Just Finished Reading: 1941 – The Year Germany Lost the War by Andrew Nagorski (FP: 2019) [305pp] 

I have long argued that Germany made three significant mistakes in 1941 which essentially lost them the war, so it was good to find an author (another journalist rather than a historian) that agreed with me. But although we were definitely on the same page the author of this excellent history was rather more nuanced than I was.  

The first, arguably less vital mistake, was not finishing off the British on their left flank after losing the Battle of Britain and indefinitely ‘postponing’ the invasion known as Operation Sealion. Hitler was, apparently, sure that Britain posed a low threat as she was under constant air attack and the vital Atlantic convoys were under constant pressure. Hitler assumed that she would eventually have to ask for an armistice before widespread starvation set in. He wasn’t completely off base but failed to take into account Churchill’s ‘bulldog’ spirit and Roosevelt's growing assistance in Britain's war effort. 

Oddly, Germany’s (or actually Hitler’s) second mistake was at least in part supposed to address his first. The planned invasion of the Soviet Union was supposed to take out a future potential ally of Britain (thereby making Britain's situation hopeless) and also discourage further American involvement in the European war. After the lightening victories in the West even the sceptical German army commanders started to believe that they could defeat Russia in a matter of 2-3 months. This was despite, or maybe because of, the lack of any adequate intelligence of Soviet capabilities or even decent maps of the region. The initial attack – aided immensely by the fact that Stalin had refused to believe that such an attack was coming despite mountains of evidence to support it – was a huge (indeed unexpected) success and seemed to validate Hitler’s belief that a simple door kick would be enough. Here’s were the authors nuance comes in... In the earliest days, as German forces advanced into Poland and the Ukraine, at least some of the locals saw the Wehrmacht as liberators rather than invaders (which is rather difficult to wrap your head around knowing what was coming). But this opportunity was very quickly thrown away as the advancing German forces were told to neither stop nor take prisoners. It wasn’t long before the ‘liberated’ became partisans – another fatal mistake. 

Belief trumped reality when, after months of conflict, frontline commanders sent back requests for winter clothing. As the Russians, who had been dying or surrendering in their millions at this point, were expected to collapse at any minute now such frivolous (indeed almost treasonous) requests were denied. Indeed, despite being within sight of the outskirts of Moscow itself, Wehrmacht commanders were ordered to swing south to finish off Ukraine before returning to take the Soviet capital and communication hub as the first snowflakes began to fall. Interestingly, as civilians and government officials began to leave Moscow, Stalin was just about to board his armoured train for the ride East when he suddenly changed his mind and returned to the Kremlin. From that moment anyone seen leaving or looting was shot on sight. By the time the Germans returned the cities defences had been enhanced and fresh units from the Far East had begun to arrive. 

Hitler was eager for his Far East Axis partner Japan to attack Russia in 1941, but Japan had other ideas. Not only was it committed to operations in China, but it was just about to launch its fateful attack in the Pacific. Spies inside the German embassy in Tokyo knew that no attack against Russia was forthcoming and Stalin, eventually, believed them and repositioned hardened winter trained troops west to defend Moscow. Three days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Hitler made probably his biggest mistake of the war. With little advantage to himself he declared war on the USA in support of the Japanese attacks. His military commanders were appalled but Hitler believed that the Japanese would draw the majority of American forces against them – and hold them – and that the American economy couldn’t transform from peace to a war footing in time to prevent an Axis victory. He was, as we now know, wrong. 

This was a MUCH better read than my previous book on this fateful year. Part of that I think was the author's primary focus on Europe (especially Germany & Russia) although there was much too on American moves and attitudes to the war itself and the situation in China. Another thing which helped the narrative move along was the fact that the author didn’t need to repeatedly ‘change gears’ from a high to low level focus on the personalities involved. Here we (mostly) stayed at the policy/command level rather than literally in the trenches – though there was some of that sprinkled throughout. This was a very well written detailed account of a pivotal year in WW2 and goes a long way to explain exactly why Germany lost it. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author who certainly seems to know his stuff. Highly recommended.  

Just one more 1940’s focused history to come next before leaping to the 1960’s...  

Just Finished Reading: 1923 – The Crisis that Led to Hitler’s Coup by Mark Jones (FP: 2023) [328pp] 

The so-called ‘Beer Hall putsch’ of 1923 where a young Adolf Hitler and his followers tried to take power in Munich is another one of those historical events that I knew of but knew little detail about. No more! What I failed to appreciate previously is the truism that nothing – especially politically charged events - happens in a vacuum. That was as true here as everywhere else. 

1923 was a tumultuous year for the Weimar Republic in Germany. Beset with problems on all sides it was barely holding on. Indeed many – on both the Left and the Right – disputed its very existence. With war reparations crippling the economy and social unrest growing throughout the country it was hardly surprising that a number of right-wing groups took things into their own hands and began to target politicians who they held responsible for their plight (and the plight of the country itself) for assassination. But in many ways, those in power were walking a daily tightrope. If they gave into pressure from the victorious allies – and particularly the French – then their own people would suffer and turn against them. If they resisted the demands for reparations, then the Allies (again mostly the French) would take action against them which would make things even worse. Unfortunately for the Weimar government the French had lost all patience with the speed of payments coming from Germany and decided (against the advice of the British and Americans) to occupy the Ruhr region and simply take what they wanted. As you can imagine, even in their weakened state, the German people did not respond well. 

The political and especially economic consequences of the occupation were huge. The economy especially took a huge hit and began its slow spiral out of control. Before long the inflation rate became quite eye watering throwing many into abject poverty. This inevitably radicalised many within the working and middle classes and these groups became a breeding ground for the growth of extremist groups on both Left and Right – including the newly revitalised Nazi Party. But they were not alone in looking for radical solutions to the problems facing all Germans in that year. What I was unaware of was two other events happening in other parts of the country. One was a proposed breakaway Rhineland that was demanding more autonomy within the German federation, and the other was so-called ‘Soviet Saxony’ that proposed (and indeed elected) a far-Left government structure based around the Soviet system in Russia. However, an independent Rhineland failed to gain enough support from its citizens – although this didn’t stop several armed groups from attempting to take power – and the ‘Soviet Saxon’ experiment was crushed by the army before it could gain any traction. That left Munich and Hitler. 

I won’t be spoiling any surprise when I say that the attempted coup failed in 1923. Although it might have succeeded in other, better, circumstances it had little hope towards the end of 1923. It did, however, lay the foundations for the growth and eventual triumph of the Nazi’s in 1933 a mere 10 years later. This was, to be honest, mostly the failure of the authorities in Berlin to take control of the situation as they had done in Saxony. Their fear, probably real to be honest, was the possibility of Civil War if they’d gone it too hard and heavy. With 20-20 hindsight even that might have been worth it. 

