Eva Braun: Life with Hitler by Heike B. Gortemaker

A Captivating and Intimate Portrait of Eva Braun

In her meticulously researched and captivating biography, Heike B. Gortemaker paints a vivid portrait of Eva Braun, the enigmatic and controversial companion of Adolf Hitler. Drawing on a wealth of previously unpublished sources, including Braun's personal diaries and letters, Gortemaker offers a nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of a woman who has often been overshadowed by the monstrous figure of Hitler.

A Complex and Complicated Figure

Eva Braun emerges from these pages as a complex and multifaceted individual, a woman of contradictions and surprises. She was a talented photographer and a passionate lover of the arts, yet she also willingly embraced the Nazi ideology and the trappings of power. Gortemaker explores the many facets of Braun's personality, from her girlish charm and vulnerability to her fierce loyalty to Hitler and her complicity in his crimes.

A Life in the Shadow of Power

Gortemaker meticulously traces Braun's journey from her humble beginnings in Munich to her privileged life as Hitler's mistress and eventual wife. She vividly recreates the world of the Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat, where Braun spent much of her time, and provides a fascinating glimpse into the private life of the Nazi leadership.

A Haunting and Tragic End

The book culminates in the final days of the Third Reich, as Braun and Hitler retreated to the Führerbunker in Berlin. Gortemaker's account of their last days together is both poignant and chilling, a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and tyranny.

A Must-Read for Anyone Interested in History

Eva Braun: Life with Hitler is a masterful work of historical scholarship that sheds new light on one of the most fascinating and controversial figures of the twentieth century. Gortemaker's nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of Braun is a major contribution to our understanding of the Nazi era and its aftermath. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, biography, and the human condition.

Praise for Eva Braun: Life with Hitler

"A brilliant and meticulously researched biography that brings Eva Braun to life in all her complexity and contradictions. Gortemaker's work is a major contribution to our understanding of the Nazi era." —Ian Kershaw, author of Hitler: A Biography

"A fascinating and deeply moving account of a woman who was both a victim and a perpetrator of history. Gortemaker's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the human cost of war and tyranny." —Antony Beevor, author of The Second World War

"A masterful work of historical scholarship that sheds new light on one of the most enigmatic figures of the twentieth century. Gortemaker's book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, biography, and the human condition." —Richard J. Evans, author of The Third Reich Trilogy