І сталася тьма. Рузвельт, Гітлер і західна дипломатія напередодні війни

by David McKean, Юлія Лазаренко (Translator)

Захоплива і новаторська оповідь про те, як усі посли Рузвельта в Європі, окрім одного, неправильно оцінили Гітлера та його наміри.

Ця книжка про піднесення Третього Рейху в Німеччині та шлях до війни з точки зору чотирьох американських дипломатів у Європі, які були свідками цих подій: Джозефа Кеннеді, Вільяма Додда, Брекінріджа Лонга та Вільяма Буллітта. До початку Другої світової війни вони служили у ключових столицях Європи ― Лондоні, Берліні, Римі, Парижі і Москві. Багато в чому саме вони були першою лінією оборони Америки, а тому часто спілкувалися з президентом безпосередньо, як очі й вуха Рузвельта у світі. На жаль, більшість із них недооцінювали могутність і рішучість Адольфа Гітлера та німецького Третього рейху.

Це нова цікава історія про період до початку Другої світової війни в Європі через призму життя п’яти добре освічених і переважно багатих чоловіків, які борються за увагу людини в Овальному кабінеті.

Чим хороша ця книжка:

- Девід МакКін, сам колишній посол, викладає історію через призму дипломатії в цікавий, дуже детальний, інформативний спосіб.

- Аналізує події перед Другою світовою та показує дипломатичні змагання, які велися у період становлення Третього Рейху.

- Описує боротьбу Рузвельта з американським ізоляціонізмом на фоні зростання фашизму в Європі та його шлях до рішення про вступ Америки у війну.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, American History, World War II, Politics, War

400 pages, Hardcover

Published September 19, 2022

About the author

David McKean is the former US Ambassador to Luxembourg, and former director of Policy Planning for the US Department of State. He is currently a Senior Fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States in Washington, D.C.

Reviews

[CoachJim · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No class or group or party in Germany could escape its share of responsibility for the abandonment of the democratic Republic and the advent of Adolf Hitler. The cardinal error of the Germans who opposed Nazism was their failure to unite against it.”
William Shirer quoted in Watching Darkness Fall by David McKean (Page 22)

In this history of the period from 1933 to 1941 we see history from a different point of view. Here we see it through the eyes of the Ambassadors to Europe appointed by FDR. These ambassadors to England, Germany, France, and Italy are of varying abilities and political persuasions. The title gives a great image of the time of their service. “Watching Darkness Fall” is appropriate because this is the story of Europe neglecting to stand up to and stop the evil that we know of Hitler and Nazi Germany.

The four ambassadors studied here are a very diverse and interesting group. The author states that Roosevelt “didn’t necessarily choose the most capable individuals, he sized up men better than any politician of his era and built each of his personal and political relationships on a set of commonalities, distinct for each man.” (Page 3) Also “Dodd and Bullitt, Long and Kennedy, personified the different approaches to foreign policy, and their advice was often emblematic of the tensions pulling Roosevelt in opposite directions.” (Page 3-4)

Breckinridge Long was a longtime friend of Roosevelt and a loyal supporter of his campaigns. Appointed as ambassador to Italy he became enamored with Mussolini. In a later assignment with the State Department he was in charge of immigration. He is famous (or infamous) for the well-known episode with the ship St. Louis which was bringing Jewish emigrants from Europe to the Americas. Long denied them permission to immigrate to the United States eventually sending them back to a near certain death in Europe.

William Bullitt was another close personal friend of Roosevelt. He served initially as the ambassador to Russia, but was eventually posted to Paris. He is credited with saving Paris from destruction prior to the Nazi capture of the city. He later has a falling out with Roosevelt over his political ambitions.

Joseph P. Kennedy, the father of a future president, is posted to London. Roosevelt thought this was quite a joke posting an Irish Catholic to be the Ambassador to Great Britain. Kennedy who viewed everything in economic terms became an advocate of appeasement, which conflicted with his posting to the only country left at that time that was fighting Germany.

William Dodd, a liberal academic from the University of Chicago, is posted to Berlin. He had studied in Germany and was affluent in German. He is described by the author as the Cassandra of the bunch in that his views about the Nazis were accurate but unheeded.

Dodd and several other ambassadors reported on the rising anti-Semitic tensions. However, during this time the State Department made clear to its ambassadors that it did not view favorably on their meddling in the internal affairs of a country. Although Roosevelt welcomed these honest views of his ambassadors they were not covered by the press and the president did not speak out publicly on the issue. There was fear that any condemnation of the persecution of Jews in Europe would risk comparison to the treatment of Black Americans.

Roosevelt expressed sympathy with Dodd and others about the issue of anti-semitism, but he still faced an economic depression and knew that the isolationists controlled Congress. The author states that Roosevelt’s “greatest failure” was his “reluctance to do more for European Jews.” (Page 354) While some isolationists feared a repeat of the tragedies of WWI, Roosevelt was elected to deal with the severity of the Great Depression an event more recent and still the primary concern of the American public. Roosevelt “continued to view his domestic agenda as paramount even as the dangers of the Nazi regime became well known.” (Page 353)

There is a saying that “History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, but it Often Rhymes.” (Mark Twain) In 1940 Congress certainly shared some of the blame for the plight of European Jews with Roosevelt. Today we have a Republican Party that is condoning violations to the Constitution. Recently only nine Republican representatives, most of whom will not be serving in the next Congress, voted for a bill that would help avoid any future occurrence of Jan. 6, 2021. However, as William Shirer is quoted at the top of this review, no one can escape responsibility for the demise of this democracy if we do not unite to protect it. We may be, ourselves, currently Watching Darkness Fall.

[Sherwood Smith]

I picked this book because most of the history and memoirs and journals I've read about WW II don't contain much about ambassadors--they pop up now and then uttering oracular (or absurd, or placating, or false) platitudes, then vanish back into the world of silk hats and cocktail parties, or so it often seems.

McKean, an ambassador himself, sets the scene with an account of FDR's campaign and inauguration, giving me the sense that he very much was taken by the FDR charisma. That pretty much set the tone of this work for me; though there are academic works written in so breezy and engaging a style that they can read like novels, and there are journalistic pieces that are so scrupulously researched, and written in so detached a manner that they would pass a peer review by a table of academic specialists, I got the sense that I was reading an article in Foreign Affairs, or one of the magazines for readers who are not academics, who might not have read much history after college, but who are curious about the subject.

And I enjoyed it. It's a fast read, with vivid depictions of the individuals, FDR always at the center pulling the strings; the first three quarters of the book cover FDR's first three terms from the POV of foreign affairs, with brief references to ongoing events for perspective. We learn of the diplomatic jockeying before America entered the war, the diplomatic stage during the events that pulled the US into the war, and the last portion covers up to FDR's collapse and death in office.

I did get the sense that McKean had decided what he thought about the four men (holding his nose as he wrote about Joe Kennedy), and found the data to support his view, but that's okay by me--if I want an academic treatment of any of them, I know where I can find the data.

What I got was a readable look at this period through the lens of a state department lifer, with ambassadors on center stage.

Copy provided by NetGalley

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching Darkness Fall tells the story of the rise of the Third Reich from the perspectives of Joseph Kennedy, William Dodd, Breckinridge Long and William Bullitt, US foreign ambassadors under FDR. David McKean, a former ambassador himself, lays out the history in an interesting, very detailed, informative way.

I read this book slowly, stopping frequently to look things up so I understood the who, what and whys behind the early days of the Reich. I've read a lot about this era over the years, but still managed to learn many new facts from this book. This isn't a quick read -- there is a lot of detailed information. But it's well worth reading for those interested in what occurred.

This is the first book I've read by David McKean. I'm definitely going to check out his other books. I like his writing style and he definitely knows his subject well! Detailed historical accounts can get a bit dry, but McKean kept it interesting throughout. Very informative!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Yulia Maleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Книжка про Рузвельта та його дипломатів у Європі. Охоплює період з 1933 по 1941 рік. Надзвичайно насичена фактами, уривками з листування та особистих щоденників, загалом інформацією про діяльність послів, конфлікти між ними, а головне - про їх погляд на катастрофу, що насувається. Хтось захоплювався Гітлером, хтось відразу побачив у ньому загрозу. Один переконував, що Америка має лишатися осторонь, інший казав, що це неможливо. Після цієї книжки стає зрозуміло, чому досі політики бувають такими неодностайними і такими недалекоглядними. Хтось думає про майбутні вибори в своїй країні, інший вважає, що можна домовитися з тираном, а комусь головне, щоб не зачепило його країну. Інколи складалося враження, що варто лише замінити прізвища дійових осіб і територій на сучасні, то отримаємо опис сьогодення.

Крута книжка для істориків і дипломатів, просто must read. Іншим - для глибшого розуміння світової політики - теж не завадить. Прикро, що ці уроки історії людство вивчило погано. Бо ж тьма насувалася і з початку ХХІ століття, лише зі сторони росії. Але мало хто це помітив.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

David McKean’s insightful history of President Roosevelt’s ambassadors offers a unique view of history through the men who were FDR’s ears and eyes abroad during the rise of Hitler. On the homefront, Watching Darkness Fall is the story of how FDR contended with American isolationism while knowing that the rise of fascism in Europe meant America would be forced to become involved.