As a long-time fan of Alt-History I couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if things had played out differently. The attempted coup/putsch was stopped in its tracks by the actions of the local police who fired into the crowd killing a number of them. The man standing next to Hitler – who he had his arms linked with – was killed and Hitler himself dislocated his shoulder diving for cover. Herman Goering (also present) was hit in the leg. Imagine if the bullets had ended up elsewhere... Without its charismatic leader no Nazi Party. Maybe Weimar would have weathered the Crash of 1929 as other countries did and, gradually, recovered during the 30’s and 40’s? So, no Second World War? No Cold War. It's possible that the US would still have ended up fighting the Japanese, but it wouldn’t have enveloped the whole world. The Russians had enough problems of their own without attacking the West. The Spanish Civil War would’ve been quite different without German support. Italy might have still come to its aid with the Russians backing the Communists, but I could see the various political groups breaking down beyond a simple Left V Right dynamic maybe with the French supporting the Socialists and maybe even the Anarchists. It would be a very different world indeed... 

1923 was a pivotal time for Germany and the world. This excellent analysis puts the events of that year into context so that it all begins to make sense. Very detailed and very astute this was definitely a history highlight of the year. Highly recommended for anyone interesting in the between world wars period, Weimar Germany or the origins of the long road to WW2.  

Just Finished Reading: The Escape Artists – A Band of Daredevil Pilots and the Greatest Prison Breakout of WW1 by Neal Bascomb (FP: 2018) [267pp] 

Most of us will be familiar with the PoW camp breakouts of WW2 popularised by such films as ‘The Great Escape’ but what about the Great War? One thing that I hadn’t realised, until reading this interesting narrative, was the fact that prisoners at that time where not covered by what we now think of as the Geneva Convention. The Third Geneva Convention "relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War" was only adopted in 1929, so any prisoners taken from 1914-1918 would have been covered under the earlier, and much less precise or robust, Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. This meant that at least some of the captured could be forced to work for the opposing side and could have their freedoms restricted on top of their actual captivity. Indeed, they could be denied all of the ‘rights’ including their right to life itself with only the possibility of retribution after the war or the fear of reprisals against their own soldiers in captivity to stop them. The running or various camps – in Germany in this case – was, by and large, up to the officer in charge under whatever direction he had been given from his superiors. 

What was also clear, as we were still in the era of Edwardian sensibilities and the (mostly) rigid class system, was that officers and ‘other ranks’ were treated VERY differently within the PoW system. Although not actually in the regulations of the British Army it was considered the duty of an officer to at least try to escape. If an enlisted man did likewise, and was caught, it was entirely possible that he would either be shot or, at the very least, sent somewhere to serve out the rest of his captivity doing hard labour for the enemy. If an officer successfully escaped and was later recaptured, they might very well be punished – usually be a period of solitary confinement and loss of any privileges – but they would, by and large, be physically safe. So, it’s no surprise that any escape, attempted or successful, was undertaken by officers only although assisted by their enlisted men who were essentially ‘escaping’ by proxy. 

The main thrust of the narrative was the escape of around 30 captives – Army and RFC in the main – from the Holzminden camp where the most persistent and hardened escapees from other camps were held. [Side note: Its always amused me the way that the authorities kept the most dangerous people in the same place so that they could plan things together and learn from each other's mistakes and who, eventually, expressed shock and surprised when the best of the best managed to break out of supposedly escape proof facilities]. The place did have a ‘Colditz’ feel to it which helped with visualisation and the author made a valid point when pointing out that the escape ‘philosophy’ often felt familiar (from the arguably much more famous WW2 escapes) because the escapes of WW1 actually informed the escape and evasion training given during WW2. 

I won’t give too much away about the escapes and how they were accomplished (from various camps before Holzminden as well as the place itself) but needless to say they were as various and as excentric as the officers devising them. This is/was one of the aspects of war that I haven’t really thought about or read about previously, but I think I’ll see if I can pick up a bit more on the subject. Although obviously written by a non-historian this was still an interesting and sometimes moving tale of fortitude, grit and determination under often extreme circumstances. Recommended if you’re interested in this aspect of warfare or just want some ideas of how to get out of a secure facility. 

Just Finished Reading: To Win a War – 1918 The Year of Victory by John Terraine (FP: 1978) [259pp] 

1917 was a hard year for the Allied Powers. Not only had their offensives failed to achieve victory, but their attempts had almost destroyed their army's ability to fight. The French front-line commands had been wracked with mutiny and some of their politicians were calling for peace at *any* price. The British meanwhile where struggling to fill their basic manpower needs and where being forced to downsize the units in France. What made things worse was that Russia had dropped out of the war with the inevitable influx of German units moving west for a renewed offensive.  

Despite prior knowledge, and a limited amount of preparation, the Allies where still taken by surprise when the hammer fell in the spring of 1918. Despite warnings the Allies still packed their front trenches with men and whole units were destroyed by massive artillery bombardments. Once overrun and with the survivors in headlong retreat, the German infantry poured through the gaps and moved deep into France. But, despite their numbers, despite their planning and despite new tactics (including elite Stormtrooper units) the Allied Front was never breached. Broken sure, bent out of shape certainly, but after weeks of attacks and thousands of casualties the line held. Completely exhausted, low on supplies and distracted by the opportunity of looting Allied supplies abandoned in haste, the German assault ground to a halt. Hit first by outbreaks of Spanish Flu they were hit time and time again by the French, British and increasingly by American counter attacks. Slowly withdrawal became retreat and retreat become a general fallback from ground bloodily taken and retaken over the past four years. The 100 days of defeat had begun, and the end of the Great War was finally in sight. 

After reading about the German spring offensive (or rather offensives) of 1918 I was reasonably familiar with the events discussed in the first half of this book. What I was much less familiar with, and which I found very interesting, was the political manoeuvring behind the scenes to end the war and why, for instance, the Allies seemed to be satisfied by an Armistice rather than the full and unconditional surrender they demanded in 1945. Despite planning for campaign in 1919 (and indeed with some thinking that the war would still be raging in 1920!) both the British and most especially the French were spent, or close to being so, in the latter half of 1918. It was just conceivable that the final push could take place in 1919 but any continuation of the war beyond the spring of that year was unthinkable even with the growing manpower of the US Army. 

Despite having some notable axes to grind – the author *really* didn’t like the UK PM David Lloyd George! – this was an interesting and informative read. Getting some insights into the thinking of the Allied and German commanders certainly added to my understanding of why the war took so long to end even after it was obvious to just about everyone that Germany had lost the fight. Recommended if you can source a copy. More up to date works on this important period to come. 

Just Finished Reading: The Peenemunde Raid – The Night of 17-18 August 1943 by Martin Middlebrook (FP: 1982) [233pp] 

The first reports were dismissed as fantastical, simple propaganda. It didn’t help that the reports referenced two different weapons – a gliding bomb and a large rocket. Only much later did it seem that there was something to it. One thing that was certain was a name that came up time and again: Peenemunde. This was a small coastal community on the Baltic coast of north-eastern Germany. It was isolated and seemed to be quite unremarkable. Photo-reconnaissance of the area proved otherwise. Something very strange was going on there, something that concentrated minds, something that needed to be stopped. 

