THE FACE OF THE THIRD REICH

by Joachim Fest ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 15, 1970

German journalist Fest wrote these psychological portraits of many of the major Nazi figures for a Berlin radio series on recent German history. Despite their ""rather profane origin,"" the profiles are serious, astute analyses of the emotional make-ups and political roles of these Nazi individuals and the significance of each to the overall functioning of the Third Reich as a totalitarian regime. The extended examination of Hitler himself delves into the twenty-five years of historical-biographical background that shaped his psyche and smoothed his path, but makes no original contribution to a well-worn subject. Somewhat fresher in impact are the studies of Goering, Goebbels, Heydrich, Himmler, Bormann, Roehm, Ribbentrop, Hess, and other selected functionaries. Three group portraits describe the behavior of certain categories of people not adequately represented by any single figure: the generals, the ""intellectuals,"" and women. Through these individuals and groups Fest is able to present the vulnerability of different personalities to the Nazi totalitarian ideology as well as the essential features of the whole apparatus of power. But universal overtones are heralded in the Foreword: ""The question then arises whether the universal precondition for man's self-renunciation, which is not something fostered only by totalitarian regimes but is joyfully embraced by millions of people of their own free will, is not his lack of intellectual and moral direction, his personal weakness, his blind hunger for the apparent certainties of a universal philosophy."" No answers to that one, but some still intriguing case studies.

Pub Date: May 15, 1970

ISBN: 030680915X

Page Count: -

Publisher: Pantheon

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1970

Categories: NONFICTION