Excellent brutally truthful biography: Who he was, what he did, why he did it. No excuses, he was guilty and he knew it, he admitted what he did. This is probably why he was sentenced to 20 years in Spandau prison instead of hanged like most of his co-defendants. Also a good description of what life in Germany was like under the Third Reich. Excellent photos, especially the ones of Hitler falling asleep in the car and while entertaining in his living room. One of his men said Hitler would have run the Reich from the chintz couch in his living room if he could.
Michael B
Mar 19, 2015
Teppich·fresser
The editorial review for this book says that Hitler was not a carpet-gnawing madman. This refers to the belief that Hitler used to sit in a corner and chew on the edge of a carpet square when he did not get his own way. But, in colloquial German, a Teppich·fresser (carpet-eater) is a person who undermines others on the quiet, the same as the insect which eats away carpets from the underside without being seen.
Bruno1953
Jun 12, 2010
Inside view of Hitler's Germany!
Many will either admire or hate Mr. Albert Speer. One of the very few of the inner circle of Hitler's regime that survived the war. Yet paid twenty years for it in Spandau. Intelligent, articulate and very informative, Speer describes in all details what it was like to serve under Hitler's command. Here we meet Goebbels, Goering, Himmler and others who helped Hitler to formulate his destructive policies. Many despise Speer, and think he "got away" from it. Maybe there is some truth in that charge. However one also sees the remorse he has suffered later on when all was over. Thanks to him we have an idea how Hitler made his decisions, and how there were carried out. We also meet Hitler's dream of transforming Berlin into a huge city full of ridiculously enormous buildings to make it a "new Rome". Hate him, or admire him, Mr. Speer's book is very helpful. Before reading something like "Hitler's Willing Executioners", read this first.
av0ca
Jun 27, 2009
Excellent Insight
If you are interested in the history of WW2, this book will certainly be of great value to you. We all know the time line with respect to events but the added value that this book gives is the emotional reactions and interpersonal relationships between the major players, both German and Allies. Given this knowledge, I keep asking myself "How could things have happened as they did?" It is an excellent read and reference.
BlackBear
Jul 31, 2008
Fascinating View of History
While Speer's account of his relationship to Hitler must be looked at with some critical scrutiny, this book is nonetheless unequalled in its importance for anyone who wants to know how and why the Third Reich came about. Speer's style is engaging and the book, while long, reads very quickly. Students of military history should be aware that Speer, as the architect and arms minister of the Reich has very little to say regarding military theory or strategy--this is more a book about Hitler's personality as told by one who knew him as well as anyone, and about the behind-the-scenes bureaucracies of the Reich.