When the bomber crews were briefed on their mission the first thought was that no one had ever heard of Peenemunde. Their second thought was that at least it wasn’t Berlin. At the end of the briefing, they learnt something about the place though – it was important although no one would tell them why for security reasons. The words ‘maximum effort’ meant that every available aircraft would be involved even if they had to put together ‘scratch’ crews to man them. But the thing that really focused their attention and made a shiver down many a back was what they were told next. If the target wasn’t destroyed or at least significantly damaged they would be sent back again – and again – until the chiefs of Bomber Command were satisfied. Of course, every return visit would be met with increased resistance from the Luftwaffe and increased casualties among the RAF. It was a strong incentive, the strongest, to get the job done right the first time. 

I’d read about this raid in other, broader, historical narratives so it was good to see it in more detail. The surprising thing about the whole V-weapons story is how little it was believed (despite copious evidence to support it) until it was almost too late. But, in their defence, once the idea of these weapons was accepted the British authorities did pretty much everything they could to stop them or at the very least slow down their operational deployment. Apparently, almost everyone agrees, the Peenemunde raid by the RAF (it was attacked again later by the USAAF) delayed the V-2 by around 2 months. This doesn’t sound much but it meant that the missile wasn’t available until after D-Day. Even with questionable accuracy it can be imagined what hundreds of unstoppable missile strikes could have done to the build-up of forces prior to the Invasion. 

Although a little dry in places and a little too over detailed in others, this was a very creditable account of a very important bombing raid. One thing I particularly liked was the scattering of personal accounts from the RAF bomber crews, their opposing German night fighter pilots as well as the personnel and families based at Peenemunde who were on the receiving end of the bombing. Collectively they made it feel very real and very immediate. Recommended if you can source a copy. 

Just Finished Reading: The Origins of the Anglo-Saxons – Decoding the Ancestry of the English by Jean Manco (FP: 2018) [206pp] 

After reading the author’s previous book on the Celts around 2 years ago I thought it was about time to read her book about the Anglo-Saxons (despite not being one). As with the Celts this is a DEEP dive into the origins, culture, genetics and movements of a whole people so is very much a foundation – broad and deep – to any investigation of personal ancestry. I wasn’t expecting it to be particularly illuminating from my perspective but this didn’t stop it being always interesting and often fascinating. 

As I’ve said before, people (indeed peoples) moved around far more in the past than we moderns give them credit for. The Anglo-Saxons – generally made up of Angles, Saxons and Jutes – are a case in point moving across eastern Europe/central Asia westwards and northwards into western Europe, the British Isles and Scandanavia. Most of this slim volume covers that particular part of their history with diversions into archaeology, grave styles, coinage and, my particular favourite, languages and how they changed over LONG periods of time. Only the last quarter or so of the book looks at the impact on England putting to rest, yet again, the idea that the British Isles was ‘invaded’ and conquered by the Saxons and that the local population was displaced. Interesting this erroneous idea seems to have origination after the end of WW2 when the Saxons (AKA Germans) where not exactly in high standing in the UK. However, archaeological and, later, DNA evidence has shown the invasion motif to be overplayed at best. Apparently, which I found MOST interesting, around 36% of Brits living in the South East of England have Saxon genes and some individuals in Kent are essentially indistinguishable from native Germans (much, apparently, to their surprise and annoyance!). But the native population didn’t vanish (AKA killed). Nothing like it. The so-called ‘invasion’ actually took place over 2-300 years and varied from the hiring of mercenary soldiers who decided to stay – whether their ‘masters’ liked it or not – to actual raiders who stayed long term, and individual family groups looking for a better life and more productive farmland. 

Overall, this was interesting read that helped put present day genetics, place names and much else into a (DEEP) historical context. Although it didn’t help me very much to understand my own ancestry (of which more later) it did help me bed in the genetic foundations my ancestors were part of. Definitely of interest to anyone looking deep into their Anglo-Saxon past. Recommended.  

Just Finished Reading: Spynest – British and German Espionage From Neutral Holland 1914-1918 by Edwin Ruis (FP: 2012) [239pp] 

Spies are apparently the second oldest profession but the kind of espionage we easily associate with World War Two was very new during the Great War. Part of the problem was, it seemed, that “Gentlemen do not read each other's letters”. So, what is a covert organisation to do? Hire, use or otherwise acquire people who are most definitely NOT gentlemen to do the dirty work for you. In both the case of the Germans and the British, and indeed the Dutch who kept an eye on both parties as they operated in their country, they employed conmen, swindlers, thieves and, when required, prostitutes. Very few of these would be considered ‘professional’ spies in the modern sense. What we now regard as such is a surprisingly modern arrival. 

Needless to say, such people were anything but reliable – either they simply took the money on offer and ran or reported back with completely or partially fabricated ‘information’. They were, as a class, either practically useless or positively harmful. Such activities couldn’t really last and, after much trial and error, a more professional organisation – on all sides began to emerge using military and ex-police as operatives although a thief or professional burglar still had their uses. 

The Dutch position was an interesting one. Unlike in the Second World War Holland remained unoccupied and neutral. They knew that their neutrality was somewhat fragile and made great efforts to neither antagonise the Central Powers or the Triple Entante. They did, however, have their favourite. It was considered that Germany posed the greater threat to their sovereignty despite a sometimes-adversarial history with Great Britain. In both cases they made a simple deal – share your findings with us (the Dutch) and don’t use violence on our streets and you can do as you please (within reason). The British accepted the deal with pleasure, the Germans were much more reluctant and suffered for it. It was over the war period a difficult balancing act – especially as both the British and Germans used Dutch nationals in their endeavours to spy and counter-spy on each other but the alternative was far more dangerous. They had Belgium, their next-door neighbour, as an example of what might happen if their neutrality went up in flames. 

As I knew almost nothing about Great War espionage (or, to be honest, the role of Holland in the war) this was often a most interesting read. A few things surprised me including just how amateur espionage was in the early years of the war. The other thing that really struck me was the number of spies executed in England – by firing squad at the Tower of London no less!  - for often very minor spying activity. What was clear from the outset was that Germany wasn’t very good at the whole spying game and their efforts generally fell flat (as they did by and large in the re-match 20 years later). The Brits, eventually, go their act together although overall espionage didn’t (apparently) account for very much in the end. A fairly quick read and (often) quite the eye-opener. More on this subject – from those involved – to come. Recommended for those interested in early espionage and who like reading around the edges of the World Wars. 

