They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45

From the original forward: “As an American, I was repelled by the rise of National Socialism in Germany. As an American of Jewish descent, I was ashamed. As a Jew, I was stricken. As a newspaperman, I was fascinated.” It was the fascination that led him to spend time in Germany after the war, getting to know the ordinary German men who had been Nazis.

When our book group read Mein Kampf, I had hoped to gain a better understanding of how Hitler rose to power and caused so much devastation. Our general conclusion was that few Germans had actually read the book. Meyer’s book went much farther in helping me understand how a nation could follow the path that Nazi Germany followed.

Part I, the first two thirds of the book, introduces us show more to his Ten Men, and I found this part to be most informative. Parts II (The Germans) and III (Their Cause and Cure) spent more time on speculation and generalization. Some of this was also helpful, although—for the sake of context—this book was published six years before the Berlin Wall was built. The generalizations I found least helpful, because I think that many readers will be lulled into a sense of “ah, but we are different and that will never happen here.” Certainly cultures and traditions differ, but human nature is human nature and so (at the risk of being a bit silly) I end with a quote from Mad-Eye Moody: “Constant vigilance!” show less

Causes one to ask some hard questions about my willingness "to not interfere" if it would jeopardize my rather comfortable position in this society. Especially relevant as we inch (if not leap) our way toward a totalitarian state. If nothing else, just read Part 1 and hear these ten men tell (and sometimes lie about) their own stories. Hopefully, it's not too late.

A profound experience. Opens up the experience of being a citizen and should be read by everyone. Who is responsible? How? If they aren't just exactly like us then what are they like? As much a book about America as it is about Germany. I would say it is critically important to read especially at this time so near to trump's presidency and the obvious split between what seems rational and what half the country professes to believe. If you haven't seen the red in the eyes of the people gathering in hate then perhaps this will help you to understand how little it seems to take to captivate a population.

I picked up this book because I figured the description of how seemingly “ordinary” people ending up supporting a Fascist party would be very topical and it was!

The first part was very much worth reading. This section was about the 10 former Nazis he interviewed and how they justified or explained their past involvement in the party.

The second and third parts were a lot more abstract and not that interesting and kind of lessened the impact of the book. He rambles on about the Cold War and German rearmament, and the national character of the Germans and blah blah blah.

The afterword brings up a lot of the issues I had with the book and gives a lot of context to the study and author that end up making it a lot better. I was feeling a 3 show more before it, but I’m feeling a 4 now. show less

Really insightful and definitely unnerving in its relevance to what's happening with regards to immigrants and asylum seekers at the southern border of the U. S. right now. My only real issue with this book is that the author's religious and anti-socialist bias tends to pour over into his commentary at times.

Engaging and important, and ultimately revealing portrait of the average man in any modern 'Western' society. That is to say: very, very upsetting.

Everyone should read this book!! Wars aren't cut and dry, and there are many signs that are missed. We look back at WWII and wonder how any one could have followed Hitler but, as this book will show, it was pretty darn easy. It's also super scary how this book reflects current life in US America.