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Battlegrounds: Cornell Studies in Military History
Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich
"This book demonstrates how Erich Ludendorff became the embodiment of Germans' fantasies of revenge for the defeat in World War I. Ludendorff's self-constructed legend and postwar activities provide new insights into the political cultures of the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich"--
- GenresNonfictionWar
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2021
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November 9, 2020
Though Germany before the First World War is not my main historical topic of interest, Jay Lockenour’s Dragonslayer: The Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich was a quite enjoyable and relatively easy read (if one considers reading a historical book an entertainment). The author proved to be competent in his field and in possession of huge research material, both directly and indirectly connected with the topic.
The book itself consists of lists of illustrations, acknowledgment, and a list of abbreviations, 8 chapters, epilogue, notes, bibliography, and index (which strangely wasn’t present in my version of the book). As formulated in the first chapter Mythic Life, the aim of the book is to provide readers with the biography of Erich Ludendorff from new perspectives: Ludendorff as a man who constructed a myth of a betrayed hero Siegfried around his persona, and as a prolific writer. After a brief encyclopedia-style chapter describing Ludendorff’s actions during WWI, the book dives deep into his activities and writings in the interwar period. Language and the author’s style are flawless; readers won’t be overwhelmed by dry facts and hordes of suddenly appearing new names. Material is structured according to the dates, with no unexpected time twists. First and last, the book is well-written and I would recommend it to all history lovers.
The book also has several faults I would like to mention (to explain why it is 4/5, not 5/5).
I recorded more than 50 minor, insignificant mistakes, like missing or additional commas, repetition of one word/phrase in one/two adjoining sentences, traces of editing, and missing apostrophes. For example, page 30, the last paragraph’s beginning: “Whatever Ludendorff may have lacked in charisma, he clearly compensated for with his work ethic.”; page 176, paragraph 2, last sentence – a word “deep” two times; page 89, paragraph 2, line 1 ‘the plotters sense” – should be “the plotters’ sense”. A phrase “supranatural powers” appears in the first chapter in quotation marks, then after page 119, paragraph 2, line 12 it is written without quotation marks, then after page 142 it is written “supranatural” powers. OHL in the list of abbreviations is decoded as Army Supreme Command, and in the first chapter the same explanation is given, yet, in the second chapter, it is the Third Supreme Command. (The full list of the typos can be provided if needed.)
After Laurence Rees and his The Holocaust: A New History it is hard to complement the origins of anti-Semitism of the 20th century. Jay Lockenour talks on the topic in the new (for me) light of Die Niebelungen-Sage, as well as fully explain the anti-Catholic views of Ludendorff. What is missing is almost no mention of the third component of “supranatural powers”, Freemasonry: why this exact theme bothered the main hero and what the sources of his concern were. Also, as long as this is the work dedicated partly to the literary side of Ludendorff’s life, it would be wise to compare a list of his most prominent and influential works in accordance with the time scale.
As an overall conclusion, I would say thank you to the author for the time spent with his book. It was truly an exciting read.
The book itself consists of lists of illustrations, acknowledgment, and a list of abbreviations, 8 chapters, epilogue, notes, bibliography, and index (which strangely wasn’t present in my version of the book). As formulated in the first chapter Mythic Life, the aim of the book is to provide readers with the biography of Erich Ludendorff from new perspectives: Ludendorff as a man who constructed a myth of a betrayed hero Siegfried around his persona, and as a prolific writer. After a brief encyclopedia-style chapter describing Ludendorff’s actions during WWI, the book dives deep into his activities and writings in the interwar period. Language and the author’s style are flawless; readers won’t be overwhelmed by dry facts and hordes of suddenly appearing new names. Material is structured according to the dates, with no unexpected time twists. First and last, the book is well-written and I would recommend it to all history lovers.
The book also has several faults I would like to mention (to explain why it is 4/5, not 5/5).