Just Finished Reading: Priests De La Resistance! - The Loose Cannons Who Fought Fascism in the 20th Century by Fergus Butler-Gallie (FP: 2019) [260pp] 

To be honest it was difficult to resist a book with a pun both in the title AND the sub-title. No doubt it helped that the book also covered an odd aspect of WW2 and I’m always looking for the odd nooks and crannies of that particular conflict. I’ve long been interested in resistance movements across the globe and across time with a particular focus on the French resistance in particular. My reading, up to this point, has looked at the political aspects of this resistance especially focusing on the Communists and local Nationalist groups in various European countries. This was something quite different looking instead at the religious (exclusively Christian here) side of things. 

Looking at around 15 examples (all but 2 from occupied Europe during WW2) this was a fascinating, uplifting, harrowing and sometimes honestly funny look at some of the priests, nuns and other religious characters who put everything on the line to fight Fascism. Sadly (showing my lack of knowledge in this area) the vast majority of the people mentioned where completely unknown to me. The only one I recognised was Dietrich Bonhoeffer – not a name easily forgotten once discovered. Naturally one of the things I love about books like this is that they introduce me too a whole new side of things and to fascinating people of which I was previously ignorant. Being an ‘odd-ball’ myself (although generally I don’t think of *myself* that way) I was delighted to see just how ‘odd’ this cast of characters was. I think almost without exception they were outliers in their own faith organisations and all too often barely tolerated by their ecclesiastical hierarchy. Honestly, I liked them instantly! But it didn’t surprise me that someone who was a constant thorn in the side of their bishops or others above them was equally a thorn in the side (and often much more) to the Fascist authorities who tried to control them. Above all else it was their faith that not only sustained them through the years of Occupation but it was their faith that drove their opposition to Fascist ideology and the practical effects of it – from deportation of Jewish populations to the general oppression of the local population. 

Reading these potted biographies its difficult not to be uplifted by their efforts (often valuable, life-saving, inspirational) to fight a very real evil in their midst. I also found it difficult not only to admire these men and women who put their lives a distant second to doing the right thing but to love them for what they did. They were probably ‘difficult’ people in a whole host of ways but I do think they would have been fun – lovely provocative fun – to have in your community and most especially to know them or, if you were very lucky, to be friends with them. Told with a wonderful style I really enjoyed reading about a whole host of people that shouldn’t really be allowed to fade into historic obscurity. Definitely recommended and I’ll be looking out for the authors previous work on the English clergy. 

Just Finished Reading: The Glass Wall – Lives on the Baltic Frontier by Max Egremont (FP: 2021) [263pp] 

I’ll be the first to admit that my ‘knowledge’ of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania is confined to the fact that they gained their independence soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union and that some rather vicious battles were fought there towards to end of WW2 to slow the advance of Soviet forces into Germany. Thankfully, after reading this very good book, I’m a LOT less ignorant than before. 

This did take a little effort to ‘get into’ because of the authors style – not that his writing was bad, far from it. Maybe I was expecting a more rigid organisation – geographically or chronologically – rather than him essentially (with some exaggeration on my part) wandering around the region chatting to people and digging into the past of various buildings/monuments or areas. One big thing I did realise early one, is that the Baltic States have had FAR too much History happen to them than is usually warranted in a comparatively small region. The States have been occupied by one major Empire or other for the last 700 years, have been fought over, bargained with, and have had their culture shaped by other countries for generations. It is only now that they are really finding out exactly who they are. 

Heavily influenced by their two most powerful neighbours – Russia and, especially, Germany – it can feel (the author said more than once) that you’re travelling through one of those countries, from the languages you hear on the street to the architecture around every corner. Interviewing, or sometimes simply chatting, with locals throughout the region including serving military officers, teachers and librarians, Holocaust survivors, descendants of the previous ruling elites, returned exiles from all across the globe as well as random people on local buses, the reader gets a real sense both of the present situation, the cultural streams flowing through and the deep sense of history felt by its inhabitants. 

This was a really interesting read about a part of Europe I knew very little about. I’ll definitely be returning to the region when I can to dig deeper around some of its LONG and complex history. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in the zone – in the news quite a bit recently with their unwavering support for Ukraine and the threats aimed at them from Russia (which they are more than used to) - and for anyone thinking of visiting.   

Just Finished Reading: D-Day Through German Eyes – How the Wehrmacht Lost France by Jonathan Trigg (FP: 2019) [294pp] 

They knew it was coming. The long awaited ‘Second Front’ - although technically the ‘third’ front with the ongoing campaign in Italy – was soon to open, but the questions remained: When, How and most importantly where? The hammer could fall just about anywhere, from the French south coast all the way up to northern Norway. But even the mighty Third Reich couldn’t defend everywhere equally. The most logical thing to consider was that the Allies would need a functioning port as soon as possible after landing. The most logical place for the attack on France was, therefore, Calais and logically this was the most heavily defended. But what about elsewhere? Normandy was considered a comparatively low risk with few usable ports nearby and, despite a flat beach along most of the area, radio intercepts and other information indicated an attack elsewhere. Despite that the defenders did what they could to improve their defences with thousands of mines being laid and thousands of tons on concrete being poured to create gun emplacements and bunkers. But what of the troops to man them? With a war of extermination raging in the East needing ever greater resources in men and material the Atlantic Wall and Fortress Europa wasn’t exactly in line to get the best of anything. The men came from units generally considered to be combat ineffective, either through a lack of experience or, in many cases, often too much experience on the Eastern Front complete with physical and mental injuries that would’ve, in normal times, removed them from fighting units entirely. The equipment wasn’t much better – with obsolete guns from occupied territories making up the majority of the weapons available to ‘throw the Allies back into the sea’. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The elite Panzer units held in reserve were under confusing and conflicted control. The very strategy on which the defence of France was being based was still under review with different commanders having very different ideas of how exactly to proceed. If that wasn’t bad enough, the Allies had created naval and air forces the like of which the world had never seen before. When the hammer did fall it would fall like the Hammer of God itself and heaven help anyone who was on the receiving end – as various units of a much-weakened Wehrmacht were about to find out. 

This was an excellent account of D-Day and the subsequent weeks and months following the landings from a very different perspective than I was used to. We don’t often hear about the German/Axis side of any encounter with the Allies, so it was very interesting indeed to ‘hear’ from German/Axis (actually not always German nationals as I discovered here) soldiers as they were bombed, bombarded and finally overwhelmed by British, Canadian and American forces. With lots of first-hand accounts this was at times a very visceral, frightening and bloody account of modern warfare up close and personal. If you’re in any way put off by the horrors of war you might just want to skip this one – or at least be aware that you might need to skip some of the more detailed accounts throughout this book. If you know D-Day from the Allied point of view only (as I did pretty much) this is a real eye-opener and will definitely round out your knowledge of the events surrounding that most important day. Highly recommended to anyone interested in how WW2 ended.    

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Just Finished Reading: Kraftwerk: Future Music from Germany by Uwe Schutte (FP: 2020) [286pp] 

Reading about Music isn’t something I usually do. Music, in my mind, is for listening and I’ve never really been that interested in the people who made it, produced it or distributed it – nor those who write about it. But I say this chunky little boy sitting there in my fave Indie bookshop on a recent visit and I thought it was worth a ‘punt’ as something different to read about. 

I think my first exposure to the German electronic ‘rock’ band was hearing parts of and then buying ‘Man Machine’ in 1978. As far as I can remember I had already been ‘exposed’ to electronic music in the guise of Tomita’s 1974 album ‘Snowflakes are Dancing’ (which incidentally made me a life-long lover of Debussy) and some of Vangelis's earlier works such as ‘Albedo 0.39’ (1976) and ‘Beaubourg’ (1978), so I don’t think I was a complete ‘noob’ on the subject. Even so, I instantly LOVED Kraftwerk’s industrial electronic sound and have loved them ever since. I remember buying their later album ‘Computer World’ (1981) (everything on cassette in those days) and then backtracked to listen to some of their earlier stuff such as ‘Autobahn’ (1974) and ‘Trans-Europe Express’ (1977). Of course, what I didn’t know anything about – at the time – was where the band had emerged from and why they produced the sounds that they did. It’s an interesting story! 

Growing up in Dusseldorf in the post-war, Cold War era surrounded by American Rock music the two core band members Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider founded Kraftwerk (meaning power station or powerplant) in 1970 as both a reaction to the era they had grown up in, the Nazi past that no one wanted to talk about and a desire to produced authentic German music from their heavily industrialised region. Strangely their earliest music seemed to have little appeal locally but was growing in popularity in the UK and especially France. An American tour following the release of ‘Autobahn’, where the album reached No 5 in the Billboard charts, made them a world phenomenon. The rest as they say is history! Kraftwerk’s output had a HUGE influence on the infancy of electronic music not only across Europe but also in the US (the band were surprised at how much of their music influenced not only electro-pop but also Hip-hop and much else besides in Black Music) and the Far East. 

Not having read much (if anything) like this before I wasn’t really sure what to expect. What I found was very often fascinating and it both made me appreciate the music more and, inevitably, buy ALL their albums again on CD – which I’ll do at some point when I get a new CD player/system. It’s also interested me in reading more music related books of which I already had a few in a small stack awaiting their turn. This is definitely a worthy read for anyone interested in or a fan of Kraftwerk or the origins and influences of electronic music on the rest of the world. Recommended.  

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Just Finished Reading: Pursuit – The Sinking of the Bismarck by Ludovic Kennedy (FP: 1974) [228pp] 

May, 1941. It was the Admiralties worse nightmare, the pride of the German Navy the battleship Bismarck had left port and was attempting to break out into the North Atlantic. If she managed to do that the whole of the Atlantic convoy system would be under threat and Britain would run the risk of starvation. Known to be accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, the two ships were seen off the coast of Norway and the Admiralty decided to cover all the bases. As the pair were highly unlikely to try a Channel dash, the northern approaches to the Atlantic were covered by available warships. The Denmark Straight, between Iceland and Greenland was covered by the cruisers HMS Suffolk and HMS Norfolk. On sighting the enemy units, they shadowed them using radar to keep contact and called for assistance. The navy’s two largest ships nearest to the pair were vectored into contact – HMS Prince of Wales (a new Battleship still experiencing teething troubles) and the venerable battlecruiser HMS Hood. The eventual encounter did not go well with Hood sunk (with only 3 of a crew of 1,433 surviving) and Prince of Wales forced to withdraw seriously damaged. It looked like the nightmare scenario was being played out in real-time.  

With the cruisers maintaining contact and with aircraft from Coastal Command also keeping close tabs on her location Bismarck was targeted for destruction, no matter the risk or consequences. Ships of all types were stripped from supporting convoys, left port half provisioned or ordered to change direction and steam at best possible speed to Bismarck's last known location. The only question remained was the Bismarck’s intentions. With so much focus now on her would she return to her base in Germany (doubtful), head for a base on the coast of France (possible) or try to head into the Atlantic (also still possible). As the hours ticked by it became increasingly clear that Bismarck was heading to the French coast. Unless, that is, the Royal Navy could catch her first and force a battle on her terms. It was going to be quite a stressful night for all concerned. 

To be honest, most of my knowledge of the events surrounding the pursuit of the Bismarck is based on the 1960 movie ‘Sink the Bismarck’ starring Kenneth Moore (based on the 1959 book by C S Forester). With some additional reading over the years, I thought I had a pretty good handle on the affair and so it was. But what this excellent small volume provided was some very interesting details. The fact that Bismarck’s captain failed (as was the British policy at the time) to top of her oil tanks when he had the opportunity in Norway which would have given him a much wider field of action when needed, the fact that four Royal Navy destroyers harassed Bismarck for hours during her last night including HMS Cossack which I built a model of as a boy, the fact that many of the Swordfish torpedo plane pilots who initially attacked Bismarck had never landed on an aircraft carrier before being sent on the mission, and the fact that several of the British ship commanders were almost court-martialled for their apparent lack of aggression during the encounter! 

As you can probably tell, I enjoyed this book very much indeed. Told with passion and understanding (the author was on HMS Tartar which witnessed the final destruction of Bismarck) this was an exciting read that didn’t shy away from the horrors of conflict on the unforgiving seas. Definitely worth the effort of sourcing a copy if you can and highly recommended for anyone interesting in the pursuit of Bismarck or the early years of naval conflict in WW2.  

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Just Finished Reading: Kristallnacht – Prelude to Destruction by Martin Gilbert (FP: 2006) [269pp] 

Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, took place across Germany over 9th-10 November 1938. It involved the organised and vicious attacks on Jewish properties, businesses and Synagogues as well as targeted arrests, beatings and killings of Jews throughout the country. Although it was far from the beginnings of Nazi oppression of Jews and other so-called ‘undesirables’ it showed its citizens, and the larger world, the horror that was coming in just a few short years. The events of that day, as well as those in the months following, not only shocked the world – as they were reported by international journalists who could still report from German held territory – but added an additional sense of urgency to the increased rearmament efforts of France, Britain and the Soviet Union following the earlier Anschluss between Germany and Austria. 

Regular readers here will know that I hardly ever read directly about the Holocaust. It is, to be honest, a subject I tend to avoid. Although I do not know everything about that horrifying time in European history, I know enough to realise how depressed and emotionally upset it would leave me to read into the subject deeply enough to truly understand it. I know it happened and I know enough about those events to be aware of the parameters of the tragedy as it unfolded. So why, you must be asking yourselves, did I read this book? It’s a good question actually! I picked it up some years ago (although not as far back as 2006 I think!) almost on impulse. It’s been sitting in a stack since then waiting for me to (almost) have the courage to read it. Despite everything I’m ‘glad’ I did. Let me explain... 

