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Hitler's Will
The amazing true story of the discovery of Hitler's will
When Hermi Rothman came to England from Germany during World War II, it was as a Jewish refugee. Enlisting in the British Forces made him one of many "King’s Own Most Loyal" enemy aliens, but it wasn’t until he joined the Counter Intelligence Corps that his incredible role in the denouement of the war began to unravel. Enlisted to interrogate the Nazis after the war, Hermi found himself at Auschwitz among the guards who had committed some of the worst war crimes ever seen. His testimony at the Auschwitz Trial in 1963 (he was one of the only soldiers to do so) was harrowing. But this dreadful information on the treatment of his fellow Jews would never perturb him as much as what he discovered sewn into the lining of one of the guards’ jackets. The discovery of Hitler’s will, Hermi’s translation of it, and the interrogation he then became involved in regarding the exact circumstances of Hitler’s supposed "suicide," is one of the most astonishing stories of the 20th century. And yet it has never been told until now, when, in his eighties, Hermi Rothman opens his memories of one of the most significant moments in history.
When Hermi Rothman came to England from Germany during World War II, it was as a Jewish refugee. Enlisting in the British Forces made him one of many "King’s Own Most Loyal" enemy aliens, but it wasn’t until he joined the Counter Intelligence Corps that his incredible role in the denouement of the war began to unravel. Enlisted to interrogate the Nazis after the war, Hermi found himself at Auschwitz among the guards who had committed some of the worst war crimes ever seen. His testimony at the Auschwitz Trial in 1963 (he was one of the only soldiers to do so) was harrowing. But this dreadful information on the treatment of his fellow Jews would never perturb him as much as what he discovered sewn into the lining of one of the guards’ jackets. The discovery of Hitler’s will, Hermi’s translation of it, and the interrogation he then became involved in regarding the exact circumstances of Hitler’s supposed "suicide," is one of the most astonishing stories of the 20th century. And yet it has never been told until now, when, in his eighties, Hermi Rothman opens his memories of one of the most significant moments in history.
- GenresNonfiction
190 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 15, 2015
This is another book whose title is deceiving, as it deals much more with the author's incredible life and less with Hitler's will, that, at one time, upon its discovery, Rothman intersects with, as a new proof that history can be of a cruel irony. The marketing purpose was once again visible and reached, I reckon.
Nevertheless, this is a valuable testimony of the life of a Jew refugee, during the first part of World War II, and much more it is an extraordinary story of survival and retrieved hope, no matter how cliche it sounds. The book also provides some information that blend in an overview about the denazification of Germany and capturing some of the major Nazis still free after 1945. As one directly involved in this process, whose family and he himslef had suffered much from the Nazi regime, Rothman's as objective as it gets approach is something worth appreciated.
Another high point of this memoir is the author's heartwarming reunion with his family (mother, father and brother), which occured 8 years after the war. Beyond the miraculous survival of his family, this is relevant to the difficult process of family reunification after a war, especially after the Second World War.
I wavered between giving it three or four stars, but I chose the lower figure (3.5 would have been a more appropriate rating) as I couldn't omit some of the boring parts, like the ones about Rothman's life in England and Wales as a teenager, before volunteering to the British Army. However, it was an useful and instructive reading, that taught me to never give up, even in the most adverse circumstances.
Nevertheless, this is a valuable testimony of the life of a Jew refugee, during the first part of World War II, and much more it is an extraordinary story of survival and retrieved hope, no matter how cliche it sounds. The book also provides some information that blend in an overview about the denazification of Germany and capturing some of the major Nazis still free after 1945. As one directly involved in this process, whose family and he himslef had suffered much from the Nazi regime, Rothman's as objective as it gets approach is something worth appreciated.
Another high point of this memoir is the author's heartwarming reunion with his family (mother, father and brother), which occured 8 years after the war. Beyond the miraculous survival of his family, this is relevant to the difficult process of family reunification after a war, especially after the Second World War.
I wavered between giving it three or four stars, but I chose the lower figure (3.5 would have been a more appropriate rating) as I couldn't omit some of the boring parts, like the ones about Rothman's life in England and Wales as a teenager, before volunteering to the British Army. However, it was an useful and instructive reading, that taught me to never give up, even in the most adverse circumstances.
November 1, 2011
Fantastic read about a man that made a difference during and after the horror of the Holocaust. Highly recommend to history buffs that want to learn more about WWII. Review about the book blogged here --> http://bit.ly/s63JV3
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews