Hitler's Diplomat: The Life and Times of Joachim Von RibbentropTicknor & Fields, 1992 - 376 pages This first full-length English-language biography of Joachim von Ribbentrop, Adolf Hitler's notorious foreign minister, is also an authoritative account of the social and political workings of Nazi Germany. The result of a lifetime of research and firsthand experience, the book combines narrative history of the highest order and intimate familiarity with the people, events, and social currents that animated Hitler's regime. A well-to-do social climber who made and married money, von Ribbentrop was among the few in Hitler's circle with a claim to social prominence. As ambassador to England, von Ribbentrop quickly worked his way up to head the Foreign Ministry, along the way negotiating the British Naval Agreement, the Anti-Comintern Pact, and the Soviet Non-Aggression Pact. Frustrated during the war, when diplomacy was rendered virtually obsolete, von Ribbentrop never forsook his Fuhrer even at Nurnberg, where he was tried and hanged as a senior war criminal. With a provocative foreword by Tom Wolfe that draws disturbing comparisons between the Berlin of the 1930s and American society of the 1980s, Hitler's Diplomat is not only the riveting story of one of Hitler's closest collaborators, it also provides a window onto a side of Nazi Germany that is as fascinating as it is troubling: the men and women of culture and means who gave themselves to Hitler and his war machine. |
From inside the book
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Page 137
... Italian - Jewish families dated from the days of the Roman Empire . In a demonstration of protest , Marshal Balbo , Italy's air hero , famed pilot , and one of Mussolini's closest friends , flew himself from Libya to Ferrara . In that ...
... Italian - Jewish families dated from the days of the Roman Empire . In a demonstration of protest , Marshal Balbo , Italy's air hero , famed pilot , and one of Mussolini's closest friends , flew himself from Libya to Ferrara . In that ...
Page 166
... Italian police , some of them German Jews in exile.24 Heydrich's foreign specialist , Walter Schellenberg , was sent to Italy , where he traveled every yard of the route the Führer was to take with Mussolini . Eighty Gestapo ...
... Italian police , some of them German Jews in exile.24 Heydrich's foreign specialist , Walter Schellenberg , was sent to Italy , where he traveled every yard of the route the Führer was to take with Mussolini . Eighty Gestapo ...
Page 167
... Italian troops were now goose - stepping in the Italian version of the German Parade- marsch . Curiously , there were still Jewish officers among the parading Italian units.30 Italian Jewry's archenemy , Roberto Farinacci , a leading ...
... Italian troops were now goose - stepping in the Italian version of the German Parade- marsch . Curiously , there were still Jewish officers among the parading Italian units.30 Italian Jewry's archenemy , Roberto Farinacci , a leading ...
Common terms and phrases
accepted According Adolf Hitler ally ambassador American Annelies Army asked attack Austrian became become began Berlin Britain British called Chamberlain chief command diplomatic early embassy England face fight final followed forced foreign minister former France French Führer German Germany's Goebbels Göring hand head Henderson Himmler invited Italian Italy Jewish Jews Joachim von Ribbentrop join June King knew known Kordt later lives London looked March matter meeting Mein Kampf military Ministry Moscow Munich Mussolini named Nazi Neurath never once ordered pact Papen Paris party peace plans Poland Polish political probably Reich returned Russian Schmidt secretary seemed senior sent signed soon Soviet staff things thought told took treaty tried troops turned uniform United usual von Ribbentrop wanted wrote young