Kristallnacht and the obscenity that followed are, beyond question, examples of the worse aspects of humanity writ large. Such events need to be remembered if, for nothing else, we can hold tight to the idea that they will happen Never Again. But as this book reminds us, in the midst of such inhumanity acts of heroic humanity shone through. On the night itself, and over the subsequent days, friends, neighbours and complete strangers, helped Jews displaced from their homes (and often at great personal risk to themselves) to find shelter, food and ways to escape the coming storm. Local police gave warnings of raids, turned blind eyes to those they were tasked to find and ignored valuables (often the only items carried) held by refugees as they crossed borders. Organisations across the world, often run by Quakers, put together rescue schemes like the Kindertransport which helped thousands of Jewish and other children escape to England. What I was most impressed by were stories of consulate officials who worked tirelessly (and often against direct orders) to issue exit visas to anyone who asked for them. Some officials issued THOUSANDS more than normal, working 18 hour days, and one (I think he was from Portugal) actually continued issuing them whilst returning ‘home’ after being recalled. As he crossed the border he produced his last visas on any scrap of paper he could find to save the last few people before returning home in ‘disgrace’.  

But while some did everything they could to help as much as humanly possible, others stuck to outdated rules that restricted the number of legitimate immigrants and even, on far too many occasions, turned ships around to return their frightened human cargo straight back into Hell. On some level you can almost understand it. They, at least, didn’t have access to the knowledge we do. Although the world knew about German concentration camps, the existence of death camps was still in the future. But still, even without this foreknowledge, it almost beggared belief that officials could turn desperate people away and still sleep at night. There was even debate in the US Congress about what to do with German Jews on student visas and whether their stay would be extended for the duration of the war! Incredible. 

Given the subject matter, no matter how professionally conveyed, this is certainly NOT a book for sensitive souls. It is an examination of both the worst and some of the best of humanity in action. Both the worst and the best should not be forgotten – especially the best examples of humanity who give us hope and stand as examples for the rest of us. This is why I’m ‘glad’ I read this. It gives me hope for our future.  

Just Finished Reading: Munich – The 1938 Appeasement Crisis by David Faber (FP: 2008) [437pp]

The Munich Crisis of September 1938 was a long time coming. With Hitler taking his place as Chancellor in 1933 a new spirit was growing in Germany and the rest of Europe was struggling to accommodate it. Some, of course, saw the German demands as quite reasonable. Others saw danger coming and pledged a hard-line to any demands for a degrading of Versailles or giving in to Germany’s growing territorial demands. But Germany wasn’t going to wait around for other countries to give her what she knew was already hers. Emboldened by a lack of response to repeated breaches of the Versailles Treaty the new German government publically, if metaphorically, ripped it up and proceeded to ignore it. The re-occupation of the Rhineland by German military forces followed – protests rang out, most especially in France, but again nothing was done. As Germany got more of its demands handed to it without any significant cost it was time for a bigger push – the unification of Germany with Austria denied them after the armistice in 1918. The German military in particular knew of the risks. They had been undermining any democratic forces inside Austria for some years but still, if France and Britain strongly objected and threatened war what could be done. Combined they could, it was believed, overwhelm the existing German forces who were still in the process of modernisation. But Hitler was adamant and the Anschluss went ahead – and STILL the French and British did nothing but protest. Now only two more territorial advances remained to play for – the German Sudetenland on the borders with Czechoslovakia and the Eastern border with Poland. But first things first – the Czechs.

Here things were more complex and more dangerous for the Germans than the recently completed Anschluss. Czechoslovakia had a treaty with France which obligated them to come to the Czech’s aid if attacked. Likewise Britain had a treaty with France to come to *her* aid if attacked. So, if Germany attacked Czechoslovakia and France attacked Germany in response then Britain would be obligated to come to France’s aid. This would mean a European war – only 20 years after the catastrophic Great War had ended. Both France and Britain were VERY keen to avoid this. Despite both increased military spending by both France and Britain (against much opposition in both countries) it was considered by both governments that neither of them were ready – alone or together – to face war with Germany (and most probably her Italian ally). Oddly of course at this point – 1938 – the German military command thought that they could not face a war with France on her own never mind in combination with Great Britain. In reality it’s probably arguable that ONLY Germany was in a position to wage modern war in 1938. Such thoughts were at the heart of the decisions about the Sudetenland in the cabinets of Paris and London. There was only one thing to do – negotiate. But how? The standard way, for centuries, was to hold an International Conference. This would have taken place under the League of Nations but Germany had withdrawn from it 5 years earlier. It was time for something new, something dramatic and direct – it was time for a face-to-face meeting with Hitler in the first example of what would later be called ‘Shuttle diplomacy’.

Of course the Munich Crisis of 1938 is remembered for what it failed to do – prevent a world war which erupted onto the world stage a mere 12 months later. Others see it as a real attempt to avert war despite the ultimate outcome. That extra year allowed Britain (at least) to ready itself for war with Germany and place itself in a much better position to fight a prolonged conflict in Europe and, inevitably, the rest of the world. It also showed the world that no matter what Hitler was given he would always demand more and that the only way to stop him was at gunpoint. By the time Czechoslovakia had been sacrificed to (hopefully) satisfy the German behemoth there was no longer another option available so, when the panzers rolled into Poland in September 1939 there was no attempt at further diplomacy and Britain declared war on 3^rd September – World War 2 had officially started.

After just reading ‘Munich’ by Robert Harris previously I was immensely impressed by how much of the real events made it into the novel. This detailed and honestly gripping narrative of (essentially) one man’s efforts to avert another European war quite often read like a political thriller. Most of the ‘action’ took place in smoke filled room (unless Hitler was there who HATED cigarette smoke) where government ministers and officials argued the toss and hammered out various ‘agreements’ between the 3 Powers (Czechoslovakia was barely involved in the negotiations and was hardly consulted at all). Interesting all those involved on the British and especially the French side knew exactly how odious their treatment of the Czechs was. They were fully aware that they were basically throwing a whole country to the wolves (no one really believed that Hitler would simply stop after assimilating the Sudeten Germans into the Reich) in the hope that Germany would finally be satisfied and leave them alone. The French could barely contain their shame at reneging on their treaty with the Czechs and largely left Chamberlain the run things – which more than suited the British Prime Minister who insisted throughout that he should be at the centre of things.

If you’ve read and enjoyed the fictional account of the 4 days in Munich by Robert Harris and wanted to know more about what actually went on then this is most definitely the book for you. Likewise if you want to know how the world slipped into another World War this will go a long way in that direction. MUCH more to follow about this pivotal moment in world history. Highly recommended.           

