The Hidden Hitler and the Hidden Reader: Review of The Hidden Hitler by Lother Machtan

Machtan proposes that Hitler, before entering politics, was a practicing homosexual during his early adulthood. Later it became necessary for him to destroy evidence of this stage of his career. The difficulties of satisfactorily substantiating such a claim are discussed, with special reference to 19th-century gay figures. Machtan's book is criticized for not providing adequate analysis of social and institutional forces, as well as his assumption that such personal uncovering is intrinsically informative. Some speculations regarding the recurrent interest in the homosexuality of famous men is offered.