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Hitler's Table Talk, 1941-1944: His Private Conversations

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I decided to buy this book after reading industry and reader commentary on it. The first thing that struck me was that these are not monologues as some have supposed, they are merely the record of what only Hitler said. The original purpose of their transcription was to save for posterity the words of the Fuehrer in order that they might see how wise he was. Far from being the vulgar parvenu that he is often portrayed, Hitler was a widely read self-educated man with an amazing grasp of many subjects. If this book were to be published without any reference to Jews, the war, the Nazi Party or to Hitler himself, most reasonable people of all political persuasions would find something in his words with which to heartily agree. Look at his pronouncements on economics, on the environment (he was an ecologist before most knew the term), on modernization, on culture, on being a vegetarian, on alcohol and even on smoking and you'll see that in today's America he would be seen as slightly center-left in most areas. Its the other things he said and did that left the world with the image of him as a monster. Despite his knowledge and insight, we all know that he did not use them to best advantage thus dragging his country and much of Europe into a shambles from which some parts have yet to recover. Read this book and you'll see that much of what he foresaw eventually came to pass: The dissolution of Jugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, the dismemberment of the British Empire, the push for a united Europe and even the loss of the war by the side that did not have access to adequate raw materials for its successful prosecution. Yes, Hitler tended to pontificate but as you read keep in mind that only his part of most conversations were being taken down. Read this book and you will also see the truth to the old adage that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Mein Kampf, and to a lesser extent Hitler's Second Book, were declared obsolete and terrible by the author himself (see Hans Frank's memoirs, or Speer's, among others). For insight into Hitler's personality and thoughts, this is by very, very far the best book available. The conversations were surreptitiously recorded by a notetaker during Hitler's conversation sessions with various visitors and his staff. Some entries are verbatim, while others are summaries of Hitler's comments. Obviously Hitler said many things to many people, which means one has to be extra careful in determining what he really believed. His thinking also changed over time, and, like most people, was not always consistent, which makes the task of understanding his thought all-the-more difficult. But this book is by far the most useful source for any understanding of Hitler. The comments were in private conversations, (Hitler usually did not know Bormann was having them recorded), and they are often unguarded ruminations. Of course to those without a real interest in history, the book might seem long and tedious. Hitler had a tendency to say brilliant things one minute, and then trail off into rantings about nonsense the next, so the book is not for everyone. Anyone interested in Hitler for any reason should read this book, and anyone who hasn't read it can't have much of value to say.

If you are reading these reviews, then you probably have at least some curiosity about history and politics. Let us therefore dismiss those among the reviewers who need to get their pro/anti-Hitler angst off their chests.

What upsets me about this book is to see just how much propaganda swirls through our own school systems. What? A drooling, raving, lunatic overpowers a whole nation with a small gang of thugs? A fool with an IQ of 16 tricks the whole German population? Any intelligent person will ask: "Is this possible?"

Quote: "The other parties had practically no paying members. We, with our two and a half million members, banked two and a half million marks every month."

Hitler employed rough methods in his rise to power, but when he was alone in prison, he persuaded most of the prison staff to his cause. He developed massive grass-roots support. How? Why?

Time for a mini-education. The term 'right wing' is often applied to libertarians. This always amazes me. Hitler was 'right wing' - he believed in AUTARKY (and autarchy) - the OPPOSITE of free-market liberalism. He sought to make 'Greater Germany' self-sufficient - to terminate imports, to break away from the international trading system, to get rid of the 'thieving capitalists', to get more agricultural land and coal fields and iron ore mines and rivers (hydro power) and oil wells and forests. Hitler wanted to construct 'Island Europe' - a European Union - to challenge the British Empire and the United States of America (which he considered a corrupt and morally degenerate trade-bloc). He wanted Europe (an Anglo/Nordic/Germanic Europe) to be the dominant power in the world.