Just Finished Reading: Sophie Scholl and the White Rose by Annette Dumbach & Jud Newborn (FP: 1986) [185pp]

She knew she had her whole life ahead of her – she just had to get there. Coming of age in 1930’s Germany was never going to be easy. As the new regime became more and more embedded in ordinary life if became increasingly difficult to ignore things. It also became increasingly difficult to be ignored and left alone. Because of this the Scholl family slowly emerged onto the authority’s radar. Although the children took part in Hitler Youth activities they, generally, followed their father’s beliefs and held such groups in distain. Even Hans, who had initially thrown himself into the organisation and had risen accordingly, finally turned against their regimented philosophy. When war came the Scholl’s were appalled. Even with victory after victory, and final victory regularly assured on the radio, they knew that it could not last. When friends and family members were sent to Russia the tension was almost unbearable. Couldn’t people see what was happening? Couldn’t they see where things were going? Couldn’t they see that the war could only end in final defeat for Germany? If not, they needed to be told. Now at University, Sophie joined her brother and friends in a group they called ‘The White Rose’. Their object was a noble one – the educate the German people about the danger they all faced now that the country was fighting a war on two fronts and with the American’s as enemies. At first their leaflets were crude, long and far too ‘high-brow’ as befits the efforts of university students. But over the following months they got better as did their distribution network. They also began to gain notice, not only from the authorities but by other resistance groups. But being young, impatient and politically naïve they also took risks and that would, unfortunately be the end of them…..

I’d heard of The White Rose in other contexts so I was really looking forward to this classic narrative of their struggle and ultimate demise. I was not disappointed. Written almost like a thriller the tale follows Sophie, her brother (both pictured), her family and her friends as they struggled with the reality of living in a totalitarian Germany where almost everything challenged their beliefs and their sensibilities. Being the family that they were they simply couldn’t stand by and, unfortunately, paid the ultimate price for their defiance. Rather emotional at times (it’s difficult not to get attached to this idealistic bunch of kids) this is a great story of principled resistance in the face of impossible odds. It’s easy to see why this group have become heroes in post-war Germany (and further afield) and rightly so. A great example of how far from jaded youth can be and a great example for future generations. Definitely a recommended read for all political activists! 

      

Just Finished Reading: The Berlin Wall (13 August 1961 – 9 November 1989) by Frederick Taylor (FP: 2006) [449pp]

It could not be allowed to go on for much longer. With the demarcation between East and West Berlin being noting more than a line drawn on a map there was nothing to stop thousands of citizens of the Communist East simply walking over that line and never coming back. True, it wasn’t exactly that easy for lots of reasons but there was little in the way of a barrier between the two increasingly belligerent ideological coalitions. Finally, Walter Ulbricht the Premier of East Germany got his way with an agreement with the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev – a barrier could be built to stop the ongoing ‘brain drain’ from the East to the more prosperous West Berlin. Over a holiday weekend secret plans were put into operation and barbered wire began snaking across the demarcation line. Before anyone really knew what was happening it was now much more difficult to escape to the West. In a last minute panic many people took what they thought was their last opportunity to make a break for freedom – including one very young East German soldier pictured below. Captured in a single, now iconic shot, he made the front cover of newspapers across the world as people looked on with a mixture of bemusement and horror. Over the subsequent years, until its rapid and unexpected fall 28 years later, the Berlin Wall became both a symbol of Soviet repression (and the abject failure of their system) and a magnet for those wishing to escape. Helped by radical West Berlin students who dug tunnels to well-funded organisations who worked for no higher motivation than to make serious money many still made their way West despite an ever increasing effort to make such things impossible. The Wall itself was an act of desperation and a very public admission of failure both for the Soviet system as a whole and of the East German socialist project in particular. Before the wall went up in 1961 many thousands of East Germans and other East Europeans had made it to West Berlin and thence into the waiting arms of Western societies throughout Europe and points west. The Wall was there to stop them and ultimately to protect the USSR from the siren call of capitalist freedom. In that regard it was a singular failure.

I remember in 1989 watching the Berlin Wall fall and the celebrations being held on both sides. As we did so my friend turned to me and suggested we fly there to join in. Every impetuous he had not thought about any of the issues with doing so. I don’t think I had a valid passport at the time, neither of us could speak German, no doubt flight to Berlin would be packed with thousands of other people having the same thoughts and we both had work to go to. So, needless to say we didn’t end up sipping beer while dancing on the grave of the Soviet Union. Told from the Allied and Soviet occupation in 1945, through the Berlin airlift, and thence to the crumbling relations between West and East the first half of this often riveting narrative builds on the foundations of why the Wall was built in the first place. The second half of the book looked at the existence of the wall, attempts to circumvent it and the political fallout from its creation including the famous Kennedy and Reagan visits in 1963 and 1987 respectively. If you’ve ever wondered why the Berlin Wall went up and how German’s on both sides lived (and sometimes died) because of it then this is definitely the book for you. One of the highlights of the year and highly recommended.   

Just Finished Reading: The Berlin Airlift – The Relief Operation that Defined the Cold War by Barry Turner (FP: 2017) [265pp]

It was a decision made for good military reasons. The war was, in effect despite fighting still going on over bar the surrender ceremony. There was just no point racing the Soviet’s to Berlin. It would only result in more Allied dead – and for what? Agreements had already been hammered out and been confirmed (or so the Allies thought and believed) about the disposition of Germany after the armistice. Areas on influence had already been mapped out, so why rush?

When Germany finally surrendered in 1945 some American units found themselves in what was to become the Soviet Zone and pulled back to their side of the line. The Allies quickly found out that the Soviet’s where somewhat less speedy at giving up territory they had fought and died for. When British troops finally arrived in their Berlin Sectors – after roads had to be cleared of mines and bridges assured safe to cross – the Russians were already in de facto control of what remained of the city and had already removed a great deal of valuable equipment. Only with some reluctance – blamed on poor communication/bad translation and the requirement for any such move to be authorised from Moscow – did the Russians walk away from areas they had so recently pacified. The Allies quickly realised that this background obstructionism was only the start. Over the next few years the Russians made every move and every change – to say nothing of every slight improvement of conditions in Berlin – as difficult as possible. Stalin was hoping, expecting indeed, that the Allies would quickly tire of their holdings in Berlin (and then the rest of Germany) and either fall out amongst themselves or just wash their hands and leave. Frustrated at their apparent refusal to accept ‘reality on the ground’ Stalin pushed events by blockading all road, rail and canal entry into Berlin. With millions of German’s dependent on Allied deliveries of everything from food and coal to salt and steel the Soviet’s expected starvation conditions within weeks and revolt or retreat shortly after. What else could the Allies do – FLY the supplies in? The Russians (and the Germans) knew just how difficult this was and both had realised in the war that air supply just wasn’t a practical option. Stalin sat back and watched as he expected Berlin, Germany and then the rest of Europe to fall into his lap. He was going to be very, very surprised. As the first tiny shipments arrived after flying through 120 miles of Soviet airspace it looked, even to the Allied pilots, like an impossible task. But President Truman and others were determined to give it their best shot. Over the next 11 months almost 300,000 flights delivered over 2 million tons of much needed food and other supplies to that beleaguered city. It was probably, and probably still remains, the greatest logistical effort in world history.

