This is a new edition of a major document from World War II with additional, previously unavailable texts assembled from the stenographic record of Hitler’s informal conversations ordered by Martin Bormann. These texts remain the classic collection of Hitler’s nighttime monologues with his entourage, covering mostly nonmilitary subjects and long-range plans. Hitler lets his thoughts wander, never failing to provide an opinion on every subject. Additional documents from various archives make this the most complete English-language edition in print.
Hitler's Table Talk 1941-1944: Secret Conversations
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
H.R. Trevor-Roper was the world renowned historian from Oxford and authored The Last Days of Hitler. Gerhard L. Weinberg is the foremost specialist of Nazi Germany and World War II. He is the author of A World at Arms.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There is some controversy among scholars as to the reliability of this book. However, most believe it's the real deal. I tend to agree. It consists of stenographics records recorded under the direction of Martin Borman of Hitler's private conversations on various subjects. It's really a fascinating book, where Hitler discusses a truly amazing number of historical, religious and philosphical subjects. I have a list of other books on documentary history relating to Nazi Germany and other forms of totalitarianism on my profile.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hitler's Secret Hatred of Christianity Contrasts with His Public Support for the Same
January 4, 2010
By Jan Peczkis
Format:Paperback
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 Only old women, who have given up everything because life has already withdrawn from them, go regularly to church."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 wholehearted 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 familiar 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). Within days of 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).
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 familiar 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). Within days of 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).
20 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a rather unique book--reconstituted versions of monologs Hitler had with his associates, friends and staff during usually midday and evening meals. The period covered are July through December 1941; January through February, 1942; February through September 1942 (the largest number of entries); and a few entries from June 1943 and March through November 1944. These entries supposedly were taken down by several individuals and reviewed/edited by Martin Bormann acting as Hitler's private secretary. So this appears to be as close to hearing Hitler pontificate as we are likely to come.
And pontificate he does on a wide variety of topics--at length and frequently repeating himself from day to day. This must not have been fun to listen to day after day. Each of the 328 entries is dated, designated as to time, with a summarization of the topics covered. Occasionally, "special guests" (such as Himmler, Todt, and various military leaders--but never Goering) are identified as having been present; sometimes they pose questions to which Hitler responds. Hitler had opinions on about every topic you can imagine and let fly with his pronouncements without restraint. One interesting thing is that relatively few comments address the war that is going on--it is almost as if these sessions were meant to be escapes from that unpleasant topic (since the invasion of Russia occurs midway through the first batch of entries). A sampling of topics includes: building a network of autobahns in the Crimea and elsewhere in Russia after the way to facilitate the settlement of millions of German immigrants; intense anti-Christianity; admiration for Stalin and Mussolini; his admiration for the English people, hatred for Churchill, and belief that England would soon drop out of the war to save its Empire; architecture; waltzes; judges and the rule of law; FDR--a "sick brain"; Japan as an ally; his building plans for Berlin, Linz, Vienna; Americans--"brains of a hen"; Canada will be grabbed by the U.S.; and Stalingrad.
A couple of reactions stand out after reading some 548 pages of this. Hitler was very well read, especially in European history. His hatred for the Jewish people appears sporadically at the outset, but progressively becomes more persistent as time passes (but never any mention of the "final solution"). Some of the most interesting entries involve Hitler recounting his strategy during the early pre-1933 struggles for power and the opposition the Nazi party faced. It is also fascinating to see Hitler posing himself as a "builder"--of autobahns, museums, and capital cities--how ironic to say the least! I think the main problem of the book is that unless the reader is a dedicated student of the period, reading this book is like panning for gold--an occasional nugget pops up every so often but most of it is just uninteresting and repetitive. Reading Ian Kershaw's fine biography of Hitler would probably be a better investment of time for the general reader.
This edition contains helpful introductory essays by Gerhard L. Weinberg and the late H.R. Trevor-Roper, that put the book into perspective. There are three short appendices and a solid index.
And pontificate he does on a wide variety of topics--at length and frequently repeating himself from day to day. This must not have been fun to listen to day after day. Each of the 328 entries is dated, designated as to time, with a summarization of the topics covered. Occasionally, "special guests" (such as Himmler, Todt, and various military leaders--but never Goering) are identified as having been present; sometimes they pose questions to which Hitler responds. Hitler had opinions on about every topic you can imagine and let fly with his pronouncements without restraint. One interesting thing is that relatively few comments address the war that is going on--it is almost as if these sessions were meant to be escapes from that unpleasant topic (since the invasion of Russia occurs midway through the first batch of entries). A sampling of topics includes: building a network of autobahns in the Crimea and elsewhere in Russia after the way to facilitate the settlement of millions of German immigrants; intense anti-Christianity; admiration for Stalin and Mussolini; his admiration for the English people, hatred for Churchill, and belief that England would soon drop out of the war to save its Empire; architecture; waltzes; judges and the rule of law; FDR--a "sick brain"; Japan as an ally; his building plans for Berlin, Linz, Vienna; Americans--"brains of a hen"; Canada will be grabbed by the U.S.; and Stalingrad.
A couple of reactions stand out after reading some 548 pages of this. Hitler was very well read, especially in European history. His hatred for the Jewish people appears sporadically at the outset, but progressively becomes more persistent as time passes (but never any mention of the "final solution"). Some of the most interesting entries involve Hitler recounting his strategy during the early pre-1933 struggles for power and the opposition the Nazi party faced. It is also fascinating to see Hitler posing himself as a "builder"--of autobahns, museums, and capital cities--how ironic to say the least! I think the main problem of the book is that unless the reader is a dedicated student of the period, reading this book is like panning for gold--an occasional nugget pops up every so often but most of it is just uninteresting and repetitive. Reading Ian Kershaw's fine biography of Hitler would probably be a better investment of time for the general reader.
This edition contains helpful introductory essays by Gerhard L. Weinberg and the late H.R. Trevor-Roper, that put the book into perspective. There are three short appendices and a solid index.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An alternate, informal perception into the mind of Hitler
I know simply due to the nature of the author and the text, that this is a controversial book. Nonetheless, that does not mean it should be avoided or ignored; This book is a... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Jerome S.
4.0 out of 5 stars
strange
strange read. I knew hitler had some grandiose ideas. if he said these things in this book, he was way out there. he had the world all mapped out, like he was a god or something.
Published 1 month ago by Rapid Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE TURGIDITY OF EVIL
This is a review of the new edition of HITLER'S TABLE TALK:1941 TO 1944 edited by H.R. Trevor-Roper with a new Foreword by Gerhard L. Weinberg. Read more
Published on February 8, 2010 by John M. Lane
1.0 out of 5 stars
Unreliable translation
A recent translation shows that Trevor-Roper, either deliberately or perhaps unconsciously, tried to make Hitler sound like an atheist. Read more
Published on June 25, 2009 by Earl Lee
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great History
An excellent source of information for scholars or those doing research on the subject of Adolf Hitler. Read more
Published on July 20, 2008 by Georgia Gravy
