Part 1, Chapters 9-13 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 9, "A Day in the Chancellery," describes the activities of the 40-50 people who attend Hitler's daily afternoon dinners at which he is harsher than at Obersalzberg, offering monologues that show little growth since his "fertile" youth. To feel superior, he surrounds himself with "flawed" men. Hitler is mistrustful but can be swayed by those skilled in manipulation. Confrontation is useless. Hitler is careful about his public image. Speer is amazed at how Hitler squanders time; whereas, Speers works for the Reich day and night. An artistic temperament requires sudden insights.

Chapter 10, "Our Empire Style," deals with Hitler's favorite building projects. Through a detailed model of Berlin, Hitler loves to "enter his avenue" to evaluate the future effect and is never as spontaneous and relaxed. In hindsight, Speer realizes that the avenue would have lacked proportion or...