With Hitler to the End: The Memoirs of Adolf Hitler's Valet

by Heinz Linge, Roger Moorhouse (Introduction)

The remarkable memoir of a man who was by Hitler’s side from 1935 to 1945. Heinz Linge worked with Adolf Hitler for a ten-year period from 1935 until the Führer’s death in the Berlin bunker in May 1945. He was one of the last to leave the bunker and was responsible for guarding the door while Hitler killed himself.
During his years of service, Linge was responsible for all aspects of Hitler’s household and was constantly by his side. He claims that only Eva Braun stood closer to Hitler over these years.

Here, Linge recounts the daily routine in Hitler’s his eating habits, his foibles, his preferences, his sense of humor, and his private life with Eva Braun. In fact, Linge believed Hitler’s closest companion was his dog Blondi. After the war Linge said in an interview, “It was easier for him to sign a death warrant for an officer on the front than to swallow bad news about the health of his dog.” Linge also charts the changes in Hitler’s character during their time together and his fading health during the last years of the war. During his last days, Hitler’s right eye began to hurt intensely and Linge was responsible for administering cocaine drops to kill the pain. In a number of instances—such as with the Stauffenberg bomb plot of July 1944—Linge gives an excellent eyewitness account of events. He also gives thumbnail profiles of the prominent members of Hitler’s “court”: Hess, Speer, Bormann and Ribbentrop amongst them.

Though Linge held an SS rank, he claims not to have been a Nazi Party member. His profile of one of history’s worst demons is not blindly uncritical, but it is nonetheless affectionate. The Hitler that emerges is a multi-faceted unpredictable and demanding, but not of an otherwise unpleasant nature. 12 b&w illustrations

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II, Germany, War, Memoir

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Heinz Linge (23 March 1913 – 9 March 1980) was an SS officer who served as a valet for German Führer Adolf Hitler. Linge was present in the Führerbunker on 30 April 1945, when Hitler committed suicide.

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I opened the door and went in, Bormann following me. He turned white as chalk and stared at me helplessly. Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun were seated on the sofa. Both were dead."


Whilst a biography of Hitler may hold more in the way of detailing his life, a memoir by somebody who practically lived in his coat pockets for more than 10 years has the upper hand when it comes to thoughts and feelings; conversations and observations; Hitler's state of mind. Heinz Linge was inundated with offers to publish his memoirs shortly after his release from Soviet captivity, after his 25 year sentence was cut short in the general amnesty of 1955. There isn't much about Linge himself, nor did I really expect there to be, when you're dealing with someone like Hitler and his inner circle. Linge writes about the likes of Himmler - who he didn't particularly like, Goebbels, Göring, Bormann and Hess, time spent at The Wolf's Lair, meetings with Mussolini, the assassination attempt, and in Hitler's own words, the progress of the war itself.

Two parts of the book that I found most fascinating - and probably the reason I wanted to read this in the first place - was Hitler's relationship with Eva Braun, and the end of the war, in his Berlin Führerbunker, knowing it's the end of the line - the chilling last twenty pages or so, on the day of Hitler's suicide, being the part I'll never forget. Despite being up close and personal with Hitler, and holding an SS rank, Linge claimed he knew absolutely nothing about the holocaust at the time, but he wouldn't be the first person within The Third Reich who survived the war to say so. For the most part, a really interesting memoir.

[Razvan Banciu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitler and WWII, one of the subjects I know a thing or two about. So this book is more than welcome and doesn't disappoint me at all. Most of the facts are not a novelty and they suit well to the whole picture, the unknown ones fit the larger story.
Speaking about the subjective part, there are only a few little things I don't totally agree with, as I'm not the only one who considers Himmler and especially Goebbels even more sinister than the Fuhrer himself...

[WarpDrive · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite interesting and remarkable account of Hitler's quirky personality traits.
What clearly emerges from Linge's account is that Hitler, contrarily to many reports, was not a one-dimensional rabid monster prone to rages and rabid ranting. On the contrary, he was a complex and contradictory human being like of all us - as an example, using Linge's own words: "he might show the most fatherly concern for a female secretary who had stubbed her toe but be utterly ice-cold when issuing orders which sent thousand to their deaths".

Much of Linge's account has been independently verified, so he must be taken seriously, with the exception (in my opinion) of when Linge claims that he knew nothing of the extermination of the Jews: after all he was an SS officer who lived in close contact with Hitler and his entourage day and night, and he knew nothing ? It might be possible, but I am somewhat sceptical...