I recorded more than 50 minor, insignificant mistakes, like missing or additional commas, repetition of one word/phrase in one/two adjoining sentences, traces of editing, and missing apostrophes. For example, page 30, the last paragraph’s beginning: “Whatever Ludendorff may have lacked in charisma, he clearly compensated for with his work ethic.”; page 176, paragraph 2, last sentence – a word “deep” two times; page 89, paragraph 2, line 1 ‘the plotters sense” – should be “the plotters’ sense”. A phrase “supranatural powers” appears in the first chapter in quotation marks, then after page 119, paragraph 2, line 12 it is written without quotation marks, then after page 142 it is written “supranatural” powers. OHL in the list of abbreviations is decoded as Army Supreme Command, and in the first chapter the same explanation is given, yet, in the second chapter, it is the Third Supreme Command. (The full list of the typos can be provided if needed.)
After Laurence Rees and his The Holocaust: A New History it is hard to complement the origins of anti-Semitism of the 20th century. Jay Lockenour talks on the topic in the new (for me) light of Die Niebelungen-Sage, as well as fully explain the anti-Catholic views of Ludendorff. What is missing is almost no mention of the third component of “supranatural powers”, Freemasonry: why this exact theme bothered the main hero and what the sources of his concern were. Also, as long as this is the work dedicated partly to the literary side of Ludendorff’s life, it would be wise to compare a list of his most prominent and influential works in accordance with the time scale.
As an overall conclusion, I would say thank you to the author for the time spent with his book. It was truly an exciting read.
May 9, 2024
Ludendorff is one of the most fascinating characters of WWI and its aftermath. A staff work autist with talents far exceeding most of his officer contemporaries but with massive blind spots related to logistics and long term planning. His postwar life is in a sense even more interesting, as him along with his second wife Mathilde (who almost begs for her own biography) were sometimes allies and sometimes rivals of Hitler. Breaking over the Ludendorff's virulent anti-Christianity (finally, something I can empathize with in this narrative) which grew at the same time Hitler was diving into getting the full support of mainstream Christian denominations.
This is a book about Ludendorff's legend and how he constructed it more than anything else, and that is actually the most interesting thing about his life. It is why I wanted an English language book not just about his military command (of which information is abundant) but his legend. And here the author pairs it well with his favorite legend of Siegfried.
This is a book about Ludendorff's legend and how he constructed it more than anything else, and that is actually the most interesting thing about his life. It is why I wanted an English language book not just about his military command (of which information is abundant) but his legend. And here the author pairs it well with his favorite legend of Siegfried.
August 30, 2021
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It is something of an achievement to be so crazily conspiratorial that even the Nazis think that you are a nut.
This is a book about Eric Ludendorff. Ludendorff was, of course, a Wilhelmine German General. He was the architect of the brilliant German victory over the Russians in the Battle of Tannenberg. Together with Gen. Paul Hindenberg, he became the virtual dictator of Germany for the last two years of World War I.
Losing the war may have caused a cog to slip in Ludendorff's mind. After the war, he became obsessed with exonerating himself for the loss by inventing or appropriating the "stab in the back" myth. Ludendorff went further in his conspiratorial ideology by creating a complicated nexus of "supranational powers" - Jews, Catholics, FreeMasons, Bolsheviks - who had undermined Germany and continued to oppress Germany.
Ludendorff is particularly noteworthy for his anti-Catholic animus. Hitler and the Nazis were also anti-Catholic, but they found it politically dangerous to attack Catholicism tout court. Ludendorff had no such compunctions. In this, Ludendorff was playing to a traditional strand of German anti-Catholicism going back to the Reformation.
Ludendorff was also an open "pagan." He was heavily influenced by his second wife, who produced pagan tracts. This paganism was not a worship of Odin or Thor, but some kind of hazy deification of Germany/race.
