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THERIBBENTROPIMET
a s o - c a l l e d " a u n t . " S h e w a s a m e m b e r o f o n e o f t h e t h r e e
b r a n c h e s o f t h e " t i t l e d Ri b b e n t r o p s , " t h e f a m i l i e s w i t h t h e
h i g h l y d e s i r a b l e v o n a f f i x e d t o t h e i r n a m e . He s a i d t h a t Ri b -
b e n t r o p h a d c h a n g e d t h e n a m e o f h i s b u s i n e s s e n t e r p r i s e
f r o m Ri b b e n t r o p &Co
. t o Vo n Ri b b e n t r o p &Co . D e a l e r s
a s w e l l a s c u s t o m e r s w e r e a m u s e d a t t h i s c h a n g e
. In a n o t h e r
l e t t e r , Ot t m a r r e p o r t e d , " My o l d f r i e n d Ot t o He n k e l l f e e l s
v e r y s o r r y f o r h i s d a u g h t e r A n n e l i e s . He w i s h e s t h a t s h e h a d
n e v e r m e t t h i s m a n
. Bu t A n n e l i e s s e e m s t o l o v e h i m , a n d t h a t
i s w h a t m a t t e r s
. " Ot t m a r a l s o r e p o r t e d , " A n n e l i e s ' s i s t e r
F i n n " ( a t t h a t t i m e F r a u F a n n i e A r n t z e n , t h e w i f e o f t h e
o i l - m e r c h a n t Or l a A r n t z e n ) " w h o l i v e s a q u i e t l i f e i n m y
n e i g h b o r h o o d ( i n Co l o g n e ) h a t e s h e r b r o t h e r - i n - l a w . " Bu t
Ot t m a r , a s w e l l a s m a n y o f m y o t h e r f r i e n d s , a p p r e c i a t e d
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a b i l i t i e s i n t h e w i n e a n d l i q u o r t r a d e .
Wh e n Iw a s m a d e Ge r m a n Co n s u l i n Co l o m b o , Ce y l o n ,
m y w i f e a s k e d Ot t m a r w h e t h e r o u r w i n e s t o c k w o u l d s u r v i v e
t h e c h a n g e o f c l i m a t e , Ce y l o n h a v i n g t h e r e p u t a t i o n o f b e i n g
t h e m o s t t r o p i c a l o f a l l t r o p i c a l p o s t s
. Ot t m a r ' s a d v i c e w a s ,
" L e t y o u r h u s b a n d t a k e u p t h e m a t t e r w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p
. He
u n d e r s t a n d s n o t o n l y t h e b u y i n g b u t t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n o f
w i n e s b e t t e r t h a n a n y b o d y e l s e
. " S o w e a p p r o a c h e d Ri b -
b e n t r o p .
He h a d o u r w i n e s t o c k i n s p e c t e d , a r r a n g e d t h e p a c k i n g ,
p u t e v e r y b o t t l e i n a s t r a w c o a t , a n d s a g a c i o u s l y a m p l i f i e d
o u r l i m i t e d s u p p l y w i t h w h i s k i e s , b r a n d i e s , a n d g i n
. Th e s e ,
h e r i g h t l y t h o u g h t , " o p e n h o u s e " i n a t r o p i c a l c l i m e c o u l d
n o t d o w i t h o u t
. Ev e n t h e b i t t e r s w e r e n o t f o r g o t t e n . We
f o u n d e v e r y t h i n g , p l u s q u i t e a f e w
He n k e l l Tr o c k e n , o n t h e
b o a t w h i c h w a s t o c a r r y u s t o o u r n e w p o s t
. Be t t e r s t i l l , a f t e r
o u r a r r i v a l i n Ce y l o n , w e f o u n d t h a t t h e p r e c i o u s Rh i n e
w i n e s h a d r e a c h e d t h e i r d e s t i n a t i o n w i t h o u t t h e s l i g h t e s t
d a m a g e t o t h e i r f l a v o r .
I3
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Ou r f i r s t o f f i c i a l d i n n e r w a s g i v e n i n c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h e
f i r s t b a b y b o r n t o Ge r m a n p a r e n t s i n Ce y l o n a f t e r Wo r l d
Wa r I. Wh e n w e d r a n k t h e t o a s t , " To t h e f i r s t Ge r m a n w h o
e n t e r e d a Br i t i s h Co l o n y w i t h o u t a p a s s p o r t s i n c e 1 9 1 4 , " a n d
t h e r a r e , o l d w i n e w a s t a s t e d , Iw h i s p e r e d , " Pr o s t Ri b b e n -
t r o p , j o b w e l l d o n e . " Th e
He n k e l l Tr o c k e n a l s o m a d e a
g r e a t i m p r e s s i o n o n o u r g u e s t s b e c a u s e o f i t s l a b e l , " Ge r m a n s
d r i n k Ge r m a n w i n e ! "
Is e n t a s h o r t l e t t e r t o Ri b b e n t r o p , a n d i n i t It o l d h i m
h o w s u c c e s s f u l h i s h a n d l i n g o f t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p r o b l e m
h a d b e e n
. He t h a n k e d m e , e n d i n g w i t h , " a l w a y s a t y o u r
s e r v i c e " a n d " h o p i n g t o g e t f u r t h e r o r d e r s
. " S e v e r a l m o n t h s
l a t e r , a n a t i v e i m p o r t e r i n Co l o m b o i n q u i r e d a t t h e Of f i c e
o f t h e Co n s u l a t e w h e t h e r w h i s k y a n d g i n w e r e a l s o p r o d u c e d
i n Ge r m a n y . Ik n e w n o t h i n g o f t h i s , s o Iw r o t e t o Ri b b e n -
t r o p , g i v i n g h i m t h e n a m e a n d r e f e r e n c e s o f t h e i n q u i r e r .
Ri b b e n t r o p i m m e d i a t e l y g o t i n t o u c h w i t h t h e n a t i v e f i r m .
He a l s o t o o k t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o p r a i s e m y b o o s t i n g o f t h e
F a t h e r l a n d ' s e x p o r t - t r a d e . He w r o t e t h a t g i n w a s p r o d u c e d
b y t h e U n i o n D i s t i l l e r y i n Ba d e n - Ba d e n , p r o p e r t y o f a f r i e n d
o f h i s , a F r e i h e r r v o n Bo e c k l i n , a n d t h a t a g o o d g r a d e o f
w h i s k y c o u l d b e o b t a i n e d f r o m a n o t h e r d i s t i l l e r y i n t h e
Ba l t i c S t a t e s . Th e r e s u l t a n t b u s i n e s s f o r Vo n Ri b b e n t r o p &
Co . e x t e n d e d n o t o n l y t o Ce y l o n b u t a l s o t o S o u t h e r n In d i a
.
It m u s t h a v e b e e n c o n s i d e r a b l e . Ri b b e n t r o p g r a t e f u l l y p r a i s e d
m e a l l o v e r Be r l i n . A n d w h e n t h e m a r k e t i n
He n k e l l Tr o c k e n
e x p e r i e n c e d a n u p s w i n g i n t h o s e d i s t a n t p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d ,
Ot t o He n k e l l a l s o a t t r i b u t e d t h i s t o m y t a l e n t s a s c h a m p i o n
f o r h i s p r o d u c t s .
D u e t o i l l - h e a l t h w e r e m a i n e d i n Co l o m b o f o r o n l y t w o
y e a r s . Wh e n o u r b o a t r e a c h e d Na p l e s , If o u n d l e t t e r s f r o m
Ri b b e n t r o p a n d Ot t o He n k e l l . Th e y e x p r e s s e d t h e i r w i s h e s
I 4
THERIBBENTROPIMET
f o r q u i c k r e c o v e r y
. On m y a r r i v a l i n Be r l i n , a n i n v i t a t i o n
f r o m Ot t o He n k e l l a w a i t e d m e , t e l l i n g m e t o m a k e h i s h o u s e
n e a r Wi e s b a d e n m y h o m e f o r a s l o n g a s Ic a r e d .
A s m y w i f e i n t e n d e d t o v i s i t h e r r e l a t i v e s i n En g l a n d , I
w a s f r e e t o a c c e p t . Ih a d a g l o r i o u s t i m e w i t h t h e He n k e l l
f a m i l y . Ot t o He n k e l l , a t y p i c a l b o n u i v a n t w i t h a b r i l l i a n t
Rh e n i s h w i t , w a s a s l i v e l y a s e v e r . Hi s w i f e , K a e t e , w e a r i n g
h e r i n d i s p e n s a b l e m o n o c l e , w a s a c h a r m i n g h o s t e s s . A m o n g
u s w e r e a l s o q u i c k - w i t t e d , s a r c a s t i c " F i n n " A r n z t e n , t h e e l d e r
s i s t e r o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s w i f e , a n d a l s o m y o l d f r i e n d , Ot t m a r .
F o r m e , t h o s e w e r e l a z y d a y s . Il o v e d t o c h a t w i t h Mo t h e r
He n k e l l w h o s e v i v a c i t y e q u a l l e d t h e s p a r k l e o f h e r h u s b a n d ' s
c h a m p a g n e . On c e w e d i s c u s s e d t h e f a t e o f h e r s e c o n d d a u g h -
t e r , A n n e l i e s , a n d o f h e r a m b i t i o u s s o n - i n - l a w , J o a c h i m . A s
w e t a l k e d , a s h a d o w f e l l u p o n F r a u He n k e l l
. S h e b e c a m e v e r y
s e r i o u s . S h e w a s o b v i o u s l y d i s t u r b e d .
" Y o u k n o w , " s h e c o n f e s s e d , " m y d a u g h t e r , A n n e l i e s , h a s
a l w a y s b e e n w i l f u l a n d c a p r i c i o u s . Ir e a l l y d i d m y b e s t t o
p r e v e n t h e r m a r r i a g e w i t h t h a t a d v e n t u r e r . Id e t e s t h i m . Y o u
w i l l n o t u n d e r s t a n d m e , " t e a r s c a m e t o h e r e y e s , " If e a r f o r
m y d a u g h t e r . Bu t w h a t c a n a m o t h e r d o i f h e r c h i l d h a s m a d e
u p h e r m i n d ? It i s n o t o n l y t h e e g o t i s m o f t h i s Ri b b e n t r o p " -
s h e n e v e r m e n t i o n e d h i m b y h i s f i r s t n a m e - " b u t h i s r e c k l e s s ,
a l l - c o n s u m i n g a m b i t i o n w h i c h t e r r i f i e s m e . To a c h i e v e h i s
e n d s h e w o u l d w a l k o v e r c o r p s e s . He d o e s n o t f i t i n t o o u r
f a m i l y . Hi s m o s t r e c e n t t r i c k , l e t t i n g h i m s e l f b e a d o p t e d b y
o n e o f t h e t i t l e d Ri b b e n t r o p s , h a s n o t o n l y m a d e h i m , b u t
a l s o u s , t h e l a u g h i n g s t o c k o f h i s s o - c a l l e d s o c i e t y f r i e n d s - -
t h o s e d r e a d f u l b r i d g e a n d d a n c i n g p a r t n e r s . D o n ' t f o r g e t , I
a m o n e o f t h e Mi c h e l s o f Ma i n z , t h e d a u g h t e r o f t h e
Ge h e i m r a t
Mi c h e l
. Ou r r e l a t i v e s p o k e f u n a t u s b e c a u s e o f
t h i s ` t i t l e d s o n - i n - l a w ! ' A n d t h e w o r s t o f i t i s t h a t A n n e l i e s
s e e m s t o l i k e i t , p e r h a p s o n l y b e c a u s e s h e k n o w s t h a t i t d r i v e s
IS
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
m e m a d . Wh a t w i l l b e n e x t ? Wh a t t e r r i b l e s u r p r i s e s a r e s t i l l
i n s t o r e f o r u s ? "
Of c o u r s e , It r i e d t o c o n s o l e p o o r Mo t h e r He n k e l l . It o l d
h e r n o t t o t a k e t h e m a t t e r s o s e r i o u s l y . D i d s h e n o t f i n d s o m e
h a p p i n e s s i n h e r t w o g r a n d c h i l d r e n ? A n d A n n e l i e s s u r e l y
l o v e d h e r J o a c h i m . Th i s h a p p i n e s s s h o u l d o u t w e i g h h e r o w n
f e e l i n g s a n d p r e m o n i t i o n s . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s e c c e n t r i c i t i e s , h i s
d a n c i n g , h i s s o c i a l a m b i t i o n s , h i s f o o l i s h n e s s i n r u n n i n g a f t e r
a t i t l e , w e r e c o m p a r a t i v e l y u n i m p o r t a n t . A f t e r a l l , t h e s e w e r e
o n l y k l e i n e Na r r h e i t e n - s m a l l t o m f o o l e r i e s - n o t w o r t h s h e d -
d i n g t e a r s o v e r , e s p e c i a l l y t h e t e a r s o f a l a d y s u c h a s F r a u
He n k e l l , n e e Mi c h e l . Bu t Mo t h e r He n k e l l w a s n o t t o b e c o n -
v i n c e d .
" K l e i n e Na r r h e i t e n ! I w i s h i t w e r e s o . Y o u m a y k n o w t h e
p l e a s a n t s i d e o f h i m , b u t Ri b b e n t r o p i s n o t a l i t t l e f o o l . Oh
n o , " s h e a d d e d w i t h a b i t t e r s i g h , " h e i s a n a s t y f o o l , a d a n -
g e r o u s f o o l
. Be l i e v e m e , Ik n o w h i m . Ic a n s e e t h r o u g h h i m .
Y o u w i l l f i n d o u t o n e d a y f o r y o u r s e l f . He i s a n e x t r e m e l y
d a n g e r o u s f o o l ! "
Ot t o He n k e l l , A n n e l i e s ' f a t h e r , w a s m o r e r e t i c e n t i n h i s
r e m a r k s a b o u t h i s s o n - i n - l a w . He w a s s o m e w h a t a m u s e d b y
h i s a m b i t i o n s . " In b u s i n e s s , " Ot t o He n k e l l t o l d m e , " m y s o n -
i n - l a w h a s h i s o w n m e t h o d s . Th e y a r e n o t m y m e t h o d s , a s
e v e r y b o d y k n o w s . Th e y a r e c o m p l e t e l y h i s o w n . Th e y a r e
s o f o r e i g n t o m e t h a t m y r e f u s a l t o m a k e h i m a p a r t n e r i n
He n k e l l &Co . , w h e n h e r e q u e s t e d i t , m a k e s m e h a p p i e r e v e r y
d a y . A s a p a r t n e r , Iw o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a b l e t o s t a n d h i m .
Ia m h a p p y t h a t o u r m u t u a l b u s i n e s s c o n t a c t s a r e s i m p l e a n d
t h e r e f o r e g i v e l i t t l e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r a r g u m e n t . My d a u g h t e r
w i l l a l w a y s r e m a i n m y d a u g h t e r , a n d Ih o p e t h a t Is h a l l a l -
w a y s h a v e m o r e t h a n e n o u g h t o l e a v e t o h e r s o t h a t s h e a n d
m y g r a n d c h i l d r e n n e e d n e v e r w a n t . Hi s a m b i t i o n s ? S u c h a m -
b i t i o n s a s r e g a r d i n g t h e
v o n
a n d h i s f a w n i n g u p o n a r i s t o c r a t s
I6
THE RIBBENTROP IMET
f o r t h e i r f a v o r s ? Th e y m a k e m e l a u g h . Ev e n t h e K a i s e r h i m -
s e l f h a s b e e n p o l i t e t o Ot t o He n k e l l w i t h o u t f o r c i n g h i m t o
b e n d h i s k n e e s
. A p r o u d b u r g h e r h a s n o r e a s o n t o c l i m b ; i t
i s t h e s i g n o f b a d c h a r a c t e r i f h e d o e s
. A c h i e v e m e n t s p u s h a
m a n f o r w a r d , n o t t o a d y i n g . "
F i n n , A n n e l i e s ' s i s t e r , w a s t h e b i t t e r e s t m e m b e r o f t h e
f a m i l y . " L e t u s b e c o n t e n t t h a t h e i s n o t i n s i g h t , " s h e c o n -
c l u d e d . " He w o u l d h a v e s p o i l e d t h i s g l o r i o u s S u n d a y . " S h e
h a s t i l y s u b s t i t u t e d a m o r e a t t r a c t i v e c o n v e r s a t i o n a l t o p i c
t h a n t h e a b s e n t J o a c h i m .
A f t e r w e w e r e s e t t l e d i n Be r l i n , w e i n e v i t a b l y r a n i n t o
J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p w h e n e v e r w e a t t e n d e d a c o c k t a i l
p a r t y . Th a t , h o w e v e r , w a s n o t v e r y o f t e n . Bu t e v e n w e n o -
t i c e d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p h a d c o n s i d e r a b l y c h a n g e d . No t h i n g
r e m a i n e d o f t h e b e c o m i n g s h y n e s s o f b y g o n e d a y s , n o t h i n g
o f h i s c u l t i v a t e d , a l m o s t w h i s p e r i n g v o i c e , a n d n o t a v e s t i g e
o f h i s e x c e l l e n t m a n n e r s . He n o l o n g e r k e p t h i m s e l f a l o o f
f r o m t h e h e a t e d a r g u m e n t s o f o t h e r s . No w h e l e d h i s o w n
s o c i e t y
o f
n o u v e a u r i c h e
p r o f i t e e r s a n d i m p o v e r i s h e d g e n t r y .
Ri b b e n t r o p w a s v i r t u a l l y d i c t a t o r o f t h i s g r o u p . He l e c t u r e d
h i s f r i e n d s w i t h u n n e c e s s a r y v i g o r o n t h e d a n g e r s o f Bo l s h e -
v i s m . He b o l d l y o u t l i n e d t h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h c o u l d o r s h o u l d
b e t a k e n a g a i n s t t h i s " c r e e p i n g p e s t . " It s e e m e d t h a t h e h a d
f i n a l l y f o u n d t h e p l a t f o r m u p o n w h i c h h e c o u l d h o l d h i s o w n
i n p o s t - w a r Be r l i n ' s h e c t i c Va n i t y F a i r . Th i s w a s c e r t a i n l y n o t
t h e c u l t u r e d Ri b b e n t r o p Ih a d k n o w n , b u t a l o u d , b o i s t e r o u s
a d v e n t u r e r . Th e l a d i e s , w h e n a s k e d a s t o w h y t h e y h a d
i n v i t e d h i m , s i g h e d a n d s a i d , " . . . b u t h e i s s u c h a n e x c e l -
l e n t d a n c i n g p a r t n e r . " In o w u n d e r s t o o d F r a u He n k e l l ' s
i n c e s s a n t t e a r s .
I7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Id i d n o t s e e m u c h o f Ri b b e n t r o p i n t h o s e d a y s
. Wh e n
w e m e t , w e w e r e p o l i t e t o e a c h o t h e r , b u t w e w e r e n o t i n t i -
m a t e s . L a t e r , i n t h i n k i n g b a c k , Ir e m e m b e r e d t h a t w e n e v e r
s a t t o g e t h e r w h e n w e d i d m e e t . We a l w a y s s t o o d c h a t t i n g .
Th a t i n i t s e l f s e e m s t o i n d i c a t e t h a t w e t r e a t e d e a c h o t h e r
w i t h t h e u n r e l a x e d v i g i l a n c e o f p e o p l e w h o b e l o n g t o d i f -
f e r e n t c a m p s .
Th e d o c t o r s c o n t i n u e d t o b e d i s s a t i s f i e d w i t h m y s t a t e o f
h e a l t h . D o c t o r s a r e t h a t w a y . Th e y f i n a l l y p e r s u a d e d m y
w i f e t h a t Is h o u l d s t a y i n D r . v o n No o r d e n ' s s a n a t o r i u m a t
Ba d e n - Ba d e n . Th e s t a y t h e r e b o r e d m e t o d e a t h . Th e o n l y
h i g h l i g h t s w e r e a f e w c o n v e r s a t i o n s Ih a d w i t h D r . Gu s t a v
S t r e s e m a n n .
Ih a d k n o w n h i m s i n c e o u r s t u d e n t d a y s i n L e i p z i g . S t u d e n t
r e m i n i s c e n c e s s o m e t i m e s p r e v e n t o n e f r o m r e a l i z i n g t h e g e n i u s
o f a m a n , b u t Ia d m i r e d S t r e s e m a n n a n d l o o k e d u p t o h i m .
Wh e n h e i n v i t e d m e t o s p e n d a n e v e n i n g w i t h h i m a n d h i s
s o n Wo l f g a n g , Iw a s a s e x c i t e d a s e v e r t o s e e h i m . Tw o y e a r s
h a d e l a p s e d s i n c e w e h a d l a s t b e e n t o g e t h e r . No w , w h e n I
s a w h i m o n c e a g a i n , If e l t t h a t Iw a s i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f a m a n
m a r k e d b y d e a t h . It r i e d m y b e s t t o b e c h e e r f u l
. Ir e p o r t e d
l i t t l e i n c i d e n t s w h i c h h a d o c c u r r e d d u r i n g m y t r a v e l s i n t h e
F a r Ea s t , a n d s o m e o f t h e s e d i d s e e m t o a m u s e S t r e s e m a n n .
He e v e n b e c a m e q u i t e g a y . Th e b o t t l e o f Rh i n e w i n e , f o r -
b i d d e n t o b o t h o f u s b y d o c t o r ' s o r d e r s , h e l p e d a l o t . A t t h e
e n d o f t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , t h e Ch i e f o f t h e Pe r s o n n e l D e p a r t -
m e n t o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , D r . Os w a l d S c h n e i d e r , a p p e a r e d .
Th e Mi n i s t e r t o o k t h i s o c c a s i o n t o d i s c u s s , i n m y p r e s e n c e ,
t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f a n o t h e r p o s t f o r m e . Mo s t o f t h e p r o p o -
s i t i o n s S c h n e i d e r m a d e w e r e o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n b e c a u s e o f
m y h e a l t h
. Wh e n Ne w Y o r k Ci t y w a s m e n t i o n e d , w i t h s o m e
r e s e r v a t i o n s b e c a u s e o f p r e v i o u s o b l i g a t i o n s , Ii m m e d i a t e l y
s n a p p e d a t i t . Iw a s s w i f t t o p o i n t o u t t h a t Id i d n o t c a r e f o r
I8
THERIBBENTROPIMET
a p r o m o t i o n , t h a t t h e t h i n g Iw a n t e d w a s a n i n t e r e s t i n g j o b ,
a n d t h a t e v e n t h e q u e s t i o n o f r a n k w a s o f m i n o r i m p o r t a n c e
.
A n o d f r o m S t r e s e m a n n , a w a r n i n g f r o m S c h n e i d e r t h a t
" o w i n g t o c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s " Iw o u l d h a v e t o l e a v e
w i t h i n a f o r t n i g h t , a n d Ir e c e i v e d m y c o m m i s s i o n . Th e f o l -
l o w i n g d a y w e b o o k e d o u r p a s s a g e o n t h e S
. S .
HA MBU RG .
We h a d b u t s e v e n d a y s t o s p e n d i n Be r l i n , a n d m o s t o f t h e
t i m e Iw a s a t t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e r e c e i v i n g t h e u s u a l i n s t r u c -
t i o n s , w h i c h , a t t h a t t i m e , It o o k m o s t s e r i o u s l y . Th e l a s t
a f t e r n o o n b e f o r e o u r d e p a r t u r e , w e a t t e n d e d a r e c e p t i o n f o r
A m b a s s a d o r J a c o b Go u l d S c h u r m a n a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
Em b a s s y . We h a d n e v e r m e t h i m b e f o r e , a n d h e s e e m e d t o
u s t h e v e r y i n c a r n a t i o n o f A m e r i c a n f r i e n d l i n e s s a n d h o s -
p i t a l i t y .
A s w e w e r e l e a v i n g t h e A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r ' s p a r t y , w e
h e a r d J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p t a l k i n g t o s e v e r a l o f h i s
f r i e n d s . He w a s e x p l a i n i n g t o h i s l i t t l e c i r c l e t h a t A m b a s s a d o r
S c h u r m a n w a s n o t o n l y i n v i t i n g " s o c i e t y " t o h i s r e c e p t i o n s
b u t j o u r n a l i s t s - b o t h Ge r m a n a n d f o r e i g n . Th e Ne t h e r l a n d s
L e g a t i o n w o u l d n e v e r d o t h a t , h e a n n o u n c e d . " Bu t t h i s i s
A m e r i c a n d e m o c r a c y , " h e a d d e d w i t h a s h r u g . Ev e r y o n e
k n e w t h a t t h e Ne t h e r l a n d s L e g a t i o n w a s t h e m o s t s n o b b i s h i n
Be r l i n , a n d i t w a s o b v i o u s t h a t J o a c h i m h a d e v i d e n t l y r e c e i v e d
a n i n v i t a t i o n f r o m t h i s b a s t i o n o f e x c l u s i v e n e s s . We d i d n o t
s a y g o o d b y e t o Ri b b e n t r o p t h i s t i m e
.
In D e c e m b e r , 1 9 32 , t h r e e y e a r s l a t e r , w e w e r e o n t h e p o i n t
o f l e a v i n g f o r Me x i c o t o s t a y t h e r e o v e r Ch r i s t m a s , w h e n I
r e c e i v e d a c a b l e f r o m a n o l d f r i e n d , Ot t o Wo l f f , s u g g e s t i n g
" i n t h e n a m e o f o u r K a r l s b a d a c q u a i n t a n c e " t h a t w e s h o u l d
s p e n d o u r v a c a t i o n i n Be r l i n . Th e " K a r l s b a d a c q u a i n t a n c e , "
I9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
t h e t e l e g r a m s a i d , w a n t e d t o h a v e " a g e n e r a l d i s c u s s i o n " w i t h
m e . Th i s m y s t e r i o u s m a n w a s n o b o d y l e s s t h a n Ch a n c e l l o r
Ge n e r a l K u r t v o n S c h l e i c h e r . D e c e m b e r
2 7
s a w m e i n Be r l i n .
U p o n m y a r r i v a l , If o u n d Be r l i n a c i t y o f r u m o r s , f o r e -
b o d i n g s , w i l d h o p e s , a n d f r u s t r a t i o n . Iw e n t i m m e d i a t e l y t o
s e e Ot t o Wo l f f . He t o l d m e t h a t t w o p a r t y l e a d e r s h a d s u g -
g e s t e d m y n a m e f o r a c e r t a i n Ch a n c e l l e r y p o s i t i o n . Th e
c o i n c i d e n c e o f h a v i n g h e a r d m y n a m e o n t h e s a m e d a y f r o m
t w o p a r t y h e a d s h a d s u r e l y g i v e n t h e Ch a n c e l l o r t h e i d e a
t h a t Iw o u l d b e t h e r i g h t p e r s o n f o r t h e j o b i n q u e s t i o n .
S c h l e i c h e r k n e w t h a t , b e c a u s e o f m y w o r k w i t h D r . J o s e p h
Wi r t h w h e n h e w a s Ch a n c e l l o r , Ih a d h a d s o m e e x p e r i e n c e
i n t h e p a r t i c u l a r f i e l d . Th e u n u s u a l w a y o f c a l l i n g m e t o
Be r l i n t h r o u g h t h e g o o d o f f i c e s o f Ot t o Wo l f f , t h e i n d u s -
t r i a l i s t , f o u n d i t s e x p l a n a t i o n i n t h e f a c t t h a t S c h l e i c h e r d i d
n o t w a n t t o l e t t h e c a b l e p a s s t h r o u g h t h e u s u a l F o r e i g n
Of f i c e c h a n n e l s . Hi s o p p o n e n t s w o u l d h a v e g u e s s e d h i s p l a n ,
a n d t h e y m i g h t h a v e r u i n e d i t b y g i v i n g i t i n o p p o r t u n e
p u b l i c i t y .
Th e d e t a i l s o f t h e Ch a n c e l l o r ' s p l a n a r e o f n o i m p o r t a n c e
t o d a y . Th e Ch a n c e l l e r y a n d t h e Of f i c e o f t h e Pr e s i d e n t w e r e
h o t b e d s o f i n t r i g u e a n d c o u n t e r - i n t r i g u e . Th e Ch a n c e l l o r ,
h i m s e l f , c o n f i d e d t o m e , i n o n e o f o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n s , w h i c h
" f o r s a f e t y ' s s a k e " h a d t o t a k e p l a c e i n t h e m a g n i f i c e n t h o u s e
o f Ot t o Wo l f f i n t h e Ti e r g a r t e n s t r a s s e , t h a t i t w a s F r a n z v o n
Pa p e n , t h e e x - Ch a n c e l l o r , w h o w o r k e d a g a i n s t h i s " l i e b e r
F r e u n d " ( d e a r f r i e n d ) S c h l e i c h e r , w h e n e v e r h e f o u n d a n
o p p o r t u n i t y t o d o s o . S c h l e i c h e r h a d b e e n i n t h e h a b i t o f d i s -
c u s s i n g t h e m o s t c o n f i d e n t i a l m a t t e r s w i t h Pa p e n , u n t i l h e
f o u n d o u t t h a t Pa p e n i m m e d i a t e l y w e n t f o r a s t r o l l i n t h e
F o r e i g n Of f i c e g a r d e n w h e r e h i s p r e s e n c e s e e m e d q u i t e i n
o r d e r , a n d h e c o n t i n u e d t o s t r o l l u n t i l h e s a w a c h a n c e o f
e n t e r i n g , u n o b s e r v e d , t h e n e i g h b o r i n g g a r d e n o f t h e
Pr a e s i -
2 0
THE RIBBENTROP IMET
d e n t s c h af t s p a l a i s , t h e r e s i d e n c e o f Hi n d e n b u r g a n d h i s s o n
a n d w h e r e D r . Ot t o Me i s s n e r , e x p e r t i n p o l i t i c a l r a c k e t e e r -
i n g , w a s a l w a y s h a n d y
. Pa p e n f i r s t s o u n d e d o u t t h e " o l d
m a n ' s m o o d " b e f o r e e n l i g h t e n i n g Hi n d e n b u r g h i m s e l f a b o u t
S c h l e i c h e r ' s s e c r e t s . S c h l e i c h e r k n e w a l l t h i s , b u t h e t o o k i t
a l l t o o l i g h t l y . Th e s e d e t a i l s a f f e c t Ri b b e n t r o p f o r h e w a s
p r a c t i c a l l y t h e o n l y m a n w h o w a s a b l e t o u s e v o n Pa p e n a s
a s p r i n g b o a r d
. It i s n o t o n e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s m i n o r a c h i e v e -
m e n t s , t h i s c o n t r i v i n g t o g e t v o n Pa p e n , t h e s m a r t e s t a n d
m o s t r e c k l e s s o f a l l p o l i t i c a l g a m b l e r s , t o a s s i s t h i m i n h i s
c l i m b t o p o w e r .
Bu t a t t h i s t i m e , Ri b b e n t r o p r a r e l y s a w v o n Pa p e n . Th e y
h a d f e w t h i n g s i n c o m m o n . Bo t h h a d s e r v e d w i t h t h e c a v a l r y ,
v o n Pa p e n w i t h t h e D u e s s e l d o r f e r Hu s a r e n , Ri b b e n t r o p w i t h
t h e To r g a u e r Hu s a r e n . Bo t h h a d s e r v e d , d u r i n g t h e l a s t
y e a r o f t h e w a r , i n Tu r k e y , v o n Pa p e n a s Ch i e f o f S t a f f w i t h
t h e r a n k o f a l i e u t e n a n t c o l o n e l i n t h e F o u r t h Tu r k i s h A r m y ,
Ri b b e n t r o p a s a p l a i n l i e u t e n a n t i n s o m e o f f i c e o f t h e Ge r m a n
Wa r D e p a r t m e n t i n t h e Tu r k i s h c a p i t a l . A l l t h e s t o r i e s a b o u t
Ri b b e n t r o p m e e t i n g v o n Pa p e n w h e n t h e f o r m e r w a s Ge r m a n
Mi l i t a r y A t t a c h e i n Wa s h i n g t o n a n d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p h a d
b e e n s e n t t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n a s u b m a r i n e a f t e r h i s r e t u r n
f r o m Ca n a d a a r e p u r e i n v e n t i o n
.
Bu t a t t h e t i m e o f m y d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h S c h l e i c h e r , i n
J a n u a r y ,
1 9 33,
Ri b b e n t r o p w a s a l r e a d y a m e m b e r o f t h e Na z i
p a r t y a n d w a s k n o w n t o h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d f u n d s t o i t . No b o d y
i n t h e p a r t y t o o k h i m s e r i o u s l y . Ia s k e d s o m e o f m y
f r i e n d s w h a t h e w a s d o i n g . Hi s w i n e b u s i n e s s w a s n o l o n g e r
m e n t i o n e d ; e v e n c a f e s o c i e t y h a d l o s t t o u c h w i t h h i m . Iw a s
t o l d , h o w e v e r , t h a t d i p l o m a t i c r e c e p t i o n s r e t a i n e d t h e i r
a n c i e n t l u r e f o r h i m . He h a d a l s o d e v e l o p e d h i s p o l i t i c a l
c o n n e c t i o n s . Vo n Pa p e n h a d n o w b e c o m e o n e o f h i s f r i e n d s ,
a n d h e s t i l l m a d e s p e e c h e s a g a i n s t Bo l s h e v i s m a t s u m p t u o u s
2 I
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
d i n n e r p a r t i e s . On e o f m y o l d f r i e n d s r e m a r k e d , " Ia m s o r r y
f o r h i m . He h a s p l e n t y o f m o n e y . He e x c e l s i n l a n g u a g e s .
On e c o u l d h a v e m o u l d e d h i m i n t o a g o o d c o m m e r c i a l
a t t a c h e o r e v e n a c o u n s e l l o r o f l e g a t i o n , b u t f o r t h i s , o f
c o u r s e , h e s h o u l d h a v e a p p l i e d w h e n s t i l l y o u n g
. "
On J a n u a r y 2 0,
1 9 33,
Iv i s i t e d v o n S c h l e i c h e r t o b i d h i m
g o o d b y e b e f o r e m y d e p a r t u r e f o r Ne w Y o r k . Th i s w a s t h e
l a s t t i m e Iw a s t o s e e h i m . My h e a r t w a s h e a v y , f o r Ih a d a
p r e m o n i t i o n o f s o m e d i s a s t r o u s f a t e s h a p i n g i t s e l f i n Ge r m a n y .
S c h l e i c h e r , h i m s e l f , r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e p o s t - w a r d a n g e r z o n e
h a d n o t y e t b e e n p a s s e d
. He k n e w t h a t h e w a s s u r r o u n d e d
b y e n e m i e s . " Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p , " h e s a i d , " t h a t w i n e m e r c h a n t ?
He o n l y u s e s h i s b r a i n s w h e n h e w a n t s t o c l i m b . Wh o c a n
t a k e t h a t c r e a t u r e s e r i o u s l y . He t h r i v e s o n m u d ; t h e f l o w e r
i s q u i t e p r e t t y b u t t h e r o o t s a r e r o t t e n . It e l l y o u , d e a r
S c h w a r z , Ir e l y o n o l d m a n Hi n d e n b u r g . He h a s s o f a r n e v e r
d e c e i v e d m e , a n d h e w i l l n o t d e c e i v e m e i n t h e f u t u r e .
Be t w e e n t h e Pr e s i d e n t a n d m y s e l f t h e r e i s t h e c o m r a d e s h i p
o f o l d s o l d i e r s . Hi n d e n b u r g h a s n o j e a l o u s i e s . He i s a b o v e
t h e m . He i s o n t o p , a n d n o b o d y w o u l d e v e n d a r e t o t h i n k o f
p u l l i n g h i m d o w n . It i s n o t o n l y h i s g o o d c o n s c i e n c e t h a t l i f t s
h i m a b o v e a l l t h a t p e t t y b i c k e r i n g a n d e x c i t e m e n t a r o u n d
h i m , b u t h e i s a s y m b o l . S y m b o l s d o n o t f i g h t , t h e y a r e f o u g h t
f o r
. " It o l d h i m a b o u t m y p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h Ri b b e n -
t r o p , t h e m a n w h o h a d s o s u c c e s s f u l l y t r a n s p o r t e d m y w i n e s
t o t h e t r o p i c s
. S c h l e i c h e r e n j o y e d t h e s t o r y
. " It d o e s m e a l o t
o f g o o d , " h e s a i d a t t h e e n d o f o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n , " t o h e a r
s o m e t h i n g b e s i d e s t a l e s a b o u t Pa p e n ' s s p y r i n g . Y o u c a n b e
s u r e t h a t a l l y o u r v i s i t s , e x c e p t p e r h a p s t h o s e y o u p a i d m e i n
t h e e v e n i n g s a t Ot t o Wo l f f ' s h o m e , h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d t o
h i m a n d h i s g r o u p o f a d v e n t u r e r s . Bu t F r a e n z c h e n , I a m s u r e ,
w i l l m e e t d i s a s t e r i n t h e e n d . Bo n v o y a g e t o y o u . " Te n d a y s
l a t e r t h e S c h l e i c h e r g o v e r n m e n t h a d f a l l e n .
2 2
THERIBBENTROPIMET
Wh e n Il e f t t h e Ch a n c e l l e r y a n d p a s s e d t h e f a m i l i a r e n -
t r a n c e o f t h e n e i g h b o r i n g Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e 7 6 , t h e e n t r a n c e o f
t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , Ir a n i n t o a n o l d f r i e n d . He w a s o n h i s
w a y t o l u n c h a n d a s k e d m e t o j o i n h i m . My f r i e n d , a n e x -
c a v a l r y m a n , t o o k m e t o t h e f o r m e r Ga r d e - Ca v a l l e r i e - Cl u b ,
w h i c h h a d c h a n g e d i t s n a m e a n d m a n a g e m e n t d u r i n g m y
a b s e n c e f r o m Be r l i n .
