In His Own Words: The Essential Speeches of Adolf Hitler

by Adolf Hitler, C.J. Miller (Translator)

The subject of this book hardly needs an introduction. It is doubtful that there is any nation on earth that is not familiar with his colossal and provocative reputation. Adolf Hitler rose from the ranks as an unknown soldier, through the political chaos of the Weimar period, to take command of Germany and embark on a twelve-year odyssey of both great triumphs and great tragedy. Time magazine named him Man of the Year in 1938, but in terms of personal impact on the course of history, he may have been Man of the Century.
In the popular imagination, it is impossible to disassociate the man from his emphatic and passionate public addresses. As a result, Hitler's oratory is often credited with his victory in the competition for political influence in the early years of the NSDAP's struggle for power. And yet, competent translations of many of his influential speeches have largely been neglected, and those that do exist often do not do justice to the original material.
In His Own Words is not only a collection of new and improved translations of some of Hitler's most important speeches, but also includes original research to provide historical context and information about the speeches themselves. While not a complete collection of every speech he ever made-such a collection would span thousands of pages at minimum-the essential speeches translated in this edition will provide the English reader with an unparalleled understanding of how Hitler used his oratory to become the most recognizable political figure of the modern age.
Antelope Hill is proud to present In His Own Words, translated, compiled, and with commentary by C.J. Miller. This work is vital to understanding Adolf Hitler and the twentieth century, and as such it is imperative that it be preserved in the printed word for generations to come.

Genres: History, Politics, World War II, Nonfiction, Germany

276 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2022

About the author

Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, known as “der Führer,” from 1921 led the Nazi party of Germans with Mein Kampf , which from 1925 to 1927 embodies his fascist philosophy, which attracted widespread support; from 1933 served as chancellor of the Third Reich; after 1934 ruled as an absolute dictator; pursued aggressive nationalist policies; resulted in the invasion of Poland in 1939 and the subsequent outbreak of World War II as his infamous regime exterminated millions of persons, especially Jews of Europe; and with the imminent collapse, took his own life in 1945.

For role in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, people executed Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Franz von Papen served as chancellor in 1932 and then from 1933 as vice to 1934.


Adolf Hitler rose to power as the leader and then the title. He initiated conflict on 1 September 1939. Military operations closely involved him, who centrally perpetrated the genocide of millions of other victims. He committed his suicide.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_H...

Reviews

[Nick John · Rating 5 out of 5]

What more can be said about this book. It is simply an excellent preservation of some of the most amazing , even some of the most of obscure speeches from one of the greatest leaders in world history.

I don't know how Antelope Hill keeps doing it but they did it yet again. Reading such an awesome collection like this gives you insight into some of the opinions of Adolf Hitler that previously have gone unheard or unnoticed, largely because of the lack in English translations of these transcripts.

It's not only a collection of English translated speeches though, it is also an excellent history book on the context and time period in which the speeches were given. The translator has an extreme amount of knowledge on each speech and really helps paint a vivid picture of the time and circumstances around which they were given.

Whether you are a simple student of history, or ardent National Socialist, this is definitely a book you want have in your history collection!

[Michał Wojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise no flourish just facts. Really got an appreciation for getting the other side of the story other than bad man is bad. Would advise this over Mein Kampf or at least read this first. Very easy to pick up and put down just read a speech here and there. Also very high publishing quality. Overall outstanding book!

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. It presents a selection of a dozen speeches, selected to cover a broad range of topics and for their historical importance. Each speech has a long and well researched introduction, which is particularly valuable to be able to put the speech in its context and also to learn detailed historical facts.

This book tries to cover two different aspects: historical events (such as the Putsch and the Night of the Long Knives) and the National Socialist ideology. For the latter you can find, for example: differences between Aryans and Jews, industrial capital vs financial capital, uniting social classes (workers of the hands and of the mind), ideological rejection of Marxism, and the problems of parliamentary democracy.

This makes the book interesting and useful to understand National Socialist ideology for those who are already familiar with it, but if you're completely new to this I'd recommend starting with a book such as Hitler's Revolution first. Miller's book is simply not long enough to be able to give a comprehensive overview.

The selection of speeches is great, I just wish there were a bit more. There's a short speech on the role of women in National Socialism which a lot of readers might find more interesting than, for instance, understanding the specific political intrigues of the Putsch. To understand the gender relations in National Socialism the best speech that I know of is the one of September 7, 1934 which unfortunately is not included in this book.
As for understanding Hitler's views on the Jews, I recommend a whole book dedicated to this important topic: Hitler on the Jews

I'm really happy with this book. I'm happy that it has a serene and balanced tone and provides historical accuracy. I'm just sick of reading books full of snark, dehumanizing loathing, and the word "Nazi" (they have to lie even on the name!). I truly hope that one day there will be enough books written from Hitler's perspective. A Marxist, for example, wouldn't accept to read a book about Marxism if it's openly hostile to the point of being childish. So why should right wing people put up with this?

