Hitler's Hangman, The Life of Heydrich

Hitler's Hangman: The Life of Heydrich by Robert Gerwarth

I read it as an Ebook, but since its a pretty recent publication (2011), I imagine you can find it in bookstores.

The book is about the life of Reinherd Heydrich, the true person behind the holocaust. It tells you in sometimes general terms and sometimes specifics about both Heydrich's personal and professional life. It was interesting to actually get a feel of him through his childhood, which would never of lead anyone to think he would become what he did. You got a feel of the kind of personality he had, and how the world around him shaped his world view.

If you've read other biographies of Reinherd, theres probably not a whole lot new you'll learn from this book. It's not good with specifics, like how how exactly created his concepts of the camps, just generalities.

It was an interesting read, and pretty fast. It claims to be the first real biography of him, and in that it falls kinda short, but if your interested in him, you'll learn something.

 

Thanks for the review

 

I´d like to hear how Kenneth Branagh prepared himself for the role in Conspiracy...I mean many actors say they live like the person they are about to act in the movie, for months...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_(2001_film)

 

Uh yeah, sorry that makes no sense, I don't understand you.

 

Kai's comment makes perfect sense to me. I have no connections with show business and am not an actor (I just play one on TV.......)

 

He's speaking of a recent film in which Heydrich (played by Branagh) was the central character, and is thus related to your book review. It's been discussed on the forum several times but since you're new you've missed all that.

 

'Conspiracy' is that sort of film that doesn't have 'action' , etc...the actors make it what it is.....which is why I like those more than the action films....

much thanks Benjamin......yes, how very, very interesting...if you ever read about serial or spree killers, people who knew them say the 'same' thing ...'''I never would've thought that about him'''......justice was served, though....but at great cost....as I mentioned before,killing/ justice/revenge/etc., is almost like a circle---a trait of humans....integral

 

This should be required watching for everyone. Not only is it very well acted, the movie delivers a very accurate portrayal of the nonchalant nature that the Nazis behaved towards the Jews ( and others) on the eastern front. Sickens me to the core watching the head of the SS smirk when it is revealed that the actual extermination facilities were already in construction and the policy in place even though many members of the party were not given full disclosure.

 

KJ -- what do you make of the scene where the Wehrmacht officer excuses himself to the restroom because he's sick to his stomach, and he says it was the cigars? That confused me a little... was he actually sick because of the cigars? Or was that a cover because he was sick to his stomach from the subject of discussion?

 

Given that it was 15 of Hitler's henchman discussing the eradication of "undesirables" I have a hard time believing at the Wannsee Conference that was an actual occurrence. However, from what I have read many were not aware of the finality of murder as the ultimate end. These may have been few and far between, but still possible. For example, many believed in the sterilization approach, not a swift end.

It still amazes me, as we discuss this, that humans behaved in this manner. No matter how much I read of this time, it still shocks me and renders me ill.

 

it doesn't shock me at all...just seeing everyday people and the hate they have for ''everyday'' incidents and problems........seeing the stories in the news everyday....they still do it...Rwanda, Serbia, Cambodia, etc....how many genocides before that?? that's a 'trait' of humans.....
I think revenge is a ''natural'' trait..I'm guilty of it....
look at the violence and hate at the supposed police brutality cases,etc........and then that breeds hate from the 'other' side.....

 

I have to agree with you. It's sickening that there are human traits that evolve into this.

 

You are aware, that the year is now 2015, and the movie "Conspiracy" is from 2001...

Perhaps you were talking in geological terms...

 

I have started to read Hitler's Hangman: The Life of Heydrich by Robert Gerwarth for the second time. I found that there is so much in this work, that to try and review it after one reading probably wouldn't be sufficient.
What I would say at this stage is that the author seems determined to look at Heydrich's family background and his life before becoming a Nazi. The author also tries to seek out why Heydrich began to be drawn to National Socialism. It tries to be more than just an account of Heydrich's life as a powerful Nazi. Finding it quite a complex read, even second time round, but rewarding.

 

I have that book and read it a long time ago. It is an interesting read and explains why he had the Luftwaffe's pilot badge which always had me boggled. I may have to read it again. Another interesting read is Hitler's Paladin.....about Sepp Dietrich.

 

Interesting interview with Robert Gerwarth about 'Hitler's Hangman' book from Australian national radio in 2011- originally cited on 'WW2Talk' :

https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/rn/podcast/2011/09/lnl_20110929_2205.mp3

 

I have wrote a review of this book and placed it on Amazon UK..Gave it 5 stars.

"Well detailed biography looking at the whole span of Heydrich's life rather than time as supreme Nazi commander of Bohemia and Moravia and subsequent assassination in June 1942. Demanding, I read it twice and will use it this book for reference.
All the key elements of Heydrich's life within the Third Reich, the Gestapo being founded, the Night of the Long Knives, the invasion of Poland the mobile killing units operating in Poland and the occupied territories of the Soviet Union, are depicted. Heydrich's role in devising the Final Solution of are detailed ;the author dates the genocidal process as being devised in the last months of 1941, and also stresses that not all elements of the German military were in favour.
Heyrich had an uncanny ability to understand human weakness. Ruling Bohemia and Moravia, he would reward the Czech workers working in the armaments industry and state machinery with the promises of treats and reduced hours. He stamped out the Black Market even if the racketeers were German Czech, and developed intelligence networks. All Heydrich's abilities were gone into detail.
But the book goes further. The writers tries to unravel how Hedyrich from a prosperous German family with a great sense of entitlement struggled and nearly floundered in all the chaos of post World War 1 Germany and how this shaped him. After being dishonourably discharged from the navy, it was Heydrich's wife Lina who convinced him to become a Nazi. Encouraged him to help Himmler devise an intelligence service -Heyrdich avidly read British detective fiction, but had no real experience of policing. Heydrich simply made the most of a society in freefall with a driving ruthlessness The author doesn't try to play the psychologist or to in any way try and excuse Heydrich's genocidal mania, yet tries to trace how Heydrich evolved into the architect of the holocaust. The author doesn't try to resolve the moral dilemma -whether the assassination of Heydrich was worth all the murders that were occurred in retribution, but points out that the Czech resistance was finished by German retaliation to Heydrich's death until 1945. "

 

I did like rise RG’s book is a very informative not only on Heydrich as an individual but also on how the departments he was involved functioned and his working relationships with others. You come away with an appreciation of the man himself his positive and negative aspects it also dispels some of the popular myths written about him. The range of his crimes and how he understood his place within the NSDAP agenda not least his dislike of “ The Old Fighters” who were often given power and responsibility. An excellent read. The HBO film “Conspiracy” is above average, a great cast , excellent script and fantastic acting. “Do they even have a Hell” , “They do now, we have created it” Both are well worth spending time with.

 

If you play a Major part of a top nazi with a mission to kill all European jews you need aloit of time with Dokument films etc to play the part. There is also only one documement of the meeting of the said Words

 

I think he was thinking it was a Simpele mee ting. Planning killing millions of people made him sick.