With Hitler to the End: The Memoirs of Adolf Hitler's Valet

This new English translation of Heinz Linge's intimate portrait of his boss, Adolf Hitler, likely will annoy those who would like us always and only to think of the Nazi leader as a raving, evil, mad monster. Evil his personality certainly contained -- just like those of Josef Stalin and Mao Tse-tung. But Linge gives us, in his calm, matter-of-fact prose, the human side of Adolf Hitler as well. Der Fuehrer treated his domestic help with kindness and paid them well, for instance. He was a man without airs, who never wore flashy military uniforms as do most dictators, and who slept on a simple soldier's camp bed, even after becoming German chancellor. He was gallant and gentlemanly toward women, and was capable of exuding irresistible Austrian charm when he chose. He could and did rage and shout at his generals and high Nazi officials, leaving them speechless and petrified, when things did not go as he wanted. But he reserved that rage mostly for such higher-ups. The little people, the servants, the ordinary German in the street, the German soldier he visited on the Eastern Front -- these he nearly always treated with kindness and consideration. And one can find a number of quotes of Hitler's in the book condemning those who considered themselves "high and mighty," whether they be industrialists, generals or German royalty. Linge also depicts the Hitler of an astounding memory, who was almost always two or three thoughts ahead of everyone else, and whose imagination leaped decades into the future. The autobahns, the Volkswagen, the dangers of smoking and drinking, all were concerns of his long before the U.S. built its interstate highway system, before people realized that large, gas-guzzling cars were not the only way to travel, before health-conscious people began telling us that smoking and drinking could shorten your life. Linge shows us his former employer in the manner that a servant with a strong sense of duty might -- with understanding of him as a human being, but without completely overlooking some of the crimes against humanity he authorized. If you would like to know more about Hitler the man, instead of Hitler the "monster," this book is an excellent read.

" I had a theatre box on history, and remained in it until it collapsed..." Thus speaks Heinz Linge, personal valet to Hitler from 1935 until the suicide 10 years later. For those few (post-"Downfall") who still view Hitler as some kind of supernatural ogre or maniacal beast this book will truly be a revelation. For the rest of us, intrigued as to who this man was, this book is another fascinating fragment in a compelling mosaic. The best way to picture Linge is outside the Fuhrer's bedroom last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Never farther than arm's length from his master for the last decade of his life. Linge comes across as apolitical although clearly intoxicated by his attendance on this human phenomenom. There are some absolutely priceless vignettes to savour in this honest, even-tempered and even-handed account: From the banal; Hitler kept a chest expander under his bed, he wore large cap visors to block out light ...to the bizarre; a woman claimed Hitler raped her, Hitler admired the man who tried to assassinate him in 1939 and utlised him to design other bombs, to the exotic; Hitler and Eva caught embracing by Linge, Hitler possibly visiting his illegitimate child and former mistress during his tour of the WW1 battlefields...etc. And that's before you get to the pen pictures of Bormann (a brute), Goebbels (engaging and loyal), Goering (brave but absurd) and Hess (loved by all). An absolute cracker of a book with the pleasant and unpretentious Linge slowly descending into Hell. Unmissable unless you have no interest whatsoever in History and it's human carnival of characters.

The book is the memoir of Hitler's SS officer valet, Heinz Linge. Linge's book is well written and easy to read. It opens in 1933, when Linge joined the "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" (LSSAH was Hitler's SS bodyguard regiment). He was then selected for duty at the Reich Chancellery at the end of 1934. Once there he was selected to be a manservant (valet) to Adolf Hitler. Linge then begins setting out his ten years with Hitler that is shown through anecdotes and observations. The book is not meant to be a scholarly written resource as to those times and events. However, it is a very interesting read, because it sets forth scenes and conversations that give a more rounded picture of Hitler and his inner circle. Linge's portrait of Hitler is not the crazy, one dimensional, blood-thirsty leader that people have come to expect. As Roger Moorhouse (the author of "Killing Hitler: The Third Reich and the Plots Against the Führer") states so well in his introduction: "His portrayal is affectionate, certainly, but it is not without criticism." The author does admit to having a "blind faith" in Hitler overall. He talks about how Hitler in the 1930's "bred" great hopes with all the new construction projects and plans for Germany. He covers the time as part of the inner circle that ultimately was cut off from much of the harsh realities of the "outside world" especially after the Second World War started. Much like "Traudl" Junge (Hitler's personal secretary and an author of her own memoir), Linge claims to have been apolitical and not aware of the horrors of the Third Reich. However, that statement is harder to swallow coming from Linge. Junge was a rather naive, young woman who saw Hitler as a fatherly figure. Hitler liked to project that image to her with trite, pleasant conversations. Here in Linge's book he gives examples of private talks and discussions that are more frank and man-to-man. As stated, Linge recounts: Hitler's daily routine, dinning habits, his private life (with Eva Braun and the inner court), his "most intense pastime" of architecture, health issues, leadership style, his opinions of others, the war and even faults. Further, the author dispels some myths as to Hitler, Speer, and others. Some of same antecdotes recounted by Linge in this book also appear in "The Hitler Book", edited by Henrik Eberle and Matthias Uhl. Since "The Hitler Book" book was compiled mainly from the Soviet interrogations of Linge and Gunsche (Hitler's most personal aides), that book presents events from a Soviet doctrine point of view as to how the information and history should be recorded. That bias is absent in Linge's memoir. Again, the book is worth reading and most interesting as to the atmosphere before and leading up to the war.

