Hitler's Last Courier [Paperback]

Armin Dieter Lehmann (Author), Tony Le Tissier (Preface), Francis H. Goranin (Foreword), Armin D. Lehmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2001

Victory of the Allies was no longer in doubt. Russian forces had reached Berlin. Yet, Hitler ordered his troops to keep on fighting. Among the last who defended his headquarters, an underground bunker in the Reich Chancellery garden, were boy soldiers, 13 to 17 years old, members of the Hitler Youth Volkssturm (home defence force). The dictator had reached the point where he wanted the earth scorched. Facing total defeat, he now was willing to sacrifice everything and everybody, including the German people, even the youngest. Lehmann was a witness to what happened in the Fuehrerbunker. He was the runner who carried some of the last orders issued by the dictator, right up to his suicide. Many details as described in this book have never before been disclosed. This is a gripping story of survival - and later of redemption - a story of endurance amidst the horrors and brutalities, a first-hand historical account, already highly acclaimed by leading historians.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Germany, Armin Lehmann was 4 years old when Hitler assumed power. Completely indoctrinated and brainwashed by Naziism, Lehmann - hailed as a hero of the home defence force - became the last runner from the radio room below the Party Chancellery and Hitler's hidden underground bunker across Wilhelmstrasse. As seen with the eyes and mind of a 16-year old. Lehmann describes compellingly the grim truths which let to Hitler's suicide - and thereafter to the author's redemption. Armin D. Lehmann, inn his adult life became an active and outspoken pacifist and peacemaker. He explored the world and, professionally, held leading positions in the travel and tourism industry, promoting world peace everywhere and in every way possible.

Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corporation; 1 edition (January 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738831212
• ISBN-13: 978-0738831213
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,951,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pleasure to read, November 1, 2003

By 

E. Cetin (East Quogue, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hitler's Last Courier (Paperback)

You would -very much- enjoy this book for the following reasons:

* It is very informative. It is a social analysis of the Nazi Germany. You come to understand everyday life in Germany and how they (especially the younger ones) were indoctrinated, why they supported Hitler, even in the desperate final days. "We were willing to forgo our lives, as a sacrifice for Fuehrer and fatherland". "In the great scheme of things, we had been taught, our individual lives belonged to the nation. Not for us to live on, but for the nation to survive".

* It is an easy read. The book was divided into many chapters.

* Well-written. It reads almost like a novel. Other than the historical information, the author writes about his personal experiences which are not related to history that's being written around him, like the chapter "love and lust". These personal stories don't take away from the book or become a distraction; they add literary beauty.

Overall, very good book.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sensitive memoirs from a witness to history..., December 10, 2002

By 

Nelson Aspen "Author/Journalist" (Los Angeles & NYC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hitler's Last Courier (Hardcover)

The incredible, gripping autobiography of author Lehmann, the "last courier" to Adolf Hitler in his infamous bunker, tells his story with sensitivity and brave candor. This large volume is constantly fascinating for WW2 enthusiasts, especially because of his unique perspective as a German "insider." Lehmann's wit and wisdom are apparent throughout and one particular paragraph stood out for me as a summation of his message: "How difficult it must be for all those who live in a democracy, used to a free press and to open exchange of opinions, used to a multiple-party system or, at least, to a two-party system, to understand the one track mind of youth in a dictatorship." Eye opening and candid, this is work of passion and immense detail...not to be missed. It will change the way you look at film of the masses...to realize that every face has a name and a story all his/her own. Especially timely with our current global turmoil.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Insights � Brilliant Narrative, March 9, 2002

By 

Jodi A. Walukonis (Sarasota, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hitler's Last Courier (Hardcover)

When first encouraged to read this very personal, intuitive, and horrifyingly detailed account of history, I hesitated. Being like-minded to author Armin D. Lehmanns more gentle, peaceful side, I questioned if I could make it through an honest, full read of this book. Taking much longer to read than anticipated, there were times that I had to put it down wishing compassionately that this young man could have also put down the situations he found himself in.

