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The Hitler Book
Stalin had never been able to shake off the nightmare of Adolf Hitler. Just as in 1941 he refused to understand that Hitler had broken their non-aggression pact, he was in 1945 unwilling to believe that the dictator had committed suicide in the debris of the Berlin bunker. In his paranoia, Stalin ordered his secret police, the NKVD, precursor to the KGB, to explore in detail every last vestige of the private life of the only man he considered a worthy opponent, and to clarify beyond doubt the circumstances of his death.
For months two captives of the Soviet Army -- Otto Guensche, Hitler's adjutant, and Heinz Linge, his personal valet--were interrogated daily, their stories crosschecked, until the NKVD were convinced that they had the fullest possible account of the life of the Fü In 1949 they presented their work, in a single copy, to Stalin. It is as remarkable for the depth of its insight into Adolf Hitler -- from his specific directions to Linge as to how his body was to be burned, to his sense of humor -- as for what it does not say, reflecting the prejudices of the intended Joseph Stalin. Nowhere, for instance, does the dossier criticize Hitler's treatment of the Jews.
Today, the 413-page original of Stalin's personal biography of Hitler is a Kremlin treasure and it is said to be held in President Putin's safe. The only other copy, made by order of Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, in 1959, was deposited in Moscow Party archives under the code number 462A. It was there that Henrik Eberle and Matthias Uhl, two German historians, found it. Available to the public in full for the first time, The Hitler Book presents a captivating, astonishing, and deeply revealing portrait of Hitler, Stalin, and the mutual antagonism of these two dictators, who between them wrought devastation on the European continent.
For months two captives of the Soviet Army -- Otto Guensche, Hitler's adjutant, and Heinz Linge, his personal valet--were interrogated daily, their stories crosschecked, until the NKVD were convinced that they had the fullest possible account of the life of the Fü In 1949 they presented their work, in a single copy, to Stalin. It is as remarkable for the depth of its insight into Adolf Hitler -- from his specific directions to Linge as to how his body was to be burned, to his sense of humor -- as for what it does not say, reflecting the prejudices of the intended Joseph Stalin. Nowhere, for instance, does the dossier criticize Hitler's treatment of the Jews.
Today, the 413-page original of Stalin's personal biography of Hitler is a Kremlin treasure and it is said to be held in President Putin's safe. The only other copy, made by order of Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, in 1959, was deposited in Moscow Party archives under the code number 462A. It was there that Henrik Eberle and Matthias Uhl, two German historians, found it. Available to the public in full for the first time, The Hitler Book presents a captivating, astonishing, and deeply revealing portrait of Hitler, Stalin, and the mutual antagonism of these two dictators, who between them wrought devastation on the European continent.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
July 23, 2021
The Hitler Book by Henrik Eberle (2006) is a more recent go at a topic that has fascinated many people including Joseph Stalin who ordered this study and in-depth analysis of his arch enemy done after Berlin fell and the war ended. This was compiled from first-hand accounts of many of Hitler's closest associates captured and interrogated by the Soviet KGB as well as records of the conquered Third Reich. This book includes much more detail than previous attempts to explain Hitler's routines and decisions such as "The Mind of Adolph Hitler" from 1972 as much more information had been uncovered at Stalin's request, compiled into basically what is contained in this book, and then stashed away in Stalin's personal collection of World War II documents. Stalin had never been able to shake off the nightmare of Adolf Hitler. Just as in 1941 he refused to understand that Hitler had broken their non-aggression pact, he was in 1945 unwilling to believe that the dictator had committed suicide in the debris of the Berlin bunker. In his paranoia, Stalin ordered his secret police, the NKVD, precursor to the KGB, to explore in detail every last vestige of the private life of the only man he considered a worthy opponent, and to clarify beyond doubt the circumstances of his death.
For months two captives of the Soviet Army -- Otto Guensche, Hitler's adjutant, and Heinz Linge, his personal valet--were interrogated daily, their stories crosschecked, until the NKVD were convinced that they had the fullest possible account of the life of Adolph Hitler. In 1949 they presented their work, in a single copy, to Stalin. It is as remarkable for the depth of its insight into Adolf Hitler -- from his specific directions to Linge as to how his body was to be burned, to his sense of humor -- as for what it does not say, reflecting the prejudices of the intended reader: Joseph Stalin. Nowhere, for instance, does the dossier criticize Hitler's treatment of the Jews.
Today, the 413-page original of Stalin's personal biography of Hitler is a Kremlin treasure and it is said to be held in President Putin's safe. The only other copy, made by order of Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, in 1959, was deposited in Moscow Party archives under the code number 462A. It was there that Henrik Eberle and Matthias Uhl, two German historians, found it. Available to the public in full for the first time, The Hitler Book presents a captivating, astonishing, and deeply revealing portrait of Hitler, Stalin, and the mutual antagonism of these two dictators, who between them wrought devastation on the European continent.
For months two captives of the Soviet Army -- Otto Guensche, Hitler's adjutant, and Heinz Linge, his personal valet--were interrogated daily, their stories crosschecked, until the NKVD were convinced that they had the fullest possible account of the life of Adolph Hitler. In 1949 they presented their work, in a single copy, to Stalin. It is as remarkable for the depth of its insight into Adolf Hitler -- from his specific directions to Linge as to how his body was to be burned, to his sense of humor -- as for what it does not say, reflecting the prejudices of the intended reader: Joseph Stalin. Nowhere, for instance, does the dossier criticize Hitler's treatment of the Jews.
Today, the 413-page original of Stalin's personal biography of Hitler is a Kremlin treasure and it is said to be held in President Putin's safe. The only other copy, made by order of Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, in 1959, was deposited in Moscow Party archives under the code number 462A. It was there that Henrik Eberle and Matthias Uhl, two German historians, found it. Available to the public in full for the first time, The Hitler Book presents a captivating, astonishing, and deeply revealing portrait of Hitler, Stalin, and the mutual antagonism of these two dictators, who between them wrought devastation on the European continent.
March 26, 2017
Alles andere als eine Einstiegsdroge, dafür bezeichnend beschränkt
Dieses Fundstück aus sowjetischen Archiven, das einst für Stalin persönlich angefertigt wurde, verdankt seine Veröffentlichung in hoher Auflage vermutlich dem Erfolg von Joachim Fests Der Untergang, bzw. der Eichinger-Verfilmung.
Wenn man so ein stilsicher formuliertes Königsdrama/Schurkenstück wie Alan Bullocks erste Hitlerbiographie daneben liest, nimmt sich Hitlers Alltag aus der fragmentarischen Adjutanten- und Kammerdienerperspektive ziemlich erbärmlich aus. Günsche und Linge, die nach dem gescheiterten Ausbruchsversuch aus dem Führerbunker direkt in die Isolation sowjetischer Gefängnisse überführt wurden, wissen welthistorisch erschreckend wenig und irren sich ab und an im Datum bei den wieder und wieder durchgeführten Verhören. Andererseits vermittelt die geballte Banalität dem Leser streckenweise genau die in anderen Büchern mit einem Satz angesprochene Langeweile im Umfeld des Führers. Insofern wird sogar Bormanns Drang nach der Erlösung aus der Gegenwart des GRÖFAZ, mit allen, die noch stehen können, eine kleine Orgie zu feiern, beinahe zum natürlichen Reflex.
