Rating: 
Summary: John Toland : Hitler
Review: The key to approaching this book is given by the author in his forward : " My book has no thesis, and any conclusions to be found in it were reached only during the writing ". Indeed, this book is certainly no study on Hitler, Nazism, German or European history, in the sense of a penetrating historical analysis or acute psychological understanding of the individuals or the peoples involved. It is nonetheless an extremely informative work on Hitler's life, abounding in details and information gathered by a multitude of sources most of which were close to Hitler and those surrounding him, and presented in a form that is highly readable. From his early childhood years to the last bunker days his life is being narrated by numerous first hand witnesses, adding to the great amount of information provided by the author's research. Even some Hitler boyhood poetry finds it's way through these pages. The book relies heavily on interviews and memoirs of people who were close to Hitler and his inner circle. On the one hand this approach is what gives the reader a sense of familiarity with the details of Hitler's life and habits that no other book can even come close to present. On the other, this fact is something that every cautious reader continuously has to bear in mind - that almost every one of these sources was a strong Hitler devotee, or strong admirer at best and thus these records are not to be considered as models of objectivity and thoroughnes. Toland has chosen not to be critical on the presentation of most of his first hand material, and numerous passages in the book are presented as matter of fact knowledge while in essence they only come from someone's personal testimony. Not all such testimonies are biased on misleading of course - the majority could very well be quite accurate - but with the deep emotions and reservations involved in reminiscencing of those events, this is something to always have in mind and Toland has not made that clear to his readers to the extend that he probably should. Why has the author chosen not to adopt a more critical attitude towards his material ? He states in his forward that " ... I have done my utmost to subdue my own feelings and to write of him as if he had lived a hundred years ago ", and to this he has indeed succeeded completely. There is not the slightest trace of emotion from the part of the author ( in contrast to every other book dealing with the topic ) but at the cost of an almost absolute lack of involvement from his part as well - it is as if his aim was achieved by the presentation of material and not by any accompanying analysis. Many people consider this as their prefered method of historical writing ( presenting facts and leaving the conclusions to the reader ) but many more must have felt disapointment in not geting some deeper input from an expert so deeply involved in the history of that period. Toland has been attacked as being a sympathizer of Hitler's ( from Lukacs in his book on Hitler's biographies ) but this is not suported by his efforts in this book - he clearly states in whose decisions the Final solution had it's origins and the pathological hatred of Hitler for Jews and "lower" races. It seems that some people choose to consider an attempt at objectivity as a covert expression of sympathy towards Hitler, which is of course an unacceptable way of judging historical writings. Many parts of Hitler's life are covered as well - or even better - as one can find in any other Hitler book. The Vienna years, Hitler's WWI front line experience, the Rohm affair, the Czech crisis, the road to war and the July plot are very well presented, while the rise to power and the war years mainly focus on Hitler's actions and doings and not on any external accompanying elements or factors that decisively influenced the course of events ( there is a limit obviously to what one can put in a single book, even if it runs to a thousand pages ). The one thing that is dearly missing is a discussion on Hitler's decisions and actions that led to the recovering of German economy and social conditions after his assumption of power - there is very litle in this book on the one true outstanding achievement of the Hitler regime, as well as in matters that dealt with reforms aiming towards education, the Arts, social life and the establishment of the police state in Germany. There is no definitive book covering Hitler, a person of such high complexity who was also the prime force behind actions whose mere mention produces the highest degree of emotions and pations. However this book definitely has a place within the group of select works that collectively come closer in giving an accurate understanding of the man and his actions.
Rating: 
Summary: Putting a spin on it.