I've been interested in Ludendorff's anti-Catholicism for a while. I'm not sure this is the book I've been looking for. The focus of the book is on Ludendorff's post-war life and we do get a fair introduction to Ludendorff's zany worldview, but the book feels like an overview rather than a deep dive.
One thing I did appreciate about this book was the significance of Ludendorff to early Weimar right-wing conspiracies. Ludendorff was involved in the Kapp Putsch, but more importantly, there probably wouldn't have been the climactic march during the Beer Hall Putsch without Ludendorff's encouragement. Without that march, there would have been no myth of the Nazi martyrs that became a substantial part of the Nazi mythos in later legend.
It is something of an achievement to be so crazily conspiratorial that even the Nazis think that you are a nut.
This is a book about Eric Ludendorff. Ludendorff was, of course, a Wilhelmine German General. He was the architect of the brilliant German victory over the Russians in the Battle of Tannenberg. Together with Gen. Paul Hindenberg, he became the virtual dictator of Germany for the last two years of World War I.
Losing the war may have caused a cog to slip in Ludendorff's mind. After the war, he became obsessed with exonerating himself for the loss by inventing or appropriating the "stab in the back" myth. Ludendorff went further in his conspiratorial ideology by creating a complicated nexus of "supranational powers" - Jews, Catholics, FreeMasons, Bolsheviks - who had undermined Germany and continued to oppress Germany.
Ludendorff is particularly noteworthy for his anti-Catholic animus. Hitler and the Nazis were also anti-Catholic, but they found it politically dangerous to attack Catholicism tout court. Ludendorff had no such compunctions. In this, Ludendorff was playing to a traditional strand of German anti-Catholicism going back to the Reformation.
Ludendorff was also an open "pagan." He was heavily influenced by his second wife, who produced pagan tracts. This paganism was not a worship of Odin or Thor, but some kind of hazy deification of Germany/race.
I've been interested in Ludendorff's anti-Catholicism for a while. I'm not sure this is the book I've been looking for. The focus of the book is on Ludendorff's post-war life and we do get a fair introduction to Ludendorff's zany worldview, but the book feels like an overview rather than a deep dive.
One thing I did appreciate about this book was the significance of Ludendorff to early Weimar right-wing conspiracies. Ludendorff was involved in the Kapp Putsch, but more importantly, there probably wouldn't have been the climactic march during the Beer Hall Putsch without Ludendorff's encouragement. Without that march, there would have been no myth of the Nazi martyrs that became a substantial part of the Nazi mythos in later legend.
August 11, 2024
If you have done any reading in regards to World War I, the name of Erich Ludendorff is one you'll certainly recognize. Jay Lockenour's agenda then is not to give you a blow by blow of Ludendorff's life and career, though he does give you the salient points. No, Lockenour wants to examine the process of legend making, how Ludendorff contributed to this process, and how the legend of the self-proclaimed "war master" as a real-life avatar of the mythic warrior Siegfried eventually transcended the actual man. The real meat of this book deals with Ludendorff as a post-war political intriguer and social critic, whose aggravations were generally overlooked due to the man's real achievements in war. There is also a lot of examination of the man's second marriage, and how that turned him into a vehement critic of conventional religiosity, which really made him an inconvenient figure in Weimar and Nazi politics. Highly recommended.
March 21, 2021
In "Dragonslayer" Mr. Lockenour has published a superb biography of General Erich Ludendorff, cutting through the myths and misconceptions that the would be "Siegrfied" and his followers attempted to establish after the Firat World War. Being deeply interested in the First World War, and particularly the Central Powers, the common narrative that I was exposed to was that Ludendorff initially supported both the stab in the back myth and Hitler, but in his later years devoted himself to a fringe Christian belief and became anti-nazi. Lockenour's work stabs at the heart of this false narrative and reveals the true narcissistic and conspiracy embracing Ludendorff.