Excellent story from the perspective of Hitler's valet; thus much of the material does not concern grand political strategies, but quotidian details such as Hitler's daily habits and health concerns as well as the author's personal feelings about many of the people constantly around Hitler (some of whom were in working capacities similar to the author himself, such as Hitler's physician[s], but also such figures as Himmler, Goebbels, Göring, Bormann and others; in regards to the latter the author provides interesting details on many of their personalities, the rivalries between one another, and the feelings of the headquarters "underlings" such as himself [Hess was beloved, while Bormann was despised, for example]). Those looking for a work to either demonize or exculpate Hitler will be disappointed. There are numerous details and stories which serve to humanize Hitler, however, none of them are told in such a way that could be characterized as revisionist in the negative sense. (Things such as Hitler in his nightshirt changing a lightbulb by himself in his bedroom, or his problems with flatulence during the last years of his life.) Having said that the work does serve to humanize Hitler implicitly, although personally I feel that that is long overdue (Hess and especially Goebbels are also presented in a more positive light than is usually the case, while Bormann, Göring and the entire military leadership are seen as more flawed.) Shone new light (for me) on certain events such as Rommel's suicide (the author thinks it was ordered by Bormann because of an old grudge from the Polish campaign) and Hess's flight to Scotland (the author thinks Hitler knew about it), as well as new events (for me) such as Hitler's effort to sound out peace terms from the West in 1944/5. Also includes periodic passages about the author's years-long interrogation (including torture) at the hands of the Soviets after being captured fleeing the Führerbunker. Includes much discussion about the political power struggles that went on around Hitler, and how these affected domestic and foreign policies--there is much here to inform histories which all too often address events without taking into account the personal turf battles that take place in every government bureaucracy, fascist or otherwise. There are periodic notes from the translator(?) about how other personal accounts from people at Hitler's headquarters differ from those presented here, but this is to be expected on a subject this volatile, with so many people having such a vested interest in being presented a certain way (along with the passage of time, and differing perceptions, of course). Having said that I found the author to be highly credible, and while I'm sure he has his blind spots, I think his story will be a valuable addition to histories of the time.

Linge was Hitler's personal assistant from 1939 to the end, constantly by his side during that entire time. This book has come out after another new release, "He Was My Chief" by Christa Schroeder. This is the first English translation of this work. The original publishing was in German in 1980. "Chief" is a new book that was released after Schroeder's death. The books, while definitely different in style appear to paint a similar portrait of Hitler and his inner circle. Linge's book is a personal memoir while much of Schroeder's book is gleaned from letters written by her to a friend. Both of these authors claim no knowledge of the atrocities committed by the Nazi government and unlike Hitler's other secretary, Traudl Junge, neither demonstrate any outward remorse. What is fascinating about both books is the intimate look into the rulers of the Third Reich. You learn not just about Hitler, but many details of his inner circle. The Linge book gives the reader a more detailed account of Hitler's daily interactions and life while the Schroeder book seems to give more detail in the whole atmosphere surrounding Hitler and his henchman. Both works pretty much cover the same time frame in history and have many similar accounts. The reader walks away with a completely different view of Hitler and the German people from that available in history books or popular media. The country and their leaders are portrayed as people, with human aspirations and faults, and not mystical evil monsters under a witchcraft spell. Perhaps that is what makes both books so incredibly important. What happened in Germany can happen anywhere. A nation can easily be lulled into complacency, accepting what they are told, controlled by manipulating leaders and an oppressive government. It demonstrates the importance of staying involved, always questioning and holding our leaders responsible for their actions. If you are interested in Hitler and wartime Germany, both are a must read.