Hitler's Last Courier

By Armin D. Lehmann

Book Overview

Victory of the Allies was no longer in doubt. Russian forces had reached Berlin. Yet, Hitler ordered his troops to keep on fighting. Among the last who defended his headquarters, an underground bunker... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738831204
• ISBN13: 9780738831206
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp
• Length: 536 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

pleasure to read

You would -very much- enjoy this book for the following reasons: * It is very informative. It is a social analysis of the Nazi Germany. You come to understand everyday life in Germany and how they (especially the younger ones) were indoctrinated, why they supported Hitler, even in the desperate final days. "We were willing to forgo our lives, as a sacrifice for Fuehrer and fatherland". "In the great scheme of things, we had been taught, our individual lives belonged to the nation. Not for us to live on, but for the nation to survive". * It is an easy read. The book was divided into many chapters. * Well-written. It reads almost like a novel. Other than the historical information, the author writes about his personal experiences which are not related to history that's being written around him, like the chapter "love and lust". These personal stories don't take away from the book or become a distraction; they add literary beauty. Overall, very good book.

Sensitive memoirs from a witness to history...

The incredible, gripping autobiography of author Lehmann, the "last courier" to Adolf Hitler in his infamous bunker, tells his story with sensitivity and brave candor. This large volume is constantly fascinating for WW2 enthusiasts, especially because of his unique perspective as a German "insider." Lehmann's wit and wisdom are apparent throughout and one particular paragraph stood out for me as a summation of his message: "How difficult it must be for all those who live in a democracy, used to a free press and to open exchange of opinions, used to a multiple-party system or, at least, to a two-party system, to understand the one track mind of youth in a dictatorship." Eye opening and candid, this is work of passion and immense detail...not to be missed. It will change the way you look at film of the masses...to realize that every face has a name and a story all his/her own. Especially timely with our current global turmoil.

Powerful Insights

Born in Germany, Armin Lehmann was four years old when Hitler came to power. In the impressionable years of childhood, he was indoctrinated with the principles and goals of Nazi socialism - at home by his father, at school by his teachers. His friends parroted the messages and his beloved radio was the main purveyor of the doctrines of Hitler.As I read this book, I remembered my own childhood during WWII. Growing up in California, learning hatred for the Japanese and Germans and blind patriotism for the USA. It never occurred to me to doubt or question just as it did not occur to Armin. He was a child and had no basis for comparison with what he was being told. When his lessons in courtesy and respect taught him to assist an elderly, blind Jewish woman across the street, an older teen beat him up to teach him a greater lesson about consorting with Jews.By age sixteen as the war drew to a close, he was compelled to be a soldier in the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth). Wounded during his first engagement, he was assigned the role of courier for Artur Axmann (leader of the Hitler Jugend and, at the end of the war, commander of the Hitler Youth Home Defense Force which included a close-combat tank destruction brigade named after him). Axmann took refuge in the cellars of the Party Chancellery in Berlin and Armin came with him - one of the last couriers of the Third Reich. He, like the other children bearing messages directly in the line of fire, was frequently wounded. Unlike most of the others, he survived.Armin not only carried messages but assisted in the Infirmary with the wounded and in searching out supplies. When possible, he helped carry the bodies of the fallen back where they could be buried. It was also his role to take messages to Hitler, Bormann, Goebbels and others sheltered in the Fuehrerbunker. In the final days, he and Axmann moved into the bunker complex where Armin witnessed the events surrounding the wedding and the suicide of the leader that he had so admired and followed. As I saw Hitler from Armin's eyes I realized what a pathetic, though evil, person he was. I was struck by the kindness Eva Braun showed to the exhausted young boy. What would lead a woman like this to marry a man like Hitler - to go to death with him?This was a fascinating book because of the insight into the day-to-day life of a soldier in war, the molding of a young mind to believe things that were terribly wrong, the horror and tragedy of war for men, women, children and animals, the final days of men whose names after 60 years still send chills, and as a powerful reminder of the importance of a democracy, a free press and an open society.

Enlightening and Frightening

At a time when young suicide bombers are blowing themselves up, and their victims, I ask myself why? How can one so young destroy their lives for a cause? The author describes his own experiences with Naziism, the propganda and brainwashing, that made him want to fight for his country. Much of what is writen can help one understand why someone so young can have such motivation, have such encounters with near death, to observe brutalities yet continue on until the end of the Third Reich. Recovering from serious wounds, suffered during the war, and learning of the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis during this time, he was able to reflect on his upbringing, and the teachings of his Nazi father, and educators. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in understanding what it was like to be a youth in Nazi Germany.

Stunning Insights � Brilliant Narrative

When first encouraged to read this very personal, intuitive, and horrifyingly detailed account of history, I hesitated. Being like-minded to author Armin D. Lehmann?s more gentle, peaceful side, I questioned if I could make it through an honest, full read of this book. Taking much longer to read than anticipated, there were times that I had to put it down wishing compassionately that this young man could have also put down the situations he found himself in.As with every hardship in life, and especially with such atrocious hardships, it?s important to give an honest read. It?s imperative to recognize the part that evil plays in some situations. It?s been a difficult personal journey for me to follow Lehmann through his book. Yet I am so very grateful for the courage he had to relive these details and share them with the world. A world that still harbors people who believe he should be punished for things he did not ? could not ? know he was contributing to. I believe that if they gave an honest read, they too would understand a different side of the truth in this historical occurrence.Right from the first sentence, author Lehmann captures the essence of childhood thoughts and actions relative to anyone. The suffocating agony of crying uncontrollably - for whatever reason ? is the first readers learn of Lehmann?s amazing ability to describe normal, every day occurrences in a way he remembers feeling them. Boys crying, another fading stigma in society, provides deep insight.Lehmann mentions a fairy tale he wrote later in life, while the first part of his novel speaks of the fairytale-like childhood he experienced in the forests of Germany surrounded by loving family. A few issues explored are a child in conflict with parent?s beliefs, hiding a forbidden soccer ball in a friend?s garage, fantasizing being a hero in his country?s military, feeling inadequate about not living up to his father?s political party ambitions, striving to understand his Father?s rejection of his aunt because of differing political values, and defying that rejection by continuing after school visits to her. Trying to understand his family?s fear of free-spirited gypsies, exploring his own pleasures and fears of motorcycles, and nurturing forest pets are others. Readers learn some, many, or all of Lehmann?s experiences and childhood memories.In 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland and Germany went to war, the child Armin waved proudly to troops as they left for battle, with some of them waving back. He kept copious notes of special bulletins of the war and victories proclaimed. What American child hasn?t felt pride that his country was defending its homeland as evidenced recently with flags across America after another worldwide tragedy on September 11, 2001? In an age when news wasn?t instantaneously available through satellites and air waves, the people of Germany knew only what Hitler chose for them to know.Tracing his life and thoughts through the years of Jungvolk Camp, Lehm