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Ulrich von Hassell Diaries, 1938–1944: The Story of the Forces Against Hitler Inside Germany
Without doubt, Ulrich von Hassell was one of the most important members of the German this is the first complete edition of his wartime memoir with new material from his grandson, Agostino von Hassell.
Von Hassell began working for the German Foreign Office in 1909, then aged 28. Two years later, he married Ilse von Tirpitz, the daughter of Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. After being wounded in the First Battle of the Marne, he worked as the Admiral’s advisor and private secretary.
Hassell joined the Nazi Party in 1933, but strongly opposed the Anti-Comintern Pact (1937) and was sacked by Ribbentrop from his posting in Rome. After Poland was attacked, he led a delegation to allay European fears of further German aggression. He participated in plans to overthrow Hitler, acting as a liaison between Carl Goerdeler, Ludwig Beck and the Kreisau Circle and attempted to recruit Halder, Fromm and Rommel to the idea of a military coup then a negotiated peace. He also used his position on the Central European Economic Congress committee to discuss with Allied officials what could follow a coup d’état in Germany. He played the role of a principal civilian advisor in the July Plot of 1944 and was executed after a two-day trial.
Von Hassell began working for the German Foreign Office in 1909, then aged 28. Two years later, he married Ilse von Tirpitz, the daughter of Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. After being wounded in the First Battle of the Marne, he worked as the Admiral’s advisor and private secretary.
Hassell joined the Nazi Party in 1933, but strongly opposed the Anti-Comintern Pact (1937) and was sacked by Ribbentrop from his posting in Rome. After Poland was attacked, he led a delegation to allay European fears of further German aggression. He participated in plans to overthrow Hitler, acting as a liaison between Carl Goerdeler, Ludwig Beck and the Kreisau Circle and attempted to recruit Halder, Fromm and Rommel to the idea of a military coup then a negotiated peace. He also used his position on the Central European Economic Congress committee to discuss with Allied officials what could follow a coup d’état in Germany. He played the role of a principal civilian advisor in the July Plot of 1944 and was executed after a two-day trial.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1947
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About the author
Ulrich von Hassell
15 books1 followerUlrich von Hassell was a German diplomat during World War II. A member of the German Resistance against German dictator Adolf Hitler, Hassell was executed in the aftermath of the failed July 20 plot.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 14, 2017
I read the original 1947 US edition, printed by Doubleday. Entered the edition information, but it hasn't shown up in the Goodreads list of available editions. I've also ordered a copy of the 2011 edition shown here because the introduction and notes are different. See comparison of editions later in this review.
I read the Von Hassell diaries because they were often cited by the editor of my copy of Goebbels' 1942-43 diary. Von Hassell was a remarkable character, very civilized but committed to overthrowning the regime though also not willing to just stir up a mess. He realized that Hitler needed to be removed -- that was the key action.
Very useful primary source. Includes lots of jokes to show the fatalistic humor of the populace.
Nice counterpoint to Goebbels diaries.
Makes me want to review some of the other diaries/memoirs of those involved in the anti-Hitler plot.
Just received the 2011 edition. Nice biography of Hassell in the foreword by his grandson.
Apparently this is a new translation, but I no longer have the 1947 edition to compare.
The notes to the 2011 edition are in the back, rather than at the foot of the page in the 1947 edition. One advantage in the new edition is the very expansive explanatory notes. I am reading all the notes without rereading the diary.
However, there's also a drawback. The 2011 notes explain the various characters on first reference, but I prefer the way the index in the 1947 edition contains a very brief bio of each person -- not so in the 2011 edition. Many of the German names are similar, and the diary only uses last names, and I found myself often referring to the index to make sure I was clear which person he was talking about. Can't be done in the 2011 edition.
Another drawback to these notes -- they are translated from notes written by a German historian for a 1988 German edition of the diaries, but the references to sources were not translated from the German, so we'll never know (at least easily) if there's an English translation of that source.
All-in-all, though, the notes to the 2011 edition are a nice feature.
I read the Von Hassell diaries because they were often cited by the editor of my copy of Goebbels' 1942-43 diary. Von Hassell was a remarkable character, very civilized but committed to overthrowning the regime though also not willing to just stir up a mess. He realized that Hitler needed to be removed -- that was the key action.
Very useful primary source. Includes lots of jokes to show the fatalistic humor of the populace.
Nice counterpoint to Goebbels diaries.
Makes me want to review some of the other diaries/memoirs of those involved in the anti-Hitler plot.
Just received the 2011 edition. Nice biography of Hassell in the foreword by his grandson.
Apparently this is a new translation, but I no longer have the 1947 edition to compare.
The notes to the 2011 edition are in the back, rather than at the foot of the page in the 1947 edition. One advantage in the new edition is the very expansive explanatory notes. I am reading all the notes without rereading the diary.
However, there's also a drawback. The 2011 notes explain the various characters on first reference, but I prefer the way the index in the 1947 edition contains a very brief bio of each person -- not so in the 2011 edition. Many of the German names are similar, and the diary only uses last names, and I found myself often referring to the index to make sure I was clear which person he was talking about. Can't be done in the 2011 edition.
Another drawback to these notes -- they are translated from notes written by a German historian for a 1988 German edition of the diaries, but the references to sources were not translated from the German, so we'll never know (at least easily) if there's an English translation of that source.
All-in-all, though, the notes to the 2011 edition are a nice feature.
October 15, 2012
Another sad tale of a German in the service of the Nazi Reich going on to do his duty but only stopping and turning to opposition too late. Von Hassell was killed as a result of the 1944 bomb plot. If only Germans like him had acted in 1934...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews