Gestapo Chief : The 1948 Interrogation of Heinrich Muller, Volume 3

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Gullability
Review: Could it be true that the former head of the dreaded German Gestapo worked for the Americans after the war? Yes. The depth and breadth of the information in this impressively researched series of books, as well as the new Mueller Diaries book, is stunning. Rarely have so many historical details, inside gossip and stunning revelations been published. Each volume of this series builds on the details of its predecessor, which makes reading all four books in the series of paramount importance. While most writers are happy to put forth one or two new piece of information to support their work, each of the Mueller books are packed with more insiders-only intimate details of the inner workings of the Third Reich and CIA than you can imagine. The fact that these books have been in circulation for several years without a peep from the CIA to refute all or any part of them, makes a good argument that the books are true. For those who want history to come alive, these books are a refreshing slap in the face. You must read these books.

Rating:
Summary: The series of books about the intelligence world written
Review: Could it be true that the former head of the dreaded German Gestapo worked for the Americans after the war? Yes. The depth and breadth of the information in this impressively researched series of books, as well as the new Mueller Diaries book, is stunning. Rarely have so many historical details, inside gossip and stunning revelations been published. Each volume of this series builds on the details of its predecessor, which makes reading all four books in the series of paramount importance. While most writers are happy to put forth one or two new piece of information to support their work, each of the Mueller books are packed with more insiders-only intimate details of the inner workings of the Third Reich and CIA than you can imagine. The fact that these books have been in circulation for several years without a peep from the CIA to refute all or any part of them, makes a good argument that the books are true. For those who want history to come alive, these books are a refreshing slap in the face. You must read these books.

Rating:
Summary: Still Searching Through the Dust of the 20th Century
Review: This book is one of a series of four volumes published to date about the former head of internal security for the Third Reich: Heinrich Müller. The writer is a nonacademic historian by reputation, possibly a journalist by profession. Mr. Douglas relies on material not generally available, some available through the Freedom of Information Act or FOIA, one of the legacies of the Watergate Scandal of the 1970s. Much of the material are translations--and the reader must rely on them. In addition, we find a man here, born in 1900 (THAT appears noncontroversial). He began his career as a policeman in Bavaria, yet rose to the highest position of authority in the Gestapo (Geheimstaatspolizei) or Internal Reich Security in the Third Reich.

Those appear to be undisputed facts. However, what happened to Heinrich Müller after the War is a matter of conjecture. Following the narrative established by Douglas, General Müller's post-war career is nothing short of remarkable, and worthy of an extremely intelligent, worldly, and clever man. Some have attempted to discredit the works as simply inconsistent for a man who previously appeared unremarkable. I would suggest to the reader, however, that a 45 year old man, sprung at the end of a lifetime of wars, uncertainty, and rise to great power, might just be on the threshold of capitalizing on a lifetime of observation and learning from the great masters of deception, megalomania, and conversion of disgrace to respectability (on their terms), public admiration, and generation of fear. These are, I suggest, the qualities upon which General Müller may have been prepared to initiate a postwar career, one born of the boredom of 3 years lived in obscurity, and the OSS-CIAs need for a crash-course in anti-communist networking, knowledge of operatives, and ability to guide those privy to the coming new world order of the last half of the 20th century. This, according to the material presented, and the brief commentaries from Mr. Douglas, is exactly the bold move that General Müller sought to commence.

While I will not claim to be an historical expert, I do find the presentation credible from a life-history perspective, and one of the development of personal identity across the life span. Heinrich Müller, above any others alive toward the end of World War II, was in a position to prepare himself for a productive post-war life. He aspired to greater power, self-presentation of worldly knowledge and character, and was in a position to work for the most congenial authority that would set him up in a protected and powerful place of influence.

That place may just have been the United States. The interviews ring authentically of a man of his origins and stealthy rise under Himmler and Heidrich. He only joined the Party quite late in his career with the SS. This book, and others in the series, should serve as an object lesson for anyone who believes that we do NOT really know what happened at the end of the War, following Eisenhower's halt at the Elbe (see Udo Pfleghar's fascinating book on that subject, "Brückenkopf Zerbst", Anhaltische Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Dessau, 1998).

Under the methods of administration of the Freedom of Information Act (the exceptions should be read by every American!) and the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act, we may never know in great detail the activities of Müller, who was dropped from the search for Nazi War Criminals sought internationally in 1960. Yes, 1960. Were General Müller still alive, he would be 103. Those who knew him will be protected because of that contact in perpetuity as will their confidants, informants, and families. Having myself seen official copies of many of the documents presented here, we can only hope that for the sake of history and freedom, that the trail is followed by able truth-seekers. That these books of Mr. Douglas seem unchallenged by credible sources, I suggest they should be reprinted, and thereby become more widely available as in the manner of Professor Richard J. Evans' critique of David Irving's "outside of academia" works in the book "Lying About Hitler" (Basic Books paperback, 2001). Herr Müller is as interesting a figure to come out of the Third Reich as any whose lives have been examined with penetrating questions about the limits of human motivation.