Wh e n w e e n t e r e d , Is a w J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s
s p e c i a l f r i e n d , We r n e r v o n A l v e n s l e b e n , l u n c h i n g . Bo t h
t u r n e d t h e i r h e a d s i n m y d i r e c t i o n a t t h e s a m e m o m e n t ,
n o d d e d , a n d w e n t o n w h i s p e r i n g t o g e t h e r u n e a s i l y . My f r i e n d
r e m a r k e d , " D i d y o u s e e Ri b b e n t r o p ? He t u r n e d r e d w h e n
h e s a w y o u , a n d Ic a n t e l l y o u w h y . He m u s t h a v e s o m e g o o d
c o n n e c t i o n s b e c a u s e h e h a s i n f o r m e d v o n Bu e l o w ( t h e U n d e r
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e i n t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e ) t h a t s o m e t h i n g i s
g o i n g o n b e t w e e n y o u a n d t h e Ch a n c e l l o r . He t r i e d t o f i n d
o u t w h e t h e r y o u w e r e i n Be r l i n o n r e g u l a r l e a v e o f a b s e n c e
.
It i s s u r p r i s i n g , b u t h e s t i l l i s a b l e t o h a v e a b a d c o n s c i e n c e
a b o u t w h a t h e d o e s . "
My f r i e n d , s p e a k i n g o n , p a i n t e d a s o m b e r p i c t u r e o f Na z i
m i g h t a n d i t s a l m o s t i n e v i t a b l e s u c c e s s . Co m p l e t e t r i u m p h
w a s i m m i n e n t , h e s a i d . Th e m o n t h Ih a d p a s s e d i n Be r l i n h a d
c o n v i n c e d m e t h a t m y f r i e n d w a s r i g h t . Ih a d w a r n e d
S c h l e i c h e r i n v a i n . Ri b b e n t r o p k n e w t h a t Iw a s w e l l a w a r e
t h a t t h e Na z i s w e r e r e a d y f o r a
c o u p d ' e t a t , a n d h e h a d t h e r e -
f o r e r e s e n t e d m y v i s i t s t o S c h l e i c h e r
. Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p d i d n o t
k n o w S c h l e i c h e r ' s p l a n s . He d i d n o t k n o w t h a t Ih a d b e e n
u n a b l e t o a l a r m S c h l e i c h e r , a n d h e w a s w o r r i e d f o r t h e Na z i
b a t t l e w a s n o t y e t w o n .
Is h a l l n e v e r f o r g e t t h i s l u n c h e o n . On o n e s i d e w e r e
Ri b b e n t r o p a n d A l v e n s l e b e n w o n d e r i n g w h a t t h e n e x t h o u r
w o u l d b r i n g , a n d o p p o s i t e m e w a s m y f r i e n d a l r e a d y s a y i n g
f a r e w e l l t o t h e w o r l d w e k n e w a n d l o v e d . Bo t h o f u s k n e w
2 3
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
t h a t S c h l e i c h e r w a s n o t t h e m a n t o m e e t a d e s p e r a t e s i t u a t i o n
w i t h d e s p e r a t e m e t h o d s . We w e r e s i t t i n g o n a p o w d e r k e g ,
a n d a l l t h e Pa p e n s , A l v e n s l e b e n s , a n d Ri b b e n t r o p s w e r e
c r a w l i n g t h r o u g h t h e d a r k , r e a d y t o s t r i k e t h e m a t c h w h i c h
w o u l d f i r e i t . " Th e e x p l o s i o n w i l l b e t e r r i f i c , " s a i d m y f r i e n d .
" On l y a m i r a c l e c a n s a v e Ge r m a n y a n d t h e w o r l d . " Th e
m i r a c l e d i d n o t h a p p e n . Te n d a y s l a t e r , S c h l e i c h e r w a s o u t ,
s i x t e e n m o n t h s l a t e r - o n J u n e 30, 1 9 34 - S c h l e i c h e r w a s
m u r d e r e d .
Th a t s a m e e v e n i n g Il e f t f o r L o n d o n . My w i f e a n d I
s t a y e d i n L o n d o n f o r a f e w d a y s , v i s i t i n g f r i e n d s a n d r e l a t i v e s .
L e o p o l d v o n Ho e s c h , o u r A m b a s s a d o r , i n v i t e d m e t o l u n c h .
" Ih a v e t o a p o l o g i z e , o l d f r i e n d , " h e s a i d ( w e h a d s e r v e d
t o g e t h e r f o r s e v e r a l m o n t h s i n t h e Bu l g a r i a n c a p i t a l d u r i n g
Wo r l d Wa r I) , " f o r n o t i n v i t i n g y o u r c h a r m i n g w i f e , b u t I
w a n t e d t o h a v e a n i n f o r m a l c h a t w i t h y o u . " Th e n h e f i r e d
q u e s t i o n a f t e r q u e s t i o n a t m e . It r i e d t o a n s w e r t h e m a l l . He
a g r e e d w i t h s o m e o f m y a n s w e r s
. It o l d h i m t h a t Ii n t e n d e d
t o l e a v e t h e s e r v i c e , b u t h e u r g e d m e t o s t a y o n f o r a t l e a s t
s o m e t i m e u n d e r a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s
. " Y o u k n o w , " h e s a i d ,
" Ib e l i e v e t h a t w e w i l l h a v e t o g o t h r o u g h a h o t b u t s h o r t -
l i v e d p u r g a t o r y o f Na z i - d o m i n a t i o n a t h o m e
. Th e i r i d e a s
a b o u t f o r e i g n p o l i c y , a b o u t i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e s o
c h i l d i s h t h a t t h e y w i l l s o o n f i n i s h t h e m s e l v e s
. Th e r e i s o n l y
o n e g o o d r u l e t o b e f o l l o w e d d u r i n g a n e a r t h q u a k e - w a i t
u n t i l i t i s o v e r . A n d e a r t h q u a k e s n e v e r g o o n c o n t i n u o u s l y
.
Th e g o o d e a r t h o n l y t r e m b l e s f o r s o m e s e c o n d s . "
D u r i n g t h e l a s t d a y s o f J a n u a r y , w e l e f t v i a S o u t h a m p t o n ,
a n d w e a r r i v e d i n Ne w Y o r k o n F e b r u a r y
5 .
Wh i l e o n b o a r d ,
t h e s k i p p e r e n t e r e d o u r c a b i n o n e a f t e r n o o n , h i g h l y e x c i t e d
.
My w i f e t o l d h i m t h a t Iw a s r e s t i n g . " Im u s t s e e y o u r h u s b a n d
i m m e d i a t e l y
. Bi g n e w s f r o m Be r l i n j u s t c a m e o v e r t h e r a d i o .
2 4
THERIBBENTROPIMET
Th e r a d i o o p e r a t o r a n d Ia r e t h e o n l y o n e s o n b o a r d w h o
k n o w a s y e t . "
Th e t e l e g r a m w a s i n s h o r t , p l a i n l a n g u a g e
:K u r t v o n
S c h l e i c h e r , t h e Ch a n c e l l o r , w a s o u t
. Th e Pr e s i d e n t h a d a s k e d
A d o l f Hi t l e r t o f o r m a n e w c a b i n e t . Ca p t a i n K o c h , t h e
s k i p p e r , w h o m Ih a d k n o w n f r o m t h e d a y s o f Co n s t a n t i n o p l e
d u r i n g Wo r l d Wa r I, a d d e d , " Ik n o w t h a t y o u w i l l n o t a g r e e
w i t h t h i s t u r n i n Ge r m a n p o l i t i c s
. Id o b e c a u s e m y c h i l d r e n
a n d m y w i f e a r e Na z i s . Th e y l a u g h a t m e i f m y o p i n i o n s d o
n o t c o i n c i d e w i t h t h e i r s . Ia m a f a t h e r , a n d Iw a n t t o s e e m y
c h i l d r e n h a p p y - e v e n i f t h e y m a y b e w r o n g . " A t t h i s m o -
m e n t , t h e b l u s h i n g f a c e o f Ri b b e n t r o p s u d d e n l y f l a s h e d
b e f o r e m e . Ir e m e m b e r e d t h e i n q u i s i t i v e q u e s t i o n s o f v o n
S c h l e i c h e r , a l l t h e m a n y d e t a i l s Ih a d h e a r d i n Be r l i n a b o u t
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a c t i v i t i e s , h i s m e d d l i n g w i t h v o n Pa p e n , t h e
t u r n f r o m b u s i n e s s a n d c h i l d i s h s o c i a l a m b i t i o n s t o p o l i t i c s .
Wo u l d Ri b b e n t r o p b e a n i m p o r t a n t f i g u r e i n t h i s n e w w o r l d ?
Id o u b t e d i t , a t t h a t t i m e .
On F e b r u a r y 5 , 1 9 33o u r s h i p a r r i v e d i n Ne w Y o r k ' s
f r i e n d l y h a r b o r . On A p r i l i i , Il e f t t h e s e r v i c e . Th e l a s t
l e t t e r w h i c h r e a c h e d m e t h r o u g h t h e r e g u l a r d i s p a t c h b a g
w a s h a n d e d t o m e j u s t b e f o r e Ii n f o r m e d t h e p r e s s o f m y
r e s i g n a t i o n . It c o n t a i n e d o n l y t h e w o r d s :" Ri b b e n t r o p s e e m s
s e t t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h o u r d e p a r t m e n t . Vo n Ne u r a t h d o e s n o t
l i k e h i s l o o k s . Y o u t o p t h e l i s t o f t h o s e w h o s e d i s m i s s a l i s
a s k e d b y F r i c k , n e w S e c r e t a r y o f In t e r i o r , o n b e h a l f o f t h e
p a r t y
. Wa t c h o u t ! "
Ih a d a l r e a d y f i n i s h e d p a c k i n g m y p e r s o n a l f i l e s w h e n t h e
l e t t e r a r r i v e d . Ev e n t s , a s f r e q u e n t l y h a p p e n s , a r e s w i f t e r t h a n
t h e d i s p a t c h b a g .
2 5
2
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s A n c e s t o r s
RIBBENTROP' S f a m i l y w a s o f g o o d , s o l i d , r e s p e c t a b l e
Ge r m a n s t o c k . Th e y w e r e a l m o s t u n k n o w n b e f o r e J o a c h i m
m a d e t h e n a m e a b y w o r d f o r u n b a l a n c e d s t a t e s m a n s h i p . Ce r -
t a i n f a m i l i e s a r e " k n o w n " i n t h e w a y t h e Ro o s e v e l t s ,
A d a m s , A s t o r s , a n d L e e s a r e k n o w n i n A m e r i c a . In t h e s a m e
w a y o n e " k n e w " i n Ge r m a n y c e r t a i n t r i b e s i n g o o d s t a n d i n g
a n d o f m o r e o r l e s s a n c i e n t l i n e a g e . In Be r l i n , o n e k n e w m o s t l y ,
b e c a u s e o f t h e c o u r t ' s p r e s e n c e , t h e n a m e s o f J u n k e r f a m i l i e s
.
In Ha m b u r g , F r a n k f o r t , a n d Co l o g n e , o n e k n e w t h e i n f l u e n -
t i a l a n d r i c h b u r g h e r s
. Ot h e r n a m e s h a d b e e n m a d e n a t i o n a l l y
p o p u l a r b y h i s t o r y . Th e Ri b b e n t r o p s h a d n e v e r q u i t e m a d e
t h e f r o n t - p a g e b e f o r e J o a c h i m ' s a d v e n t .
In t h e s i x t e e n t h a n d s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r i e s t h e y h a d b e e n
p e a s a n t s . Th e i r o r i g i n a l n a m e h a d b e e n Me y e r , a v e r y c o m -
m o n n a m e i n Ge r m a n y . It w o u l d c e r t a i n l y h a v e b e e n m o s t
i n c o n v e n i e n t f o r t h e Na z i m o v e m e n t i f i t h a d S c h i c k l g r u b e r
a n d Me y e r f o r i t s c h i e f s i n s t e a d o f Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p .
Bu t e v e n t h e n a m e Ri b b e n t r o p s o u n d s f u n n y t o s o m e Ge r -
m a n s a n d i n e v i t a b l y t h e t o w n w a g s m a d e j o k e s a n d p u n s
a b o u t i t . A s e n t i m e n t a l a n d v e r y s i l l y s o n g w a s i n g r e a t v o g u e
i n Be r l i n a t t h e t i m e w h e n Ne u r a t h ' s h o l d o n t h e F o r e i g n
Of f i c e w a s w a n i n g . " Ra i n d r o p s , r a i n d r o p s , k n o c k i n g a t m y
w i n d o w , t e l l m e w h e r e m y s w e e t h e a r t i s ? " i t r a n . " Ri b b e n -
2 6
RIBBENTROP' S A NCES TORS
d r o p s , Ri b b e n d r o p s , k n o c k i n g a t m y w i n d o w , t e l l m e w h e r e
m y o f f i c e i s ? " s a n g t h e w i t s , p u t t i n g t h e w o r d s i n t o p o o r
Ne u r a t h ' s m o u t h . Th e En g l i s h , o f c o u r s e , m a d e Br i c k e n d r o p
o f i t a n d Ri b b e n s n o b .
Ri b b e n t r u p w a s r e a l l y a l i t t l e f r e e h o l d o r l o t o n a h i l l i n
t h e t i n y p r i n c i p a l i t y o f L i p p e , a n d J o a c h i m ' s f i r s t r e c o r d e d
a n c e s t o r , a He r r He i n r i c h Me y e r , w h o d i e d i n 1 5 9 7 , o w n e d
i t . Hi s p r o g e n y p r e f e r r e d t h e n a m e o f t h e l a n d t h e y o w n e d t o
t h a t o f Me y e r , a n d t h e g r e a t g r a n d s o n o f t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d
He i n r i c h c h a n g e d t h e u i n Ri b b e n t r u p t o o . He w a s a j u s t i c e
o f t h e Pe a c e a n d d i e d i n
1 7 35 -
Bu t t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s c a n b o a s t o f h a v i n g p r o d u c e d s o m e
m e n o f s l i g h t i m p o r t a n c e b e f o r e J o a c h i m s k y r o c k e t e d t h e
n a m e t o q u e s t i o n a b l e r e n o w n . It w a s F r i e d r i c h Wi l h e l m
Ch r i s t i a n J o h a n n Ri b b e n t r o p w h o r e c e i v e d t h e c o v e t e d v o n
o n F e b r u a r y 6 , 1 8 2 3 . Th i s Ri b b e n t r o p w a s q u a r t e r m a s t e r o f
t h e Pr u s s i a n A r m y , a n d a v e r y g o o d o n e t o o . He e n a b l e d t h e
Pr u s s i a n a r m i e s t o g e t n e c e s s a r y s u p p l i e s d u r i n g t h e l o n g
Na p o l e o n i c w a r s . He w a s a l s o a g r e a t f r i e n d o f b o t h F i e l d
Ma r s h a l Bl u e c h e r a n d Ge n e r a l Y o r k , h e r o e s o f t h e w a r s o f
l i b e r a t i o n
. A n d l i k e s o m a n y l e a d i n g c i t i z e n s o f h i s d a y , h e
w a s a s t a u n c h F r e e m a s o n a n d a p r o m i n e n t m e m b e r o f t h e
Tu g e n d b u n d , t h e L e a g u e o f Vi r t u e , a s e c r e t a n t i - Na p o l e o n i c
a s s o c i a t i o n . J o a c h i m f r e q u e n t l y b r a g s o f t h i s f a m o u s a n c e s t o r ,
b u t i t i s a b s o l u t e l y i m p o s s i b l e t o t r a c e a n y d i r e c t r e l a t i o n s h i p
b e t w e e n t h i s p a t r i o t a n d t h e r e m o t e f a m i l y b r a n c h f r o m
w h i c h J o a c h i m d e s c e n d e d .
In f a c t , i f t h e f i r s t v o n
Ri b b e n t r o p h a d l i v e d u n d e r t h e
Na z i r e g i m e , h i s m e m b e r s h i p i n a m a s o n i c l o d g e w o u l d h a v e
b r o u g h t a b o u t h i s i m m e d i a t e d i s m i s s a l f r o m t h e a r m y a n d , a s
h e w a s a Ma s t e r o f t h e L o d g e , w o u l d h a v e c a u s e d h i s b e i n g
s u m m o n e d b e f o r e a s p e c i a l b o a r d o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n . Hi s p e n s i o n
r i g h t s w o u l d h a v e b e e n c u r t a i l e d a n d a n y f u r t h e r s e r v i c e f o r
2 7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
h i s F a t h e r l a n d m a d e i m p o s s i b l e . Th e Ge n e r a l - Q u a r t e r m a s t e r ' s
c o r p s e m u s t t u r n p e r p e t u a l l y i n i t s g r a v e e v e r y t i m e t h a t
J o a c h i m c a l l s h i m s e l f h i s d e s c e n d a n t . A l l m a s o n i c l o d g e s i n
Ge r m a n y a r e d i s s o l v e d . Th e i r r e c o r d s a n d l i b r a r i e s h a v e b e e n
s e i z e d a n d d e s t r o y e d . L o d g e b r e t h r e n a r e p e r s e c u t e d . Th e
Na z i s h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d a n a n t i - m a s o n i c i n s t i t u t e a n d m u s e u m
i n Er l a n g e n , a n d t h e y n o w d e m a n d t h a t e v e r y Ge r m a n c i t i z e n
d e l i v e r t o t h i s In s t i t u t e a l l d o c u m e n t s a n d p a r a p h e r n a l i a u t i -
l i z e d i n t h e p r a c t i c e o f F r e e m a s o n r y . D o u b t l e s s , J o a c h i m
m a k e s t h e m o s t o f t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o a d d t o h i s c o l l e c t i o n o f
d o c u m e n t s r e l a t i n g t o h i s Ri b b e n t r o p a n c e s t o r s . If h e i n t e n d s
t o p u b l i s h d e t a i l s o n t h e Ge n e r a l - Q u a r t e r m a s t e r ' s c a r e e r a s a
F r e e m a s o n , i n t h e Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c h e F a m i l i e n n a c h r i c h t e n , t h e
d a t a c o l l e c t e d o n t h i s s i d e o f t h e A t l a n t i c w i l l c h e e r f u l l y b e
p l a c e d a t h i s d i s p o s a l .
A f t e r Q u a r t e r m a s t e r Ri b b e n t r o p h a d e s t a b l i s h e d o n e
b r a n c h o f t h e f a m i l y a m o n g t h e n o b i l i t y , b o t h t i t l e d Ri b b e n -
t r o p s a n d c o m m o n e r s c o v e t e d m i l i t a r y c a r e e r s
. Ma n y a
Ri b b e n t r o p f o u g h t f o r h i s Ge r m a n F a t h e r l a n d w i t h c o u r a g e
a n d p a t r i o t i s m
. A f i r s t l i e u t e n a n t , K a r l v o n Ri b b e n t r o p , w a s
a m o n g t h e f i r s t t o s t o r m t h e D u e p p e l e r S c h a n z e n i n t h e
Pr u s s i a n - D a n i s h w a r o f 1 8 6 4 . Th e v e r y d i s t i n g u i s h e d d e c o r a -
t i o n , Po u r l e Me r i t e , w a s t h e r e w a r d f o r h i s e x p l o i t
. In Wo r l d
Wa r I, Ca p t a i n Ru d o l f Ri b b e n t r o p , Pr i v a t e He i n r i c h Ri b b e n -
t r o p , a n d F i r s t L i e u t e n a n t K u r t Ri b b e n t r o p w e r e k i l l e d d u r -
i n g t h e i n i t i a l w e e k s o f t h e w a r
.
Th e r e w e r e a l s o s o m e Ri b b e n t r o p s a c t i v e i n c i v i l i a n p r o -
f e s s i o n s . In t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d a y s o f 1 8 4 8 , a d i s c i p l e o f
He g e l ' s s c h o o l o f Ph i l o s o p h y , F r i e d r i c h Ch r i s t i a n He i n r i c h
Ri b b e n t r o p , f o u n d h i s w a y t o L o n d o n
. Th i s Ri b b e n t r o p , a
s c h o l a r a n d a f i n e m u s i c i a n , b e c a m e a r e l i g i o u s p a c i f i s t
. Hi s
t h e o r i e s c u l m i n a t e d i n t h e i d e a t h a t Go d a l o n e h a d t h e p o w e r
t o b r e a k t h e i n j u r i o u s p r i d e o f m a n k i n d , o f t h e Ge r m a n s a s
2 8
RIBBENTROP' S A NCES TORS
w e l l a s t h e F r e n c h . He b e c a m e a m i s s i o n a r y , p r e a c h i n g t h e
g o s p e l f i r s t a t Ca p e t o w n a n d t e a c h i n g t h e A f r i c a n Ne g r o
p u p i l s h o w t o r e a d a n d w r i t e . A f t e r a f e w y e a r s , h e w e n t t o
In d i a w h e r e h e e s t a b l i s h e d F a k i r Ho u s e i n t h e t o w n o f
Ch u p r a h . He r e h e f a i t h f u l l y p r a c t i c e d h i s p r e c e p t s u n t i l h i s
d e a t h .
In d i a a l s o b e c a m e t h e h o m e o f a n o t h e r Ri b b e n t r o p . In
1 8 6 7 , Be r t h o l d Ri b b e n t r o p w a s a p p o i n t e d a f o r e s t r y i n s t r u c -
t o r f o r t h e Br i t i s h Ci v i l S e r v i c e i n In d i a . Wi t h g r e a t s u c c e s s ,
h e c o n t i n u e d t h i s c a r e e r f o r t h i r t y - s e v e n y e a r s . He t h e n
b e c a m e In s p e c t o r Ge n e r a l o f F o r e s t s , r e s i d i n g a t S i m l a . He
r e t i r e d i n i 9 o o , a s a n En g l i s h m a n , t o K e n s i n g t o n a n d d i e d
t h e r e s h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e o u t b r e a k o f Wo r l d Wa r I. Hi s
Hi s t o r i c a l Re v i e w o f F o r e s t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n Br i t i s h In d i a ,
p u b l i s h e d i n i
9 00,
i s s t i l l c o n s u l t e d b y e x p e r t s i n t h i s f i e l d .
Th e r e a r e q u i t e a n u m b e r o f Ri b b e n t r o p s i n a l l p a r t s o f
t h e w o r l d . S o m e o f t h e m h a v e c h a n g e d t h e i r n a m e s . Th e r e
a r e e v e n s o m e Ri b b e n t r o p s n o w i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , b u t
n o t a s i n g l e Ri b b e n t r o p c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e l i s t s o f He s s i a n s
w h o f o u g h t i n t h e Br i t i s h r a n k s d u r i n g t h e Re v o l u t i o n , n o r
c a n a n y b e f o u n d o n t h e A m e r i c a n s i d e
.
A n u m b e r o f Ri b b e n t r o p s c a m e t o t h i s c o u n t r y a t t h e e n d
o f t h e l a s t c e n t u r y . Th e r e w a s a J u l i u s Ri b b e n t r o p , b o r n i n
X 8 5 3 s o m e w h e r e i n w e s t e r n Ge r m a n y , w h o s e t t l e d a s a
f a r m e r i n Cr e s t o n , In d i a n a . He m a r r i e d a c e r t a i n A n n e Ho f f -
m a n w h o b o r e h i m s e v e n c h i l d r e n . Th e r e w a s a Ri c h a r d v o n
Ri b b e n t r o p , o n e o f t h e t i t l e d b r a n c h , w h o c a m e t o t h i s c o u n -
t r y a s a n e n g i n e e r a n d w o r k e d i n a Ne w a r k f a c t o r y . Hi s s o n
Wa l t e r , b o r n i n Ne w a r k i n 1 8 9 3, b e c a m e a m e r c h a n t , b u t i t
s e e m s t h a t h e l e f t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b e f o r e t h i s Wa r . A n Er i c h
Ri b b e n t r o p , a p e n s i o n e r , c a m e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f r o m
Wo l f e n b u e t t e l , t h e t o w n w h i c h o n c e w a s t h e h o m e o f Go t t -
h o l d Ep h r a i m L e s s i n g . Th i s Er i c h Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s w i f e
2 9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
s e t t l e d i n D e t r o i t , Mi c h i g a n
. A s o n , He r b e r t , w a s b o r n t o
t h e m t h e r e i n S e p t e m b e r , 1 8 9 8 . Th e s o n e n t e r e d b u s i n e s s b u t
c a n n o t b e t r a c e d f u r t h e r . A n o t h e r Ri b b e n t r o p , o f t h e Wo l f -
e n b u e t t e l b r a n c h , He i n r i c h , b o r n i n 1 8 9 o , c a m e t o D e t r o i t
j u s t b e f o r e Wo r l d Wa r I. He g o t a f o r e m a n ' s j o b w i t h
b r a k e m a n u f a c t u r e r s . He h a d t w o c h i l d r e n w h o w e r e b o t h
b o r n a n d r a i s e d i n D e t r o i t .
Ot h e r b r a n c h e s o f t h e u b i q u i t o u s Ri b b e n t r o p s s e t t l e d i n
F r a n c e . On e o f t h e m b e c a m e a w e l l - k n o w n a r t d e a l e r i n Pa r i s .
Bu t n o Ri b b e n t r o p , a s f a r a s w e k n o w , e v e r w e n t i n t o t h e
w i n e t r a d e u n t i l J o a c h i m c a m e a l o n g , a n d J o a c h i m a l s o
b e c a m e a d i p l o m a t a n d F o r e i g n Mi n i s t e r .
J o a c h i m Ri b b e n t r o p ' s d i r e c t l i n e a g e s h o w s t h a t a l l o f h i s
f o r e f a t h e r s , f o r f i v e g e n e r a t i o n s , h a v e b e e n o f f i c e r s i n t h e
a r m y . F e r d i n a n d Ri b b e n t r o p , J o a c h i m ' s g r a n d f a t h e r , w a s a
c a p t a i n i n t h e F r a n c o - Pr u s s i a n Wa r o f
1 8 7 0- 7 1 . He l e d t h e
a r t i l l e r y r e g i m e n t o f Br u n s w i c k i n t h e f a m o u s b a t t l e o f Vi o n -
v i l l e . Th i s g r a n d f a t h e r w a s k n o w n a s a n a r d e n t a n t i - Pr u s s i a n ,
a n d h i s f e e l i n g s s e e m n o t t o h a v e c o o l e d o f f a f t e r h i s r e t i r e -
m e n t . L i v i n g i n Ha n o v e r , h e b e c a m e a m e m b e r o f t h e
We l f e n - Pa r t e i , a s l i g h t l y a n t i q u a t e d b u t e x t r e m e l y h o n e s t
g r o u p o f s e c t a r i a n s l o y a l n o t t o t h e Ho u s e o f Ho h e n z o l l e r n
b u t t o t h e d e p o s e d K i n g s o f Ha n o v e r
. Wh e n g r a n d s o n
J o a c h i m v i s i t e d J u l e s Ro m a i n s , t h e F r e n c h a u t h o r , i n t h e f a l l
o f
1 9 34 ,
h e s a i d t o h i s h o s t d u r i n g a d i s c u s s i o n a b o u t h e r e d i -
t a r y h a t r e d s , " Ia m i n a f a i r l y g o o d p o s i t i o n t o k n o w w h a t
h e r e d i t a r y h a t r e d s a r e w o r t h . My p e o p l e a r e f r o m Ha n o v e r ,
a n d m y g r a n d f a t h e r w a s a s t a u n c h Ha n o v e r i a n . He s a i d t o
m e a g a i n a n d a g a i n , ` Re m e m b e r , s o n , t h a t t h e Pr u s s i a n s a r e
o u r e n e m i e s . Th e y h a v e a l w a y s b e e n ; t h e y a l w a y s w i l l b e .
Ha v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h e m . ' "
J o a c h i m Ri b b e n t r o p ' s f a t h e r , Ri c h a r d Ri b b e n t r o p , b o r n i n
c 8 5 9 ,
a l s o b e c a m e a p r o f e s s i o n a l s o l d i e r . He e n t e r e d t h e s e r v -
3 0
RIBBENTROP' S A NCES TORS
i c e i n
1 8 7 9
a s a n e n s i g n i n t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y r e g i m e n t i n
Ma g d e b u r g
. He w a s t r a n s f e r r e d , a c c o r d i n g t o r o u t i n e , f r o m
o n e g a r r i s o n t o w n t o a n o t h e r , a n d w a s a f i e l d a r t i l l e r y c a p t a i n
i n t h e f o r t r e s s o f We s e l , i n
1 8 g 1 , w h e n h e m a r r i e d S o p h i e
Ha r t w i g , t h e d a u g h t e r o f a l o c a l m e r c h a n t
. Tw o o f t h e t h r e e
c h i l d r e n o f t h i s m a r r i a g e w e r e b o r n i n We s e l
. Th e o l d e s t b o y ,
L o t h a r , w a s b o r n i n 1 8 9 2
a n d t h e s e c o n d , J o a c h i m , i n
1
8 9 3 .
A s h o r t t i m e l a t e r , Ri c h a r d Ri b b e n t r o p w a s t r a n s f e r r e d , a s
a m a j o r , t o t h e g a r r i s o n o f Ca s s e l . F i n a l l y , a s w a s c u s t o m a r y i n
t h e f i e l d a r t i l l e r y , h e w e n t o n t o Me t z . He r e , i n 1 8 9 6 ,
In g e -
b o r g w a s b o r n , a n d i n i g o 8 t h e m o t h e r o f t h e s e t h r e e c h i l d r e n
d i e d . J o a c h i m ' s f a t h e r t h e n m a r r i e d Ol g a - Ma r g a r e t e v o n
Pr i t t w i t z a n d Ga f f r o n .
Wh e n Ri c h a r d Ri b b e n t r o p p a s s e d h i s f i f t i e t h b i r t h d a y , h e
w a s r e t i r e d
. A n h o n e s t a n d h a r d w o r k i n g s o l d i e r , Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
f a t h e r d i d n o t h a v e e x t r a o r d i n a r y m i l i t a r y a b i l i t i e s
. Bu t w h e n
Wo r l d Wa r Ib r o k e o u t , h e r e j o i n e d t h e a r m y i n a c t i v e s e r v -
i c e . A s a l i e u t e n a n t c o l o n e l , h e b e c a m e t h e c o m m a n d e r o f a n
a r t i l l e r y u n i t , a n d h e f o u g h t w i t h h o n o r s i n t h e f a m o u s b r e a k -
t h r o u g h b a t t l e o f Br z e z a n y
. A f t e r t h e w a r , h e a n d h i s s e c o n d
w i f e l i v e d i n r e t i r e m e n t i n t h e s m a l l t o w n o f Na u m b u r g a n
d e r S a a l e .
It w a s a t Na u m b u r g t h a t J o a c h i m ' s f a t h e r d i e d o n J a n u a r y
1 , 1 9 4 1 , i n h i s e i g h t y - s e c o n d y e a r . He w a s n o t a Na z i -
s y m p a t h i z e r a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f h i s s o n ' s p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r , b u t
t h e m o m e n t t h e F u e h r e r s e r i o u s l y s t a r t e d Ge r m a n y ' s r e -
a r m a m e n t h e b e c a m e a n a r d e n t b e l i e v e r i n A d o l f Hi t l e r ' s
s t a r . A n d h e i m m e d i a t e l y b e c a m e a Na z i p a r t y m e m b e r
. He
d i e d , a s t h e o b i t u a r y r e c o r d e d , " w i t h t h e t h o u g h t o f Ge r -
m a n y ' s f i n a l v i c t o r y a n d t h e n a m e o f t h e F u e h r e r o n h i s
l i p s . " Hi s b u r i a l , a s i m p l e m i l i t a r y f u n e r a l , t o o k p l a c e " o n a
h i l l n e a r t h e e s t a t e o f h i s s o n J o a c h i m , i n S o n n e n b u r g , n e x t
t o t h e l i t t l e s p a o f F r e i e n w a l d e . A l t h o u g h t h e b u r i a l w a s
3 1
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
p o s t p o n e d f o r s e v e r a l d a y s , t h e F u e h r e r d i d n o t a t t e n d . A
l a r g e a r m y d e l e g a t i o n a n d a g r o u p o f p a r t y m e m b e r s w e r e ,
h o w e v e r , p r e s e n t
. A f e w m i n u t e s a f t e r t h e c e r e m o n i e s ,
J o a c h i m h a d t o r e t u r n t o Be r l i n . Th e F u e h r e r " n e e d e d h i m
. "
A s J o a c h i m ' s i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e Na z i p a r t y i n c r e a s e d , a l l
s o r t s o f p e o p l e t r i e d t o p r o v e o r w e r e p l e a s e d t o a d m i t r e l a -
t i o n s h i p t o h i m , e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r h e w a s a p p o i n t e d F o r e i g n
Mi n i s t e r a n d i t b e c a m e o b v i o u s t h a t h e w a s r e a l l y o n e o f
Hi t l e r ' s i n f l u e n t i a l f r i e n d s
. Th e i n c i d e n t i n v o l v i n g s o m e o f
F r a u Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e l a t i v e s i s e s p e c i a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g .
Ol d f r i e n d s i n t h e Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e w r o t e t o m e o n e d a y
t h a t K a r l F . v o n Cl e m m , a c o u s i n o f t h e f o r m e r A n n e l i e s
He n k e l l , w a s b e i n g s u p p o r t e d b y J o a c h i m i n c e r t a i n o i l d e a l s
w i t h t h e Ge r m a n g o v e r n m e n t . In t h e s e d e a l s , Cl e m m a c t e d
a s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e l a t e Wi l l i a m R. D a v i s w h o b o u g h t
Me x i c a n o i l p r o d u c t s f o r Ge r m a n y i n c o n s i d e r a b l e q u a n t i t i e s .
K a r l ' s t w i n b r o t h e r , We r n e r C . v o n Cl e m m , a n A m e r i c a n
c i t i z e n , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e Pi o n e e r Im p o r t Co r p o r a t i o n , w a s
h a n d l i n g t h e i m p o r t o f d i a m o n d s o u t o f t h e D u t c h a n d
Be l g i a n b o u n t y . He w a s l a t e r c o n d e m n e d f o r f a l s e s t a t e m e n t s ,
t o t h e c u s t o m a u t h o r i t i e s , i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e s e t r a n s a c -
t i o n s . A n d t h a t We r n e r C. v o n Cl e m m h a d s o m e d e f i n i t e i n -
f l u e n c e w i t h J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p i s p r o v e n b y t h e f a c t
t h a t a Ge r m a n Co n s u l a t e Ge n e r a l c l e r k i n Ne w Y o r k Ci t y
w a s s h a r p l y r e p r i m a n d e d b y o r d e r s o f t h e m i n i s t e r h i m s e l f ,
w h e n t h i s c o u s i n o f J o a c h i m ' s w i f e c o m p l a i n e d a b o u t r e -
l u c t a n c e , o n t h e p a r t o f t h e Co n s u l a t e , t o c o m p l y w i t h h i s
d e m a n d s .
J o a c h i m ' s o n l y s i s t e r , In g e b o r g , i s m a r r i e d t o a c e r t a i n
A l b e r t J e n k e , t h e s o n o f a Ge r m a n m e r c h a n t w h o , f o r m a n y
y e a r s , h a s l i v e d i n Co n s t a n t i n o p l e
. Th i s J e n k e , a n e n g i n e e r
b y p r o f e s s i o n , w a s t a k e n i n t o t h e Ge r m a n F o r e i g n S e r v i c e
a b o u t f o u r y e a r s a g o . He n o w i s c o m m e r c i a l a t t a c h e a t t h e
32
RIBBENTROP
7
S A NCES TORS
Em b a s s y i n A n k a r a , b u t h i s o f f i c i a l r e s i d e n c e i s Co n s t a n t i -
n o p l e . It w a s t h e A m b a s s a d o r , F r a n z v o n Pa p e n , w h o o b l i g e d
J o a c h i m b y n o t o n l y r e q u e s t i n g t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e t o a p p o i n t
J e n k e t o t h i s p o s t b u t b y d e m a n d i n g t h a t t h e n e w c o m m e r c i a l
a t t a c h e b e g i v e n a f o r m a l m i n i s t e r i a l r a n k a n d t i t l e . Ev e n
t h o u g h t h e r e w a s s o m e a g i t a t i o n a m o n g t h e Ge r m a n c a r e e r
d i p l o m a t s o v e r t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t , w h i c h w a s c a l l e d q u i t e
o p e n l y a c o r r u p t p r a c t i c e , i t s t i l l d i d n o t p r e v e n t i t .
Tw o b r o t h e r s - i n - l a w o f A l b e r t J e n k e b e l o n g t o t h i s g r o u p
o f c a r e e r o f f i c i a l s . On e i s t h e f o r m e r A m b a s s a d o r t o Wa s h -
i n g t o n , D r . Ha n s He i n r i c h D i e c k h o f f , m a r r i e d t o J e n k e ' s
s i s t e r Ev a , t h e o t h e r i s t h e f o r m e r Mi n i s t e r t o Bu c h a r e s t ,
D r . Wi l h e l m F a b r i c i u s , m a r r i e d t o Ma r t h a , a n o t h e r s i s t e r o f
J e n k e ' s . A s b o t h d i p l o m a t s b e l o n g e d t o t h e s o - c a l l e d " o l d
s c h o o l , " Ri b b e n t r o p w a s s o m e w h a t h e s i t a n t i n p r o p o s i n g
t h e m f o r n e w a p p o i n t m e n t s , a n d t h e F u e h r e r h i m s e l f s h o w e d
n o p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t i n t h e i r p r o m o t i o n . D i e c k h o f f w a s t e m -
p o r a r i l y a d d e d t o t h e s t a f f o f t h e Ge r m a n - F r e n c h A r m i s t i c e
Co m m i s s i o n i n Wi e s b a d e n a n d g i v e n s o m e o t h e r o d d j o b s .
He i s n o w a m b a s s a d o r i n Ma d r i d . F a b r i c i u s s e e m s t o h a v e
b e e n r e l e g a t e d t o t h e s i d e l i n e s , a n d h e h a s r e t i r e d t o h i s
r e s i d e n c e i n Gm u n d o n t h e Te g e r n s e e i n S o u t h e r n Ba v a r i a .
