The Death of Hitler: The Full Story with New Evidence from Secret Russian Archives [Paperback]

Ada Petrova (Author), Peter Watson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2007

“Revealing and well-written. . . . A significant book.”—Houston Chronicle

It is one of the most enduring mysteries of the twentieth century: how, exactly, Adolf Hitler died and what happened to his remains. With access to the Russians' Hitler Archive, this book reveals not only what happened after the Russians captured Hitler's bunker but also why the Soviets felt the details of his death had to be suppressed. 52 photographs

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Drawing on evidence the Russians kept secret for decades, this book looks at Hitler's last days in the bunker.

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Ada Petrova is an award-winning Russian television journalist who lives in Moscow.

Peter Watson is a columnist for the London Observer and the author of four novels and five books of nonfiction, including a biography of Rudolf Nureyev. He lives in London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (March 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393315436
• ISBN-13: 978-0393315431
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hitler buffs might own it; the curious should visit library, January 25, 1999

By 

Monty Nicol - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Death of Hitler: The Full Story with New Evidence from Secret Russian Archives (Paperback)

This book is disorganized and the various topics, although related, are not cemented together with anything resembling a well-thought out, well-written structure. In what direct way, for instance, are Hitler's water colors related to the circumstances of his death? This book's most important information (who found Hitler's body, how Hitler died, where Hitler was buried, something I found of particular interest) should have been summarized in a two-page weekly news magazine article somewhere. Obviously, however, the authors felt that to read their exclusive but well-padded research should cost at least $20 or so, therefore, here it is, in book form. History buffs may want this book for the inserts and for what few pages actually contain fresh, well-presented information, but the curious who just want to know more about Hitler's last days should visit their library or borrow a copy from a friend-- who, I'm sure, won't mind lending it out.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new, errors abound, June 15, 2003

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Death of Hitler: The Full Story With New Evidence from Secret Russian Archives (Hardcover)

Though this book is impressively packaged and appears authoritative, it's anything but. The authors are pop historians who specialize in fiction and their weaknesses show throughout. There is almost no basic understanding of Hitler, his life, his personality or placing him in the proper historical context. There are a number of small, but nagging errors. Example: Hitler was punctilious in his personal hygiene, took two baths daily and was a fanatic about keeping clean. This is attested to by all who knew him. However, the authors claim that Hitler's architect, Albert Speer, claims Hitler had horrible B.O. (a claim he never made)and they repeat this canard three times.

Their examination of how Hitler died is similarly flawed and dated. It doesn't matter if bunker personnel like Baur, Linge and Kempka all have small discrepancies in their narratives, the fact remains that Hitler shot himself in the head and simultaneously took cyanide while Eva Braun took cyanide. End of story. The pages of padded material on Hitler's death drone on and tell the reader nothing new whatsoever.

As for the Russian archives and the supposedly flashy "new" material they unearthed... forget it. The new materials are a photo of Hitler's uniform jacket, some common photos and a sketch book of watercolors which the authors claim were all executed by Hitler. This ludicrous assertion is proven false by the inclusion of a postcard of Haus Wachenfeld which they claim Hitler painted in the 30's! The color photo of the postcard clearly shows it was never painted by Hitler.

This is a disappointing book for serious historian and novice alike. There is nothing new to justify its purchase.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, BUT...Disappointing, July 24, 2000

By 

Ronald T. McCoy "Ron" (In the Middle, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Death of Hitler: The Full Story with New Evidence from Secret Russian Archives (Paperback)

This is a fascinating topic, a real detective story for one of history's mysteries. (Though the mystery angle is not so great, just some minor twists and turns.) There is much in this volume that has been covered before---and done better (Trevor-Roper and O'Donnell, for example). The authors' arguments are poorly stated, disjointed, repetitive, and not particularly convincing. (Though they are probably---more or less---correct.) There's a rushed, let's-get-this-one-together-fast feel to the book (it's typos are both numerous and inexcusable). Essentially, what we've got going here is a refresher course. Interesting enough, but the billing far exceeds what's delivered between the covers.