Felix Kersten and the Secret Plot to Turn Himmler Against Hitler
Felix Kersten and the Secret Plot to Turn Himmler Against Hitler
Tells the story of Felix Kersten, a physical therapist who became Heinrich Himmler's personal physician, and his influence over Himmler to join a plot to overthrow Adolf Hitler.
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You may not be familiar with the name Felix Kersten, but after reading The Devils Doctor you will never forget it. Prepare to meet one of the most unlikely and little known heroes in the fight against Nazi atrocitiesa talented and very successful middle aged physical therapist who, under threat of harassment, was drawn into the corrupt power center of the Third Reich.
Acclaimed historian and former OSS officer John Waller tells a vivid tale of treachery compounded by moral depravity; of the failing loyalty of high ranking Nazi zealots; and of one mans efforts in the face of grave personal danger to hasten the defeat of Hitlers Reich, thereby saving thousands of Nazi concentration camp inmates condemned to die.
Heinrich Himmler, Hitlers most trusted acolyte and the man in charge of carrying out the Holocaust, suffered excruciating attacks of stomach pain, which only Kerstens "magic hands" could relieve by their remarkably effective massages. Pressed into service as Himmlers personal medical adviser and physical therapist, Kersten found himself in a unique position from which to gather information to be passed on to the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS). More importantly, he discovered that he could manipulate Himmlers psyche as well as ease his chronic pain. And, by exploiting Himmlers addiction to astrology and appealing to his sense of survival as Nazi Germany faced certain defeat, Kersten could steer Himmler toward high treason against his Führer.
The Devils Doctor tells the amazing story of how Kersten convinced Himmler to resist Hitlers plan to enslave 8 million recalcitrant Dutch and Flemish citizens and ultimately resettle them in a conquered Eastern Europe. It reveals the details of a conspiracy in which Kersten convinced Himmler to plot to overthrow Hitler, after which he would surrender German troops to British and American forces while leading Germany in a continued war against the Russians in the East. And it recounts Kerstens finest moment when, with the wars end just weeks away, he saved the lives of more than 60,000 Jews in concentration camps by persuading Himmler to disobey Hitlers direct order to kill them all.
With this inspiring story of the victory of one mans humanity over the depraved barbarity of historys worst criminals, Waller convincingly shows that the name Kersten should be enshrined alongside those of Wallenberg, Schindler, and Sugihara.