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53rd out of 207 books
—
162 voters
They Thought They Were Free: The Germans 1933-45
"Among the many books written on Germany after the collapse of Hitler's 1000 Year Reich, this book by Milton Mayer is one of the most readable & most enlightening."--Hans Kohn, NY Times Book Review
"It is a fascinating story & a deeply moving one. & it is a story that should make people pause & think--think not only about the Germans, but also about themsel...more
"It is a fascinating story & a deeply moving one. & it is a story that should make people pause & think--think not only about the Germans, but also about themsel...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
May 19th 1966
by Phoenix Books/University of Chicago Press
(first published 1955)
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Apr 28, 2013
Erik Graff
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Westerners
Recommended to Erik by:
no one
Shelves:
political-social-science
Shortly after the war Milton Mayer, an American Jew of German heritage, and his wife, Jane, moved into a mid-sized German city. Concealing his religious background, Mayer passed as an authentic, returning German and was thereby afforded an easy intimacy with the inhabitants. What he was aiming for was some insight into how Hitler came to power and how Germans of all walks of life thought of his regime. He apparently got it.
I've approached the German experience from 1933 to 1945 with similar ques...more
I've approached the German experience from 1933 to 1945 with similar ques...more
They Thought They Were Free-the germans 1933-45
Milton Mayer – author. Published by the University of Chicago Press
First published in 1955 the book has the advantage of being a collection of recollections about the conditions of life in the small town of Kronnenberg. The citizens of Kronneberg were of the most conservative of ordinary people. In fact they were not even Germans, according to ‘real’ Germans. Kronnenberg was in Hesse. Its people were sometimes referred to as blinder Hesse – Blind He...more
Milton Mayer – author. Published by the University of Chicago Press
First published in 1955 the book has the advantage of being a collection of recollections about the conditions of life in the small town of Kronnenberg. The citizens of Kronneberg were of the most conservative of ordinary people. In fact they were not even Germans, according to ‘real’ Germans. Kronnenberg was in Hesse. Its people were sometimes referred to as blinder Hesse – Blind He...more
An unsympathic, somewhat unemotional view of the average German from 1933 - 1945. The book was written by a Jew, posing as a non-Jew, who interviewed average Germans in the early 50s.
The German system was "ripe" for National Socialism (Nazi Party). Under Hitler, the average German was fed, had a job, and became Someone. Hitler was their "Father" figure. At some point, the state becomes more important than the individual, and this can be the result. One can easily draw several parallels between...more
The German system was "ripe" for National Socialism (Nazi Party). Under Hitler, the average German was fed, had a job, and became Someone. Hitler was their "Father" figure. At some point, the state becomes more important than the individual, and this can be the result. One can easily draw several parallels between...more
This book is scary, entertaining, and enlightening, all at the same time. The author is an American journalist who was very curious (as many people, since the end of WWII, have been) about how Nazi Germany could have happened. He had his publisher obtain a university teaching position for him at a northeastern German university (unnamed) and the book evolved from conversations with former Nazi friends. Written in 1955, it still has the power to shock, amaze, and educate. Much can be learned from...more
“‘What is an Aryan?’ ‘An Aryan is a man who is tall like Hitler, blond like Goebbels, and lithe like Göring.’”
They Thought They Were Free pg.228
Sorry, this review ended up choppy and too short to address all of Mayer’s point’s.
Mayer, a Jewish American, spent a year getting to know ten “average” German men. These ten also had a Nazi background. He and his family move to a small town, Kronenberg, were he finds his diverse ten. )It sounds hard to be “diverse” when all ten come from a small town.) A...more
They Thought They Were Free pg.228
Sorry, this review ended up choppy and too short to address all of Mayer’s point’s.
Mayer, a Jewish American, spent a year getting to know ten “average” German men. These ten also had a Nazi background. He and his family move to a small town, Kronenberg, were he finds his diverse ten. )It sounds hard to be “diverse” when all ten come from a small town.) A...more
A Jew posing as a non-Jew writes an interesting, scary, and sad book about the Germans of 1933-45. Written after the war, Milton Mayer befriends 10 Germans to gain understanding of their action, thoughts, and roles in the years of 1933-45. Although this book is written without real feelings toward the Germans, I felt it almost gave the underlying vibe of sympathy. What was not surprising was the fact most of these Germans turned their heads and still believers of a "good" Hitler.