Th e J o a c h i m Ri b b e n t r o p s h a v e f i v e c h i l d r e n . Th e o l d e s t
s o n , Ru d o l p h , c a l l e d Ru d i , w a s b o r n i n Wi e s b a d e n o n Ma y
II, 1 9 2 I . Be t t i n a , t h e o l d e s t d a u g h t e r , w a s b o r n i n Be r l i n o n
J u l y 2 0, 1 9 2 2 . A f t e r a n i n t e r v a l o f t e n y e a r s , a s e c o n d d a u g h -
t e r , U r s u l a , w a s b o r n i n Be r l i n o n D e c e m b e r 2 9 , 1 9 32 .
A n o t h e r s o n , A d o l f , n a m e d a f t e r t h e F u e h r e r , w a s b o r n i n
Be r l i n o n S e p t e m b e r 2 ,
1 9 35
a n d a t h i r d s o n , b o r n i n Be r l i n
o n D e c e m b e r
2 6 , 1 9 4 0, w a s g i v e n t h e n a m e o f Ba r t h o l d , t h e
t r a d i t i o n a l f i r s t n a m e o f m a n y e i g h t e e n t h - c e n t u r y Ri b b e n -
t r o p s a n d a l s o t h e f i r s t n a m e o f t h e f o u n d e r o f t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
b r a n c h o f t h e t i t l e d Ri b b e n t r o p s i n t o w h i c h J o a c h i m m a n -
3 3
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
a g e d , f o r c e r t a i n c o m p e n s a t i o n s , t o g e t " a d o p t e d "
o n
Ma y 1 5 , 1 9 2 5 .
Th e o l d e s t b o y , Ru d o l p h J o a c h i m , w a s n o t y e t t e n y e a r s
o l d w h e n h i s f a t h e r j o i n e d t h e Na z i p a r t y . Th e Hi t l e r j u g e n d
( y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n ) p r e s c r i b e d a m i n i m u m a g e o f f o u r t e e n
y e a r s f o r a d m i t t a n c e i n t o t h e i r r a n k s , s o
y o u n g Ru d i j o i n e d
t h e J u n g v o l k
w h i c h i n c l u d e d a l l " a b l e - b o d i e d " c h i l d r e n b e -
t w e e n t h e a g e s o f t e n a n d f o u r t e e n . Wh e n h e h a d r e a c h e d
t h e r i p e a g e o f f o u r t e e n , Ru d i w a s t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e " o n l y
a n d s o l e o r g a n i z a t i o n t o b r i n g u p , i n t e l l e c t u a l l y a n d p h y s i -
c a l l y , t h e w h o l e o f Ge r m a n y ' s y o u t h i n t h e s p i r i t o f Na t i o n a l
S o c i a l i s m . "
Th e
Hi t l e r j u g e n d i s o r g a n i z e d o n m i l i t a r y p r i n c i p l e s . Th e
s m a l l e s t u n i t i s c a l l e d
F a e h n l e i n , i n e m u l a t i o n o f t h e s m a l l e s t
u n i t s o r g a n i z e d b y s i x t e e n t h - c e n t u r y m e r c e n a r y w a r r i o r s .
Ea c h o f t h e s e F a e h n l e i n i s u n d e r t h e c o m m a n d o f a F a e l m l e i n -
F u e h r e r . S o t h e l u c k y s u p e r i o r o f Ru d o l p h J o a c h i m , a c e r -
t a i n He i n z Th o r n e r , w a s i n v i t e d t o t h e h o u s e o f t h e b o y ' s
p a r e n t s . Ru d i ' s m o t h e r e x p l a i n e d t o t h e F a e h n l e i n - F u e h r e r
t h a t h e r b o y ' s h e a l t h w a s s o m e w h a t p r e c a r i o u s . S h e s u g g e s t e d
t h a t s o m e c o n s i d e r a t i o n b e t a k e n o f t h i s c o n d i t i o n . He i n z
Th o r n e r g l a d l y p r o m i s e d t o d o e v e r y t h i n g i n h i s p o w e r , a n d
h e k e p t h i s w o r d . Ru d i ' s f a t h e r w a s v e r y m u c h p l e a s e d w i t h
t h i s a c c o m m o d a t i n g
F a e h n l e i n - F u e h r e r ,
a n d w h e n t h e l a t t e r
i n q u i r e d a b o u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f g e t t i n g a g o o d j o b , h e w a s
i m m e d i a t e l y p l a c e d i n t h e Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p
w h i c h a t t h a t
t i m e h a d a s t a f f o f a b o u t t w o h u n d r e d a s s i s t a n t s . Hi s c o n -
n e c t i o n s w i t h t h e Ri b b e n t r o p f a m i l y w e r e n o t s e v e r e d b y
t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t , f o r Ri b b e n t r o p o r d e r e d t h a t Th o r n e r
s h o u l d a l w a y s b e a t h i s p e r s o n a l d i s p o s a l .
Wh e n J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p b e c a m e A m b a s s a d o r t o
t h e Co u r t o f S t . J a m e s a n d t h e w h o l e f a m i l y p r e p a r e d t o
m o v e t o L o n d o n , He i n z Th o r n e r w a s a p p o i n t e d a n a t t a c h e
3 4
RIBBENTROP' S A NCES TORS
t o t h e Ge r m a n Em b a s s y a t Ca r l t o n Ho u s e Te r r a c e
. He w o u l d
h a v e r e t u r n e d w i t h t h e A m b a s s a d o r ' s f a m i l y t o Be r l i n a t t h e
t i m e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a p p o i n t m e n t a s F o r e i g n Mi n i s t e r , b u t
u n f o r t u n a t e l y a s e a r c h i n t o He i n z Th o r n e r ' s f a m i l y t r e e h a d
u n c o v e r e d a s a d f a c t . He w a s n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y A r y a n ( d a m a g e d
g r a n d m o t h e r ) t o s a t i s f y t h e p a r t y
. Ri b b e n t r o p s a w t o i t t h a t
Th o r n e r w a s s e n t , a s a n a t t a c h e , t o t h e Co n s u l a t e Ge n e r a l
i n Ne w Y o r k Ci t y
. He r e h e a t t e n d e d t o p a s s p o r t m a t t e r s a n d
s i m i l a r c l e r i c a l w o r k . Wi t h o u t p a s s i n g a n y e x a m i n a t i o n s ,
Th o r n e r w a s a p p o i n t e d , d u r i n g t h e
1 9 4 0
Ch r i s t m a s h o l i d a y s ,
Vi c e Co n s u l
. Th i s a p p o i n t m e n t c r e a t e d g r e a t d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
a m o n g t h e o t h e r o f f i c i a l s , e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g t h o s e w h o h a d
b e e n i g n o r e d d e s p i t e r e g u l a r s t u d i e s a n d e x a m i n a t i o n s
. He i n z
Th o r n e r b r a g g e d a b o u t h i s i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e Ri b -
b e n t r o p s
. He h i n t e d t h a t h i s f u t u r e w a s s a f e g u a r d e d , f o r h e
h a d b e e n g i v e n p r o m i s e s b y J o a c h i m h i m s e l f
. He r r Ri b b e n t r o p
a n d h i s w i f e , h e a d d e d , k n e w t h a t h e , Th o r n e r , w a s t h e o n l y
o n e w h o c o u l d k e e p Ru d i o n t h e r i g h t p a t h . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c o r -
r u p t t e n d e n c i e s a r e p l a i n l y d e m o n s t r a t e d b y t h i s s t o r y
. Me n
w i t h f e w e r b l e m i s h e s u p o n t h e i r f a m i l y t r e e s w e r e e x p e l l e d
f r o m t h e i r h a r d - e a r n e d o f f i c i a l p o s i t i o n s , a n d He r r v o n Ri b -
b e n t r o p w a s r e s p o n s i b l e i n m a n y o f t h e s e c a s e s
. Bu t , i f i t w a s
t o h i s p e r s o n a l a d v a n t a g e , h e m a n a g e d t o o v e r l o o k a n y n u m -
b e r o f " b l e m i s h e s . "
Wh i l e h i s f a t h e r w a s A m b a s s a d o r i n L o n d o n , Ru d i a t t e n d e d
We s t m i n s t e r , a n d o n h i s w a y h o m e f r o m s c h o o l h e o f t e n
l i s t e n e d t o t h e s p e e c h e s o f t h e s o a p b o x o r a t o r s i n Hy d e Pa r k
.
F r e q u e n t l y h e j o i n e d i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n s . Th i s d i d n o t a l w a y s
e n d i n h a r m o n y . On e o f h i s f a v o r i t e i n t e r r u p t i o n s w a s t o
c a l l t h e o r a t o r a Bo l s h e v i k . A s Th o r n e r t o l d h i s c o l l e a g u e s i n
Ne w Y o r k , i t w a s h e w h o c a l l e d t h e A m b a s s a d o r ' s a t t e n t i o n
t o Ru d i ' s o r a t o r i c a l a d v e n t u r e s . F a t h e r a n d s o n h a d a l i v e l y
a l t e r c a t i o n o n t h e s u b j e c t o f s o a p b o x o r a t o r s
. Th o r n e r w a s
3 5
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
t o l d t o r e p o r t a n y r e p e t i t i o n i m m e d i a t e l y
. Th e a p p o i n t m e n t
o f Ri b b e n t r o p t o t h e Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e s e t t l e d t h e w h o l e m a t t e r
.
Th o r n e r ' s s u b s e q u e n t f a t e i s u n k n o w n t o m e
.
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s o l d e s t d a u g h t e r , Be t t i n a , w a s a d e l i c a t e c h i l d
.
S h e s u f f e r s f r o m a s i n u s c o n d i t i o n , a n a i l m e n t w h i c h s h e
s e e m s t o h a v e i n h e r i t e d f r o m h e r m o t h e r
. D u r i n g t h e t i m e
w h e n h e r f a t h e r w a s A m b a s s a d o r t o t h e Co u r t o f S t
. J a m e s ,
Be t t i n a a t t e n d e d a b o a r d i n g s c h o o l i n Co r n w a l l , b u t s h e f e l t
v e r y u n h a p p y t h e r e
. S h e w a s h o m e s i c k , l o c k e d h e r s e l f i n t o
h e r r o o m , a n d d e c l i n e d t o j o i n h e r s c h o o l m a t e s
.
In 1 9 36 , Be t t i n a h a d a m o t o r a c c i d e n t
. A n e r v o u s b r e a k -
d o w n f o l l o w e d
. S e v e r a l p h y s i c i a n s f r o m Be r l i n , w h o h a v e
s i n c e c o m e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a s r e f u g e e s , h a v e r e p o r t e d
t h a t t h e f a m o u s Ge r m a n s u r g e o n , D r
. F e r d i n a n d S a u e r b r u c h ,
w h o m a d e a t h o r o u g h g e n e r a l c h e c k u p a f t e r t h e m o t o r a c c i -
d e n t , r e c o m m e n d e d a n o p e r a t i o n . He s u g g e s t e d a c e r t a i n
s u r g e o n o f A m s t e r d a m a s p a r t i c u l a r l y q u a l i f i e d t o p e r f o r m
s u c h a n o p e r a t i o n b u t r e m a r k e d t h a t h e w a s J e w i s h
. In s p i t e
o f t h a t , m o t h e r a n d d a u g h t e r t r a v e l l e d t o A m s t e r d a m t o v i s i t
t h e s u r g e o n ( w h o s e n a m e i s k n o w n t o t h e w r i t e r ) , a n d t h e r e
t h e y d e c i d e d t o h a v e h i m p e r f o r m t h e o p e r a t i o n . Th i s h e d i d
s u c c e s s f u l l y
. Mo t h e r a n d d a u g h t e r r e g i s t e r e d w i t h t h e p h y s i -
c i a n u n d e r t h e n a m e o f He n k e l l , F r a u v o n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
m a i d e n n a m e
. On l y l a t e r w a s t h e n a m e o f t h e p a t i e n t o n
w h o m h e h a d o p e r a t e d r e v e a l e d t o t h e s u r g e o n b y Pr o f e s s o r
S a u e r b r u c h
. A l l o p e r a t i o n a n d h o s p i t a l e x p e n s e s w e r e p a i d
f o r i n t h e n a m e o f F r a u He n k e l l f o r h e r c h i l d , Be t t i n a
He n k e l l .
U r s u l a , t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s ' y o u n g e r d a u g h t e r , i s a l s o a v e r y
d e l i c a t e c h i l d a n d u n d e r c o n s t a n t m e d i c a l c a r e
.
Wh e n t h e t i m e c a m e f o r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s e c o n d b o y , A d o l f ,
t o b e c h r i s t e n e d , F r a u v o n Ri b b e n t r o p w a s s t i l l a m e m b e r o f
t h e L u t h e r a n c h u r c h
. He r h u s b a n d h a d a l r e a d y l e f t t h e
3 6
RIBBENTROP' S A NCES TORS
c h u r c h .
Ne v e r t h e l e s s , F r a u Ri b b e n t r o p i n t e n d e d t o h a v e
A d o l f b a p t i z e d i n t h e c h u r c h o f t h e f a m o u s Pa s t o r Ma r t i n
Ni e m o e l l e r i n w h o s e p a r i s h h e r h o m e i n D a h l e m w a s s i t u a t e d
.
Bu t Ni e m o e l l e r i n s i s t e d t h a t h e r h u s b a n d r e t u r n t o t h e
L u t h e r a n c h u r c h b e f o r e h e p e r f o r m t h e c e r e m o n y . F r a u
Ri b b e n t r o p i s s a i d t o h a v e t r i e d t o i n d u c e h e r h u s b a n d t o
c o m p l y w i t h t h e p a s t o r ' s r e q u e s t , b u t t o n o a v a i l . S i n c e
Ni e m o e l l e r s t u b b o r n l y i n s i s t e d u p o n t h i s c o n d i t i o n , t h e
b a p t i s m t o o k p l a c e i n a n o t h e r c h u r c h . Wh e n t h e F u e h r e r
h e a r d t h a t t h e c h i l d h a d b e e n n a m e d i n h i s h o n o r , h e w a s
v e r y p l e a s e d . F r a u v o n Ri b b e n t r o p t o l d t h e F u e h r e r a b o u t
Ni e m o e l l e r ' s u n s y m p a t h e t i c a t t i t u d e a n d h o w t h e v a l i a n t
p a s t o r " b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e a n u c l e u s f o r d i s s a t i s f i e d
e l e m e n t s i n t h e i n f l u e n t i a l D a h i e m p a r i s h . " Th e s e h i n t s f r o m
t h e c h a r m i n g a n d e l e g a n t A n n e l i e s , f o r w h o m Hi t l e r h a d a
p a r t i c u l a r r e g a r d , h a d t h e e x p e c t e d e f f e c t
. Pa s t o r Ni e m o e l l e r
d i s a p p e a r e d i n t o a c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p .
A t t h e o u t b r e a k o f Wo r l d Wa r IIPa s t o r Ni e m o e l l e r
a p p l i e d , f r o m t h e c a m p , f o r a j o b i n t h e Na v y a s a U - Bo a t
c o m m a n d e r w i t h t h e s a m e r a n k a s h e h a d h e l d d u r i n g Wo r l d
Wa r I
. Bu t t h e F u e h r e r , w h o h a d r e s e r v e d p e r s o n a l d e c i s i o n
i n s u c h m a t t e r s , r e f u s e d t o g r a n t t h e c o m m i s s i o n . Ni e m o e l l e r
i s s t i l l i n t h e " K . Z
. " Th e F u e h r e r r e a c h e d t h i s d e c i s i o n a f t e r
He i n r i c h Hi m m l e r , Ge s t a p o c h i e f a n d f r i e n d o f J o a c h i m v o n
Ri b b e n t r o p , s u b m i t t e d a s p e c i a l r e p o r t
. In t h i s r e p o r t , t h e
d a n g e r o u s i n f l u e n c e o f Pa s t o r Ni e m o e l l e r ' s s e r m o n s o n t h e
Ge r m a n u p p e r c l a s s w a s d e s c r i b e d . It a l s o s t a t e d t h a t t h i s r e -
f u s a l t o b a p t i z e A d o l f Ri b b e n t r o p w a s " d e t r i m e n t a l t o t h e
p a r t y i n t e r e s t s . "
L i t t l e A d o l f i s k n o w n t o b e h i s f a t h e r ' s p e t a n d " t h e l i t t l e
r a s c a l o f t h e Ri b b e n t r o p f a m i l y
. " Th e l a t e f a t h e r o f J o a c h i m
v o n Ri b b e n t r o p w a s i n t h e h a b i t o f p l a y i n g f o r h o u r s w i t h
h i s l i t t l e g r a n d s o n , t r y i n g t o t e a c h h i m h o w t o m a r c h i n t h e
3 7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
m i l i t a r y m a n n e r a n d h o w t o s a l u t e . A d o l f ' s En g l i s h n u r s e w h o
c a r e d f o r h i m u n t i l t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h i s w a r h a s a l s o s a i d t h a t
h e w a s " a s w e e t l i t t l e r a s c a l " w h o w a s l i k e d b y e v e r y b o d y
a n d w h o h a d a l r e a d y l e a r n e d t o s i n g a f e w En g l i s h n u r s e r y
s o n g s
.
Ru d i Ri b b e n t r o p i s n o w
U n t e r - g r u p p e n f u e h r e r d e r S c h u t z -
S t a f f e l n
( S S . ) .
He s e e m s t o b e f o l l o w i n g f a m i l y t r a d i t i o n .
It w i l l b e i n t e r e s t i n g t o s e e w h a t b e c o m e s o f t h e Ri b b e n t r o p
c h i l d r e n .
3 8
3
Ea r l y Y o u t h , A d v e n t u r e s i n Ca n a d a ,
a n d Wo r l d Wa r I
WHENo n Ma y 1 9 , 1 8 9 1 , Ri c h a r d Ri b b e n t r o p , a g e d t h i r t y -
t w o , m a r r i e d S o p h i e Ha r t w i g , a l o c a l b e l l e o f We s e l , a s m a l l
a n d u n a t t r a c t i v e t o w n o n t h e l o w e r Rh i n e , h e o r h i s b r i d e
w e r e , i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , q u i t e w e l l - t o - d o . F o r a t t h a t t i m e ,
t h e Ge r m a n m i l i t a r y c o d e d i d n o t p e r m i t a n o f f i c e r b e l o w t h e
r a n k o f a c a p t a i n t o a s k f o r p e r m i s s i o n t o m a r r y u n l e s s h e
a n d h i s b r i d e - t o - b e c o u l d p r o v e t h a t t h e y p o s s e s s e d a K a u t i o n
( d e p o s i t o f s t a t e g u a r a n t e e d s e c u r i t i e s t o t h e a m o u n t o f
9 0, 000 Go l d m a r k s )
. Th e i n c o m e d e r i v e d f r o m t h e i n t e r e s t
o n s u c h s e c u r i t i e s w a s c o n s i d e r e d t h e m i n i m u m w i t h w h i c h t o
s u p p l e m e n t t h e m o d e s t p a y a y o u n g o f f i c e r r e c e i v e d f o r t h e
h o n o r o f w e a r i n g t h e u n i f o r m o f t h e K a i s e r ' s a r m y . Th e
a r m y w a s e x t r e m e l y c a u t i o u s i n m a r r i a g e m a t t e r s
. Of f i c e r s ,
i n t e n d i n g t o m a r r y , w e r e o b l i g e d t o a n s w e r m a n y q u e s t i o n s
r e g a r d i n g t h e i r f i a n c e e ' s f a m i l i e s . Bo t h t h e c o m m a n d e r o f a
r e g i m e n t a n d t h e
K o m m a n d e u s e d i s p l a y e d t h e g r e a t e s t i n -
t e r e s t i n t h e b r i d e - t o - b e ' s b a c k g r o u n d . Th i s a v i d c u r i o s i t y
w a s f r e q u e n t l y q u i t e u n w e l c o m e , b u t Ri c h a r d Ri b b e n t r o p
a n d S o p h i e Ha r t w i g p r o b a b l y h a d n o t h i n g t o h i d e , f o r i n a
s m a l l t o w n l i k e We s e l w i t h i t s p o p u l a t i o n o f a b o u t 2 0, 000,
t h e f e w f a m i l i e s f r o m w h i c h a n
o f f i c e r c o u l d c h o o s e h i s l i f e
p a r t n e r , w e r e k n o w n t o e v e r y o n e .
3
9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
In r 9 o 2 , S o p h i e d i e d o f t u b e r c u l o s i s . He r e l d e r s o n , L o t h a r ,
a s w e l l a s J o a c h i m , s e e m t o h a v e i n h e r i t e d t u b e r c u l o s i s .
J o a c h i m w a s t r e a t e d f o r i t d u r i n g h i s s t a y i n Ca n a d a , a n d
h i s h e a l t h d i d i m p r o v e , f o r h e h a d a g r e a t f o n d n e s s f o r o u t -
d o o r s p o r t s . He w a s a n a r d e n t h u n t e r a n d a f a i r t e n n i s p l a y e r .
Th e l e s s f o r t u n a t e L o t h a r , w h o w a s a l s o i n Ca n a d a a t t h e
o u t b r e a k o f t h e w a r i n
1 9 1 4 ,
w a s t o o s i c k t o r e t u r n s u r r e p t i -
t i o u s l y t o Ge r m a n y a s J o a c h i m d i d . Th e Ca n a d i a n a u t h o r i t i e s
i n t e r n e d L o t h a r , b u t i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f h i s c o n d i t i o n , t h e y
d i d n o t p l a c e h i m i n a c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p . In s t e a d t h e y
s e n t h i m t o S t . A g a t h e ' s Mi l i t a r y S a n a t o r i u m i n Mo n t r e a l .
A f t e r t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e a g r e e m e n t w h i c h p e r m i t t e d t r a n s -
p o r t a t i o n o f p e r m a n e n t l y d i s a b l e d s o l d i e r s a n d i n t e r n e e s t o
S w i t z e r l a n d , L o t h a r w a s b r o u g h t t o L u g a n o , a n d h e r e h e
d i e d i n D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 8 . He s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n a l i k a b l e
c h a p , a c c o r d i n g t o w h a t D r . J . Ro d d i c k By e r s , Me d i c a l
Of f i c e r i n c h a r g e o f Tu b e r c u l a r Tr o o p s i n Mo n t r e a l , w r o t e
a b o u t h i m :" Ir e m e m b e r h i m a s b e i n g o n e o f t h e n i c e s t b o y s
w e h a d a n d e v e r y b o d y w a s f o n d o f L o u i s , t h e p e t n a m e b y
w h i c h h e w a s k n o w n . "
No t v e r y m u c h c a n b e s a i d a b o u t J o a c h i m ' s c h i l d h o o d .
Ow i n g t o h i s d e l i c a t e h e a l t h , h e w a s p r o b a b l y s p o i l e d b y h i s
m o t h e r a n d h i s a u n t s . He w a s j u s t o n e y e a r o l d w h e n t h e
Ri b b e n t r o p f a m i l y m o v e d f r o m We s e l t o Ca s s e l i n c o n -
s e q u e n c e o f h i s f a t h e r ' s p r o m o t i o n f r o m f i r s t l i e u t e n a n t t o
c a p t a i n i n a n o t h e r f i e l d a r t i l l e r y r e g i m e n t . In r 9 o 6 , t h e f a m i l y
m o v e d f r o m Ca s s e l t o Me t z , i n t h e s o - c a l l e d Re i c b s l a n d e ,
A l s a c e - L o r r a i n e , w h i c h h a d b e e n a n n e x e d b y t h e Re i c h a f t e r
t h e Wa r o f
1 8 7 0- 7
r . It w a s i n Me t z t h a t J o a c h i m b e c a m e a
p u p i l i n t h e
K a i s e r l i c h e s L y z e u m , a s o m e w h a t p o m p o u s n a m e
f o r a g r a m m a r s c h o o l .
J o a c h i m a n d h i s o l d e r b r o t h e r L o t h a r w e r e w e l l l i k e d b y
t h e i r s c h o o l m a t e s . L o t h a r , i t i s s a i d , w a s t h e b e t t e r s t u d e n t ,
4 0
EA RL Y Y OU TH, CA NA D A , WORL D WA RI
J o a c h i m t h e m o r e p o p u l a r
. Bu t h e w a s n o t t o o b r i g h t . He w a s
l a z y , s a u c y , m i s c h i e v o u s , a n d f r e q u e n t l y i n t r o u b l e , b u t h e
w a s a l s o h a n d s o m e , l i v e l y , a n d c h e e r f u l
. Ob v i o u s l y h i s t e n d -
e n c y t o b e c o m e a n u i s a n c e w a s o f f s e t , a t a n e a r l y a g e , b y
t h e f a m o u s Ri b b e n t r o p c h a r m . Wh e n t h e c h a r m e v e n t u a l l y
e v a p o r a t e d , o n l y t h e n u i s a n c e r e m a i n e d .
Pa p a Ri b b e n t r o p w a s n o t v e r y s a t i s f i e d w i t h J o a c h i m ' s
s c h o l a s t i c a c h i e v e m e n t s
. F o r t h e f a t h e r , t h e r e w a s o n l y o n e
g o a l , o n e p r o f e s s i o n f o r a Ri b b e n t r o p - t h e A r m y
. A m a l e
Ri b b e n t r o p , i n g o o d s t a t e o f h e a l t h , h a d t o b e c o m e a n o f f i c e r .
Th e r e g u l a r w a y t o a p p r o a c h t h i s r o m a n t i c , i f s e l f - e f f a c i n g
c a r e e r , w a s t h e Mi l i t a r y A c a d e m y , w h e r e y o u n g b o y s w e r e
s t r e n u o u s l y t r a i n e d f o r f u t u r e h a r d s h i p s
.
L o t h a r c o u l d n o t e n t e r t h e K a d e t t e n a n s t a l t
b e c a u s e o f h i s
h e a l t h , a n d J o a c h i m r e f u s e d f l a t l y t o e x p o s e h i m s e l f t o t h e
e x i g e n c i e s o f Pr u s s i a n d i s c i p l i n e
. He f o u n d u n e x p e c t e d s u p -
p o r t i n a d i s t a n t r e l a t i v e w h o m t h e c h i l d r e n c a l l e d " A u n t i e . "
S h e l i v e d i n t h e Ri b b e n t r o p h o u s e h o l d f o r l o n g p e r i o d s .
D u r i n g t h e s e p e r i o d s , s h e w a t c h e d o v e r t h e t h r e e m o t h e r l e s s
c h i l d r e n , e v e n t h o u g h t h e i r f a t h e r h a d r e m a r r i e d
. A u n t i e w a s
a n o l d s p i n s t e r , Ge r t r u d e Ch a r l o t t e v o n Ri b b e n t r o p
. It i s t h i s
l a d y w h o t r a n s f e r r e d h e r
v o n t o h e r u n d e s e r v i n g " n e p h e w "
i n 1 9 2 5 .
A u n t i e Ge r t r u d e l o v e d t h e Ri b b e n t r o p c h i l d r e n . S h e m u s t
a l s o h a v e h a d t h e m e a n s w i t h w h i c h t o b a c k J o a c h i m i n h i s
f i g h t a g a i n s t h i s f a t h e r ' s w i s h e s
. Th e b o y p l a y e d t h e v i o l i n
w e l l a n d s h o w e d p r o f i c i e n c y i n m a s t e r i n g t h e F r e n c h l a n -
g u a g e
. Th e l a t t e r t a l e n t h e h a d a m p l e o c c a s i o n t o p r a c t i c e i n
Me t z w h e r e t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e p e o p l e s p o k e F r e n c h , t h e i r
m o t h e r t o n g u e
. Bo t h J o a c h i m ' s s t e p m o t h e r a n d A u n t i e Ge r -
t r u d e t h o u g h t i t a g o o d i d e a f o r J o a c h i m t o p e r f e c t h i m s e l f
i n l a n g u a g e s
. F o r t h a t p u r p o s e , i t w a s d e s i r a b l e t h a t h e a t t e n d
En g l i s h , S w i s s , o r F r e n c h s c h o o l s a n d t r a v e l i n t h e w o r l d
.
4 1
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
A u n t i e Ge r t r u d e , v e r y a n x i o u s t o m a k e a c o s m o p o l i t a n o f
J o a c h i m , f i n a l l y s u c c e e d e d i n h a v i n g h i m s e n t t o a b o a r d i n g
s c h o o l a t Gr e n o b l e , F r a n c e a n d l a t e r t o L o n d o n .
No t v e r y m u c h i s k n o w n o f t h e s e y e a r s
. A u n t i e Ge r t r u d e
p r o v i d e d h i m w i t h a s m a l l a l l o w a n c e , a n d h i s f a t h e r m a y a l s o
h a v e s e n t h i m a l i t t l e m o n e y
. He w a s r a r e l y s e e n i n Ge r m a n y .
He f o u n d l i f e m u c h m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g a b r o a d
. A n d h i s f a t h e r ' s
s e c o n d m a r r i a g e , t h r e e y e a r s a f t e r t h e d e a t h o f J o a c h i m ' s
m o t h e r , f u r t h e r e s t r a n g e d h i m
. Re l a t i o n s b e t w e e n s t e p m o t h e r
a n d s t e p s o n w e r e n e v e r t o o h a p p y .
In 1 9 1 o , J o a c h i m Ri b b e n t r o p w e n t t o Ca n a d a . Wh y ? Wh a t
d i d h e d o t h e r e ? Bo t h r e a s o n s f o r h i s t r i p a n d h i s a c t i o n s w h i l e
i n Ca n a d a a r e s h r o u d e d i n m y s t e r y . In t h e b i o g r a p h i c a l s k e t c h
w h i c h Ri b b e n t r o p h i m s e l f w r o t e f o r Wh o ' s Wh o , h e r e f e r s
t o t h e Ca n a d i a n v e n t u r e a s , " f o u r y e a r s b u s i n e s s i n Ca n a d a
. "
He h a s n e v e r p u b l i c l y r e v e a l e d w h y h e d i d n o t f i n i s h h i s
c o u r s e a t L o n d o n U n i v e r s i t y , n o r w h y h e f a i l e d t o g i v e h i s
l i n g u i s t i c s t u d i e s a n o f f i c i a l s t a m p b y s o m e s o r t o f e x a m i -
n a t i o n . It m a y b e t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p , w h o w a s v e r y y o u n g a t
t h a t t i m e , w a s l u r e d t o Ca n a d a b y t h e b r o t h e r s v o n A l v e n s -
l e b e n , l a n d s p e c u l a t o r s o f g o o d f a m i l y b u t s h a d y r e p u t a t i o n
w h o f e d o n g r e e n h o r n s l i k e J o a c h i m .
A b o u t i 9 i o , q u i t e a n u m b e r o f Ge r m a n s , e a g e r t o f i n d
f o r t u n e a b r o a d , f o l l o w e d t h e A l v e n s l e b e n s t o t h e n e w w o r l d .
Ma n y o f t h e m s o o n w r o t e t o r e l a t i v e s o r f r i e n d s i n Ge r m a n y
f o r t i c k e t s h o m e
. Ot h e r s , t o o a s h a m e d t o a d m i t t h e c o l l a p s e o f
t h e i r d r e a m s , t r i e d t o e a r n a l i v i n g b y w o r k i n g f o r s o m e
l a n d o w n e r o r o n t h e r a i l r o a d s w h e r e u n s k i l l e d l a b o r w a s
a l w a y s i n d e m a n d .
In a n y c a s e , i t i s d e f i n i t e l y k n o w n t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p l i v e d
i n Va n c o u v e r a t t h e o u t s e t o f h i s Ca n a d i a n s o j o u r n . Th a t i s
w h e r e o n e o f t h e v o n A l v e n s l e b e n b r o t h e r s , A l v o , o p e r a t e d
a r e a l t y b u s i n e s s . Th e o t h e r , En o , w a s s t a t i o n e d i n Be r l i n
4
2
EA RL Y Y OU TH, CA NA D A , WORL D WA R I
w h e r e h e p l a n t e d t h e b a i t w h i c h c a u g h t t h e a d v e n t u r o u s f i s h .
Wh e t h e r c a u g h t o r n o t b y t h e e n t e r p r i s i n g b r o t h e r s , J o a c h i m
w a s q u i t e f r i e n d l y w i t h b o t h o f t h e A l v e n s l e b e n s i n t h e y e a r s
a f t e r t h e w a r . D u r i n g t h e w a r b o t h b r o t h e r s w e r e i n t e r n e d .
A l v o w a s k e p t i n Ca n a d a , a n d En o w a s s e i z e d a t Gi b r a l t a r o n
h i s w a y h o m e t o Ge r m a n y . Th e l a t t e r f o u n d h i m s e l f i n a n
a w k w a r d p o s i t i o n , f o r h e c a r r i e d w i t h h i m p l a n s o f Va n -
c o u v e r a n d o t h e r p o r t s w h e r e r e a l e s t a t e h a d b e e n a c q u i r e d
f o r f u t u r e c u s t o m e r s . He w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o u r t - m a r t i a l e d
a n d s h o t h a d n o t s o m e i n f l u e n t i a l L o n d o n f r i e n d s i n t e r v e n e d .
A n o t h e r s t o r y a b o u t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e a s o n s f o r l e a v i n g L o n -
d o n p r e m a t u r e l y c l a i m s t h a t J o a c h i m h a d r e c e i v e d a n i n v i -
t a t i o n f r o m f r i e n d s i n L o n d o n t o a t t e n d a s h o o t i n g p a r t y i n
Ne w Br u n s w i c k a n d t h a t t h e Ca n a d i a n a t m o s p h e r e f a s c i n a t e d
h i m s o m u c h t h a t h e s t a y e d o n
. It i s a m a z i n g , i f t h e s t o r y i s
t r u e , t h a t t h i s b o y o f s e v e n t e e n m a n a g e d t o g e t s u c h a n
i n v i t a t i o n .
Th e r e i s s t i l l a n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y . J o a c h i m , r e a l i z i n g t h a t
h i s p e r i o d o f a r m y s e r v i c e w a s u p o n h i m , m a y h a v e c h o s e n
t o g o o v e r s e a s , f o r i n t h e d a y s b e f o r e Wo r l d Wa r I, y o u n g
Ge r m a n s w h o d i d n o t l i k e t h e i d e a o f s e r v i n g a s
Ei n j a e h r i g e
( o n e - y e a r - v o l u n t e e r s ) o f t e n d i d t h i s . Re m o t e f r o m t h e
F a t h e r l a n d , t h e y h a d t o r e p o r t t o t h e n e a r e s t Co n s u l a t e , a n d
t h e r e t h e y c o u l d o b t a i n a c e r t i f i c a t e w h i c h f r e e d t h e m , a t
l e a s t f o r a t i m e , f r o m t h e d r a f t .
On e d a y , o n e o f J o a c h i m ' s l a d y f r i e n d s t e a s i n g l y a s k e d
h i m h o w h e m a n a g e d t o e n t e r a c i v i l i a n o c c u p a t i o n a t a n a g e
w h e n o n e w a s r e a l l y o b l i g e d t o b e i n t h e Ge r m a n m i l i t a r y
s e r v i c e . He i s s a i d t o h a v e a n s w e r e d t h a t , n o t b e i n g a s t r o n g
f e l l o w , h e w o u l d h a v e b e e n r e j e c t e d a n d t h a t a n y w a y t h e r e
w e r e o t h e r w a y s o f s e r v i n g t h e F a t h e r l a n d . Be t h a t a s i t m a y ,
i t i s k n o w n t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p s e c u r e d h i s f i r s t j o b i n Ca n a d a b y
w o r k i n g u p o n t h e Q u e b e c Br i d g e .
4 3
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Th i s b r i d g e , t h e l a r g e s t i n Ca n a d a , h a d c o l l a p s e d , w i t h a
l o s s o f m a n y l i v e s , e a r l y i n i 9 Io . It w a s i m p e r a t i v e t h a t t h e
t w o b a n k s o f t h e S t . L a w r e n c e Ri v e r b e r e c o n n e c t e d a s
s p e e d i l y a s p o s s i b l e
. Ma n y Eu r o p e a n c o n c e r n s e n d e a v o r e d t o
g e t t h e c o n t r a c t , a m o n g t h e m Ge r m a n y ' s f a m o u s K r u p p
.
Th e c o n t r a c t w a s f i n a l l y g i v e n t o a Ca n a d i a n c o m p a n y ,
Th e Ca n a d i a n Br i d g e Co m p a n y , f o r m e d e x c l u s i v e l y f o r t h i s
p u r p o s e . In s o m e w a y o r o t h e r , t h e c o m p a n y m a n a g e d t o u s e
t h e d e s i g n s a n d b l u e p r i n t s f i l e d b y t h e K r u p p w o r k s
. Th e
w o r k o n t h e b r i d g e b e t w e e n Th r e e Ri v e r s a n d Q u e b e c b e g a n
s o m e t i m e i n i 9 i o . Ri b b e n t r o p g o t a j o b a s a t i m e - k e e p e r w i t h
t h e c o m p a n y o f M. P. a n d J . T
. D a v i s , s u b - c o n t r a c t o r s f o r
t h e p r o j e c t .
We d o n o t k n o w e x a c t l y w h e n Ri b b e n t r o p l e f t t h i s j o b ,
b u t t h e b r i d g e w a s r e o p e n e d a b o u t t h e m i d d l e o f 1 9 1 1 ,
a n d
w e c a n a s s u m e t h a t t h e w o r k a s s i g n e d t o s u b - c o n t r a c t o r s m u s t
h a v e b e e n f i n i s h e d s o m e t i m e b e f o r e . In a n y c a s e , Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
n e x t j o b w a s w i t h t h e Ca n a d i a n Pa c i f i c Ra i l r o a d
. Wh e n a
Ge r m a n j o u r n a l i s t w h o w a s c o l l e c t i n g d a t a o n Ri b b e n t r o p ,
a s k e d t h e n e w Mi n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s a b o u t h i s p r e v i o u s
c a r e e r , h e w a s t o l d t h a t f o r a b o u t t h r e e y e a r s Ri b b e n t r o p h a d
w o r k e d w i t h t h e b u i l d e r s o f t h e Pa c i f i c Gr a n d Tr u n k Ra i l -
r o a d
. Th i s o b v i o u s l y i n c l u d e s n o t o n l y h i s w o r k i n t h e o f f i c e s
o f t h e Ca n a d i a n Pa c i f i c i n Ot t a w a b u t a l s o t h e p e r i o d h e
s p e n t w i t h t h e D a v i s f i r m .
Ri b b e n t r o p a l s o w o r k e d a s c l e r k w i t h Mo l s o n ' s Ba n k i n
Mo n t r e a l f o r a t l e a s t a f e w m o n t h s , a n d f o r a t i m e i n
1 9 1 4
h e c o n d u c t e d s o m e s o r t o f p r i v a t e Im p o r t - Ex p o r t A g e n c y
.
It w a s i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t h a t h e p r o u d l y r e f e r r e d t o h i m s e l f
l a t e r a s a s e l b s t a e n d i g e r U n t e r n e b m e r ,
a n i n d e p e n d e n t m e r -
c h a n t . Th i s i n d e p e n d e n t e n t e r p r i s e h e s p e a k s o f c a n n o t h a v e
b e e n v e r y i m p o r t a n t
. Wh a t i s i n t e r e s t i n g , h o w e v e r , i s t h a t i t
w a s c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e i m p o r t o f Ge r m a n w i n e s . Th e t o t a l
4
4
EA RL Y Y OU TH, CA NA D A , WORL D WA RI
v a l u e o f i m p o r t e d Ge r m a n b o t t l e d w i n e s i n t o Ca n a d a f o r t h e
f i s c a l y e a r , e n d i n g Ma r c h
31 ,
1 9 1 4 , a m o u n t e d t o $ 32 , 333
.
Th e r e w e r e a t l e a s t t e n e s t a b l i s h e d f i r m s a l r e a d y h a n d l i n g
t h i s b u s i n e s s . A s a n e w c o m e r , Ri b b e n t r o p s u r e l y c o u l d n o t
h a v e r e c e i v e d m o r e t h a n a n a v e r a g e s h a r e . Hi s p r o f i t s o n a
y e a r l y b a s i s c o u l d n o t h a v e a m o u n t e d , t h e r e f o r e , t o m o r e
t h a n a t h o u s a n d d o l l a r s . It m u s t h a v e b e e n m u c h l e s s , a s h e
w a s i n t h e b u s i n e s s n o t e v e n h a l f a y e a r . Bu t t h i s s u p e r f i c i a l
a c q u a i n t a n c e w i t h t h e t r i c k s o f w i n e m e r c h a n t s l a i d t h e
f o u n d a t i o n f o r h i s s w i f t r i s e i n p o s t - w a r Be r l i n
.
Ri b b e n t r o p w a s o r d i n a r i l y n o t i n n e e d o f m o n e y . Th e c o s t
o f l i v i n g w a s c h e a p i n Ca n a d a a t t h a t t i m e . Th e e x c h a n g e
v a l u e o f t h e Go l d m a r k w a s a f a v o r a b l e o n e , a n d i f h i s b e -
n e v o l e n t a u n t o r o t h e r r e l a t i v e s p r o v i d e d h i m w i t h s o m e s o r t
o f i n c o m e , i t p r o b a b l y w a s m o r e t h a n s u f f i c i e n t . Bu t J o a c h i m
i s n o t t h e t y p e o f p e r s o n w h o w o u l d l i k e t o r e m e m b e r s u c h
s u p p o r t o r e v e n b e r e m i n d e d o f i t
.
Wh e n Ri b b e n t r o p a r r i v e d a t Ot t a w a a s a c l e r k f o r t h e
Ca n a d i a n Pa c i f i c , h e h a d i n t r o d u c t i o n s f r o m r e l a t i v e s a n d
f r i e n d s i n Ge r m a n y t o c e r t a i n o f f i c e r s i n t h e Ca n a d i a n Mi l i t i a .
He a l s o c a l l e d a t t h e Go v e r n o r Ge n e r a l ' s r e s i d e n c e a n d
s i g n e d h i s n a m e i n t h e v i s i t o r s ' b o o k . He r e c e i v e d t h e u s u a l
i n v i t a t i o n t o Ri d e a u Ha l l .
Th e Go v e r n o r Ge n e r a l o f Ca n a d a w a s , a t t h a t t i m e , t h e
l a t e D u k e o f Co n n a u g h t , t h e s o n o f Q u e e n Vi c t o r i a , y o u n g e s t
b r o t h e r o f K i n g Ed w a r d VII, a n d u n c l e o f K a i s e r Wi l -
h e l m II
. Th e Ge r m a n l a n g u a g e s t i l l p r e d o m i n a t e d i n t h e
h o u s e h o l d o f t h e Ca n a d i a n Go v e r n o r Ge n e r a l , w h o h i m s e l f
w a s m a r r i e d t o t h e Pr u s s i a n p r i n c e s s , L o u i s e - Ma r g a r e t , d a u g h -
t e r o f t h e " Re d Pr i n c e o f Pr u s s i a , " s o n a m e d b e c a u s e o f h i s
Hu s s a r ' s s c a r l e t u n i f o r m s r a t h e r t h a n h i s p o l i t i c a l i n c l i n a t i o n s .
Wh i l e t h e Go v e r n o r Ge n e r a l s p o k e En g l i s h w i t h a s t r o n g
Ge r m a n a c c e n t , t y p i c a l o f a l l t h e e a r l y Wi n d s o r s , o r r a t h e r
4 5
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Co b u r g s , h i s w i f e , Pr i n c e s s L o u i s e - Ma r g a r e t , b o r n a n d r a i s e d
i n Po t s d a m , p r e f e r r e d d e f i n i t e l y t o u s e h e r m o t h e r t o n g u e .
Th e e n t i r e h o u s e h o l d a t Ri d e a u Ha l l s p o k e Ge r m a n a s w e l l
a s En g l i s h ; t h e p e r s o n n e l , f r o m h e a d c o o k t o t h e b o t t l e
w a s h e r , w e r e Ge r m a n s . Ch a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e D u c h e s s o f
Co n n a u g h t ' s e m o t i o n s a t t h e o u t b r e a k o f Wo r l d Wa r Iw a s
h e r r e m a r k t o a Ca n a d i a n f r i e n d , " It i s t e r r i b l y h a r d f o r m e
w i t h m y s o n f i g h t i n g o n o n e s i d e a n d m y b r o t h e r s o n t h e
o t h e r . "
Y o u n g J o a c h i m , a b o u t n i n e t e e n a t t h e t i m e , w a s q u i t e a
s u c c e s s a t Ri d e a u Ha l l . He m a s t e r e d b o t h Ca n a d i a n i d i o m s ,
En g l i s h a n d F r e n c h , t o p e r f e c t i o n . Wi t h h i s c h a r m , h i s t a l e n t
f o r p l a y i n g t h e v i o l i n , a n d h i s g o o d g a m e o f t e n n i s , h e s o o n
b e c a m e p o p u l a r w i t h Ot t a w a ' s v e r y b e s t s o c i a l s e t . Hi s v i s i t s
t o Go v e r n m e n t Ho u s e b e c a m e r a t h e r f r e q u e n t
. Th e h i g h e s t
o f f i c i a l s i n v i t e d h i m t o t h e i r h o m e s
. Th i s , i n i t s e l f , c o n s t i t u t e s
a r e m a r k a b l e r e c o r d f o r a y o u n g Ge r m a n b o y o n h i s o w n i n a
f o r e i g n c o u n t r y w i t h o u t a n y o f f i c i a l s t a t u s , e l a b o r a t e m e a n s ,
o r i n f l u e n t i a l r e l a t i v e s . It w a s s o m e t h i n g t o b r a g a b o u t , a n d i n
l a t e r l i f e J o a c h i m a l w a y s l e t e v e r y o n e k n o w t h a t h e h a d b e e n
t h e f a v o r i t e o f t h e Ca n a d i a n Go v e r n o r Ge n e r a l , h i s w i f e , a n d
t h e i r d a u g h t e r , Pr i n c e s s Pa t r i c i a
. U n d e n i a b l y , a t t h a t t i m e ,
h e w a s a v e r y a g r e e a b l e y o u n g m a n , n o t a t a l l t h e " Ri b b e n -
s n o b " h e b e c a m e i n l a t e r y e a r s
.
Th e r e a r e s t i l l m a n y p e r s o n s i n Ca n a d a w h o v i v i d l y r e -
m e m b e r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p r e - 1 9 1 4 d a y s . Ih a v e c o r r e s p o n d e d
w i t h s e v e r a l p e o p l e w h o a t t e n d e d f u n c t i o n s a t t h e Go v e r n o r ' s
Ho u s e a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s J o a c h i m
. A s a r e s u l t o f t h i s , Id i s -
c o v e r e d t h a t , " w h i l e a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e t h e r e a r e n o r e c o r d s
w h a t s o e v e r a t Go v e r n m e n t Ho u s e i n Ot t a w a o f a n y a c t i v i t i e s
w h i c h t o o k p l a c e d u r i n g t h e D u k e o f Co n n a u g h t ' s p e r i o d o f
o f f i c e , t h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p p l a y e d t h e v i o l i n o n
o n e o r m o r e o c c a s i o n s , t h a t h e w a s p o p u l a r w i t h t h e y o u n g e r
4 6
EA RL Y Y OU TH, CA NA D A , WORL D WA RI
s e t , a n d t h a t h i s En g l i s h w a s r e g a r d e d a s f a u l t l e s s
. Th e D u k e
a n d D u c h e s s o f Co n n a u g h t a n d Pr i n c e s s Pa t r i c i a t r e a t e d
Ri b b e n t r o p i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r a s t h e y o u n g Ca n a d i a n s w h o
w e n t t o Go v e r n m e n t Ho u s e - w i t h a h o s p i t a l i t y b o t h c h a r m -
i n g a n d g r a c i o u s . Ri b b e n t r o p w a s n o m o r e i n t i m a t e w i t h
t h e m t h a n a n y o f t h e o t h e r g u e s t s
; a s a g e n e r a l r u l e p e o p l e i n
t h e i r p o s i t i o n w o u l d p l a y n o f a v o r i t e s , t h e r e b y p r e v e n t i n g
j e a l o u s i e s . "
S o m e Ca n a d i a n s r e m e m b e r t h a t i n Ot t a w a t h e D a v i s f a m i l y
t o o k J o a c h i m u n d e r i t s w i n g
. Th e y a l s o r e m e m b e r h i m a t t h e
f a m o u s Ri d e a u Cl u b ' s t e n n i s t o u r n a m e n t s , d a n c e s , c o n c e r t s ,
a n d m u s i c a l e s
. Th e y r e m e m b e r t h a t h e e x c e l l e d i n s k a t i n g a n d
t h a t t h e Mi n t o S k a t i n g Cl u b w a s j u s t t h e r i g h t p l a c e f o r h i m .
D u r i n g Ot t a w a ' s " K e r m e s s " f e s t i v a l h e w a s t o b e f o u n d a t
c o s t u m e p a r t i e s i n t h e b r o c a d e d v e l v e t c o a t a n d w h i t e w i g o f
a L o u i s X Vc o u r t i e r , e i t h e r k n e e l i n g b e f o r e h i s l a d y o f t h e
m o m e n t o r d a n c i n g t h e m i n u e t w i t h h e r . He i s a l s o r e m e m -
b e r e d a s a s k i l l e d a n d a r d e n t w h i s t p l a y e r - b r i d g e , a g a m e i n
w h i c h h e e x c e l s t o d a y , w a s n o t t h e f a s h i o n t h e n
. Hi s s u i t s
w e r e a l w a y s c u t t o p e r f e c t i o n , a n d h e d i s l i k e d a n y o n e p o k i n g
f u n a t h i m o r h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e m o d e
. On c e , w h e n
e s c o r t i n g a l a d y t o a m o v i e , h e w o r e a w h i t e l i n e n s u i t , a
g a r b m o r e s u i t e d t o t h e t r o p i c s t h a n Ot t a w a ' s a r c t i c c l i m a t e .
Wh e n Ri b b e n t r o p e n t e r e d t h e t h e a t r e , a n u s h e r , b a f f l e d b y
t h i s u n u s u a l a p p a r e l , a p p r o a c h e d h i m a n d r e m i n d e d h i m
a n x i o u s l y t h a t " g e n t l e m e n w e r e n o t p e r m i t t e d t o r e m o v e t h e i r
c o a t s . " Ve r y m u c h a n n o y e d , Ri b b e n t r o p a n s w e r e d , " It s e e m s
a s t h o u g h y o u h a v e n e v e r s e e n a w h i t e s u i t . " It t o o k s o m e
e f f o r t t o c a l m h i m a n d t o p r e v e n t h i m f r o m l e a v i n g t h e
t h e a t r e i n p r o t e s t .
Ol d Ca n a d i a n f r i e n d s w h o m e t J o a c h i m a g a i n , i n L o n d o n ,
w h i l e h e w a s A m b a s s a d o r , w e r e s w i f t t o n o t e h o w d i f f e r e n t
h e w a s f r o m t h e c h a r m i n g b o y t h e y h a d k n o w n i n Ot t a w a .
4 7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
" He c h a n g e d f r o m a p l e a s a n t , a g r e e a b l e c o m p a n i o n t o a m a n
o f e x a g g e r a t e d e g o a n d o v e r b e a r i n g a r r o g a n c e . In d e e d , i n
A m e r i c a n p a r l a n c e , o n e w o u l d d e s c r i b e h i m a s a " s t u f f e d
s h i r t
. " Th i s e x c e r p t f r o m o n e o f t h e l e t t e r s Ir e c e i v e d i n
c o n n e c t i o n w i t h o u r Ca n a d i a n i n q u i r y s p e a k s f o r i t s e l f
.
.
Ri b b e n t r o p r e c e i v e d t h e n e w s o f Gr e a t Br i t a i n ' s d e c l a r a t i o n
o f w a r a g a i n s t Ge r m a n y o n A u g u s t 4 , 1 9 1 4 , w h i l e p l a y i n g o n
t h e t e n n i s c o u r t s o f t h e Ri d e a u Cl u b
. He c o m p l e t e d h i s g a m e ,
e s c o r t e d h i s l a d y f r i e n d t o h e r h o m e , t o o k p a r t i n a s o m e w h a t
h a s t y f a r e w e l l d i n n e r a t t h e Ch a t e a u L a u r i e r , s a i d g o o d b y e t o
s o m e o f h i s Ot t a w a f r i e n d s , a n d w a s f i n a l l y t a k e n t o t h e
s t a t i o n
. Ce r t a i n f r i e n d s r e c e i v e d l e t t e r s p o s t m a r k e d Ne w Y o r k
Ci t y f r o m h i m
. Ho w h e m a n a g e d t o p a s s t h e Br i t i s h c o n t r o l
a t t h e F a l m o u t h b l o c k a d e s t a t i o n r e m a i n s a m y s t e r y , b u t t h e n ,
m a n y Ge r m a n s a l s o s l i p p e d t h r o u g h
. He p r o b a b l y s e c u r e d a
f a l s e p a s s p o r t i n Ne w Y o r k , a t h i n g w h i c h p r e s e n t e d l i t t l e
d i f f i c u l t y a t t h a t t i m e
. A n d h e s h i p p e d a s a s t o k e r o n t h e
D u t c h s t e a m s h i p Po t s d a m . Ma n y c r e w s o f o t h e r n e u t r a l s h i p s
d i d t h i s f o r Ge r m a n s i n t h o s e d a y s
. J o a c h i m ' s p e r f e c t k n o w l -
e d g e o f t h e En g l i s h l a n g u a g e w a s a s s u r e d l y o f v a l u e i n t h i s
e m e r g e n c y .
A f o r m e r Ca n a d i a n o f f i c i a l h a s t o l d m e o n e m o r e s t o r y
c o n n e c t e d w i t h Ri b b o n t r o p ' s Ca n a d i a n v e n t u r e
. A f e w y e a r s
a f t e r Wo r l d Wa r I, t h e Ca n a d i a n U n d e r S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e ,
t h e l a t e Th o m a s Mu l v e y , m a d e a t r i p t o Eu r o p e i n o r d e r t o
s e t t l e q u e s t i o n s r e l a t i n g t o Ca n a d i a n s e q u e s t e r e d " En e m y
Pr o p e r t y
. " In t h e Mu l v e y p a r t y w a s a Ma j o r H
. Re l p h .
A f t e r t h e w a r , h e s e r v e d a s A s s i s t a n t D e p u t y U n d e r S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e a n d h a n d l e d c e r t a i n c a s e s f o r t h e o f f i c e o f Cu s t o d i a n
f o r En e m y Pr o p e r t y
. Th e r e w e r e a l s o o t h e r e x p e r t s a n d
a s s i s t a n t s w i t h t h e m
. Th e p a r t y s t a y e d a t t h e Ho t e l A d l o n i n
Be r l i n
. On e a f t e r n o o n i n Ma y , 1 9 2 3, a m a n c a l l e d o n U n d e r
S e c r e t a r y Mu l v e y a t t h e Ho t e l A d l o n
. It w a s J o a c h i m Ri b -
4 8
EA RL Y Y OU TH, CA NA D A , WORL D WA R I
b e n t r o p . Ri b b e n t r o p w a s i n s e a r c h o f i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g
c e r t a i n s t o c k s h a r e s h i s w i f e h a d a c q u i r e d b e f o r e h e r m a r r i a g e .
Ri b b e n t r o p w a n t e d t o k n o w w h e t h e r Mu l v e y c o u l d r e l e a s e
t h i s r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l a m o u n t o f a l i e n p r o p e r t y . Mu l v e y , a v e r y
r e s p o n s i b l e o f f i c i a l , t o l d Ri b b e n t r o p t h a t h e w o u l d , o f c o u r s e ,
l o o k i n t o t h e m a t t e r b e f o r e d e c i d i n g u p o n i t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y ,
n o t h i n g c o u l d b e t r a c e d i n t h e Cu s t o d i a n ' s l i s t s , s o h e s a i d
t h a t h e w o u l d h a v e t o r e f e r t h e m a t t e r t o Ot t a w a . He a s s u r e d
Ri b b e n t r o p , h o w e v e r , t h a t h e h i m s e l f w o u l d s e e t o i t p e r -
s o n a l l y w h e n h e r e t u r n e d h o m e . Ri b b e n t r o p w a s a s k e d b y
Mu l v e y a n d t h e o t h e r Ca n a d i a n s t o j o i n t h e m f o r d i n n e r a t
t h e A d l o n , a n d h e a c c e p t e d . D u r i n g t h e e v e n i n g , Mu l v e y ,
m e n t i o n i n g t h a t h e l i k e d g o o d Rh i n e w i n e , h a n d e d t h e w i n e
l i s t t o Ri b b e n t r o p , a s k i n g h i m t o m a k e a c h o i c e , s i n c e h e , a n
e x p e r t i n t h e t r a d e , w a s b e t t e r e q u i p p e d t o d o t h i s t h a n
h i s h o s t .
A f t e r d i n n e r , Ri b b e n t r o p s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e Ca n a d i a n s
" m a k e t h e r o u n d s o f Be r l i n ' s n i g h t s p o t s . " Th e y f i r s t w e n t
t o Be r l i n ' s f a m o u s Pa l a i s d e D a n s e , l a t e r t o s o m e o f t h e l e s s
p r o m i n e n t p l a c e s
. Ev e r y b o d y e n j o y e d t h e e v e n i n g w h i c h
e n d e d i n t h e w e e h o u r s i n Mu l v e y ' s s u i t e
. A t 3A . M. t h e y
p a r t e d c o m p a n y . Th e Ca n a d i a n Co m m i s s i o n h a d t o l e a v e t h e
s a m e m o r n i n g a t n i n e o ' c l o c k v i a D r e s d e n f o r Pr a g u e , t h e
Cz e c h o s l o v a k i a n c a p i t a l . Wh i l e t h e y w e r e b u s y p a c k i n g , a
m e s s e n g e r a r r i v e d w i t h a w o o d e n b o x c o n t a i n i n g s e v e r a l
b o t t l e s o f t h e s a m e f a m o u s Rh i n e v i n t a g e t h e p a r t y h a d
e n j o y e d t h e p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g
. Mu l v e y s e e m e d a l i t t l e e m b a r -
r a s s e d w h e n h e r e a d t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g c a r d
. It s a i d , " Iw i s h
y o u a h a p p y t r i p . Ri b b e n t r o p
. "
" Ca n Ia c c e p t s u c h a g i f t ? " Mu l v e y a s k e d h i s c o m p a n i o n s .
" Y o u s h o u l d n o t i f y o u i n t e n d t o r e l e a s e t h e s h a r e s , " w a s
t h e a d v i c e .
" We l l , Iw o n ' t , s o Iw i l l k e e p t h e w i n e , " Mu l v e y a n s w e r e d .
4
9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Th e l a s t s e n t e n c e i n a l e t t e r f r o m a l a d y w h o k i n d l y
a n s w e r e d s o m e q u e s t i o n s w e a s k e d h e r r e g a r d i n g Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
Ca n a d i a n e p i s o d e r e a d s , " Ev e r y o n e w h o k n e w a n d l i k e d
Ri b b e n t r o p w h e n h e s t a y e d i n Ot t a w a n o w a g r e e s t h a t t h e
r e a l p u r p o s e o f h i s r e m a i n i n g i n Ca n a d a w a s e s p i o n a g e
. No -
b o d y s e n s e d i t a t t h a t t i m e , b u t c o n s i d e r i n g a l l h e h a s d o n e
s i n c e t h e n , t h e y p r o b a b l y a r e r i g h t
. " Ic a n n o t a g r e e w i t h
t h i s
. F a c t s d e f i n i t e l y e x c l u d e s p y i n g . No b o d y i n Ge r m a n y , i n
. t h e y e a r s p r i o r t o t h e o u t b r e a k o f Wo r l d Wa r I, h a d e v e r
g i v e n a t h o u g h t t o t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s j o i n i n g
t h e A l l i e s . Ca n a d a i n t h o s e d a y s w a s n o t c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a
m i l i t a r y p o w e r o f i m p o r t a n c e
. Wi t h a m i l i t i a o f a b o u t 3, 000
m e n , n o b o d y f o r e s a w t h e p a r t s h e p l a y e d i n Wo r l d Wa r I
.
If d e t a i l s w e r e n e e d e d r e g a r d i n g Ca n a d a ' s w a r p o t e n -
t i a l i t i e s , t h e s h r e w d Ge r m a n In t e l l i g e n c e S e r v i c e w o u l d h a v e
p l a c e d t h e t a s k i n t h e h a n d s o f a n e x p e r i e n c e d m i l i t a r y m a n ,
n o t i n t h o s e o f a y o u t h
.
A s f a r a s c a n b e a s c e r t a i n e d , i t d o e s n o t s e e m t h a t Ca n a d i a n
In t e l l i g e n c e o f f i c e r s b e l i e v e d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s a m e m b e r
o f t h e Ge r m a n S e c r e t S e r v i c e
. If t h e y h a d h e l d t h i s b e l i e f ,
t h e y w o u l d h a v e i m m e d i a t e l y a r r e s t e d h i m a t t h e o u t b r e a k o f
t h e w a r
. A s p r e v i o u s l y m e n t i o n e d , J o a c h i m d i d n o t l e a v e
Ot t a w a s e c r e t l y
. A s
a
m a t t e r o f f a c t h e w a s s h o r t o f c a s h a t
t h a t t i m e , a n d h e b o r r o w e d t e n d o l l a r s f r o m J a m e s S h e r w o o d ,
s o n o f t h e Ch i e f o f Ca n a d i a n p o l i c e , S i r Pe r c y S h e r w o o d .
Wh e n t h e Ca n a d i a n n e w s p a p e r s r e p o r t e d t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f
J o a c h i m a s A m b a s s a d o r - a t - l a r g e , S h e r w o o d j o k i n g l y m e n -
t i o n e d t h e m o n e y Ri b b e n t r o p o w e d h i m t o D r . L u d w i g
K e m p f f , Ge r m a n Co n s u l Ge n e r a l i n Mo n t r e a l a t t h a t t i m e .
In s o m e w a y t h e Br i t i s h F o r e i g n Of f i c e l e a r n e d o f i t d u r i n g
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s v i s i t f o r t h e d i s c u s s i o n s o n t h e
1 9 34
Na v a l
A g r e e m e n t i n L o n d o n
. Th e D e p a r t m e n t o f Ex t e r n a l A f f a i r s
i n Ot t a w a a p p a r e n t l y r e c e i v e d a h i n t t h a t a n y m e n t i o n o f t h i s
5 0
EA RL Y Y OU TH, CA NA D A , WORL D WA R I
d e b t i n t h e p r e s s w a s n o t d e s i r a b l e . Bu t i t i s a w e l l - k n o w n
f a c t a m o n g Ge r m a n o f f i c i a l s t h a t K e m p f f r e p o r t e d t h e m a t t e r
t o t h e Wi l h e l m r t r a s s e .
Ba c k i n Ge r m a n y , J o a c h i m e n l i s t e d i n t h e f a m o u s
To r g a u e r Hu s a r e n r e g i m e n t Nr . 1 2 , a n d r e c e i v e d h u r r i e d
m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g . In t h e f i r s t d a y s o f Oc t o b e r , 1 9 1 4 , a r e s e r v e
b o d y w a s s e n t t o j o i n t h i s r e g i m e n t a t t h e f r o n t . J o a c h i m w a s
o n e o f t h e r e s e r v e s , a n d h e s a w a c t i o n i n Ru s s i a a n d Po l a n d .
He b e c a m e a n o f f i c e r a n d w a s a w a r d e d t h e Ir o n Cr o s s s e c o n d
c l a s s . He d i d n o t g e t t h e m o r e c o v e t e d F i r s t Cl a s s u n t i l e a r l y
i n 1 9 1 8 , w h e n h e w a s n o l o n g e r i n a c t i v e , f r o n t - l i n e d u t y b u t
o c c u p y i n g a d e s k a t t h e Mi n i s t r y o f Wa r . Th i s a s s i g n m e n t
w a s m o s t l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t r a n s l a t i o n s .
It w a s i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f 1 9 1 8 t h a t D e s k L i e u t e n a n t
J o a c h i m Ri b b e n t r o p w a s o r d e r e d t o m o v e f r o m t h e Mi n i s t r y
o f Wa r , i n Be r l i n , t o t h e o f f i c e s o f t h e s a m e Mi n i s t r y i n
Co n s t a n t i n o p l e , t h e Tu r k i s h c a p i t a l . Th e Ge r m a n a r m y c o m -
m a n d h a d d e c i d e d u p o n a n o t h e r m i l i t a r y a d v a n c e a g a i n s t
S u e z a n d g r e a t p r e p a r a t i o n s w e r e b e i n g m a d e f o r t h i s p u r p o s e .
No r e a l c o o p e r a t i o n f r o m t h e Tu r k s c o u l d , h o w e v e r , b e
g a i n e d . Th i s m i l i t a r y u n d e r t a k i n g i s r e c o r d e d i n t h e l i t e r a -
t u r e o f Wo r l d Wa r Ia s Ex p e d i t i o n F . It s c o m m a n d e r w a s
Ge n e r a l Er i c h v o n F a l k e n h a y n .
S i n c e m a n y o f t h e Tu r k i s h Wa r D e p a r t m e n t ' s o f f i c e r s
w e r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e F r e n c h l a n g u a g e , i t w a s t h o u g h t
t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p c o u l d b e u s e f u l i n Co n s t a n t i n o p l e . He s e r v e d
t h e r e u n d e r a Ma j o r Me y e r
. Th i s Ma j o r w a s i n c h a r g e o f t h e
e c o n o m i c s e c t i o n , a n d h e v a i n l y t r i e d t o s q u e e z e s o m e f o d d e r
f o r c a m e l s a n d h o r s e s a n d f o o d s t u f f s f o r o f f i c e r s a n d m e n o u t
o f t h e i m p o v e r i s h e d Tu r k s . Ex p e d i t i o n F s t o o d , h o w e v e r ,
u n d e r a n e v i l s t a r . Mi l i t a r y e x p e r t s a g r e e t h a t i t w o u l d h a v e
f a i l e d e v e n i f t h e Tu r k i s h a l l i e s h a d c o m p l e t e l y c o o p e r a t e d .
J o a c h i m l i v e d d u r i n g h i s e n t i r e s t a y i n t h e Wh i t e Ho u s e . Th i s
5 I
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
h o u s e h a d b e l o n g e d t o S i n o c o g l o u , a Tu r k
. Ha v i n g b e e n c o n -
f i s c a t e d b y t h e a u t h o r i t i e s , i t n o w s e r v e d a s m e s s a n d b o a r d i n g
h o u s e f o r a g r o u p o f Ge r m a n o f f i c e r s
.
Wh e n , a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f Oc t o b e r , 1 9 1 8 , Tu r k e y w a s
f o r c e d t o a p p r o a c h t h e A l l i e s f o r a n a r m i s t i c e , t h e Ge r m a n
o f f i c e r s w e r e a s k e d t o l e a v e t h e i r h o m e s i m m e d i a t e l y
. Ro o m
w a s n e e d e d f o r t h e Br i t i s h o f f i c e r s w h o w e r e o n t h e i r w a y t o
t h e Tu r k i s h c a p i t a l . Th e Ge r m a n s h a d o n l y a f e w h o u r s t o
p a c k t h e i r b e l o n g i n g s , a n d t h e y w e r e l e f t w i t h o u t s h e l t e r
.
Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s o r d e r l y h a d g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y i n f i n d i n g
s o m e k i n d o f l o d g i n g , f o r t h e h o s t i l e p o p u l a t i o n b l a m e d , n o t
w i t h o u t j u s t i f i c a t i o n , t h e i r p l i g h t o n t h e Ge r m a n s
. F i n a l l y ,
t h e y w e r e l u c k y t o m e e t a n a c q u a i n t a n c e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s ,
t h e J e w i s h m a n a g e r o f a Ge r m a n b a n k i n g i n s t i t u t e , w h o f e l t
s o r r y f o r t h e h e l p l e s s o f f i c e r a n d h i s o r d e r l y a n d q u a r t e r e d
t h e m t e m p o r a r i l y i n h i s o w n h o m e
. Wi t h t h e e n t r y o f t h e
a l l i e d f o r c e s i n t o Co n s t a n t i n o p l e , t h e Ge r m a n o f f i c e r s a n d
m e n w e r e t a k e n t o Mo d a , a t o w n o n t h e A s i a t i c s i d e o f t h e
Bo s p o r u s , t o a w a i t r e p a t r i a t i o n . Th i s r e p a t r i a t i o n t o o k s o m e
t i m e .
Th e e x a c t d a t e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e t u r n t o Be r l i n i s n o t
k n o w n . On e o n l y k n o w s t h a t o n e d a y i n J a n u a r y , i q i q h e
r e n t e d a s m a l l r o o m i n a b o a r d i n g h o u s e i n t h e Me i n e c k e -
S t r a s s e , o n e o f t h e q u i e t s t r e e t s i n Be r l i n ' s We s t En d . He
i m m e d i a t e l y r e p o r t e d t o t h e Mi n i s t r y o f Wa r a n d g o t a
p o s i t i o n , o w i n g t o h i s k n o w l e d g e o f F r e n c h a n d En g l i s h , i n
t h e s e c t i o n p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e p e a c e d i s c u s s i o n s . Hi s e x p e r i -
e n c e s o n t h e r o a d b a c k h a d m o s t c e r t a i n l y m a d e i t m e r c i l e s s l y
c l e a r t o h i m w h a t t h e l o s t w a r m e a n t f o r Ge r m a n y
. He a l s o
r e a l i z e d a t t h a t t i m e t h a t h e w o u l d h a v e t o f i n d a n e w
p r o f e s s i o n , a n e w w a y o f e a r n i n g h i s l i v i n g . A n d t h e o u t l o o k
w a s c e r t a i n l y n o t a b r i g h t o n e .
Bu t f o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , Ri b b e n t r o p , l i k e m a n y o f h i s
5 2
EA RL Y Y OU TH, CA NA D A , WORL D WA RI
b r o t h e r o f f i c e r s , w a s b u s y i n t h e Wa r D e p a r t m e n t
. Th e
s e c t i o n f o r p e a c e p r e p a r a t i o n s g r e w a n d g r e w
. Wh e n t h e
Ge r m a n d e l e g a t i o n f o r t h e Ve r s a i l l e s p e a c e c o n f e r e n c e w a s
l i n e d u p , t h e Mi n i s t r y o f Wa r d e l e g a t i o n c o n s i s t e d o f t h r e e
c o m m i s s i o n e r s , Ge n e r a l Ha n s v o n S e e c k t , Ma j o r D r a u d t ,
a n d a Ca p t a i n F i s c h e r
. Th e r e w e r e , o f c o u r s e , a f e w o r d e r l i e s
a n d s o m e c l e r i c a l s t a f f w i t h t h e s e m i l i t a r y c o m m i s s i o n e r s , b u t
o f t h e o n e h u n d r e d a n d e i g h t y p e r s o n s w h o l e f t Be r l i n a s
m e m b e r s o f t h e e n t i r e d e l e g a t i o n , t h e r e w e r e o n l y e l e v e n
w h o c o u l d b e c l a s s i f i e d a s m e m b e r s o f t h e Mi n i s t r y o f Wa r .
A m o n g t h e s e m u s t h a v e b e e n J o a c h i m Ri b b e n t r o p , s i n c e h e
s a y s i n h i s Wh o ' s Wh o
b i o g r a p h i c a l s t a t e m e n t t h a t h e s e r v e d
a s " A . D
. C . t o t h e Ge r m a n Pe a c e D e l e g a t i o n
. " It i s s t r a n g e ,
h o w e v e r , t h a t n o t o n e o f t h e o f f i c i a l o r u n o f f i c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n s
r e l a t i n g t o t h e Ge r m a n d e l e g a t i o n l i s t s Ri b b e n t r o p ' s n a m e .
Ih a v e a p p r o a c h e d n i n e p e o p l e w h o w e r e p r e s e n t a t t h e Pa r i s
Pe a c e Co n f e r e n c e , s o m e a s
c o m m i s s i o n e r s , s o m e a s e x p e r t s ,
o t h e r s a s m e m b e r s o f t h e c l e r i c a l s t a f f , b u t n o t o n e o f t h e m
r e m e m b e r s t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s o n t h e s t a f f o f t h e Ge r m a n
d e l e g a t i o n
. No t o n e o f t h e m e v e n r e c a l l s h e a r i n g h i s n a m e a t
t h a t t i m e
. It h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s u s e d a s
a c o u r i e r
. S e v e r a l c o u r i e r s w e r e n o t o n t h e s t a f f o f t h e d e l e -
g a t i o n o r i g i n a l l y b u t w e r e s e n t f r o m Be r l i n a s t h e y w e r e
n e e d e d
. U n d e r t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a s s e r t i o n
i n t h e En g l i s h
Wh o ' s Wh o a n d i n i t s Ge r m a n c o u n t e r p a r t ,
We r Is t ' s , m a y b e t r u e
.
5 3
4
Ma r c h a n d d e Vi n s
MA NY p e o p l e w h o l i v e t h r o u g h t h e f e v e r s o f w a r e n t e r
p e a c e a n d f i n d i t h u m d r u m a n d p r o s a i c . Th a t i s t r u e e v e n i f
y o u b e l o n g t o a v i c t o r i o u s n a t i o n . Ho w m u c h t r u e r t h i s i s i f
y o u r n a t i o n i s d e f e a t e d . Th o u s a n d s o f Ge r m a n o f f i c e r s h a d
t o b e s e n t i n t o t h e w i l d e r n e s s o f c i v i l i a n l i f e w i t h n o t h i n g b u t
a s m a l l p e n s i o n t o l i v e o n , a p e n s i o n t h a t w o u l d h a v e b e e n
i n s u f f i c i e n t a t a n y t i m e b u t w a s e s p e c i a l l y s o w h e n i n f l a t i o n
m a d e a l l m o n e y i l l u s o r y . S o m e o f t h e s e d i s c h a r g e d o f f i c e r s
e n t e r e d u n i v e r s i t i e s a n d e n g i n e e r i n g s c h o o l s t o p r e p a r e f o r
n e w v o c a t i o n s . Ot h e r s j o i n e d t h e F r e i k o r p s ,
m e r c e n a r i e s w h o
f o u g h t i n t h e Ba l t i c S t a t e s a g a i n s t t h e Bo l s h e v i k s
. Th e y w e r e
p r o m i s e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d e v e n t u a l l y r e c e i v e l a n d g r a n t s
f r o m w h i c h t o m a k e t h e i r l i v i n g s
. Ot h e r s w e n t t o c o l o n i a l
r e g i o n s , a n d t h e r e b e c a m e p l a n t e r s a n d o v e r s e e r s
. A n d
t h e r e w e r e t h o s e w h o b e c a m e p r o f i t e e r s a n d s o l d s e c o n d -
h a n d a r m a m e n t s
. Ri f l e s a n d a m m u n i t i o n w e r e i n g r e a t d e -
m a n d b y c e r t a i n g r o u p s w h i c h p r e p a r e d r e v o l u t i o n s a n d
u p r i s i n g s i n Ce n t r a l a n d S o u t h A m e r i c a n Re p u b l i c s
; b y
A r a b i a n d e a l e r s f o r Et h i o p i a o r Ib n - S a u d
; b y t h e Ba l t i c S t a t e s ;
a n d e v e n b y b u y e r s f r o m t h e We s t In d i e s f o r t r a n s - s h i p m e n t
t o Me x i c o
. Th e g o o d s d e s i r e d c o u l d b e p r o c u r e d f r o m a r m a -
m e n t s t o c k s w h i c h , i f n o t o t h e r w i s e d i s p o s e d o f , w o u l d f a l l
i n t o t h e h a n d s o f t h e d r e a d e d
In t e r n a t i o n a l Co m m i s s i o n .
If
5 4
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
o n e h a d t h e r i g h t c o n n e c t i o n s i t w a s p o s s i b l e t o p r e v e n t t h e
Co m m i s s i o n f r o m g a i n i n g p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e s e a r m s , a p a t r i o t i c
d e e d c o m b i n e d w i t h l u c r a t i v e b u s i n e s s . No t o n l y t h a t , b u t i t
w a s p r a c t i c a l l y t h e o n l y w a y o f g e t t i n g p o s s e s s i o n o f Ed e l -
v a l u t a
( f o r e i g n c u r r e n c y ) . A c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f " w o r k i n g
c a p i t a l " w a s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e t r a n s a c t i o n s , a s h e a v y c o s t s f o r
t r a n s p o r t i n g t h e g o o d s h a d t o b e a d v a n c e d , b r i b e s p a i d , w o r k -
e r s h i r e d . S o m e o f t h e a r m s a w a i t e d m o r e a c t i v e d a y s o n t h e
e s t a t e s o f b i g l a n d o w n e r s , m o s t l y e x - o f f i c e r s .