FDR had a wonderful insight into human nature that allowed him to inspire loyalty–and manipulate and contain would-be adversaries. For his ambassadors, he chose an academic–Dodd, trusted friends–Bullitt and Long–and a man he owed a political favor but did not trust–Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.

William Bullitt came from a politically connected, wealthy family. FDR sent him on several fact finding missions in Europe. Bullitt charmed FDR’s office wife Missy LeHand, along with numerous other women. FDR identified him as the right man for ambassador to the Soviet Union; during the war, he was assigned to France and painfully experienced the Nazi takeover of his beloved Paris.

William E. Dodd was a professor of history who spoke German. “I want an American liberal in Germany as a standing example, FDR told him. Dodd was appalled by the Nazis and warned of impending war. His daughter became a Soviet spy!

Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. understood money. FDR offered him government positions as a reward for his support, but Kennedy wanted a cabinet position. He was offered the ambassadorship to London. The Kennedy family at first charmed the Brits, but Joe became persona non gratis with his entrenched insistence on American isolationism. He had no sympathy for the Jews and thought fascism had provided economic stability for Germany and was the future for all democracies–including America.

Breckinridge Long was in the Wilson administration and FDR sent him to Italy where he came to admire Mussolini. As Secretary of State, his inaction to refugees fleeing Nazi persecution was based on national security concerns and his antisemitism, and he suppressed information about the mass murder of Jews.

Watching Darkness Fall greatly contributed to my understanding of this critical time. I found it an interesting study in context of the rise of fascism in the 21st c.

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

WATCHING DARKNESS FALL

I thought this book was fabulous. I had just finished reading Erik Larson’s “In the Garden of Beasts” featuring Ambassador Dodd, and by some chance of luck came across David McKean’s new book. The story of four WWII ambassadors?? Jackpot!

Watching Darkness Fall covers the time period from FDR’s election in 1932, with a focus on four of his European ambassadors, to the US entering into WWII in 1941.

Breckinridge Long - Rome
William Bullitt - Moscow and Paris
Joseph Kennedy - London
William Dodd - Berlin

Also covered in detail were other important advisors to FDR, including Cordell Hull, Sumner Wells, Harry Hopkins, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Missy LeHand.

In the days of radio, telephones attached to the wall, and postal mail, foreign ambassadors played a major communications role in molding the decisions of our government, serving as the eyes and ears to the President. With the rise of Fascism and approaching war in Europe, Roosevelt had to act as a political juggler, analyzing the wildly varying reports from his ambassadors while soothing egos and making policy decisions. All while trying to keep American isolationists reassured, at least temporarily. You get a good sense of the complexities of the decisions involved, the many perspectives and the competing agendas.

What makes this book so special is the amount of detailed description that you receive about each person through the stories told by the author, some quite personal. You get a really good feel for each person’s strengths and weaknesses, ambitions, and idiosyncrasies. In a sense it felt to me a bit like the political WWII male version of “Mean Girls On Steroids”. Completely fascinating.

If you’re interested in the inter-workings of the FDR administration leading up to World War II, this is an excellent source of information. I found this book to be totally enjoyable. I looked forward to getting back to reading it, was never bored and found it quite thrilling. Definitely a little dry and not salacious, but amazing nonetheless. It was also very clear that a great deal of research and hard work went into writing this book.

I also listed to the audiobook read by Tom Perkins, which added to the enjoyment.

Author David McKean is the former US Ambassador to Luxembourg and the former director of Policy Planning at the US State Department. The book includes an index, bibliography, and footnotes. I would like to thank NetGalley, David McKean, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a complex and detailed book about Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his ambassadors to key cities in the U.K. and Europe during the Nazi regime’s meteoric rise to power in Germany. It is written by David McKean, the former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg and former director of Policy Planning for the U.S. Department of State. It begins really in the early 1930’s with FDR’s political career in the U.S., as well as Hitler’s political career in Germany. I found this book to be loaded with facts and dates but the prose was clear, concise, and easy to understand. Not a small feat when explaining 20th Century world history.

The slowest reading I usually do in any book is the beginning, in which the major and many minor characters are introduced. The same happened here. The only U.S. ambassador that I knew anything about was Joe Kennedy, Ambassador to the Court of St. James (London). I also had little knowledge of FDR’s early political career, and no knowledge of his campaigns. Be patient, it all does matter during the latter years.

