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 32
... became more famous : Oskar Kokoschka , Paul Klee , Emil Nolde . ) The conductors Wilhelm Furtwängler , Werner Klem- perer , and Bruno Walter , the composer Arnold Schönberg , and the Berlin Philharmonic brought music lovers of the world ...
... became more famous : Oskar Kokoschka , Paul Klee , Emil Nolde . ) The conductors Wilhelm Furtwängler , Werner Klem- perer , and Bruno Walter , the composer Arnold Schönberg , and the Berlin Philharmonic brought music lovers of the world ...
Page 68
... became the favorite target of the old party guard . They subjected him to unending pranks and practical jokes . He was a born raconteur , an amateur bar pianist , and court jester , and he never seemed to object to his tormentors ...
... became the favorite target of the old party guard . They subjected him to unending pranks and practical jokes . He was a born raconteur , an amateur bar pianist , and court jester , and he never seemed to object to his tormentors ...
Page 123
... became a veritable taxi . Captain Zivina brought everyone from Baron Steengracht and his beautiful wife , who became Annelies's assistants and helpers because they knew London society , to Rudolf Likus , an old friend of von ...
... became a veritable taxi . Captain Zivina brought everyone from Baron Steengracht and his beautiful wife , who became Annelies's assistants and helpers because they knew London society , to Rudolf Likus , an old friend of von ...
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