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Georgette

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Location: Onapointinparadise.
State: California

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Hitler's Private Library.... Thursday, January 17, 2013

A Review: The Books that Shaped His Life: Timothy W. Ryback.





Bored with my own pickings this week, I drove up to my corner library and found myself looking at the section about books. My eye, which seems drawn to details of the Third Reich, found themselves looking at a book about Hitler’s library by Timothy W. Ryback.

The earliest books in Hitler’s collection were acquired while he was still in the service during WWI. “Berlin” is a book about the architectural history of Berlin by the art historian Max Osborn. Osborn bemoans the fact that much of the architecture of Berlin is drawn from elsewhere, and little is actually Germanic in nature. Change was needed, he said. Hitler agreed. Hitler also agreed with several other authors who espoused riding Germany of the Jewish influence.

Ryback gives us a good overview of the remaining library. He commented that books were always favored gifts to Hitler. Many of the volumes in the remaining collection were gifts never looked at by Hitler. At the end of the war, Hitler had books in three different places. His volumes in his mountain home bunker survived but were looted. His Bunker in Berlin was burned then looted. Only the section of his library that was shipped into storage survived not even two thousand volumes.

By 1945, much of Hitler’s personal library, from the worn volumes acquired during the war to the boxed sets and folios, was boxed up and sent to underground caves for safety. Liberated by the US forces, it was eventually sent to the Library of Congress. Much of it today has not been catalogued, writes author Ryback. Other volumes from Hitler’s library turn up as individual volumes in scattered libraries across America.

Yes, as many philosophers say, one can judge a person by their library. Despite the philosophies and histories, plays and music on Hitler’s shelves, there were also many volumes arguing for the final solution. Ryback writes a fascinating history of not only Hitler’s library but of the times and thought that produced these volumes. I found this book an excellent addition to my research on the Nazi’s Third Reich rise and fall.




  • Keeping those on the east coast in my thoughts.

  • Himself: Driving better at night. Both of us at our highest weight ever.

  • Herself: Breakfast change from toast to 1 cup veggies and a 3 point yogurt. Progress.

  • Reading: A cookbook history.

  • Balance: Feeling clear but very tired by the late afternoons.




That's a fascinating subject. What kitty is on the 2004 collection in your picture? [BonnieRose] 1/17/2013 10:13:33 AM
That is really a fascinating subject! What will you do with the research? Will you share some of your impressions with us? It will be really great to read! [the_mysticalmuse] 1/17/2013 10:36:56 AM
That book sounds interesting. I think I found at at Barnes and Noble, and it's available as an eBook. I'm thinking of purchasing and reading it. The mindset of someone like Hitler and what formed it is certainly a curiosity. [The Rickster] 1/17/2013 1:06:21 PM
 [Hillbilly Princess] 1/17/2013 1:09:46 PM
Hitler and the Third Reich is interesting to me also. Even though Hitler was a monster, it is interesting to try to get inside his head and see what made him tick.  [Tornado] 1/17/2013 2:24:00 PM
I reccommend Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, and then Winter of the World, if you haven't already read them. Excellent novels. Fall of Giants is about WWI and Winter of the World is about WWII.  [Sobernt] 1/17/2013 4:02:00 PM
food for thought. we are what we read  [oulin] 1/17/2013 5:57:32 PM
What an interesting subject. I have always liked reading about Hitler, too. Trying to get inside his head... [Mary Anna Elizabeth] 1/17/2013 9:21:43 PM
Fascinating, that Hitler had so many books - and that many of those left are now in the US. [Arbi] 1/18/2013 1:24:51 AM
Did they find his Library Card?
Any books overdue ? [ThomaS]
1/18/2013 6:12:47 AM
Good one, ThomaS! ;) To Georgette--I thought your bookcase was white. You have more than one bookcase??? ROFL... of course you do. We book lovers all have more than one bookcase! ROFL Huggers, T [Tehachap] 1/18/2013 1:24:40 PM
Thank you for your excellent book review. The content interested me and your review impressed me (as always). [TickTockTickTock] 1/20/2013 11:05:42 PM


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