As I noted above, there are quite a few facts that I didn’t know before that are presented in the narrative, and I liked that. This is one of the historical time periods that I enjoy studying so that was a plus. I did not know that Ambassador Dodd was a front runner in calling out Hitler for what he was. (I did know that CBS journalist William L. Shirer was, but Dodd appears to have been far more militant about it.) I also was not aware that Ambassador Kennedy went to the lengths he did to try to get Roosevelt to make peace with Hitler while western European countries were overrun and the U.K. was clearly in grave danger.

All in all, I highly recommend this book as an examination of FDR and foreign policy in action during the 1930’s and into the 1940’s during the War. The emphasis is on the 1930’s and how the U.S. came to be involved in World War II. The personalities and attitudes of these select ambassadors profiled here definitely impacted world politics.

I want to thank St. Martin’s Press, author David McKean, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this pre-publication eGalley. I have posted an honest opinion and have not received anything for it.

[Marysya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Класна книжка! Гарно показує характер американської зовнішньої політики, який й не дуже то відрізняється від сьогодення - ізоляціонізм, нейтралітет, головне - вибори та електорат; усім заправляють гроші та медіа-магнати; в політиці - мільйонери на посадах, які більше переслідують свої інтереси, ніж переймаються долею світу; антисемітизм та зачарування Гітлером серед амер. та британських еліт.

[trashy hater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Хороша можливість поглянути «за лаштунки» США за час президентства Рузвельта, але адекватні факти доводиться вишукувати поміж порпанні у брудній білизні. І це доволі сумно. Хотілось історичного контексту і Рузвельта, а отримала в основному якісь півнячі бої між послами🥲 Враховуюючи ще й те, що цю книгу теж написав посол США(а посли, судячи з книги, доволі істеричні, примхливі та субʼєктивні істоти), то вірити у реалістичність оповіді не доводиться. Відчувається дуже субʼєктивне сприйняття різних історичних фігур, хоча й автор намагався ховатись за цитатами і фактами. З хорошого: обʼєктивно більш зрозуміло про причини «тормозіння» США у 2 світовій(хоча інколи це й звучало як виправдання) і круто, що дізналась про те, як було ухвалено закон про «ленд-ліз», який зараз допомагає моїй країні нищити світову пост-комуністичну виразку на букву р.

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since David McKean had been an ambassador himself, I was curious as to what he would make of the men who served as U.S. ambassadors in the main European countries in the run-up to World War II: Joseph Kennedy (resentful, ambitious, and too much a slave to his fears), William Dodd (dour and a bit naive (though wising up quickly)), Breckinridge Long (an empty suit who was a friend of FDR), and William Bullitt (brilliant, motivated and predatory in his ambitions).

What I like best about this book is how McKean maintains contingency through his narrative, as he shows how it took some time for it to sink in that Hitler was more than a garden-variety demagogue, and then to cut through the Isolationist miasma that tended to deaden the necessary sense of alarm in most quarters in America. Even until the fall of France in 1940. My late father (who was 11 at the time), could remember that all the news-reel footage prattled on about how the Royal Navy and the Maginot Line would stop the Germans; only in June 1940 did things get "real" for most of the American public.

Much of this I was already aware of but I think that McKean gives the general reader a good accounting. If I mark him down for anything it's that I think he's a bit too positive about FDR, and the president's personal delusions of being the indispensable man. At this point in time, I'm not sure that Wendell Willkie wouldn't have done as well as being a war leader as a tired and worn-out FDR, but maybe I'm just being too cynical, and deprecating FDR's intimate acquaintance with the American military apparatus.

[Tetiana Rodchyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Я дивуюсь людям які ставлять низькі оцінки, бо вони не читали анотацію, і шукають тут «більше особи Рузвельта/Гітлера» чи «точки зору інших сторін». Книга саме про погляд на передумови другої світової війни з боку дипломатів США, і її написав колишній посол спираючись на листування та дипломатичну документацію. Якщо вас цікавить внутрішня кухня американської дипломатії, трохи інтриг, особистостей, та як вони слідкували та реагували на становлення третього рейху - вам сподобається.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nonfiction>History>US 1930s. 3.5 ⭐
Very detailed history of some key ambassadors leading up to US involvement in WWII. Kind of boring and full of dates and names which I fully understand should be expected from a history book but it didn't have to be so dry. I started reading The Rose Code about half way through this one so I enjoyed the background regarding what exactly was going on with US while reading the English girls' stories.
I did like the creative chapter titles...I always like when chapters have titles, especially clever ones and not just heading titles.
Learning about WWII with hindsight it always seems it was a foregone conclusion that US would be anti-Nazi, but if you learn about the real discussions in the 30s this would not have been so clear at the time. This book does address how many prominent Americans would have sided with Germany if it meant a swifter end to the conflict and America being left out of Europe's mess(es). The quotes from Joe Kennedy very enlightening on this topic.
This difference is not explored in this book, but while the American government was interested in helping Britain defend itself, many American companies made small fortunes in business deals with Axis and this surely affected the spread of support for isolationist policies.

[Julia Tsvihun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Фантастична книжка. Дуже багато паралелей з сьогоденням, на жаль, відчасти тому читалось довго.

"Людина в центрі історії", це так точно. Важко усвідомити, наскільки одна людина може змінювати хід світових подій.

Чудовий спосіб дати світло на діяльність послів, дипломатів та політичну атмосферу у США 30-40х

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watching Darkness Fall: FDR, His Ambassadors, and the Rise of Adolf Hitler by David McKean had been sitting on my tbr for way too long. I'm glad I finally read it because it's a fascinating piece of WWII history that I wasn't very familiar with going into it. I've read quite a few WWII books but I think I've read any to prominently feature the American ambassadors before. I don't know why, but the topic is one I've never really considered the topic of American ambassadors during WWII before this, but this absolutely held my attention all the way through. The author does a great job of painting a real picture of all of the players in this story which I really appreciated. I think I'll have to read more from David McKean in the future.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitler's Rise

This story spans the war years of 1933-to 1941 and the Rise of Adolph Hitler in Europe. It is a story of the inside workings of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt administration and how they handled the rise of Hitler.

It is especially about the four men that president Roosevelt picked to be diplomat's to the four countries in Europe. William Dodd in Germany, Joseph Kennedy in the United Kingdom, Breckenridge Long in Italy and finally Bullitt who was originally posted to Russia and then to France.

President Roosevelt often had a personal connection to his appointees and loyalty was expected and received. He got along will all of them except for Mr. Dodd who had difference of opinions with but respected.

The problem is that all of his diplomats misjudged Hitler's power and did nothing and wrongly advised FDR that Hitler was less of a threat than he actually was. That is all except for Mr. Dodd who warned the president of the threat from Hitler. Unfortunately his warnings were not heeded.
It is the story of each diplomat and how they sit back and watch Hitler take over Europe and are complacent until it is too late.

I believe much research has gone into this book and it was well written. An interesting history of this period of time and worth reading. I do recommend it.

Thanks to David McKean, ST. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy of the book, all opinions are my own.

[John Szalasny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads for an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
As much as I thought I knew about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, this was an enlightening look into the representatives of the United States in the major European capitals during the Great Depression and the lead-up to World War II. For all of the praise he rightly receives for moving the country through its worst economic crisis, and his ability to manage Congress and the military through WWII, FDR selected four men to serve as ambassadors for the key posts (William Bullett - France; William Dodd - Germany; Breckinridge Long - Italy; Joseph Kennedy - Great Britain) who were ill suited to gather intelligence or speak for the US. Not only did Roosevelt get conflicting reports from the four, he had to deal with representatives (especially Kennedy and Bullett) who did not toe the official line when speaking in public.
Even though his hands would have been tied by Congress and their isolationist policies, the lack of coherent intelligence from his representatives in the European theater may have forestalled the ability of the American military to be battle ready. The author, David McKean, does a good job of portraying the lead up to war and the actions of the four ambassadors from attitudes ranging from appeasement (Kennedy) to prepare for war (Dodd).

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the time period from about 1935 until the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It is about Roosevelt’s way of operating with his Secretary of State and his Ambassadors to England, France and Germany leading up to World War II. It is well written and researched. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in World War II or Franklin Roosevelt.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

[CASPER HILEMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ambassador David McKean tells the tale of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's hands-off policy when it came to Foreign Affairs during his first two terms in office. Trusting old school ties and common class identity to determine who would make a suitable Ambassador. The rise of totalitarian governments in Europe would strain this traditional method and Ambassador McKean makes the argument that would prevent a more forceful and engaged United States Foreign Policy during this vital time.

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decades after WWI, the US people, and most of the US government, truly believed in Woodrow Wilson's insane and unworkable isolationism stance. I understand the wish to not be dragged into some war that's not yours to fight, but the US and everyone else on the planet have been globalists almost as soon as (most of) the map had been tentatively finalized. Backbiting Ambassadors too interested in their own machinations on higher office don't help.