His party was called the National Socialist German Workers Party. He was a nationalist and a socialist and a big supporter of the working man. If he were alive today, he would have LED the 'Battle of Seattle'. His motto was 'fair-trade' not free trade and 'our people first'. He hated international capitalism. Get it?

This was not such a strange idea during the Great Depression (and concomitant international trade war). The Japanese wanted a similar autarky (the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere); the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics also constructed an autarky. There were many in America who thought (and still think) that America would be much better off without international trade links. Remember the Japan-bashing of the 1980s? Well, in 1933 the whole Liberal International tradition was in bad shape. Millions were unemployed. Autarky and socialism looked like a great solution.

Even so, not just anybody can organize a political party. Not just anybody can marshal the political currents to his advantage. How many 'men of the hour' blew it when their time came? No, Hitler was no imbecile. He was no ragamuffin or fifth-rate politician. He was smart and popular and he worked very, very hard to accomplish his goals.

This book, then, contains his thoughts and reflections. He speaks candidly on almost every subject under the sun. What is particularly fascinating is his grasp of certain subjects but complete misunderstanding of others. He obviously never studied economics!

Whoever reads this book will instantly recognize how many of Hitler's ideas are alive and well in Europe and America today. He was a fervent anti-smoking, vegetarian, healthy-lifestyle, clean-living, moralistic, environmentalist kind of guy. Much of the film "Triumph of the Will" is about men washing and doing exercises in the open air. Hitler passionately sought to construct a 'better society' - a fit and healthy society with high moral values. He was deeply concerned about the nation's health - physical, moral, economic, and spiritual. He was out to 'do good' for the people - and save them from 'foreigners', 'international capitalists', and 'terrorists' (within and without).

No, he was no lunatic. In fact, he was charming and sincere. He cleverly manipulated people's tribal instincts and their desire for health, safety, and security. To many at the time, he was a hero.

My fear is that many people still consider him a hero. To counter this problem, Amazon should offer this book with "Pop Internationalism" by Paul Krugman. Read both. Don't go through life without some understanding of economics in addition to politics.

Remember, it's not the sloppy, unshaven guy with sunglasses who cons you out of your life savings. It's the 'really nice man' who was trying to help.

Henry Picker was a young German officer who knew stenography and took down Hitler's Table Talk for a period of four years during World War II. This book was first published in 1951 and has enjoyed many reprints in the intervening years. This edition is expertly translated and has some revealing footnotes which leads the reader to other sources.

Though Hitler is invariably portrayed as a raving madman in American "docudramas," he could also be a thoroughly charming and intensely charismatic private companion in his off hours. A man capable of seducing 65 million Germans and of his monumental crimes, had to possess an elemental force both inexplicable and fascinating. This book provides some clues to Hitler's personality, though in fairness, his mesmerizing mystique had been dulled by drugs and megalomania by 1941. He was surrounded by sycophants, but there were some perceptive and intelligent people in his milieu, most notably Joseph Goebbels. Hitler's secretaries were also articulate and intelligent ladies. However, his chauffeurs and other aides, such as Linge and Schaub, were hardly junior Einstein's.

Hitler's monologues are faithfully presented here and he emerges as a genius in certain areas (his knowledge of architecture and art was encyclopedic), and as a sexist boor in other realms. His believed himself to be omniscient and believed further that he was a messiah selected by Providence to save the German nation. Anyone harboring such delusions is bound to sound arrogant and insufferable on occasion.

This is a must have book for anyone interested in Hitler, his entourage, or his paralyzing effect upon other people. It's chilling that Hitler casually discussed trivialities while Europe was being torn asunder because of one man's twsited ideology.

The reader would do best to ignore the attacks made ad hominem on this work by intellectual midgets such as Seth Frantzman. Mr. Frantzman makes the claim that this book is simply a monologue about Hitler musing about the destruction of Europe while eating sausage. (Hitler was a committed vegetarian, who wouldn't have touched Schnitzel. Obviously Frantzman's appeal is made more to the ignorant and intolerant, than to the open minded student.)This book contrary to Frantzman's claims, has several times the historical value of Mein Kampf, or Kershaw's works, simply because it is an unedited look into Hitler's mind and thought process. Ultimately, it's a fine addition to the library of any serious and open minded student of history.

