Customer Reviews

HE WAS MY CHIEF: The Memoirs of Adolf Hitler's Secretary

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Christa Schroeder was Adolf Hitler's secretary from 1933 until his death in 1945. As someone with an insider's intimate knowledge of Hitler, she witnessed and recounts many fascinating personal anecdotes about him and other leaders of the Third Reich, often correcting previously published accounts of what really happened in those days. It all started when she answered a tiny ad in a newspaper for a secretarial position.

The narrative sometimes reads like something out of a tabloid with many "gossipy" comments about Hitler's personal foibles: he had yellow teeth and bad breath and should have grown a beard to hide his mouth, he avoided personal contact with money, his long discourses on the evils of smoking, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the "lies" of Christianity, his racial theories, architecture, science, and anything and everything else.

Hitler memorized many pages from books he had read. Schroeder recounts how he recited Schopenhauer as if they were his own words and she recognized the passage, calling it to his attention. "Don't forget all knowledge comes from others and every person only contributes a minute piece to the whole," he responded. Because of his memory, Hitler was able to convince people he had actually been to places and seen things himself that he had only read about. In his youth in Vienna he had read all 500 books in the city reference library.

Many have remarked on Hitler's ability to keep his arm extended for hours in the Nazi salute, and he explained to Schroeder that he had "done daily training with an expander" but a "strong will" was needed as well.

Hitler had a premonition the day before the Stauffenberg assassination attempt, believing "there is something afoot" and no one could carry on his duties, therefore nothing must happen to him. The afternoon after the bomb detonated, Hitler told Schroeder, "The heavy table leg diverted the explosion. Haven't I always anticipated that happening? I told you yesterday, don't you remember?"

Schroeder says Hitler was "erotic" with women, but never sexual. "My lover is Germany," he often said. She mentions the controversy whether Hitler had only one testicle, believing it was probably true (apparently a doctor has come forward just last year claiming Hitler was wounded during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and indeed lost one). His great love in life was not Eva Braun at all, but Geli Raubal, his niece, although still, they never had sex. She was the only woman he would have married. Schroeder details the events surrounding Raubal's suicide and the controversy over Hitler's culpability. This was the event that caused him to convert to vegetarianism. Eva Braun faked suicide attempts to gain a prominent position at Hitler's side, as he couldn't afford another female suicide so close to him during his rise to power.

Schroeder's concerns about Hitler and the war are expressed indirectly and are implicit in the narrative. The only indirect reference to the Holocaust is a heated exchange between Hitler and a friend in 1943 about a deportation of Jewish women in Amsterdam. "What does it matter to you what happens to female Jews?" he said to the woman. Every day, thousands of his men fall while "the inferior" survive--the "balance" in Europe was being undermined. "What will become of Europe in one hundred, one thousand years? I am committed by duty to my people alone, to nobody else!"

Schroeder, who died in 1985, was interned for three years after 1945 as a "war criminal of the first order." She complains, "Whether my guilt was as great as my expiation is something I do not know to this day." First published in German in 1985, it seems incredible that such a valuable first-hand account of the rise and fall of the Third Reich should not have been translated into English until now. Recommended for all with a keen interest in one of the most important events in modern history.

This an excellent translation of the memoirs of Adolph Hitler's long time secretary, Christa Schröder. It is part of a three book series giving intimate views of Hitler, the person. It is helpful to be familiar with the general history of the Third Reich before reading any of them. The second book in the series is "With Hitler to the End" by Hitler's valet Heintz Linge. I look forward the publication of the third book in 2010, "I was Hitler's Chauffeur" by Erich Kemka. I believe these three books, taken together, will be the best available information of the "human being", Adolph Hitler. The books have contemporary black and white photos and a color picture on the dust jacket. They are uniformly and nicely bound. They will make a fine addition to anyone's library. A must for Hitler scholars.

