📖 Overview
Himmler's War presents an alternate World War II scenario where Adolf Hitler is killed by an accidental American bombing in 1944. In the power vacuum that follows, Heinrich Himmler takes control of Nazi Germany and reshapes the Reich's military strategy.
The novel follows multiple perspectives from both Allied and German forces as they navigate this transformed conflict. Military and political figures must make crucial decisions about whether to negotiate with Himmler's regime or pursue total victory, while soldiers and civilians face the war's brutal realities.
The story examines how a single chance event can alter the course of history and explores the complex dynamics of leadership in wartime. Through this reimagining of WWII's final stages, Conroy investigates themes of power, moral compromise, and the true nature of evil in times of war.
👀 Reviews
Readers find this alternate history novel entertaining but flawed. Many note it offers an interesting premise but fails to fully develop its potential.
Readers appreciate:
- Fast-paced action sequences
- Military tactical details
- The plausible setup of Hitler's death
- Fresh perspective on WW2 leadership dynamics
Common criticisms:
- Characters lack depth and development
- Historical inaccuracies, especially regarding Soviet capabilities
- Plot becomes predictable
- Writing style described as "flat" by multiple reviewers
- Several readers point out editing errors
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.5/5 (561 ratings)
Amazon: 3.9/5 (186 ratings)
"The premise hooks you but the execution falls short," notes one Amazon reviewer. Multiple Goodreads reviews mention the book reads "more like a military report than a novel." Several readers compare it unfavorably to Harry Turtledove's alternate history works, though fans of military fiction rate it higher than literary fiction readers.
📚 Similar books
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
A German and Japanese victory in World War II creates an alternate 1960s America split between Nazi and Imperial Japanese control.
Fatherland by Robert Harris A murder investigation in 1964 Berlin reveals dark secrets in a timeline where Nazi Germany won World War II.
1945 by Newt Gingrich The Third Reich survives after a failed D-Day invasion and faces a nuclear-armed United States in a prolonged World War II.
SS-GB by Len Deighton A British detective works under Nazi occupation forces in 1941 London following a successful German invasion of England.
The War That Came Early: West and East by Harry Turtledove World War II begins in 1938 over Czechoslovakia, leading to different alliances and military campaigns than in actual history.
Fatherland by Robert Harris A murder investigation in 1964 Berlin reveals dark secrets in a timeline where Nazi Germany won World War II.
1945 by Newt Gingrich The Third Reich survives after a failed D-Day invasion and faces a nuclear-armed United States in a prolonged World War II.
SS-GB by Len Deighton A British detective works under Nazi occupation forces in 1941 London following a successful German invasion of England.
The War That Came Early: West and East by Harry Turtledove World War II begins in 1938 over Czechoslovakia, leading to different alliances and military campaigns than in actual history.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 Despite his many published alternate history novels, Robert Conroy (1938-2014) worked primarily as a business manager and wrote fiction as a passionate side career.
🎯 The real Heinrich Himmler attempted suicide by cyanide pill in 1945 when captured by British forces, dying before he could face trial at Nuremberg.
⚔️ The book explores one of World War II's most debated scenarios - some historians believe Germany might have lasted longer without Hitler's increasingly erratic military decisions in 1944-45.
🗺️ The novel incorporates actual Operation Valkyrie planning details - the real 1944 German military plot to assassinate Hitler and negotiate peace with the Allies.
✈️ The premise of Hitler dying by accidental bombing reflects a historical reality - the Führer survived more than 40 assassination attempts during his rule, including several by aerial bombing.