Bei allem, was mit den Feiern oder dem Zeitvertreib der Nazi-Elite zu tun hat, erhebt sich der Zeigefinger, gerade im Vergleich mit dem, was die Führung des Dritten Reiches zeitgleich den eigenen Soldaten und der Bevölkerung abverlangt.
Die für Stalin persönliche erstellte Hitlerbiographie von unten blendet natürlich viele Aspekte aus, die von einer umfassenden Monographie erwartet werden, andererseits bietet die Kommentierung nicht nur die Korrektur von Erinnerungsfehlern, auf gut 50 Seiten liefert das Nachwort neben wesentlichen Fakten auch eine leicht lesbare Forschungsgeschichte mit den Wandlungen des Hitlerbildes durch diverse Gelehrtengenerationen. Dank eines 200 Seiten starken who is who von der Nazigröße über Generale und Geliebte bis hinunter zur kleinsten Charge, lassen sich eventuelle Wissenslücken leicht auffüllen. Der biographische Teil eignet sich auch gut als Ausgangspunkt für eigene Recherchen und sei es nur mittels Wikipedia. Mein Referenzartikel wäre die Bormann-Geliebte Manja Behrens, die sich mittels dieser Affäre mit einer höheren Nazi-Charge gegen die Rache des von ihr abgewiesenen Goebbels absicherte, später aber auch in Brechts Berliner Ensemble mitspielte und nach ihrer Enttarnung durch Trevor-Roper mit einem Filmverbot belegt wurde.
Praktische Empfehlungen
Trotz der Segnungen des Internes würde ich dazu raten eine traditionelle Hitlerbiographie zur Hand zu haben, am besten die mit dem geringsten Suchaufwand oder dem höchsten Vertrautheitsgrad. So manche entscheidende Lagebesprechung oder Erpressernummer des Führers gewinnt erst bei Würdigung aller Fakten, die Günsche oder Linge nicht haben konnten, ihre volle tragische Dimension, erst recht bei einem Chefdramatiker wie Bullock.
Auch wenn der große Zusammenbruch des Führers am 22. April nur in den Reaktionen von Goebbels und Co durchscheint, gilt der fragmentarische Charakter nicht so sehr für die letzten Tage im Führerbunker, die beinahe ein Drittel des Gesamtumfangs der Akte ausmachen und sogar die Entscheidung Hitlers überliefern nur noch Suppe zu essen, wenn es schon keine andere vegetarische Nahrung mehr für ihn gibt.Und auch die Gründe für den arg geschrumpften Vorrat: Die Hauptmenge war längst in die Alpenfestung auf den Berghof abtransportiert.
Zuguterletzt noch eine bibliographische Warnung: die gebundene Version ist zwar ziemlich günstig auf dem Markt, aber bis zur Taschenbuchausgabe musste ordentlich nachgebessert werden. Wenn es nicht gerade um sensorische oder dekorative Qualitäten geht, lieber das faktisch bessere Taschenbuch besorgen.
Dieses Fundstück aus sowjetischen Archiven, das einst für Stalin persönlich angefertigt wurde, verdankt seine Veröffentlichung in hoher Auflage vermutlich dem Erfolg von Joachim Fests Der Untergang, bzw. der Eichinger-Verfilmung.
Wenn man so ein stilsicher formuliertes Königsdrama/Schurkenstück wie Alan Bullocks erste Hitlerbiographie daneben liest, nimmt sich Hitlers Alltag aus der fragmentarischen Adjutanten- und Kammerdienerperspektive ziemlich erbärmlich aus. Günsche und Linge, die nach dem gescheiterten Ausbruchsversuch aus dem Führerbunker direkt in die Isolation sowjetischer Gefängnisse überführt wurden, wissen welthistorisch erschreckend wenig und irren sich ab und an im Datum bei den wieder und wieder durchgeführten Verhören. Andererseits vermittelt die geballte Banalität dem Leser streckenweise genau die in anderen Büchern mit einem Satz angesprochene Langeweile im Umfeld des Führers. Insofern wird sogar Bormanns Drang nach der Erlösung aus der Gegenwart des GRÖFAZ, mit allen, die noch stehen können, eine kleine Orgie zu feiern, beinahe zum natürlichen Reflex.
Bei allem, was mit den Feiern oder dem Zeitvertreib der Nazi-Elite zu tun hat, erhebt sich der Zeigefinger, gerade im Vergleich mit dem, was die Führung des Dritten Reiches zeitgleich den eigenen Soldaten und der Bevölkerung abverlangt.
Die für Stalin persönliche erstellte Hitlerbiographie von unten blendet natürlich viele Aspekte aus, die von einer umfassenden Monographie erwartet werden, andererseits bietet die Kommentierung nicht nur die Korrektur von Erinnerungsfehlern, auf gut 50 Seiten liefert das Nachwort neben wesentlichen Fakten auch eine leicht lesbare Forschungsgeschichte mit den Wandlungen des Hitlerbildes durch diverse Gelehrtengenerationen. Dank eines 200 Seiten starken who is who von der Nazigröße über Generale und Geliebte bis hinunter zur kleinsten Charge, lassen sich eventuelle Wissenslücken leicht auffüllen. Der biographische Teil eignet sich auch gut als Ausgangspunkt für eigene Recherchen und sei es nur mittels Wikipedia. Mein Referenzartikel wäre die Bormann-Geliebte Manja Behrens, die sich mittels dieser Affäre mit einer höheren Nazi-Charge gegen die Rache des von ihr abgewiesenen Goebbels absicherte, später aber auch in Brechts Berliner Ensemble mitspielte und nach ihrer Enttarnung durch Trevor-Roper mit einem Filmverbot belegt wurde.
Praktische Empfehlungen
Trotz der Segnungen des Internes würde ich dazu raten eine traditionelle Hitlerbiographie zur Hand zu haben, am besten die mit dem geringsten Suchaufwand oder dem höchsten Vertrautheitsgrad. So manche entscheidende Lagebesprechung oder Erpressernummer des Führers gewinnt erst bei Würdigung aller Fakten, die Günsche oder Linge nicht haben konnten, ihre volle tragische Dimension, erst recht bei einem Chefdramatiker wie Bullock.
Auch wenn der große Zusammenbruch des Führers am 22. April nur in den Reaktionen von Goebbels und Co durchscheint, gilt der fragmentarische Charakter nicht so sehr für die letzten Tage im Führerbunker, die beinahe ein Drittel des Gesamtumfangs der Akte ausmachen und sogar die Entscheidung Hitlers überliefern nur noch Suppe zu essen, wenn es schon keine andere vegetarische Nahrung mehr für ihn gibt.Und auch die Gründe für den arg geschrumpften Vorrat: Die Hauptmenge war längst in die Alpenfestung auf den Berghof abtransportiert.