Have had the book for 2 days and cannot put it down, filling free time with reading. Much of the book comes in the form of correspondence and notes sent to friends, thus it creates the feeling that you are actually hearing the story from someone close to you. The books chit chatty form makes history more intimate.

Many people may find the book shocking. Mainstream history has always portrayed Hitler as the devil incarnate. He Was My Chief demonstrates that he was simply a man.

Although I am only half way through the book, something struck me fairly quickly. Schroeder discusses the isolation of being with Hitler. She longs to be with normal people, to mingle with outsiders. She even expresses that Hitler himself has some of the same longings.

It is becoming apparent that this isolation is breeding the strange form of insanity that affected Hitler and many of those in his inner circle. There is an evil sickening stew brewing as Hitler is more and more encircled by the bad, ejecting any officers and confidants that may have brought any moral fiber to the table. As manipulative as Hitler was, he was also easily manipulated.

Is today any different for our leaders? They are elected to office in the Senate, House or Presidency then isolated from mainstream America, living in ivory towers and traveling in protected packs. They lack an association with "normal" people, an association with the real world. They are surrounded by lobbyists and yes men. This has made me think that the isolation insanity that controlled Hitler may still be common today.

To many people in America today, it appears that Washington has developed it's own form of evil stew.

Fascinating.

It seems that the popularity of "Downfall", which finally exploded the myth of Hitler-as-Monster, has now created an environment where more personalised accounts of the man can be accepted.
This is to be welcomed after years of empty patronising rote abuse from the likes of the rabble-pleasing Trevor-Roper and Kershaw ilk.
Hard on the heels of reading Heinz Linge's enthralling account of life as Hitler's valet I initially found Christa Schroeder's book to be rather repetitive and palimpsistic.
However, with some patience you do get some real gossipy jewels here; Hitler's relationships with a host of women, Eva Braun's infatuation with Fegelein, Hitler's sense of humour along with very atmospheric descriptions of life in the Wolf's Lair and Berghof. The fall of the Reich includes the first account I have yet read of the bombing of Bertesgaden.
Why some reviewers insist on linking every low functionary (which Scroeder was) with knowledge of the Holocaust is a truly Quixotic quest. Don't bother with that particular canard.
Instead, enjoy this book for what it is. A breathlessly honest look inside those scenes from the Third Reich which never made it into the history books but which bring an all too needed human dimension to those epic events.
You won't put it down easily. Enjoy!!

"HE WAS MY CHIEF: The Memoirs of Adolf Hitler's Secretary" is a memoir of sorts by Christa Schroeder, one of Hitler's four personal secretaries. When I say "of sorts", the book basically consists her letters, papers, and notes of the time, arranged by the book's editor, Anton Joachimsthaler, who also provided some commentary. She expressly entrusted these writings to him with but did not wish them to be published until after her death.

Schroeder was an extremely good shorthand writer and typist and was hired by the Nazis, working in several offices before eventually becoming one of the secretaries used by Hitler. Because of her ability to do large amounts of work with minimal supervision, she became one of his personal secretaries, and worked with the dictator from 1933 until his suicide in 1945. Schroeder was described in the book by Hitler's surgeon Dr Karl Brandt as "clever, critical, and intelligent", and who "always expressed her opinion openly and with conviction and this led on occasion to serious altercations." This persona comes across quite clearly in her writings in the book.

She covers her time with Hitler from 1933 to near the end in April 1945. Most of her observations are more the chatty gossip type of coverage, and she lays out the dirt (as much as she knows) about Hitler's personal habits, the women in his life, and how he changed as time went on, particularly during the war. Most of her observations cover her time with Hitler before World War II started, partly because he was perhaps less busy and allowed himself more time to relax. During the war, Hitler made fewer speechs and the like, and needed his secretaries less for official work. However, he preferred them to sit at his lunches and dinners, so they became somewhat involuntary dinner guests every day and night. As Hitler habitually ate lunch and dinner quite late, eventually the secretaries split the meals so that they were able to have some rest.

