Adolf Hitler

There have probably been more biographies written about Hitler than just about any other historic figure. I just wanted to read one, and I'm glad I chose this one. Exhaustively researched, thoroughly detailed, and well-written, this book reads like a fascinating novel. As a side note, one of the amusing things I found out was that when some of my less-intelligent acquaintances saw that I was reading about Der Fuhrer, they were unable to comprehend the difference between finding him historically interesting and finding his ideology compelling. Be prepared to explain that just because you're reading about him doesn't mean you admire what he did. No kidding, there are people who have difficulty grasping that.

Like many of you, I have a special interest in reading not only history, but especially biographies of Key personalities who played a transformative role. Though only a casual reader and not a serious student of history as many reviewers here, I wanted to understand how one man could seize the imagination of a nation and then transform it from a decimated state after WW I to an almost unstoppable juggernaut militarily and economically, and in a relatively short time. While the name Hitler evokes immediate feelings of hate and disgust like perhaps no other personage in modern history, I was piqued by revelations in other accounts, like a biography of FDR, where, when he took office, many prominent and respected circles in the U.S. believed that FDR might do well to adopt dictatorial powers with Hitler as a model, hoping for similar transformations in the economy and unemployment that occurred in the mid 1930's in Germany. I initially began reading The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, but somehow didn't find it compelling so after reading reviews, decided to sample John Toland's work. Writing style and appeal is, of course, subjective, but I found this book to be completely compelling and found it difficult to put down. Describing itself as , "The Definitive Biography", is not hubris or overstatement. Though vilified, and rightfully so, Hitler's evolution is detailed fairly and authoritatively. You see him as an idealistic man who, only wanted to become an artist and who lived a bohemian lifestyle as a young man. His work was evidently good enough to find limited sales success, though he resorted to offering his paintings from door to door and at taverns. He was rejected from the Art Academy 3 separate times and told he had no talent. He lived in boarding houses often just subsisting. Curiously, he seemed to be respectful and moderate in his habits, later becoming a vegetarian. He eschewed amoral behavior with the opposite sex and if anything was awkward in attempts to broach even introductions to a few that caught his eye. Puzzlingly, you see his fervent thanks and appreciation to the Jewish doctor who treated his mother as she suffered from cancer, and early close friendships with Jewish heritage. Toland's writing style is fluid, easily absorbed, and fair. You see a young, idealistic boy trying to find himself and his place in the world, who is decorated as a war hero for fearless bravery and an uncanny knack for survival in brutal battles in WW I, who is blinded by poison gas and the emotional shock at hearing of Germany's surrender. A turning point seems to be when he is discovers his innate ability as a public speaker. Repeatedly, he gives the impression of being reserved, awkward and ordinary, until he starts to speak and orate. Audiences large and small seemed to be transfixed and the word "magic" was used more than once, as he transformed even hostile audiences into cheering followers after a single speech or even opening of a speech. I was also struck by the parallels of similar events recently as Putin seems to have taken a page out of Hitler's handbook during his maneuvers in the Ukraine, as Hitler did with first Austria, then Czechoslovakia, then Poland.As a casual reader with huge gaps in my understanding of especially that era, I found this book a tremendous resource, authoritative but unpretentious, personal, fair and unbiased in the portrayal of Hitler's life, development and eventual megalomania and barbarism that changed the course of history as perhaps no other individual in modern times. Highly recommended. So impressed that I just downloaded John Toland's other stellar work, Rising Sun, which won a Pulitzer Prize.

I've read a few books on the history of the Third Reich, but this was the first actual biography of Hitler I've tackled. It's a very readable account (perhaps because Toland is a journalist by trade). I was struck by how objective the account was - Toland lets the facts and accounts speak for themselves. This is a strength of the book. He seems to have resisted the temptation to write of Hitler in terms of turning him into some sort of comic book villain, or monster. I believe he's (Toland) been accused of being an apologist for Hitler by those who can't handle the idea of objective history telling. Like it or not, Hitler was a real person - and I think we sometimes comfort ourselves with dehumanizing him - so we can avoid rooting out the dark places in our own hearts - but I digress. Of course Hitler should be judged harshly, and has been - but that wasn't the purpose of this biography. Toland is no apologist and speaks several times of the holocaust as an undeniable, purposeful, event - and as Hitler began to realize the war couldn't be won, the extermination of Jews became even more important to him and the process was expedited - by Hitler's orders. The book was written in the 1970s so I wonder what new information has come to light since that could round out the subject. This book is a good starter biography and has me wanting to read the more recent ones.

Como minha avaliação anterior não foi publicada sem nenhuma explicação, retomo aqui minha modesta opinião sobre a obra. Em suas mais de mil páginas, muito bem escritas de forma clara e de fácil compreensão, pude ter um vislumbre de uma mente complexa e paradoxal. Não se desconhece que Hitler tomou seu lugar na história merecidamente como um dos maiores monstros e genocidas, mas avaliá-lo somente por esse prisma seria apequenar um personagem tão fascinante, seja para o bem ou para o mal. Hitler, na juventude, foi um adolescente sonhador, como muitos em sua idade, mas tinha uma megalomania incurável. Primeiro quis ser artista, mas não qualquer pintor, um grande mestre, e ao tentar a sorte em Viena foi rejeitado duas vezes até que se alistou como voluntário no exército alemão como cabo na função de mensageiro, uma das missões mais perigosas da grande guerra, oportunidade em que obteve uma cruz de ferro por bravura e cegueira devido aos gases venenosos. Diante da derrota da Alemanha e o tratado de Versalhes, o megalomaníaco Hitler se viu numa missão gloriosa e quixotesca: a redenção do seu país adotivo, já que era austríaco. Gostemos ou não Hitler pegou seu destino em suas próprias mãos e em vinte anos voltou como líder máximo do exército mais poderoso do mundo para um ajuste de contas com a humanidade. Abriu seu caminho com coragem, resiliência e punhos de ferro. Chegou ao poder como Chanceler por meios legítimos e em três anos uniu a Alemanha: “um povo, uma nação, um Führer”, trazendo emprego, segurança e prosperidade aos trabalhadores alemães, apesar da destruição da democracia e da perseguição aos judeus a nível de política de estado. Como estadista anexou a Áustria, Sudetos e Renania sem dar um tiro! A anexação da Prússia Oriental na Polônia era um objetivo legítimo que foi objeto de várias negociações diplomáticas todas recusadas pelo governo polonês. Mas seu grande erro foi invadir a Polônia e a União Soviética abrindo a guerra em dois fronts e o resto é história... Excelente livro, recomendo.

Very good book. Once you start reading, you become so enthusiastic to know what happened next. so you continue to read until last. One must read this book.

Buch als gebraucht sehr gut erhalten.

Great, comprehensive biography of Hitler, albeit a little outdated on information. Follow this with Volker Ullrich's 2-volume biography and then you would have a clear analytical contrasting portrait of the tyrant.

A good narration of the Hitler story, very much a description of his life rather than an analysis of the man.