The Strange Death of Heinrich Himmler: A Forensic Investigation

by W. Hugh Thomas

Book Overview

On 22 May 1945, in the immediate aftermath of World War II, the Allies celebrated the capture of the most important member of the Nazi hierarchy, Reichsf?hrer Heinrich Himmler. The SS leader was... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312289235
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.6" x 1.0" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

Mighty Chilling...

One thing is for certain, Himmler is a man of multiple contradictions and this is one of the first books to show that. The more that comes out of the archives as time passes shows a man who was not dull or stupid, riding up on Reinhard Heydrich's coattails; but a man who had amazing cunning and a remarkable sense of self preservation. Perhaps he did snap at the end of the war and foolishly walked into British hands and say 'Here I am', but I have always found that rather hard to believe. I found Thomas's arguements and research interesting; I don't know if I believe all of it, but I think it's about time someone questioned what happened at Himmlers suicide.

Might give you bad dreams

Regardless of speculation based on such circumstantial material as whether hair grows or not after death or what eyeglasses Himmler preferred, Thomas' theory that the No. 2 Nazi survived the war comes down to one question: whose body did British Intelligence conceal in an unmarked grave in May 1945? According to the author, the dental assistant who worked on Himmler until November 1944 did not recognize the teeth shown in the British autopsy report as belonging to the suicide identified as Himmler. The author presents a convincing case that the SS Reichsfuhrer was no suicide. If so, this book --- which shows the Nazis had business dealings with British & American intelligence agencies, US-based multinational corporations and European aristocracy that amounted to treason --- may prove of particular interest to conspiracy "buffs" who see disturbing parallels, if not outright linkage, between the rise of fascism in Germany and America under the "neo-cons."

Popular Ideas About Himmler's Death Debunked

A very well researched and written book. To look upon such a person as Himmler, one would never guess the evil and the genius that was rolled up in one man. Thomas lays an excellent foundational ground work which leads to the "death" of Himmler. The forensic investigation is first class. Illustrations and pictures detail much of the technical language used. After reading this excellent book, I cring when watching documentaries on the death of Himmler and wonder why they missed what Thomas makes to be OBVIOUS about the non-death of Himmler.

Himmler Conspiracy Theory!

Here's an interesting and well documented book that seems to inject a lot of theorizing ino the mix. Suppose the accepted death of Heinrich Himmler were not true? Interesting reading with some real revelations and chilling photographs. Collectors of WWII history might be especially interested in this work.

THE DEATH OF A MASS MURDER

The strange death of Heinrich Himmler by Hugh Thomas was a well done-put together product. It is highly likely that this book will be a slow seller since few readers are interested in such subject matter. The book is very detailed and has some rather good photos-some I have never seen before. The book, in my opinion, is a "4" star item. Himmler, the greatest mass murderer in history, was no doubt, a very unusual person and questionable. When he was captured by Allied forces, he revealed his real self, a little man with no powers at all without Hitler and the Third Reich. He was weak,had a bad stomach (probably from his mass murder approvals of 7 million Jews and Poles), was a paper general, never a true Reich soldier, never won any awards, except political, loved his black uniform, and was viewed by other Nazi Generals as a political party member only, and wasn't well respected. No other person in world history can lay the unfortunate claim of killing so many human beings. His photos in this book, and those of his death, indicates that he was finished, at the end of the line, and show that he knew his fate, thus escaping justice by swallowing poison, a easy way out on earth, but he is likely paying the price now as we speak.