Joachim von Ribbentrop

by Rudolf von Ribbentrop

On 16 October 1946 Joachim von Ribbentrop, Hitler's wartime Foreign Minister, was executed at Nuremberg, convicted on four counts including deliberately planning a war of aggression and war crimes.

In this first English Language edition of his memoirs, Rudolf von Ribbentrop frankly describes his relationship with his father when he was the German Ambassador in London and during the war years. Von Ribbentrop was an often isolated figure among the Nazi elite. In his final report from London von Ribbentrop informed Hitler that he was convinced that Great Britain would fight for its position in the world. He went on to play a key role forging the short-lived pact with Stalin's Soviet Union.

Far from being uncritical, the author, now in his 90s, sets out to paint an objective picture of his father's role. His unique position throws fascinating light on the unfolding dramatic events leading up to, and then the execution of, the Second World war. While the author briefly describes his personal experiences including his war service with the SS, it is the insight this work provides into top level decision making at the heart of the Third Reich that will appeal most to both historians and laymen.

Genres: World War II, History, Biography, War, Military Fiction, European History

496 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2016

Reviews

[FellowBibliophile KvK · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is disappointing that he wrote so little on the dealings with Japan and China.

Also, he blames Hitler for the war going wrong, when Stephen G. Fritz has pointed out that Clausewitzian Gian Gentile/Douglas Porch-style fanatics Halder and von Kluge often bypassed, ignored and sabotaged Hitler. (It was the Westmorelandish artillerist von Kluge, and not Hitler, who fired Guderian the first time.)

As well, his assertion that Germany "had to attack Poland in order to defend itself against the Soviet Union" collapses when one simply looks at a map.

Also, he overstates Stalin's actual expansionist aims. To be sure, Stalin did aggressively gobble up the Baltics in 1940 and 1944, and he did rip Karelia away from Finland in 1944, after he had willingly invaded a peaceful Finland in 1939. However, Stalin also withdrew from Iran and China, which indicates that he was not out for world conquest, something supported by the fact that, unlike Kruschev and Brezhnev, Stalin never sent tonnes of arms and advisors to Latin America and Africa.

Furthermore, he has a dangerously naïve view of England. He says that England was "friendly," ignoring England's wars against the Hanse and Queen Victoria's eternal attempts to undermine Bismarck. On the same note, he thinks that the ruling class (the House of Lords) were representative of England when a) they had been disenfranchised from voting in the Commons, b) the drastic tax laws of the 1920s had taken away a lot of their lands.

All these shortcomings aside, Rudolf von Ribbentrop--in stark contrast to 60 year-old plus juveniles like Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and H.R. McMaster, writes in a thoroughly professional manner, not one single ad hominem appearing in his book (in contrast to Pompeo and Bolton's repeated vicious misogynist attacks on Nikki Haley.) And, unlike Pompeo, he does not devote pages to his adulation of comic book movies and actors decades younger than him, nor does he make a cult of his religious views.

Like Pompeo, Gian Gentile and Andrew Bacevich, Ribbentrop was a panzer officer. Unlike Gentile, he does not report checking communications about doctrine as a routine nightly activity at Kharkov. Unlike Bacevich, he does not "do the least he could."

And it is safe to say that Rudolf von Ribbentrop saw more taka-taka-boom-boom at Kharkov than Pompeo, Bacevich and Gentile did in their entire careers as panzer officers.

[Aubrey Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the top five books I've read this year. That having been said, it is a long and involved read. My only real complaint is that, probably due to the translation, some of the passages can be convoluted and difficult to understand.

That didn't stop me from being fascinated by this book. As someone who has read quite a few books written from the German perspective, I can honestly say Rudolf von Ribbentrop is one of the best history teachers I've had. I say that even with the difficulties I encountered due to translation. He takes time to state his arguments, and obviously accumulated years of research and citations, reaching out to many people who knew and worked with his father.

I wish he had written more books. Plain and simple. However, this is obviously his life's work. It shows. I learned so much about the inner workings of the National Socialist regime, about Joachim von Ribbentrop as a person, whom history has perhaps unfairly maligned, and about Rudolf von Ribbentrop as a soldier. He gives fascinating accounts of his own front line experiences as a tank commander.

Clearly there is some attempt on the son's part to exonerate his father from history's calumnies. I think readers have to understand this from a family and cultural perspective. Still, he knew his father better than anybody except perhaps his mother, Annelise von Ribbentrop. One can at the very least appreciate the sense of respect, admiration, and love the son had for his father.

Rudolf von Ribbentrop is not afraid to take on history as it has been recorded by the victors, but he also indicts the leaders of the Third Reich and addresses his own loss of faith in Hitler. It is a truly comprehensive read from start to finish. For anyone who is truly interested in the German perspective of the Second World War, or has an interest in foreign policy in general, it is a must-read.

[Paul Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is no ordinary book about W.W. ll, and Nazi Germany. This is a book by Rudolf von Ribbentrop, son of Hitler's Foreign Minister. The book itself is a rather disjointed and confusing to those who haven't an in depth knowledge of Nazi Germany, it's foreign policy and the people who made it. However as the son of one of Hitler's minster's, it is only natural that Rudolf von Ribbentrop, would wish to defend his father's honor and place in history. He does make some interesting points in defense of his father's place in history. He is also very upfront about Hitler and his condemnation of his actions. However time has passed and so much has been said with regard to this period of history, it remains to be seen that any memoir can change any minds of many that have already been rendered by history. This will no doubt be fodder for future historians to argue over.

[Simon Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because i have a personal connection w the german foreign office of the war years. Absent that i do not rate this book very highly. The sons experiences during the war are interesting but very little of this is recounted. Most of the book is his attempt to paint his father in a better light than history has and feels sincerely meant - sadly its an impossible task as you cant escape the simple fact that ribbentrop senior was a v senior figire in one of the most vile regimes in history - and a rather parhetic figure at that.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book on the German perspective of the causes of WWII and the "management" style of Hitler that I have ever read. Victors write the history, and while the author may have his biases he discloses important information, shares fascinating opinions and asks crucial questions that should not be ignored.

[Maitiú · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must-read.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look at an era from a different perspective.