Watching Darkness Fall is primarily the story of FDR - both a Wilsonian politician and charged with pulling the U out of the Great depression - and four of his Ambassadors, posted to offices in Europe. Of the four included in this book, only one seemed to understand the threat posed by Hitler in Germany, and the great conflagration he would cause: William Dodd. He warned FDR, early and often, that Hitler was going to be a problem to our allies (especially Great Britain and France) and potentially the world at large. The others - Breckenridge Long in Italy, William Bullitt in Russia and subsequently in France, and Joseph P. Kennedy - either heaped praise on a fascist while acting like a tourist (Long), wrote what amounted to love letters to FDR (seriously!) and constantly painted a pretty picture for him, even while things were falling apart, and had the audacity to think he could speak for the US or French(!) government when the leaders fled France, all the while angling for a job as head of the war department (Bullitt), or were anti-Semites, particularly uninterested in the plight of Jews in Germany (Long and Kennedy).

It isn't an easy read, particularly to start; there are names and history and political dealings thrown at the reader in order to set the stage. Presumably anyone reading this would have a basic understanding of the runup to WWII. If you do not, it will likely be fairly rough sailing, at least until all the characters are in place.

Once that's complete, however, it's easy to see - through letters, diaries, newspapers, and official government issues - just how ready some were to allow Europe and possibly even Russia go up in flames because no one really wanted to hear any bad news from abroad, much less help our own allies fight against a maniac. It's especially troubling to read Bullitt's missives. He was grossly unqualified and unprepared for the duty he accepted. Equally disgusting was Long, who deliberately held up visas for those fleeing to the US, especially Jews and even children, and Kennedy, who urged FDR to make people with Hitler.

The book ends rather abruptly, but by that point, I was tired of all of them and quite glad of it.

Five stars, no doubt in my mind.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the reading copy.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

FDR, His Ambassadors and the Rise of Adolph Hitler

“Watching Darkness Fall” is of considerable interest for those fascinated in history especially in the Roosevelt era. The account provides us with a broad-ranging study of the role of ambassadors in delivering information about the rise of Europe’s regimes from 1933 to 1941.

Mr. McKean delivers a biography of four American diplomats as they struggle to handle the rise of fascism. The information taken from diaries, letters and records reveals that the President counted on his ambassadors in France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy to collect information needed to make proper decisions. All but one of FDR’s ambassadors misjudged Hitler and his intentions.

From the perspective of Joseph Kennedy, William Dodd, Breckinridge Long and William Bullitt who witnessed the rise of the Third Reich firsthand often communicated with the president to inform him. McKean argues that although Roosevelt was more interested in domestic concerns at the time he was also very skeptical of his emissaries’ correspondence. Eventually Roosevelt intelligence channels led him away from being cautious over international involvement to the certainty that his country would be facing a European war. Then Pearl Harbor happened and all changed.

This account covers a lot and is so loaded with facts and people it can be overwhelming at times, I know I was and needed to put it aside multiple times and concentrate on something lighter. Although, this book is a long read and a tedious one the vivid depiction of the individuals will make the reader (me) want to pursuit and not abandoned it in order to broaden knowledge, we learn a lot: not only of FDR but also the diplomatic dance before America plunged into the war and what transpired during the event all the way to FDR collapse and death and beyond his tenure. I could say more but this is one of those books that should be read and appreciated individually.

No doubt, “Watching Darkness Fall” is an interesting book for all. Historical buffs will love it and rookies will have their interest piqued.....and some will pass on it, definitely not for everyone.

I would like to thank St-martin Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Debra Pawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Author David McKean put together a fine book about the rise of Hitler as seen through the eyes of four American ambassadors assigned by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. McKean details the experiences of William Dodd (Germany), William Bullitt (France), Breckinridge Long (Italy) and Joseph P. Kennedy (England) during the 1930s when Hitler rose to power. These men had no idea what they were in for as they witnessed firsthand the turbulent events that led to the devastation of Europe. Their interaction with the U.S. President and their views make for an interesting read. Dodd, for example, knew exactly what the Nazis stood for and tried to make known that Hitler was a madman. At the same time, Long let it be known that he admired Mussolini, while Kennedy remained an isolationist and felt that America should avoid trouble at all cost. Bullitt thought that France and Germany should be able to negotiate peace. He faulted Dodd for being in the way. Dodd was outspoken and knew that there was no negotiating with the Nazis. Roosevelt himself had his hands full with trying to pull his country out of the Great Depression. Public sentiment was strong against joining in the international fight. The president knew, however, that it was only a matter of time before his hand would be forced into the turmoil. McKean provides a unique look at a very dark time and brings to life four very distinct politicians who witnessed the same things, but who viewed them differently. Very well written and researched--a must read for anyone interested in World War II.

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a good, though not great book on Roosevelt and his ambassadors, but I think it lacks thoroughness to provide a complete picture. I think the problem is that the author fixates really on just four individuals and in doing so misses the chance to develop important insights. Rather than focusing just on Long, Kennedy, Bullitt and Dodd, it would have been better if he had focused instead on the positions they held and incorporated the individuals who succeeded them in the posts of ambassadors to Italy, UK, Russia/France, and Germany. That would have allowed an understanding of the dynamics of Roosevelt’s thinking and brought Davies and even Leahy into the discussion. While not the intent, I would have also included Ambassador Grew in Japan.

This book also suffers from obvious errors which better editing might have corrected. For example, the song “God Save the Queen” would not have been played at any time during Roosevelt’s presidency. This happens in this book at the Atlantic Charter conference. There are others of a similar nature, but not to an excessive extent.

Despite these problems I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ideally, with half stars, a 3.5 star book. Since it's gotten way too many 5-star ratings, I bumped down.

Decently good on William Bullitt's service and on his various personal defects.

Pretty good on William Dodd, about whom I knew the basics. Decent on Joe Kennedy, about whom I knew plenty.

Biggest failing? Thin on Breckenridge Long as ambassador to Italy, and almost nothing on the details of his antisemitism as Asst Secretary of State afterward.

[Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focusing on the American diplomatic efforts in the lead up to WW2, Watching Darkness Fall covers well trodded ground for those familiar with this time period. You’ll see the general lackadaisical mindset many in the State Department had coupled with the American public’s steadfast isolationism and a heavy heaping of antisemitism found everywhere. Nothing terribly new. That being said, what I did find interesting was the specter of fascism wasn’t as terrifying as I imagined. Many close to FDR openly pondered its merits and whether it maybe was necessary in the US. While I feel I was always taught Joe Kennedy (yes of that Kennedy family) had inclinations to this mindset it was always coupled with his antisemitism. I was shocked how many were at best apathetic to the prospect of a Hitler-dominated Europe. Apparently when the bad guys are on the march, it turns out many in your own house won’t care!

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Never again" is actually doomed to be repeated again and again because of human cowardice, indecisiveness and greed.

[Анна Ткачук · Rating 5 out of 5]

"усім демократичним державам важко дивитися в очі неприємним фактам, тому вони тримаються за радісні ілюзії, поки не отримають удар по голові, як це сталося в Перл-Гарборі. Але коли демократичні країни не діють вчасно... вони врешті-решт змушені вдаватись до найдорожчої форми захисту".

сказав Буллітт після вступу США у війну.

Цікаво, будуть цього разу демократичні країни чекати "удару по голові"?

[Ірина Білоусова · Rating 4 out of 5]

Зараз буде дивне порівняння. Читаючи цю документальну книгу, я подумала, що часом це нагадує мені серіал «Тюдори». Є правитель і його піддані, що керуючись то жагою до влади, то амбітними планами, то просто своєю вдачею, вирішують долі інших людей та навіть країн і безкінечно плетуть придворні інтриги.

Ні, книга не така захоплива як «Тюдори» і у ній майже немає сексуальних інтриг (помітьте, я не сказала, що зовсім немає), але проливає багато світла на період перед Другою світовою та до вступу США у неї з боку державного апарату Сполучених Штатів.

Саме американська позиція щодо вступу у війну була дуже важливою для повалення Третього рейху, але політика ізоляціонізму, яка роками провадилась у США, робила цей крок ледве не неможливим. Також за результатами опитувань багато тогочасних американців не були прихильними до євреїв. Навіть один з послів США був затятим ксенофобом та загубив тисячі єврейських життів, перетворивши іммігрантські візи на бюрократичну тяганину, прикриваючись тезою про німецьких шпигунів.

Одні посли США у Європі захоплювались силою та рішучістю. Інші прагнули умиротворювати диктатора. Але був посол, що постійно, починаючи зі свого першого візиту в Німеччину, попереджав про наміри тирана, про його навіженість, про його ненависть та біду, яку він накличе на світ. Звісно, його ніхто не слухав. Він покинув свою посаду посла Німеччини на радість іншим політикам.

Паралелей з сучасним світом так багато, що паморочиться в голові. Прямо зараз американські політики сваряться за те чи допомагати країні Європи, на яку зазіхнула всесвітня темрява. Вони піклуються про своє політичне майбутнє, не розуміючи, що майбутнього може не стати ні в кого. Або ще гірше: розуміючи це.