The Hitler emerging from Linge's account makes him actually a sometime contradictory figure, quite difficult to understand. Just as an example, Hitler does not appear to be the most extreme Nazi ideologue, as he appears to be driven by political practicalities as much as by ideology: he rejected Himmler's plan to replace Christianity with the old Germanic Gods, he rejected the initial calls by Goebbels to start the "total war" process as he did not deem it necessary yet, and he would even poke fun at some of the excesses of the likes of Goering (he ridiculed openly Goering predilection for magnificent, fantasy uniforms - once he made a cardboard medal for Goering to wear on his nightshirt, and even "officially" presented it to him).

His portrait of Hitler living a Spartan life has been independently confirmed by many testimonials: he would not wear what was fashionable, he refused an expensive wardrobe, in most instances he only wore a simple brown uniform with his decorations from WWI, and he slept on a basic, military-issue field bed (once a general saw his room, and he shook his head in amazement and said "our infantry at the front should see this").

Some other personality traits, on the other hand, verge on the almost ridiculous: Hitler knew that his characteristic lock of hair and his moustache always attracted friendly amusement amongst the population, and he took great pride in both.

The final chapters of the book describe the tragedy of the end of the war in Berlin: the most representative episode of this Gotterdammerung tragedy consumed in the Berlin's bunker is probably the poisoning by the Goebbels of their own children, which is at the same time heart-breaking and spine-chilling.

Do not expect a deep analysis of the causes or development of the Nazi phenomenon and ideology, or of the causes of WWII: Linge clearly is not an intellectual nor a deep thinker. However, his first person account of this tragic period in the history of Europe is quite interesting and sometimes surprising.

[Razvan Zamfirescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am ezitat puțin înainte să notez acest volum de memorii și încă nu sunt sigur dacă să-i dau 3 sau 4 stele, ca să fiu sincer.
Motivele pentru care i-aș da 4 stele țin de valoarea istorică a volumului. Detaliile pe care Heinz Linge le oferă cititorului și istoricului în acest volum, indiferent că vorbim despre ultimele ore din viața lui Hitler, despre atentatul din 20 iulie 1944 sau despre relația dictatorului cu Eva Braun, aruncă o altă lumină asupra felului de a fi și acționa al Fuhrer-ului.
Unii istorici l-au demonizat pe Hitler pentru a justifica, mai mult sau mai puțin, acțiunile violente ale Aliaților împotriva germanilor de la sfârșitul războiului și pentru a-l transforma în încarnarea diavolului pe pământ,hotărând astfel înmormântarea ideologiei național-socialiste. Puțini sunt cei care au curajul să încerce să redea obiectiv acea perioadă fără a fi părtinitori pentru că există riscul să fii luat la ochi și admonestat public de tot felul de indivizi care te acuză că negi Holocaustul, printre altele. Linge, redând concepțiile rușilor despre Hitler, trece în revistă ideile comuniștilor victorioși despre personalitatea sa, idei care vor bântui precum niște fantome, tot restul secolului XX. Prizonier al rușilor Heinz Linge a tot încercat să le explice că nu a fost decât un om normal cu foarte multă putere la dispoziție, însă mitul Adolf Hitler a fost atât de bine construit, atât din interior cât și la nivel internațional, încât nu prea i s-a dat crezare.
Unii memorialiști au făcut și au contribuit, cu succes, la imaginea mitică și demonică a lui Hitler pentru a-și spăla din păcate și pentru a arunca pe umerii celui pe care l-au servit greutatea acțiunilor întreprinse ca și naziști. Heinz Linge își asumă senin rolul pe care l-a purtat, își recunoaște admirația pentru Hitler și respectul profund pe care i l-a purtat până când acesta a murit. Odată cu corpul lui Hitler transformat în cenușă, crezul nazist s-a disipat în Berlinul fumegând, precum fuminginea clădirilor incendiate și Linge s-a trezit la realitate: persoana care avea puterea să facă totul să se întâmple, nu mai e, suntem pe cont propriu. Acest sentiment, am eu impresia, a fost încercat de toți naziștii în momentul în care sfârșitul războiului se apropia din ce în ce mai mult iar victoria nu era de partea lor. Forța care până atunci a muncit să construiască o imagine a unui Fuhrer genial și indestructibil s-a întors împotriva acestuia creând imaginea unui individid dement, pierdut în fantezii schizofrenice, un ciudat sexual și un frustrat social.
Linge îi admonestează, pe rând, pe toți memorialiștii care încearcă să se scuze sau să-l prezinte pe Hitler altfel decât, spune Linge, acesta era. Cunoascand impresia generală din tabăra Aliaților despre Hitler, memoriile celor care-l demonizau și mitizau pe Hitler au sens pentru că asta era struna care trebuia cântată, riscul fiind, probabil nerealizat și neasumat atunci, de a creea un conducător de basm, mitologic chiar, cu puteri și trăsături aproape demiurgice. Linge îl așează pe Hitler înapoi pe pământ printre muritorii de rând.
Motivele pentru care i-aș 3 stele țin mai mult de modul în care este construită cartea. Este adevărat că modul repezit și fără pauză în care sunt redactate memoriile dau o puternică senzație de veridicitate, mai ales că mulți editori i-au spus lui Linge că volumul său de memorii va fi, indiscutabil editat și modificat. E foarte greu de urmărit evoluția istorică a evenimentelor pe care Linge le redă. De multe ori trebuie să te gândești, asta doar dacă ai cunoștințele necesare, când s-a întâmplat un anumit eveniment, care a fost cadrul și ce a urmat mai apoi, pentru a înțelege cu adevărat rolul și rostul amintirilor autorului.
Pe măsură ce scriu această recenzie mă îndrept către nota 4 pentru că Heinz Linge este nu om simplu și sincer care nu are nimic de câștigat sau de pierdut de pe urma acestui volum. Nu-și dorește salvarea și crearea unei imagini precum Speer și nici refacerea imaginii liderului pe care l-a servit timp de 10 ani. Heinz Linge își scrie memoriile din dorința de a arăta adevărata fața a Fuhrer-ului pe care el l-a cunoscut, asta pe lângă faptul că niciodată nu strică niște bănuți de pe urma vieții de nazist dusă alături de Adolf Hitler.
Explicațiile pe are Linge le dă cu privire la diferite mituri legate de Hitler sunt coerente și decente si mult mai credibile decât fantasticile descrieri hiperbolizate pe care rușii le-au comandat și lansat în lume după înfrângerea celui de-al Treilea Reich.
O recomand împătimiților și cunoscătorilor istoriei celui de-al doilea război mondial pentru că, altminteri, această carte s-ar putea să pară plictisitoare și lipsită de înțeles.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heinz Linge was very close to Hitler. How close? He was the first person into the room after Hitler shot himself, and helped douse the bodies of Hitler and Eva Hitler with gasoline before personally setting them on fire.

