Hitler’s First Victims: The Quest for Justice

We all know the details surrounding the collapse of Nazi Germany in World War II, but decades later, we’re still trying to understand its ascent to power. In hindsight, the atrocities to come seem so clear, yet in the earliest days of the Third Reich, there was a curious optimism in Germany regarding the Nazis. Few suspected the horrors looming in the years ahead.

Hitler’s First Victims sheds some light on this crucial transitional period, centering on the struggles for power between the rising Nazi tide and the government it slowly transformed. This is the story of an intrepid few who sought to stop the abuses of power before they could get worse.

Impressive and horrifying, this book places us in the shoes of Josef Hartinger, a prosecutor who repeatedly investigated murders at Dachau in the first days of the concentration camp. As Hartinger tries to assemble enough evidence to bring indictments against key SS officials, we see the increasing haziness of jurisdiction and the corruption of justice unfolding across the country. It’s an eye-opening perspective, to be sure. Hitler’s First Victims provides a rare glimpse into the history of good men during a time of monsters.