This book contains the biographies of Hitler’s three henchmen, Göbbels, Himmler and Göring, the longest loyal servants of Hitler. It utilises both older biographies, because of their insights, and more recent scholarly publications, as well as diaries (such as those of Göbbels and Ciano).The volume illustrates that Göbbels’ support was three-fold, in campaign managing, propaganda and myth-building. Himmler’s terror apparatus supressed occupied Europe, and controlled Germans, ensuring that Hitler retained power. Göring’s control of the economy and the Luftwaffe and his personal support of Hitler were critical as demonstrated by his trial at Nuremberg, but he was the weakest link from 1940 as he became virtually ineffectual.
In addition, and new to this area of study, the book introduces the work of Stephen Roberts, an academic who actually met these men in 1936, and whose insights are revealing. The volume also examines the question of their mental stability in the light of psychopathic studies.