This is a rather large book, but I devoured it literally overnight. The intelligence Hitler displays in his conversations is almost overwhelming. Even his harshest critics cannot deny what a brilliant mind he had. A self-educated man, he possessed knowledge of a broad range of subjects, sometimes knowing even more about certain things than men who were educated at universities. Before I read this book, I knew he was smart. After having completed the book, I was convinced of his genius.
There are 3 books which I personally consider "essential reading" to students of Hitler's life. The first is an out-of-print masterpiece written by August Kubizek (and the fact that it is out of print in the USA is really an indicator of the general public's blissful ignorance when it comes to matters of the TRUTH about Hitler's early life). The second is "Mein Kampf". Last but not least is "Hitler's Table Talk". I also strongly suggest to all bilingual readers out there to read this book (entitled "Hitlers Tischgespraeche") in the original German, as Henry Picker offers some really insightful remarks on the Fuehrer as a person. Hitler's Table Talk promises not to disappoint!

Interesting reading if you study the war or the era. The down side is that Adolf sure likes to shoot his mouth off about topics he knows nothing about.
If you correspond the dates given in the book, to the dates of war events, it gets real bizarre. For example, on 5-22-1944, at 4 pm, Hitler is informed of his crushing defeat at Kursk, losing 30,000 tanks and a quarter million dead. His response? By 7pm , he is giving his dinner guests a good rambling about some art show he saw when in Venice 20 years ago.
Corresponding the war to his talks is what will make the book. How can one massacre millions and talk about fresh vegetables in the same breath?!
Personally, I think it proves he had several personalities, formed in childhood from his abusive father.

Hitler's 'secret conversations' form 1941-44 receives a new preface by Trevor-Roper as it presents the private, informal conversations of the Nazi dictator as recorded by Martin Bormann, who planned with Hitler on using these conversations as the source for books about the glory of his Reich. The first-person conversations provide much depth and insight into the personality and thoughts of Hitler and will prove essential for any college-level student of Nazi history.

A fascinating window into Hitler's feverishly powerful,original , jaundiced mind and the two obsessions which consumed him:1.mythic glorification of the Germanic race and 2. "lebensraum" in the vast Russian steppes.One is struck by his cold,steely intelligence but repelled by its rigidity as well as lack of grace & warmth.There is a lot of repetition.He has dogmatic views on almost every subject under the sun, no matter how trivial (eccentric but interesting!).A striking feature of Hitler's thinking is his megalomaniacal fixation on sheer scale and size___he is always planning in terms of CENTURIES,BILLIONS,THOUSANDS (of miles and tonnage) etc etc.Furthermore the quality of these monologues tend to deteriorate,gradually but perceptibly, as we move from '41 to '44.You cannot understand Hitler without reading these table talks.An entertaining read.

Perhaps surprisingly, Hitler's diatribes against Christianity are more common in this volume than those against Jews. In fact, his scurrilous attacks are reminiscent of those of prominent infidels such as Voltaire and Paine. "What is this God who takes pleasure only in seeing men grovel before Him?" (p. 143). "While we're on this subject, let's add that, even amongst those who claim to be good Catholics, very few really believe in this humbug. Only old women, who have given up everything because life has already withdrawn from them, go regularly to church." (p. 342). "The catastrophe, for us, is that of being tied to a religion that rebels against all the joys of the senses." (p. 142). "A negro baby who has the misfortune to die before a missionary gets his clutches on him, goes to Hell!" (p. 69). "And what nonsense it is to aspire to a Heaven to which, according to the Church's own teaching, only those have entry who have made a complete failure of life on earth!" (p. 419). "What hasn't the Church discovered as a source of revenue, in the course of these fifteen hundred years?" (p. 90). "One cannot succeed in conceiving how much cruelty, ignominy and falsehood the intrusion of Christianity has spelt for this world of ours." (p. 288). "Christianity is the worst of the regressions that mankind can every have undergone..." (p. 322). "Pure Christianity--the Christianity of the catacombs--is concerned with translating the Christian doctrine into facts. It leads quite simply to the annihilation of mankind. It is merely whole-hearted Bolshevism, under a tinsel of metaphysics." (p. 146). "Our epoch will certainly see the end of the disease of Christianity." (p. 343).

