Play Book Tag discussion

This is the true story of Félix Kersten, a therapeutic masseur who became, during WWII, Heinrich Himmler’s personal doctor, friend and confidante. He never adhered to Nazi ideology himself, so through his massages getting rid of Himmler’s painful cramps, he wormed his way in the high-ranking officer’s confidence and got him to do things for him, such as free prisoners, avoid entire deportations, negotiate with foreign governments. Journalist Kessel wrote this book with the help of interviews with the doctor as well as the journals he kept during the war.

I had no idea this man had existed and he was absolutely fascinating to read and learn about. After some time, however, I started to wonder if we were getting the whole truth. Not that I don’t think everything he says he did is true, I absolutely believe that, but I also think there must have been failures sometimes, doubts, questions, close calls, something that they didn’t write about. I mean, we can all agree that the Nazis weren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, but Himmler can’t possibly have been that dumb...