The Man Who Invented Hitler: The Making of the Fuhrer

by David R. Lewis

As a soldier in the first World War, Adolf Hitler never rose above the rank of lance corporal, and before that, he had been an impoverished drifter. Yet within months of the war’s end, he had embarked on a path that was to lead Europe into years of conflict, terror, and the Holocaust. In The Man Who Invented Hitler, David Lewis pinpoints what he believes were the key events in his transformation. He documents the fact that Hitler emerged from the war with hysterical blindness, not blindness from mustard gas poisoning, as commonly believed. Hitler was treated by the controversial psychiatrist Edmund Forster, whose methods included telling patients that only the strength of their will and personality could bring them recovery. Once Hitler found that by sheer will he could cure his own blindness, the next step was obvious to him.

Genres: History, Biography, World War II, Nonfiction, Psychology

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

David Lewis is a retired, decorated Lieutenant-Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. Having retired just before COVID came to visit, he was forced to stay home with limited options for personal productivity. Perhaps it was time for him to paint and to write. David writes about his life and many years of military service in both the US and Canada, Europe and Afghanistan. He also includes how flashbacks of childhood abuse at the hands of parish priests have influenced and infected his life and service. David is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, the General Campaign Star – South-West Asia, the Commander Canadian Army Commendation, and other decorations. He has been married to Sherrie, his wife of over 40 years. They have five children and one granddaughter.

(Also, I have not authored over 200 books. Goodreads just attaches every 'David Lewis' authored book and I can't undo it)

Reviews

[Joanne Buurma-van't spijker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less about neurologist dr. Edmund Forster and the psychology behind the history than I had hoped…

[Dennis Lamberton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago. I believe it's a true account of Hitler's life during and after the 1st world war. It explains Hitler's madness.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had expected this book to be a boring and long read. Well, it was long because I was busy, but this was a particularly interesting and easy read.

I can't tell whether the material is authentic or backed by true evidence (I don't normally go through the bibliography, and much less of a history buff) but it provided some other kind of stories from the usual stuff.

Can't go into too much detail other than that.

[Faisal Aslim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not read it much yet, but this book tells the wonderful story of how a cheap post painter who had a misconduct childhood experiences becoming a dreadful also charismatic leader for his people..

[Irwanto Rasad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good read if you are in the psychology major

[Andrian Satrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting to read and if you are inyo the second world war, this is a must read book. I can recognised some event in the book from documentaries that I have seen.

[Christopher Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great psychological and psychiatric history of the fuhrer