Rating:
Summary: Still Searching Through the Dust of the 20th Century
Review: This book is one of a series of four volumes published to date about the former head of internal security for the Third Reich: Heinrich Müller. The writer is a nonacademic historian by reputation, possibly a journalist by profession. Mr. Douglas relies on material not generally available, some available through the Freedom of Information Act or FOIA, one of the legacies of the Watergate Scandal of the 1970s. Much of the material are translations--and the reader must rely on them. In addition, we find a man here, born in 1900 (THAT appears noncontroversial). He began his career as a policeman in Bavaria, yet rose to the highest position of authority in the Gestapo (Geheimstaatspolizei) or Internal Reich Security in the Third Reich.

Those appear to be undisputed facts. However, what happened to Heinrich Müller after the War is a matter of conjecture. Following the narrative established by Douglas, General Müller's post-war career is nothing short of remarkable, and worthy of an extremely intelligent, worldly, and clever man. Some have attempted to discredit the works as simply inconsistent for a man who previously appeared unremarkable. I would suggest to the reader, however, that a 45 year old man, sprung at the end of a lifetime of wars, uncertainty, and rise to great power, might just be on the threshold of capitalizing on a lifetime of observation and learning from the great masters of deception, megalomania, and conversion of disgrace to respectability (on their terms), public admiration, and generation of fear. These are, I suggest, the qualities upon which General Müller may have been prepared to initiate a postwar career, one born of the boredom of 3 years lived in obscurity, and the OSS-CIAs need for a crash-course in anti-communist networking, knowledge of operatives, and ability to guide those privy to the coming new world order of the last half of the 20th century. This, according to the material presented, and the brief commentaries from Mr. Douglas, is exactly the bold move that General Müller sought to commence.

While I will not claim to be an historical expert, I do find the presentation credible from a life-history perspective, and one of the development of personal identity across the life span. Heinrich Müller, above any others alive toward the end of World War II, was in a position to prepare himself for a productive post-war life. He aspired to greater power, self-presentation of worldly knowledge and character, and was in a position to work for the most congenial authority that would set him up in a protected and powerful place of influence.

That place may just have been the United States. The interviews ring authentically of a man of his origins and stealthy rise under Himmler and Heidrich. He only joined the Party quite late in his career with the SS. This book, and others in the series, should serve as an object lesson for anyone who believes that we do NOT really know what happened at the end of the War, following Eisenhower's halt at the Elbe (see Udo Pfleghar's fascinating book on that subject, "Brückenkopf Zerbst", Anhaltische Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Dessau, 1998).

Under the methods of administration of the Freedom of Information Act (the exceptions should be read by every American!) and the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act, we may never know in great detail the activities of Müller, who was dropped from the search for Nazi War Criminals sought internationally in 1960. Yes, 1960. Were General Müller still alive, he would be 103. Those who knew him will be protected because of that contact in perpetuity as will their confidants, informants, and families. Having myself seen official copies of many of the documents presented here, we can only hope that for the sake of history and freedom, that the trail is followed by able truth-seekers. That these books of Mr. Douglas seem unchallenged by credible sources, I suggest they should be reprinted, and thereby become more widely available as in the manner of Professor Richard J. Evans' critique of David Irving's "outside of academia" works in the book "Lying About Hitler" (Basic Books paperback, 2001). Herr Müller is as interesting a figure to come out of the Third Reich as any whose lives have been examined with penetrating questions about the limits of human motivation.

Rating:
Summary: A must read to understand both sides
Review: This is an eye opener!

You thought you knew the real history of the Gestapo from high school and college.

Douglas has done a great job forwarding to readers of this text actual transcripts from Muellers interviews that are quite eye opening.

Did Hitler die in his bunker?

What about the dentist and the teeth?

How many people were killed in the Nazi death camps?

Why were htey killed?

Read this book and expand your mind.

Rating:
Summary: Worth reading for the annotations alone!
Review: While the authenticity of Mr. Douglas' material pertaining to Muller may still be out to question, all three volumes in this series are none the less thoroughly enjoyable reading.

The profuse annotations (about 50% of the material presented) provide a wealth of information for any enthusiast short of the true scholar.

For his own part, Mr. Douglas writes in a style that is smooth, lucid, and comprehensible, affording the reader that sort of relaxed flow that is rarely found in non-narratives.

Irrespective of whether the Muller claims are specious or truly authentic, I found these works to be fascinating and would highly recommend them to all.