Watch Selling Hitler

Selling Hitler is a riveting six-part historical drama miniseries from Acorn Media that aired in 1991. The series chronicles the fascinating true story of one of the most audacious and bizarre frauds in history - the Hitler Diaries. Jonathan Pryce stars in the series as Gerd Heidemann, the journalist who broke the story of the diaries and who became a key player in the biggest media scandal of the 20th century.

The series is set in the early 1980s, when a mysterious German businessman named Konrad Kujau (Alexei Sayle) contacts Heidemann, a journalist working for the German magazine Stern. Kujau has acquired a cache of documents that he claims are the original diaries of Adolf Hitler, written during his time as Führer of Nazi Germany. He offers to sell them to Heidemann, who eagerly agrees and soon becomes obsessed with the story of the century.

Heidemann convinces his editors at Stern to buy the diaries, and they fork over millions of dollars for what they believe are the historical documents of a lifetime. But things quickly begin to unravel as doubts arise about the authenticity of the diaries. Other experts in the field begin to question their legitimacy, and rival publications launch their own investigations.

As more and more evidence emerges that the diaries may be fakes, Heidemann becomes increasingly desperate to prove their authenticity. He falls deeper into a web of lies and deceit, and eventually becomes embroiled in a scandal that rocks the entire media world.

Selling Hitler is a gripping drama that gets to the heart of what motivates people to deceive, and the destructive power of lies in the pursuit of fame and fortune. Pryce is superb as Heidemann, bringing to life a complex character who is simultaneously brilliant and deluded, charismatic and manipulative.

Throughout the series, we see Heidemann's obsession with the Hitler Diaries consume him, putting his career and reputation at risk. We witness his growing paranoia as he becomes convinced that he is being watched and followed, and we see him struggle to maintain his grip on reality as the world around him begins to crumble.

At the same time, Selling Hitler is a fascinating glimpse into the workings of the media industry and the lengths to which journalists will go to get a scoop. We see how the relentless pursuit of a story can blind reporters to the truth, and how they can become unwitting pawns in the hands of unscrupulous sources.

The series is also a sobering reminder of the enduring power of the Nazi regime and the lasting impact of its atrocities. The Hitler Diaries represented a twisted attempt to rewrite history, to present Hitler as a misunderstood and sympathetic figure rather than the ruthless dictator he truly was. The fact that so many people were willing to believe in their authenticity is a chilling testament to the enduring fascination and horror of the Third Reich.

Overall, Selling Hitler is a gripping and thought-provoking drama that explores the nature of truth, deception, and human nature itself. It is a show that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and will leave you with a deeper understanding of one of the most bizarre events in modern history.