S o m e d i s c h a r g e d o f f i c e r s t r a d e d i n s h o e s a n d s t o c k i n g s , i n
v e g e t a b l e s o r s a u s a g e s , w i n e s a n d s p i r i t s , b u t f o r m a n y t h e r e
w a s o n l y o n e w a y l e f t , m a r r i a g e i n t o s o m e p r o f i t a b l e b u s i n e s s .
J o a c h i m , a s w e k n o w , c h o s e a c o m b i n a t i o n o f b o t h o f t h e
l a t t e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s . Wh e n Ot t m a r S t r a u s s b l u n t l y a s k e d h i m
h o w h e h a d e a r n e d h i s l i v i n g b e f o r e t h e w a r ' s o u t b r e a k ,
J o a c h i m t o l d h i m t h a t h e h a d s o l d Ge r m a n w i n e s i n Ca n a d a
d u r i n g t h e l a s t m o n t h s o f h i s s t a y , t h e r e . " Co b b l e r , s t i c k t o
y o u r l a s t , " w a s Ot t m a r ' s a d v i c e . A n d J o a c h i m d e c i d e d t h a t
w i n e s w e r e o n c e a g a i n t o b e h i s b u s i n e s s . A t l e a s t i t w a s o n e
t r a d e i n w h i c h a c e r t a i n t u r n o v e r w a s a l w a y s p o s s i b l e - e s p e -
c i a l l y a t a t i m e w h e n e a s y m o n e y w a s b e i n g m a d e b y u n -
s c r u p u l o u s p e o p l e w h o w e r e o n l y t o o e a g e r t o s p e n d i t i n
f r i v o l o u s d i v e r s i o n s . Ri b b e n t r o p w a s c l e v e r e n o u g h t o s e e
t h a t h e h a d o n l y t o g e t " t h e r e a l s t u f f " p r o d u c e d i n F r a n c e
a n d Gr e a t Br i t a i n , a n d h i s f o r t u n e - w o u l d b e m a d e . Ev e n t h e
g r e a t Go e t h e i n F a u s t s a y s :
" A Ge r m a n c a n ' t e n d u r e t h e F r e n c h t o s e e o r h e a r
Y e t d r i n k s t h e i r w i n e s w i t h h e a r t y c h e e r . . . "
Th e A r m y o f Oc c u p a t i o n ' s o f f i c e r ' s m e s s e s h a d m o r e t h a n
e n o u g h l i q u o r
. Th e o b v i o u s t h i n g w a s t o b r i b e t h e s e r g e a n t
i n c h a r g e o f t h e s u p p l i e s . Th e n o n e c o u l d g e t h o l d o f a n y -
t h i n g f o r w h i c h t h e Ge r m a n c u s t o m e r o r r a t h e r t h e Ge r m a n
5 5
THIS MA N RIBBENTROP
p r o f i t e e r w h o w a n t e d t o e n j o y h i s u n e x p e c t e d a f f l u e n c e
l o n g e d
. F u r t h e r m o r e , t h i s m e r c h a n d i s e w a s i n e x p e n s i v e f o r
i t c a m e i n t o t h e c o u n t r y f r e e o f d u t y
. A n y b o d y c o u l d s e e
t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y , b u t o n l y a f e w w e r e a l e r t e n o u g h t o g r a s p i t
.
A n d J o a c h i m w a s c e r t a i n l y a l e r t .
In t h e f i r s t b u s i n e s s o f t h i s n a t u r e Ri b b e n t r o p w a s t h e
b r o k e r , Ot t m a r S t r a u s s t h e b u y e r , Br i t i s h s e r g e a n t t h e s e l l e r
.
Th e o b j e c t o f t h e d e a l w e r e s i x c a s e s o f Mo e t e t Ch a n d o n ,
Po n s a r d i n , v i n t a g e 1 9 1 1 .
Th e c o m m i s s i o n Ri b b e n t r o p m a d e
i n t h i s t r a n s a c t i o n w a s e q u i v a l e n t t o s o m e $ 6 6
. No t s o b a d f o r
a b e g i n n e r . Th e d e a l m e n t i o n e d w a s e x e c u t e d i n J u l y o r
A u g u s t , 1 9 1 9 . A t t h e e n d o f t h a t s a m e y e a r J o a c h i m Ri b b e n -
t r o p w a s a l r e a d y r e g i s t e r e d a s a l e g i t i m a t e f i r m w i t h t h e
p r o p e r a u t h o r i t i e s , a n d t h i s r e g i s t r a t i o n w a s p u b l i s h e d i n t h e
o f f i c i a l j o u r n a l .
A Ma j o r Ro e h r s w a s a t t h a t t i m e o n e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
f r i e n d s . He h a d n o t b e e n a s f o r t u n a t e a s J o a c h i m i n b e g i n n i n g
l i f e a n e w , b u t t h i s m a t t e r e d h a r d l y a t a l l f o r h e h a d n o
a m b i t i o n s a n d k n e w h o w t o a r r a n g e h i s w a y o f l i f e t o s u i t
h i s r e d u c e d m e a n s . S o m e o f Ma j o r Ro e h r s ' f r i e n d s r e m e m b e r
t h a t h e w a s n o t v e r y o p t i m i s t i c a b o u t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s b u s i n e s s
t r a n s a c t i o n s , b u t h e c o n c l u d e d , a f t e r d i s c u s s i n g t h e v a g a r i e s
o f t h e w i n e t r a d e , t h a t f o r a m a n w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s o c i a l
a m b i t i o n s t h e r e w a s b u t o n e t h i n g t o d o
. J o a c h i m m u s t m a r r y
a r i c h g i r l
. It w a s n o t l o n g b e f o r e J o a c h i m d i d t h i s v e r y
t h i n g . On J u l y z o , 1 9 2 0, h e m a r r i e d Ot t o He n k e l l ' s d a u g h t e r ,
A n n e l i e s , a n d Ot t o w a s , o f c o u r s e , n o t o n l y o n e o f Ge r m a n y ' s
f o r e m o s t m a n u f a c t u r e r s o f s p a r k l i n g w i n e s b u t a m a n o f c o n -
s i d e r a b l e m e a n s a n d e x c e l l e n t s o c i a l s t a n d i n g .
We k n o w t h a t He n k e l l d i d n o t t h o r o u g h l y a p p r o v e o f
t h i s u n i o n . Wh e n o n e Ge r m a n i n d u s t r i a l i s t d e p l o r e d h i s o w n
d a u g h t e r ' s d e c i s i o n t o m a r r y a n " a d v e n t u r e r u n k n o w n t o
h i m , " Ot t o He n k e l l c o n s o l e d h i s f r i e n d b y s a y i n g , " D i d m y
5 6
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
d a u g h t e r A n n e l i e s d o a n y t h i n g e l s e ? Pa r e n t s , " h e a d d e d ,
" s e e m t o h a v e n o s a y a t a l l a n y m o r e a s f a r a s t h e i r c h i l d r e n ' s
f u t u r e i s c o n c e r n e d . " Bu t w h e n t h e s a m e f r i e n d i m p l i e d t h a t
a t l e a s t Ot t o He n k e l l g o t a s o n - i n - l a w w h o p r o b a b l y w o u l d
m a k e a g o o d b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r , He n k e l l , w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i n g a
m o m e n t , a n s w e r e d , " Ri b b e n t r o p m a y h a v e b e e n a b l e t o i n -
f a t u a t e m y d a u g h t e r , b u t h e w i l l n e v e r f o o l m e i n t o t a k i n g
h i m a s a p a r t n e r . " No , Ot t o He n k e l l d i d n o t m a k e J o a c h i m
a p a r t n e r . Bu t h e h e l p e d h i s s o n - i n - l a w i n m a n y o t h e r w a y s .
In t h o s e d a y s , t h e i m p o r t o f f o r e i g n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s
i n t o Ge r m a n y w a s p r a c t i c a l l y a m o n o p o l y o f t h e We i n h a n d -
l u n g s - Ge s e l l s c h a f t m . b . H. , a g r e a t w i n e t r a d i n g c o m p a n y .
Th i s c o m p a n y w a s e n t i t l e d , i n p r i n c i p l e , t o i m p o r t f o r e i g n
p r o d u c t s , b u t a s a s e m i - g o v e r n m e n t a l i n s t i t u t i o n i t w a s n o t
a l l o w e d t o m a k e u s e o f s u c h r i g h t s , s i n c e n o f o r e i g n c u r r e n c y
c o u l d b e m a d e a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e p u r p o s e . Th e r e d i d n o t
e x i s t , a t t h a t t i m e , a n y c o m m e r c i a l t r e a t y b e t w e e n F r a n c e a n d
Ge r m a n y , a n d i t w a s t o t h e Ge r m a n g o v e r n m e n t ' s i n t e r e s t t o
s t o p t h e b u y i n g o f a l l F r e n c h m e r c h a n d i s e , b e c a u s e p r e v e n t i o n
o f s u c h b u y i n g w a s t h e o n l y e c o n o m i c w e a p o n Ge r m a n y h a d
a g a i n s t F r a n c e . Th e o n l y w a y o f i m p o r t i n g f o r e i g n l i q u o r s
i n t o Ge r m a n y w a s , t h e r e f o r e , u n d e r c e r t a i n Ve r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y
s t i p u l a t i o n s . Th e s e s t i p u l a t i o n s w e r e k n o w n a s
L o c h i m
We s t e n , " t h e h o l e i n t h e We s t e r n f r o n t i e r . " He n k e l l a n d
Ri b b e n t r o p b o t h k n e w , h o w e v e r , t h a t o n e d a y n o r m a l t r a d e
r e l a t i o n s w o u l d b e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d . D i r e c t l y , o r w i t h h i s f a t h e r -
i n - l a w ' s h e l p , J o a c h i m c o n t a c t e d Ba r o n d e Mu n , o n e o f
Po m m e r y &Gr e n o ' s l e a d i n g m e n
; S i r A l e x a n d e r Wa l k e r , o f
J o h n n i e Wa l k e r w h i s k i e s ; a n d m a n y o t h e r s
. S o o n , a l l Ge r -
m a n a g e n c i e s f o r t h e s e f i r m s w e r e h e l d b y Ri b b e n t r o p &Co
.
J o a c h i m ' s c a r e e r , i n t h e w i n e t r a d e , w a s f u r t h e r h e l p e d b y
s e v e r a l l u c k y c o i n c i d e n c e s . Ot t o He n k e l l &Co
. w e r e r e p r e -
s e n t e d i n Be r l i n a n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f Pr u s s i a
5
7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
b y a n o l d , w e l l - k n o w n f i r m o f e x c e l l e n t r e p u t a t i o n , J o h a n n e s
Mu t h e r &Co . Ot t o He n k e l l a s k e d h i s v e n e r a b l e f r i e n d ,
J o h a n n e s , t o k e e p a n e y e o n h i s s o n - i n - l a w ' s b u s i n e s s t r a n s a c -
t i o n s , t o g i v e h i m a d v i c e , t o t e a c h t r a d i t i o n a l u s a g e s , a n d t o
w a r n h i m w h e n n e c e s s a r y , b u t t o c o m e t o Ot t o He n k e l l p e r -
s o n a l l y w h e n a n y t h i n g o c c u r r e d w h i c h h e d i d n o t w i s h t o t e l l
Ri b b e n t r o p d i r e c t l y . Mu t h e r a n d h i s c o n f i d e n t i a l c l e r k ,
S c h o e n e b e r g , t o o k t h e n e w c o m e r u n d e r t h e i r p a t e r n a l c a r e ,
b u t b o t h d e c i d e d t h a t J o a c h i m w o u l d n o t b e a d e s i r a b l e p a r t -
n e r i n t h e i r o w n b u s i n e s s t r a n s a c t i o n s .
A f t e r Mu t h e r ' s d e a t h , S c h o e n e b e r g b e c a m e t h e s o l e o w n e r
o f J o h a n n e s Mu t h e r &Co . S c h o e n e b e r g , f o n d o f g a m b l i n g ,
l o s t a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f m o n e y o n e n i g h t i n o n e o f
Be r l i n ' s f l o u r i s h i n g a n d l u x u r i o u s c a s i n o s . He s a w n o o t h e r
w a y o u t b u t t o c o n f e s s h i s t r o u b l e s t o Ot t o He n k e l l
. Ot t o
p r o m i s e d t o a r r a n g e e v e r y t h i n g i f S c h o e n e b e r g a g r e e d t o o n e
c o n d i t i o n - J o a c h i m w a s t o b e c o m e a f u l l - f l e d g e d p a r t n e r .
Th e a n c i e n t f i r m o f J o h a n n e s Mu t h e r &Co . c h a n g e d i t s n a m e
t o S c h o e n e b e r g &Ri b b e n t r o p .
Th i s p a r t n e r s h i p s t a r t e d a t a m o s t o p p o r t u n e m o m e n t . Th e
b a n o n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s o f f o r e i g n o r i g i n e n d e d o n J a n u -
a r y 1 , 1 9 2 4 . No w i t w a s p o s s i b l e t o i m p o r t t h e " r e a l s t u f f "
l e g a l l y . Th e s o - c a l l e d F r e n c h Ch a r t r e u s e , a s w e e t l i q u e u r d i s -
t i l l e d i n S p a i n , h a d , f o r a l m o s t a c e n t u r y , h a d a n e x c e l l e n t
m a r k e t i n Ge r m a n y , a n d Ri b b e n t r o p h e l d t h e a g e n c y . He a l s o
h e l d t h e a g e n c y f o r t h e f a m o u s Me u k o f f b r a n d y .
Ge r m a n s l i v i n g i n f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e
t r o p i c s , w e r e a l w a y s f o n d o f S c o t c h a n d S o d a . Ri b b e n t r o p ,
t h r o u g h h i s f a t h e r - i n - l a w , g o t t h e a g e n c y f o r J o h n n i e Wa l k e r ,
n e x t t o Bl a c k a n d Wh i t e t h e m o s t p o p u l a r S c o t c h i n Ge r -
m a n y . A n d h e r e p r e s e n t e d Ba r o n d e Mu n o f Po m m e r y &
Gr e n o c h a m p a g n e s . Th i s f r i e n d s h i p a n d b u s i n e s s c o n n e c t i o n
s e e m s t o h a v e s u r v i v e d t h e Ge r m a n i n v a s i o n o f F r a n c e d u r i n g
5 8
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
Wo r l d Wa r II. On e o f t h e f i r s t m e a s u r e s t a k e n i n o c c u p i e d
F r a n c e w a s t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n o r g a n i z a t i o n o f F r e n c h c h a m -
p a g n e p r o d u c e r s . Ba r o n d e Mu n w a s e l e c t e d p r e s i d e n t , a n d
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s w i n e t r a d e f r i e n d s b e n e f i t e d .
A l l o f t h e s e a g e n c i e s w e r e m o n o p o l i e s . No c o m p e t i t i o n
a g a i n s t Ri b b e n t r o p &Co . a n d S c h o e n e b e r g &Ri b b e n t r o p w a s
p o s s i b l e . Th e h o t e l o r r e s t a u r a n t w h i c h p r e f e r r e d a c o m p e t i -
t o r ' s w h i s k y w a s e x c l u d e d f r o m g e t t i n g Ch a r t r e u s e o r
Me u k o f f a n d v i c e v e r s a . Th e s e m e t h o d s w e r e n o t t o e v e r y -
b o d y ' s l i k i n g , b u t n o b o d y w a s i n a p o s i t i o n t o o b j e c t . It w a s
s t r i c t l y w i t h i n t h e l a w i n Ge r m a n y . Wh o e v e r d i s a p p r o v e d
w a s r e q u e s t e d n o t t o p l a c e o r d e r s .
Ch a n g e s i n p a r t n e r s h i p , i n p r o x y , i n c a p i t a l s t o c k , r e o r -
g a n i z a t i o n , b a n k r u p t c y , a n d a l l h a z a r d s w h i c h m a y o c c u r i n a
c o m p a n y , h a v e t o b e r e g i s t e r e d i n Ge r m a n y w i t h s p e c i a l
c o u r t s , a n d s u c h r e g i s t r a t i o n s a r e p u b l i s h e d i n t h e c o u r t ' s
o f f i c i a l p u b l i c a t i o n , t h e Ha n d e i s r e g i s t e r . To v e r i f y a f a c t i n
t h i s Ha n d e l s r e g i s t e r i s n o t a n e a s y t a s k , s i n c e t h e e n t r i e s a r e
n o t p r i n t e d i n a l p h a b e t i c a l o r d e r . Bu t Ih a v e l e a r n e d t h a t
Ri b b e n t r o p &Co
. c h a n g e d i t s n a m e o n s u c c e s s i v e o c c a s i o n s
a n d f i n a l l y b e c a m e t h e
Im p e g r o m a , Im p o r t a n d Ex p o r t
Gr o s s e r Ma r k e n , t h e Im p o r t a n d Ex p o r t o f We l l - k n o w n
Br a n d s . A l l p a r t n e r s h i p s i n t h i s e n t e r p r i s e w e r e d i s s o l v e d o n
Oc t o b e r 1 7 ,
1 9 31
. S i n c e t h e n J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p h a s
b e e n t h e s o l e o w n e r o f t h e f i r m . Th a t J o a c h i m ' s p o l i t i c a l
c a r e e r d i d n o t s t o p h i s b u s i n e s s i n a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s i s
k n o w n , b e c a u s e h i s f i r m i s s u e d a p r i c e l i s t a s r e c e n t l y a s
1 9 37 .
A t t h a t t i m e t h e f i r m w a s r u n b y Wo l f g a n g Mi c h e l , a r e l a -
t i v e o f J o a c h i m ' s w i f e . Th e D e u t s c h e s Re i c h s a d r e s s b u c h ,
1 9 37 i s s u e , a s w e l l a s t h e Be r l i n e r A d r e s s b u c h ,
1 9 39
i s s u e , l i s t
Im p e g r o m a . Th e Be r l i n t e l e p h o n e d i r e c t o r y o f 1 9 4 o r e c o r d s
t h a t t h e f i r m ' s n u m b e r i s " Pa l l a s
37 4 7 "
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s e x c l u s i v e a g e n c y r i g h t s i n p r o m i n e n t f o r e i g n
5 9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
l i q u o r s a s s i s t e d h i m c o n s i d e r a b l y i n h i s s o c i a l a m b i t i o n s . S u c -
c e s s f u l b u s i n e s s m e n l i k e d t o h a v e t h e i r c e l l a r s f i l l e d w i t h
Po m m e r y &Gr e n o , Me u k o f f , Ch a r t r e u s e , J o h n n i e Wa l k e r ,
a n d t h e o t h e r s . Th e y a l s o p r e f e r r e d t o d e a l d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e
o r i g i n a l i m p o r t e r , f o r t h i s m a d e t h e i r b u y s l e s s e x p e n s i v e a n d
a s s u r e d t h e m o f g e t t i n g t h e " r e a l s t u f f . " Th e o b v i o u s t h i n g
t o d o t h e n w a s t o b e o n f r i e n d l y t e r m s w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p .
A n d J o a c h i m p l a y e d h i s c a r d s w e l l . Pe o p l e w h o t r e a t e d h i m
a s a s o c i a l e q u a l w e r e s u r e o f p r o m p t d e l i v e r y a n d o f p r e f e r -
e n t i a l t r e a t m e n t i n p r i c e s a n d q u a l i t i e s .
S o c i a l a m b i t i o n s m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g e l s e w e r e a l s o b e h i n d
h i s n u m e r o u s a t t e m p t s t o b r e a k i n t o Be r l i n ' s d i p l o m a t i c s e t ,
a t a s k i n w h i c h h e f i n a l l y s u c c e e d e d . Th e f i r s t f o r e i g n m i s s i o n
i n w h i c h h e m a n a g e d t o g e t a f o o t h o l d w a s t h e A m e r i c a n
Em b a s s y . It w a s , o f c o u r s e , v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o g e t t h e m e m b e r s
o f t h e A m e r i c a n Em b a s s y a s c u s t o m e r s . A m e r i c a n p r o h i b i t i o n
l a w s m a d e i t a n u n w r i t t e n r u l e t h a t n o a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s
w e r e t o b e s e r v e d o n o f f i c i a l o c c a s i o n s . F u r t h e r m o r e , i n a c -
c o r d a n c e w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l c u s t o m , f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s a l l o v e r
t h e g l o b e h a d t h e p r i v i l e g e o f i m p o r t i n g a n y t h i n g t h e y
w a n t e d f r e e o f d u t i e s a n d t a x e s . Bu t e v e n i f o n e c o u l d g e t
o n l y a c u p o f t e a , Ri b b e n t r o p t h o u g h t i t u s e f u l f o r h i m a n d
A n n e l i e s t o b e s e e n i n t h e r e c e p t i o n r o o m s o f t h e A m e r i c a n
Em b a s s y , a n d i t c e r t a i n l y d i d p r o v e t o b e u s e f u l .
On e o f t h e f i r s t d i p l o m a t s t o w h o m Ri b b e n t r o p w a s i n t r o -
d u c e d b y A m e r i c a ' s e x c e e d i n g l y p o p u l a r A m b a s s a d o r , J a c o b
Go u l d S c h u r m a n , w a s t h e Br i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r , L o r d D ' A b e r -
n o n . Th e f o l l o w i n g d a y , Ri b b e n t r o p r u s h e d t o t h e Br i t i s h
Em b a s s y , t h e Ba r u c h Hi r s c h S t r o u s b e r g ' s o l d p a l a c e , t o l e a v e
c a r d s
. L o r d D ' A b e r n o n , u n a b l e t o r e c o l l e c t w h e r e h e h a d m e t
t h i s p o l i t e n e w a c q u a i n t a n c e , a s k e d h i s s e c r e t a r y w h o i t w a s
a n d w h a t r e a s o n t h i s p e r s o n , w h o m h e d i d n o t k n o w , m i g h t
6 o
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
h a v e f o r p a y i n g t h i s f o r m a l c a l l
. Wa s t h e u n k n o w n s o m e n e w
Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e o f f i c i a l ?
" No , " a n s w e r e d t h e s e c r e t a r y , " Ik n o w t h e m a n
. He i s
a n a m b i t i o u s w i n e m e r c h a n t , a n d h e p r o b a b l y h o p e s t o b e
i n v i t e d t o d i n n e r o r a t l e a s t t o a r e c e p t i o n g i v e n a t t h e Em -
b a s s y . "
" Oh , n o w Ir e m e m b e r
. Im e t h i m y e s t e r d a y a t t e a a t t h e
S c h u r m a n s . Y e s , h e i s a w i n e m e r c h a n t
. Th e A m e r i c a n A m -
b a s s a d o r t o l d m e s o
. Bu t d o Ih a v e t o i n v i t e a w i n e m e r c h a n t ,
i f Ih a v e n o b u s i n e s s w i t h h i m ? " a s k e d L o r d D ' A b e r n o n w i t h
a r e s i g n e d v o i c e , f o r h e h a d d e c i d e d t h a t i n Be r l i n e v e r y t h i n g
w a s p o s s i b l e
. We d o n o t k n o w t h e s e c r e t a r y ' s r e p l y , b u t t h e
Ri b b e n t r o p s w e r e p u t o n t h e p r o s p e c t i v e i n v i t a t i o n s l i s t
. Ne x t
t o t h e i r n a m e s w a s n o t e d , " o n l y R, " m e a n i n g " r e c e p t i o n
o n l y
. " Th e A m b a s s a d o r a l s o l e f t c a r d s a t t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s
.
Po l i t e n e s s r e q u i r e d t h a t
. Th e Ri b b e n t r o p s a l s o l e f t c a r d s a t
t h e Cz e c h o s l o v a k i a n L e g a t i o n , t h e D u t c h , t h e Po l i s h , t h e
A u s t r i a n , a n d o t h e r s
. Th e Cz e c h o s l o v a k i a n Mi n i s t e r d i d n o t
i n v i t e J o a c h i m a t a l l .
Ri b b e n t r o p s e e m e d t o h a v e r e a c h e d t h e h e i g h t o f h i s s o c i a l
a m b i t i o n s w h e n h e w a s " a d o p t e d " a n d s o " e n n o b l e d " i n 1 9 2 5
b y h i s " a u n t i e , " Ge r t r u d e v o n Ri b b e n t r o p , a m e m b e r o f t h e
y o u n g e s t o f t h e t h r e e t i t l e d Ri b b e n t r o p l i n e s
. Th i s s p i n s t e r
h a d a l w a y s h a d a w e a k s p o t f o r J o a c h i m , a n d f i n a n c i a l r e a s o n s
c a n n o t b e e x c l u d e d , a t l e a s t a s a p o s s i b i l i t y ,
a s
o n e o f t h e r e a -
s o n s f o r t h i s t r a n s a c t i o n
. On e s o u r c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n a f f i r m s
t h a t Ge r t r u d e o n c e r e m a r k e d t h a t J o a c h i m h a d n o t f u l f i l l e d
a n y o f t h e p r o m i s e s h e h a d m a d e w h e n t h e a d o p t i o n h a d b e e n
a r r a n g e d
. Be t h a t a s i t m a y , i n t h e l e g a l p r o t o c o l s w h i c h a r e
6 I
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
p a r t o f t h e p r o c e s s o f a d o p t i o n , Ge r t r u d e i s m e n t i o n e d a s
" a u n t " o f J o a c h i m Ri b b e n t r o p , J o a c h i m a s " n e p h e w " o f
Ge r t r u d e
. Th i s , t o p u t i t m i l d l y , w a s m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o n
b o t h s i d e s .
Ge r t r u d e w a s t h e d a u g h t e r o f Ma j o r Ge n e r a l S i g i s m u n d
v o n Ri b b e n t r o p w h o w a s t i t l e d i n 1 8 8 4 . S h e h a d o n e
b r o t h e r a n d o n e s i s t e r , b u t n e i t h e r o n e w a s r e l a t e d t o
J o a c h i m ' s f a t h e r o r m o t h e r . S i n c e t h e a f f i d a v i t s a c c o m p a n y -
i n g t h e p r o c e s s o f a d o p t i o n h a d t o b e m a d e u n d e r o a t h , t h i s
f a l s i f i c a t i o n o f k i n s h i p c o u l d b e l o o k e d u p o n a s a c r i m i n a l
o f f e n s e .
Th e d o c u m e n t s r e l a t i n g t o t h e a d o p t i o n h a d t o b e f i l e d
w i t h t h e e d i t o r s o f t h e Go t h a ' s c h e s Ta s c h e n b u c h
d e r
a d e l i g e n Ha e u s e r ( A l m a n a c h d e Go t h a )
. No t e v e r y o n e o f
n o b l e b i r t h i s l i s t e d e v e r y y e a r , a n d t h e t h r e e t i t l e d b r a n c h e s
o f t h e Ri b b e n t r o p f a m i l y w e r e l i s t e d f o r t h e l a s t t i m e i n
1 9 32
. U p t o t h a t t i m e , t h e a d o p t i o n o f " n e p h e w " J o a c h i m
b y " A u n t i e " Ge r t r u d e w a s n o t a c c e p t e d b y t h e Go t h a e d i -
t o r s . A n d t h e i r d e c i s i o n s i n s u c h m a t t e r s a r e l a w . Th e Go t h a
f o r 1 9 32 d o e s n o t l i s t J o a c h i m a s a t i t l e d p e r s o n , b u t m e n -
t i o n s h i s n a m e o n l y i n a n a p p e n d i x t o t h e " a u n t ' s " n a m e . Th e
e d i t o r s , e v e n a t t h i s c r i t i c a l p o i n t , b e g r u d g e h i m t h e d e c i s i v e
a t t r i b u t e , t h e
v o n . Th e y m e r e l y n o t e t h a t t h i s m a n " c a l l s
h i m s e l f " v o n Ri b b e n t r o p , a n d t h a t h e i s a f o r m e r Pr u s s i a n
f i r s t l i e u t e n a n t . Th e e d i t o r s o f t h e Go t h a n o t o n l y r e f u s e
t o r e c o g n i z e J o a c h i m ' s t i t l e , b u t t h e y a l s o r e f r a i n f r o m l i s t -
i n g h i s w i f e a n d c h i l d r e n .
J o a c h i m h i m s e l f s e e m s t o h a v e b e l i e v e d , a n d s u r e l y c o n -
t i n u e s t o b e l i e v e , t h a t t h i s a d o p t i o n w a s a l e g a l t r a n s a c t i o n .
He n o t o n l y c h a n g e d h i s f i r m n a m e f r o m Ri b b e n t r o p &Co .
t o v o n Ri b b e n t r o p &Co . , b u t h e p r o c l a i m e d t h i s c h a n g e i n
a s o l e m n c i r c u l a r l e t t e r w h i c h h e s e n t t o a l l o f h i s b u s i n e s s
f r i e n d s a n d c o n n e c t i o n s . In s o m e c a s e s , J o a c h i m e v e n a n -
6 2
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
n o u n c e d t h i s a l l - i m p o r t a n t c h a n g e t o s o m e o f h i s m o r e i n t i -
m a t e f r i e n d s b y s p e c i a l h a n d w r i t t e n l e t t e r s .
Co u n t Ma x e n c e d e Po l i g n a c , o n e o f Po m m e r y &Gr e n o ' s
p a r t n e r s , r e v e a l e d , i n a n a r t i c l e i n
Pa r i s S o i r , t h a t J o a c h i m
h a d m a d e h i s c h a n g e o f s o c i a l s t a t u s k n o w n t o h i m
" p a r u n e
l e t t r e t r e s a i m a b l e . "
In t h i s m i s s i v e Ri b b e n t r o p a t t r i b u t e d
h i s s u d d e n e l e v a t i o n t o h i s b r a v e r y i n Wo r l d Wa r I . He
d i d n o t w r i t e o n e w o r d a b o u t a d o p t i o n
. Th e w h o l e l e t t e r t o
Po l i g n a c i s a c o m p l e t e l i e , a s i l l y l i e
. A n y b o d y a c q u a i n t e d
w i t h t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e We i m a r Re p u b l i c k n o w s t h a t a
p a t e n t o f n o b i l i t y w a s p o s s i b l e f o r c o m m o n e r s o n l y b y a d o p -
t i o n a n d t h a t t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n e w t i t l e " f o r d e e d s i n Wo r l d
Wa r I" o r f o r a n y o t h e r a c h i e v e m e n t w a s a s h e e r i m p o s s i -
b i l i t y .
A f e w t i t l e d Ri b b e n t r o p s a r e k n o w n t o h a v e c o m m e n t e d
o n t h e d e a l b e t w e e n n e p h e w a n d A u n t i e Ge r t r u d e
. Bu t a
r e a l s t o r m b r o k e o u t o n l y w h e n J o a c h i m
v o n Ri b b e n t r o p
a p p l i e d f o r m e m b e r s h i p i n t h e f a m o u s U n i o n Cl u b , t h e
Be r l i n e q u i v a l e n t o f t h e j o c k e y Cl u b i n Pa r i s
. Ma n y o f t h e
U n i o n Cl u b ' s m e m b e r s w e r e l e g i t i m a t e p r i n c e s a n d c o u n t s ,
m a n y o t h e r s w e r e j u s t p l a i n b o u r g e o i s
. S o m e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
f r i e n d s w e r e o n t h e a d m i s s i o n c o m m i t t e e , b u t t h e r e w e r e
s o m a n y o b j e c t i o n s a g a i n s t J o a c h i m ' s a d m i s s i o n t h a t a
l e n g t h y d e b a t e d e v e l o p e d d u r i n g w h i c h t h e w h o l e s c h e m e
o f
a c q u i r i n g a t i t l e b y w a y o f a d o p t i o n w a s w i d e l y c r i t i c i z e d
.
Th e m e e t i n g e n d e d w i t h t h e b l a c k b a l l i n g o f J o a c h i m b y a
g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f t h e c o m m i t t e e
. Th i s w a s a b l o w t o J o a c h i m .
Hi s r e p u t a t i o n h a d b e e n d e f i n i t e l y d a m a g e d
.
J o a c h i m w e n t t o a n o l d a c q u a i n t a n c e , a m e m b e r o f t h e
A d m i s s i o n Co m m i t t e e , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e i n t h e Pr u s s i a n
Pr i m e Mi n i s t e r ' s o f f i c e , D r
. Ro b e r t We i s m a n n . We i s m a n n
n a t u r a l l y k n e w t h e w h o l e s t o r y
. He t o l d J o a c h i m t h a t i t
w a s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t t o r e v o k e t h e A d m i s s i o n Co n -
6 3
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
m i t t e e ' s d e c i s i o n , f o r t h e a d o p t i o n a f f a i r h a d b r o u g h t t o
l i g h t m a n y p e r s o n a l a n i m o s i t i e s w h i c h w e r e n o t e a s y t o d i s -
s i p a t e
. He a l s o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t J o a c h i m h a d n o l e g i t i m a t e
r a c i n g c o n n e c t i o n s
. He s u g g e s t e d t h a t J o a c h i m b u y a s h a r e
i n s o m e r a c i n g s t a b l e a n d t h e n t r y t o w i n F r a n z v o n Pa p e n ' s
f r i e n d s h i p . Vo n Pa p e n w a s , a t t h a t t i m e , a n o r d i n a r y m e m b e r
o f t h e Ca t h o l i c w i n g i n t h e Pr u s s i a n d i e t , b u t h e w a s o n e
o f t h e U n i o n Cl u b ' s l e a d e r s
. Th i s J o a c h i m d i d s u c c e s s f u l l y .
Pa p e n h a n d l e d t h e w h o l e m a t t e r w i t h g r e a t s k i l l , a n d a t t h e
n e x t m e e t i n g t h e A d m i s s i o n Co m m i t t e e r e v e r s e d i t s f i r s t d e -
c i s i o n . J o a c h i m , a p a r t n e r i n a r a c i n g s t a b l e , w a s a d m i t t e d
.
No w J o a c h i m d e v e l o p e d h i s c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e y o u n g
Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e
a t t a c h e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e i n t h e p r o t o c o l
d i v i s i o n . Th e s e y o u n g s t e r s k e p t h i m p o s t e d , i n a d v a n c e ,
a b o u t c o m i n g s o c i a l e v e n t s i n t h e d i p l o m a t i c s e t , v i s i t s o f
f o r e i g n s t a t e s m e n , a n d i m p o r t a n t c o n c e r t s o f f o r e i g n a r t i s t s .
J o a c h i m w a n t e d t o b e s e e n e v e r y w h e r e , a n d h i s s y s t e m p r o v e d
t o b e u t t e r l y s u c c e s s f u l
. He c a l l e d f o r t h e y o u n g a t t a c h e s
i n h i s o w n l i t t l e F o r d , t o o k t h e m h o m e a f t e r v a r i o u s f u n c -
t i o n s , a n d o b l i g i n g l y s a v e d t h e m t r o u b l e a n d e x p e n s e s i n
m a n y w a y s
. Th e y r e p a i d h i m m o r e t h a n t h e y k n e w .
He n o w d e v e l o p e d a n i n t e r e s t i n f o r e i g n p o l i t i c s
. He b e -
c a m e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h s o m e o f t h e t e r m i n i t e c h n i c i a n d w a s
a b l e t o t a k e p a r t i n c o n v e r s a t i o n s o n f o r e i g n p r o b l e m s . He
g r e w i n c r e a s i n g l y i n t i m a t e w i t h h i s a t t a c h e f r i e n d s . He i n -
v i t e d t h e m t o h i s h o m e , a b e a u t i f u l l y m a n a g e d a n d e x t r e m e l y
h o s p i t a b l e h o u s e h o l d w h e r e c h a m p a g n e w a s a l w a y s s e r v e d
.
L e a v i n g c a r d s a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s D a h l e m v i l l a b e c a m e p a r t o f
t h e c u s t o m a r y r o u t i n e f o r d i p l o m a t i c b e g i n n e r s . On c e , o n e
o f t h e a t t a c h e s a s k e d a r a n k i n g o f f i c i a l w h e t h e r h e t h o u g h t
t h a t i t w o u l d b e r i g h t t o l e a v e h i s c a r d
. " Of c o u r s e , " w a s
t h e a n s w e r , " f o r a n a t t a c h e i t w i l l a l w a y s b e u s e f u l t o b e
i n v i t e d t h e r e a n d t o m a k e n e w c o n t a c t s
. Bu t d o n ' t f o r g e t t h a t
6 4
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
Ri b b e n t r o p o n l y i n v i t e s s o m e b o d y i f h e t h i n k s t h a t t h i s w i l l
b e a d v a n t a g e o u s t o h i m . Th a t m a n i s a v e r y a m b i t i o u s f o o l
o f g o o d a p p e a r a n c e a n d m a n n e r , b u t o n e a l w a y s h a s t o b e
o n o n e ' s g u a r d w i t h h i m . "
A f t e r 1 9 2 9 , a n t i - Bo l s h e v i s m w a s a g a i n t h e f a s h i o n i n
Ge r m a n s o c i e t y c i r c l e s . Bu s i n e s s d e t e r i o r a t e d ; c a p i t a l i s t s
t r e m b l e d . Ev e r y s t r i k e , e v e r y d e m a n d o n t h e p a r t o f l a b o r
s i g n i f i e d Bo l s h e v i s m . Ne w o r g a n i z a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e " Bo l s h e -
v i s t i c d a n g e r " s p r a n g u p , a n d t h e y r e c e i v e d a b u n d a n t m e a n s
f o r t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s
. Ri b b e n t r o p b e c a m e o n e o f t h e i r l o u d e s t
a d v o c a t e s . On e c o u l d n o t t a l k w i t h h i m w i t h o u t b e i n g b u l -
l i e d i n t o s o m e d e c l a r a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e " Bo l s h e v i s t i c p e s t . "
Th i s w a s h i s p o l i t i c a l d o c t r i n e , h i s p a r t y p r o g r a m . No t h i n g
i n t e r e s t e d h i m u n l e s s i t i n c l u d e d t h e b a t t l e c r y , " D o w n w i t h
t h e Bo l s h e v i k s ! "
U n t i l 1 9 2 9 , Ri b b e n t r o p h a d n o t b e l o n g e d t o a n y p o l i t i c a l
p a r t y . F r i e n d s w h o k n e w h i m i n t i m a t e l y c a l l e d h i m a r o y a l -
i s t , b e c a u s e h e b o w e d b e f o r e t h e Cr o w n Pr i n c e a n d h i s s o n s ,
a n d b e c a u s e h e o f t e n w e n t o u t o f h i s w a y t o b e r e c o g n i z e d b y
t h e m
. Hi s f o n d n e s s f o r b e i n g i n c o m m a n d o r n e x t i n c o m -
m a n d w o u l d , a t a n y r a t e , h a v e p r e v e n t e d a s u c c e s s f u l p a r t y
c a r e e r
. Pa r l i a m e n t a r i a n i s m i n Ge r m a n y w a s a c o n t i n u o u s
f i g h t b e t w e e n t h e b o s s e s o r
Bo n z e n a n d n e w c o m e r s w h o c o v -
e t e d t h e i r p o s i t i o n s
. Th e b o s s e s a l w a y s w o n .
