquin.
Résultat je l'ai trouvé intéressant, c'est toujours fascinant de rentrer dans les rouages de machines aussi terrifiantes que le régime Nazi, mais je n'ai pas été aussi transporté que ça.
Notamment, le point de vue de Kersten n'est absolument jamais questionné, remis en cause. Bien qu'il ait effectivement l'air d'avoir agi assez héroïquement, il était quand même au cœur du nazisme et c'est à peine questionné.
Au final je trouve que le livre nous raconte aussi comment la bourgeoisie s'allie avec le fascisme quand c'est ce qui peut maintenir sa domination. C'est peut être ça que j'ai trouvé le plus intéressant même si c'est clairement pas du tout le propos du livre, au contraire.
On m'avait un peu trop sur-vendu ce bouquin.
Résultat je l'ai trouvé intéressant, c'est toujours fascinant de rentrer dans les rouages de machines aussi terrifiantes que le régime Nazi, mais je n'ai pas été aussi transporté que ça.
Notamment, le point de vue de Kersten n'est absolument jamais questionné, remis en cause. Bien qu'il ait effectivement l'air d'avoir agi assez héroïquement, il était quand même au cœur du nazisme et c'est à peine questionné.
Au final je trouve que le livre nous raconte aussi comment la bourgeoisie s'allie avec le fascisme quand c'est ce qui peut maintenir sa domination. C'est peut être ça que j'ai trouvé le plus intéressant même si c'est clairement pas du tout le propos du livre, au contraire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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