The first third of the work covers Ludendorff's early military career and his service in the First World War. This period is relatively straightforward, although Lockenour pokes holes in Ludendorff's later claims that he was a prophet of things to come. It also reveals the initial break with Hindenburg at the end of the war, as well as the origins of the conspiracies of "supranational forces" (Jews, Catholics, and Freemasons) that Ludendorff would trade in for the rest of his life.
The meat of the work is Ludendorff's life in the inter-war period. Far from going softly into obscurity, Ludendorff was an active member in the far right plots to overthrow the Weimar Republic. His turn against the Nazi was not based on any moral objections to Hitler, but the concept that they were "to soft" on Jews and Catholics, to the extent that Hitler was even just a pawn of the supranational forces.
Ludendorff and his wife, Mathilde, are also extensively covered. Their ideology of Gotterkenntnis allowed them to both feed into each other's paranoia and attempt to establish their own movement and "pagan" religion. That this organization struggled to shape Nazi ideology, not to overturn it, was essential to the movement. It was, to a degree, persecuted under the Nazi Regime but Ludendorff and his clout ensured Gotterkenntnis' survival throughout, and even after, the Third Reich.
One of the central themes of the book is the legend of Siegfried and Ludendorff's attempts to mold his public image into a reborn Siegfried. In his own mind and the minds of his admirers he was the bold, daring warrior, the savior of Germany who was tragically betrayed and must be avenged. I found this to be an interesting concept, as Ludendorff struggled to come to terms with both his own conceit that he was a military genius and the total loss of the war he had controlled personally to a great extent.
Finally, the work covers the death of Ludendorff and both his followers and the Nazi's attempts to canonize him into a nationalist German pantheon. The reader sees the bombastic pageantry of the Nazis on display at his funeral, as well as the post war legal battles as the "Ludendorffers" attempted to distance both themselves and the patron from the Third Reich.
In sum, this is a superbly written and extensively researched work on a man and his mythos.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.com.
The first third of the work covers Ludendorff's early military career and his service in the First World War. This period is relatively straightforward, although Lockenour pokes holes in Ludendorff's later claims that he was a prophet of things to come. It also reveals the initial break with Hindenburg at the end of the war, as well as the origins of the conspiracies of "supranational forces" (Jews, Catholics, and Freemasons) that Ludendorff would trade in for the rest of his life.
The meat of the work is Ludendorff's life in the inter-war period. Far from going softly into obscurity, Ludendorff was an active member in the far right plots to overthrow the Weimar Republic. His turn against the Nazi was not based on any moral objections to Hitler, but the concept that they were "to soft" on Jews and Catholics, to the extent that Hitler was even just a pawn of the supranational forces.
Ludendorff and his wife, Mathilde, are also extensively covered. Their ideology of Gotterkenntnis allowed them to both feed into each other's paranoia and attempt to establish their own movement and "pagan" religion. That this organization struggled to shape Nazi ideology, not to overturn it, was essential to the movement. It was, to a degree, persecuted under the Nazi Regime but Ludendorff and his clout ensured Gotterkenntnis' survival throughout, and even after, the Third Reich.
One of the central themes of the book is the legend of Siegfried and Ludendorff's attempts to mold his public image into a reborn Siegfried. In his own mind and the minds of his admirers he was the bold, daring warrior, the savior of Germany who was tragically betrayed and must be avenged. I found this to be an interesting concept, as Ludendorff struggled to come to terms with both his own conceit that he was a military genius and the total loss of the war he had controlled personally to a great extent.
Finally, the work covers the death of Ludendorff and both his followers and the Nazi's attempts to canonize him into a nationalist German pantheon. The reader sees the bombastic pageantry of the Nazis on display at his funeral, as well as the post war legal battles as the "Ludendorffers" attempted to distance both themselves and the patron from the Third Reich.
In sum, this is a superbly written and extensively researched work on a man and his mythos.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.com.
February 25, 2021
Jack Lockenour has written an incredible (and I would add essential) biography of one of the most important protagonists of early 20th century German history. A detailed account of Eric Ludendorff's life was long overdue.
