The Nazi and the Psychiatrist

Hermann Göring, Dr. Douglas M. Kelley, and a Fatal Meeting of Minds at the End of WWII

By: Jack El-Hai

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

In 1945, after his capture at the end of the Second World War, Hermann Göring arrived at an American-run detention center in war-torn Luxembourg, accompanied by 16 suitcases and a red hatbox. The suitcases contained all manner of paraphernalia: medals, gems, two cigar cutters, silk underwear, a hot water bottle, and the equivalent of $100,000,000 in cash. Hidden in a coffee can, a set of brass vials housed glass capsules containing a clear liquid and a white precipitate: potassium cyanide. Joining Göring in the detention center were the elite of the captured Nazi regime - Grand Admiral Dönitz, armed forces commander Wilhelm Keitel and his deputy Alfred Jodl, the mentally unstable Robert Ley, the suicidal Hans Frank, the pornographic propagandist Julius Streicher - 52 senior Nazis in all, of whom the dominant figure was Göring.

To ensure that the villainous captives were fit for trial at Nuremberg, the US Army sent an ambitious army psychiatrist, Captain Douglas M. Kelley, to supervise their mental well-being during their detention. Kelley realized he was being offered the professional opportunity of a lifetime: to discover a distinguishing trait among these arch-criminals that would mark them as psychologically different from the rest of humanity. So began a remarkable relationship between Kelley and his captors, told here for the first time with unique access to Kelley’s long-hidden papers and medical records.

Kelley’s was a hazardous quest, dangerous because against all his expectations he began to appreciate and understand some of the Nazi captives, none more so than the former Reichsmarshall, Hermann Göring. Evil had its charms.

©2013 Jack El-Hai (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Title is wrong

The Nazi and the Psychiatrist?
Actually the title should be "The Psychiatrist and the Nazi".
If one were to organize the people in the book, probably half was about the Psychiatrist. The other half covered all the varying Nazi.
Overall the book was very interesting as were all the people in the book. Some interesting insight for sure, by I was more curious about the Nazi, their background and what was going through their head, but instead the details were all about the Psychiatrist.

Enlightening

Once upon a time I read a lot of historical fiction and non-fiction about the Nazi era and the Holocaust. Listening to this volume provided a different perspective to what I had previously read. How fascinating and horrific for Kelly to have gotten so close to these Nazis and apparently it did take its toll. I found the tale fascinating to listen to.

The NAZI and the Psychiatrist: Hermann Goring, Dr. Douglas

Very, very good. Worth reading for anyone who is wanting to learn more about WW11. The NAZI's were ruthless and had very scary ideas. Always an amazement how many who have evil in there hearts hide or deny thier involvement.

Very Interesting!

Fascinating account of psychiatrists evaluating the mental state of Nazi war criminals, the subsequent trial and execution of some of them, and the aftermath in the psychiatrists life. An excellent reader did a great job rendering this book.

Wonderful background into the psychology of German leaders in WW2

Thought the book was fascinating. But also thought the takeaways could be reasonably summed up and just as effective in cliff note format. Chapters were a little long at times.

Good book on criminal minds

Would you listen to The Nazi and the Psychiatrist again? Why?

No. Once was enough

Which character – as performed by Arthur Morey – was your favorite?

I guess Kelly

Any additional comments?

This was a good look at the sick minds of the Nazi criminals. Narration was great.

Most compelling

This book was chilling and it stoked the flame that any country can become the next Germany and not just psychopaths can destroy a nation, kill millions and be walking among us and already been president. Chapter 7 warns America of the importance of voting and NEVER to vote for someone who, as spoken by Kelly in the 40’s, has the qualities to do what Hitler did. My, how history will repeat itself if it falls unnoticed. Scares me for today’s issues that that person walks among us and has already been elected to do the damage the loyal refuse to acknowledge to our detriment as a nation.

Pleasantly and surprisingly biographical

This book was another example of a surprise biography I didn't know that I wanted. I purchased the book because I was interested in the psychology of Nazis; that was a good half of the book but it also took an in depth look into the life of the psychiatrist and that turned out to be the most fascinating part of the story. Magician turned psychiatrist turned crimimologist turned author and television writer? Utterly compelling once you get to the last chapter.

An interesting title

A book that has a great story and tells it really well. It is set in the most pivotal time in western history also!

Excellent book

The narration is excellent
This book is well worth your time. So many details I didn’t know about and very well written.
Between the history and the psychology, it kept me glued to every word until the end