As with every hardship in life, and especially with such atrocious hardships, its important to give an honest read. Its imperative to recognize the part that evil plays in some situations. Its been a difficult personal journey for me to follow Lehmann through his book. Yet I am so very grateful for the courage he had to relive these details and share them with the world. A world that still harbors people who believe he should be punished for things he did not  could not  know he was contributing to. I believe that if they gave an honest read, they too would understand a different side of the truth in this historical occurrence.

Right from the first sentence, author Lehmann captures the essence of childhood thoughts and actions relative to anyone. The suffocating agony of crying uncontrollably - for whatever reason  is the first readers learn of Lehmanns amazing ability to describe normal, every day occurrences in a way he remembers feeling them. Boys crying, another fading stigma in society, provides deep insight.

Lehmann mentions a fairy tale he wrote later in life, while the first part of his novel speaks of the fairytale-like childhood he experienced in the forests of Germany surrounded by loving family. A few issues explored are a child in conflict with parents beliefs, hiding a forbidden soccer ball in a friends garage, fantasizing being a hero in his countrys military, feeling inadequate about not living up to his fathers political party ambitions, striving to understand his Fathers rejection of his aunt because of differing political values, and defying that rejection by continuing after school visits to her. Trying to understand his familys fear of free-spirited gypsies, exploring his own pleasures and fears of motorcycles, and nurturing forest pets are others. Readers learn some, many, or all of Lehmanns experiences and childhood memories.

In 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland and Germany went to war, the child Armin waved proudly to troops as they left for battle, with some of them waving back. He kept copious notes of special bulletins of the war and victories proclaimed. What American child hasnt felt pride that his country was defending its homeland as evidenced recently with flags across America after another worldwide tragedy on September 11, 2001? In an age when news wasnt instantaneously available through satellites and air waves, the people of Germany knew only what Hitler chose for them to know.

Tracing his life and thoughts through the years of Jungvolk Camp, Lehmann permits the reader a view of German youth and the information allowed to citizens of his country in that era. Lehmann maintains an insightful observation of his feelings then and now, and the connection to those childhood feelings. Simple occurrences like buying hiking shoes large enough to fit several thick pairs of socks were an economic necessity in youth and they had to last through several years of growth. This is a continuing practice for him today, just for comfort.

Serendipitous occurrences throughout the war followed the author. Losing contact with friend Rudi and never locating him again is reminiscent of childhood friends we all may have lost track of. In the midst of battle, he finds himself staring at a corpse being loaded onto a wagon before recognizing his childhood friend Dieter as that corpse. Losing contact with his family during the war, he later learned that while his Mother and siblings were in one train leaving Dresden, he was being sidetracked in another train on the same track, and that his Father was also in Dresden as a patient.

Lehmann describes being called to meet Hitler in person near the wars end with thoughts that finally he would make his Father proud. Meeting Hitler, being chosen as a personal courier to the Reich Youth Leader eventually lead him to deliver some of Hitlers last dispatches. Meeting Hitlers mistress Eva Braun who became his wife on the eve of their suicide, and being an integral part of Hitlers last moments of reign afforded Lehmann an unprecedented look at history.

He describes being paralyzed during the Breakout, being interrogated, and carefully telling the truth to questions although not offering additional information. He was horrified watching documentaries General Eisenhower ordered about the concentration camps. Having believed from childhood that people were sent to concentration camps for rehabilitation and release, he struggled to believe a comrade who said these movies were made in Hollywood. Yet he intuitively knew this to be false. Said the author; I agonized physically and mentally. My whole belief system crashed, and, only gradually, established itself anew. Again, like many shifts in beliefs people sometimes hit rock bottom before they emerge to a new truth, albeit most citizens of the world have not experienced the heinous occurrences Lehmann did to learn this lesson.

Ill always have images of the horrors Lehmann suffered through, and yet gratefully, I will keep with me the last words in his novel. I see the new Millennium as a challenge for future generations to gradually transform our planet, non-violently into a world for one humanity. Not to hate! Not to cause unnecessary pain! Not to afflict cruelties! Not to kill! We have to start with the minds of our children and be willing to give up some of our freedoms whose effects can be too destructive and therefore endanger others...The challenge for the third millennium is co-existence and values based on the truth. Sanctity of life is dependent upon our devotion to freedom.