This is a very interesting account of Hitler's last ten years from a unique perspective. Linge, as Hitler's valet or body servant, had intimate access—of a sort. The relationship he had toward Hitler was strictly that of a loyal personal servant to a boss, as Linge himself says. This was a job he was "duty-bound" to perform.

But what a job, and what a position it put Linge in to observe these events. His book abounds in little character details of the major names in the Third Reich. Who in the inner circle was agreeable and who rubbed people the wrong way? What did Hitler joke about? What was his health like? What, precisely, was his relationship with Eva Braun? Most interesting, of course, are Linge's observations of Hitler, who was nervous before making public speeches, made calculated choices about his public behavior, chewed his mustache before his (originally rare) angry outbursts, thought out loud for hours, and could charm people even in his debilitated state before his suicide. There's much, much more.

Linge writes briskly and unaffectedly and comes across as more honest and open than some other Third Reich memoirists. But when Linge writes that he was basically non-ideological, that he was neither an intellectual nor a reader and only picked up the National Socialist worldview from Hitler himself in the last years of the war, is it true? I can't be sure—plenty of ex-Nazis downplayed their Nazism after the war—but it certainly seems that way, and Linge makes no effort to justify or exonerate Hitler.

Furthermore, given his position, Linge is able to set some things right and expressly wishes to do so. He notes repeatedly that, during his captivity, false stories or myths took root and thanks to his position he can correct the record. There are numerous examples, from the silly to the profoundly important. Did Hitler only have one testicle? No, Linge writes, noting as well that his postwar Russian captors beat him for laughing when they asked. Was Hitler a raving, "carpet-biting" madman? Absolutely not, Linge writes, and he was sane right up to the end. Had Albert Speer secretly planned to poison Hitler in his bunker to end the war? Linge doesn't buy that, considering how obviously devoted and obsequious Speer was to Hitler until the end. Did Hitler know about Hess's plan to fly to Britain on a cockamamie peace mission? Linge thinks so. Did Hitler know about the Holocaust? There's no way he didn't, Linge says, and insists on that point.

