The "Hitler Myth" cover art

The "Hitler Myth"

Image and Reality in the Third Reich

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The "Hitler Myth"

By: Ian Kershaw
Narrated by: George Cunningham
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About this listen

Few, if any, 20th-century political leaders have enjoyed greater popularity among their own people than Hitler did in the decade or so following his rise to power in 1933. The personality of Hitler himself, however, can scarcely explain this immense popularity or his political effectiveness in the 1930s and '40s. His hold over the German people lay rather in the hopes and perceptions of the millions who adored him.

Based largely on the reports of government officials, party agencies, and political opponents, Ian Kershaw's groundbreaking study charts the creation, growth, and decline of the "Hitler myth". He demonstrates how the manufactured "Fuhrer-cult" served as a crucial integrating force within the Third Reich and a vital element in the attainment of Nazi political aims. Masters of the new techniques of propaganda, the Nazis used "image-building" to exploit the beliefs, phobias, and prejudices of the day. Kershaw greatly enhances our understanding of the German people's attitudes and behavior under Nazi rule and the psychology behind their adulation of Hitler.

©1987 Ian Kershaw (P)2021 Upfront Books 20th Century Europe Germany Military Modern War

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There are already enough reviews on the reading, which indeed distracts from the content, especially in the beginning. You get used to it somewhat.
Content is OK. Kershaw's 2-volume biography of Hitler is vastly superior, but this is a nice addition.

You get used to the reader

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Despite reservations I got the book and I listened almost to the end but I did not learn anything new I'm sorry to say because I know how good a writer is Ian kershaw is. It was all very vague. We know the nazis created a myth around Hitler. I don't like criticising but I can't see the point of the book

What's new to say about Hitler

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The narration is really bad. The narrator tries to emphasise, but does so at the wrong times, and at times it is like he is reading a script for the first time with no knowledge of the next sentence

Ruined by very poor narration

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Good book badly read. Too loud and hard. The book is fascinating though. Could not finish it, will read the paperbook.

Good book badly read

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Just ghastly. Will have to buy the physical book as the narrator here is too distracting.

Breathless atonal emphases. Seemingly no interest in the subject 😒. Where is an editor when you need one?

Did Kershaw approve of this narration?

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Lots of reviews have pointed out how bad the narrator is - the German pronunciation is also terrible, really off-putting. There are some words which appear over and over (eg Beobachter - 'Bee - o - back - ter' according to the reader). Just getting those right would have been something...

Great book, terrible reading

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A great work, by the established authority on the topic.
However, this book was ruined by an appalling narration. The syntax and emphasis of the text were all over the place. Indeed, it became a struggle to concentrate on the content due to the utterly horrible narration.
What a pity…

Incredibly bad narration…

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An important book, and one of the author’s early works for a general readership. His syntax is at times over-elaborate, and requires more concentration to follow when listening rather than reading, especially when distracted by the narrator’s hectoring tone, odd pronunciation and odder rhythms. At times it sounds like he does not fully understand what he is reading

Distracting Narrator

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I gave up listening to what was a very good piece of work ruined by the narrator's style. It was simply awful. At times he sounded as if he was going to break into song. He hadn't got a clue and should reimburse his fee!

Appalling narration

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The expert on Hitler, I always enjoy Kershaw’s books.
Kershaw makes a big feature of the British bombing of Germany and in one paragraph says that Britain had air superiority over Germany from 1942. I’m not sure that’s correct. Certainly the first 1000 bomber raids took place in May ‘42 but the losses were terrible and it was not until mid ‘44, and only when American bombers were escorted by long range fighters, that it could be said that the Allies had air superiority over Germany. Without fighter escort, British planes always flew at night. The audiobook performance was excellent but I gave four stars just because of the funny pronunciation of Lebensraum!

Excellent as always by Ian Kershaw.

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