I have been interested by this man since I read 2 years ago the monumental biography of Wilhelm II written by John Rolh published in English by Cambridge University Press. I wanted to know more about the key players in the entourage of the idiotic Kaiser at the beginning of WWI and in the early military victories of the conflict. Ludendorff was one of them.
Who was Eric Ludendorff and why would a man who was considered a war hero ended up a despicable right wing failure? That is the main question to keep in mind when one reads the incredible portrait that Jack Lockenour provides in this brilliantly researched biography.
Ludendorff was a pure product of the mighty Junker society, a man destined to be absorbed by the powerful Prussian military machine. After some early details about his early life & military training, we follow Ludendorff from his early successes on the frontlines (Battle of Tannenberg, 1914) to his ever increasing role in the operational background of the War until his mental collapse in 1918. The man was unable to accept defeat and of course he started to blame everyone else for Germany's woes. The second part of the biography was the most fascinating to me. Ludendorff became enmeshed in the growing right wing movement born from the ashes of the Versailles treaty. A strong believer of idiotic conspiracy theories (he would have felt right at home with Trump & cie) , he became a failed dictator, a rabid right wing monster....until his death in 1937. Ironically Hitler & Ludendorff couldn't stand each other.
A fascinating portrait of a disgusting character, well written and easily accessible but don't expect to feel too much empathy for Ludendorff by the end. For me he was a"walking coffin" who never probably smiled or cracked a joke in his entire life, but the panoramic portrait that Jack Lockenour gave me of the politics & social issues of postwar Germany through this engrossing biography was definitely worth the time I spent reading it!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Cornell University Press for the opportunity to read this biography prior and its release date
I have been interested by this man since I read 2 years ago the monumental biography of Wilhelm II written by John Rolh published in English by Cambridge University Press. I wanted to know more about the key players in the entourage of the idiotic Kaiser at the beginning of WWI and in the early military victories of the conflict. Ludendorff was one of them.
Who was Eric Ludendorff and why would a man who was considered a war hero ended up a despicable right wing failure? That is the main question to keep in mind when one reads the incredible portrait that Jack Lockenour provides in this brilliantly researched biography.
Ludendorff was a pure product of the mighty Junker society, a man destined to be absorbed by the powerful Prussian military machine. After some early details about his early life & military training, we follow Ludendorff from his early successes on the frontlines (Battle of Tannenberg, 1914) to his ever increasing role in the operational background of the War until his mental collapse in 1918. The man was unable to accept defeat and of course he started to blame everyone else for Germany's woes. The second part of the biography was the most fascinating to me. Ludendorff became enmeshed in the growing right wing movement born from the ashes of the Versailles treaty. A strong believer of idiotic conspiracy theories (he would have felt right at home with Trump & cie) , he became a failed dictator, a rabid right wing monster....until his death in 1937. Ironically Hitler & Ludendorff couldn't stand each other.
