Weinberg's short interpretations and insights make this a great book. If you are looking for a large quantity of in-depth information on the entire war then this is not the book for you. However, if you are seeking a broad overveiw of the German attitude before and during the war with regards to specific information of broad topics; this book is for you. Weinberg deals with issues such as;the European balance of power in 1918, the German generals' reaction to the planning of a war against Poland, what Germany was planning to do with their victory, the German perspective on Pearl Harbor, and many more topics. Overall this book provides great insight to areas that are not traditionally covered in other books.

Gerald Fleming makes an excellent case and puts forward an enriching amount of material that makes this study highly integral to both the historiography of the Holocaust, as well as to many aspects of this nightmarish aura of terror.

A great many perpetrators are put forward in this study: Eichmann, Heydrich, Himmler, to name but a few, thus providing readers with a broader perspective and how Nazi Jewish policies involved large echelons of people that enacted, in different forms, such policies. At the forefront of this short, but provocative study, is Adolf Hitler himself. Fleming's apparent motivation stems from the recent controversy of Mr. David Irving, who apparently has far from negative views about 'Der Fuehrer' and his role in the Final Solution.

There are a few negative things to be made clear. First, Fleming, though he does an excellent job in pinpointing Hitler's responsibility and knowledge of everything pertaining to genocide, argues a far-reaching theory known as "Intentionalism." This school of thought - now largely in a minority - believe that Hitler was set in his views about murdering the Jews of Europe from the very beginning of his political life (the 1920s). By the time he became Chancellor in 1933, all he needed was the right moment to lash out. This idea is a negative, as the exhaustive efforts of historians like Christopher R. Browning and Richard Breitman, have demonstrated (and provided overwhelming evidence) that Nazi Jewish policy emerged more as a solution amidst a series of failures and frustration in somehow getting Jews out of Europe rather than as a premeditated plan. This school of thought, of which the reviewer considers himself to be a member, is called "Functionalism."

Second (and this is an example put forward by Breitman), Fleming does not take care to tell when exactly Hitler ordered various Jewish policies to take place. He just makes it clear that he did.

The case Fleming puts forward is laudable and makes a very interesting read, especially in light of recent "paranormal" happenings with Holocaust and WWII scholarship - as evidenced by writers like revisionists David Irving and Daniel Goldhagen, who have put forward theories surrounding the Holocaust that merit plenty of question (this is, after all, revisionism, is it not?). Fleming's work, if nothing else, may serve as definite proof as to the ultimate bearer of responsibility for the genocide committed during the Second World War. Hitler, though he was careful never to leave a written order ("Fuehrerbefehl") pertaining to this, remained absolutely in touch to his nightmarish vision, where millions perished.

Intentionalist or Functionalist, historian or everyday reader, make it a point to read Mr. Gerald Fleming's work.

Adolf Hilter, a fascinating yet despised man of his times would be a hero to many, but a murderer to some. He has had the courage to lead thousands upon thousands of women, men, and children. He has changed my way of thinking and probably others who thing of Hitler as their hero.

Not very many books today are published about this controversial regiment of the German Military during World War II. Due to the regiments close association with Adolf Hitler and its role within the SS, it is politically incorrect for many military history authors to write about regiments within the SS yet alone the SS Leibenstandarte Adolf Hitler Regiment.

As a military history and also just a history enthusiast student/teacher, I wanted to know more about this regiment and the role it played before and during World War II. I was not unsatisfied after reading it. The author James J. Weingartner did an excellent job detailing the founding of the regiment prior to World War II. This regiment was tough and had excellent training in both physical and tactical aspects under the leadership of Sepp Deitrich who was Adolf Hitler's personal bodyguard and who later commanded the regiment.

This regiment had to be "a cut above the rest" because it bore Hitler's name. Only the best soldiers were admitted and even then, many failed during the harsh training. Before the war, this regiment was mainly used for parades and high visible events. During the war the regiment had to be used for fighting the Allies as they got closer to Germany.

This regiment fell out of favor with Hitler, which was not unusual during the later half of the war. Hitler blamed everyone but himself for the way the war was turning against Germany. Hitler ordered the regiment to stop using his name on their cuffbands and flags. However, many didn't follow this and this was a regiment who fought fiercely and bravely.

There are alot of administrative and technical points in this book, however it doesn't distract from the overall readiblity of the book. The author does a fine job in following the brief history of this regiment and this book is highly recommended to those who want to learn about the German Armed Forces during World War II.

Highly recommended!

"This is a short (200-page) hardcover book which brings
together most if not all of the occult speculations concerning Nazi Germany,
with a reasonable degree of footnoting. Hence it is included here as a good
introductory survey of the field. Extensive quotations from Crowley and an
'AEon of Horus' theme throughout the text expose the author's Thelemite
bias."

although i am no professor, i feel this book gave me a good insight and understanding of hitler, as well as life altering events that may have contributed to such monstrous actions.since i have read this book i am now able to give my own opinion on why he became such an evil and unhappy human being.

The author is a journalist by training and the fast paced, quick writing style comes through. This is not a detailed study or indepted review of this period but a very good and very readable account that was enjoyable and interesting.. I enjoyed the overview of characters most as it gave an identity of the men around Hitler at this time in the early years of the Nazi Party.It also carried the story in the eyewitnes'es words and recollections that offered the reader many different accounts ,and also presented these individuals views of what was occuring during these times.

I found this to be an interesting book that will lead me to further reading into this period of history.

The great and prolific people of the world are always defined by the times in which they live, a fact which we cannot escape. To understand Hitler one must understand what came before, especially the legacy that Napoleon left upon the European continent. While a straight comparison/contrast of the two leaders is a core theme in this analysis, Desmond Seward transcends that, attacking the interrelational cause-and-effect relationship between the two conquerors. The enormous complexity of these two personalities, of which numerous, exhaustive studies have been made, preclude Seward from exploring each too deeply in one text. His exploration, as with most works of this nature, raises more questions than it solves, but he, quite thoroughly, includes direct references to his sources and admirably provides the reader directions for further study. While his comparison could use more focus on the thematic analysis rather than simply event-related parallels, it was well composed and quite interesting with solidly founded conclusions.

I was very pleased to read what I wanted about Nazi history.

This is the purported diary of an immigrant German Jew living in New York during the war who recalls treating Hitler himself. Some of it rings true, other parts not. I do not know what to make of it regarding its authenticity. The book made a fascinating and sometimes disturbing read about the mysterious personality of this very evil person.