i knew Hitler

[Terry OToole]

just finished "I knew Hitler" by Kurt G W Ludecke ,printed in 1938 after he had fled to America its the memoirs of a original member of the fledgling Nazi party , though he builds up his role as "Nazi representative to Washington (he wasn t really ! its a candid account of a man who was more on the socialist side of the party who picked the wrong horse in allying himself with Rosenberg, Strasser and Roehm ,.Some fascinating insights into Hitlers early mind set as he was a close friend , also his meetings with Henry Fords representative , and the Klan in America ,a totally unrepentant Nazi and anti -semite there is no pampering to later pc in this book , I found it absorbing and fascinating and thouroughly recommend it to anyone interested in the early years and figures of the Nazi party -- great read

[pasoleati]

Which edition did you read? The new Pen & Sword edition?

[Terry OToole]

Which edition did you read? The new Pen & Sword edition?

no its the original 1938 edition

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

interesting Terry, i advise you to read the book of Lothar Machtan ("The Hidden Hitler") but also the one from Ernst Hanfstaengl "Hitler : The Missing Years").
You will understand better the heavy fight between Hanfstaengl and Ludecke...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hidden-Hit...+hidden+hitler

http://www.amazon.com/Hitler-Memoir-...+missing+years

The Lothar Machtan book (dealing with the plausible homosexuality of Hitler) is very interesting to understand the "missing years" of Hitler (and not only about the homosexuality in the NSDAP).

I rode the two books, but not the Ludecke book.

Another interesting book about Hitler during WWI is the Hans Mend book ("Adolf Hitler Im Felde", not easy to find cheap...), only available in german.
I missed this one recently on an auction...

http://www.booklooker.de/B%C3%BCcher.../A01pkVYu01ZZi

But maybe you did read some already ?

See You

Vince

[Terry OToole]

Hi,

interesting Terry, i advise you to read the book of Lothar Machtan ("The Hidden Hitler") but also the one from Ernst Hanfstaengl "Hitler : The Missing Years").
You will understand better the heavy fight between Hanfstaengl and Ludecke...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hidden-Hit...+hidden+hitler

http://www.amazon.com/Hitler-Memoir-...+missing+years

The Lothar Machtan book (dealing with the plausible homosexuality of Hitler) is very interesting to understand the "missing years" of Hitler (and not only about the homosexuality in the NSDAP).

I rode the two books, but not the Ludecke book.

Another interesting book about Hitler during WWI is the Hans Mend book ("Adolf Hitler Im Felde", not easy to find cheap...), only available in german.
I missed this one recently on an auction...

http://www.booklooker.de/B%C3%BCcher.../A01pkVYu01ZZi

But maybe you did read some already ?

See You

Vince

thanks for that Vince , I ll certainly get the hanfstaengel book ,but I don t think I ll bother with the "hidden Hitler " one as it seems too speculative for my taste , the other --sadly I can t read German ! cheers Terry

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hello Terry,

you're welcome.

The main interest of the "Hidden Hitler" is to see the various contacts and friendship he made during his life, and you can read it without the "homosexuality thesis" in mind. The war between Ludecke and Hanfstaengl is nicely explained, as the various fights in the NSDAP (not including the Röhm affair of course). It is giving a lot of very interesting infos on the life (and private life) of the big names of the 3rd Reich. You will learn a lot about Hitler during WWI, and the most interesting years in my opinion - 1918-1925 (the Freikorps).

In you are interested in the Freikorps saga (and the awakening of the nazism), i don't know if English books exist on them, with the exception of the Ernst Von Salomon book "The Outlaws".
http://www.amazon.com/The-Outlaws-Er...st+von+salomon

We are very fortunate to have a masterpiece in french, written by Dominique Venner and called "Baltikum".
This book is a MUST HAVE, you learn everything about all the Freikorps fights in Germany and outside, and the start of the NSDAP.
http://www.amazon.fr/Baltikum-Reich-...words=Baltikum

This french book is BETTER than the Salomon book, because it explain really everything, with the point of view of all the people involved.
Amazing cover for sure !

See You

Vince

[Terry OToole]

Vince , just finished "Hitlers piano player" , great read I really enjoyed it .Subsequently I have ordered "The hidden Hitler"