I listened to this as an audiobook, which for me worked really well, with crisp narration by Petrea Burchard. This is the account of Christa Schröder, who spent 12 years at the dictator's side in the capacity of secretary and assistant, reminiscences told to Albert Zoller after the war.

It is a fairly dispassionate yet interesting account of time spent at the side of the dictator, observing his gradual demise, sharing intimate details of quotidien life in the various locations around Germany and beyond. The vanity, the crassness and the vainglorious tirades are interspersed with details of diet, domesticity and daily routines.

The self-belief of the man and his capacity for deluded thinking, growing as the war unfolded, come through starkly, and she describes the fear of many around him who didn't dare to counter his statements, assertions and prejudices. Irascible and vain - then as the situation deteriorated, he drifted further into deeply confused thinking, aided and abetted by his doctor. At the end, she comments on the dictator's white hair, a stark contrast to the way he had liked to portray himself.

This memoir serves as a reminder that leaders can gain authority through populist support and can remain in post, despite evidence that there is skewed thinking, all exacerbated by grudges and a desire for retribution, and all presented as a kind of beneficence for the 'people'. As someone who never really ventured beyond the confines of Germany and had little sense of the world, he nevertheless exerted a terrible influence over millions of people everywhere, as the vagaries of his policies and deluded thinking unfolded. Supported, of course, by tight-knit acolytes who invidiously pandered to him and his whims at every turn....

Sobering.

1933 to 1945 Christina Schroeder, once a stenographer became one of Hitler’s personal secretaries. She was totally loyal and even went to the Furerbunker in Berlin in January 1945. Post war she was interned in the Augsburg Camp and interviewed by Albert Zoller. Her testimony form this very detailed book, an insight into Adolf Hitler’s private life throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

This is an English translation, well written and well narrated (I listened to the audiobook). The contents is informative, fascinating and just really interesting. Hitler had a public persona but reading this you will gain a view of him as an individual. His obsession with image, belief in himself, his choice to be a vegetarian and not drinking alcohol. Fascinating book.

This was so well written (and narrated). There was no sensationalism and I learnt so much regarding Hitler and his relationships. I became fully engrossed listening to the narration but I couldn't listen to it all in one session I had to keep dipping in and out.

My husband is very much into history and we have been to many WW2 sites and this all put it into a different perspective. There were no excuses made at all.

Thank you to Tantor Audio, RBmedia, the author and NetGalley for an ALC in return for an honest review

This is the first book I have read about Hitler, so some of the things mentioned were new to me. After having done some research of my own, however, it appears that the information in this book is already in the public domain. So if you have already delved into the life of Hitler then this book will not shed any new light on anything for you, but I would still recommend you read it for the different perspective it gives.

The narrator Petrea Burchard, an accomplished American actress/author has narrated over 85 audiobooks across various genres and has won multiple Earphones Awards. Her adept narration skills are a perfect match for this sensitive subject matter.

'Twelve years with Hitler' was compiled from the notes taken down by Albert Zoller (a French liaison officer) who, in 1945, interviewed Christa Schroeder (Adolf Hitler's personal secretary 1933-1945). However, Schroeder herself went on to claim that Zoller published her writings without her consent and even added content she did not provide, so this raises a red flag at to the authenticity of events in the book. Indeed Christa Schroeder actually published her own account (He Was My Chief) posthumously in 1985. So it would be interesting to compare that book with Zoller's.

The book provides insights into Hitler's daily routines, mood swings and personal habits. Even describing Hitler's hygiene regime - he apparently bathed multiple times daily, especially after meetings and speeches. We also see examples of his Interactions with his staff. Along with insights into the daily atmosphere within his inner circle.

I personally gained some new insights into Hitler's life - I didn't realise for instance that there was talk of the Führer having Parkinson's Disease, or that he was deemed charismatic and was admired by the women he knew, or that his main love interest was possibly not Eva Braun, but his own niece! Geli Raubal was Hitler’s half-niece (daughter of his half-sister Angela). She lived with him in Munich for several years in the late 1920s and early 1930s. There has been much speculation about the nature of their relationship. It was said to be intense and possessive. When Geli died in 1931 from a suspected suicide, it is said to have left Hitler devastated emotionally and he became withdrawn and wary about future personal attachments.

Whilst it is clear that Hitler's physical and mental condition clearly deteriorated over time, we can't categorically state that he had either Parkinson's or Dementia. He obviously had hand tremors but he didn't seem to have any memory problems. Paranoia and mood swings could point to a personality disorder or even amphetamine use, but not classic dementia. Hitler's personal physician Dr. Theodor Morell, was known to administer bizarre medications and treatment throughout the 1930s and 1940s which could well have affected Hitler’s physical and mental state.
Morell was said to have prescribed Oxycodone, Cocaine (in a nasal spray) along with Testosterone and other hormones to treat fatigue and maintain vitality.

