DISOBEYING HITLER

DISOBEYING HITLER
by Randall Hansen.

The attempt to kill Hitler with a bomb planted by Claus von Stauffenberg inside the Wolf's Lair is a relatively well known story, as well as a loosely based Hollywood film starring Tom Cruise. 
The first part of the book provides more details of who was involved, the aftermath and an interesting chapter on Erwin Rommel and how much he possibly knew of the plot.
Even more fascinating is what happened in Paris on that day. I had no idea that those involved had planned and carried out a round-up of leading officers and the entire SS and SD and held them at gunpoint! 
What followed on the news that Hitler had survived the bomb blast, is equally remarkable. 

Remaining in Paris we then take a look at the period before its liberation. 
Hitler firstly ordered bridges to be destroyed and the city to become a heap of rubble before the Allied forces arrived.
Chorlitz, the German Commandant of the city thought Hitler was deranged. The subsequent chapters explain how he not only stopped the Luftwaffe from bombing the city, but how he created his own campaign of disceiving Berlin, as well as fellow German officers more willing to follow Hitler's orders with misinformation.

The book continues on this theme of other various cities in both France and Germany, whose German defenders chose or on some occasions, were persuaded by the civilian population to spare their city from destruction and Hitler's scorched earth policy.
It would not only save the cities and their buildings, but certainly saved thousands of civilian lives as well as Allied and German soldiers. 

This has been a really enjoyable read, with some fresh insight brought to some familiar stories. It provides more on the mindset of many of the German officers, who had realised the war was lost and that Hitler's orders to 'fight to the last man and bullet' was nothing short of madness.

The paperback edition of the book is available now and published by August Books, a division of Canelo.
I thank Canelo for this review copy. 

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