The impression one comes away with of not only the upper echelons of the Third Reich but of the ordinary people surrounding them in support positions—not only people like Linge but peers like Erich Kempka, chief of Hitler's motor pool, Otto Günsche, Hitler's adjutant, and the various doctors and secretaries who came and went—is of life in a truly poisonous bubble. Reality intrudes slowly but inexorably, most obviously in Hitler's dramatically deteriorating health, which Linge, as someone in a position to observe this every day, relates with startling vividness.

The final chapters, unsurprisingly, are grim reading. Linge's perspective is striking, especially since, as the translator footnotes, his account differs in some details from those of other survivors of the Führerbunker. But what is perhaps most interesting is Linge's account of his captivity among the Russians, who figured out who he was quickly and spent years trying to torture him into confessing that Hitler was still alive somewhere. Linge didn't, and the photos of Linge before and after his ten years as a prisoner show the toll it took on him. Upon release in 1955 he was 42. He looked 62.

This is a worthwhile read if you'd like a primary source on Hitler and the Third Reich from a largely impartial insider.

Recommended.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one is a hero to his valet - in this light Heinz Linge presents an altogether human portrait of the man who has come to represent the worst man can be. He has a remarkably affectionate tone that was common of personal servants in many countries who were treated well by their masters.

Linge tells of the daily household routine, Adolf's common law marriage to Eva Braun (with whom he lived as a husband), and the relationship with the circle of cronies and compatriots who comprised Hitler's inner court. Linge gives occasional signs of the dictator's tenderness towards people, but most of Hitler's affection is reserved for his dog, Blondi. There are several excellent eyewitness accounts of events that happened during Hitler's tenure.

All in all, a fascinating read

[John Martindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year or so ago I endured the verbose diatribe—Hitler's “Mein Kampf” which gave me a glimpse of Hitler's disturbing ideology that drove him. This book gave me a glimpse of the man; his personality and how he interacted with others. Hitler definitely was not a psychopath or some diabolical sadist, but instead he was a strong-willed idealistic genius and thus we learn the sheer power and consequence of ideas. If Hitler was influenced and embrace a wholesome ideology, he could have been a great force for good instead of evil.

Hitler's understanding of leadership was that the supreme authority must be absolute, a leadership style that (sadly) many still embrace and employ throughout the world. He also embraced a Machiavellian practicality (as so many politicians still do today). There indeed was logic to his system and an end which he perceived to be so good, that he was morally obligated and justified in employing any means to achieve it, no matter how terrible it would seem to others in the present. He was quite sure history would vindicate him. Indeed, and chillingly if he won, it would have... for the victors would have written the history books.

So yeah, though Hitler was capable of showing tenderness, compassion and pity on some, still his ideology which was so strongly influenced by social Darwinism, racism, German Nationalism and a Nietzschean understanding of ethics all clearly shaped how he lived and interacted with others.

[Lisa Baillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read. So many of these books you read you wonder how much is fact from fiction. So to hear from someone who worked in Hitlers inner circle makes it that more fascinating. You just can’t imagine how privileged this man felt to be in this position. Looking back now I wonder if his feelings ever changed towards Hitler.

[J.D. Sutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heinz Linge recounts a riveting and detailed narrative of day to day life with Adolf Hitler. As a member of Hitler's personal staff, he was one of the few who was with him nearly every single day for many years, thus he offers a unique perspective into the man, Adolf Hitler. Linge shares little details about the dictator such as his love for his dog, Blondi, which really brings out the human side of Hitler.

With Hitler to the End is well written and is an easy read. Although one thing which was just a bit confusing to me was that while for the most part, the narrative is told chronologically, on several occasions, Linge drops in an anecdote which is out of sequence. Also, I was a bit surprised by his obvious admiration of Hitler even decades after the events, knowing the full scope of what Hitler was responsible for; which he insists he had no knowledge of at the time of his service to the dictator. Linge also claims that he was personally apolitical and had never even read Mein Kampf.

The most surprising thing to me, and that which left the biggest impression on my mind, is Hitler's staunch belief that he was acting under the direction of Providence. This conviction was apparently not simply propaganda to instill confidence in the German people, but according to Linge, these sentiments were oft expressed by Hitler behind closed doors in conversations with only his closest circle of confidantes; Linge included. I found it so fascinating, and frankly, chilling, that one could be perpetrating some of the most heinous acts in history and yet still believe that they are doing what is right.

