Selling Hitler: The Story of the Hitler Diaries by Robert Harris (PDF)

Description

His classic account of The Hitler Diaries. Spring 1983: it seemed that one of the most startling discoveries of the century had been made, and that one of the world’s most sought after documents had finally come to light – the private diaries of Adolf Hitler.What followed was a fiasco of fakery, greed, the duping of experts, and the exchange of extraordinary sums of money for world-wide publishing rights. But that was just the beginning of the story. . .

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐In the 1970’s, former Hitler youth and relatively effective if not occasionally scatter-brained photo-journalist Gerd Heidemann became obsessed with Nazi collectibles and paraphernalia. As far as we know, Heidemann no longer subscribed to Hitler-Nazi ideology but was captivated, albeit off the proverbial charts, in authentic items related to the regime responsible for the deaths of millions in the late 1930’s and 1940’s. His first act was to buy a yacht formerly owned by Hermann Goering, taking out substantial loans not only for the purchase but for repair and renovation. The seed was planted for Heidemann to become a willing participant in and eventual victim along with his publisher Stern Magazine of one of the greatest historical-literary hoaxes of all time: the so-called Hitler Diaries.Robert Harris’ book “Selling Hitler: The Story of the Hitler Diaries” takes us on a journey which reads like a page-turning novel. In his introduction, Harris paints a compelling if not eyebrow-raising picture of the world’s growing fascination with Adolph and the German Nazis beginning in circa 1970. This interest spiked in the 1970’s with the appearance of diaries and documents associated with people directly and indirectly connected with Hitler. Even the Russians, who for years suppressed Hitler’s autopsy and the circumstances around the Fuhrer’s death, finally revealed their data in the late 1960’s. By the time of the hoax, many biographies had appeared about Hitler but they seemed more factual and less intimate. Who was the real man behind the mustache? The time was ripe for the appearance of something hidden for 40 years which would give history buffs something to quench their Second World War appetites.The story begins with the plane crash near what is now the Czech Republic of a German “Junker”, a military transport plane, which contained many documents connected with and associated with Adolph Hitler. It was one of several planes ordered by Hitler to leave Berlin in April, 1945, before the arrival of the Allied Forces. While the plane crash itself is not disputed, a complex narrative would be fabricated around the crash concerning its “precious cargo”, which would lead straight into the sudden appearance of the Hitler Diaries. The plane crash would become one piece of a larger “story”: it supposedly contained several dozen volumes of Hitler’s personal diaries, which had been confiscated by locals shortly after the plane crash. Of course, as the story goes, the locals have no idea what these are. To continue the narrative, the materials would end up in the hands of an East German national who would eventually smuggle the diaries to West Germany to be published by Stern Magazine in Hamburg, as long as the price was right.Even before formal publication, the new discovery was causing a sensation in the magazine-publishing world. Harris paints an intricate portrait of intrigue, obsession, and greed among a cast of unlikely characters, such as the former Nazi officials befriended by Gerd Heidemann to Rupert Murdoch, publishing mogul of Australia, the UK and Canada. He even tried to secure publishing rights of the Diaries in the United States over Newsweek Magazine! Stern thought they had the upper hand until it was revealed, in part by Hitler historian and Holocaust denier David Irving and forensic analysis, that they were forgeries. Murdoch summed it up best when he pointed out that even if the Diaries are forgeries, that story will still sell magazines because that is as fascinating to readers as the real McCoy!

⭐Much like energy giant Enron, the Hitler Diaries fraud was built on a house of cards so flimsy a stiff breeze would have exposed it for what it was. Problem was, everyone involved was so invested no one could bring themselves to ask the obvious questions. Many a reputation was justly destroyed but in the end, they all had it coming.