It is hard to reconcile with the two sides of Hitler's nature. The book describes the fondness he showed for children, painting, music and his dog, yet this clashes violently with the horrific scale of his known crimes and the ruthless, megalomaniacal dictator who orchestrated unimaginable suffering. This duality forces us to confront a difficult truth: evil doesn't always wear the face we expect. Human beings can harbour contradictory traits—moments of warmth alongside cold, calculated brutality.

Overall I was fascinated with this book, but it does leave me wondering as to whose voice we are actually hearing - Schroeder's or Zoller's?

#TwelveYearsWithHitler #NetGalley

This is a fascinating insight into Hitler, it’s a very detailed account. Christa’s interview with Zoller explains Hitler’s daily life, having herself been personally involved in it. She tells how and why he gave up drink and smoking. Similarly how and why he became a vegetarian. Intimate and personal details are shared, including health issues and his clothing. And the women in his life, and their importance to him. Hitler had a phenomenal memory and could talk endlessly. He was a night owl and had his secretary working at crazy hours of the night.
Also mentioned is Bormann, the Deputy Fuhrer, who was an awful person with a loathsome ideology, and was very controlling. He spread lies and was very deceitful. Other key personnel are discussed and often removed from their positions by Hitler. Towards the end Hitler became very removed from the real and current Germany and it’s peoples.

Petrea narrates this audiobook as if she herself was there experiencing all that we have been informed. We definitely believe all that we are being told. A very easy listen. Highly informative about Hitler and those around him during the war years.

I received a complimentary audiobook from NetGalley and RBmedia. This is my honest review. Highly recommend.

Did you know that Hitler had Parkinson's? Did you know he was romantically obsessed with his niece? I didn't until I read this book!

The book gives inside look at what happened behind the scenes in 1930-40s Germany. This account does not glorify Hitler or give excuses for what happened. It is straightforward and gives an account of events as they were. This book is for history buffs and those who are just curious about the infamous man. You'll hear about high level events in Germany and well as mundane eating habits. There is sure to be a portion of the book that will be of great interest to you.

My only complaint is that I occasionally found the story hard to follow. Some portions skip around in time, which is to be expected when someone is interviewed.

As a WWII enthusiast, I went in to this with an objective mindset. I was expecting this account to perhaps sensationalize or make excuses for the monster that is Hitler. However, this account did neither of those. Instead it was a straightforward look into the daily life of Hitler as only someone who spent time with him daily could have accounted for. It was a new perspective for me. And through this interview, the reader can glimpse the psychological demise of the tyrant. Albert Zoller was a French liason officer who interrogated Christa Schroeder. Schroeder was Hitler's personal secretary from 1933-1945. This testimony is an interesting source of information that WWII military history enthusiasts will enjoy.

The narrator, Petrea Burchard, was successful in fully immersing me in this audiobook. I had to remember that Christa Schroeder is no longer alive and that this wasn't her speaking. Burchard's steady voice and perfectly enunciated inflections lends itself to this type of narration. She made a topic that some may find difficult to digest, very easy to listen to. It was almost story-like. I'd definitely listen to another audio she narrates.

This historical look at one of the most evil, cruel and disturbed men in history by his personal secretary is written well.

You learn facts about his personality and how vain he was. One being never wanting to be seen with glasses even though his eyesight was poor. He had a tremor in his hand which he would cover up using his other hand.

Hitler didn’t surround himself with brilliant people. He thought himself to be superior to others.
He was extremely secretive. He didn’t trust anyone and would keep everything to himself until the last minute.

I learned a lot about what he was like behind the scene. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in history or WWII and the disturbed man who wanted to control everything.

I hate saying this because this monster should never have come to power, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s definitely 4 stars.

Publishing date 5/30/2025

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for a copy of this audiobook for an honest review.

This book is the story of Hitler as told by one of his secretaries. A unique look at a side of one of the most known men in history that most were never privy to. It touches on things like camps, his drug use, and his behavior towards others. The reader is talented and the audio is enjoyable. This is a great book for anyone with an interest in history.

The book was a discretion of her parts of watching Hitler. I wish that it had more conversations between them. I also wanted to know more about her job not just his moves in the war.

Factual, well-written, and deeply informative, this is a fascinating insider look into the workings, mindset, and insecurities of one of history’s most horrific figures. It doesn’t sensationalize or excuse — just presents a clear, detailed account that feels both intimate and unsettling. The access and insight make it compelling, even when the subject matter is hard to stomach. A valuable read for those interested in understanding the machinery behind dictatorship and propaganda.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
Rated PG-13 for disturbing historical subject matter, wartime violence, and psychological intensity.

This was an interesting insight into Adolf Hitler as seen by his secretary. I forgot that he was vegetarian, and that's just one area where he was a contradiction. After his heart was broken when he was younger, he had trouble making a commitment, but openly partnered with Eva Braun and seemingly flirted with their guests.
I think, obviously, that it's only interesting to learn more about him as a warning, because his victims deserve the attention.
But as far as current events, this narrative from the point of view of someone in the inner circle shows the boredom and banality of everyday life even while great evil is being actively done. This is important because right now there are terrible things happening with little to no response.
Thanks to NetGalley, I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a wonderful job.