Linge writes very matter-of-factly about everything (he does not address the atrocities that were happening in the concentration camps or the like except to denounce any knowledge of them) and in an almost conversational tone which is very easy to follow and which makes his account very believable. Several times he refutes claims made and disputes facts asserted by others who were close to Hitler, insisting that he was at Hitler's side day and night for over a decade and therefore observed more than others and knew the dictator more closely than anyone other than Eva Braun (Hitler's long-time mistress). Whether or not his version of the facts is indeed accurate we will probably never know.

Even though I knew beforehand how the story ends I found myself so engrossed in the book during the latter pages that I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. The details of the final days in the bunker are so gripping, and even heartbreaking in the case of an incident with the children of one of Hitler's ministers, that you can almost feel the tension that Linge describes.

Through this book, you get an inside look at the victories and defeats of the Third Reich as Linge recounts visits to the front, meetings with Mussolini, confidential strategy meetings with top military and Nazi Party officials and even more mundane things such as Hitler's failing health, his diet and seating preferences at dinners. I think Linge's remark that "I had a theatre-box on history, and remained in it until it collapsed..." is an accurate sentiment that reflects the tone of the book. Those interested in history, especially World War II history, will find With Hitler to the End to be a worthwhile read.

NOTE: There are a couple instances of strong language when Linge cites a direct quotation and there are occasions where he recalls examples of a crass line of questioning that the Russians put him through during his imprisonment. Because of these examples and the general subject matter of this story, I recommend this book for adults only.

[Kambizdirakvand · Rating 5 out of 5]

در طول مدت زمانی ک این کتاب را میخواندم بارها با خود فکر میکردم که جمله “تاریخ را افراد پیروز در جنگ مینویسند” بسیار جمله صحیحی است.مسلما مابین هیتلری که لینگه در این کتاب روایت میکند با آنچه تاکنون دیده یا درباره اش خوانده ایم بسیار فاصله است.ولی به گمان من هیتلر هیچ کدام از توصیفات فوق نیست.هیتلر ترکیبی از هر دو روایت هالیوود و لینگه بوده.روایت کتاب بسیار روان و بدور از زوائد است.خواندن آنرا شدیدا توصیه میکنم.

[فرفری موی غزل ساز · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب خاص و عجیبی بود. من همیشه سرگذشت کسانی رو می‌خوندم که مورد ظلم هیتلر قرار گرفته بودن و این‌بار، شخصیت هیتلر رو از دیدگاه شخصی دیدم که ده سال به عنوان پیشکار در کنارش بود.
باید بگم چیزی که توی ذهنم بود، با چیزی که بعد از خوندن کتاب فهمیدم خیلی متفاوت بود. من از هیتلر انتظار یه شخصیت خشک رو داشتم که حتی نسبت به عشق بیگانه‌ست ولی طبق روایت‌ کتاب، اونم مثل هر انسان دیگه‌ای، از تئاتر، موسیقی، طبیعت و حتی ابراز علاقه به یه زن لذت می‌برده.
پس چرا کسی که این احساسات انسانی رو داشته، این‌طور بی‌رحمانه دستور قتل میلیون‌ها نفر رو صادر کرده؟ عجیبه... و متاثرکننده.

[Kimia · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلی خوبه که نظر یک فرد نزدیک به هیتلر رو جدا از فیلمای هالیوودی و شایعات بشنوی. زیاد جذب این کتاب نشدم اما خوندنش خالی از لطف نبود

[Erfan · Rating 5 out of 5]

هیتلر،پیشوای بزرگ
کتابی برای شناخت بهتر هیتلر خارج از فضای جنگ

[Stephanie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fascinatingly interesting book where I got to read about smallest + most intimate details about Adolf Hitler during the Nazi regime. Though I did wonder how much of it was true since it is just one person’s memory and I assume he would have feared to be too truthful given that he is a war criminal.
I would definitely recommend this book to whoever is into wwii - Nazi history!

