A rare and fascinating insight into Hitler"s inner circle - Roger Moorhouse, author of Killing HitlerThe last unpublished work by a Nazi of any significance - The Sunday Telegraph As secretary to the Fuhrer throughout the time of the Third Reich, Christa Schroeder was perfectly placed to observe the actions and behavior of Hitler, along with the most important figures surrounding him. Schroeder"s memoir does not fail to deliver fascinating insights: she notes his bourgeois manners, his vehement abstemiousness and his mood swings. Indeed, she was ostracized by Hitler for a number of months after she made the mistake of publicly contradicting him once too often. In addition to her portrayal of Hitler, there are illuminating anecdotes about Hitler"s closest colleagues. She recalls, for instance, that the relationship between Martin Bormann and his brother Albert (who was on Hitler"s personal staff) was so bad that the two would only communicate with one another via their respective adjutants - even if they were in the same room. There is also light shed on the peculiar personal life and insanity of Reichsminister Walther Darre". Schroeder says she knew nothing of the alleged horrors of the National Socialist government. There is nothing of the sense of perspective or the mea culpa that one finds in the memoirs of Hitler"s other secretary, Traudl Junge - who concluded "we should have known". Rather the tone that pervades Schroeder"s memoir is one of bitterness. This is, without any doubt, one of the most important primary sources from the pre-war and wartime period. Christa Schroeder was Hitler"s personal secretary for twelve years in total. She worked as his secretary until his suicide in April 1945, living at the Wolfsschanze near Rastenburg. Her memoir Er War Mein Chef was first published in 1985, a year after her death in Munich, aged 76. REVIEWS "It is utterly compelling... She makes you understand, better than anyone else I have read, exactly what it was like to be around the table in Hitler"s dining room... As with so many memoirs by servants, the view from below proves far more revealing than the view from above or beyond."Mail on Sunday (Craig Brown) - May 2009"These are the memoirs of one of Hitler"s secretaries and no one could be closer to the man than her. She describes all the great events of the Second World War from the perspective of his headquarters, including the invasions of Poland, France and Russia. Intriguing eye-witness material makes the book a fascinating insight into the dictator and his regime."Military Illustrated - May 2009"An alternately adoring, clinical, fascinating and creepy take on one of history"s most evil men."The New York Post - May 2009"A rare and fascinating insight into Hitler"s inner circle."Roger Moorhouse author of Killing Hitler"Christa Schroeder"s memoir of the 12 years she spent working for the Fuhrer gives a unique insight into his intelligence, temper and his personal quirks."The Week Magazine - May 2009"Christa Schroeder provides a rare, fascinating insight into Hitler and his household."The Sunday Telegraph"Intriguing, eye witness material...a fascinating insight into the dictator and his regime."Military Illustrated, 06/2009"compelling memoir... does not fail to deliver fascinating insights into the course of military and political events, the workings of Hitler"s inner circle, and crucially into Hitler"s personality and of those closest to him. Without any doubt, one of the most important primary sources from the pre-war and wartime period." Sirreadalot.org, 11/2009