During the Nuremberg trials, Dr. Leon Goldensohn–a psychiatrist for the U.S. Army–monitored the mental health of two dozen German leade...
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Jan 21, 2012
Linda
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Leon Goldensohn was a U.S. Army psychiatrist who monitored the mental health of the top Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg Trials. This work provides us access to a selection of Dr. Goldensohn's interviews with these prisoners.
Each individual's interviews are listed separately (for easy referencing). Included at the beginning of each interview is a photo of the war criminal, date of birth and death, their title in the Third Reich, crime(s) for which they were indicted, and their sente More...
Each individual's interviews are listed separately (for easy referencing). Included at the beginning of each interview is a photo of the war criminal, date of birth and death, their title in the Third Reich, crime(s) for which they were indicted, and their sente More...
Apr 11, 2010
David
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On May 7, 1945, Germany officially surrendered, as authorized by the then current Flensburg president Karl Donitz. Between the months of May to October the Allied Forces apprehended and interned various major war criminals of the Third Reich, from the likes of the hedonistic Goering to the abysmal Ernst Kaltenbrunner. Initially all the defendants spare Gustav Krupp and Martin Bormann were detained at a health spa in Bad Mondorf to avoid international scrutiny. On October 1945, Airey Neave, a Bri
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Jan 03, 2011
John
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This book is based on interviews by an American psychiatrist who interviewed defendants and witnesses at the Nuremberg trails. There were two main themes to many of the interviews. One, the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles were what made it possible for Hitler to take power. And secondly, the blame for the atrocities and exterminations fell on Goebbels, Himmler, Bormann and Heydrich. This was very convenient seeing as all of them were dead at this point. Of course the defendants trotted
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Feb 14, 2011
Erin
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I read this book mainly to see what motivated the people responsible for the atrocities of WW2. What I found consistantly is that several top people in the thrid reich wished they had never got into politics and confessed that they had a weak character and easily influenced. When Hitler came along and dazzeled them with his charisma, they did not question his final solution. Most people said they had no idea, some I believed but most just wanted to save themsevles. I don't know how legitamate
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May 10, 2010
Staci
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This was really interesting. An American (Jewish) psychiatrist interviewed a bunch of German war criminals -- mostly top level Nazis --during their trial at Nuremberg. It's quite amazing to see how little insight many of them had and the rationalizations they created around their "work." I wonder how difficult the process was for the author--he never finished the project, his brother finished it and had it published after the author's death.
It took a very long time to read
It took a very long time to read
Dec 30, 2011
Tobie
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the book itself is well written...the men are fine actors!to be on trial for your life and to continue to say "i had know knowledge of it" or the best "i only followed orders "is so very weak,and these words coming from men who lived to be a good soldier,how to turn your emotions on and off at the drop of a dime..well they can't be real humans in my own opinion.i have yet to meet some who can do that and hope to gods i don't.
Jan 12, 2011
Omri
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I admit to sin in reading history about WWI and WWII. I'm intrigued by those two periods, especially by the latter. This book collects psychiatric interviews with the defendants and witnesses that stood in those trials on 1946, and is aimed at getting to the bottom line of their personalities. Very interesting, very different, fascinating to see the lies people would tell to save their lives, the way they act, everything - simply fascinating.
Jul 16, 2010
Sal
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Interesting and chilling to hear the words directly from the war-criminals mouths' with regards to the justification for their actions, and in some cases, lack of actions.
Sep 16, 2011
Dori
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"I love my wife, but I cheat on her. Hilter was bad. 6 million were killed? I had no idea." Repeat 41 times. Now you've read the book.
Jan 12, 2011
Jo
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What were they like? Manipulative to the extreme - playing their peers, their interviewer(s), themselves - not, generally, a nice bunch of people. Some were intellectually far ahead of others, and drew conclusions about the course of history which panned out that lets them appear terribly convincing, yet cynical and coldly calculating beyond belief. Others were merely cruel and narrow minded and yes, why not, a bit dim. Not a pleasant read but an eye opener about the human condition. Don't be fo
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May 08, 2010
Caroline
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Interviews of defendants and witnesses of the Nuremberg trials. The witness interviews were more fascinating and more revealing. But neither group would take any sort of responsibility. This isn't a book one likes or dislikes necessarily, but I learned a lot about the organization of the Nazi party and the German military and the relation between the two.
May 08, 2010
Bill
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Interesting collection of the testimony of the accused. It was interesting to see the logic behind their denials. What it made it even more interesting was that Goldsohn was Jewish and conducting the interviews. Goering seems like he must of been squirming in his seat. Good read.
Jul 05, 2011
Brenna
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A repetitive forward by the editor and the boring ramblings of nazi officials have gotten the better of me 50 pages in...
Mar 24, 2010
Christopher Michael
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Great book and insight into the minds of the 3rd Reich as they stood trial in Nuremberg post WWII. I'm about half-way through it now and have really enjoyed it. It just amazes me how nobody knew anything about everything...
CMA
CMA
May 08, 2010
Nancy
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The coldness and banality of human evil was the most striking part of this book. It made for distressing reading. Can humans really feel that little? Sadly, they can.
Apr 07, 2011
Bryan
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I'd take a pass on this one. There is better Nuremberg related material out there.
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