Zuguterletzt noch eine bibliographische Warnung: die gebundene Version ist zwar ziemlich günstig auf dem Markt, aber bis zur Taschenbuchausgabe musste ordentlich nachgebessert werden. Wenn es nicht gerade um sensorische oder dekorative Qualitäten geht, lieber das faktisch bessere Taschenbuch besorgen.
November 5, 2017
Nearly 70 years after the end of the Second World War, the book hitler was discovered in the Russian archives. Made exclusively for Stalin, it contains the report of two of Hitler's adjutants, who were with him during the war and in his final moments.
Stalin had never been able to shake off the nightmare of Adolf Hitler. Just as in 1941 he refused to understand that Hitler had broken their non-aggression pact, he was in 1945 unwilling to believe that the dictator had committed suicide in the debris of the Berlin bunker. In his paranoia, Stalin ordered his secret police, the NKVD, precursor to the KGB, to explore in detail every last vestige of the private life of the only man he considered a worthy opponent, and to clarify beyond doubt the circumstances of his death. For months two captives of the Soviet Army--Otto Guensche, Hitler's adjutant, and Heinz Linge, his personal valet--were interrogated daily, their stories crosschecked, until the NKVD were convinced that they had the fullest possible account of the life of the Führer. In 1949 they presented their work, in a single copy, to Stalin.
Although the book does provide some new (al least to me) insights in the (private) life of Hitler, it shall nowhere be considered as a historical account. The NKVD was mainly concerned about the best way to appease Stalin and took its liberties with the truth. For example, the Normandy breakthrough was caused by a nervous breakdown by Von Kluge, the Battle of the Bulge was lost because the Russians started their Oder offensive and the Germans had to call off the offensive prematuredly and the Germans were in constant negotiations with the Western Allies, behind the backs of the Russians.
It therefore does not only offer some insight in the life of Hitler, but also in great part the paranoia of the Stalin age.
Stalin had never been able to shake off the nightmare of Adolf Hitler. Just as in 1941 he refused to understand that Hitler had broken their non-aggression pact, he was in 1945 unwilling to believe that the dictator had committed suicide in the debris of the Berlin bunker. In his paranoia, Stalin ordered his secret police, the NKVD, precursor to the KGB, to explore in detail every last vestige of the private life of the only man he considered a worthy opponent, and to clarify beyond doubt the circumstances of his death. For months two captives of the Soviet Army--Otto Guensche, Hitler's adjutant, and Heinz Linge, his personal valet--were interrogated daily, their stories crosschecked, until the NKVD were convinced that they had the fullest possible account of the life of the Führer. In 1949 they presented their work, in a single copy, to Stalin.
Although the book does provide some new (al least to me) insights in the (private) life of Hitler, it shall nowhere be considered as a historical account. The NKVD was mainly concerned about the best way to appease Stalin and took its liberties with the truth. For example, the Normandy breakthrough was caused by a nervous breakdown by Von Kluge, the Battle of the Bulge was lost because the Russians started their Oder offensive and the Germans had to call off the offensive prematuredly and the Germans were in constant negotiations with the Western Allies, behind the backs of the Russians.
It therefore does not only offer some insight in the life of Hitler, but also in great part the paranoia of the Stalin age.
October 10, 2025
Sommige mensen plaatsen een stempel op de geschiedenis die onuitwisbaar is. Denk daarbij aan Poetin, Trump, Barack Obama en anderen. De één voor het goeie , de andere voor het slechtere. Enfin, elk zijn gedacht over bovenstaande heren. Het boek dat ik las gaat toch over een markant persoon die niet zorgde voor zwarte pagina’s in de geschiedenisboeken maar voor hele hoofdstukken.
Hitler, een naam die iedereen kent. Alle ik hoop dat de jeugd deze naam nog kent, de mijne alleszins wel.
Ik zal nu eindelijk eens de naam van mijn laatste gelezen boeken vertellen. Het boek Hitler.
Het boek Hitler werd samengesteld door Henrik Eberle en Matthias Uhl. Twee Duitse historische onderzoekers.
Het boek Hitler is een onthullend dossier van de Russische Geheime Dienst. Het boek werd zo’n zestig jaar na het einde van de oorlog gevonden in de Russische archieven. Een boek gemaakt, exclusief voor Jozef Stalin. Samengesteld met de ondervragingen van Otto Gunsche en Heinz Linge die zich jarenlang in de direct nabijheid van Hitler bevonden. Het persoonlijke leven van Hitler, de politiek en de oorlogsvoering komen aan bod.
De interesse in de tweede wereldoorlog, of andere oorlogen, is altijd wel aanwezig bij mij. Maar dit is de eerste keer dat ik een boek lees dat zich specifiek richt op het personage Hitler zelf.
Het boek komt dus deels over als historisch naslagwerk maar meer ook als een biografie van Hitler.
Dit soort boeken start meestal wel met een voorwoord en daar moest ik toch wat doorzettingsvermogen gebruiken om erdoor te raken. Het is wel interessant maar niet echt geschreven om vlot te gaan lezen. Wat dan wel verandert als we starten bij het verhaal van de man met zijn snorretje. Dan gaat het lezen wel vlotter.
Ik kreeg zeer veel info, en dat is ook wat ik verwacht van een boek als dit. Ik leerde over het verloop van de oorlog en vooral welke beslissingen van Hitler hiervoor zorgden. Ik leerde die persoon zelf ook goed kennen. De omschrijvingen ervan zijn zeer sprekend en leggen alle aspecten bloot van zijn karakter. Zijn invloed op zijn medestanders en tegenstanders. Zijn manier van denken maar ook zijn veranderingen naarmate het duidelijker werd dat hij de oorlog aan het verliezen was.
Ik vond het dus een zeer interessant boek. Eens dat voorwoord gepasseerd was zat ik er wel goed in. Het leest natuurlijk niet als een verhaal maar er zit wel een duidelijke lijn in en het is chronologisch opgesteld.
Wat ik wel goed vind is dat men niet stopt met de dood van Hitler. Hij is dan wel het hoofdpersonage maar men neemt toch nog de nasleep ook mee in beeld. Ondanks zijn dood hebben zijn reeds genomen beslissingen nog steeds invloed op de afhandeling van de oorlog.
Conclusie
De conclusie is dat ik dit een zeer goed boek vond. Ook omdat het een extraatje heeft tussen de hoofdstukken met beeldmateriaal van Hitler en consorten. Ik heb bijgeleerd en dat is het doel van dit soort boeken.
Hitler, een naam die iedereen kent. Alle ik hoop dat de jeugd deze naam nog kent, de mijne alleszins wel.
Ik zal nu eindelijk eens de naam van mijn laatste gelezen boeken vertellen. Het boek Hitler.
Het boek Hitler werd samengesteld door Henrik Eberle en Matthias Uhl. Twee Duitse historische onderzoekers.