I recommend this book, both for the speeches that it selected and for the well written and useful introductions.

[Bronze Age Barbarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The speeches are great and much more interesting than I might have thought they would be. The historical background sections are also fantastic and provide key insights to the speeches and the era in which they were given

[Lewis Woolston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curiosity, they say, killed the cat, well in this case my curiosity has almost certainly got my name on a watchlist for buying this book. I would like to say, for the benefit of any federal agents watching me, that i am not a Nazi, merely a curious book lover and history enthusiast.
Anyway....
This is a fascinating book in many ways. A collection of Hitler's speeches translated with introductions. If you want a little insight into the mind of Hitler, if you wonder what his appeal was, this book will interest you.
I found the speeches hard to digest to be honest. The sheer epic pomposity is hard to stomach. The man clearly thought he was some great figure of history destined to make a big mark on the world...which is kind of true now that i think about it.
There is a huge contrast between how Hitler speaks in these pieces with how i am used to politicians speaking. Here in modern Australia politicians try and sound like "just a good bloke" and on the same level as the people although in reality most of them are pampered shits from the upper classes. Hitler did nothing of the sort, he was grandiose and pompus beyond anything i've ever seen. Also Australian politicians tend to focus on economic issues, cost of living, unemployment etc. Hitler was obsessed with national glory and renewal and racial purity and the general grand destiny of the nation and volk.
Perhaps it's a cultural and time thing but i didn't "enjoy" reading these speeches and didn't find them appealing, i doubt my vote would be swayed. They were just far too pompus and grandiose for me. Perhaps that's because i'm Australian and my culture doesn't really do the whole "grand destiny of the nation" vibe.
Anyway, this is an interesting book, if you're interested in Hitler and the Nazis, if you're curious as to what exactly his appeal was i would say this book is almost essential. It is not, however, pleasant or enjoyable reading, but then again not everything has to be.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this instead of a biography since so many of them offer an angle; they intend to tell you what Hitler was *really* about. The introductions to each speech are balanced and insightful. Hitler’s criticisms of democracy are surprisingly candid and stinging (one doesn’t have to be an authoritarian to say so). Hitler’s reputation as self-obsessed is well earned. He talks about himself a lot and every topic seems to invariably come back to being about him personally. I recommend to anyone who’s interested in historical source material.

[Shortsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thankful to Miller and the team at Antelope Hill for putting this together, giving access to the real speeches with the translation that they never show you in the documentaries. Miller's contextualisations before each speech are also very enlightening, with none of the editorializing you've come to expect when reading books about Hitler and WW2.

[Cveti Angelova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a chilling but essential historical document. Reading these speeches provides direct insight into the rhetoric, manipulation, and ideological framing that led to one of the darkest periods in human history. While deeply disturbing, the text is important for understanding how mass persuasion, nationalism, and propaganda operated in 20th-century Europe.

I approached it purely from a historical and psychological perspective — not for agreement, but to better comprehend how language and emotion were weaponized. Anyone studying history, political communication, or social psychology will find it a sobering reminder of how dangerous unchecked ideology can be.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely interesting to get an insight into the man.

This book collects fourteen of his most important/impactful speeches, as well as the Party's 25-point program. Each speech is accompanied by a multipage background which provides relevant context and fills in a timeline of what has happened in Germany since the last speech.

The book also includes a bibliography and "Suggestions for Further Reading" section.

Definite a recommend for anyone all interested in history surrounding the Second World War.

[Why Contain It · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't speak to the translation, but the commentary was great. My only gripe is that it was too short.

[William Sariego · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are solely interested in the 'trumpet & drums' side of World War II history, give this a miss. If ideology and politics are an area of interest, this may belong in your library. Some of the speeches were obscure to me, others more familiar and interesting; these include his trial defense after the Beer Hall fiasco, and his declaration of war against the USA.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

9.5/10.

They tell us that Hitler was an evil warmonger, ready to invade the entire world to create a dominion for the Master Race. Yet in his own words, he begs England and the world for peace. He begs that the internationalists allow Germany to remain self-sufficient, regaining its confidence after being raped by the Treaty of Versailles. He asks for time — simple, simple time that the true warmongers would not give him.