Якби можна було описати цю книгу одним реченням, то це були б слова Вільяма Булліта: «Усім демократичним державам важко дивитися в очі непрємним фактам, тому вони тримаються за радісні ілюзії, поки не отримають удар по голові, як це сталося в Перл-Гарборі. Але коли демократичні держави не діють вчасно… вони вимушені врешті-решт удаватися до найдорожчої форми захисту».

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

All but one of FDR's ambassadors in Europe misjudged Hitler and his intentions. Joseph Kennedy, William Dodd, Breckinridge Long, and William Bullitt, served in key Western European capitals—London, Berlin, Rome, Paris, and Moscow—in the years prior to World War II. They were more intent on protecting their position, showing off their power and enforcing isolationism than in seeing the truth about the situation. Even FDR refused to follow his instincts and help Europe. The results included the death of thousands of Jews and other devastation.
David McKean's Watching Darkness Fall recounts the story of the ambassadors, the president and the country in the decades before and during the war. The book is loaded with facts and is fairly easy but long to read. The author does throw the ambassadors under the bus and points out the practice of appointing ambassadors who focus on their own interests rather than on the interests of humanity. I wish current ambassadors could read this book.

[Іван · Rating 4 out of 5]

Чудова книжка.
Було б 5 зірочок, якби автор у кінці не почав нехтувати новими послами (у СРСР, наприклад). Але загалом дуже добре й цікаво написано.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read dozens and dozens of books about the history of WWII, so I am always excited when I find a new event or perspective about which I know very little. I am very familiar with the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party, but other than Joseph Kennedy I had no idea about the roles of the the most involved European ambassadors . Watching Darkness Fall tells the story of the rise of the Third Reich from the perspectives of Robert Worth Bingham and Joseph Kennedy ( United Kingdom), William Dodd (Germany), Breckinridge Long ( Italy + appointment as Special Assistant Secretary of State) and William Bullitt ( France and briefly Russia), William H. Standley and W. Averell Harriman (Russia 1942-1946), plus Cordell Hull, Secretary of State. Dodd and Bullitt warned FDR of the dangers of Hitler while Kennedy and Long were clueless at best and malignant forces at their worst. The latter admired Hitler and Mussolini ( Long ) and were prejudiced and anti-Semitic. Cordell Hull did not exactly run a tight ship at the State Department, but went on to redeem himself by primarily developing the charter for the United Nations. At one time there were so many leaks of information that FDR warned the department that if it happened again "everybody down the line will be sent to Siam". All of these men had egos, some larger than others. Kennedy had a penchant for believing he could speak for the President in Europe. Bullitt regarded himself a single-handedly preventing the destruction of Paris. This actually may have been true as the city had been declared an "open city" which meant that it would be surrendered without a destructive battle. Everything was fine until some resistance fighters fired on the German Wehrmacht. The Nazi commander ordered Paris destroyed. The French government was almost completely gone and communications were disrupted. By reaching the embassy in Switzerland Bullitt was able to prevent the loss of the city. He was then ordered by FDR to follow the French government to Vichy and remain there as the U. S. representative. Hubris led Bullitt to claim he never got the order, travel to Portugal and return America because he was too important to remain in unoccupied France. The book does not stop with Hitler's rise to power; it continues through to the end of the war. The author carefully plots Nazi advances from the Sudetenland, Anschluss, Poland, The Low Countries, Belgium, France, Greece, Russia and more. As a person of Norwegian heritage I have a bone to pick with Mr. McKean. On page 263 as part of the rationale for the War Department's demand for increased war planes he notes " the impressive demonstration of German air power in Norway". This is the ONLY mention of the invasion of the Norway on April 9, 1940. British and French troops landed in the country to fight the Germans and were soundly defeated, though they did manage to rescue the King and Crown Prince. There is no reference to this battle anywhere else in the book. In my opinion a significant gap in the history of Nazi advances in Europe..... FDR has always been a hero of mine. He played a major role in helping Americans suffering from the Great Depression thru such creations as social security and the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was very smart and especially adept at strategizing his campaigns and managing individuals with egos as large as his own. He literally kept England and Russia independent and able to fight thru Lend Lease which navigated around U.S. "neutrality". Sadly FDR ( through inaction) and Breckinridge Long ( who tightened restrictions on immigration of refugees ) were responsible for thousands and thousands of deaths, especially the Jewish Holocaust..... There is so much fascinating information in this book that virtually every page added to my knowledge of the role of the State Department, American Embassies, and FDR in the history of WWII. Highly recommend!!! Kristi & Abby Tabby