Books: Nazi Salvage

I KNEW HITLER—Kurt G. W. Ludecke —Scribner ($3.75).

In the harassed early days when Kurt Ludecke was about the only Nazi who had plenty of spending money, his good cronies Hitler and other future Nazi big shots called him "Der Amerikaner." This nickname came from his familiarity with the U. S., his smart clothes, wrist watch, nervy wit. He was, said Hitler, half-facetiously refusing him permission to make soapbox speeches, ''too much of a swell.'' Later, when Nazi officials had limousines and champagne, the nickname still stuck—but with a shadier meaning, derived...