Sebastian Haffner published 6 non-fiction books, beginning with The Meaning of Hitler (1978).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Sebastian Haffner
Start here
The Meaning of Hitler
Sebastian Haffner's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
Failure of a Revolution: Germany 1918-1919 (1968)
The Meaning of Hitler (1978)
The Rise and Fall of Prussia (1980)
The Ailing Empire (1987)
Germany's Self Destruction (1989)
Defying Hitler (2002)
About Sebastian Haffner
Raimund Pretzel, better known by his pseudonym Sebastian Haffner, was a German journalist and historian. As an émigré in Britain during World War II, Haffner argued that accommodation was not only impossible with Adolf Hitler but also impossible with the German Reich with which Hitler had gambled. Peace could be secured only by rolling back history and restoring Germany to a network of smaller states. As a journalist in West Germany, Haffner's independence and penchant for provocation precipitated breaks with editors both liberal and conservative. His intervention in the Spiegel affair of 1962, and his contributions to the anti-fascist rhetoric of the student New Left, sharply raised his profile.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Sebastian Haffner FAQ
- How many books has Sebastian Haffner written?
- Sebastian Haffner published 6 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Sebastian Haffner's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Meaning of Hitler.
- What is Sebastian Haffner's last book?
- Germany's Self Destruction (1989).
- What is Sebastian Haffner's most famous book?
- The Meaning of Hitler (1978) is Sebastian Haffner's most widely read book.
Authors like Sebastian Haffner
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.