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
Results 1-3 of 15
Page 29
... Reichswehr generals cautioned that " Reichswehr will not shoot at Reichswehr , " so the government moved from Berlin to Stuttgart . Despite the reluctance of the legal government's generals to defend the new constitution , the Kapp ...
... Reichswehr generals cautioned that " Reichswehr will not shoot at Reichswehr , " so the government moved from Berlin to Stuttgart . Despite the reluctance of the legal government's generals to defend the new constitution , the Kapp ...
Page 76
... Reichswehr's conciliatory atti- tude toward the Geneva arms talks , wanted to take over the Army with his SA and install himself as Reichswehr minister . General von Blomberg , who held that post , and the top Army and Navy people were ...
... Reichswehr's conciliatory atti- tude toward the Geneva arms talks , wanted to take over the Army with his SA and install himself as Reichswehr minister . General von Blomberg , who held that post , and the top Army and Navy people were ...
Page 77
... Reichswehr would be the nation's only Army , but the SA would train men before and after they served in the Reichswehr . After leaving the room , Röhm shouted that he would never " stick to this ridiculous agreement , " and that " the ...
... Reichswehr would be the nation's only Army , but the SA would train men before and after they served in the Reichswehr . After leaving the room , Röhm shouted that he would never " stick to this ridiculous agreement , " and that " the ...
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