[Sep · Rating 4 out of 5]

فصلی که راجع به خودکشیشون بود ، همه آدمای بد نه از اول بد بودن و نه همیشه بد بودن! ، تاریخ و تناقض ، مقاوم و صبور شاید؟

[Linda Lou McCall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, this was a pretty good book as long as you take it in the spirit and era in which it occurred. Author Linge was a Nazi but was a valet first and foremost. It was not his job to make political decisions or disagree with his boss. His telling of his time with Hitler is dispassionate and straight-forward. Linge was at the side of the Fuhrer 24/7/365. However, I don't feel that I learned anything else of interest about Adolph Hitler than could be found in hundreds of other biological accounts. What I really wanted to know was what happened in the hour leading up to the suicides of Hitler and his bride of 24 hours, Eva Braun. Linge shed no real light on this although he claimed to be "with Hitler to the end". Actually, at best, he was more of an "accomplice before and after the fact", only being on hand to move and dispose of the bodies. I was like "That's it?!" I could have gotten more from Wikipedia.

The facts that I particularly found disturbing was Linge's referring Hitler's bunch of thugs and female groupies as his "court" like royalty. He also kept referring to Hitler as an "artist" and "architect" when it is known that if he'd been any good as an art student, he wouldn't have gone off the deep end in his hatred of the Jewish people. In addition, Linge wanted the world to know how adamant Hitler was about not eating meat and preaching to everyone that cigarette were bad for the health. Yet, no one around him saw the irony in the fact that this maniac apparently thought it was "healthy" to kill millions of Jews, many through asphyxiation in gas chambers. Give me a Marlboro, PLEASE!

But, off the subject matter, there's something else that gave me a shock in this audiobook. The narrator, Jim Frangione, is in the middle of a "fun fact" about Hitler fathering an illegitimate son in 1918 during a relationship with a French girl and whether his "Boo" of 10 years, Eva Braun, was barren, when he suddenly blurts out "Oh, f**k!" Frangione then continues on as if he hadn't cursed or stumbled, yet losing the thread of the narrative. In listening to over 2,000 audiobooks, I've heard narrators mess up, stumble, start over but never EVER blurt out a profanity like that. I'm sure it is done often but where was the editor and producer? Audiobooks need better quality control since they cost so much to buy.

That said, this is an interesting account of Hitler's strange life. Just don't buy it thinking that you will get insider info on "The End" - it ain't there! And those of you with sensitive natures, be forewarned of the 4-letter word which pops up in Chapter 7 at about 22 mins and 5 seconds in.

[Kyle Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an OK book, not great, not good, but OK. Linge starts off the book quickly describing how he came to be Hitler's Valet; he doesn't give us any background information on himself - where he was born, how he became involved with politics, specifically the NSDAP etc. - which would have been great. He just jumps right into about 1935 when he was hired by Hitler and finishes in 1945 when Hitler committed suicide and the Third Reich fell. He mostly gives us the little details of how he would wake Hitler every morning at 10 or 11, have the morning papers ready for Hitler to read, wait for Hitler to get dressed, come downstairs and have a little breakfast etc.

There are a few important topics covered by Linge with regards to the time the Nazi's were in power. The ones I recall off the top of my head were Rudolf Hess's unannounced flight and capture in England, the Valkyrie Hitler bomb plot, and Hitler's suicide and downfall of the Third Reich. Linge gives you his view and interpretation of these incidents, which is interesting to hear from someone who was there first-hand. The book in a way is somewhat "gossipy", but not too much like other books like this, have been. Overall, I would recommend reading this if you a have a huge interest in the Nazi's, Third Reich, etc., as well if you are curious about Adolf Hitler and his personal quirks and habits.

[Томи Цолов · Rating 3 out of 5]

Не съм човек, който има исторически познания и това е може би единствената книга на тема Хитлер или войната, която съм чел. За това мога да споделя само впечатления. Автора е бил прислужник на Хитлер. Книгата е за 10те години прекарани с Хитлер, от постъпването му на власт до смъртта му. Въпреки голямат ами неприязън към Хитлер книгата ми се стори доста интересна. Дори увлекателна на моменти. Много ясно ми остава това, че автора разказва изключително дистанцирано и непредубедено, като страничен наблюдател на събитията. На места се усеща нещо като тънка ирония, но не може да се каже категорично, че е такава, защото скоро след този момент веднага се връща впечатлението, че това е просто любопитен исторически факт, който автора споделя. Тази безпристрастност не е абсолютна, има ясното отношение на преданност към Хитлер и до известна степен възхищение, но не крайна идеализация на образа му (от там и иронията може би).
Интересно е може би и липсата на каквото и да е чувство за вина на Линге за цялото дело на Хитлер, под предлога, че той е просто служител, който явно не е знаел за "някои неща" които се случват. В началото на книгата мислех, че Линге е психопат като Хитлер. Но после разбрах че греша. Сега мисля, че Линге е друг вид психопат, не толкова явен и с някакви ценности, на които остава верен до края.

