"This is the personal account of a Luftwaffe aide who worked for Hitler from 1937 until the last days in Berlin. Nicolaus von Below was a 29-year-old pilot when Goring selected him for the position of Hitler's Luftwaffe adjutant. He was with Hitler at every stage as World War II was planned, started and unfolded, and his observations tell of Hitler's responses to momentous events as well as military decisions and policy-making at Fuhrer Headquarters. His account is a superb source describing life in Hitler's inner circle."--BOOK JACKET.

Includes index.

Introduction - My Career Prior to Appointment - The Daily Routine of the Luftwaffe Adjutant - Hitler's Staff - The Fuhrer's Residences - Hitler and the Luftwaffe - The Polish Question and the Path to War Chapter One 1939 - The FHQ - The Polish Campaign - The Battle for Warsaw - Hitler's Style of Leadership - Hitler, Halder and Brauchitsc - Decision for a Campaign in the West - Assassination at the Burgerbraukeller - Hitler's thoughts on the Operational Plan - Developments at the End of the Year. Chapter Two: 1940 - Preparing to Weserubung - Discussing the Operational Plan - Fritz Todt - The Visit of Summer Welles - Weserubung - Attack in the West - Dunkirk - Victory and Armistice- Continuation of the War against Britain - Planning Seelowe - Promotions - Reichstag siting, 19 July - Air War over Britain - The Question of Seelowe - Domestic Dramas - Meetings with Petain, Laval, Franco - Russia, Britain, the Balkans, Gibraltar - Molotov in Berlin - Barbarossa - Priorities in Armaments - Critical Voices Chapter Three: m1941 - Decisions - The Mediterranean and North Africa - Planning for Barbarossa - Before the Balkan Campaign - Operation Marita - Matsuoka - Hitlers' Attitude to the Russian enemy - The Balkan Campaign - The flight of Rudolf Hess - Crete - Battleship Bismarck - Final Preparations for 22 Jun - Wofschanze - First Successes - Molders and Galland - Discussions concerning the Attack - Autumn 1942: Russia, Bohemia and Moravia and North Africa - Equipping the Luftwaffe - are at Constance - At War with the United States - Winter Crisis - A Separate Peace with Russia? - Stresses and Strains - Hitler and the Army General - Udet and Milch