The Devil's Disciples: Hitler's Inner Circle

I loved this book. It doesn't talk in the usuAL military-ese. It focuses on personalties and gives the reader a better understanding of what happened and why.I recommend it highly.

It is great to Find a book focusing on the leaders of the Reich, that doesnt focus entirely on Hitler. This books focus is on Goring and Goebbels with Adolf as a side note. Despite its' size, it is a quick and easy read

Definitely worth the proverbial 'price of admission', this book spends the majority of its time focusing on the critical and unstable formative years of the Nazi party, it's unlikely yet methodical subsequent siezure of power, and the mobilization of the war state. Slightly less emphasis is placed on the war years themselves, which is an approach that reads quite well. As these events unfold (transitioning between characters smoothly and effectively), you become intimately acquained with the temperments, motivations personality quirks of Hitler's main lieutenants. Anthony Read's writing style is emanently enjoyable, and he illustrates quite effectively the impact that each relationship had on the policy decisions that Hitler ultimately made. Especially interesting was the influence wielded on Hitler by his Foreign Minister, Von Ribbentrop, who was viewed - by and large - with great respect by the Fuhrer, yet commanded virtually no respect whatsoever on the world stage. The competition for Hitler's approval and succession is well depicted throughout the book, competitive obsessions that plagued his lieutenants up to the very end - when their ultimate fates are described in captivating detail. The book is long, but the journey is very memorable, enjoyable and informative.

I purchased this book to gain a better understanding on the men who surrounded Hitler on his path to power and ultimate fall. What I found was that this book was satisfying even as a straight forward history of the European theatre of World War II. I have read a lot about Hitler himself (Kershaw's excellent two-volume biography is highly recommended) and, of course, Goring, Goebbels, and Himmler all played an important role in all the readings. However, this book focuses primarily on those three men and their lives. While it was interesting to learn more about these three men, what I found most compelling is the author's total distaste for Von Ribbentrop, who I did not know so much about before reading this book. It was almost comical to read about Ribbentrop's bumbling approach to foriegn affairs and his total lack of tact in dealing with other nations. The author even goes so far as to implicitly blame Ribbentrop for World War II itself, given his failure to adequately advise Hitler as to the British intentions over the invasion of Poland. As for Goring, it is clear that the author researched his subject to the point of even having a grudging admiration for him. The author spends a lot of time discussing Goring: his weaknesses in early life as he struggles with addiction, his flamboyant lifestyle once power is assumed, and his total preoccupation with atttaining as many titles as possible in the Reich (not that he was alone in this regard). Goring is to a point painted as being swept along unwillingly in the excesses of the Hitler regime, ie the Holocaust. The author, however, did a good job of showing that in the final analysis this is not true- his economic policies for subjugated nations called for hordes of slave labor, for example. Thus, while the author might intend to make the reader be amused at Goring's gaudy dress on one page, he was clear to point out on the next that it was the Nazi policies, of which Goring was an integral part, that caused so much human misery. Himmler is give much less discussion by the author, but a little goes a long way to justify him as the personification of pure evil. For students of the Nazi era, this book will not open much new ground in relation to Himmler and his SS, of which much has been written. It was interesting to read about his ultimate end, as this was something I had not read about in detail. As for Goebbels, what the author emphasizes is just how awe-struck he was in the presence of Hitler. The author did open my eyes with the fact that Goebbels was actually a true Socialist who believed this ideal but swallowed his true views from the Fuhrer, on one occasion to save his life. What becomes clear as this book is read is just how truly pathetic these men really were: willing to literally trample on those who could not defend themselves, while at the same time grabbing the spoils to build vast homes and wealth for themselves. This is a well-written book,

The product details states this book is 352 pages while it actually is 923 pages of text not counting the index. Anthony Read has covered the rise of the Third Reich from its beginnings during the Weimar Republic between World Wars I and II until its capitulation in the spring of 1945. All of Hitler's infamous henchmen are here as various ones, each one jealous of the others, vie for favorable standing within the party to gain favor with the Fuhrer. If you are looking for a book on Hitler and his cohorts, this mammoth volume will bring it all to life for you.