⭐This book is all about the forged Hitler diaries. It is a chronological research of the whole affair and is an excellent study of just what happened, centering on the major victims and how they were so easily fooled. The author has researched his material excellently and covers a lot of ground in the overall story. I found it just a bit hard to follow because of the german phrases and names and i should have noted some down and their meanings along the way to be able to keep track, but that’s my fault not the author. At the end of the book there are photos of each of the main players and a reader (if they knew that) could easily refer to the back of the book to identify the characters. It would have been good if those photos had been sprinkled through out the book as the characters appeared. I have no criticisms though, just suggestions for new readers. It’s an excellent read and study of human nature, and how people can so easily be conned, even astute clever men. (As usual, more men than women get conned)

⭐I remember reading all the kerfuffle about the Hitler diaries when I was younger. Then I heard the excellent BBC Radio 4 adaptation and so I decided to buy the book. What a shame it’s only available in the UK (bah humbug). As I travel internationally this doesn’t bother me much but does add to the pain of buying ebooks. This is the story of how a well known magazine company tricked themselves into buying 60 faked volumes of diaries supposedly written by Hitler. It is a scarcely believable tale of hubris and self-delusion. As such it deserves to be read by many individuals and organisations as they con themselves into ever more foolish mistakes. You’ll hardly believe what happened but happen it did so suspend your credulity and let Harris’ easy but compelling style lead you through this tale of woe.

⭐I had recently read Harris’ two novels based on Cicero’s life and was interested in reading more of his books when I came across this title. I vaguely remembered reading about these diaries back in the 1980’s but didn’t know the full story or its importance. The reviews of book sounded so interesting, that I decided to take a chance and found the paperback on Amazon Marketplace. I could not put this book down. The author does a great job of making all of these characters come to life – for better or worse. It seems unbelievable that so many people, including historians and high ranking journalists and editors, were initially duped by these fake diaries, but Harris does a fine job of explaining how it could happen. Definitely worth seeking out a copy and reading.

⭐This was a bit of a slog in terms of volume but very enlightening and surprising in many respects. Not the most entertaining volumes I’ve dealt with of late but there was quite a bit of suspense and some shock personal appearances in the mish-mash that involved many people who really should have known better.

⭐Well researched and explained true story about the hitler diaries in the 1980s. I vaguely remember it in the news but didn’t realise the scale of the fraud and the gullibility of those involved. An early Robert Harris book hinting at the direction the author would take in the combining of true events and drama in future books. Very interesting conclusion speculating if the forgery had been better.

⭐I thought this book was just a documentary concerning Hitler’s diaries, but it turned out to be a chilling, amazing, investigative story. It was so amazing that it was almost stranger than fiction. I couldn’t put it down. That so many top media people could be duped when it seemed obvious that the diaries were forged, beggars the imagination,let alone the truth!Beverley Gledhill OAM

⭐I remember this story being front-page news in the early eighties and as a fan of Robert Harris you have to congratulate him on bringing the whole sorry and complicated saga to life. If you are a fan of military/political history then you can probably add another star but my only reservation is that the book now feels slightly dated. Hitler is of course, Hitler but I’m not sure that 40 years on from the original incident that today’s younger generation of readers will feel the same sense of ‘awe’ around the possibility or implications of him having written a diary that the world felt back then.Perhaps I’m doing the book [and younger readers] a disservice because as a study in greed, hubris and deceit it is as relevant today as the day it was published. I would certainly reccomend this book for all students so they fully understand the importance of checking sources and doing their ‘research’ and equally to anyone who wants a perspective on how the ENRON scandal, Bernie Madoff and maybe even Boeing’s problems with the 737 Max can evolve over time.

⭐How stupid can you get? Robert Harris here tells the remarkable true story of the most outrageous hoax of the 20th century. The diaries, supposedly the thoughts of the Fuhrer between 1933 and 1945, were no hi-tech, sophisticated fraud. The forger, Conrad Kujau, aged the paper in the notebooks by pouring tea over them! Furthermore, much of the Hitler material was copied verbatim from a published source (its factual errors included). And yet reputable periodicals and networks all over the globe forked out thousands.There are some dull passages where the author gets bogged down in the minutiae of the case. But on the whole it’s a truly fascinating read. At its best ‘Selling Hitler’ reads like a novel with some LOL moments. I really like the way Harris sets the tale within the context of Cold War politics. Harris captures western paranoia surrounding East Germany, for instance – it comes across as a dark and unchartered Tolkeinian wilderness where monsters dwell. Above all, the case of the Hitler Diaries reveals just what a hold on our collective conscious Adolf continues to have.