Het boek Hitler is een onthullend dossier van de Russische Geheime Dienst. Het boek werd zo’n zestig jaar na het einde van de oorlog gevonden in de Russische archieven. Een boek gemaakt, exclusief voor Jozef Stalin. Samengesteld met de ondervragingen van Otto Gunsche en Heinz Linge die zich jarenlang in de direct nabijheid van Hitler bevonden. Het persoonlijke leven van Hitler, de politiek en de oorlogsvoering komen aan bod.
De interesse in de tweede wereldoorlog, of andere oorlogen, is altijd wel aanwezig bij mij. Maar dit is de eerste keer dat ik een boek lees dat zich specifiek richt op het personage Hitler zelf.
Het boek komt dus deels over als historisch naslagwerk maar meer ook als een biografie van Hitler.
Dit soort boeken start meestal wel met een voorwoord en daar moest ik toch wat doorzettingsvermogen gebruiken om erdoor te raken. Het is wel interessant maar niet echt geschreven om vlot te gaan lezen. Wat dan wel verandert als we starten bij het verhaal van de man met zijn snorretje. Dan gaat het lezen wel vlotter.
Ik kreeg zeer veel info, en dat is ook wat ik verwacht van een boek als dit. Ik leerde over het verloop van de oorlog en vooral welke beslissingen van Hitler hiervoor zorgden. Ik leerde die persoon zelf ook goed kennen. De omschrijvingen ervan zijn zeer sprekend en leggen alle aspecten bloot van zijn karakter. Zijn invloed op zijn medestanders en tegenstanders. Zijn manier van denken maar ook zijn veranderingen naarmate het duidelijker werd dat hij de oorlog aan het verliezen was.
Ik vond het dus een zeer interessant boek. Eens dat voorwoord gepasseerd was zat ik er wel goed in. Het leest natuurlijk niet als een verhaal maar er zit wel een duidelijke lijn in en het is chronologisch opgesteld.
Wat ik wel goed vind is dat men niet stopt met de dood van Hitler. Hij is dan wel het hoofdpersonage maar men neemt toch nog de nasleep ook mee in beeld. Ondanks zijn dood hebben zijn reeds genomen beslissingen nog steeds invloed op de afhandeling van de oorlog.
Conclusie
De conclusie is dat ik dit een zeer goed boek vond. Ook omdat het een extraatje heeft tussen de hoofdstukken met beeldmateriaal van Hitler en consorten. Ik heb bijgeleerd en dat is het doel van dit soort boeken.
August 11, 2011
A vivid account of the ruthlessness and lengths one man went to in order to try to control Europe. The way it is written tells just as much about the Stalin-era Soviets as the Germans. The contribution of the Allies at the Western Front is heavily discounted. The invasion at Normandy is barely mentioned and is made to sound as though Hitler knew it was coming all along. There is no mention of internment or extermination of Jews, and certain details are highly exaggerated in regard to how effective the Soviets were against the Germans at the Eastern Front.
Reading this book, it seems absolutely insane how many generals and high ranking officers were executed due to failure or "defeatism", which for the most part required ignoring overwhelming odds against them lest they fall out of Hitler's favor. Many of those who were not executed, were either put in situations where there was little chance of survival, or took the option of suicide.
While the details of WWII history certainly interest me, of most interest to me is the study of the mentality of the people. When you see headlines in the news such as, "People Ignore Man Dying in the Street", "Metro Riders Ignore Man in Distress", or "Death on a Hospital Waiting Room Floor", it is hard not to compare society today to the sheer indifference to suffering and human life I read about in this book.
Reading this book, it seems absolutely insane how many generals and high ranking officers were executed due to failure or "defeatism", which for the most part required ignoring overwhelming odds against them lest they fall out of Hitler's favor. Many of those who were not executed, were either put in situations where there was little chance of survival, or took the option of suicide.
While the details of WWII history certainly interest me, of most interest to me is the study of the mentality of the people. When you see headlines in the news such as, "People Ignore Man Dying in the Street", "Metro Riders Ignore Man in Distress", or "Death on a Hospital Waiting Room Floor", it is hard not to compare society today to the sheer indifference to suffering and human life I read about in this book.
January 11, 2012
2. Dünya savaşına karşı özel bir ilgim her zaman olmuştur. Bu dönem hakkında bir yandan Stalin için hazırlanmış bu Hitler Kitabı'nı okumakla beraber, diğer yandan da BBC'nin hazırlamış olduğu yaklaşık 30 saatlik "The World at War" belgeselini izlemekteydim.
Sanıyorum özellikle 2. Dünya savaşına karşı olan ilgim, her zaman iyi kurgulanmış bir hikayeye karşı olan açlığımdan kaynaklanmaktadır. Burada kurgu bir yazar tarafından değil de tarihin kendisi tarafından yapılmış olsa da, okuma keyfi bakımından hiç geri kalmadığını, aksine tarihin kendisinin en iyi kurgu yazarı olduğunu düşünmenize sebep olduğunu söyleyebilirim.
Nazi Almanya'sı döneminde alınan politik kararların, askeri harekatların, atılan adımların, darbe girişimlerinin, casusluk denemelerinin, siyasi suikastların, ve daha birçok olayın derinine iniyoruz bu kitapta. Bu olayların derinine inerken de bunu bir tarih kitabı bakış açısından çok, karar veren liderlerin perspektifinden izliyoruz.
Tabi kitapta tarihsel olarak bazı noksanlıklar da var. Sonuçta yazarların bu kitabı Stalin'in kütüphanesi için yazdığını göz önünde bulundurmak zorundayız. Bu noksanlıklar Alman yayımcılar tarafından olabildiğince sayfa altı referanslar ile giderilse de, Yahudi katliamları gibi komple gözardı edilen kısımlar anlatılmıyor maalesef.
Benim dikkatimi çeken bir kısmı da anekdot olarak vermem gerekir. Operation Valkrye filminin bu kitaptan büyük ölçüde faydalanmasının ne kadar bariz olduğunu kitabı okurken fark ediyorsunuz.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Üzerinden 50 yılı aşkın zaman geçmesinin ardından dünya okuyucularına kazandırılmış, Stalin'in özel kütüphanesinde çürümemiş olduğuna müteşekkir olduğum, güzel bir kitap. Sadece kitabın kendisinin hikayesi bile bu kadar ilginç iken, içeriği sizi etkileyecek. Kesinlikle tavsiye ederim.
Sanıyorum özellikle 2. Dünya savaşına karşı olan ilgim, her zaman iyi kurgulanmış bir hikayeye karşı olan açlığımdan kaynaklanmaktadır. Burada kurgu bir yazar tarafından değil de tarihin kendisi tarafından yapılmış olsa da, okuma keyfi bakımından hiç geri kalmadığını, aksine tarihin kendisinin en iyi kurgu yazarı olduğunu düşünmenize sebep olduğunu söyleyebilirim.
