What an eye opener!

This book was published in 2000 and whilst most of it remains relevant today, it certainly doesn't take into account the actions of the EU's 'Open Door' policy regarding immigration, which has no doubt led to a massive rise in fascism and anti-immigration feelings throughout Europe.

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4 people found this helpful

Wow....

this book was informative, interesting, and compelling to listen to. I highly recommend this book. The narrator was very good.

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Highly illuminating examination the continuing threat of Fascism in Germany

I found this narrative totally engrossing, highly erudite and insightful. Fascism remains a menace today almost as much as in the 1920s as indicated by the sharp move to the Right in several European countries.

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History Book: The Insidious Legacy of Adolf Hitler

This is a very carefully researched history and a fascinating read. Don't be put off by the seemingly sensational title and the swastika on the cover. After reading the book, I realised that "The Hitler Virus" is actually an apt title.
The book was researched over several decades, so as to include survivors and former Nazis who were still alive in the 1980s etc.
I appreciate the careful descriptions of the interviewees which bring the scenes to life. The author in some cases built up his connection with the witnesses over years, so many are not strangers being questioned.
We visit Hitler's Eagle's Nest residence, now a tourist attraction and learn new insights about that evil man himself.
We learn how individual former Nazis escaped to faraway countries and how they were in many cases assisted, and how some continued in influential positions. Particularly moving and of significance to the author is the story of Dagmar, who struggled to eventually come to terms with her own father and his horrific crimes against humanity. More recent Neo-Nazi movements and Holocaust deniers are also discussed, and people who were captivated by Hitler's memory - the Hitler virus of the title, in fact.
The Author, Peter Wyden, supplies a scattering of personal insights from his Jewish, Berlin childhood onwards, that contribute to bringing the story to life.
The story is highly relevant in the present day and the Far Right certainly hasn't gone away.

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excellent

fascinating but depressing. However, a necessary book for all. One i will revisit. Worth reading now in our current climate.

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By-Passes the Link Between Capitalism and Fascism

Neo-Nazism pervaded (capitalist) West Germany from 1945-1991 but this author plays this down. Instead, he perpetuates the myth that (Socialist) East Germany perpetuated fascism within its borders between 1945-1991 by the very act of 'Stasi' suppressing its movement (by arresting, trying and imprisoning anyone found guilty of perpetuating neo-Nazim) was somehow 'encouraging' its presence! It is these neo-Nazi thugs that were dealt with by the Stasi the US claim were 'victims' of a brutal 'Communist' regime! The author quite rightly records and exposes the continued presence of Nazism within Germany but continuously fails to ascribe this presence to the correct historical or political context. He makes the further error of assicisting Zionist Israel with local Jewish populations as if one reflects the other! The UN has issued a record number of resolutions against Israeli crimes including rape, torture, murder and terrorist persecution of the Palestinian people (declaring Zionism a form of White Supremacy in 1975) whilst simultaneously issuing resolutions protecting Jewish populations around the globe from similar fascistic persecution. This author obviously chooses to ignore the inherent connection between capitalism and fascism - revealing a bias that he himself held whilst writing a book.

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1 person found this helpful

Solid report re traces of Fascism in (W) Germany

This book is a thorough account written first in the 1970s then in the 1990s about survival of Nazism / Hitlerism post-WW2 in West Germany then Germany (after Wiedervereinigung in 1990). The author must have died v shortly after completing it
Inevitably this book now appears marked by its 20th C. birth.
Who might profit from it? Those who are very interested in Germany and / or Fascism / Far-Right political forces.

I mostly find it worthwhile because I lived in Germany in the 1980s & 1990s so the audiobook provided much background on a number of topics which I was vaguely aware of. To get much from it, in my opinion one would need to bring a deep interest in the subject because the writer makes no concessions to melodrama / humour; this is not trivial literature. The approach is a mixture of history, social psychology and journalism.
I found his account of the battles between various historians (ranging from 'Pope'-like professors to David Irving) of especial value. And when he focuses on the German judges, lawyers and the law in the 1990s he certainly hits the Right target (geddit?).

The author, Peter Wyden (1923-1998) grew up in Berlin, then went into exile in the USA, and only returned to Europe after D-Day; he took part in the US Army's takeover of a large part of Germany. Nevertheless, the author is surprisingly objective about his own (adopted) country.
Despite the book's inevitable faults and incompleteness, I would recommend it provided that you already have an interest in the topics.
Q. What we need now?
A. A continuation of the late author's work in which the varying facets of the after-shocks of Nazism / Fascism/ Hitlerism are examined in their manifestations in the 21st C. since he died. By that is not meant small Neonazi cliques / parties but rather how wide sections of the population(s) have been affected.
The author would not have been surprised by the NSU a network of Neonazi serial killers (also bankrobbers), They are easy to put down but what about the more respectable manifestations of Hitler's ideas and program?

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Brutal Truth.

Sometimes it's just impossible to face the truth. All through my life WW2 has fascinated me, this book is the brutal truth.

For the life of me I can't fathom how when presented with the facts of the haulicaust and the evidence that people deny it or try to tell you it wasn't real!!

It's a bit like the flat earth beleavers. The evidence is there, but no one wants to acknowledge it.

A great book with a lot of new information which, is frightening.

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Challenging

An extremely well put together book that is challenging in its very plausible case. Perhaps the only downside is that the delivery was quite understandably flat and emotionless and hence not always easy to focus on.

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1 person found this helpful

brilliant

couldn't stop listening to this it was mesmerising. what a story. I loved it.

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