⭐I first bought the paperback edition of this book in 1991. I’ve re-read it so many times over the years the book is now battered. So I’ve bought a new copy. Despite inflation etc it’s cost me £4.50p here on Amazon – only 51p more than it did in 1991! It’s not been updated in any way, but I’m prepared to live with that as it’s a classic. It’s also been printed in a larger format with a bigger typeface so it’s easier to read.No Less a person than Sir Richard Evans – Regius Professor of History at Cambridge University – described this book as ‘excellent’ in his book “In defence of History”. I’ve just re-read Robert Harris’s extraordinary account of the ultimate publishing fraud and the book is as fresh, fast-moving, funny and informative as when I first read it. It’s a complex story moving backwards and forwards in time, with numerous characters and locations. But Robert Harris handles the complexities effortlessly so you always know where you are. Indeed, he builds in a tension so this book reads like a thriller. What, you wonder, is going to happen next? It’s great entertainment, a real page-turner.But the book contains a serious message – an awful warning to people who write about Hitler – get your facts right. If you fail the roof will fall in. In the case of the Hitler diaries fiasco the whole house collapsed burying large numbers of people in the rubble.Since then – 1983 – more and more Hitler books have poured off the presses. The controversial historian, David Irving, wrote at the time that ‘Adolf Hitler is still big box office’. That’s true 30 years later. It’s one reason why authors want to write about the Nazi dictator. He sells books. But the perils are many, as Robert Harris demonstrates, and only the foolhardy would ignore them. If you do you’re courting trouble – big trouble!Having praised this book can I make a plea for an updated edition? The text can stay the same, but perhaps Robert Harris could add a couple of chapters telling us about other Hitler publishing misadventures that have happened since. An historian said to me there are two markets for Hitler books – those for people with a serious interest in history and those that appeal to fantasists and conspiracy theorists.Sadly, innocent people are still being fooled. Hard to believe? Then take a look at a book published in 2011 called “Grey Wolf – the escape of Adolf Hitler.” The authors argue Hitler never died in the bunker in Berlin in 1945. Instead they claim he escaped to Argentina with Eva Braun, two daughters, Martin Bormann and Hitler’s favourite dog Blondi. There the world’s most wanted man lived in luxury undiscovered by anyone! The book has become a best seller despite critical reviews by me and other people. Just look at the number gullible customers who have written comments praising it to the skies. Perhaps Robert Harris might like to include some comments on this latest example of publishing stupidity in an updated edition of “Selling Hitler.” Bizarre things have been going on – enough to delight any author with an eye for the absurd.Many people will have a good laugh at the Hitler diaries saga. Some may ask if it really matters? I think it does. Truth matters. Polluting the wells of knowledge matters. In an angry editorial the “New York Times” argued it was important to know what drove one of the century’s most diabolical tryrannies. It mattered that Hitler should be seen in the light of truth and not reincarnated and redefined by forgeries. Modern authors should bear that in mind before publishing books that trample over people’s feelings.Leaving aside Hitler for a moment … I think anyone interested in history – whatever period – should read this book – especially if they’re a student. For the book demonstrates dramatically how important it is to evaluate evidence. You need to be on guard all the time, particularly when people make extravagant claims.

⭐If you have ever wondered how so many people in the banking industry got it wrong and triggered the banking crisis, then this book may help you to understand. It has nothing to do with banking, but everything to do with how supposedly competent people become convinced that everyone else knows what they are doing, when in fact no one knows what’s actually going on. At its heart is a single decision by a single executive, based entirely on the word of one journalist. From that the disaster grew and grew. Its the true story of how Stern magazine was sold fake Hitler diaries back in the 1980s, by a conman and forger posing as a seller of nazi memorabilia. It starts with a journalist that’s too eager to believe in what he’s being told, and ends with senior executives spending close to 9 million Dmarks (about £2.5 million)to buy the forgeries. Those that tried to raise warning flags are dismissed pretty much as party poopers. I won’t tell you who gets the sack at the end, as you won’t beleive it, but read it for yourself.Robert Harris tells the story in much the same way as he writes his fictional books. My one criticism is that there are no references to source documents or testimony which would allow the reader to confirm for himself what Harris recounts as fact. This is a normal feature of non fiction writing and would help to add to the authenticity.

⭐You could not make this stuff up. I often wondered about the real backstory of the Hitler diaries and now here it is, in as complete a form as you can get. I recall Magnus Linklater telling me about his part in the affair which gave a fascinating glimpse into the past. That was in 2017. Highly recommended read.

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