Since I have been reading, over the past year, a number of novels set before and during WW II in Berlin (at least twelve), I decided to read some non fiction about that period, and Larson's book seemed perfect for what I wanted. And it was a good choice as the story reads like fiction, pulling you along, as the somewhat naive, idealistic Ambassador William Dodd, a Southern historian from the University of Chicago, seems entirely out of his element. His daughter, Martha, however, provides the drama, a good part of the story, as she is wined and dined by many of the rising Nazi officers. We feel what it's like to live in Berlin at this time, as the innocent Americans, at first embrace the Nazis, for their financial success, turning a deft ear to the harassment of the Jews, the increasing violence towards them as well as the Communists (a legal party in Germany at this time), and other non German minorities.
Martha takes advantage of her status as an American, floats from one group to another, whether Nazi, German, or Communist, never in fear of imprisonment. She eventually develops a romantic relationship with a Soviet official, becomes infatuated with Marxism, even takes an eye opening trip to Russia. Like her father, she slowly has her eyes opened to the reality of Hitler and the Nazis, their hatred of the 'other', especially the Jews, their increasing armament, and the lust for power and world dominance for the master race. We do meet Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler, because Dodd often is called to meet with them. At first, we think Dodd is in over his head, but he proves to be a prescient and courageous ambassador, warning of the power of the Nazis, which conflicts with the power structures at home, who feared losing business in Germany. And he often clashed with the State Department, made up mostly of good old boys, a club of the wealthy, most graduates of the posh eastern prep schools and colleges. Their animosity toward Dodd was palpable, as they laughed at his attempts to cut costs, to live a normal life, mostly because he did not have family wealthy like most of those who became Ambassadors.
Eventually, the 'club' convinces Roosevelt that Dodd is the wrong man in Berlin, and he's called home after little more than a year in Berlin. But his journals, his letters to Roosevelt, ring true and the men in State who made fun of him, proved wrong. In the end, we admire him, the quintessential American, at least the way we would like to think of ourselves, perhaps somewhat innocent but idealistic, moral, a man of integrity, refusing to be political. I really enjoyed reading this book, and it gave me an increased understanding for those who survived life under Hitler, respect for those who stood up against him. We all can learn from reading this, as the rise of Hitler's extreme beliefs, at first a minority party, seemed ridiculous to most Germans, never expecting him to gain power. And they stood by silently, rarely raising their voice, as he gained control by, at first, election, later just taking over the government because he controlled the army, the police, the SS. A scary scenario, that happened, a disaster for the world and humanity. The cost of his wars in lives, of the Allies as well as the Germans, is estimated between 50 and 80 million lives because of one man, Adolph Hitler, and a quiescent public.
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