Sword and Swastika Generals and Naziz in the Third Reich

by Telford Taylor

The alliance of German military leaders with the leaders of Nazi totalitarianism sealed the fate of Germany, cast the die for the Second World War, and turned the course of history. The combination of these forces was the cornerstone of the Third Reich and of its resurgent might. The clash between them was the struggle for supreme power in Germany & for control of the glittering military machine. Here is the complete story, from Versailles to the German invasion of Poland. Taylor details the rapid recovery of the German officer corps after the defeat in WWI; the systematic subversion of the Weimar Republic; the betrayals of the senile Hindenburg; the intrigues of Junkers & industrialists; the alliances between generals & Fascists; & the rise of the organized gangsters, chiefly Hitler, Himmler, & Goering. "A grim book & a very important one."-- NY Times.

Genres: History, Military History, World War II

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1952

Reviews

[Jacob LeFrancois · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look at the Officers of Germany during the rise, and early years of Hitler. It does not paint the entire corps with one broad stroke, but rather look at the individuals. It makes a great effort at understanding how these men could have been subjugated to an evil dictator. The tale is tragic and eye opening, it is a battle between forces that both thought they would get the better of the other. A story of an alliance with similar goals, that ended disastrously for everybody involved.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dense, thoroughly researched tome about the German officer corps between the end of World War I and through the 1939 invasion of Poland that spawned the Second World War.
Loaded with German names and military ranks, this has to be read carefully. Try swallowing the titles "Oberstgruppenfuehrer" and "Oberssturnbahnfuehrer." But what it gets down to is that the German military was focused on rebuilding their might and expanding Germany's footprint right from the signing of the Versailles Treaty that ended the first war. Their old-world dedication to duty, following orders, and making war played right into the hands of Adolph Hitler. Only a few of the generals refused or resisted.
What's fascinating in January, 2022, are the parallels between Russia's threats toward Ukraine and Germany's threat toward, and ultimate invasion of Poland. The Russian generals are professionals who will do what they are told regardless of the impact or morality of their orders.

[Robert LoCicero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well researched military history work. This was completed a few years after the completion of WW II and the subsequent Nuremberg Trials of the German Nazi leadership as well as many of the military leaders of the Third Reich. It is the author's intention here to present the military story of the generals of Germany from the end of WW I through the Weimar Republic years into the ascent and final seizure by the Nazis of the German Reich. Comprehensive discussions of ranks and personnel as well as operational duties and locations for all the significant military leaders of Germany makes this work heavy-going for most folks but fascinating reading for military history buffs. Author Taylor goes through the trials and tribulations of these military men as they jockey for control and eventually lose out to the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Murder, intrigue, cowardice and allegiance to a long gone Prussian military code all operated in the pre-war years and during the early battles for Poland and the Sitzkrieg which began in late 1039 into 1940. The battle plans and political movements among all the men trying to either influence or silence Hitler's mega-ideas are extensively documented in this work.
The curtain finally comes down on these monsters and the questions raised by the author as to the culpability of the military leaders either through action or inaction are very interestingly discussed. This work is definitely recommended for those intrigued in how a nation with a proud military tradition can slowly go insane and end up committing unforgivable crimes against humanity.