Near the end of the war, Hitler sent Schroeder and his senior-most secretary, Johanna Wolf, to his residence at the Berhof, because they were senior to his other two secretaries and presumably to serve on his staff if he decided to flee Berlin. So while Schroeder wasn't present at the end in Berlin, she was present to show what happened at the Berhof, which is something I hadn't read about before.

Throughout the book, Schroeder often felt sorry for herself and her situation, but couldn't quite force herself to seriously try and quit. After the war, she was arrested and determined to be a class 1 major war criminal (which she bitterly protested, as she was only a typist), serving a total of three years before she was reclassified as a class 4 criminal, that of a collaborator, and released from prison.

I've now read several books from people who served with or near Hitler, from both the military and non-military sides of Hitler's life. This book is about middle-of-the-pack to me. If you've read other accounts from people who served Hitler, you won't learn much new here, although Schroeder does correct a few errors from other people's books, including one which was written from her notes shortly after the war without her permission. She also discusses what Hitler felt about the sketches and paintings he did before World War I, which was interesting. The Hitler she shows is generally likeable, firm but fair to his staff, with both personal strengths and weaknesses. She did not witness the truly evil, maniacal orders Hitler issued, as from all accounts, he kept a clear separation between his personal staff and his professional military duties.

Overall I enjoyed the book, as it helps paint a picture of Hitler, although it doesn't really help explain how he could order the atrocities he did. What she writes is generally consistent with the other books published by his personal staff. As I mentioned earlier, there isn't much new here, and Schroeder isn't a profound thinker about her time with Hitler, but the book is entertaining and worth adding to your shelf if you're looking to learn more about Hitler. Four stars.

These are memoirs by one of Hitler's secretary from the year he ascended to power through the very end in 1945. She was there when Hitler, a few feet away, made many important decisions during the existence of the Third Reich. She was there when Hitler would stop by for tea with his secretaries in the afternoon. She was familiar with his inner circle and was capable of gaging them from intuition or body language. Of course Christa Shroeder was not a person with authority. But she gives us her recollection about a Hitler we very rarely get to see in other works: a Hitler who lets his guard go a little, who shows a sense of humor, who basically uses his close staff as a substitute for a family. This is a portrait of Hitler as intimate as you ever going to see him, and it is done by someone who is dedicated but incorruptible.

This, along with Linge's and Dietrich's , books all being published in English the same year? Was there a law saying this is what will be? Conspiracy theory?

Unfortunately, we'll never get a book from Johanna Wolf, the only third party who witnessed "everything" - from Hitler's mentoring by Dietrich Eckart to the last days of his and the NAZI regime life.

Christa's is the closest autobiography we'll ever get of a Hitler non-chancellor to dicator to his suicide. The best part of the book, is Hitler is not the main character of the book. It is Christa Schroeder's life and what she witnessed, plainly told, without judgement nor regret.

The fact she writes this book unapologetically, actually gives credance to the words she wrote for the book. She never ever once says "I'm sorry about the holocaust". This makes me beleive her more than Dietrich, Junge, or Speer.

Highly recommend this book for anyone, even those who don't care about WWII. A fascinating 10+ years of a life.

I guess anyone interested in this historical period should read everything available on the subject, and "He was my Chief" is certainly available. There isn't a lot of new information in this book by Hitler's former secretary so it's on the expensive side for a rehash. I do like the author's objective journalistic style , which rarely if ever offers personal opinions on unfolding events. Although "He was my Chief" is not a substantive volume unto it's self...the book "paints" another pixel in the huge number of dots helping to make up the complex story of Adolf Hitler and Nazi German's Third Reich.

Not a book to be purchased if your looking either for independent literary merit or breathless and heretofore untold important stories about Adolph Hitler.

It is a book for those with a special interest in knowing more about how Hitler worked and lived in the family quarters (or bunker). Christa Schroeder appears to have been an honest, but not reflective, observer from her minor position at the Fuhrer's banal court.

