Quest: Searching for Germany's Nazi Past

by Ib Melchior, Eugene K. Bird (foreword), Frank Brandenburg

A young modern-day German's investigation into the years of the Third Reich and the problems facing a reunited Germany.

Genres: History

380 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Ib Jørgen Melchior was a novelist, short story writer, film producer, film director, and screenwriter of low-budget American science fiction movies, most of them released by American International Pictures.In world War II, he served with the OSS ,for awhile, then was transferred to the U.S. Military Intelligence Service, spending two years in the European theater of War as a military intelligence investigator attached to Counter Intelligence.

In 1965, he was dubbed Knight Commander of the Militant Order of Saint Brigitte of Sweden.In 1976, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films awarded Ib Melchior its Golden Scroll Award to Merit for Outstanding Achievement.

Melchior's novels include Code Name: Grand Guignol, Eva, The Haigerloch Project, The Marcus Device, Order of Battle: Hitler's Werewolves, Sleeper Agent, The Tombstone Cipher and The Watchdogs of Abaddon.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having seen the U.S. television series 'Holocaust' in Germany in 1979 and not having learned about Nazi crimes in Gymnasium, sixteen-year-0ld Melchior began to read up on the subject and to seek out prominent former Nazis and their relatives. Being thought a potential recruit, many cooperated, revealing accounts of events connected to the war never before published until this book came out in the mid-eighties.
As time went on Melchior became increasingly interested in several controversial issues, among which were such questions as: 'did Martin Borman survive the war?' (yes), 'did Hitler plan to kidnap the pope?' (yes), 'did Hitler authorize Hess' flight to Scotland?' (yes), where did the crates of documents sent from the Fuhrer bunker end up after the plane carrying them crashed?' (unknown), 'did Hitler authorize the extermination camps?' (yes), 'was Heydrich allowed to die under the authority of Himmler and/or Hitler?' (quite possibly), et cetera. Amidst such serious matters are recounted many less serious ones, the text being replete with gossip, anecdotes and innuendo.
All in all it's a quick read and quite entertaining, the various meetings (some recorded on tape, others reconstructed from memory) being tied together by a roughly chronological narrative of the author's efforts to locate, contact and interview his ever-broadening circle of informants. Most impressive for me was the perdurance of Nazi ideology among so many so many years after its defeat.

[Raewyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written a few decades ago and tells the story of a German teenager, Frank, seeing a documentary made by the US about the Holocaust. In the time the teen saw the documentary, the Berlin wall was still up and most people didn't talk about the war in Germany. Many were ashamed, many simply wanted to forget. But some didn't believe the Holocaust happened. This remarkable story details a young man on his quest to find out the truth of what happened during World War II. He spoke to many former Nazis who were relatively high up the proverbial food chain. Of course, they were a lot older by the time he interviewed them. He got their version of events and where they stood with regards to the war effort, Adolf Hitler, the Holocaust (whether it happened or not) and whether Martin Bormann had escaped capture or died trying. There were many conflicting versions of events, but there were some things that were corroborated and he learned some truths.

At times I found this book surreal for if one acknowledges the age of Frank at the time he was doing the research and the people whom he came into contact with and the information, and sometimes items, they handed down to him. Other times, I found this absolutely shocking, because in truth, this is the first book I have actually picked up that really has anything to do with World War II. I have largely avoided this chapter in the "Man's Inhumanity" genre, simply because there is so much material about it already and many other horrendous things have happened to others. But if you're interested in Man's Inhumanity to Man and like me have avoided the Nazi Era, because it seems over-covered, I would implore you to seek this out. It's a page turner and will at least give you a bit of a starting point in terms of major names and major events that happened. I must confess this book could easily take one down the rabbit hole of researching the WWII era, if they haven't already done so. That's probably where I'm headed to...

[Leopold]

Quest: Searching for Germany’s Nazi Past by Frank Brandenburg is a book about the author’s journey in interviewing former Nazi officials in order to find out about what happened to several missing Nazi officers. Ultimately, though, that is not what I really find interesting about the book. Instead, I find the actual interviews with the Nazis where they talk about what they did and what they supported much more interesting. It is insightful to read the testimonies of people who either directly or indirectly took part in the holocaust. Some of them deny it outright, some of them claim that it happened at a much lesser scale, and some of them claim that it was necessary for cleansing the world. I think that it gives insight into how the human mind works and how people can be swept up in fascist ideology. This brings me to my main problem with the book, it is not really about that. It focuses more on the much less interesting topic of what happened to the Nazi officers that went missing, which is something that is ultimately inconsequential. I would have vastly preferred it if it focused more on the psychological profiles of the Nazi officials that were interviewed. When it comes to its writing style and flow, I actually feel like it does a pretty good job. The way that the interviews are written out is quite engaging and I never really felt like I was lost with what was happening in the book at any given moment. When considering all of this, and the fact that this has historical value as it is a collection of testimonies from various Nazi officials, I would say that this is an above-average book, and probably worth reading if you're into the subject.

[jmilesc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of book. A really young German guy, trying to untangle the history of the Holocaust (Did it happen? Was it a hoax?) and set out to interview as many high ranking Nazis still alive that he could in the 1980's.
Some creepy interactions, the willingness of most of them to speak with him hinged on his allowing some of them to think he was a supporter.
Some insight I've not read elsewhere. He seems convinced that Martin Borman was alive- despite evidence to the contrary, and many that he interviewed claimed this to be true as well.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a journal of a young German who "discovers" the Holocaust in the 80's and tracks down many of the old Nazis to see what they have to say. As most of these people died shortly after his interviews, it is one of those records that cannot be repeated. Funny how all the old guard Nazis had the same "cover stories" and how transparent their lies became.