I really enjoyed this book, but it does take a bit of effort to stay engaged in what's going on. The author's style isn't very direct until later in the book.
This book really opened my eyes to how the Germans were manipulated very carefully by the National Socialist movement. It serves as a chilling reminder that this could happen to anybody, that anything less than standing on principle regardless of the consequences makes a people vulnerable to usurpation and slavery.
This book really opened my eyes to how the Germans were manipulated very carefully by the National Socialist movement. It serves as a chilling reminder that this could happen to anybody, that anything less than standing on principle regardless of the consequences makes a people vulnerable to usurpation and slavery.
Mayer - An American Jewish journalist - performs what may be nearly a supernatural feat of grace as he profiles 10 ordinary Germans shortly after the war - my '10 Nazi friends' as he puts it. Mayer quotes the prayer of the publican as a warning to all of us. The book is powerful and revealing of human nature, but in an unexpected way. The Nazi problem is indeed a human problem.
How can a democratic nation with a highly educated populace devolve into barbarism and tyranny? Well, it was barbarism and tyranny to some...for others it was order.
Well written in both style and content. A powerful reminder of what has happened and what can happen again.
Well written in both style and content. A powerful reminder of what has happened and what can happen again.
Milton Mayer writes wonderful profiles of ten Germans who lived through the Third Reich. His analysis is very human; compassionate, yet to some extent damning. I liked Mayer in these chapters, but liked him less in the opening and closing chapters when he writes, not so much about the individuals caught up in the war, but about the nations involved and especially the United States. Mayer joins other Blame-the-USA critics in imagining some better(undetermined) solution to winning WWII than bombin...more
Illusion can very easily overcome ones reality. In these times in which we look at the state of the union, we would do well to remember this. This book is eerie because of how blinded they were to the reality of what they were supporting.
Milton Mayer traveled to Germany 10 years after the end of the second world war and conducted extensive interviews with a group of "ordinary" Germans living in Kronenberg. This book provides some answers to the question of "how could this have happened?". Opression came gradually, affected "the other" and in the meantime life for the average German (Aryan) improved under the Nazis during the 1930's. This book also leads to the some uncomfortable questions for the reader, especially "what would I...more
Dec 27, 2010
Steven
added it
Very good read. This book was an interesting perspective from some "ordinary" Germans during the years of the Reich. Do any of us really know how bad our governments can be?
Sep 23, 2010
Craig J.
added it
"They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45 (Phoenix Books) by Milton Mayer (1966)"
Great book, if not a bit frightening. Frightening because you can really see that tyranny can happening anywhere and at any time. It really puts you in the shoes of ordinary Germans. Would I really stand up to tyranny if it meant the death of my wife and children?
Also interesting is that many Germans referred to the "30 Year War" WWI and WWII were, in many Germans' minds, the same war.
Also interesting is that many Germans referred to the "30 Year War" WWI and WWII were, in many Germans' minds, the same war.
Amazing --- All about how normal people could have done what they did (Nazi Party and the holocaust). A Jewish American went to Germany to interview "little men" from the Nazi Party and did an analysis of their responses (they didnt know he was Jewish) and of Germany´s history, dating back several years. It really scares you to understand how logical it could seem to them.
Good book interesting information on the German people and the Nazi's. Made valid comparisons between actions in Germany and USA. After reading the book it is very easy to understand how things happened.
"Men who did not know that they were slaves do not know that they have been freed."
World War II book. . .very interesting.
May 12, 2013
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Milton Sanford Mayer, a journalist and educator, was best known for his long-running column in The Progressive magazine, founded by Robert Marion LaFollette, Sr in Madison, Wisconsin.
Mayer, raised a Reform Jew, was born in Chicago, the son of Morris Samuel Mayer and Louise (Gerson). He graduated from Englewood High School, where he received a classical education with an emphasis on Latin and langu...more
More about Milton Sanford Mayer...
Mayer, raised a Reform Jew, was born in Chicago, the son of Morris Samuel Mayer and Louise (Gerson). He graduated from Englewood High School, where he received a classical education with an emphasis on Latin and langu...more
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