I’d read about and been impressed by the Berlin Airlift before but I was equally impressed by this detailed (if rather short) look at the event that defined the beginning of the Cold War. Incredibly the author used the first 100 pages or so going over the background to the events – not only highlighting conditions in Europe post-1945 but also the political calculations in Washington, London and Paris as they weighed up the implications of action or inaction at this critical juncture in post-war relations with the Soviet Union. The second half of the book looked at the airlift itself and the many logistical hurdles that the Allies had to surmount without much of the technology we take for granted with air traffic control. It was truly an amazing achievement.  Told with a casual expertise and with many human stories woven into the narrative this was a fascinating read for anyone interested in the Cold War, German post-war history or even logistics itself. Definitely recommended.  

Just Finished Reading: The Death of Democracy – Hitler’s Rise to Power by Benjamin Carter Hett (FP: 2018) [235pp]

The German Weimar Republic came into existence following the end of the First World War. It was born during the crisis of Germany’s defeat and continued in crisis throughout much of its short 15 years of existence. As new as the Republic was the democracy that supported it was almost as young. Until the German nation needed to show the victorious Allies – and particularly the Americans – that they were really a Democracy too and should be treated like one (rather than a military supported Monarchy) – most of the poorer German people couldn’t exercise their vote and little that the constituent assembly in the Reichstag decided during the reign of the Kaiser rose above the level of advice. Power, since German unification in 1871, was solidly in the hands of the military, the Kaiser and Prussia. So democratic roots, where they existed at all, had yet to move much beyond the surface.

Into the chaos of a defeated nation the political parties of early Weimar covered the whole gamut from far Left to far Right. But 1919 and 1920 were years of revolution and counter revolution – of attempted coups, assassinations and threats of uprisings and invasions. Democratic politics generally took second place to street fighting and the sound of gunfire. Disorder and confusion was the order of the day and day after day. Slowly though things began to normalise. Coalition governments – as the country had a system of Proportional Representation – existed mostly around the Centre Left of the Social and Christian Democrats. But these governments were generally weak and short lived. The Communists – allied to the new Soviet Union – made up a significant part of the Reichstag but would not co-operate with other Socialistic parties which they held in contempt as ‘class enemies’. On the far Right a handful of parties fought for votes amongst them the newly formed NSDAP – the Nazi Party. At the time no one really took them seriously. Their vote was tiny and their influence insignificant. They could draw crowds – that was certain, especially after Adolf Hitler joined and subsequently led them – but crowds consistently failed to morph into votes. So it continued….

As the 1920’s dragged on, and fights over Reparations continued to define much of the political agenda, further crisis and turmoil unsettled the country. As the centre parties continued to disagree and fail the country the voters turned to alternatives on the Left and Right of the spectrum. The Communists started to win more seats and more support as did the reducing number of larger Right wing parties. It was here that the first of a series of fatal mistakes were made by political forces on the Right and the major Industrialist who supported them against the Communist threat. Sensing an opportunity for advancement of his programme Hitler positioned himself and his still fledgling party – although much larger by now – as the solution to the Communists. Again initially dismissed some in government saw the Nazi’s as a way to manipulate things in their favour until they could be disposed of. They were to be used as a means to an end, nothing more. But Hitler had other ideas and so the dance began. But when the music stopped it was the would-be manipulators that failed to acquire the all-important chairs.

Important though it is and as vital as it is not to be forgotten I do find myself rather uninterested in the ‘Rise of Hitler’ narrative. As a political and historical chronicle is has, with justification, been done to death. However, I did find myself honestly riveted to this almost blow by blow account of how first the political and economic position of Germany between the wars provided fertile ground for the rise of the Nazi’s and, more importantly I think, how self-serving politicians and frankly incompetent power brokers not only allowed Hitler to gain the Chancellorship but actively aided him on the patent misunderstanding that he could be controlled or manipulated for their benefit. At no point did they think that they themselves were the manipulated ones or that they were enabling or facilitating their own dooms. Indeed many of those who died on or soon after the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ were surprised and shocked that the Nazi’s could turn against them so effectively. Despite every piece of evidence to the contrary they apparently never saw it coming!

As with all good history books this reinforced the idea that everything we might think of an inevitable is in fact highly contingent. There were SO many ways Hitler’s rise might have failed. He was injured twice in the war and could have been killed, several of his followers just feet away from him during the ‘Beer Hall Putsch’ were shot and killed and any of those bullets could have hit him, the judge at his subsequent trail could have deported him (as an Austrian) but didn’t….. and so on. The failure of the Weimar Republic was not inevitable – even after the Wall Street Crash. It was the action of individuals, making often self-serving decisions, which put him in power and imperilled the world in the years that followed. That, I think, is the most important message we can take from the events and this excellent book that covers them. Recommended.     

Just Finished Reading: Dark Continent – Europe’s Twentieth Century by Mark Mazower (FP: 1998)

As you can no doubt imagine, covering a goodly chunk of a continent over around a hundred years of its history in a shade over 400 pages is going to look at trends more than details and incidents of significance rather than detailed narratives. This is the case with this somewhat dense but fascinating volume. Starting with the aftermath of the First World War the author hits the highlights of the Soviet Revolution and the chaos in the collapsing Austro-Hungarian Empire and the defeated Germany. With boundaries redrawn and whole ‘new’ nations created (or recreated) – to say nothing of internal fighting and civil war – mass migrations took place the likes of which the world had not seen before and would not experience again until the end of the Second World War. As reconstruction moved ahead and Reparations became ever more problematic the western democracies struggled and sometimes failed to address the needs and the demands of their populations. Both Italy and, a decade or so later, Germany abandoned democracy altogether in an attempt to redress grievances arising directly from the First World War. Concentrating at times on Germany, Russia, France and Italy the author highlighted the various attempts to reshape the world, or at least their small part of it, in their image – and how each in turn largely failed in their endeavours. With Reconstruction as the major issue arising from World War Two, the US had learnt its lesson from the first war and instituted the Marshall Plan both to revive/reinvigorate the European economy (and not insignificantly bolster its own after the boom years of the war) and as a direct counter to the Soviet threat. This treat also assisted in the growing integration of Europe firstly as an economic entity and then, increasingly, as a political one. It had been a long time coming but the idea of a European Union or even a United States of Europe had been seriously talked about – at least in some quarters – since the 1920’s.

This was at times a dense read. Even without more than a cursory look at the world wars themselves the author still had a lot of ground to cover. But cover it he did and cover it very well indeed. This is much more than a brief overview of the western end of a continental mass. This is looking over broad flowing rivers and then diving down into the depths to discover both how the rivers flowed and what caused them to periodically change their course. Some time was spent of islands in the stream and where rivers met, sometimes almost imperceptive and at other times in great cataracts or waterfalls. Occasionally individual fish where pulled out and examined before being released back into their natural environment – but you get the point before my allusions to the flow of historical narrative moves too far into the strained and farcical. Although comparatively short – considering the subject matter and scope – this was a very accomplished work that would reward repeated reading to tease out a fuller understanding of the historical events that shaped Europe. Definitely recommended but be prepared to give it the time and effort it deserves.