Joachim C. Fest

The German journalist provides an in-depth analysis of Hitler's personality and his efforts to realize his obsessive will to power.

Hitler

One of the New York Times Books Review's 100 Notable Books of 2014! A portrait of an intellectually rigorous German household opposed to the Nazis and how its members suffered for their political stance Few writers have deepened our understanding of the Third Reich as much as German historian, biographer, journalist, and critic Joachim Fest. His biography of Adolf Hitler has reached millions of readers around the world. Born in 1926, Fest experienced firsthand the rise of the Nazis, the Second World War, and a catastrophically defeated Germany, thus becoming a vital witness to these difficult years. In this memoir of his childhood and youth, Fest offers a far-reaching view of how he experienced the war and National Socialism. True to the German Bildung tradition, Fest grows up immersed in the works of Goethe, Schiller, Mörike, Rilke, Kleist, Mozart, and Beethoven. His father, a conservative Catholic teacher, opposes the Nazi regime and as a result loses his job and status. Fest is forced to move to a boarding school in the countryside that he despises, and in his effort to come to terms with his father’s strong political convictions, he embarks on a tireless quest for knowledge and moral integrity that will shape the rest of his life and writing career.

Memoirs of a German Childhood

Not I

über Thomas und Heinrich Mann

Die unwissenden Magier

A portrait of an intellectually rigorous German household opposed to the Nazis and how its members suffered for their political stance Few writers have deepened our understanding of the Third Reich as much as German historian, biographer, journalist, and critic Joachim Fest. His biography of Adolf Hitler has reached millions of readers around the world. Born in 1926, Fest experienced firsthand the rise of the Nazis, the Second World War, and a catastrophically defeated Germany, thus becoming a vital witness to these difficult years. In this memoir of his childhood and youth, Fest offers a far-reaching view of how he experienced the war and National Socialism. True to the German Bildung tradition, Fest grows up immersed in the works of Goethe, Schiller, Mörike, Rilke, Kleist, Mozart, and Beethoven. His father, a conservative Catholic teacher, opposes the Nazi regime and as a result loses his job and status. Fest is forced to move to a boarding school in the countryside that he despises, and in his effort to come to terms with his father’s strong political convictions, he embarks on a tireless quest for knowledge and moral integrity that will shape the rest of his life and writing career.

Alexandra Dring

Ewald Osers

A portrait of Germany's World War II Armaments Minister considers his rise from unemployed architect to designer of the Third Reich's most important buildings, personal relationship with Hitler, and considerable ambition. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

The Final Verdict

Speer

Albert Speer remains the most mysterious character of the leadership of the Nazi regime. He was the chief architect of the Third Reich and Adolf Hitler?s confidant. Speer built the ?Reichskanzlei? (official offices), discovered the ?Lightdome? and was finally, in 1942, named as the minister for arms. But he characterised himself as apolitical, called Hitler?s hatred of Jews an anomaly, and the conspirators of the 20th July placed Speer?s name on their cabinet list. Here at last are the memoirs of the mysterious Albert Speer, the ?good Nazi? Joachim Fest?s records of conversations with Speer provide a fascinating insight into the psyche of Hitler?s architect This book is a vital contribution towards the understanding of the psychology of the national socialist leadership Fest has created a volume that provides a unique portrait of a member of the Nazi party until now clouded in mystery

Joachim C. Fest

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