Nazi Almanya'sı döneminde alınan politik kararların, askeri harekatların, atılan adımların, darbe girişimlerinin, casusluk denemelerinin, siyasi suikastların, ve daha birçok olayın derinine iniyoruz bu kitapta. Bu olayların derinine inerken de bunu bir tarih kitabı bakış açısından çok, karar veren liderlerin perspektifinden izliyoruz.
Tabi kitapta tarihsel olarak bazı noksanlıklar da var. Sonuçta yazarların bu kitabı Stalin'in kütüphanesi için yazdığını göz önünde bulundurmak zorundayız. Bu noksanlıklar Alman yayımcılar tarafından olabildiğince sayfa altı referanslar ile giderilse de, Yahudi katliamları gibi komple gözardı edilen kısımlar anlatılmıyor maalesef.
Benim dikkatimi çeken bir kısmı da anekdot olarak vermem gerekir. Operation Valkrye filminin bu kitaptan büyük ölçüde faydalanmasının ne kadar bariz olduğunu kitabı okurken fark ediyorsunuz.
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Üzerinden 50 yılı aşkın zaman geçmesinin ardından dünya okuyucularına kazandırılmış, Stalin'in özel kütüphanesinde çürümemiş olduğuna müteşekkir olduğum, güzel bir kitap. Sadece kitabın kendisinin hikayesi bile bu kadar ilginç iken, içeriği sizi etkileyecek. Kesinlikle tavsiye ederim.
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May 13, 20182. dünya savaşı hakkında okuyanların ıskalamaması gerek.
September 3, 2008
I'm a sucker for all things Third Reich. I grew up watching war movies and documentaries on World War II and was (still am) very impressed by German military prowess - the vehicles, army units, battle formations, badges and insignias and yes, those Hugo Boss-designed military uniforms.
I am very aware of the dark side of the Nationalist Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei) or NSDAP and the destruction its ideology caused. The comprehension why intellectuals and intelligent thinking people could be reduced to a mass of cattle blindly following this ideology of hatred and evil propagated by one man has until today eluded me. Are his oratory skills alone enough to cast such a spell over the German people?
That's oversimplying things, I know. But think of the Third Reich and Hitler's face comes to mind. So much has been written about this monster of a man and I have over the years read much material on him and wartime Germany. But The Hitler Book is different. This book is in a league of its very own.
The Hitler Book is actually a dossier prepared by the NKVD (People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs) based on its capture and interrogation of 2 of Hitler's aides - his valet, Heinz Linge, and his personal adjutant, Otto Gunsche. Both were transported to the Soviet Union and detained for interrogation before being released 2 years later with the intelligence being passed on to Stalin for his personal reading.
As the nature of the source implies, the Hitler Book offers a "behind the scenes" look at Hitler's inner circle and private life. From the early days of his rise to the Chancellorship and his transformation into der Fuhrer; his confident one-upmanship in pursuing Lebensraum and the declaration of war to the change in fortunes and his subsequent decline into an eccentric recluse prone to losing his temper and increasingly out of touch with the realities of the battlefront - all these events are vividly recorded by his aides - till the end of the war, with the suicide of Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun and the attempts at escape by those still alive in the Fuhrerbunker from the surrounding Soviet forces in Berlin.
The transformation of Adolf Hitler and his descent into a raging then empty shell of a man parallels the progression of the recorded events. Almost symbolic of this fall is the change in settings from the Reichstag to huge palatial buildings to smaller and yet smaller bunkers that Hitler is forced to hide in as the book draws to its close, detailing the Fuhrer's final days and the going-ons in the bunker.
I enjoyed this book tremendously, reading it nightly and hoping it would not end so quickly. Out of desperation when it finally did, I resorted to reading the Foreword, Translator's Preface, Editors' Introduction, Editors' Afterword, Notes and Table of Comparative Third Reich military ranks and British/US equivalents.
This book is not really about the inner-workings of the Reich but more about the life of Adolf Hitler, as seen by his aides. So, it is a different offering from the other titles out there written on Hitler.If you are a WWII history buff like me and enjoy gossip-style literature, then I think you'll enjoy this one.
I am very aware of the dark side of the Nationalist Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei) or NSDAP and the destruction its ideology caused. The comprehension why intellectuals and intelligent thinking people could be reduced to a mass of cattle blindly following this ideology of hatred and evil propagated by one man has until today eluded me. Are his oratory skills alone enough to cast such a spell over the German people?
That's oversimplying things, I know. But think of the Third Reich and Hitler's face comes to mind. So much has been written about this monster of a man and I have over the years read much material on him and wartime Germany. But The Hitler Book is different. This book is in a league of its very own.
The Hitler Book is actually a dossier prepared by the NKVD (People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs) based on its capture and interrogation of 2 of Hitler's aides - his valet, Heinz Linge, and his personal adjutant, Otto Gunsche. Both were transported to the Soviet Union and detained for interrogation before being released 2 years later with the intelligence being passed on to Stalin for his personal reading.
As the nature of the source implies, the Hitler Book offers a "behind the scenes" look at Hitler's inner circle and private life. From the early days of his rise to the Chancellorship and his transformation into der Fuhrer; his confident one-upmanship in pursuing Lebensraum and the declaration of war to the change in fortunes and his subsequent decline into an eccentric recluse prone to losing his temper and increasingly out of touch with the realities of the battlefront - all these events are vividly recorded by his aides - till the end of the war, with the suicide of Hitler and his wife, Eva Braun and the attempts at escape by those still alive in the Fuhrerbunker from the surrounding Soviet forces in Berlin.
The transformation of Adolf Hitler and his descent into a raging then empty shell of a man parallels the progression of the recorded events. Almost symbolic of this fall is the change in settings from the Reichstag to huge palatial buildings to smaller and yet smaller bunkers that Hitler is forced to hide in as the book draws to its close, detailing the Fuhrer's final days and the going-ons in the bunker.
I enjoyed this book tremendously, reading it nightly and hoping it would not end so quickly. Out of desperation when it finally did, I resorted to reading the Foreword, Translator's Preface, Editors' Introduction, Editors' Afterword, Notes and Table of Comparative Third Reich military ranks and British/US equivalents.
This book is not really about the inner-workings of the Reich but more about the life of Adolf Hitler, as seen by his aides. So, it is a different offering from the other titles out there written on Hitler.If you are a WWII history buff like me and enjoy gossip-style literature, then I think you'll enjoy this one.
January 2, 2020
Great read. First part should not be taken fully as a historical account since all the facts are shown through Stalin’s Secret Police filter as they are trying to present something not offensive to him. Although there is constant validation on the Soviet writers’ work in the form of footnotes, the German translators do a really good analysis in the epilogue. In there, apart from the historical fact checking, we can also get some information on the Soviet politics based on what is missing from the report.
May 28, 2012
Most of my education regarding World War II focused on a US-centric account, largely discounting the role of the Soviet Union. Despite some of this book's propaganda-like aspects, it was enlightening to read an account of World War II and Nazi Germany from a Soviet perspective!
July 22, 2009
Sometimes screaming and shooting traitors is effective.
July 31, 2019
Short, biased yet comprehensive account of the events between 1933 and 1945
December 7, 2019
A really interesting read, following primary accounts of the Fuhrer from the cartoonishly evil methed out supervillain we all know to the miserable methed out git he was from basically Stalingrad on.
A really vivid psychological portrait that helps you understand the type of person who could do what he did and the types of people who would follow him to the end.
Also fascinating to see an account of the war written for Stalin, with such an emphasis on the eastern front and a focus on German-British cooperation before the war, the ease of the western allies due to the real focus being on the east, and the belief that the Nazis and the western allies could put aside there minor differences and join together against the Russians (which I mean they weren't that far off base look up Operation Gladio).
Also since it was written for big time antisemite scumbag Stalin the Holocaust reads a little more like "Communists were being sent to concentration camps and entire villages of Russians were being wiped out because they were Communists", so be ready for that kind of thing. I mean that's also true but the Jewish people are completely left out.
Also interesting is the editors beef with the movie Downfall for being way off base.
Feels really long and drags at parts but still a good read for a different angle on the man and the war.
A really vivid psychological portrait that helps you understand the type of person who could do what he did and the types of people who would follow him to the end.
Also fascinating to see an account of the war written for Stalin, with such an emphasis on the eastern front and a focus on German-British cooperation before the war, the ease of the western allies due to the real focus being on the east, and the belief that the Nazis and the western allies could put aside there minor differences and join together against the Russians (which I mean they weren't that far off base look up Operation Gladio).
Also since it was written for big time antisemite scumbag Stalin the Holocaust reads a little more like "Communists were being sent to concentration camps and entire villages of Russians were being wiped out because they were Communists", so be ready for that kind of thing. I mean that's also true but the Jewish people are completely left out.
Also interesting is the editors beef with the movie Downfall for being way off base.
Feels really long and drags at parts but still a good read for a different angle on the man and the war.
September 13, 2019
#51 - O Livro de Hitler - de Henrik Eberle, Mathias Uhl e Matthias Uhl
Nota: 8.3 (1-10)
Um livro assente em factos reais, que conta nos leva para os tempos da segunda guerra mundial. Memórias pessoais que nos demonstram o que foi ser das SS e como um louco consegui conduzir um país na sua loucura.
Sinopse
Apenas dezasseis anos depois do final da Guerra, foi encontrado nos arquivos russos um documento da maior importância e uma das mais significativas fontes históricas do Terceiro Reich: O Livro de Hitler.
Composto exclusivamente para Josef W. Estaline, contém as recordações pessoais de Otto Günsche e Heinz Linge, por eles postas no papel, sob controlo do NKWD, quando se encontravam na prisão soviética. Ambos eram oficiais da SS e durante muitos anos moveram-se nos círculos próximos de Adolf Hitler.
Nota: 8.3 (1-10)
Um livro assente em factos reais, que conta nos leva para os tempos da segunda guerra mundial. Memórias pessoais que nos demonstram o que foi ser das SS e como um louco consegui conduzir um país na sua loucura.
Sinopse
Apenas dezasseis anos depois do final da Guerra, foi encontrado nos arquivos russos um documento da maior importância e uma das mais significativas fontes históricas do Terceiro Reich: O Livro de Hitler.
Composto exclusivamente para Josef W. Estaline, contém as recordações pessoais de Otto Günsche e Heinz Linge, por eles postas no papel, sob controlo do NKWD, quando se encontravam na prisão soviética. Ambos eram oficiais da SS e durante muitos anos moveram-se nos círculos próximos de Adolf Hitler.
December 22, 2020
Retells the rise and fall of Hitler from the early days of gaining power in 1933 to the end in May 1945. If you are at all familiar with WWII history, nothing new will be learned here except that this report was written by Soviet intelligence to be presented to Stalin. As such, some truths are skewed as the report went through a pro-Soviet filter: the Battle of the Bulge, for example, failed not because as mainstream historians claim the Nazis ran out of fuel but because Hitler cancelled the push in order to prepare for a major Soviet offensive in the Eastern front.
Nonetheless, it is a good book not only for what it tells but also for what it didn't (considering it was originally intended for Stalin's eyes only).
Nonetheless, it is a good book not only for what it tells but also for what it didn't (considering it was originally intended for Stalin's eyes only).
February 16, 2022
Fascinating and somewhat unique look at Hitler and his murderous regime. A book is the fruit of interrogations spanning several years of Hitler's closest aides by Soviet intelligence services. In a way, it's as as interesting for what it contains and for what it airbrushes over, and the foreword and afterword in this edition explain this. This was compiled for Stalin's eyes only and the interrogators and editors knew what not to say or what subjects to avoid; the Soviet-German Pact, the Shoah, even the fact that Hitler was a charismatic leader etc.. This last point was so as not to upset Stalin who was in contrast a charmless tyrant.
Definitely recommended for anyone interested in the period.
Definitely recommended for anyone interested in the period.
March 29, 2020
An in depth account from people by his side to the last days. Not only do we see the Hitler we assume but also the cowardice and poor decision making skills. As this is based on accounts prepared for Stalin after the war there are times when you sense a Russian slant on things. Uhl and Eberle were imprisoned and interrogated to get the "truths" as presented. I am comfortable that at least 95% is accurate with a little Russian superiority thrown in. However you get a true feeling of being in Berlin in the final days and understand the events that lead Hitler to lose a war more for his own poor decisions than anything else.
September 23, 2019
It was interesting at first to hear things from the Soviet perspective and you can tell right away that the report was written with Stalin's beliefs in mind. The novelty though quickly wears off and what you are left reading is a long overly detailed biased description of Hitler and his inner circle. The last two thirds of book feels like it drags on forever.
February 10, 2020
SSCB’nin, 1939-41 arasındaki Almanya politikalarında ve Yahudi soykırımı hakkında sessizliğe bürünse de kitap, detaylı bir Hitler anlatısı sunuyor. Özellikle SSCB’nin Berlin’e girişi ve bunun Hitler üzerindeki etkisi konusunda detaylı bir betimleme barındırıyor. Sonradan eklenen “Biyografiler” ve “ekler” kısımları, 3.Reich hakkında toplu bir kaynak niteliğinde.
December 31, 2020
Hitler son günlerini ilk defa okuyacaksanız sizi tatmin edecek bir eser, lakin o döneme ait bilginiz ve ilginiz varsa zaten bildiklerinize ek bir katkı yapmayacaktır. Ek olarak kitap bir süre sonra tekrara düşüyor, müttefikleri şurayı geçti dayanın direnin, müttefikler burayı geçti dayanın direninle bir bakmışsınız kitap bitmiş.
February 15, 2026
Ar knyga atskleidžia kaip labai Hitleris bijojo rusų armijos? Taip. Tačiau svarbu prisiminti, kas buvo informacijos rinkimo užsakovas..
Tikėjausi daugiau informacijos apie tai kodėl Hitleris ėmesi vienokių ar kitokių veiksmų.. apie žydus apskritai knygoje nerašoma. Koncentruojamasi į karą su Rusija.
Tikėjausi daugiau informacijos apie tai kodėl Hitleris ėmesi vienokių ar kitokių veiksmų.. apie žydus apskritai knygoje nerašoma. Koncentruojamasi į karą su Rusija.
October 2, 2016
The history of The Hitler Book is as intriguing as its content. When the Third Reich collapsed in 1945, a wary Stalin refused to believe that Hitler was actually dead, and he ordered a comprehensive account of the Nazi leader's political history, along with proof that his suicide was genuine. The resulting 1949 book was prepared by Soviet leaders for Stalin himself. It was based largely on testimony from Otto Günsche and Heinz Linge, two of Hitler's SS adjutants who had fallen into Soviet hands in May 1945. Only two copies of The Hitler Book were made: one was given directly to Stalin and is now thought to be in Putin's personal possession; the other was deposited into the Kremlin archives under the title Document No. 462a. The latter was forgotten until Western academics Henrik Eberle and Matthias Uhl discovered it in 2005 and translated it into English.
The book, spanning the time from Hitler's rise to power in 1933 to the end of the war in May 1945, is a detailed account of Hitler's personality, daily life, and military strategy. The book moves quickly through the early years of his dictatorship and gradually slows with increasing detail, until by the end of the war the account moves by the day and sometimes by the hour. The narrative reveals Hitler's personal and psychological decline as his empire, which had once dominated continental Europe, shrank mile by mile until only a hundred yards separated his Berlin bunker from the Soviet line.
Equally fascinating are the book's glaring omissions and misleading emphases. Stalin, not the public, was the book's sole intended audience, and anything he might have found upsetting was airbrushed away by the authors. Germany's western front against the Allies is presented as insignificant. The Normandy landing on D-Day is barely mentioned, and the insinuation is that the Anglo-American offensive was both overdue and incompetently managed. The Allied strategy of constant bombing raids, which targeted Germany's military industry and rendered substantial new Wehrmacht offenses impossible after 1943, is downplayed as ineffective. The 1939/1940 alliance between Germany and Soviet Russia is, incredibly, never mentioned. A mere handful of references are made to the non-aggression pact between the two countries, and the invasion of Poland is depicted exclusively as an act of German blitzkrieg expansion. The Holocaust is completely absent. The staggering military successes of the Wehrmacht in 1941 on both eastern and western fronts are ignored. Also omitted are references to Hitler's effectiveness as an orator and controller of the masses - something which Stalin, whose personal charisma was far less inspiring, would have seen as an unfavorable comparison.
However, the book is not incorrect in connecting the outcome of the war to the bitter struggle on the eastern front. Though Germany's initial push into Russia was overwhelmingly successful, and nearly 4 million Soviet soldiers were taken captive between 1941 and 1943, the offensive ground to a halt at Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Moscow. From those points the Soviet army, now fully mobilized, began a lumbering westward offensive that would slowly push the lines of combat all the way back to Berlin, claiming 7.6 million German casualties along the way.
If the Soviet authors, in the service of their communist agenda, at times exaggerate, distort, and omit the facts, a simple comparison of their wartime casualty statistics to those of the Anglo-Americans may help us understand why. A book recounting Hitler's downfall from a Soviet perspective may not be perfectly accurate. It does, however, reveal the viewpoint of Hitler's most bitter military enemy and the nation which suffered and lost the most at the hands of the Nazis - and which was angling to gain the most from the post-war wreckage of Eastern Europe.
The book, spanning the time from Hitler's rise to power in 1933 to the end of the war in May 1945, is a detailed account of Hitler's personality, daily life, and military strategy. The book moves quickly through the early years of his dictatorship and gradually slows with increasing detail, until by the end of the war the account moves by the day and sometimes by the hour. The narrative reveals Hitler's personal and psychological decline as his empire, which had once dominated continental Europe, shrank mile by mile until only a hundred yards separated his Berlin bunker from the Soviet line.
Equally fascinating are the book's glaring omissions and misleading emphases. Stalin, not the public, was the book's sole intended audience, and anything he might have found upsetting was airbrushed away by the authors. Germany's western front against the Allies is presented as insignificant. The Normandy landing on D-Day is barely mentioned, and the insinuation is that the Anglo-American offensive was both overdue and incompetently managed. The Allied strategy of constant bombing raids, which targeted Germany's military industry and rendered substantial new Wehrmacht offenses impossible after 1943, is downplayed as ineffective. The 1939/1940 alliance between Germany and Soviet Russia is, incredibly, never mentioned. A mere handful of references are made to the non-aggression pact between the two countries, and the invasion of Poland is depicted exclusively as an act of German blitzkrieg expansion. The Holocaust is completely absent. The staggering military successes of the Wehrmacht in 1941 on both eastern and western fronts are ignored. Also omitted are references to Hitler's effectiveness as an orator and controller of the masses - something which Stalin, whose personal charisma was far less inspiring, would have seen as an unfavorable comparison.
However, the book is not incorrect in connecting the outcome of the war to the bitter struggle on the eastern front. Though Germany's initial push into Russia was overwhelmingly successful, and nearly 4 million Soviet soldiers were taken captive between 1941 and 1943, the offensive ground to a halt at Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Moscow. From those points the Soviet army, now fully mobilized, began a lumbering westward offensive that would slowly push the lines of combat all the way back to Berlin, claiming 7.6 million German casualties along the way.
If the Soviet authors, in the service of their communist agenda, at times exaggerate, distort, and omit the facts, a simple comparison of their wartime casualty statistics to those of the Anglo-Americans may help us understand why. A book recounting Hitler's downfall from a Soviet perspective may not be perfectly accurate. It does, however, reveal the viewpoint of Hitler's most bitter military enemy and the nation which suffered and lost the most at the hands of the Nazis - and which was angling to gain the most from the post-war wreckage of Eastern Europe.
March 30, 2020
A well written collected memoir of two closest officers of Hitler's inner circle. The accounts were taken by Stalin's militia once officers were arrested and intended to be the dictator's guide on how to rule the country and be as influential to his nation as Hitler was. The book is engaging and provides plenty of personal details on Hitler's life, which spices the book up and makes it entertaining.
November 15, 2016
I'm very interested in history and the World War II. On this Remembrance Day, we all have to be aware and to remember what was sacrificed to stop the reign of a maniacal, egotistical, self indulged group of men; who were directly or indirectly responsible for the death, over a five year span, of 50+ million people.