Review: Massive, masterful, deeply researched, thoroughly documented - and so the accolades flow. I have recently revisted this one after more than 20 years - never quite got it out of my system. Back then it was "the first book that anyone who wants to learn....must read." So I did...it took some time and I was impressed with the extensive notes and references. Of course I had no time to check them out....some other day. That bit at the end of section 3 of "An Unguarded Moment" - where Gerhart Hauptmann supposedly assured Mr. Nicolson "that Germany would 'liberate itself' as Italy had done." Mr. Toland's otherwise extensive notes did not inform me of the source of this assurance. Then I remembered an earlier (1967) best-seller, Mr. Nicolson's "Diaries & Letters". His entry for February 9, 1934 reveals that the German dramatist, novelist and poet answered 'aber nach siebzig jahre bestrebungen' and went on to say "that Germany will probably liberalise itself even as Italian fascimo has liberalised itself." They were all down at Max Beerbohm's place in Portofino at the time, but there is no mention of Mr. Toland being there. Credibility is such an easy thing to lose, and I can't help wondering why it was necessary to make that alteration, putting quite a different spin on it.
Rating: 
Summary: A serious historical work-
Review: Toland's book is a well documented serious historical book. Full of fsacinating details which help explain the context of the anti-communist movements of Europe. This is not the typical Hollywood version of WWI and Hitler. The book is remarkably objective and sure to be despised by those who gloss over the much more monumental crimes of communism against Christian Russia and ukraine and the forced famine which killed 25% of the ukranian population. William Conquests Harvest of Despair is another good book for those that wish to move beyond the political correctness and buffonic thinking of most american historians.
Rating:
Summary: The standard on which everything else pales in comparison
Review: At last, the most factual, unbiased, historical work ever written about one of history's most misunderstood men. Few people know about Hitler's bravery and love for his country. Although his rise to power was by questionable means, he turned a bankrupt, desolate nation into one of the greatest countries in the world. If Hitler didn't get greedy and start World War II, he would have gone down in history as one of the greatest leaders ever. From Hitler's birth to the final bunker, Toland shines in his insatiable quest for facts and information and has produced one of the finest historical accounts ever written.
Rating:
Summary: The book against which all Hitler bios will be measured
Review: This is the definitive biography of the maniacal dictator, the best since Robert Payne's "The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler." All other books on Hitler pale in comparison to this one. John Toland is probably the foremost historical author in the US, and his typical attention to detail is evident in this book, as in all his others. No other book on Hitler since has even come close to this one.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Account of One of History's Most Important Men
Review: This is a very fascinating account of the life of one of history's most important, if notorious, figures, Adolf Hitler. Although a lengthy book(over 1,000 pages) it reads like a suspense novel and is rarely if ever dull and plodding. I have always had a "morbid" fascination with Hitler and I thought I knew just about everything about him. But this book revealed to me much that I never knew before. There are many interesting insights into the people around Hitler as well. Also, we learn many lessons about the coddling of dictators by the world's democracies which can be applied to current events in such places as Kosovo. I recommend this book without hesitation.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly informative biography
Review: This has to be the longest book I've ever read, but it was well worth it. I now know that I have a better knowledge about Hitler than I did previous to reading this biography. Reading it took quite some time, but it's packed with information about Hitler that I didn't know about beforehand. One of the best books I've ever read. John Toland did an excellent job.
Rating: 
Summary: A Rather Admiring Account
Review: Having read much about Hitler and Nazi Germany, I must admit this is one of the more flattering biographies of the man ever written. While, the sheer volume of the work, as well as it's rare photographs are impressive, one cannot help but walk away from this tome with the impression that Toland genuinely admired Hitler. For some insightful criticism of Toland's approach, including debunking of some of his "facts", read Lukac's "The Hitler of History"
Rating:
Summary: Superbly interesting
Review: Toland has created a highly readable account of the man who is quite probably the most evil man of the century - and perhaps the millenium. Deeply revealing and meticulously researched, the picture painted here for us of Hitler is earth shaking in its breadth. Anyone who hopes to truly understand the man and the tragedy of Nazi Germany should read this book, and read it well.
Rating:
Summary: Hitler Before WWII killed him
Review: "Adolf Hitler is one of the 20th Century's major movers and shakers." His whole drum-beating call to dictatorship was a popular thing, except to the Jews. He managed a fanatical rise to power via skilled lies and a nihilist soldier's sense of power, raw, ruthless. Learn how he loved to paint, yet censored painters he didn't like. Learn how the struggling masses prop up serious murderers now and then.
|
