The Meaning of Hitler

Rating:
Summary: razor sharp analysis
Review: A book written during the Cold War (1977) by a German journalist who emigrated to the UK in 1938 and worked there for most of his life. In a thin book Sebastian Haffner is capable of gving a razor sharp analysis of Hitler's successes and shortcomings. In 7 chapters he discusses his life, achievements, successes, mistakes, failures, crimes and finally treason.

De book has as hypothesis that Hitler's actions could only lead to the ultimate defeat, but also that he tried to aggravate this defeat to make it as heavy as possible for the German people who had deserted him. Hitler had a two-pronged approach: on the one hand he wanted to fight a war for world rule, one the other hand he wanted to destroy as many Jews (and gipsies and homosexuals and mentally ill people) as possible. This last aim was in conflict with the first one because the people and infrastructure necessary for this left his generals with unsolvable problems. Also, Haffner shows that there were 2 opportunities (1938 and 1940) when Hitler could have come out with an enormous gain in territory if he could have been content with what he had achieved.

The only minor drawback of the book is in my opinion that, even though Hitler was the one who took all the decisions, he needed people to execute these decisions. Haffner brushes aside this side of things a little too easy, leaving Hitler as the sole criminal. Despite this drawback, this is till a very intriguing book.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book on Hitler
Review: I read this book several years ago in Dr. Blakemore's History of Germany Class at Mary Washington College. I still often refer to the book. Short and to the point the book shows beyond a doubt how Hitler destroyed Germany. Not only is this a good look at Hitler and the Nazis but the book destroys the myth that Hitler did some good for Germany. This book shows the true Hitler and the terrible things he did. Again, there are many good books on Hitler: Toland's work, Study in Tyranny by Bullock, Explaining Hitler, etc. but for a quick read, and a informative one, read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Hitler explained.
Review: Readers pursuing the excellent question: how to explain Hitler - particularly his successes - will find a few short, simple and novel but persuasive ideas here. Interesting are the obvious ideas I don't remember seeing in print before. For instance, Hitler's lebensraum idea was simply wrong. Nations don't go to war to move thier populations. What German ever wanted to go live in Russia ..

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, highly original, very readable, very persuasive
Review: Such a short book and yet so much insight! Sebastian Haffner has once again tackled a much trodden subject with his deep insight and clear and persuasive understanding. The result is a very original portrayal Hitler and the Germany in which he lived - how he came to power, how he used and misused the power and how he betrayed mankind and his country. The book is written in a style easy to follow and understand, giving the reader a powerful insight into events and personalities of the time. A must for anyone studying recent history.

Rating:
Summary: solid objective review from a great German Historian
Review: this is clearly the best book I 've read on Hitler. Very unbiased and focused, the author reviews the successes and opportunities as well as the mistakes, errors and crimes of this greatest politician maybe of all times.
Haffner (the author) is able to take a look at ideas, and ideologies from a very neutral viewpoint and talk about them intelligently without emotional bias ("this is bad because Hitler believed in it"). If you want to understand the strange phenomenum -Hitler, this book is a must.