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 239
... attack had been launched " to forestall a wild act of desperation on the part of the Allies " by their " new ... attack of May 10 , 1940 , the attack by which Adolf Hitler would avenge Germany's defeat and disgrace of 1918 ? Von ...
... attack had been launched " to forestall a wild act of desperation on the part of the Allies " by their " new ... attack of May 10 , 1940 , the attack by which Adolf Hitler would avenge Germany's defeat and disgrace of 1918 ? Von ...
Page 269
... attack on Soviet Russia was pre - emptive . They maintain that Russian troops , tanks , and air- craft were deployed for attack , not for defense , and that Russia had multiplied her western military strength in the six months previous ...
... attack on Soviet Russia was pre - emptive . They maintain that Russian troops , tanks , and air- craft were deployed for attack , not for defense , and that Russia had multiplied her western military strength in the six months previous ...
Page 277
... attack in 50 - degree - below - zero weather in their summer uni- forms . Back in Germany people were asked to contribute their fur coats . The lack of winter combat gear was a scandal.26 It was the first time the German foot soldier ...
... attack in 50 - degree - below - zero weather in their summer uni- forms . Back in Germany people were asked to contribute their fur coats . The lack of winter combat gear was a scandal.26 It was the first time the German foot soldier ...
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