HITLER'S MOTORCARS: The Fuhrer's Vehicles From the Birth of the Nazi Party to the Fall of the Third Reich

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Many are the photographs of Hitler standing proudly in the passenger seat of a midnight blue Mercedes, arm outstretched in his famous salute to the adoring German crowds. Hitler loved cars and loved to be seen in and next to the special automobiles he purchased or was presented with through friends and Nazi Party funds. His first car was a 1920 green Selve 8/30, purchased in 1922, which was soon disposed of in favor of a Daimler-built Mercedes 15/70/10.

It was in this car that Hitler was involved in an accident with a large truck in March 1930. The truck was completely wrecked while the large Mercedes suffered only minor damage. This prompted Hitler to remark: 'It was then I decided to use only a Mercedes for the rest of my life.'

Security was always a great concern of Hitler and his entourage and his 770 was protected with bullet-proof windows and steel armor-plate built into all metal work. Wartime brought increased security fears, resulting in another Mercedes entering the German leader's car collection. This was the heavily armored, six-wheel G4, the first off-road Mercedes.

Provides photographs of Hitler's cars, discusses the men who became his chauffeurs, lists the technical specifications of those cars, and describes many of the journeys undertaken by Hitler over the course of two dramatic decades.