The Hidden Hitler

The Hidden Hitler is the English language title for the 2001 book Hitlers Geheimnis. Das Doppelleben eines Diktators by German professor and historian Lothar Machtan. It was published in Germany in its original language by Alexander Fest Verlag, while the English-translated version was published by Basic Books in New York City. (ISBN 0-465-04308-9)

The book argues that Hitler was a closeted homosexual. Among the evidence, it cites the allegedly homoerotic nature of his friendship with August Kubizek during Hitler's youth in Vienna.

[edit] Industry reviews

Booklist - "This professor of modern history at Bremen University in Germany argues, with persuasive power, that to fully understand the Third Reich, one must realize that Hitler was homosexual and understand the homoerotic nature of the Nazi movement."
Library Journal - "Machtan is able to provide evidence for his assertions as well as a nuanced and readable study of Hitler's sexuality."

The Sunday Telegraph (10/7/2001) said: "the distinguished German historian Dr Lothar Machtan presents compelling evidence that Adolf Hitler was a homosexual."
Q-online [1] article by Paula Martinac, a Lambda Literary Award-winning author
The New York Times [2] Walter Reich was critical of the book, saying that Machtan's biggest problem "isn't the reliability of his sources but his mode of argumentation."
The Washington Post [3] said "the author presents extensive evidence that Hitler was a homosexual and that his fear of his sexual identity being exposed shaped several of his political decisions and key historical events during the Nazi era."
Die Zeit review by historian Hans Mommsen, "Viel Lärm um nichts" (German: "Much Ado About Nothing"): "Lothar Machtan's thesis that Adolf Hitler was a homosexual is scientifically neither tenable nor fertile."
Die Welt (10/13/2001) review by historian Ian Kershaw, "Der ungerade Weg" (German)
Lothar Machtan authorized "The Hidden Hitler" to be scanned in full by Amazon.com [4] to facilitate search referencing.