They tell us that Hitler oppressed women. Yet in his own words, he tells us that he values women most of all, for being the producers and caretakers of the future of the nation and race. He values their infinitely appreciable beauty, their instinct, their feminine grace. He values women as women. And thus we see millions of German girls voluntarily join the Nationalist Socialist women's clubs. These clubs were not for agitation, nor for whining, nor for the subversion of sex relations, but instead were designed to create a harmony between man and woman, with each excelling in their respective spheres.

They tell us that Hitler was a terroristic dictator, smashing at will his enemies with his iron fist. Yet in his own words, he tells us that peace and reconciliation are always offered unto enemies, but they must be dealt with force if they continue to threaten the health of the nation. For protecting the nation is the highest duty of its leader. And if enemies, foreign or domestic, threaten the very lifeblood of the state, then they must be dealt with. Placation does not work in an existential struggle — by definition, the threat is that of losing one's existence. Thus traitors and subversive enemies were imprisoned or shot so that they could not subvert the collective cohesiveness aimed for by the new National Socialist state.

The cuckservatives tell us that Hitler was a terrible "statist", a far-leftist, a true radical. Yet in his own words, Hitler tells us that his main enemy is communism. It threatens not only millions of lives, but also the cultural heritage of the nation. No weak-willed party — ahem, the Republicans — can defeat the strong-willed communists, attempting to literally strangle the nation and its heritage. Communism and the ethnic substance from which it spawns hates all piety, all chastity, all reverence, all higher feeling. All is to be turned down into the basal material state, and all will be at war with all. This, Hitler tells us, is to be stopped! Piety must be revived, degenerate modern art destroyed, and the nation made cohesive once more. Is this leftist, I ask you? Or it precisely this worldview which leftism fears most?

They tell us Hitler was driven mad by prejudice, bigotry, and hatred unknown to man. Yet in his own words, he expresses his great love for his own people and his desire to see them flourish. His movement started with seven men — seven! Many times did the communists, outnumbering them by a factor of five, storm the beer halls where they spoke — not just with heckling, but with daggers, pistols, and rifles. Fighting was the only option. Slandered by the press, hated by the government, and imprisoned by the police, the members of the NSDAP seem to have had a certain prejudice against them by a certain group. Only through a decade of work, a decade of surviving verbal lies, press slanders, and physical attacks did the NSDAP get enough German support for them to come into power.

They tell us that Hitler destroyed democracy, and crushed the people into submission through fear and terror. Yet in his own words, he tells us of the revolutionary democratic character of the German regime. Through merit, any boy could rise through the ranks and become a top party official. Look at the top leaders of the NSDAP themselves! We have a petty artist, a farmer here and there, the son of an artisan, and some young army veterans. What terrible authoritarianism! What suppression of "the people"! Why can we not have such a divine democratic system as America had, with its fat-cat leader Roosevelt paid by even bigger banker fat-cats? Why can't we have the international bankers paying off all the Congressmen to do their bidding? Why can't we be enslaved to a usurious interest rate created by the divine Federal Reserve? So unfortunate!

[Steven Jaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hits the sweet spot. It provides great details and background to each speech that it presents. It approaches the information and subject as unbiasedly as I have ever encountered. While I can't speak to the original speeches to determine if the editing of them for length is well done, and I have not read or heard the original German of these speeches to be able to critique their translations, I can nonetheless say that what is there is quite good and easy to understand. I also can't say if this is truly the best possible selection of speeches. There may have been other speeches that were more historically impactful, but again, with the provided context before each speech, the author makes a solid case for why each one was picked and added to this collection.

There is value in reading the words for yourself, rather than just having someone feed you a conclusion on the content without actually consuming it. It does make me interested to read more of Hitler's speeches, but other collections of his work are becoming rare and extremely expensive, so this will have to do for now.

[Richard Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even after a century and lacking all that is inevitably lost to translation, Hitler’s speeches are undeniably rousing and enchanting, and expertly torch the assumptions inherent in democracy and pluralism. Reading this helped change the way I think about politics, race relations, economics, oratory, and community organization. The author does an excellent job providing historical context without getting in the way of Hitler’s genius.

[An Anglo · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a well presented selection of some of the most significant of Hitler's speeches you can't do better than this. In particular I found the two speeches which made up his defence at his trial after the putsch attempt very intriguing. If you want to learn more about this period of German history with a minimal amount of editorialising you can't do better than this. I hope the publisher continues to put out unique historical items like this.

[Donald Trump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of great ideas. Margins could be wider for taking more notes

[David Gossage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important book to read for all WW2 history buffs. It gives valuable insight into Hitler’s mindset and the propaganda of the time.