Inside Hitler's Headquarters, 1939-45

by Walter Warlimont, Richard Barry (Translator)

Walter Warlimont (10.3.1894–10.9.76) was a German officer known for his role as a deputy chief in the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), Germany's Supreme Armed Forces Command during WWII.
Foreword
The Background
The Build-up of the Headquarters
The Period of Overwhelming Military Success
The Turn of the Tide
Setting Sun
The Death-throes
Appendices
Notes
Index
Diagrams

Genres: World War II, Germany, History, Military Fiction, War

672 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Bernard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not finish as it was too detailed to the point that I lost the bigger picture

[Zlatko Dimitrioski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very underrated. As part of Hitler’s wider HQ, Warlimont provides a fascinating picture of the war from the German side, showing with just how much dilettantism Germany, or rather Hitler, waged the war. The turning point was not Stalingrad, but the declaration of war on the US and Hitler taking over as Commander-in-Chief of the Army (he later even took over command of an army group for several months). From then on, Germany was doomed.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This insider memoir of Hitler's Headquarters primarily represents scenes of continuous bureaucratic infighting under the auspices of 'the Dictator" who, in the opinion of the author, led the German military from one disaster to another because of his inexperience and megalomania. As an office memoir punctuated by meagre reference to events on the ground it would probably be a pretty boring read to anyone not already well versed in the history of the war.

Interestingly, the author never mentions the race policies of the Reich or of how implimentation of them tied up vital military arteries. The only relevant moral qualm evinced by General Warlimont is as regards the Geneva Convention which was ignored by Hitler in his illegal orders that all Soviet commissars, military and civilian, be executed upon capture.

[George Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chronological description of how Hitler ran Germany's World War II military operations. Written by a General Officer serving on the HQ staff during most of the war. Included are descriptions of various persona as they were viewed in this environment and detailed descriptions of the organizational complexities of the military units involved in prosecuting the war.
This is a book that can supplement and enhance prior knowledge and interest in the mechanics and management of warfare. It is also an outstanding historical example of how and why some complex organizations fail. Finally, this book includes pages of official transcripts that document what HItler actually said in the work settings.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside Hitler's Headquarters provides a personal history of World War II as seen by the deputy chief of operations at the center of Nazi power during 1939-41. The attention to first-person experiences, philosophy, and observations lends much personal value to the story and brings alive military perceptions and insights not normally contained in histories of the period. Recommended for any in-depth study of Nazi history

[Larry Loftis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another must-have for Hitler/Nazi research ... from a primary source.