[Tracy Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a 3.5+ or for someone interested in Hilter history probably more of a 4.0+. Linge was Hitler’s valet for the last 10 years of his life, upto and including Hitler’s suicide and cremation by Linge. His perspective and view on Hitler, and the others in Hitler’s circle, comes from a unique viewpoint and a closeness to Hitler no one else had.

It was difficult to read with several German phrases, comments, references,etc...but someone who is a WWII historian, specifically of Germany’s role, would probably follow and understand the flow much better. It seemed at moments the timeline and events jumped around. It felt that he just started writing everything he could remember without much structure or continuity but realistically that may have been what he did.

Though only very few know what happen to Hitler during those last days of his life, I found Linge’s story, true or not, gave the most detail of any book I’ve read. Not super long and definitely worth a read to anyone having interest in this topic.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason I gave this book only three stars is because I consider Linge an unreliable narrator. He claims he had no knowledge of what went on in the concentration camps. I don't believe him. He was with Hitler every day for ten years. He traveled with him, sat in on meetings, ate with him, and sometimes even slept in the same room with him. Linge seems to suffer from misplaced hero worship. The book does have a lot of information on the high-ranking Nazis who surrounded Hitler. Linge mentions Hitler's various illnesses and idiosyncrasies. However, after I read the book, I did a brief search on the Internet and found even more in-depth information on Hitler and his inner circle. I read this book for my history book group.

[Alana Voth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heinz Linge, a guy most anyone would consider "in-the-know," wrote with straight-forward candidness about his ten years with Adolf Hitler as the Fuhrer's valet. Just as he says in the title, Linge remained faithful to Hitler to the end and wound up in a series of Russian prisons as a result. The Russians' main goal was to get Linge to admit Hitler was still alive. This memoir is worth a read.

XO.

[Милен Андреев · Rating 5 out of 5]

Много интересна книга, написана от личния адютант на Хитлер от 1935 до самия край, както подсказва заглавието. Книгата развенчава доста митове за висши партийни функционери в нсдап, както и разкрива нови, нечувани мръсни тайни за тях. Много е интересна за хора, които се интересуват от политическия елит на Райха.

[Thomas Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book I came across on the anniversary of Hitler's death. I download it and read it over a couple of days. Very, very interesting and surprisingly interesting and detailed. Clears up many of the myths about the German leader, and explains a few things most people are not aware of. Worth reading for any serious student of WWII history.

[Dr. Thomas Wasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book and one of the best "I knew Hitler" books that I've read. Four stars because I would have liked to see a little bit more detail in some of the relationships with Hitler that I was particularly interested in but few others might have been. Well done and highly believable.

[Connie Loftus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dated let interesting Details

I liked this book Because it Is a 1st Hand Account Or primary source Which is hard to Still find.I am a history major so even though this book Was written Years ago It still has relevant For the Serious researcher.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It was difficult to understand him. On one hand he pandered to even the most unimportant things while on the other he was excessive and unfeeling. He might show the most fatherly concern for a female secretary who had stubbed her toe but be utterly ice-cold when issuing orders which sent thousands to their deaths."

I read With Hitler to the End: The Memoirs of Adolf Hitler's Valet by Heinz Linge. Book 98 of 182, 240 pages, finished 7/13/2017.

Rating: 3/5

With Hitler to the End is the story of Hitler's chief attendant - his butler, valet, and personal assistant. More accurately, it's that attendant's memories about Hitler, the pre-war period, and all of the personalities during the war.

I'm not sure what I expected. This book was highly rated both on Amazon and Goodreads, and I expected a gripping and deep account about how it was to be near Hitler, and seeing WW2 and Nazism from that perspective.

What I instead got was a 'nuh uh!' book - the author, Linge, was imprisoned in Russia directly following World War 2, and much had been written about Hitler by the time he was released. He spends a huge amount of time attempting to refute accounts of what Hitler was like, how Hitler made decisions, and in his mind false accounts of Gormann, Himmler, Goebbels, Bormann, Hess, and others.

I think the blame rests squarely on my shoulders - I know very little about the Nazis, WW2, the Axis, or much else from that time period... and I dived into a book where the chief characters in this time period were colleagues and contemporaries of the author. No wonder it didn't hold my attention.

One thing I will say, though - people are complex. It's easy to get a view of Hitler that every last thing he did was pure evil, and that in his free time he ate babies and sacrificed kittens. It wasn't like that. While ultimately he's easily the most despised leader in centuries, he ultimately thought he was doing the right thing. Linge writes over and over how Hitler believed he was put in place by Providence to lead the German people. It's unclear what Providence specifically means here - God? the Universe? the Spirit of Nationalism? No idea.

I wouldn't recommend this book, unless you fashion yourself an armchair or real scholar of World War 2 and pre-war Germany. It's too much otherwise.

[Todd Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very easy & interesting read for any history lover who wants to see a different side of Hitler. Heinz Linge was Hitlers personnel assistant/confident and by his side every day for over a decade & wrote about his experiences with Hitler after he was released from Soviet captivity in 1955. We all know the evil that was Hitler, and Linge does not try to justify any of it, but rather talks about the Hitler he new behind the scenes away from the public and away from his "War Machine" that was Himmler, Bormann, Goebels, etc. He talks about Hitlers quirks, his eating habits, his health & decline, and determination as the war raged on, his life with Eva, the conversations Hitler would have in private with Linge about the war effort & what he really thought about some of his "top advisors". Linge admits that there was a mystique about Hitler in the early days that captivated everyone he was in contact with, and he himself was under that spell right up to the end as he was there with a front row view of history for over a decade. This is his story

[Mostafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 star
عنوان کتاب " تا ابد با پیشوا" نوشته هاینتس لینگه، پیش خدمت شخصی هیتلر از ۱۹۳۵ تا سقوط برلین در ۱۹۴۵
او در این اثر به بخشی از تاریخ آلمان، نزدیکان و سیاست مداران آلمانی و شخصی هیتلر و عادات و رفتارهای او می پردازد
این خاطرات در بخش هایی اطلاعات سیاسی ارایه می دهد و در بخش های دیگر به زندگی شخصی ادلف هیتلر می پردازد
آنچه که خواننده از زبان هاینتس لینگه می شنود همانند همان خاطرات سربازانِ آمریکاییِ نگهبانِ ص��ام حسین است که به مدت دو سال در زندان، از او مراقبت می کردند
شخصیتی که از نگاه فردی با آنچه که معرف عملکرد آنها در دنیای خارج ایت، تفاوت فاحش دارد
در این خاطرات چه خاطرات هاینتس لینگه و چه خاطرات سربازان آمریکایی نگهبان صدام اشاره می شود که آنها شخصیتی بعضا مهربان، بخشنده، متعهد و مسئول و حتی دوست داشتنی دارند ... چیزی که به اثری که در دنیا گذاشته اند کاملا متفاوت است
در یک نگاه فردی مهربان و در نگاهی دیگر فردی دیکتاتور و خون ریز که از کشتن آنهم در مقیاس وسیع باکی ندارد... این تناقض را در چند اثر از زندگی دیکتاتورها دیده ایم
اگرچه این اثر از ضعف مفرط ترجمه رنج می برد و بسیار بد برگردان شده است اما داستان آنقدر کشش دارد که خواننده را با خود همراه کند

[Mark Blane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linge does not "beat around the bush" and gets right to the points he want's to cover regarding the personal life of Hitler. Linge was his personal valet for 10 years, so I am sure he had some stories to tell. It is a short read, which is nice, but you will gain tremendous insight into Hitler's personality and how he interacted with those around him.

For example, Hitler liked asking for the time from his adjutants. So, for his birthday, Linge and others give him a pocket watch. Yet, he still asked for the time. Then, Linge starts putting up clocks everywhere, but yet Hitler still asked for the time. Linge finally resolved that Hitler likes asking for the time for psychological reasons. Things like this help shape your impression of this Nazi regime leader and it can only come from those who knew him best.

If you want to learn different personality traits and insights like this about Hitler, it is a good book to read, and Linge does follow him literally "to the end."

[Richard Croner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that cannot be categorized "enjoyable" just because of the topic. Hitler was a very complex man of ideals which could not have been accomplished without many associates and accomplices. The author, Linge, was one of them. I read the book with a grain of salt in mind just because of the topic and who wrote it. I kept searching for the key to the question of just what motivated Hitler to become the monster with such distorted ideals. I did not find the answer. The other aspect was how he could find people and put them in positions of power that agreed with the distortions. I found the book interesting but glad it is done.