Th a t Ri b b e n t r o p r e a l l y f e l t a n d b e h a v e d l i k e a r o y a l i s t i s
t e s t i f i e d b y a r e l i a b l e En g l i s h m a n , o n e o f J o a c h i m ' s e a r l i e r
b u s i n e s s a c q u a i n t a n c e s , F r a n c i s Re d f e r n , m e m b e r o f t h e
b o a r d o f D i s t i l l e r s , L t d . Ri b b e n t r o p i n v i t e d Re d f e r n t o d i n -
n e r i n o n e o f Mu n i c h ' s l e a d i n g h o t e l s
. J u s t b e f o r e e n t e r i n g
t h e d i n i n g r o o m , J o a c h i m , w i t h o u t a w o r d o f e x p l a n a t i o n ,
l e f t h i s g u e s t a n d r u s h e d t o t h e s t a i r c a s e . Th e r e h e w a i t e d
i n a n a t t i t u d e o f e c s t a s y u n t i l a c e r t a i n g e n t l e m a n h a d d e -
s c e n d e d
. Ri b b e n t r o p b o w e d i n d e e p r e s p e c t a n d w a s r e -
6 5
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
w a r d e d w i t h a b e n e v o l e n t n o d . Th e n Ri b b e n t r o p r e t u r n e d t o
h i s g u e s t , a p o l o g i z e d f o r h i s s u d d e n d e p a r t u r e , a n d t o l d t h e
En g l i s h m a n t h a t t h e m a n h a d b e e n Pr i n c e Ei t e l F r i e d r i c h ,
" s o n o f o u r K a i s e r
. " He a d d e d , " a s a r o y a l i s t Ih a d t o e x p r e s s
m y r e v e r e n c e . "
A y e a r o r t w o l a t e r , F r a n c i s Re d f e r n m e t Ri b b e n t r o p a g a i n
i n Be r l i n . S p e a k i n g a b o u t t h e p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n , Re d f e r n
m e n t i o n e d t h a t Br i t i s h p u b l i c o p i n i o n d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e
w a y i n w h i c h t h e J e w s w e r e i l l - t r e a t e d b y t h e Na z i s
. J o a c h i m
a n s w e r e d , " D o n ' t t a k e t h a t s o s e r i o u s l y , Mr . Re d f e r n . We
j u s t u s e a n t i s e m i t i s m a s o n e o f o u r c a m p a i g n s l o g a n s f o r i n n e r
c o n s u m p t i o n
. " S o m e b o d y i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c o m p a n y r e m a r k e d
o n t h a t o c c a s i o n , " We w o u l d e v e n p r e f e r t o p r e a c h a c r u s a d e
a g a i n s t t h e Ca t h o l i c s , b u t t h e r e a r e t o o m a n y o f t h e m . "
It m a y b e a p p r o p r i a t e t o a d d h e r e a f e w r e m a r k s a b o u t
J o a c h i m ' s c o n t a c t s w i t h J e w s . J e w i s h s o c i e t y w a s p r o m i n e n t
i n Be r l i n , a n d J o a c h i m w a s a l w a y s r i g h t i n i t s m i d s t
. A s a
m a t t e r o f f a c t , h i s A r y a n f r i e n d s w e r e n o t v e r y n u m e r o u s .
On e o f h i s A r y a n a c q u a i n t a n c e s , Co u n t Os c a r v o n Pl a t e n -
Ha l l e r m u n d , f o r m e r Ch a m b e r l a i n o f t h e K a i s e r , o n c e s a i d
t o J o a c h i m , " It s e e m s t o m e t h a t Ia m t h e o n l y Ch r i s t i a n
f r i e n d y o u h a v e , " a r e m a r k w h i c h c a u s e d m u c h h i l a r i t y a t
o n e o f t h e r e c e p t i o n s Ri b b e n t r o p a t t e n d e d .
A f t e r f i n a l l y b e i n g a d m i t t e d t o t h e U n i o n Cl u b , J o a c h i m
s o u g h t t h e c o m p a n y o f t h e We i n b e r g s a n d t h e Op p e n h e i m s ,
g r e a t r a c i n g f a m i l i e s . Hi s c o n n e c t i o n s w i t h J e w i s h b a n k e r s
w e r e n u m e r o u s
. A t t h e d i n n e r s o f t h e v o n Go l d s c h m i d t -
Ro t h s c h i l d s , t h e v o n F r i e d l a e n d e r - F u l d s , Ot t m a r S t r a u s s , t h e
Gu t t m a n n s , a n d t h e He r z f e l d s , J o a c h i m a n d A n n e l i e s h a d
t h e t i m e o f t h e i r l i v e s .
S h o r t l y b e f o r e t h e Na z i s a s s u m e d p o w e r , J o a c h i m d i s -
c u s s e d t h e a n t i s e m i t i s m o f t h e Na z i p a r t y w i t h a g r o u p o f
h i s J e w i s h f r i e n d s
. " Ih a v e r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e , " h e s a i d , " t h a t
6 6
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
Hi t l e r h e e d s m y a d v i c e
. D o n ' t m a k e t h e m i s t a k e o f t a k i n g
h i s a n t i s e m i t i c u t t e r a n c e s t o o s e r i o u s l y
. It i s m o r e a p o l i t i c a l
g e s t u r e t h a n a c t u a l o p i n i o n , a n d , b e s i d e s , i t w i l l o n l y h a v e
i t s e f f e c t o n t h e ` Ea s t e r n J e w s , ' t h e i m m i g r a n t s f r o m Po l a n d
a n d Ro u m a n i a , n o t o n t h o s e o f l o n g s t a n d i n g i n Ge r m a n y
h e r s e l f
. He k n o w s v e r y w e l l t h a t t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f J e w i s h
d e a d i n t h e l a s t w a r w a s e v e n h i g h e r t h a n t h e p e r c e n t a g e o f
A r y a n Ge r m a n a r i s t o c r a t s . "
A f t e r t h e Na z i s r e i g n e d s u p r e m e i n t h e Re i c h , Ri b b e n -
t r o p w a s s t i l l s e e n i n t h e c o m p a n y o f h i s J e w i s h f r i e n d s
.
On t h e " D a y o f t h e Bo y c o t t , " A p r i l i , 1 9 33, Ri b b e n t r o p
i n v i t e d a g r o u p o f J e w i s h f r i e n d s t o l u n c h i n t h e Ho t e l
A d l o n
. Th i s c a u s e d s o m e e x c i t e m e n t a m o n g t h e Na z i b i g w i g s
.
Hi t l e r h i m s e l f , i t w a s r e p o r t e d , r e p r i m a n d e d J o a c h i m f o r
t h i s t a c t l e s s a c t i o n . Ri b b e n t r o p c a m e o u t o f Hi t l e r ' s r o o m
" f l a b b e r g a s t e d . "
On t h e o t h e r h a n d , w h e n o n t h e o c c a s i o n o f a c h a m b e r
m u s i c c o n c e r t a t a p a r t y g i v e n i n h i s h o n o r w h i l e h e w a s
A m b a s s a d o r t o L o n d o n ,
F e l i x Me n d e l s s o h n - Ba r t h o l d y ' s
m u s i c w a s p l a y e d , J o a c h i m r e m a r k e d o s t e n t a t i o u s l y , " Ev e n
h e r e o n e c a n n o t e s c a p e t h i s J e w i s h m u s i c
. " He a l s o f r e q u e n t l y
s p o k e o f J e w i s h a t r o c i t y p r o p a g a n d a a n d a b o u t J e w i s h i n f l u -
e n c e i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c s . He l i k e d t o m a k e q u e s t i o n a b l e
j o k e s a b o u t t h e J e w i s h d e s c e n t o f f e l l o w g u e s t s h e h a d m e t a t
d i n n e r o r d u r i n g a w e e k - e n d
. Bu t h e h a s a l s o b e e n k n o w n
t o h e l p a f e w J e w s i n t h e i r h o r r i b l e p l i g h t
. On e d a y , t h e
d a u g h t e r o f a w e l l - k n o w n Ge r m a n b a n k e r , w h o s e h o u s e
J o a c h i m h a d f r e q u e n t e d , c a m e i n t e a r s t o t h e p a s s p o r t d e -
p a r t m e n t o f t h e L o n d o n Em b a s s y
. He r f a t h e r a n d h e r
b r o t h e r h a d d i e d s u d d e n l y i n Be r l i n a f e w d a y s p r e v i o u s l y ,
a n d h e r o l d m o t h e r w a s l e f t a l l a l o n e t h e r e
. Be i n g a r e f u g e e ,
t h e l a d y w a s n o t a l l o w e d , u n d e r t h r e a t o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n
c a m p , t o e n t e r Ge r m a n y
. Th e o f f i c i a l i n c h a r g e o f t h e p a s s -
6 7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
p o r t d i v i s i o n f i n a l l y t o o k t h e c a s e t o Ri b b e n t r o p h i m s e l f
.
J o a c h i m i m m e d i a t e l y t o o k u p t h e r e c e i v e r t o h i s l o n g d i s -
t a n c e t e l e p h o n e w h i c h c o n n e c t e d h i s d e s k d i r e c t l y w i t h
Be r l i n , a n d c a l l e d h i s i n t i m a t e f r i e n d , Hi m m l e r , t h e Ge s t a p o
c h i e f
. Wi t h i n a f e w m i n u t e s , t h e l a d y w a s t o l d t h a t a s p e c i a l
p e r m i t w o u l d b e i s s u e d t o h e r a n d t h a t t h e Ge r m a n b o r d e r
a u t h o r i t i e s w o u l d g e t i n s t r u c t i o n s n o t t o m o l e s t h e r
. U p o n
h e r r e t u r n t o L o n d o n , t h e l a d y r e p o r t e d t h a t s h e h a d b e e n
t r e a t e d w i t h t h e u t m o s t p o l i t e n e s s b y a l l Ge r m a n a u t h o r i t i e s
.
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s f i r s t c u s t o m e r a n d l a t e r o n o n e o f h i s m o s t
i n t i m a t e f r i e n d s , n o n - A r y a n Ot t m a r S t r a u s s , w r o t e i n Oc t o -
b e r ,
1 9 33,
" Th i s f e l l o w ( J o a c h i m ) r e a l l y b e h a v e s l i k e a
g e n t l e m a n t o w a r d s m e
. He a l w a y s a d d r e s s e s m e i n h i s l e t t e r s
a s ` My d e a r F r i e n d , ' a n d w e e v e n
t h e e a n d t h o u e a c h o t h e r
.
Ir e a l l y t h i n k h e i s r e l i a b l e
. Of c o u r s e , h e m a y b e i n a d i f f i c u l t
p o s i t i o n s h o u l d s o m e b o d y r e p o r t t h i s t o h i s p a r t y f r i e n d s
. " In
t h e a u t u m n o f 1 9 37 , t h e s a m e m a n w r o t e , " J o a c h i m b e h a v e s
l i k e a s w i n e
. A f t e r a l l , h a v e n ' t Id o n e e v e r y t h i n g f o r h i m I
c o u l d i n t h e d a y s w h e n h e n e e d e d h e l p ? D o y o u r e m e m b e r
t h e d a y w h e n h e c a m e l o o k i n g f o r a j o b ? Ho w o f t e n d i d I
h e l p h i m o u t ! In e v e r w o u l d h a v e e x p e c t e d t h i s
. A s e c r e t a r y
o f t h e Co n s u l a t e Ge n e r a l i n Z u r i c h j u s t c a l l e d m e u p a n d
i n f o r m e d m e t h a t ' He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p i s u n a b l e t o a n s w e r
y o u r l e t t e r . ' "
Th e Be r l i n p h y s i c i a n w h o t o o k c a r e o f t h e y o u n g e r c h i l d r e n
o f t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s w a s a J e w
. He a l w a y s , a s h e h i m s e l f
t e s t i f i e d , w a s t r e a t e d w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t r e g a r d . Th e c h i l d r e n
w e r e a l l w e l l - b e h a v e d
. J o a c h i m a c c o m p a n i e d h i s q u a r t e r l y
c h e c k s w i t h l i t t l e n o t e s
. Ch a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e m i s , " f o r e x c e l -
l e n t s e r v i c e s f o r w h i c h n o t o n l y m y w i f e a n d Ib u t a l s o t h e
c h i l d r e n a r e t h a n k f u l t o y o u . "
A y o u n g Ge r m a n w h o l i v e d i n L o n d o n d u r i n g J o a c h i m ' s
t e r m a s A m b a s s a d o r a t t h e Co u r t o f S t
. J a m e s t e l l s a n a m u s -
6 8
MA RCHA ND D EVINS
i n g s t o r y
. Th i s y o u n g s t e r , F r i e d r i c h Wi l h e l m S c h n e i d e r b y
n a m e , s u f f e r e d t e r r i b l y o n e n i g h t f r o m t o o t h a c h e . He
'
w e n t
t o a p h a r m a c y , g o t t h e a d d r e s s t h e r e o f a n e i g h b o r i n g s u r g e o n -
d e n t i s t , a n d h a d t h e t o o t h p u l l e d
. S e e i n g t h e t y p i c a l Ge r m a n
n e c k o f h i s p a t i e n t , t h e d e n t i s t a s k e d h i m w h a t n a t i o n a l i t y
h e w a s a n d w h e n t o l d s h o w e d h i m a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r f r o m
Ri b b e n t r o p , i n w h i c h h e e x t e n d e d t h a n k s f o r t h e g o o d m a n ' s
e x c e l l e n t r e p a i r w o r k
. " A s m y m e a n s a n d t i m e w e r e v e r y
l i m i t e d , " t h e y o u n g Ge r m a n r e l a t e d , " m y d e n t i s t b i l l w a s
j u s t a d d e d t o t h a t o f t h e A m b a s s a d o r
. A n d w h o w a s t h e
d e n t i s t ? A J e w w h o h a d h i s p r a c t i c e i n Ha y m a r k e t . "
A l l t h i s d o e s n o t s o u n d q u i t e a s i n h u m a n a s o n e w o u l d
e x p e c t f r o m a t y p i c a l Na z i , b u t J o a c h i m w a s , i n t h e f i r s t
y e a r s o f h i s p a r t y a f f i l i a t i o n , n o t a t y p i c a l Na z i
. He s l o w l y
b e c a m e o n e a s h i s s t a r a s c e n d e d
. He f o u n d t h a t h e c o u l d
b u y f a n t a s t i c p o w e r b y r e l i g i o u s l y r e p e a t i n g t h e l a n g u a g e o f
g u t t e r s n i p e s a n d b y p e r s u a d i n g h i m s e l f t h a t h e b e l i e v e d t h e
f a n a t i c a l n o n s e n s e o f h i s b o s s , Hi t l e r . To w h a t e x t e n t h i s
l i m i t e d i n t e l l i g e n c e c a p i t u l a t e d b e f o r e t h e o b s e s s i o n s o f h i s
F u e h r e r i s w e l l d o c u m e n t e d b y a r e p o r t Vi c t o r L e o p o l d d e
L a c r o i x , t h e F r e n c h m i n i s t e r i n Pr a g u e , m a d e o n F e b r u a r y 7 ,
1
9 39 , t o t h e Q u a i d ' Or s a y
a n d w h i c h i s p r i n t e d i n t h e F r e n c h
Y e l l o w Bo o k d e a l i n g w i t h t h e o r i g i n s o f Wo r l d Wa r II .
Mo n s i e u r d e L a c r o i x d e s c r i b e s t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h e Cz e c h
F o r e i g n Mi n i s t e r t o o k h o m e f r o m a v i s i t t o Be r l i n , a f e w
w e e k s b e f o r e t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f Pr a g u e .
F r a n z Ch v a l k o w s k y , t h e Cz e c h m i n i s t e r , w e n t t o Be r l i n
t o d i s c u s s s e r i o u s b u s i n e s s . Bu t t o h i s b e w i l d e r m e n t , Hi t l e r
a n d Ri b b e n t r o p w e r e i n t e r e s t e d o n l y i n s c r e a m i n g d e n u n c i a -
t i o n s o f t h e w i c k e d J e w s . Th e r e w a s a He r r F r i e d m a n n a n d
a He r r Bu t t e r i n t h e e m p l o y m e n t o f t h e Cz e c h g o v e r n m e n t
.
Th i s c o l o s s a l o f f e n s e u n b a l a n c e d t h e m i n d s o f t h e Ge r m a n
l e a d e r s . " On e h a s t o e x t e r m i n a t e t h a t r a b b l e , " t h e y c r i e d
.
6 9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
" Ge r m a n y c a n n o t h a v e a m i c a b l e r e l a t i o n s w i t h a s t a t e w h i c h
p e r m i t s t h e J e w s t o h a v e a n y i n f l u e n c e w h a t s o e v e r , w h e t h e r
i n t h e f i e l d o f c o m m e r c e o r b e c a u s e t h e y h o l d o f f i c i a l p o s i -
t i o n s "
Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p r e g r e t t e d t h e " p h i l a n t h r o p y " t h e y
h a d s o g e n e r o u s l y d i s p l a y e d i n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f t h e J e w i s h
q u e s t i o n
. " D o n ' t e m u l a t e o u r s e n t i m e n t a l i t y , " t h e y w a r n e d
Ch v a l k o w s k y
. A f t e r Ri b b e u t r o p h a d s h o w n , f o r s o m a n y
y e a r s , a m a r k e d p r e f e r e n c e f o r s o c i a l i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h J e w s ,
i t w a s p e r h a p s t o b e e x p e c t e d t h a t h e w o u l d a d v i s e Ch v a l -
k o w s k y t o e x t e r m i n a t e t h e A r y a n s
. Bu t n o , i t w a s F r i e d m a n n
a n d Bu t t e r w h o s u d d e n l y e n d a n g e r e d t h e s a f e t y o f t h e Ge r -
m a n Re i c h w h i l e t h e i r Be r l i n c o - r e l i g i o n i s t s h a d e n d a n g e r e d
o n l y t h e d i g e s t i o n o f He r r Ri b b e n t r o p w i t h t h e i r s u m p t u o u s
d i n n e r s
. Ch v a l k o w s k y h a s t e n e d t o d i s m i s s F r i e d m a n n a n d
Bu t t e r , b u t i t w a s n o t e n o u g h t o p r e v e n t Hi t l e r f r o m e n t e r -
i n g t h e Hr a d s c h i n , i n p e r s o n , a f e w w e e k s l a t e r .
7 0
Ri b b e n t r o p J o i n s t h e Pa r t y ; F i r s t Co n t a c t s w i t h
Hi t l e r; He l p i n g t h e Pa r t y i n t o t h e S a d d l e
WHA Ti n d i v i d u a l h a d t h e d o u b t f u l p r i v i l e g e o f p e r s u a d i n g
J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p t o b e c o m e a p a r t y m e m b e r ? Th i s
q u e s t i o n w a s e a g e r l y d i s c u s s e d d u r i n g t h e e a r l y d a y s o f Na z i
r u l e . A n o t h e r q u e s t i o n a l s o i n t e r e s t e d p e o p l e
. Th r o u g h w h o m
d i d Ri b b e n t r o p m e e t Hi t l e r o r Hi t l e r m e e t Ri b b e n t r o p f o r
t h e f i r s t t i m e ? S e v e n Gr e e k c i t i e s f o u g h t o v e r t h e h o n o r o f
b e i n g t h e b i r t h p l a c e o f Ho m e r . It a l i a n a n d S p a n i s h h i s -
t o r i a n s s t i l l b a t t l e o v e r Ch r i s t o p h e r Co l u m b u s ' n a t i v e l a n d .
Th e r e w i l l b e n o t h i n g o f t h i s k i n d a s f a r a s Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
p a r t y a f f i l i a t i o n i s c o n c e r n e d b e c a u s e t h e a n s w e r s a r e k n o w n
.
It w a s Co u n t Wo l f He i n r i c h v o n He l l d o r f w h o i n t r o d u c e d
J o a c h i m i n t o t h e p a r t y . It w a s Vi c c o A l e x a n d e r v o n Bu e l o w -
S c h w a n t e w h o p r a i s e d Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a b i l i t i e s a n d k n o w l e d g e
o f l a n g u a g e s w h e n Hi t l e r w a s l o o k i n g f o r s o m e b o d y w h o
c o u l d r e a d t h e L o n d o n
Ti m e s
.
Co u n t He l l d o r f w a s a n e x - Wo r l d Wa r Iv o l u n t e e r . He
e n t e r e d t h e r e g i m e n t o f t h e Th u e r i n g e r Hu s a r e n
a t t h e s a m e
t i m e t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p j o i n e d t h e To r g a u e r Hu s a r e n - Re g i -
m e n t Nr . 1 2 . He l l d o r f b e c a m e a c a d e t a t t h e s a m e t i m e a s
Ri b b e n t r o p , b u t h e b e c a m e a l i e u t e n a n t s o m e m o n t h s b e f o r e
h i m . Th e y b e c a m e f r i e n d s . A f t e r t h e w a r He l l d o r f , d i s -
7 I
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
c h a r g e d f r o m h i s r e g i m e n t u n d e r t h e r e s t r i c t i o n s o f t h e
Ve r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y , j o i n e d t h e
F r e i k o r p s Ro s s b a c h w h i c h
f o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e c o m m u n i s t s a t Mu n i c h , Ha l l e , o r w h e r -
e v e r a f i g h t w a s g o i n g o n . He l l d o r f a l s o b e l o n g e d t o t h e
b a n d o f r e b e l s w h o , u n d e r K a p p , t r i e d t o t e r m i n a t e t h e
We i m a r Re p u b l i c . Wh e n t h e
K a p p Pu t s c h p r o v e d a f a i l u r e ,
h e , a s a m e m b e r o f t h e Ro s s b a c h e r
a n d a s o n e o f t h e o r g a n -
i z e r s o f t h e r e b e l l i o n , h a d t o f l e e t o It a l y . A n a m n e s t y a l -
l o w e d h i m t o r e t u r n t o t h e F a t h e r l a n d . Th e Ro s s b a c h e r s
w e r e
r e o r g a n i z e d a n d f i n a n c e d b y c e r t a i n i n d u s t r i a l g r o u p s a n d
l a n d o w n e r s w h o s a w i n s u c h " p r i v a t e a r m i e s " p r o t e c t i o n
a g a i n s t t h e m e n a c e o f c o m m u n i s t i c u p r i s i n g s
. Wh e n t h e s e
u p r i s i n g s d i d n o t m a t e r i a l i z e , i n d u s t r i a l s a n d l a n d o w n e r s
a l i k e b e c a m e t i r e d o f f e e d i n g t h e S o l d a t e s k a . Th e Ro s s b a c h e r s
d i s s o l v e d
. He l l d o r f a n d s o m e o f h i s c o m r a d e s f o u n d s h e l t e r
a n d p a y w i t h t h e Na z i p a r t y ' s o w n m i l i t a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n
.
In 1 9 30, h e b e c a m e h e a d o f t h e S . A
. Gr u p p e Br a n d e n b u r g
Be r l i n
a n d p e r s o n a l s e c r e t a r y t o Hi t l e r .
It w a s a t t h i s t i m e t h a t Co u n t He l l d o r f a n d J o a c h i m v o n
Ri b b e n t r o p m e t a g a i n a n d r e n e w e d t h e i r f r i e n d s h i p . Th e i r
m u t u a l h a t r e d o f c o m m u n i s m b e c a m e a s t r o n g c o n n e c t i n g
l i n k . He l l d o r f , e v e r s h o r t o f m o n e y , o c c a s i o n a l l y r e c e i v e d
h e l p f r o m J o a c h i m
. D i s c u s s i n g t h e c o m m u n i s t i c m o v e m e n t ,
He l l d o r f e x p l a i n e d t o Ri b b e n t r o p t h a t o n l y A d o l f Hi t l e r ' s
p a r t y w i t h i t s a r m e d f o r c e a n d i t s g r o w i n g m e m b e r s h i p
c o u l d s a v e t h e F a t h e r l a n d . He s t r o n g l y h i n t e d t h a t i t w a s
J o a c h i m ' s d u t y t o j o i n t h e p a r t y . Ri b b e n t r o p f e l t l i k e d o i n g
s o , b u t a t t h a t t i m e c o m m e r c i a l i n t e r e s t s h a d t h e u p p e r h a n d .
Ma n y o f h i s m o s t i m p o r t a n t c u s t o m e r s w e r e J e w i s h .
" Ho w c a n y o u e x p e c t t o d o b u s i n e s s w i t h J e w s i f y o u
a r e a Na z i ? " h e a s k e d He l l d o r f
. He w o u l d j o i n t h e p a r t y
b u t o n l y i f h i s a c t i o n w e r e k e p t s e c r e t . He l l d o r f , e a g e r t o
g e t t h i s p r o m i s i n g a n d w e a l t h y p r o s p e c t i n t o t h e p a r t y ,
7 2
RIBBENTROPJ OINS THEPA RTY
w a s a c c o m m o d a t i n g
. Co u l d Ri b b e n t r o p n o t j o i n t h e p a r t y
u n d e r
a n o m d e g u e r r e ? On l y t h e i n i t i a l h a d t o b e t h e s a m e .
Th i s w a s d o n e i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h t h e e x a c t d a t e o f t h e
e n t r y . Ev e n i n 1 9 30, p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p w a s f a r f r o m a s o c i a l
a s s e t , a n d u n t i l t h e d a y t h e p a r t y a s s u m e d p o w e r o n l y a f e w
i n t i m a t e s k n e w t h a t J o a c h i m w a s a p a r t y m e m b e r .
He w a s s e e n , h o w e v e r , w i t h He l l d o r f q u i t e o f t e n a t t h e
b a r o f t h e K a i s e r h o f , e v e n o n t h e d a y w h e n i t b e c a m e t e m -
p o r a r y S . A . Ha u p t q u a r t i e r f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e f i r s t
a n t i - J e w i s h r i o t s o n Be r l i n ' s
K u r f u e r s t e n d a m m
.
Bu t He l l d o r f
w a s n e v e r s e e n i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s h o m e . A n n e l i e s s e e m e d t o
d i s l i k e h i m a n d h i s g a n g . Co u n t He l l d o r f , m o r e o v e r , h a d
n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t v e s t i g e o f s o c i a l s t a n d i n g .
Vi c c o K a r l v o n Bu e l o w - S c h w a n t e d i d b e l o n g t o t h e
g e n t r y . A c a p t a i n i n t h e c a v a l r y h o r s e g u a r d , w o u n d e d i n
t h e e a r l y d a y s o f Wo r l d Wa r I, t h e s o n o f o n e o f t h e l e a d i n g
g e n e r a l s o f t h e K a i s e r ' s a r m y , Vi c c o b e c a m e a t t a c h e a t t h e
Ge r m a n L e g a t i o n i n Bu c h a r e s t t o w a r d t h e c l o s e o f 1 9 1
5 .
In s p i t e o f n o t h a v i n g p a s s e d a n y o f t h e r e q u i r e d e x a m i n a t i o n s
f o r t h e d i p l o m a t i c s e r v i c e a n d s e e m i n g l y n o t i n t h e m o o d t o
p r e p a r e f o r t h e m , h e w a s t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e Em b a s s y i n
Vi e n n a . Th e Bu e l o w t r i b e h a d m a n y p r o m i n e n t m e m b e r s
i n t h e F o r e i g n S e r v i c e . Th e y k e p t a n e y e o n Vi c c o a n d a r -
r a n g e d f o r h i m t o r e m a i n o n t h e s h o r e s o f t h e D a n u b e . In
t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 1 9 , h e v i s i t e d r e l a t i v e s i n S a l z b u r g , a n d
h e r e h e m a d e t h e a c q u a i n t a n c e o f a n e l d e r l y l a d y o f n o b l e
p a r e n t a g e . He a c c o m p a n i e d h e r o n h e r r e t u r n t o Vi e n n a .
He d e m a n d e d a n d r e c e i v e d , o w i n g t o h i s d i p l o m a t i c s t a t u s ,
a r e s e r v e d c o m p a r t m e n t i n t h e o v e r c r o w d e d t r a i n . Ot h e r
p a s s e n g e r s w h o h a d t o s t a n d i n t h e c o r r i d o r o f t h e c a r o p e n e d
t h e d o o r w i t h a n i n s p e c t o r ' s p a s s k e y , u n f o r t u n a t e l y a t a
m o m e n t w h e n t h e l o v i n g c o u p l e m i g h t b e t t e r h a v e b e e n l e f t
a l o n e . A n o f f i c i a l r e p o r t a b o u t t h e " i n c i d e n t " w a s b r o u g h t
7 3
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e . To a v o i d d i s c i p l i n a r y
p r o c e e d i n g s , p o o r Vi c c o h a d t o r e s i g n . F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g ,
h i s d i p l o m a t i c c a r e e r w a s e n d e d .
A t t h e a g e o f t w e n t y - e i g h t , w i t h t h e r e t u r n t o a m i l i t a r y
c a r e e r b l o c k e d b y t h e h a r s h r e g u l a t i o n s o f t h e Ve r s a i l l e s
Tr e a t y , w i t h n o c h a n c e o f f i n d i n g a h i d i n g p l a c e i n a g o v -
e r n m e n t a l o f f i c e , a n d w i t h n o q u a l i f i c a t i o n s a t a l l a s a b a s i s
f o r s o m e o t h e r p o s i t i o n , Vi c c o ' s f u t u r e l o o k e d v e r y d a r k .
Th e p e n s i o n w h i c h Ge r m a n y p a i d t o h e r d i s c h a r g e d a r m y
o f f i c e r s w a s m e a g e r . S o m e o f Vi c c o ' s f r i e n d s w e r e i n t h e
i l l e g a l s e c o n d - h a n d a r m a m e n t b u s i n e s s . Vi c c o h a d t h e r i g h t
c o n n e c t i o n s ; J o a c h i m h a d t h e n e c e s s a r y f u n d s . A s l o n g a s
i t l a s t e d , t h e b u s i n e s s w a s a p r o f i t a b l e o n e
. Th e c l o a k o f
p a t r i o t i s m e v e n s e r v e d t o s e c u r e t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f l o c a l
p o l i c e f o r c e s . Wh e n t h e p r o p e r a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e D e p a r t m e n t
o f t h e In t e r i o r , f i n a l l y i n t e r v e n e d , s o m e o f t h e s m a l l f r y w e r e
c a u g h t . Th e b i g g e r f i s h , t h o s e w i t h t h e r i g h t c o n n e c t i o n s ,
w e r e w a r n e d i n t i m e . Th e w h o l e a r m a m e n t " t r a d e " w a s s o o n
f o r g o t t e n .
Vi c c o h a d a l w a y s b e e n a g o o d s p e n d e r , a n d h e h a d n e v e r
t h o u g h t t o s a v e f o r a n e m e r g e n c y . F o r t u n a t e l y f o r h i m ,
Bu e l o w ' s t r i b e w a s a v e r y l a r g e o n e . He w a s i n v i t e d t o s t a y
w i t h r e l a t i v e s a n d f r i e n d s , a n d s o m e h o w h e m a n a g e d t o
s t r u g g l e a l o n g
. In 1 9 2 5 , h i s p r o b l e m o f f i n d i n g m e a n s f o r a
c o m f o r t a b l e l i f e i n k e e p i n g w i t h h i s s o c i a l s t a n d i n g w a s
s o l v e d . He m a r r i e d t h e w i d o w e d Co u n t e s s v o n Ro e d e r n , n e e
v o n S c h u b e r t , s i s t e r o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e i n t h e F o r e i g n
Of f i c e , K a r l v o n S c h u b e r t . Th e S c h u b e r t s w e r e i n t e r m a r r i e d
w i t h t h e S t u m m s , t h e f a m o u s c o a l b a r o n s . Hi s i n f l u e n t i a l
n e w r e l a t i v e s s o o n s e t t l e d Vi c c o ' s t r o u b l e s . Th e d o w r y o f
h i s w i f e w a s m o r e t h a n s u f f i c i e n t t o a l l o w h i m t o a c q u i r e
t h e S c h w a n t e e s t a t e , n o t f a r f r o m Be r l i n . A s w a s t h e c u s t o m ,
h e s u p p l e m e n t e d t h e n a m e o f h i s e s t a t e w i t h h i s i n h e r i t e d
7 4
RIBBENTROPJ OINS THEPA RTY
n a m e , a n d h e b e c a m e K a r l A l e x a n d e r v o n Bu e l o w - S c h w a n t e .
Vi c c o o r i g i n a l l y b e l o n g e d t o t h e
S t a h l h e l m , t h e o r g a n i z a -
t i o n o f Ge r m a n Wo r l d Wa r Iv e t e r a n s
. He a l s o h a d c l o s e
c o n t a c t s w i t h s o m e o f t h e Na z i s . On e d a y , Ru d o l f He s s i n -
t r o d u c e d h i m t o Hi t l e r a t Be r l i n ' s Ho t e l K a i s e r h o f . S o m e o n e
h a d t o l d Hi t l e r t h a t Vi c c o h a d f o r m e r l y s e r v e d i n t h e
Ge r m a n F o r e i g n Of f i c e
. A d o l f , b y w a y o f c o n v e r s a t i o n ,
h a p p e n e d t o m e n t i o n t h a t h e h a d n o g i f t f o r l a n g u a g e s n o r
a n y b o d y a t h i s d i s p o s a l w h o r e a l l y c o u l d r e a d
L e Te m p s a n d
t h e
Ti m e s f o r h i m . On l y Ru d o l f He s s c o u l d a n d h e , Hi t l e r
a d d e d , w a s n o t a v a i l a b l e f o r s u c h w o r k .
Vi c c o s h o w e d Hi t l e r o n e o f t h e c i r c u l a r r e p o r t s J o a c h i m
s e n t o u t , a t i r r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s , t o h i s b u s i n e s s f r i e n d s a b r o a d ,
r e p o r t s w h i c h a l s o d e a l t w i t h t h e Eu r o p e a n s i t u a t i o n i n
g e n e r a l , a n d w i t h Ge r m a n y i n p a r t i c u l a r
. Th e s e r e p o r t s c o n -
t a i n e d u n u s u a l l y s h r i l l w a r n i n g s a b o u t t h e g r o w i n g d a n g e r
o f Bo l s h e v i s m
. Hi t l e r e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y r e s p o n d e d t o Ri b b e n -
t r o p ' s c i r c u l a r s
. Vi c c o l a u d e d J o a c h i m ' s k n o w l e d g e o f f a c t s
a n d l a n g u a g e s , a n d i f Hi t l e r h a d f a i l e d t o r e c o g n i z e J o a c h i m ' s
g e n i u s w h e n h e w a s i n t r o d u c e d t o h i m b y He l l d o r f , o u r h e r o
c e r t a i n l y s c o r e d w h e n h e m a d e h i s a p p e a r a n c e u n d e r Vi c c o ' s
s p o n s o r s h i p
. A m a n w h o m a s t e r e d a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i d i o m w i t h
s u c h e a s e a s r e v e a l e d t h r o u g h t h e c i r c u l a r s a n d w a s a t t h e
s a m e t i m e a p a r t y m e m b e r w a s a
n e w e x p e r i e n c e f o r Hi t l e r .
Mo s t o f t h e m e n a r o u n d Hi t l e r w e r e d i s l i k e d b y Ri b b e n -
t r o p , n o r d i d t h e y s e e m t o t a k e a n i n t e r e s t i n h i m
. Th i s i s
t h e m a i n r e a s o n w h y J o a c h i m , e v e n m o n t h s a f t e r t h e Na z i s
c a m e t o p o w e r , w a s p r a c t i c a l l y u n k n o w n i n t h e p a r t y r a n k s
.
He h i m s e l f r e a l l y h a t e d " t h i s c l u b f o o t d w a r f , " a s h e i s s a i d
t o h a v e c h a r a c t e r i z e d Go e b b e l s
. He i n s t i n c t i v e l y d i s a p p r o v e d
o f Go e r i n g w h o b e h a v e d s o a r r o g a n t l y t o w a r d h i m
. A n d
F r i c k , n o w S e c r e t a r y o f t h e In t e r i o r o f t h e Re i c h , w a s t o
J o a c h i m " a k i n d o f p r o v i n c i a l p o s t m a s t e r
. " Bu t Hi t l e r , y e s
7 5
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Hi t l e r , s e e m e d t o b e a g e n i u s i n s p i t e o f h i s p h y s i q u e , i n
s p i t e o f t h e d a n d r u f f o n h i s c o l l a r , i n s p i t e o f h i s a b o m i n a b l e
t a b l e m a n n e r s
. Hi t l e r w a s , i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s o p i n i o n , t h e c o m -
i n g m a n
. He o b v i o u s l y h a d t o b e c u l t i v a t e d
. Bu t o n e h a d
t o t r y t o k e e p a w a y f r o m a l l t h o s e o t h e r u n e d u c a t e d , b a d -
m a n n e r e d h e n c h m e n .