Going forward, I can’t say this is a page -turner, but it has kept my interest, I found it very frustrating. However, what I did find as I got further into the book it took a very biased approach to WWII. This is “the secret dossier prepared for Stalin, from the Interrogations of Hitler’s person aides”, Heinz Linge and Otto Gunsche; this was compiled strictly by the NKVD, Russian secret police, for Stalin’s eyes only. Stalin had given strict instruction as to what he wanted out of the interrogation. If there was information coming from either Linge or Gunsche that didn’t fit the template, set out by Stalin, the biographer, if you could use that term, would slant the information to fit the template. For example, the Western part of the war was neglected almost entirely. They mentioned a few times that Hitler's escape clause was to make a deal with the U.S. in late '44 and '45 if the eastern war got to hot. However, Hitler always believed, no matter how delusional this might be, that he could hold the Russians at the Oder River. There was very little said how the English or the Americans were doing in the west. Which goes to the bias view. It seems very narrow in its perspective on 3rd Reich.
Reading the afterwards help in giving a cleaner picture.
The introduction explains how this document disappeared into a file and into storage, until Khrushchev wanted to see it. Khrushchev made a copy and it was the searching by the author that found the copy. Other wise, it is doubtful if this would have ever seen the light of day.
I have plans to read, “Until the Final Hour”, Traudl Jung; Hitler's Last Secretary, a memoir of the last days of Hitler's government, written in 1947, but not published till 2002 and 2003. In the afterwards of "The Hitler Book", they point out that Traudl Jung was captured by a Russian officer who treated her like so many women were treated by Russian troops. I feel a reader might get the straight goods on what it was like for the 3rd Reich from ’42 on-wards , by reading her memoir.
I feel the purpose of publishing this file, was to give readers an insight into what Stalin might have been thinking when he commissioned this document. After reading the book, I found myself feeling somewhat less than satisfied with the contents. Like I mentioned earlier in this review, the afterwards will give you a better perspective.
To quote the author; "The Hitler Book gives us a powerful portrait of the German dictator and offers a remarkable detailed chronicle of his policies and military actions....that The Hitler Book was specially written for the Sovet dictator Stalin does not detract from its vividness."
Going forward, I can’t say this is a page -turner, but it has kept my interest, I found it very frustrating. However, what I did find as I got further into the book it took a very biased approach to WWII. This is “the secret dossier prepared for Stalin, from the Interrogations of Hitler’s person aides”, Heinz Linge and Otto Gunsche; this was compiled strictly by the NKVD, Russian secret police, for Stalin’s eyes only. Stalin had given strict instruction as to what he wanted out of the interrogation. If there was information coming from either Linge or Gunsche that didn’t fit the template, set out by Stalin, the biographer, if you could use that term, would slant the information to fit the template. For example, the Western part of the war was neglected almost entirely. They mentioned a few times that Hitler's escape clause was to make a deal with the U.S. in late '44 and '45 if the eastern war got to hot. However, Hitler always believed, no matter how delusional this might be, that he could hold the Russians at the Oder River. There was very little said how the English or the Americans were doing in the west. Which goes to the bias view. It seems very narrow in its perspective on 3rd Reich.
Reading the afterwards help in giving a cleaner picture.
The introduction explains how this document disappeared into a file and into storage, until Khrushchev wanted to see it. Khrushchev made a copy and it was the searching by the author that found the copy. Other wise, it is doubtful if this would have ever seen the light of day.
I have plans to read, “Until the Final Hour”, Traudl Jung; Hitler's Last Secretary, a memoir of the last days of Hitler's government, written in 1947, but not published till 2002 and 2003. In the afterwards of "The Hitler Book", they point out that Traudl Jung was captured by a Russian officer who treated her like so many women were treated by Russian troops. I feel a reader might get the straight goods on what it was like for the 3rd Reich from ’42 on-wards , by reading her memoir.
I feel the purpose of publishing this file, was to give readers an insight into what Stalin might have been thinking when he commissioned this document. After reading the book, I found myself feeling somewhat less than satisfied with the contents. Like I mentioned earlier in this review, the afterwards will give you a better perspective.
To quote the author; "The Hitler Book gives us a powerful portrait of the German dictator and offers a remarkable detailed chronicle of his policies and military actions....that The Hitler Book was specially written for the Sovet dictator Stalin does not detract from its vividness."
November 13, 2019
this book was amazing. I was on the tips of my ass.
February 9, 2016
This was a very interesting book. Some of Stalin's associates "interrogated" two of the men who were with Hitler to the end (and who were captured and imprisoned by the Soviets); this book is their testimony. It was given to Stalin in 1949 and disappeared into his personal archives. It was propaganda, written to show Stalin that Hitler was a real loser, and reflects the thinking of people living under Stalin; it was a part of Operation Myth, which was the Soviet attempt to prove that Hitler was dead. The book includes a lot of personal information about Hitler's lifestyle - descriptions of his dinner parties, his bunkers, his medical problems, and his general weirdness. Hitler was nuts. I cannot understand why so many people stuck with him for so long. I recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII history, but you must remember that it was written as propaganda and that the recollections are those of men who had been tortured by the Soviets. (It is usually obvious what parts of the book are not accurate, however.)
March 28, 2009
Inside look on the inside going-ons of the Hitler administration from 1940-1945. Intresting but sometimes a bit much.
Just like in J'étais garde du corps d'Hitler 1940-1945 it exposes errors in the movie "The Downfall" Traudl Jung direct after the war and so on.
The English editors are complaining that the holocaust isn`t mentioned, not mentioning that in the same period, where the file was written, the holocaust wasn`t all that rage in the other countries as well. And the editors always could have added some pictures of dead people in the image section.
Just like in J'étais garde du corps d'Hitler 1940-1945 it exposes errors in the movie "The Downfall" Traudl Jung direct after the war and so on.
The English editors are complaining that the holocaust isn`t mentioned, not mentioning that in the same period, where the file was written, the holocaust wasn`t all that rage in the other countries as well. And the editors always could have added some pictures of dead people in the image section.
January 24, 2014
This book is the translated secret Soviet report on Hitler's life originally written by Soviet agents at the behest of Joseph Stalin. The report only came to light in 2005 and since has become historically important due to the amount of primary source material it contained in the form of interviews of Hitler's close aides Heinz Linge and Otto Guensche. I wrote the Wikipedia article on "The Hitler Book," and it still hasn't been materially modified since my first draft. You can read my Wikipedia article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitl...
July 11, 2013
Sure, the Russian editor did not possess any special literary abilities, and at some points you just need to chuckle with his quasi-poetic descriptions, but this is one heck of a read. We're talking about sources here, and as such it's extremely interesting.
I only wish it was longer. The book is heavily concerned with Hitler's end, so as the Third Reich's time was coming to an end, time in the book is expanding. It could easily be two or three times the size
I only wish it was longer. The book is heavily concerned with Hitler's end, so as the Third Reich's time was coming to an end, time in the book is expanding. It could easily be two or three times the size
April 20, 2016
A fascinating account of two of Hitler's closest associates, channeled through the eyes and prejudices of the Soviets. This book goes into a minutiae of details that, while not always completely accurate, never fail to hold the interest of the reader. There are notes where particular information is invalid and an afterword and foreword that set the stage for the text. For any WWII history buffs, this is a must read.
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