Joachim C. Fest (1926–2006)

I read this book in Dutch which is not advisable, because of the unwieldy long sentences copied from German. Anyway the biography is vintage Fest, which means it is a psychological portrait that is thoroughly evidence-based, involving a wide variety of sources (written, but also personal interviews, Speer’s notes etc). It is probably the best of all biographies I have read of Speer (I read Gitta Sereny’s and one by Speer himself). And yet, it is a typical German product. Fest does not show more know how to deal with contradictory features in a personality. Whereas I see contradictory behaviour or opinions as proof we are dealing with a human being like you and me, Fest wishes to make a legalistic point about compromised morality, etc.

I think the best observations on Speer as a type have been made by Haffner, in 1944, when he wrote that Speer was the archetypical ‘technical manager’, devoid of empathy, goal-oriented, seemingly neutral and morally void or unaware. Haffner also ominously observes that the Hitlers, Himmlers and Mengele’s of this world can be found anywhere, but they will end up at the scrap heap of history. Speer, however, represents a type that will prevail and is most dangerous. I agree. It is the CEOs of our world that represent the real scum with Trump as the archetypical example. One final remark: some of the pictures included in the book, depicting Hitler and Speer on the Obersalzberg are absolutely unique and flabbergasting (one shows Hitler and Speer sitting at the extreme ends of a bench, obviously at loggerheads with each other). show less

An immensely readable short book about the fall of Hitler and the Third Reich. Fest's writing style is perfect for the non-specialist and his analysis of Hitler as a wholly new phenomenon in world history in terms of sheer mania for destruction without purpose is clear and convincing.

A great and insightful biography. We take history for granted, after all it did happen, but this story as fiction would be unbelievable. I had a peculiar surreal dream-like feeling during the part of the biography covering the late 20s - you know, it's time to wake up now! I haven't read a lot of Hitler biographies, but this one certainly seems to give a coherent and consistent psychological picture. It makes you wish you could have been present (and had a revolver), and it makes me think show more again about the US drone strikes. I was occasionally irritated by comments about Hitler's support in England or about how Hitler and the party weren't all that antisemitic in the early 30s (even though the author states that the SA would pass around collection cans labeled "For the destruction of the Jews"), but looking at the whole work, perhaps I am just overly sensitive.
The Kindle version has many typographical mistakes that look like OCR-type errors. Most disturbing, Alfred Jodl is always called Jodi. show less

Heard this was one of the definitive general biographies. Reader gets a sense of the active politician dodging and weaving and often nearly losing in the lead up to the Beer Hall Putsch. History is contingent. What if. Here is a maker of history one wishes had not "succeeded" -- history is far from trends and forces, F. Braudel, the Annales school, and tectonic scale history notwithstanding.