Th i s c o n t a c t b e t w e e n Ri b b e n t r o p a n d Hi t l e r , a r r a n g e d
a n d f o s t e r e d b y Vi c c o , p r o v e d v e r y p r o f i t a b l e f o r t h e a m b i -
t i o u s J o a c h i m
. Ri b b e n t r o p l a t e r o n b r o k e w i t h Vi c c o c o m -
p l e t e l y i n a q u a r r e l o v e r t h a t e v e r u n i m p o r t a n t " q u e s t i o n d e
p r o t o c o l , "
w h a t t o w e a r w h e n v i s i t i n g t h e Po p e i n t h e f o r e -
n o o n . Th i s b r e a k c a m e d e s p i t e Vi c c o ' s g r e a t h o s p i t a l i t y a t
c a s t l e S c h w a n t e , d e s p i t e Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e
s e c o n d - h a n d a r m a m e n t s d e a l s , a n d d e s p i t e t h e b a c k i n g Vi c c o
h a d g i v e n h i m i n t h e d a y s w h e n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a d o p t e d
v o n
w a s n o t r e c o g n i z e d b y t h o s e w h o h a d i n h e r i t e d t h e i r t i t l e s
.
It w a s i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 32 t h a t Hi t l e r w a s , f o r t h e f i r s t
t i m e , a d i n n e r g u e s t i n t h e Ri b b e n t r o p h o u s e h o l d a t D a h l e m .
Hi t l e r l i k e d A n n e l i e s f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g
. It w a s A n n e l i e s ,
b y t h e w a y , w h o t o l d o n e o f h e r f r i e n d s t h a t s h e h a d t o
c a n c e l a n o t h e r e n g a g e m e n t , b e c a u s e He r r Hi t l e r , t h e m a n
a b o u t w h o m s o m u c h w a s b e i n g s a i d , w a s t o b e t h e i r g u e s t .
" We c a n n o t i n v i t e a n y b o d y t o v i s i t w i t h h i m , " A n n e l i e s
a d d e d , " b e c a u s e h e i s a l i t t l e p e c u l i a r
. He e a t s o n l y v e g e t a b l e s
a n d f r u i t s , d e c l i n e s w i n e s a n d c h a m p a g n e , d o e s n o t e v e n
t o u c h b e e r , a n d t a l k s f o r h o u r s a b o u t w h a t h e t h i n k s w i l l
b e t h e f u t u r e o f o u r w o r l d . He h a s n o t b e e n a b r o a d a t a l l ,
a n d l i s t e n s a t t e n t i v e l y , t h e r e f o r e , t o J o a c h i m ' s d e s c r i p t i o n s ,
e s p e c i a l l y a b o u t l i f e a n d c o n d i t i o n s i n F r a n c e a n d En g l a n d
. "
On l y o n c e d i d Vi c c o v o n Bu e l o w - S c h w a n t e a n d h i s w i f e
j o i n Hi t l e r a t d i n n e r i n t h e Ri b b e n t r o p v i l l a , a n d o n o n e
o t h e r o c c a s i o n d i d J o a c h i m ' s f a t h e r , r e t i r e d L i e u t e n a n t
Co l o n e l Ri c h a r d Ri b b e n t r o p , t a k e p a r t i n s u c h a d i n n e r . Oc -
7 6
RIBBENTROPJ OINS THEPA RTY
c a s i o n a l l y t h e c h i l d r e n a t t e n d e d w i t h t h e i r En g l i s h n u r s e .
No n e o f t h e He n k e l l s m e t Hi t l e r a t D a h l e m , n o r d i d a n y o f
t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e a t t a c h e s s o a c c u s t o m e d t o i n v i t a t i o n s t o
J o a c h i m ' s t a b l e . Th e r e w a s o n l y o n e p e r s o n i n t h e F o r e i g n
Of f i c e r e p o r t e d t o h a v e m e t Hi t l e r t h r o u g h Ri b b e n t r o p a t
o n e o f t h e s e d i n n e r s , a n d h e i s Re i c h s f r e i h e r r A l e x a n d e r v o n
D o e r n b e r g z u Ha u s e n - D i t t e r s h a u s e n , a t t h a t t i m e S e c r e t a r y
o f L e g a t i o n .
Th i s m a n D o e r n b e r g , k n o w n a m o n g h i s c o l l e a g u e s a s " d e r
l a n g e S a n d r o "
( S a n d r o t h e t a l l - h i s h e i g h t i s o v e r s i x f e e t
e i g h t i n c h e s ) c o m e s o f a f a m i l y i n t e r m a r r i e d w i t h m a n y
n o b l e h o u s e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d
. Hi s m o t h e r w a s t h e
Pr i n c e s s z u Er b a c h - S c h o e n b e r g , h i s g r a n d m o t h e r b o r n a
Pr i n c e s s o f Ba t t e n b e r g
. S o m e o f h i s a u n t s a r e l i v i n g i n L o n -
d o n , o n e o f t h e m r e p o r t e d l y i n K e n s i n g t o n Pa l a c e , t h e f o r m e r
h o m e o f Ro y a l t y . A n o t h e r o f S a n d r o ' s a u n t s w a s l a d y - i n -
w a i t i n g i n Pr i n c e s s Be a t r i z ' h o u s e h o l d . S a n d r o w a s n i c k n a m e d
" D e r r o t e Tu r n s " ( t h e r e d t o w e r ) o n a c c o u n t o f h i s s h i n i n g
r e d h a i r . Hi s f i r s t e n d e a v o r s t o w a r d e n t e r i n g t h e F o r e i g n S e r v -
i c e , a r o u n d 1 9 2 5 , f a i l e d . Th e r e w a s a l o n g l i s t o f a p p l i c a n t s a t
t h a t t i m e , a n d S a n d r o ' s n o b l e c o n n e c t i o n s w e r e m o r e o f a
h i n d r a n c e t h a n a n a s s e t . Wh e n A g o v o n Ma l t z a n , t h e n S e c -
r e t a r y o f S t a t e , w a s a p p o i n t e d A m b a s s a d o r i n Wa s h i n g t o n ,
h e a d v i s e d S a n d r o t o c o m e a l o n g w i t h h i m a s p r i v a t e s e c r e t a r y
w i t h o u t p a y a n d w i t h o u t r a n k . S a n d r o c o n s e n t e d a n d l e a r n e d
s o m e o f t h e d i p l o m a t i c t e c h n i c a l i t i e s . He w a s n o t m a r r i e d
a t t h a t t i m e a n d h a d s u f f i c i e n t m e a n s t o l i v e i n c o m f o r t . He
e n j o y e d w o r k i n g w i t h h i s f r i e n d , A g o . A f t e r v o n Ma l t z a n ' s
d e a t h - h e w a s k i l l e d i n a n a i r p l a n e c r a s h - - S a n d r o o n c e m o r e
t r i e d t o e n t e r t h e S e r v i c e , b u t t h e l i s t o f a p p l i c a n t s w a s c l o s e d .
F i n a l l y , s u p p l i e d w i t h a l e t t e r o f i n t r o d u c t i o n , h e a p p e a r e d
b e f o r e Ro b e r t We i s m a n n , Pr u s s i a n S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
. We i s -
7 7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
m a n n r a n g u p Eb e r h a r d v o n S t o h r e r , t h e n Ch i e f o f Pe r s o n n e l .
S t o h r e r s a i d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o c h a n c e o f a c c e p t i n g S a n d r o
a t t h e m o m e n t .
" Y o u k n o w t h a t t h e a p p l i c a n t i s t a l l e r t h a n y o u a r e , "
We i s m a n n t o l d v o n S t o h r e r , w h o h i m s e l f r e a c h e s w e l l o v e r
t h e s i x f o o t m a r k .
" Im p o s s i b l e , " S t o h r e r a n s w e r e d , " b u t i f h e r e a l l y i s , h e
m a y h a v e a c h a n c e . " Th e " r e d t o w e r , " s u r p a s s i n g t h e Ch i e f
o f Pe r s o n n e l b y m o r e t h a n t w o i n c h e s , w a s a d m i t t e d t o t h e
F o r e l l e n z u c h t
( t r o u t h a t c h e r y ) , a n d h e p a s s e d h i s e x a m i n a -
t i o n s a n d b e c a m e a S e c r e t a r y o f L e g a t i o n .
In Oc t o b e r , 1 9 2 8 , S a n d r o m a r r i e d Gi s e l a - Ma r i a Ha c k e l e e r -
K o e b b i n g h o f f , a s c h o o l m a t e o f A n n e l i e s . Th e Ri b b e n t r o p s
w e r e p a s s i o n a t e b r i d g e p l a y e r s . S o w e r e S a n d r o a n d h i s w i f e .
Th e D a h l e m v i l l a b r i d g e t a b l e b e c a m e t h e b a s i s f o r t h e
Ri b b e n t r o p - D o e r n b e r g f r i e n d s h i p . F r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s b e -
t w e e n t h e t w o f a m i l i e s s t i l l e x i s t .
Wh e n F o r e i g n Mi n i s t e r J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p v e r y
f o r m a l l y d i s m i s s e d Ch i e f o f Pr o t o c o l Vi c c o K a r l A l e x a n d e r
v o n Bu e l o w - S c h w a n t e i n 1 9 38 , S a n d r o b e c a m e Vi c c o ' s s u c -
c e s s o r . It s e e m e d t h a t S a n d r o h a d t u r n e d Na z i i n t h e m e a n -
t i m e , a n d t h e n i c k n a m e " r e d t o w e r " w a s s o o n f o r g o t t e n .
F r o m i t s v e r y b e g i n n i n g , A n n e l i e s r e c i p r o c a t e d t h e a f -
f e c t i o n t h a t Hi t l e r f e l t f o r h e r
. S h e p e r s o n a l l y a t t e n d e d t o
t h e m a n w i t h t h e f u n n y m u s t a c h e a n d t h e l o n g m o n o l o g u e s
.
He w a s s e r v e d t h e b e s t a s p a r a g u s , m u s h r o o m s , a n d h i s f a v o r -
i t e s w e e t s h e a v y w i t h r i c h w h i p p e d c r e a m
. Wh e n " He " w a s
t h e g u e s t , Ro l l e n h a g e n , i n Be r l i n ' s
Ta u e n t z i e n s t r a s s e ,
a n d
Bo r c h a r d t , i n t h e Be h r e n s t r a s s e ,
d e l i v e r e d t h e m o s t s u c c u l e n t
f r u i t s a v a i l a b l e
. Ch o c o l a t e w a s s e r v e d i n p l a c e o f c o f f e e . Ev e n
7 8
RIBBENTROPJ OINS THEPA RTY
t h e f l o w e r s a n d o t h e r t a b l e d e c o r a t i o n s w e r e a r r a n g e d a c c o r d -
i n g t o h i s t a s t e . A n n e l i e s h i n t e d o c c a s i o n a l l y , w i t h a w i n k
a t h e r f a v o r i t e g u e s t , t h a t t h i s f o r k s h o u l d b e u s e d o r t h a t
t h a t s p o o n w o u l d b e m o r e c o r r e c t . S h e h a d e d u c a t i o n a l
a b i l i t y , a n d Hi t l e r w a s a n a t t e n t i v e p u p i l
.
Hi t l e r f e l t a t h o m e i n t h e c o m p a n y o f t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s
.
He a p p r e c i a t e d a s s o c i a t i n g w i t h p e o p l e o f
g u t e r K i n d e r s t u b e
( g o o d b r e e d i n g )
. He w a s n o t o v e r f o n d o f h i s b o i s t e r o u s ,
l o u d , o l d p a r t y f r i e n d s w h o r i d i c u l e d h i s v i e w s o n a r t . In
t h e Ri b b e n t r o p v i l l a , F r e n c h f u r n i t u r e a n d F r e n c h t a p e s t r i e s
d o m i n a t e d
. A n n e l i e s w a s v e r y p r o u d o f h e r c o l l e c t i o n o f
l a n d s c a p e s b y a F r e n c h p a i n t e r , A u g u s t e F l a m e n g
. Th e s e
p i c t u r e s w e r e a l s o l i k e d b y Hi t l e r
. Th a t t h e i r t a s t e w a s
s i m i l a r i n p i c t u r e s i s h a r d l y f l a t t e r i n g t o A n n e l i e s
.
He c l a i m e d t h a t h e h a d p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t s w i t h m a n y i m -
p o r t a n t m e n i n L o n d o n a n d Pa r i s . He b r a g g e d a b o u t h i s
f r i e n d s h i p w i t h En g l i s h l o r d s a n d F r e n c h c o u n t s , a n d h e m e n -
t i o n e d t h a t a l l o f t h e s e h i g h - r a n k i n g m e n w o u l d b e n a t u r a l
a l l i e s i n t h e c o m i n g b a t t l e a g a i n s t Bo l s h e v i s m
. Y e s , J o a c h i m
k n e w h o w t o h a n d l e t h e m , s p e a k t o t h e m , a n d h o w t o u s e
t h e m .
J o a c h i m w a s a l s o a g o o d l i s t e n e r . Hi t l e r h a s a n e x c e p t i o n a l
m e m o r y f o r a n y p r i n t e d t h i n g o n c e i t h a s a r o u s e d h i s i n -
t e r e s t
. Wh a t h e k n e w a b o u t d i p l o m a c y a n d i t s m e t h o d s
w a s , a t t h a t t i m e , t h e r e s u l t o f h i s r e a d i n g . He h a d n o t
s t u d i e d a n y v o l u m e s s o t h o r o u g h l y a s t h e w r i t i n g s o f t h e
F l o r e n t i n e , Ni c c o l o Ma c h i a v e l l i
. Hi t l e r , w h o o c c a s i o n a l l y
c a l l s h i m s e l f Ma c h i a v e l l i ' s p u p i l , k n o w s p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y
l i n e o f t h e F l o r e n t i n e ' s b o o k s a n d i s a b l e t o q u o t e l o n g p a s -
s a g e s f r o m t h e m
.
No t o n l y d i d Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p a g r e e o n m a n y o f
t h e F l o r e n t i n e ' s p r i n c i p l e s , b u t t h e y d i s c u s s e d a l l o f h i s
t h e o r i e s w i t h g r e a t s e r i o u s n e s s
. Th a t a r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f
7 9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Ge r m a n F o r e i g n Po l i c y m e t h o d s s e e m e d n e c e s s a r y t o b o t h
c a n b e a c c e p t e d a s a n a t u r a l c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e i r c o m m o n
i d e a s
. Ri b b e n t r o p ' s " s p e c i a l Bu e r o " i s o n e r e s u l t o f t h e s e
c o m m o n i d e a s
.
It i s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t d e s p i t e t h e i r m a n y p o i n t s o f c o n -
t a c t , Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p a v o i d e d b e i n g s e e n t o g e t h e r o n
i n t i m a t e t e r m s
. No d i s c u s s i o n s o n m a t t e r s o f d i p l o m a c y o r
f o r e i g n p o l i c y e v e r t o o k p l a c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o i n f r o n t o f
Hi t l e r ' s h e n c h m e n . A n n e l i e s t o l d h e r f r i e n d s , w i t h p r i d e ,
t h a t s h e w a s t h e o n l y p e r s o n w h o w a s a l l o w e d t o b e p r e s e n t
w h e n s u c h d i s c u s s i o n s t o o k p l a c e . Hi t l e r w a s , t o h e r t h e
p u p i l , a n d J o a c h i m , h i s t e a c h e r . S h e e v e n o c c a s i o n a l l y m e n -
t i o n e d t h a t Hi t l e r ' s r e a s o n f o r v i s i t i n g t h e m w a s p o s s i b l y
" t o e n l a r g e h i s k n o w l e d g e o f f o r e i g n p o l i t i c s
. " Th e f r i e n d -
s h i p g r e w a p a c e .
Wh a t w e r e t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r s t h a t p l a c e d t h e Na z i s i n
p o w e r a n d b r o u g h t i n A d o l f Hi t l e r a s Ch a n c e l l o r o f t h e
Re i c h , i n s p i t e o f Hi n d e n b u r g ' s p r e v i o u s a s s e r t i o n , " t h a t t h i s
Bo h e m i a n c o r p o r a l w a s n o t e v e n f i t t o b e c o m e Po s t m a s t e r " ?
K u r t v o n S c h l e i c h e r ' s e n d e a v o r s t o r e o r g a n i z e h i s c a b i n e t
a n d e m b a r k o n a p o l i c y w h i c h w o u l d n e u t r a l i z e t h e Tr a d e
U n i o n s a n d o t h e r l e f t i s t g r o u p s a s w e l l a s t h e J u n k e r s a n d
t h e r i g h t i s t i n d u s t r i a l i s t s w e r e h a m p e r e d b y Pr e s i d e n t v o n
Hi n d e n b u r g ' s g r o w i n g d i s t r u s t
. Th e Pr e s i d e n t w a s i n f l u e n c e d
b y l a n d - o w n i n g f r i e n d s .
Th e s e J u n k e r s k n e w t h a t S c h l e i c h e r w a s i n f a v o r o f
v a r i o u s p r o j e c t s f o r t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e s m a l l l a n d h o l d e r s
i n Ge r m a n y ' s e a s t e r n p r o v i n c e s
. Th e y a l s o b e l i e v e d t h a t h e
w o u l d t r y t o e x a c t , f r o m t h e o w n e r s o f l a r g e e s t a t e s , c e r t a i n
t r i b u t e s f r o m t h e i r p r o p e r t y f o r t h i s p u r p o s e
. Th i s w a s q u i t e
8 o
RIBBENTROPJ OINS THEPA RTY
d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e u s u a l p r o c e d u r e o f a s k i n g f i n a n c i a l h e l p
f r o m g o v e r n m e n t a l i n s t i t u t i o n s . Ev e n e x p r o p r i a t i n g b a n k -
r u p t e s t a t e s f o r s u c h s e t t l e m e n t p u r p o s e s b e c o m e a p o s s i b i l i t y
.
Th e m i s m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e s o - c a l l e d Os t h i lf e
( f i n a n c i a l h e l p
f o r l a n d o w n e r s i n t h e e a s t e r n p r o v i n c e s ) h a d b e e n i n v e s t i -
g a t e d s e c r e t l y b y a p a r l i a m e n t a r y c o m m i t t e e
. It s r e p o r t c o n -
t a i n e d m a n y a c c u s a t i o n s o f c o r r u p t i o n , m i s u s e o f f u n d s ,
b r i b e r y o f o f f i c i a l s . Ev e n Hi n d e n b u r g ' s o w n s o n , Os c a r , w a s
i n v o l v e d i n t h i s s c a n d a l . If S c h l e i c h e r h a d u s e d t h i s t i c k l i s h
r e p o r t a s a w e a p o n a g a i n s t t h e J u n k e r s , a g r e a t p u b l i c s c a n d a l
w o u l d h a v e f o l l o w e d , a n d m a n y o f t h e s e h i g h l y - p l a c e d o f -
f e n d e r s w o u l d h a v e f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s i n j a i l . S c h l e i c h e r
h a d b e c o m e d a n g e r o u s , a n d F r a n z v o n Pa p e n w a s i t c h i n g t o
b e c o m e Ch a n c e l l o r a g a i n , e i t h e r w i t h t h e Na z i s o n h i s s i d e
o r w i t h o u t t h e m . Th e Na z i p a r t y w a s i n v o l v e d i n d a n g e r o u s
c o n t r o v e r s i e s i n i t s o w n r a n k s . Th e s e w e r e p a r t l y a r e s u l t o f
S c h l e i c h e r ' s e n d e a v o r s t o s p l i t t h e p a r t y a n d p a r t l y b e c a u s e
i t w a s b a n k r u p t . A t e v e r y s t r e e t c o r n e r , u n i f o r m e d p a r t y
m e m b e r s s t o o d s h a k i n g c o l l e c t i n g b o x e s p a t h e t i c a l l y
. Th i s w a s
t h e p r o p e r p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o m e n t t o m u z z l e Hi d e r b y b r i n g i n g
a f e w o f h i s h e n c h m e n i n t o t h e n e w c a b i n e t , i n w h i c h t h e
r i g h t i s t s - J u n k e r s a n d i n d u s t r i a l i s t s a l i k e - w o u l d d o m i n a t e .
Wo u l d i t b e p o s s i b l e t o m a k e s u c h a d e a l w i t h Hi t l e r ?
Th e d e c i s i v e s t e p a g a i n s t S c h l e i c h e r ' s p l a n w a s a s e c r e t
c o n f e r e n c e b e t w e e n Hi t l e r a n d v o n Pa p e n
. It w a s h e l d i n
t h e h o m e o f t h e Co l o g n e b a n k e r , Ba r o n K u r t v o n S c h r o e d e r ,
o n J a n u a r y 8 , 1 9 33
. Hi g h o f f i c i a l s a n d p o l i t i c i a n s v a r y i n
t h e i r s t o r i e s o f h o w t h i s i m p o r t a n t c o n f e r e n c e w a s b r o u g h t
a b o u t .
S c h l e i c h e r h a d a t h i s d i s p o s a l t h e e x c e l l e n t A r m y In t e l l i -
g e n c e S e r v i c e
. It s m e m b e r s m a d e s n a p s h o t s o f a l l p e r s o n s
w h o e n t e r e d t h e S c h r o e d e r m a n s i o n o n t h a t f a t e f u l d a y
.
8 i
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
J o a c h i m w a s n o t a m o n g t h e m , b u t We r n e r v o n A l v e n s l e b e n ,
o n e o f h i s m o s t i n t i m a t e f r i e n d s , w a s . In a n y c a s e , t h e m e e t i n g
b r o u g h t a b o u t f u l l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a t l e a s t i n p r i n c i p l e , b e -
t w e e n v o n Pa p e n a n d Hi t l e r .
Ot h e r c o n f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o n s p i r a t o r s f o l l o w e d
t h e f i r s t o n e . Th e y w e r e h e l d m o s t l y a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s D a h l e m
v i l l a w h e r e Hi t l e r f e l t a t h o m e , a n d i t i s s a f e t o a s s u m e t h a t
J o a c h i m , n o t We r n e r v o n A l v e n s l e b e n , w a s Hi t l e r ' s r i g h t -
h a n d m a n o n t h e s e o c c a s i o n s . Vo n Pa p e n w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t
b e h a d a l l t h e t r u m p s i n h i s h a n d s . S e n s i n g Hi n d e n b u r g ' s
g r o w i n g d i s t r u s t o f S c h l e i c h e r a n d h a v i n g t h e s u p p o r t o f
Ot t o Me i s s n e r , Hi n d e n b u r g ' s t r u s t e d S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e ,
v o n Pa p e n , p l a y i n g c a l m l y a g a i n s t t h e Ch a n c e l l o r ' s p a n i c k y
m o v e s , f e l t t h a t h e w a s b o u n d t o w i n . A n d o n J a n u a r y 2 8 ,
1 9 33, a f t e r S c h l e i c h e r ' s d e m a n d , t h a t t h e Re i c h s t a g b e d i s -
s o l v e d , w a s c o l d l y r e j e c t e d b y t h e Pr e s i d e n t , S c h l e i c h e r w a s
o u t o f o f f i c e .
J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s n a m e w a s n o t m e n t i o n e d i n
t h o s e d a y s o f p o l i t i c a l t u r m o i l , b u t We r n e r v o n A l v e n s l e b e n ' s
w a s
. Be c a u s e i t w a s i n t h e He r r e n k l u b t h a t Pa p e n d i d h i s
p o l i t i c a l s c h e m i n g , a p l a c e w h e r e We r n e r v o n A l v e n s l e b e n
w a s s p e n d i n g m o s t o f h i s a f t e r n o o n s , e v e r y o n e c a m e t o b e -
l i e v e t h a t t h e Co l o g n e c o n f e r e n c e h a d b e e n We r n e r ' s d e e d .
No b o d y h a d h e a r d a n y t h i n g o f t h e m e e t i n g s a t t h e D a h l e m
v i l l a . Ma n y o f Hi t l e r ' s l i e u t e n a n t s w h o w e r e , o f c o u r s e ,
j u b i l a n t a b o u t t h e r e s u l t a c h i e v e d w e r e n o t a w a r e o f Ri b -
b e n t r o p ' s i m p o r t a n c e
. Co n s e q u e n t l y , t h e y w e r e e n t i r e l y i n
t h e d a r k a b o u t t h e r o l e w h i c h t h e Ri b b e n t r o p h o m e p l a y e d .
Be c a u s e o f t h i s , Ri b b e n t r o p a n d A l v e n s l e b e n b e c a m e u n -
f r i e n d l y . We r n e r v o n A l v e n s l e b e n , w h o n e a r l y b e c a m e a
v i c t i m o f t h e J u n e ,
1 9 34 ,
p u r g e , w a s m e n t i o n e d f r o m t h e
r o s t r u m o f t h e Re i c h s t a g b y Hi t l e r a s " a d a n g e r o u s , i n -
t r i g u i n g p e r s o n
. " It i s n o t k n o w n w h e t h e r h e i s s t i l l a l i v e
.
8 z
RIBBENTROP J OINS THE PA RTY
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i l l f e e l i n g f o r t h o s e w h o c l a i m e d a s h a r e i n
t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s o f t h e Hi t l e r - v o n Pa p e n d e a l i s b e s t e x p l a i n e d
i n a s e n t e n c e w r i t t e n i n h i s o w n h a n d a n d i n c l u d e d i n t h e
b i o g r a p h i c a l d a t a o f h i s c a r e e r , p u b l i s h e d i n
We r Is t ' s
( t h e
Ge r m a n Wh o ' s Wh o ) . It r e a d s , " Th r o u g h h i s ( Ri b b e n t r o p ' s )
m e d i a t i o n , b e g i n n i n g i n t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 32 a n d c o n t i n u e d
u n t i l J a n u a r y 30,
1 9 5 3,
t h e Hi t l e r Go v e r n m e n t w a s f o r m e d .
Th e d e c i s i v e m e e t i n g s t o o k p l a c e i n t h e Ri b b e n t r o p h o m e a t
Be r l i n - D a h l e m . F r o m t h o s e d a y s , Ri b b e n t r o p h a s b e e n a
c o l l a b o r a t o r o f t h e F u e h r e r i n m a t t e r s o f f o r e i g n p o l i c y . "
8
3
6
Ri b b e n t r o p Bu i l d s U p Hi s Ow n Or g a n i z a t i o n
INTHEf i r s t w e e k s o f Na z i d o m i n a t i o n t h e Hi t l e r - Ri b b e n -
t r o p r e l a t i o n s h i p s e e m e d t o h i t a s n a g . Th i s m a y h a v e b e e n
d u e t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s d i s a p p o i n t m e n t i n t h e w a y a f f a i r s w e r e
h a n d l e d i n p u b l i c a f t e r t h e Th i r d Re i c h w a s l a u n c h e d . On l y
t h e Na z i c h i e f t a i n s , Go e r i n g , Go e b b e l s , F r i c k , Ro s e n b e r g ,
a n d t h e i r a s s o c i a t e s w e r e e u l o g i z e d i n t h e n e w s p a p e r s . To o ,
e v e r y o n e , s a v e Ri b b e n t r o p , g o t s o m e s o r t o f p o s t , e i t h e r i n
t h e n e w c a b i n e t , o r a s t h e h e a d o f o n e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s
w i t h i n t h e p a r t y i t s e l f . S o m e e v e n r e c e i v e d o f f i c e s i n b o t h .
Th i s , o f c o u r s e , w o u n d e d J o a c h i m ' s v a n i t y . He d i d n o t
t a k e p a r t i n t h e t o r c h l i g h t p r o c e s s i o n w h e n t h e j o y o u s Na z i s
p a r a d e d u n d e r t h e h i s t o r i c B' r a n d e n b u r g e r To r
a n d b e f o r e
t h e Pr e s i d e n t i a l Pa l a c e , h a i l i n g Hi t l e r a n d Hi n d e n b u r g . Bu t
h e v i e w e d i t t o g e t h e r w i t h Pu t z i Ha n f s t a e n g e l f r o m a w i n d o w
i n t h e Ho t e l K a i s e r h o f .
A f e w w e e k s l a t e r , m a s s m u r d e r s o f p o l i t i c a l o p p o n e n t s
s e t i n o n a l a r g e s c a l e . Me n w e r e b e a t e n u p . Ma n y w e r e
t o r t u r e d a n d m u t i l a t e d f o r l i f e i n t h e b a r r a c k s o f t h e S S .
Tr o o p s a n d a t t h e Ge s t a p o . Te r r o r i s m a g a i n s t t h e J e w s
t h r e a t e n e d t o d e v e l o p i n t o a m a s s a c r e . Ev e n p e r s o n a l J e w i s h
f r i e n d s o f J o a c h i m ' s , w h o m h e k n e w t o b e h o n e s t m e n a n d
g o o d p a t r i o t s , w e r e " s h o t w h i l e i n f l i g h t " o r v a n i s h e d w i t h -
o u t t r a c e . He c a l l e d a t t h e Ch a n c e l l e r y , h o p i n g t o d o s o m e -
8 4
RIBBENTROPBU IL D S U PHIS ORGA NIZ A TION
t h i n g a b o u t a l l t h i s . Hi t l e r , t h e p e r s o n f o r w h o m h e b e l i e v e d
h e h a d w o r k e d l o y a l l y a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y , d i d n o t r e c e i v e h i m .
In d e e d h e s e n t w o r d " t h a t t h e Ch a n c e l l o r c o u l d n o t b e d i s -
t u r b e d a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e a n d t h a t i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e f o r
a n y b o d y t o s e e h i m i f n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y b y t h e o r d e r o f t h e
Ch a n c e l l o r h i m s e l f . "
Ri b b e n t r o p w e n t h o m e t o s u l k
. A b o u t a w e e k l a t e r , h e
w a s a s k e d t o c a l l o n Hi t l e r . A d o l f p r o p o s e d t h a t J o a c h i m
s h o u l d , i n t h e f u t u r e , c o o p e r a t e c l o s e l y w i t h A l f r e d Ro s e n -
b e r g i n a l l f o r e i g n a f f a i r m a t t e r s . A s Ro s e n b e r g w a s t h e
Re i c h s l e i t e r , t h e " L e a d e r " o f t h e
A u s s e n p o l i t s c h e n A m t e s
d e r Pa r t e i ,
t h i s m e a n t l i t t l e e l s e t h a n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s u b o r d i n a -
t i o n t o Ro s e n b e r g .
J o a c h i m a n d Ro s e n b e r g h a d c e r t a i n v i e w s i n c o m m o n . Bo t h
w e r e a r d e n t h a t e r s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t i c p h i l o s o p h y , a n d Ri b -
b e n t r o p , l i k e Ro s e n b e r g , w a s d e v o u r e d b y a n i n s t i n c t i v e a b -
h o r r e n c e o f S o v i e t d i p l o m a t i c r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s . To b o t h ,
t h e s e m e n h e r a l d e d t h e r e a l d e l u g e . A c c o r d i n g t o Ri b b e n -
t r o p , t h e y e x e m p l i f i e d t h e w o r s t a n d t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s
d i s e a s e o f m a n k i n d , Bo l s h e v i s m .
Ro s e n b e r g m a d e i t a p o i n t t o s t u d y Ri b b e n t r o p . He r e c o g -
n i z e d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s a p o s s i b l e c o m p e t i t o r f o r h i s
p o s i t i o n a s Hi t l e r ' s c h i e f a d v i s e r i n f o r e i g n a f f a i r s
. S t i l l i t
w a s Ri b b e n t r o p w h o t h r o u g h e n d l e s s , f l a t t e r i n g s p e e c h e s
w a s a b l e f o r a t i m e t o n e u t r a l i z e Ro s e n b e r g ' s i n s t i n c t i v e
e n m i t y
. Bu t a s t h e s i t u a t i o n d e v e l o p e d , " A p p a r a t u s Nu m b e r
On e " ( Ro s e n b e r g ' s d e p a r t m e n t w a s k n o w n b y t h i s n a m e )
b e c a m e l e s s a n d l e s s i m p o r t a n t n u m e r i c a l l y , d e s p i t e i t s a l -
r e a d y s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n s , w h i l e J o a c h i m b u i l t u p h i s o w n
Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p
. Ri b b e n t r o p ' s m o t i v e s w e r e c l e a r f r o m t h e
v e r y
b e g i n n i n g o f t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e Bu e r o . Hi s c o n s t a n t
d e n u n c i a t i o n s o f t h e
Wi l h h e l m s t r a s s e ' s m e t h o d s w e r e u s e l e s s
i f h e c o u l d n o t s h o w t h e F u e h r e r t h a t h e w a s a b l e t o d o b e t t e r .
8 5
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
Be s i d e s , b y f o r m i n g a Bu e r o
f o r h i m s e l f h e r i d h i m s e l f o f
Ro s e n b e r g ' s s u p e r v i s i o n
. A s o r t o f f e u d w e n t o n b e t w e e n s o m e
o f t h e l e s s i n t e l l i g e n t u n d e r l i n g s o f b o t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s , b u t
Ro s e n b e r g h a d n o i n t e r e s t i n p e t t i n e s s
. He p l a c e d t h e c a u s e
o f t h e p a r t y a n d Na z i i d e a l s a b o v e h i s o w n a m b i t i o n s
. Ri b b e n -
t r o p ' s t r i c k e r y s o o n o v e r s h a d o w e d Ro s e n b e r g ' s l o y a l t y .
Bu t a t f i r s t , Ri b b e n t r o p s e e m e d t o c o m p l y w i t h Hi t l e r ' s
d e s i r e t h a t h e c o o p e r a t e w i t h Ro s e n b e r g
. S o o n , h o w e v e r , h e
f o u n d a r g u m e n t s f o r h i s p e r s o n a l a d v a n c e m e n t
. Th e s e a r g u -
m e n t s p r e s u m a b l y w e r e , " Y o u ( m e a n i n g Hi t l e r ) a n d y o u r
a p o s t l e s a r e t a l k i n g a b o u t Gr e a t Br i t a i n , F r a n c e , a n d t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s , b u t n o n e o f y o u r e a l l y s p e a k t h e l a n g u a g e s
o f t h e s e c o u n t r i e s , t o s a y n o t h i n g o f y o u r e v e r h a v i n g l i v e d
a b r o a d
. S o m e o f y o u m a y h a v e b e e n b o r n o n f o r e i g n s o i l
a n d m a y t h i n k y o u k n o w , b u t t h i s u n t u t o r e d , i n e x p e r i e n c e d
k n o w l e d g e h a s n o p r a c t i c a l p o l i t i c a l v a l u e
. Id o k n o w , h o w -
e v e r . F o r e x a m p l e , l e t u s t a k e Ro s e n b e r g w h o m y o u b e l i e v e
t o b e a g e n i u s i n s o l v i n g f o r e i g n p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s
. He i s
c e r t a i n l y a m a n w i t h g r e a t g i f t s , a m a n w i t h r e a l p o l i t i c a l
i n s t i n c t s , a n d Ic a n o n l y e x p r e s s g r e a t a d m i r a t i o n f o r h i s
t a l e n t s
. S t i l l , h i s o r i e n t a t i o n a n d k n o w l e d g e a r e l i m i t e d t o t h e
Ea s t
. He m a y b e o f e s s e n t i a l u s e i f a n d w h e n Ea s t e r n p r o b l e m s
h a v e t o b e d e a l t w i t h , b u t o u r f i r s t m o v e s a r e n e c e s s a r i l y
t o w a r d t h e We s t , f o r Ge r m a n y ' s f a t e m u s t p r i m a r i l y b e
b a s e d o n a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h t h i s w e s t e r n w o r l d
. "
Th e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t t h e s e a r g u m e n t s i m p r e s s e d Hi t l e r
.
It i s t r u e t h a t Hi t l e r h a d o r i g i n a l l y d e s t i n e d t h e Ru s s i a n b o r n
Ro s e n b e r g a s F o r e i g n Mi n i s t e r o f t h e n e w Re i c h , b u t f o r
t h e t i m e b e i n g , t h e f i r s t m o n t h s a f t e r t h e Na z i a c c e s s i o n t o
p o w e r , Hi t l e r h a d i n s t i n c t i v e l y d e c i d e d t o l e a v e t h e o l d
Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e
s e t u p a s i t w a s
. Th i s h e d e e m e d p o l i t i c .
Ro s e n b e r g d i d n o t p r e s s f o r c l a r i f i c a t i o n o f a n y o f t h e
i s s u e s , b u t o n e o f h i s p e r s o n a l f r i e n d s , K u r t L u e d e c k e , d i d
.
8 6
RIBBENTROPBU IL D S U PHIS ORGA NIZ A TION
L u e d e c k e h a d l i v e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a s a r e p o r t e r f o r t h e
Vo e l k i s c h e r Be o b a c h t e r , a n d h e h o p e d t o g e t s o m e s o r t
o f s p e c i a l p o s i t i o n i n t h e d i p l o m a t i c
f i e l d . L u e d e c k e w a s ,
a t o n e t i m e , a f r i e n d o f J u l i u s
S t r e i c h e r , t h e c h i e f p o r -
n o g r a p h i s t a n d J e w b a i t e r o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e e d i t o r o f t h e
Nd r n b e r g p u b l i c a t i o n ,
D e r S t u e r m e r .
Wh i l e s t a t i o n e d i n Wa s h i n g t o n d u r i n g
1 9 32 - 33,
L u e d e c k e
i n t r i g u e d w i t h t h e Co u n s e l l o r o f t h e Ge r m a n Em b a s s y , D r
.
