Nicolaus von Below

This is the personal account of a Luftwaffe aide always at Hitler's side from 1937 until the last days in Berlin, now published for the first time in English. Nicolaus von Below was a 29-year-old pilot when Goering selected him for the position of Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant. He was with Hitler at every stage as the Second World War unfolded. His observations tell of HitlerOs responses to momentous events as well as military decisions and policy-making at Fuhrer Headquarters. This is a superb source describing life in Hitler's inner circle, relied upon on by Gitta Sereny in her biography of Albert Speer. He provides fascinating insight into how Hitler planned the invasions of Poland and Russia, what he thought of Britain and America, why he placed his faith in the V-1 and V-2 projects, how others dealt with him, and much more. Von Below was present at the assassination attempt in July 1944, and records the effect on Hitler and his followers. Von Below was the last of Hitler's close military entourage to emerge from the bunker alive. His frank memoir will appeal to anyone interested in how Hitler ran his war. He was denounced to the British in 1946 and imprisoned as a material witness at Nuremberg, until being discharged in 1947.

Nicolaus von Belowin muistelmat on lukuisten historiantutkijoiden ja journalistien mielestä merkittävin teos, minkä kukaan Adolf Hitlerin lähipiirissä toiminut tai sitä tutkinut on kirjoittanut. Siksi se ilmestyy suomeksikin nyt jo kolmantena lyhentämättömänä laitoksena. Kirjoittaja kuului vanhaan preussilaiseen sotilassukuun, jonka jäsenenä hän ei koskaan liittynyt natsipuolueeseen. Siksi hän oli sodan jälkeen liittoutuneille tärkeä asiantuntija, kun setvittiin, mitä Kolmannessa valtakunnassa oli tapahtunut ja miksi. Ilmavoimien upseerina hän antaa myös selkeimmän kuvan siitä, miksi Luftvaffe äkillisesti romahti vastoin mm. Herman Göringin pilvilinnoissa liikkunutta propagandaa.

This is the personal account of a Luftwaffe aide always at Hitler s side from 1937 until the last days in Berlin, now published for the first time in English. Nicolaus von Below was a 29-year-old pilot when Goering selected him for the position of Hitler s Luftwaffe adjutant. He was with Hitler at every stage as the Second World War unfolded. His observations tell of Hitler s responses to momentous events as well as military decisions and policy-making at Fuhrer Headquarters. This is a superb source describing life in Hitler s inner circle, relied upon on by Gitta Sereny in her biography of Albert Speer. He provides fascinating insight into how Hitler planned the invasions of Poland and Russia, what he thought of Britain and America, why he placed his faith in the V-1 and V-2 projects, how others dealt with him, and much more. Von Below was present at the assassination attempt in July 1944, and records the effect on Hitler and his followers. Von Below was the last of Hitler s close military entourage to emerge from the bunker alive. His frank memoir will appeal to anyone interested in how Hitler ran his war. He was denounced to the British in 1946 and imprisoned as a material witness at Nuremberg, until being discharged in 1947.