Author Topic: looking for a book 'bout Hitler (Read 265 times)

ridley1 · « **on:** February 10, 2008, 06:32:24 AM »

I saw this book on the shelf in (of all places) a book store at Pearson INt'l airport.

Anyway, it's a book about 'what ifs?' And it explores possible histories if Hitler had been assasinated in July '44.

It also looks at what would have happened if he had been assassinated at different times in his career. i'e just after munich, you get the point.

Everytime I search on book web sites, All I get is titles pertaining to the '44 attempt in wolf's lair

Anybody else seen or heard of this book? If so, do you have any more info about it so that I can find or order it?

SD67 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:40:16 AM »

Ahhh yes you're looking for Harry Turtledove, the Wizard of IF

Even though I've only read some of his work I think he's an excellent author, his Worldwar series was a bit far fetched, but The Great War series and the book you're referring to, In the Presence of Mine Enemies (IIRC) were excellent. I'd like to read more of his work.

edit: I made a mistake, the book I referenced theorised about what if Hitler won WWII. It may be the same author though, as he may well have covered several timelines.

AWMac · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:43:59 AM »

Check out that new book..

I, Hillary.

ridley1 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:47:50 AM »

No, I've read turtledove...and this isn't in that same genre..
This book isn't a novel of possible histories like what he does.
I've read "Mine enemies" (nice play on Kurt Waldheim as furher)

The one I'm looking for is more of a political analysis of what would have happened.

thanks for the reply

AWMac · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:49:02 AM »

Mien Kampf maybe?

Rich46yo · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:51:17 AM »

Yeah I have that book, or one like it. Let me see if I can find it. Its called "What If?" by Robert Cowley with essays by Stephen Ambrose, among others. Actually the book does "what ifs" on a broad range of military conflicts and not just WW-ll, "tho it does have a lot of WW-ll material". It aint a bad read but I prefer to focus on what actually happened instead.

ridley1 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:52:49 AM »

You know...I've never gotten around to reading that...
I guess I'd have made a pretty poor Nazi.

Then again, reading it now, with the hindsight of history, you'd be able to see that ol Addy had a game plan way back in '24

ridley1 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2008, 06:56:14 AM »

thanks rich, that's be great.

But there is one specifically about hitleer assassinated at different points.

I was watching one program "on history channel or something such,
and if hitler had died in late 38, or early 39...he would have been seen as the greatest statesman germany ever had.

go figure

Rich46yo · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2008, 07:30:14 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ridley1
thanks rich, that's be great.

But there is one specifically about hitleer assassinated at different points.

I was watching one program "on history channel or something such,
and if hitler had died in late 38, or early 39...he would have been seen as the greatest statesman germany ever had.

go figure

An even better what if is if Hitlers father hadn't changed his name. Can you imagine people saying, "Heil Schicklgruber"? I sure cant.

Its also very possible Adi was 1/4 Jewish. Many historians place his fathers mother in Vienna at the time of her conception of Alois. At the time she was employed as a servant by a prominent Jewish family by the name of Rothschild. When the family discovered her pregnancy they sent young Maria Ann Schicklgruber home packing where she eventually gave birth to Hitlers father out of wedlock.

So...history is always fun to play with.

AWMac · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2008, 07:37:45 AM »

Investigating the story of Adolf Hitler is similar to exploring a fractal, as the further one travels into it, the more complex it becomes. One of the major difficulties in achieving an authentic level of understanding of the Hitler phenomenon is the abundance of spurious sources. The migraines of many a historian can be directly attributable to this reality. The myths abound: Hitler was Jewish with a Rothschild ancestor; Hitler had only one testicle; Hitler had two testicles, but one was bitten off by a goat; Hitler once lived in Liverpool, England; Hitler was insane; Hitler contracted syphilis from a French prostitute during WW1; Hitler took Golden Showers on alternate Thursdays; Hitler knew nothing about the Holocaust and would have disapproved had he known; Hitler's 'real' name was Schicklgruber; Scientists have cloned Hitler's lip, and it's growing a mustache; Hitler never wanted war but was forced into it by an 'International Jewish/Marxist/Capitalist Conspiracy'; Hitler was a homosexual; Hitler escaped his presumed death in the bunker and is at this very moment playing cards with Elvis and some mildly nervous Arab fellows; and so on. Most of us have heard at least a few of these, and possibly believed a few as well.