A fascinating portrait of a disgusting character, well written and easily accessible but don't expect to feel too much empathy for Ludendorff by the end. For me he was a"walking coffin" who never probably smiled or cracked a joke in his entire life, but the panoramic portrait that Jack Lockenour gave me of the politics & social issues of postwar Germany through this engrossing biography was definitely worth the time I spent reading it!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Cornell University Press for the opportunity to read this biography prior and its release date
March 16, 2021
Jack Lockenour has written an incredible (and I would add essential) biography of one of the most important protagonists of early 20th century German history. A detailed account of Eric Ludendorff's life was long overdue. I have been interested by this man since I read 2 years ago the monumental biography of Wilhelm II written by John Rolh published in English by Cambridge University Press. I wanted to know more about the key players in the entourage of the idiotic Kaiser at the beginning of WWI and in the early military victories of the conflict. Ludendorff was one of them. Who was Eric Ludendorff and why would a man who was considered a war hero ended up a despicable right wing failure? That is the main question to keep in mind when one reads the incredible portrait that Jack Lockenour provides in this brilliantly researched biography. Ludendorff was a pure product of the mighty Junker society, a man destined to be absorbed by the powerful Prussian military machine. After some early details about his early life & military training, we follow Ludendorff from his early successes on the frontlines (Battle of Tannenberg, 1914) to his ever increasing role in the operational background of the War until his mental collapse in 1918. The man was unable to accept defeat and of course he started to blame everyone else for Germany's woes. The second part of the biography was the most fascinating to me. Ludendorff became enmeshed in the growing right wing movement born from the ashes of the Versailles treaty. A strong believer of idiotic conspiracy theories (he would have felt right at home with Trump & cie) , he became a failed dictator, a rabid right wing monster....until his death in 1937. Ironically Hitler & Ludendorff couldn't stand each other. A fascinating portrait of a disgusting character, well written and easily accessible but don't expect to feel too much empathy for Ludendorff by the end. For me he was a"walking coffin" who never probably smiled or cracked a joke in his entire life, but the panoramic portrait that Jack Lockenour gave me of the politics & social issues of postwar Germany through this engrossing biography was definitely worth the time I spent reading it! Many thanks to Netgalley and Cornell University Press for the opportunity to read this biography prior and its release date
June 5, 2021
In the third section of Wagner's ring cycle which premiered in 1876, is called simply Siegfried. Tells the tale of Siegfried who uses a magic sword, Nothung which has been reforged. With Nothung Siegfried is able to slay the dragon and he becomes one who doesn't know fear.
In the outstanding biography of Erich Lundendorff; Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Erich Lundendorff and the Weimar Republic, the author Jay Lockenour places the mythology of Siegfried into the persona of a person with whom the people can rally around. For the people what their heroes to become legendary that will live forever.
As the biography shows in the latter part that Erich Lundendorff is frustrated by what is going on with the rise of a socialist group within the ranks of the last days of the Weimar Republic.
Soon his persona of seeing himself as the mythological Siegfried will be taking away and replaced by another.
Thanks to Netgalley and Cornell University Press for this ARC.
In the outstanding biography of Erich Lundendorff; Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Erich Lundendorff and the Weimar Republic, the author Jay Lockenour places the mythology of Siegfried into the persona of a person with whom the people can rally around. For the people what their heroes to become legendary that will live forever.
As the biography shows in the latter part that Erich Lundendorff is frustrated by what is going on with the rise of a socialist group within the ranks of the last days of the Weimar Republic.
Soon his persona of seeing himself as the mythological Siegfried will be taking away and replaced by another.
Thanks to Netgalley and Cornell University Press for this ARC.
January 18, 2022
Solid read on this conspiracy oriented General and his wife.
July 27, 2021
What a great book! For those who enjoy historical non-fiction, this one is a surefire bet. This book was very well researched and put together. This is an intelligent read that will be invaluable to anyone studying the period.
It was interesting to single out Erich Ludendorff, since there have been so many biographies and pieces written about others. I enjoyed the way the author approached the subject, making this an informative and yet highly readable book. Somewhere between popular non-fiction and an intellectual study, this book kept me turning pages without boredom.
I liked that Jay Lockenour managed to offer so many rarely given details about the life of this man, both inside and outside in infamous career.
If you are curious about this major historical figure, I can't think of a better book to read to satisfy your curiosity. I definitely recommend this book.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
It was interesting to single out Erich Ludendorff, since there have been so many biographies and pieces written about others. I enjoyed the way the author approached the subject, making this an informative and yet highly readable book. Somewhere between popular non-fiction and an intellectual study, this book kept me turning pages without boredom.
I liked that Jay Lockenour managed to offer so many rarely given details about the life of this man, both inside and outside in infamous career.
If you are curious about this major historical figure, I can't think of a better book to read to satisfy your curiosity. I definitely recommend this book.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews