They Thought They Were Free

The Germans, 1933-45

De: Milton Mayer

Narrado por: Michael Page

First published in 1955, They Thought They Were Free is an eloquent and provocative examination of the development of fascism in Germany. Milton Mayer's book is a study of 10 Germans and their lives from 1933-45, based on interviews he conducted after the war when he lived in Germany.

Mayer had a position as a research professor at the University of Frankfurt and lived in a nearby small Hessian town which he disguised with the name "Kronenberg". "These ten men were not men of distinction," Mayer noted, but they had been members of the Nazi Party; Mayer wanted to discover what had made them Nazis.

©1955 The University of Chicago (P)2017 Tantor

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Among the many books written on Germany after the collapse of Hitler's Thousand Year Reich, this book by Milton Mayer is one of the most readable and most enlightening." ( New York Times)

What you don’t know about Nazis?

Once you get through an overly thorough introduction, this book reveals aspects of the nationals socialist program that I had been unaware of. It doesn’t go into great detail about what the programs did for the German economy and how it did it, but it does expose you to the positive elements of Nazism. By doing this, it reveals insights of why and how the average German was motivated to tolerate and even support it. It does this by recounting lengthy discussions by the author and 10 average German “little men “ I he calls them. His summaries are both concise and insightful in both the questions and answers. The last part of the book suggests implications of different ways, and impacts of a rebuilding Germany in the timeframe of the late 50s.

Must read(Listen)for anyone serious about history

An engaging insight as to how a nation was swayed into despotism incrementally yet whloley

Interesting look at Nazis

The book took real life stories of various characters unique in their own way. Provides a study on how a regular citizen could get to where Germany was entering WWII. provides a juxtaposition to our internment of American Japanese and our racism towards black folk.

Thought provoking an excellent narration

Although dry in parts, this was mostly a fascinating read. It puts alot of things in perspective that you wont get from a textbook and contains alot of quotables that are still relevant today.

Relevant to Trump

Learn why good men do nothing. Too much to do in lives. The promises of a better life.

The amazing depth to which this story seeks to understand the average German’s perspective during the Nazi regime.

This book was easy to listen to and very eye opening regarding the perspectives of the German people during the Nazi regime. I have nothing negative to say about this book. It was great!

This should be required listening for every American

This is so very relevant to the times in which we find ourselves. This is how MAGA will view themselves when this is all over.

Time might change ones behaviour pattern

Would you listen to They Thought They Were Free again? Why?

Yes. It is a detailed account of the thought pattern(s) that led to the destruction of the German nation through the lives of ten average individuals in a small rural town, community.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found it a detailed book. Mr. Mayer, his presentation throughout the book gives the reader a constant barrage of options, in the various acts and behaviour of his 10 nazi friends. The constant how when where or why is always being asked in ones own mind. The book moves quickly from chapter to chapter and as often in my case, does soul searching.

Any additional comments?

I suggest that this book, might be presented to students throughout the world as an "eye opener" in regards to human behaviour. How it all did manage to come together, through no pattern of behaviour that might be deemed as what I call normal. To attempt to obliterate, erase humanity with justification? The world that I know weeps, I weep.

A Warning to the Future

People don't change for the better as much as we'd like to think, even when the cost is millions of lives. They'll look the other way, make excuses, rationalize away the worst dictators and the collective ability to do murder and destruction on a massive scale. Even time and punishment doesn't seem to change that.
It makes me worry about where we are today.
Well read and definitely recommended for all.

Timely message from 1955

The reader is fantastic.

I actually purchased 6 copies of the printed book to share with friends.

I’ve read many books about the period of WWII, but most have been either first person or historical retrospectives. This book is interesting as it is about everyday people in a small community who were interviewed while experiences were still fresh.

I think this book is a timely read, particularly with what’s happening in the US right now. If, as some historians are saying, the political environment in the US reflects 1933 in Germany then this is a book to read.

The author skillfully weaves the actions of these everyday people as the political environment grows hotter and hotter, along with their intentions for themselves and their family, into a larger picture of humanity. I like that he doesn’t vilify these regular people, these people who weren’t involved in the heinous act of the SS or what they called ‘the fanatics’ and he also doesn’t excuse them for what they did or failed to do.

I found it a fascinating listen and highly recommend it.