Hitler even said: "Here Christianity sets the example. What could be more fanatical, more exclusive and more intolerant than this religion which bases everything on the love of the one and only God whom it reveals?" (p. 397). Look who's talking! And my, how modern that sounds!

The Fuhrer opposed the revival of Wotan (Odin, Woden) worship (p. 61). It is easy to see that Hitler was a consummate rationalist: "Religion is in perpetual conflict with the spirit of free research..." (p. 83). "But there will never be any possibility of National Socialism's setting out to ape religion by establishing a form of worship. Its one ambition must be scientifically to construct a doctrine that is nothing more than a homage to reason." (p. 39). Of course, open opposition to Christianity would have to await the end of the war (e. g., p. 411, 555).

Some modern feminists have used Hitler's presumed views on women as a weapon against those who disagree with them. Interestingly, although Hitler did oppose women in the rough-and-tumble worlds of combat and politics, he actually went far beyond kuchen kinder kirche: "It has therefore often been said that we are a party of misogynists, who regarded a women only as a machine for making children, or else as a plaything. That's far from being the case." (p. 252). He praised creative women in non-traditional roles, notably interior-decorator Frau Troost and film-maker Leni Riefenstahl. Otherwise, the Fuhrer commented: "Of primary importance were the measures we took to ensure a living wage for working women...By insisting that they receive a regular wage in accordance with their qualifications--instead of the sort of pocket-money they formerly received--we have delivered them from the doleful necessity of being dependent on an ami for their existence." (pp. 494-495).

Holocaust-uniqueness advocates have insisted that the Nazis intended to exterminate ALL Jews, first in Europe and then in the rest of the world. Hitler's comments don't support their contentions. Just two weeks before the Wannsee Conference, the Fuhrer said that the English must "settle that between themselves", adding that: "It's not our mission to settle the Jewish question in other people's countries!" (p. 185). Days after Wannsee, Hitler spoke of Jews either leaving Europe or being exterminated (p. 235), or perhaps moving to Russia (p. 260). Evidently, Hitler was still open to a Final Solution that would include the mass emigration of Europe's remaining Jews. Finally, Hitler did NOT envision a Judenrein (Jewish-free) world in the distant future. Four days after Wannsee, he wrote: "A good three hundred or four hundred years will go by before the Jews set foot again in Europe. They'll return first of all as commercial travelers..." (p. 236).

Much current thinking has attempted to blame Christianity for the Holocaust, and Hitler's endorsement of the Passion Play has been misrepresented as a blame-Jews-for-Crucifixion ploy. In actuality, Hitler's motives had been primarily racist in nature: "There one sees in Pontius Pilate a Roman racially and intellectually so superior, that he stands out like a firm, clean rock in the middle of the whole muck and mire of Jewry. The preservation of our racial purity can be assured...not only against Jewish, but also against any and every racial infection." (p. 563).

Apropos to this, Hitler opined that all successful Poles are of German descent (p. 405), yet excessively-broad attempts to re-Germanize such Poles ran the risk of contaminating German blood with Slavic blood (p. 473). Finally, Hitler didn't see the Slavs themselves as having any more inherent right to live than the Jews: "Jodl is quite right when he says that notices in the Ukrainian language `Beware of the Trains' are superfluous; what on earth does it matter if one or two more locals get run over by the trains?" (p. 589).