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At Hitler's Side: The Memoirs of Hitler's Luftwaffe Adjutant (Revised)
At Hitler's Side: The Memoirs of Hitler's Luftwaffe Adjutant (Revised) | Nicholas Below, Nicolaus Von Below
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This is the personal account of a Luftwaffe aide always at Hitler's side from 1937 until the last days in Berlin, now published for the first time in English. Nicolaus von Below was a 29-year-old pilot when Goering selected him for the position of Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant. He was with Hitler at every stage as World War II was planned, started and unfolded, and his observations tell of Hitler's responses to momentous events as well as military decisions and policy-making at Fnhrer Headquarters. His account is a superb source describing life in Hitler's inner circle, relied on by Gitta Sereny in her biography of Albert Speer. He provides fascinating insight into how Hitler planned the invasions of Poland and Russia, what he thought of Britain and America, why he placed his faith in the V-1 and V-2 projects, how others dealt with him, and much more. Von Below was present at the assassination attempt in July 1944, and records the effect on Hitler and his followers. He portrays the hopeless mood caused by Germany's losses in 1944 and the collapse of German fronts in 1945, leading to Hitler's final days as the war in Europe came to an end. Von Below was the last of Hitler's close military entourage to emerge from the bunker alive.
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Review TWs: mentions of the Holocaust, Nazi Germany, war,

The memoirs of Nicolaus von Below, Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant who worked closely with him & even socialised on occasion. There for Hitler's reactions to the successes & failures of the Reich's military strategies, von Below was even present at the assassination attempt in July 1944. The memoirs are split into years from 1939-1945 when von Below leaves the bunker shortly before the end.

OutsmartYourShelf How do you rate something like this?

It was very well translated, well written & kept my attention. The author was obviously an intelligent man who was detail-orientated. It was fascinating (albeit controversial) to get a perspective from the opposite side & I hadn't realised there was so much dissent amongst Hitler's inner circle. It is an important first-hand source for insights into Hitler's inner circle & the workings of his mind.
13mo
OutsmartYourShelf One of the big issues here is the denial of knowing about Hitler's plans when it came to those deemed undesirable. I suppose it is theoretically possible to have been in the midst of things & yet have no idea of the Holocaust unfolding, however there's so much detail here about other events, yet the reader is supposed to believe that the author naively thought that Jews were being sent to work camps rather than being systematically murdered. 13mo
OutsmartYourShelf I remain unconvinced. 3.5🌟

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Pen & Sword History/Greenhill Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5830057086
Read 28th-30th Sept 2023

#SummerEndReadathon @TheSpineView
#RushAThon @andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
13mo
See All 6 Comments
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 Like you this argument doesn‘t convince me. 13mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 13mo
TheSpineView Awesome! 13mo
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