Lothar Machtan
Encyclopedia
Lothar Machtan, Ph.D is a German
historian, writer, as well as Professor of Modern and Current History at the University of Bremen
.
, he earned a PhD in 1978 and became a university professor in 1989.
. His writings have been featured in newspapers and magazines such as Der Spiegel
as well as radio
broadcasts.
He has been a guest lecturer at international conferences and symposia and a consultant for German feature films such as Varzin - Warcino - An Uncomfortable Legacy. In the United States
, he was a featured guest on NBC
's The Today Show and The Early Show
on CBS
. The author of several books and numerous publications on the social and political history of the 19th and 20th centuries, in 1998 Professor Machtan published the acclaimed Bismarcks Tod und Deutschlands Tränen (Bismarck's Death and Germany's Tears).
. In it, Machtan presents a documented study which he claims establishes Adolf Hitler
's homosexuality
(see Hitler's sexuality) and the impact of this upon his life and career.
In discussing his book in the Washington Post, Machtan told their interviewer that his research showed that some of Hitler's homosexual friends in Munich were the ones who opened many important doors for him, especially Ernst Röhm
, Dietrich Eckart
, and Ernst Hanfstaengl
.
Machtan told the newspaper that "without their help he [Hitler] would not have had the support that he got from bourgeois circles and even from intellectual
s and artist
s.
In 2004, a documentary film
was made based on The Hidden Hitler. Aired by HBO's CINEMAX Reel Life
, it follows Machtan as he travels around Germany to the places of Hitler's youth and explains his thesis and evidence. Machtan's book, Der Kaisersohn bei Hitler, was released in March 2006. His latest book is Die Abdankung: Wie Deutschlands gekrönte Häupter aus der Geschichte fielen (The Abdication - How Germany's crowned heads of history fell), which was published in October 2008.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
historian, writer, as well as Professor of Modern and Current History at the University of Bremen
University of Bremen
The University of Bremen is a university of approximately 23,500 people from 126 countries that are studying, teaching, researching, and working in Bremen, Germany...
.
Early life
Born to a Jewish family in GelsenkirchenGelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the Ruhr area. Its population in 2006 was c. 267,000....
, he earned a PhD in 1978 and became a university professor in 1989.
Career
For 30 years, Machtan has researched German history, politics, and socioeconomicsSocioeconomics
Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...
. His writings have been featured in newspapers and magazines such as Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
as well as radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcasts.
He has been a guest lecturer at international conferences and symposia and a consultant for German feature films such as Varzin - Warcino - An Uncomfortable Legacy. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he was a featured guest on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Today Show and The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. The author of several books and numerous publications on the social and political history of the 19th and 20th centuries, in 1998 Professor Machtan published the acclaimed Bismarcks Tod und Deutschlands Tränen (Bismarck's Death and Germany's Tears).
Hitler biography
In 2001, he published Hitler's Geheimnis: Das Doppelleben eines Diktators (Hitler's Secret: The double life of a dictator) with an English translation by John Brownjohn entitled The Hidden HitlerThe Hidden Hitler
The Hidden Hitler is the English-language version of the 2001 book Hitlers Geheimnis. Das Doppelleben eines Diktators by German-Jewish professor and historian Dr. Lothar Machtan. The original book was published in Germany by Alexander Fest Verlag, while the English-translated version was published...
. In it, Machtan presents a documented study which he claims establishes Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
(see Hitler's sexuality) and the impact of this upon his life and career.
In discussing his book in the Washington Post, Machtan told their interviewer that his research showed that some of Hitler's homosexual friends in Munich were the ones who opened many important doors for him, especially Ernst Röhm
Ernst Röhm
Ernst Julius Röhm, was a German officer in the Bavarian Army and later an early Nazi leader. He was a co-founder of the Sturmabteilung , the Nazi Party militia, and later was its commander...
, Dietrich Eckart
Dietrich Eckart
Dietrich Eckart was a German journalist and politician, together with Adolf Hitler one of the early key members of the Nazi Party and a participant of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch.-Biography:...
, and Ernst Hanfstaengl
Ernst Hanfstaengl
Ernst Franz Sedgwick Hanfstaengl , was a Harvard-educated German businessman who was an intimate of Adolf Hitler before falling out of favor and defecting. He later worked for Franklin D...
.
Machtan told the newspaper that "without their help he [Hitler] would not have had the support that he got from bourgeois circles and even from intellectual
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
s and artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s.
In 2004, a documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
was made based on The Hidden Hitler. Aired by HBO's CINEMAX Reel Life
Cinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
, it follows Machtan as he travels around Germany to the places of Hitler's youth and explains his thesis and evidence. Machtan's book, Der Kaisersohn bei Hitler, was released in March 2006. His latest book is Die Abdankung: Wie Deutschlands gekrönte Häupter aus der Geschichte fielen (The Abdication - How Germany's crowned heads of history fell), which was published in October 2008.
Works
- Die Abdankung: Wie Deutschlands gekrönte Häupter aus der Geschichte fielen
- Hitlers Geheimnis
- Der Kaisersohn bei Hitler
- Bismarcks Tod und Deutschlands Tränen. Reportage einer Tragödie.
External links
- Lothar Machtan authorized his book The Hidden HitlerThe Hidden HitlerThe Hidden Hitler is the English-language version of the 2001 book Hitlers Geheimnis. Das Doppelleben eines Diktators by German-Jewish professor and historian Dr. Lothar Machtan. The original book was published in Germany by Alexander Fest Verlag, while the English-translated version was published...
to be scanned in full by Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465043089 to facilitate search referencing. - The Washington Post
- Review of Die Abdankung by Count Alexander v. Löwen
- "Review: The Hidden Hitler", All Readers