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 99
... troops moved into the demilitarized Rhineland . There are few eyewitnesses , but rumor has it that on the night of March 6-7 , while his troops were on their way west , Hitler had fits of nervous hysteria . The troops had orders to ...
... troops moved into the demilitarized Rhineland . There are few eyewitnesses , but rumor has it that on the night of March 6-7 , while his troops were on their way west , Hitler had fits of nervous hysteria . The troops had orders to ...
Page 197
... troops into Bohemia and Moravia . Foreign Minister Chvalkovsky agreed to the decision . Hacha then received approval by telephone from Prague and instructed his cabinet to receive the German troops " in a friendly manner . " No protest ...
... troops into Bohemia and Moravia . Foreign Minister Chvalkovsky agreed to the decision . Hacha then received approval by telephone from Prague and instructed his cabinet to receive the German troops " in a friendly manner . " No protest ...
Page 262
... troops landed at Tripoli . On February 24 near Agedabia , an advanced German unit ran into two troops of British armored cars from the Dragoon Guards and a troop of Austra- lian antitank guns . The Germans destroyed one armored car ...
... troops landed at Tripoli . On February 24 near Agedabia , an advanced German unit ran into two troops of British armored cars from the Dragoon Guards and a troop of Austra- lian antitank guns . The Germans destroyed one armored car ...
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