Adolf Hitler was a very complex man.Christa Schroeder's memoirs are tens times better than Heinz Linge's book.I recently read the two books ,back to back.First,I thought Linge's book would give a fly-on-the-wall account of the serious discussions Hitler had with the various visitors,that had entered his inner court.Heinz Linga was more a court page,rather than a court advisior.The only comment from Linge's book that was interesting is when Mussilini paid a visit.Mussilini's thinking was that of using Hitler as the front man ,conquering forward the various countries of the world,and later then closing in on Nazi Germany.During Mussilini's talk,Hitler asked around his staff and adjuncts,if anyone here was a 'Christian'.All replied ,'No,mein Furher'.Mussalini had a stricken look on his face,according to Heinz Linge.Hitler had a good poker face,yet the ace was still in Mussilini's poker hand.Hitler and Albert Speer's blueprints for 'Germania',were all based on Romanesqe classical architecture.Christa Schroeder claimed Hitler was a provincial Catholic.Yet,most author's accounts relate Hitler's disdain for the Vatican,and his vision of a new Reich, free from the medieval church,and away from Rome.Both Hitler and Stalin were choir-boys,who later soundly refuted the christian church.So many authors have given personal accounts of Hitler,yet Hitler was more complex and enigmatic than people give him credit for.Schroeder gives some interesting stories ,about Hitler.All authors could agree on the declining health of Hitler.Hitler didn't trust X-ray machines,and hence ,he had a wounded left shoulder that did not set properly.He was beginning to show the first signs of Parkinson's disease,and he was badly splintered during a failed assassination attempt at the Wolf's Lair.When Mussilini left Hitler's Obersalzberg villa,they agreed to meet again.Mussilini was supposed to be at the East Prussian headquarters that late July of 1944.Von Staffenberg was a devote Catholic,and one has to wonder what was his family's connection to the vatican and Mussilini himself.Did Mussilini order a hit on the Hitler?Did Mussilini feel that he himself was the real 'Il Duce' and this germanic 'Fuerher' was not subserviant to him?In recent times,news of Hitler's plans to assassinate the hightest Pope,have come to light.So,Christa Schroeder's memory may be a little fuzzy on Hitler's loyality to the catholic church.Also,the death of Geli Rauble,Hitler's niece.I have felt that Heinrich Himmler did not like the close relationship between Hitler and his niece.He felt it was bad for party image and inner circle morale.I believe Himmler ordered a staged suicide to his trusted SS staffelmanner.Himmler wanted to break the Hitler family's cycle of incest.Hitler's fellow neighbors married closely into another neighbor's clan.Himmler felt this was bad for the Teutonic genetic code.And if Hitler died,either Himmler or Goering would become the new leader.Christa Schroeder may have suspected the staged suicide,yet gave the account of Hitler's grief over Geli's death.When you read the various accounts of Hitler's life,by surviving members of his inner coquetterie,you have to pause and think about what is being claimed.Sometimes it could be a superficial look or an false interpretation.Or a blatant lie or someone trying to alter historical events for posterity.At a dinner party,Hitler saw Goering eating away at some 'roast pork' and commented that pigs eat their our kind.Hitler always mocked Goering,to stress his superior rule over him.One has to wonder if Goering,Mussilini and von Stauffenberg all planned to bomb Hitler and complete the coup.Christa Schroeder left the Wolf's Lair and flew to the Hintersee area.She was arrested ,sometime after her plane had landed.She writes that Hitler had given her raw bacon,to give to his half-sisters.With a note,warning them to cook it and don't eat it raw!If Hitler was vegetarian,why then this carnivorious gift?Or was Hitler making a last rude gesture.Hitler believed that only wild animals eat other beasts.Almost all of Hitler's siblings suffered from their association with him,both financially and health-wise. I suppose the only person who 'knew' Hitler was Hitler himself.The myth of a 'Hitlers Tagebuch' has remained a myth,like the Holy Grail or Atlantis.Yet,what a find ,if ever discovered.