Ru d o l f L e i t n e r , a g a i n s t A m b a s s a d o r D r . F r i e d r i c h Wi l h e l m
v o n Pr i t t w i t z a n d Ga f f r o n , f o r h e , h i m s e l f , h o p e d t o b e c o m e
A m b a s s a d o r t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
. It a p p e a r e d t h a t Hi t l e r
w a s b a c k i n g h i m , b u t t h e Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e ,
i n s p i t e o f t h e
e n e r g e t i c e f f o r t s m a d e o n L u e d e c k e ' s b e h a l f , b l o c k e d t h e
w a y a n d i n t h e e n d e v e n p r e v e n t e d h i s b e c o m i n g p r e s s
a t t a c h e i n Wa s h i n g t o n
. L u e d e c k e t h e n t r i e d , t h r o u g h Ro s e n -
b e r g , t o w o r m h i s w a y i n t o t h e l a t t e r ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n , Pa r t y
Of f i c e f o r F o r e i g n Po l i c y
. Bu t t h i s o f f i c e
l a c k e d t h e n e c e s -
s a r y f u n d s t o a b s o r b h i m
. Hi t l e r h a d , o n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s ,
e n c o u r a g e d Ro s e n b e r g ' s s c h e m e
a n d h a d r e f e r r e d h i m t o
t h e a l l - p o w e r f u l p a r t y t r e a s u r e r , F r a n z X a v e r S c h w a r z
. In -
t r i g u e s b y Go e b b e l s a n d Go e r i n g
p l u s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e
w h o l e Ro s e n b e r g o f f i c e c o n s i s t e d o n l y
o f s o m e h a l f d o z e n
s o - c a l l e d e x p e r t s a n d a f e w h u n d r e d m e a g e r
f i l e s o f n e w s -
p a p e r c l i p p i n g s , f r u s t r a t e d
Ro s e n b e r g ' s a p p e a l s a s w e l l a s
L u e d e c k e ' s
. Th e l a t t e r ' s p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w
w i t h Hi t l e r , r e -
g a r d i n g h i s f u t u r e , b r o u g h t n o d e f i n i t e r e s u l t s .
L u e d e c k e b e -
c a m e a p e s t
. He w a s e v e n t u a l l y p l a c e d i n a c o n c e n t r a t i o n
c a m p f r o m w h i c h h e e s c a p e d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g
o f
1 9 34 .
He
f i n a l l y f o u n d a h a v e n i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
.
Ro s e n b e r g ' s d o w n f a l l
r e a l l y b e g a n w i t h h i s d i s a s t r o u s
v i s i t t o L o n d o n i n Ma y ,
1 9 33 .
Th e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , w h i c h h a d
c o n t r i v e d t h i s d i s a s t e r , r e s t e d s e r e n e l y o n i t s
p r e - Na z i l a u r e l s .
It f e l t t h a t t h i s v i s i t h a d s h o w n p l a i n l y t h a t Ro s e n b e r g , Ch i e f
8 7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
o f t h e p a r t y ' s F o r e i g n D e p a r t m e n t , w a s n o t t i m b e r f r o m
w h i c h Mi n i s t e r s o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s a r e c a r v e d
. Th e o l d -
g u a r d F o r e i g n Of f i c e c o m p l a c e n t l y s u r m i s e d t h a t t h e Na z i s
w o u l d n o w b e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e a r t o f d i p l o m a c y w a s o n l y
m a s t e r e d a f t e r h a r d w o r k a n d l o n g s t u d y
.
Ro s e n b e r g ' s L o n d o n c a t a s t r o p h e w a s r e a l l y t h e b e g i n n i n g
o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r i s e t o p o w e r
. To s o m e e x t e n t i t w a s h i s
u s u a l g o o d l u c k w h i c h h e l p e d t h e e x - w i n e m e r c h a n t , f o r i f
b y a n y c h a n c e , t h e F u e h r e r h a d s e n t J o a c h i m t o L o n d o n
h e w o u l d h a v e f a i l e d j u s t a s s u r e l y a s h a d Ro s e n b e r g
. No w ,
o f c o u r s e , Ri b b e n t r o p c o u l d s a f e l y s a y t h a t w h a t h a d h a p -
p e n e d t o Ro s e n b e r g c o u l d n o t h a v e h a p p e n e d t o h i m
.
Ha d n ' t h e a l w a y s i n s i s t e d , " t h a t t h e i n g e n i o u s Ro s e n b e r g ' s
k n o w l e d g e w a s c o n f i n e d t o t h e Ea s t " ?
In a n y c a s e Ro s e n b e r g l o s t f a c e a m o n g t h e p a r t y b i g w i g s
.
Hi s g r a n d i o s e p l a n f o r a n Of f i c e f o r F o r e i g n Po l i c y o f t h e
Na z i Pa r t y w a s n o w d o o m e d
. Th e f u n d s w h i c h Hi t l e r h a d
o n c e p r o m i s e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e w e r e n e v e r a g a i n m e n t i o n e d
.
Y e t , s o m e k i n d o f a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e o l d
F o r e i g n Of f i c e b r a s s h a t s , h a d t o b e b u i l t u p
. In t h e F u e h r e r ' s
o p i n i o n , t h e a n t i q u a t e d Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e
a l o n e w a s i m p r a c t i c a l
f o r h i s p o l i t i c a l b a t t l e s .
A r e l i a b l e In t e l l i g e n c e D e p a r t m e n t w a s n e c e s s a r y
. It w o u l d
c l o s e l y s t u d y t h e w e a k n e s s e s o f t h e p o l i t i c i a n s a n d d i p l o m a t s
i n t h o s e c o u n t r i e s w i t h w h i c h Hi t l e r p l a n n e d t o d e a l
.
Hi t l e r h i m s e l f b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e o l d - g u a r d o f f i c i a l s o f t h e
F o r e i g n Of f i c e c o u l d n o t c a r r y o n t h i s " d i r t y w o r k
. " S o c i e t y
w o m e n , a d v e n t u r e r s , p e r v e r t s , i n Hi t l e r ' s o w n w o r d s , a s
.
q u o t e d b y Ra u s c h n i n g , s h o u l d b e u s e d a s i n f o r m a n t s a n d
s p i e s , a n d e v e n A m b a s s a d o r s m u s t w o r k a s f o r g e r s a n d p r o -
c u r e r s . A c a r d i n d e x h a d t o b e k e p t i n w h i c h w e r e t o b e
f i l e d d e t a i l s o n t h e p e r s o n a l h i s t o r y o f e v e r y o n e i n f l u e n t i a l
i n f o r e i g n a f f a i r s . Th i s f i l e w a s t o s t r e s s a l l w e a k n e s s e s , l o v e
8 8
RIBBENTROPBU IL D S U PHIS ORGA NIZ A TION
a f f a i r s , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e o f a s c a n d a l o u s n a t u r e
. It w a s t o n o t e
i m p l i c a t i o n i n s h a d y m o n e y m a t t e r s
. It w a s t o b e a h o r r i b l e
r e c o r d o f s h a m e f u l s e c r e t s a n d h i d d e n m e s s e s
. In e v e r y
c o u n t r y , a s p e c i a l p r o p a g a n d a m a c h i n e r y w a s t o b e s e t i n
m o t i o n , a n d u n d e r g r o u n d m o v e m e n t s w e r e t o b e s t a r t e d
w h e r e v e r i t s e e m e d w o r t h w h i l e
. S u c h a c t i o n w a s a l s o t o b e
i n s t i t u t e d f o r s u b t l e m o u t h t o m o u t h
( Mu n d p r o p a g a n d a )
p r o p a g a n d a , n o t o n l y f o r p u r p o s e s o f c o r r u p t i o n a n d b l a c k -
m a i l
. Th e f i n e It a l i a n h a n d o f Ma c h i a v e l l i i s o b v i o u s h e r e .
Th e c r e a t i o n o f t h i s Ma c h i a v e l l i a n i n s t i t u t i o n , t h e t o o l a n d
s u p p l y s h o p f o r p o l i t i c a l w a r f a r e , t h e s t o r e h o u s e f o r p o i s o n e d
a r r o w s n e a t l y l a b e l l e d f o r e a c h s e p a r a t e o c c a s i o n , w a s p l a c e d
i n t h e h a n d s o f J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p
. Th i s i n s t i t u t i o n ,
e v e n ,
n a m e d a f t e r J o a c h i m , t h e Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p ,
w a s
f o u n d e d l a t e i n
1 9 33
. Gi v e n p r e t e n t i o u s s p a c e i n t h e b u i l d i n g
w h i c h h o u s e d t h e f o r m e r Pr u s s i a n Pr i m e Mi n i s t e r ' s o f f i c e ,
Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e 6 3,
o p p o s i t e t h e m a i n b u i l d i n g o f t h e F o r e i g n
Of f i c e , Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e 7 6 ,
i t s t a r t e d o n a r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l s c a l e
b u t w i t h s u b s t a n t i a l f u n d s
.
Th e
Bu e r o w a s c o m p o s e d o f s p e c i a l d e p a r t m e n t s e a c h
o f w h i c h d e a l t w i t h a f f a i r s c o n c e r n i n g d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s ,
a n d e a c h o f t h e s e d e p a r t m e n t s w a s s u p p l i e d w i t h e x c e l l e n t
a r c h i v e s a n d s t a f f s o f t e c h n i c i a n s
. Th e e n t i r e s t a f f o f t h e
n e w i n s t i t u t i o n d i d n o t h a v e t o p a s s a n y r i g i d e x a m i n a t i o n s
s u c h a s y o u n g a p p l i c a n t s f o r t h e F o r e i g n S e r v i c e h a d t o
u n d e r g o . Th e r e w a s n o F o r e l l e n z u c h t ( t r o u t h a t c h e r y )
.
K n o w l e d g e o f l a n g u a g e s w a s u s e f u l b u t n o t a b s o l u t e l y e s -
s e n t i a l . Mo s t o f t h e Bu e r o
m e n c a m e o u t o f t h e S c h u t z s t a f f e l
a n d h a d g o n e t h r o u g h t h e f i n e m e s h e s o f t h e S S
. s i e v e .
Ot h e r s w e r e t a k e n f r o m s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s , b e c a u s e t h e y
h a d s t u d i e d f o r e i g n p o l i t i c s f o r m a n y y e a r s
.
Th e Ha m b u r g e r In s t i t u t f u e r A u s w a e r t i g e Po l i t i k
( Ha m -
b u r g In s t i t u t e f o r F o r e i g n Po l i t i c s ) , f o u n d e d b y Pr o f e s s o r
8 9
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
A l b r e c h t Me n d e l s s o h n - Ba r t h o l d y , w i t h a l l o f i t s a r c h i v e s ,
i t s l i b r a r y , a n d p a r t o f t h e p e r s o n n e l , f e l l i n t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
h a n d s a s a g i f t f r o m t h e Ga u l e i t e r o f Ha m b u r g , K a r l K a u f -
m a n n
. A r r a n g e m e n t s f o r c l o s e c o o p e r a t i o n w e r e m a d e w i t h
Ge n e r a l K a r l E
. K . Ha u s h o f e r ' s
Ge o p o l i t i s c h e s In s t i t u t ,
f o r i t w a s k n o w n t o p o s s e s s e x c e l l e n t i n f o r m a t i o n o n a l l t h e
c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d , i n m a n y i n s t a n c e s b e t t e r i n f o r m a -
t i o n t h a n t h e c o u n t r y i t s e l f p o s s e s s e d
. A l s o c l o s e l y l i n k e d
w i t h t h e Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p w a s
D a s In s t i t u t f u e r We l t w i r t -
s c h a f t a n d e r U n i v e r s i t a e t K i e l
( Th e In s t i t u t e f o r Wo r l d
Ec o n o m i c s a t K i e l U n i v e r s i t y )
; t h e Re s e a r c h D e p a r t m e n t
o f t h e Ho c h s c h u l e f u e r Po l i t i k
( t h e Co l l e g e f o r Po l i t i c s ) ;
a n d m a n y o t h e r h i g h l y s p e c i a l i z e d i n s t i t u t i o n s
.
Ma n y m e m b e r s o f t h e Bu e r o
s t a f f , a f t e r t h e p e r s o n n e l h a d
b e e n p u r g e d , w e r e t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e F o r e i g n S e r v i c e w h e n
Ri b b e n t r o p f i n a l l y b e c a m e Mi n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , a n d
o t h e r s w e r e a p p o i n t e d Mi n i s t e r s o r A m b a s s a d o r s
. On e o f t h e
m e n i n t h i s g r o u p , D r
. He i n r i c h Ge o r g S t a h m e r , a We s t -
p h a l i a n , w h o w a s a s p e c i a l i s t i n f a r - e a s t e r n p o l i t i c s , a c t e d a s
p r o x y f o r J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p d u r i n g t h e d i s c u s s i o n s o f
t h e A n t i - Co m i n t e r n Pa c t w i t h t h e J a p a n e s e F o r e i g n Of f i c e
.
A f t e r t h e d e f i n i t e d i s r u p t i o n o f Ge r m a n - Ch i n e s e r e l a t i o n s
a n d t h e f o r m a l r e c o g n i t i o n b y Ge r m a n y o f t h e J a p a n s p o n -
s o r e d Wa n g Ch i n g - w e i Go v e r n m e n t , S t a h m e r w a s a p p o i n t e d
A m b a s s a d o r i n Na n k i n g i n m u c h t h e s a m e m a n n e r a n d f o r
m u c h t h e s a m e r e a s o n s t h a t Ot t o A b e t z f i n a l l y b e c a m e
A m b a s s a d o r i n Pa r i s
. A t p r e s e n t , S t a h m e r i s A m b a s s a d o r i n
To k i o .
Th e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d b u i l d i n g u p o f t h e
Bu e r o Ri b b e n -
t r o p
d i d n o t i n v o l v e t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e o r i g i n a l F o r e i g n
Of f i c e . Th e Bu e r o
w a s a n a u x i l i a r y i n s t i t u t i o n b u t o n l y
a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o r y n o t t o f a c t
. It d i d t h e d i r t y w o r k .
Ri b b e n t r o p , b y o r d e r o f t h e F u e h r e r , u s e d h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n
9 o
RIBBENTROPBU IL D S U PHIS ORGA NIZ A TION
m a i n l y a s
a m e a n s o f s e c u r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h t h e
F o r e g i n
Of f i c e w a s n o t a b l e t o
o b t a i n . Th e Bu e r o a l s o
h a n d l e d , t h r o u g h
i t s s t a f f m e m b e r s a n d i t s o w n a g e n t s , a l l
m a t t e r s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e c o r r u p t o f f i c i a l s
i n t h e s e r v i c e o f
o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t s , a s w e l l a s t h e b r i b i n g o f j o u r n a l i s t s , a n d
t h e p a y i n g o f i n f o r m e r s w i t h w h o m t h e
a c c r e d i t e d o f f i c i a l
m i s s i o n s o f t h e Re i c h c o u l d n o t d e a l . A l l p o l i t i c a l i n t e l l i g e n c e
s e r v i c e , i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e m i l i t a r y i n t e l l i g e n c e
s e r v i c e , w a s
h a n d l e d b y t h e Bu e r o
. Be f o r e t h e F u e h r e r c o n s u l t e d v o n
Ne u r a t h o n s o m e c r i t i c a l q u e s t i o n o f f o r e i g n p o l i c y , Ri b b e n -
t r o p t h r o u g h h i s Bu e r o
u s u a l l y p r e p a r e d s t a t e m e n t s b e a r i n g
o n a l l t h e f a c t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e f o r e i g n o f f i c i a l s a n d p a r l i a -
m e n t a r i a n s w h o w o u l d b e i n v o l v e d i n e a c h c a s e . Th e Bu e r o
b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e a n o f f i c e w h i c h
p r o v i d e d s u p p l e -
m e n t a r y i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e F u e h r e r , a n d t h e
F o r e i g n Of f i c e
n e v e r c o o p e r a t e d w i t h i t
.
Hi t l e r a n d J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p w e r e f u l l y a g r e e d
t h a t t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , " i n s p i t e o f i t s a n t i q u a t e d m e t h o d s
a n d t h e l a c k o f i m a g i n a t i o n o f
i t s l e a d i n g o f f i c i a l s , " w a s
a b s o l u t e l y i n d i s p e n s a b l e .
Wh e n t h e F u e h r e r a s k e d v o n
Ne u r a t h a n d t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e , Be r n h a r d v o n Bu e l o w ,
t o r e p o r t o n c e r t a i n q u e s t i o n s , h e n e v e r r e c e i v e d t h e s e l e a d -
i n g F o r e i g n Of f i c e o f f i c i a l s i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f Ri b b e n t r o p .
Bu t h e l i k e d t o s h o w t h e s e o f f i c i a l a d v i s e r s o n F o r e i g n
Po l i c y
t h a t h e w a s v e r y w e l l i n f o r m e d . He n e v e r f o r g o t t o
g e t t h e
r e q u i s i t e m e m o r a n d a f r o m t h e Bu e r o b e f o r e h a n d .
D u r i n g s u c h d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e F u e h r e r ,
Bu e l o w u s u a l l y
g a v e a n e x p o s i t i o n o n t h e f a c t u a l s i d e s
o f t h e p r o b l e m s d i s -
c u s s e d . Hi s a r g u m e n t s v e r y o f t e n w e r e a c c e p t e d
i n p r i n c i p l e
b y t h e F u e h r e r . Vo n Ne u r a t h p r e s e n t e d t h e s e n t i m e n t a l
s i d e
o f t h e m a t t e r i n v o l v e d a n d v e r y o f t e n
a r g u e d , i n h i s s o f t
t o n g u e , t h a t t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e Re i c h p r e c e d e d
p a r t y i n t e r -
e s t s , t o w h i c h Hi t l e r r e l u c t a n t l y a g r e e d .
Th e F u e h r e r a l s o
9 I
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
s e e m e d t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , b a s i c a l l y d e -
v e l o p e d o n t h e g r e a t Bi s m a r c k ' s p r i n c i p l e s a n d h a r b o r i n g
r o y a l i s t i c f e e l i n g s , c o u l d n o t a l w a y s a c c e p t t h e d i r e c t i o n s
f o l l o w e d b y t h e p a r t y .
It i s n o w d i f f i c u l t t o j u d g e j u s t h o w m a n y o f t h e p o l i t i c a l
i d e a s o r i g i n a t e d w i t h Hi t l e r o r t o w h a t e x t e n t Ri b b e n t r o p
i n f l u e n c e d t h e s e i d e a s d u r i n g t h e s e e a r l y y e a r s o f Hi t l e r -
Ri b b e n t r o p c o o p e r a t i o n
. Ho w e v e r , a n o f f i c i a l o f t h e o l d
s c h o o l , a m a n o f h i g h p o s i t i o n i n t h e f o r m e r K a i s e r ' s r e g i m e ,
w h o a l s o h e l d a l e a d i n g p o s i t i o n d u r i n g t h e We i m a r p e r i o d
a n d w h o i s s t i l l i n h a r n e s s i n t h e Na z i r e g i m e , s a i d t h a t a t
l e a s t u p t o t h e t i m e w h e n J o a c h i m b e c a m e F o r e i g n Mi n i s t e r
h e h a d v e r y l i t t l e t o d o w i t h t h e f o r m a t i o n o f Ge r m a n y ' s
f o r e i g n p o l i c y
. It w a s r e a l l y Hi t l e r w h o d r a f t e d t h e b a s i c
p l a n s ; i t w a s Hi t l e r w h o l o o k e d a h e a d
. Wh i l e Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
s u g g e s t i o n s w e r e v a l u e d b y Hi t l e r , t h e y s u r e l y w e r e n o t
a l w a y s f o l l o w e d . It i s p r o b a b l e t h a t Hi t l e r ' s i d e a s w e r e d i -
g e s t e d b y J o a c h i m a n d t h e n r e - f e d t o t h e F u e h r e r w h o p a s s e d
t h e m o n a g a i n a s o r i g i n a l t h o u g h t s . Th e r e w e r e i n s t a n c e s ,
h o w e v e r , w h e n Hi t l e r a c t e d a n d m a d e d e c i s i o n s e n t i r e l y
u n i n f l u e n c e d b y a n y o t h e r p e r s o n , s u c h a s i n t h e A u s t r a l i a n
c r i s i s a n d t o s o m e e x t e n t i n t h e Cz e c h o s l o v a k i a n p r o b l e m s .
It h a s t o b e r e a l i z e d t h a t Hi t l e r l o o k e d u p o n t h e s e t w o
p r o b l e m s a s d o m e s t i c i n n a t u r e
. He t h e r e f o r e c o n s i d e r e d
h i m s e l f t h e o n l y e x p e r t w h o c o u l d s o l v e t h e m .
9 2
S p e c i a l Co m m i s s i o n e r f o r D i s a r m a m e n t Q u e s t i o n s
THE U m b r u c h , t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r i n Ge r m a n y b y t h e
Na z i s , c o i n c i d e d w i t h t h e r e s u m p t i o n o f d i s a r m a m e n t d i s -
c u s s i o n s i n Ge n e v a o n F e b r u a r y 2 ,
1 9 33
. A l m o s t a y e a r p r e -
v i o u s l y , t h e d i s a r m a m e n t c o n f e r e n c e h a d s t a r t e d i t s a t t e m p t
t o f i n d a c o m m o n g r o u n d u p o n w h i c h t o b a s e a Eu r o p e a n
s e c u r i t y a g r e e m e n t . Th i s s t e m m e d o r i g i n a l l y f r o m s o m e o f
t h e K e l l o g g Pa c t s t i p u l a t i o n s . D u r i n g t h e s e d i s c u s s i o n s , Eu r o -
p e a n p o w e r s f e l l i n t o t w o m a j o r g r o u p s . On e , l e d b y F r a n c e
a n d Gr e a t Br i t a i n , t r i e d t o p r e s e r v e t h e
s t a t u s q u o .
Th e
s e c o n d g r o u p w a s r e p r e s e n t e d b y Ge r m a n y , a s s i s t e d t o a
c e r t a i n e x t e n t b y It a l y . Th i s g r o u p o p p o s e d a n y t h i n g w h i c h
r e m o t e l y i n f e r r e d a r m a m e n t i n e q u a l i t y . Ge r m a n y p o i n t e d
o u t t h a t s h e w a s w i t h o u t a n y a d e q u a t e w e a p o n s o f d e f e n s e ,
t h a t e v e n a n t i - a i r c r a f t g u n s w e r e f o r b i d d e n h e r b y t h e
Ve r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y , a n d t h a t e v e n t h e p a r t i a l d i s a r m a m e n t o f
t h e o t h e r n a t i o n s , h e r f o r m e r e n e m i e s i n Wo r l d Wa r I, a s
e x p r e s s e d i n t h e Ve r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y , h a d n o t t a k e n p l a c e .
D i s c u s s i o n s w e r e p o s t p o n e d f o r o n e m o n t h . Th e o n l y p r a c -
t i c a l r e s u l t s e e m e d t h e a c c e p t a n c e , i n p r i n c i p l e , o f a Br i t i s h
p r o p o s a l , " t o r e n o u n c e t h e u s e o f f o r c e i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f
i n t e r n a t i o n a l d i s p u t e s b e t w e e n Eu r o p e a n s t a t e s . "
On Ma y 1
7 , 1 9 33,
t h e o u t l o o k s e e m e d b r i g h t e r . On t h a t
d a t e , Hi t l e r n o t o n l y d e c l a r e d p u b l i c l y t h a t h e f a v o r e d a
9 3
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
p r o p o s a l f o r a n o n - a g g r e s s i o n p a c t b u t a l s o s t a t e d t h a t Ge r -
m a n y d i d n o t i n t e n d " t o c h a n g e t h e m a p o f Eu r o p e b y f o r c e
. "
Bu t d i s a r m a m e n t d i s c u s s i o n s m a d e l i t t l e p r o g r e s s i n t h e f o l -
l o w i n g m o n t h s . Ge r m a n y i n s i s t e d o n c o m p l e t e e q u a l i t y
a m o n g t h e p o w e r s
. S h e r e q u e s t e d s a m p l e s o f a l l w e a p o n s
w h i c h w e r e i n t h e a r m o r i e s o f o t h e r p o w e r s b u t f o r b i d d e n t o
h e r u n d e r t h e s t i p u l a t i o n s o f t h e Ve r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y . He r i n -
t e n t i o n , s h e d e c l a r e d , w a s t o f i n d c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p r o -
p o s e d r e d u c t i o n i n q u a n t i t y b y a n i m p r o v e m e n t i n q u a l i t y
.
Ev e n o n t h i s p o i n t s o m e s o r t o f s o l u t i o n c o u l d h a v e b e e n
f o u n d . F r a n c e w a s p r e p a r e d t o a g r e e i f a p r o b a t i o n a r y p e r i o d
o f s e v e r a l y e a r s w a s g u a r a n t e e d a n d i f d u r i n g s u c h a p e r i o d
Ge r m a n y w o u l d f o l l o w t h e d i s a r m a m e n t p r o g r a m , i n c o n -
f o r m i t y w i t h t h e p r o p o s e d a g r e e m e n t , t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f
m i l i t a r y e x p e r t s o f a l l t h e n a t i o n s i n v o l v e d . Th e e s s e n t i a l
p o i n t i n t h i s a g r e e m e n t w a s , o f c o u r s e , t h e i n s p e c t i o n o f
Ge r m a n a r m a m e n t w o r k s b y a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l b o a r d o f s u p e r -
v i s i o n
. F r a n c e i n s i s t e d u p o n t h i s , f o r a l t h o u g h l e a d i n g F r e n c h
p o l i t i c i a n s k n e w t h a t c h a n g e s i n t h e Ve r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y w e r e
b o u n d t o o c c u r o n e d a y , t h e y a l s o h a d o n h a n d r e l i a b l e
i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h t o l d t h e m t h a t Ge r m a n y h a d c o m m e n c e d
t o r e a r m i n s e c r e t . Th i s i n f o r m a t i o n h a d b e e n c o n f i r m e d n o t
o n l y b y Na z i p a r t y m e m b e r s , b u t s e v e r a l o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
F r e n c h b u s i n e s s f r i e n d s h a d r e p o r t e d t h a t J o a c h i m h a d
b r a g g e d t o t h e m a b o u t h o w t h o r o u g h l y a n d e l a b o r a t e l y t h e
Ge r m a n r e a r m a m e n t p r o g r a m h a d b e e n w o r k e d o u t a n d t h a t
t h i s p r o g r a m w a s a l r e a d y i n p r o g r e s s . It i s n o w k n o w n , f r o m
v a r i o u s s o u r c e s , t h a t J o a c h i m ' s b r a g g i n g w a s o n e o f t h e m a i n
c a u s e s u n d e r l y i n g t h e n e r v o u s n e s s o f F r e n c h f o r e i g n p o l i c y
.
Th e d i s a r m a m e n t c o n f e r e n c e w a s t o m e e t a g a i n o n Oc t o b e r
1 8 ,
1 9 33,
a n d t h e l e a d i n g r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f Gr e a t Br i t a i n ,
F r a n c e a n d It a l y , a n d t h e A m e r i c a n " o b s e r v e r , " No r m a n H.
D a v i s , w e r e b u s i l y e n g a g e d i n a t t e m p t i n g t o c o m e t o s o m e
9 4
COMMIS S IONERF ORD IS A RMA MENTQ U ES TIONS
a g r e e m e n t
. It w a s d u r i n g t h e s e p r e - c o n f e r e n c e d i s c u s s i o n s
t h a t t h e i d e a o f t h e i n s p e c t i o n o f Ge r m a n a r m a m e n t w o r k s
b y a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l b o a r d o f s u p e r v i s i o n w a s e v o l v e d . Ge r -
m a n y ' s r e s p o n s e t o t h i s p r o p o s a l w a s a f l a t r e f u s a l
. S h e w o u l d
n o t a g r e e t o a n y k i n d o f i n s p e c t i o n o r s u p e r v i s i o n , f o r i f s h e
d i d s h e f e l t t h a t a n y s u c h a c t i o n w o u l d b e a d i r e c t v i o l a t i o n
o f h e r n a t i o n a l h o n o r . S h e , f u r t h e r m o r e , m a d e n o b o n e s a b o u t
h e r i n t e n t i o n t o s t a r t i m m e d i a t e p r o d u c t i o n o f s o m e o f t h e
w e a p o n s e x p r e s s l y f o r b i d d e n b y t h e Ve r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y
.
A m o n g t h e s e w e r e b i g g u n s , t a n k s , a n d c o m b a t p l a n e s .
D i f f i c u l t i e s b e t w e e n Ge r m a n y a n d t h e o t h e r p o w e r s n o w
s e e m e d t o h a v e r e a c h e d a c o m p l e t e i m p a s s e . On Oc t o b e r 1
5 ,
1 9 33 -
t h r e e d a y s b e f o r e t h e o f f i c i a l o p e n i n g o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e
- Ge r m a n y d e c i d e d t o w i t h d r a w s i m u l t a n e o u s l y f r o m b o t h
t h e Co n f e r e n c e a n d t h e L e a g u e o f Na t i o n s . No o n e h a d
e x p e c t e d t h i s m o v e . Ev e n Mu s s o l i n i d e c l a r e d h i s c o m p l e t e
a m a z e m e n t .
Th e r e i s p r o o f t h a t t h e Ge r m a n F o r e i g n Of f i c e a s w e l l a s
t h e Re i c h s w e h r m i n i s t e r i u m ( Wa r D e p a r t m e n t ) w e r e s t r i c t l y
o p p o s e d t o t h e s e s t e p s . Re p o r t s o n t h a t c r u c i a l p e r i o d s a y
t h a t t h e o r d e r s f o r t h e w i t h d r a w a l w e r e g i v e n b y t h e F u e h r e r
i n p e r s o n , a n d t h a t i n p r e c e d i n g c o n s u l t a t i o n s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
o f t h e Wi l h e l r s t r a s s e a s w e l l a s t h e Be n d l e r s t r a s s e h a d e x -
p r e s s e d t h e i r o p p o s i t i o n t o t h i s m o v e b u t t h a t t h e F u e h r e r
h a d d e c i d e d u p o n t h e w i t h d r a w a l i n s p i t e o f t h e r e m o n -
s t r a n c e s o f v o n Ne u r a t h , v o n Bu e l o w , a n d t h e m a j o r i t y o f
t h e g e n e r a l s c o n s u l t e d .
In s p i t e o f t h e s e w i t h d r a w a l s , t h e Wi l h e l m s t r a s s e - t h r o u g h
i t s m i s s i o n s a b r o a d - l e t i t b e r u m o r e d t h a t i n i t s o p i n i o n t h e
w a y w a s n o t b a r r e d f o r a r e o p e n i n g o f d i s a r m a m e n t d i s c u s -
s i o n s a n d t h a t e v e n Ge r m a n y ' s r e t u r n i n t o t h e L e a g u e s h o u l d
n o t b e l o o k e d u p o n a s i m p o s s i b l e - a t s o m e f u t u r e t i m e
.
Co n s t a n t i n v o n Ne u r a t h , t h e F o r e i g n Mi n i s t e r , t h o u g h t i t b e s t
9
5
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
t o l e t s u f f i c i e n t t i m e p a s s " t o g i v e t h e c o n f u s e d s i t u a t i o n a
c h a n c e t o d i s e n t a n g l e i t s e l f . " He g o t a l e a v e o f a b s e n c e ,
r e t i r e d t e m p o r a r i l y t o h i s h u n t i n g l o d g e i n t h e A l p s w h e r e
h e p l a n n e d t o s h o o t c h a m o i s , a n d l e f t t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e ,
Be r n h a r d v o n Bu e l o w , t o " a c t " o n h i s b e h a l f
.
Be r n h a r d v o n Bu e l o w , l i v e l i e r t h a n d i l a t o r y v o n Ne u r a t h ,
c o n t a c t e d h i s o w n f r i e n d s a m o n g t h e g e n e r a l s s o o n a f t e r t h e
l a t t e r h a d l e f t . Wi t h t h o s e k n o w n f o r t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a c u m e n ,
h e d i s c u s s e d t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f r e s u m i n g d i s a r m a m e n t c o n -
v e r s a t i o n s . Th e y w e r e a l l a n x i o u s t o f i n d s o m e b a s i s f o r
f u t u r e c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r n a t i o n s , b u t a l l t h e p r o p o s a l s
w h i c h v o n Bu e l o w b r o u g h t t o Hi t l e r ' s a t t e n t i o n w e r e b l u n t l y
r e j e c t e d . Hi t l e r d i d f e e l , h o w e v e r , t h a t s o m e i n i t i a t i v e w a s
n e c e s s a r y t o g e t t h e w h e e l s o f Ge r m a n f o r e i g n p o l i c y i n
m o t i o n a g a i n . Hi t l e r k n e w , t h r o u g h Ri b b e n t r o p , w h o h a d
b e e n i n Pa r i s a n d L o n d o n m a n y t i m e s d u r i n g t h e p r e c e d i n g
m o n t h s , t h a t F r a n c e a n d Gr e a t Br i t a i n w e r e v e r y d i s s a t i s f i e d
w i t h t h i s d e a d l o c k
.
F r a n c e h a d h a d g r e a t i n n e r p o l i t i c a l d i f f i c u l t i e s d u r i n g 1 9 32
a n d
1 9 33
.
Ca b i n e t s h a d f a l l e n a n d m i n i s t e r s h a d f o l l o w e d o n e
a n o t h e r i n q u i c k s u c c e s s i o n
. Hi t l e r s t a r t e d a c o n c i l i a t o r y
g e s t u r e t o w a r d F r a n c e a l o n e
. In t h i s s i t u a t i o n , h e c o u l d , a t
l a s t , r e a l l y u s e Ri b b e n t r o p . It w a s Ri b b e n t r o p w h o a r r a n g e d ,
t h r o u g h h i s F r e n c h b u s i n e s s c o n n e c t i o n s , t h e f a m o u s Hi t l e r
i n t e r v i e w i n t h e n e w s p a p e r , L e Ma t i n . It c u l m i n a t e d i n t h e
s e n t e n c e , " Wh a t c a n Id o t o i n s u r e F r e n c h s e c u r i t y t h a t d o e s
n o t b r i n g d i s h o n o r o r m e n a c e t o m y o w n c o u n t r y a t t h e s a m e
t i m e ? " In i t , Hi t l e r a l s o m e n t i o n e d a g a i n a n d a g a i n t h a t
Ge r m a n y d e f i n i t e l y h a d r e n o u n c e d A l s a c e a n d L o r r a i n e .
Ri b b e n t r o p e m p h a s i z e d t h e s e i d e n t i c a l p o i n t s i n c o n v e r s a t i o n s
w i t h h i s b u s i n e s s f r i e n d s , w h o , o f c o u r s e , a l w a y s r e p o r t e d a n y
i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a f f i l i a t i o n s
. Bu t t h e f a c t r e m a i n e d
9 6
COMMIS S IONERF ORD IS A RMA MENTQ U ES TIONS
t h a t Ge r m a n y w a s r e a r m i n g a n d t h a t s h e a b s o l u t e l y r e f u s e d
a n y k i n d o f a r m a m e n t s u p e r v i s i o n .
S h o r t l y b e f o r e Ch r i s t m a s , 1 9 33, Hi t l e r , t h r o u g h Ge r m a n
d i p l o m a t i c m i s s i o n s , m a d e t h e o t h e r p o w e r s a n o f f e r . He
w o u l d d i s c u s s a t e n - y e a r n o n - a g g r e s s i o n p a c t . Th i s t i m e
Hi t l e r ' s m o v e w a s c a u s e d b y a w a r n i n g f r o m Ge r m a n y ' s
g e n e r a l s . S e c r e t r e p o r t s f r o m F r a n c e s a i d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
b r a g g i n g a b o u t Ge r m a n y ' s r e a r m a m e n t p r o g r a m w a s h a v i n g
t h e r e s u l t t h a t w a s t o b e e x p e c t e d . F a r f r o m i n t i m i d a t i n g t h e
F r e n c h , t h e r e p o r t s a i d , i t h a d s t a r t e d a t a l k o f a p r e v e n t i v e
w a r , a n d Ge r m a n y , t h e y p o i n t e d o u t , w a s n o t p r e p a r e d f o r
w a r a t t h i s t i m e . Th i s a c c o u n t s f o r Hi t l e r ' s s u d d e n i n t e r e s t i n a
n o n - a g g r e s s i o n p a c t . Ge r m a n f e e l e r s , i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , w e r e ,
h o w e v e r , c o u c h e d i n s u c h v a g u e t e r m s t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t
t a k e n s e r i o u s l y . Be s i d e s , Ge r m a n o f f i c i a l d o m , w h e n a p -
p r o a c h e d b y m e m b e r s o f Be r l i n ' s f o r e i g n m i s s i o n s , r e p l i e d
t h a t n o t h i n g w a s k n o w n t o t h e m a b o u t t h i s p r o p o s e d p a c t ,
t h a t i t m u s t h a v e b e e n o n e o f t h e F u e h r e r ' s v a g u e i d e a s , a n d
m o r e o v e r t h a t t h e t i m e w a s n o t r i p e f o r a r e o p e n i n g o f
d i s c u s s i o n s .
In J a n u a r y ,
1 9 34 ,
t h e S t a v i s k y s c a n d a l t h r e w t h e e n t i r e
F r e n c h n a t i o n i n t o o p e n t u r m o i l . Th e Ch a u t e m p s m i n i s t r y ,
t h e n i n p o w e r , f e l l , a n d Ed o u a r d D a l a d i e r t o o k o v e r . D a -
l a d i e r h i m s e l f r e t a i n e d t h e p o r t f o l i o o f f o r e i g n a f f a i r s . Th e
Ri b b e n t r o p s w e r e i n Pa r i s d u r i n g t h e S t a v i s k y d e m o n s t r a t i o n s
o n F e b r u a r y 6
. Wh e n J o a c h i m r e t u r n e d t o Be r l i n , h e h a d
v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g m a t t e r s t o r e p o r t t o h i s F u e h r e r , f o r h e h a d
o n l y t h e m o s t p e s s i m i s t i c v i e w s o n F r a n c e ' s f u t u r e
.
A r e v o l u t i o n w a s c o m i n g i n F r a n c e , e v e n c i v i l w a r w a s
p o s s i b l e , h e t o l d Hi t l e r
. Bu t t h e F u e h r e r d i d n o t a g r e e w i t h
h i m . In f a c t , i t w a s r e p o r t e d i n t h e Ch a n c e l l e r y , Hi t l e r h a d
s a i d t h a t h e k n e w h i s F r e n c h m e n , t h a t h e h a d g o t t o k n o w
9 7
THIS MA NRIBBENTROP
t h e m i n t h e t r e n c h e s o f t h e We s t e r n f r o n t , a n d t h a t t h e s e
m e n w o u l d n e v e r e n t a n g l e t h e m s e l v e s i n a c i v i l w a r
. " Th e
F r e n c h a r e s t i l l v e r y s t r o n g , " Hi t l e r a l l e g e d l y s a i d t o Ri b b e n -
t r o p , " b u t t h e i r w e a k n e s s i s , o f c o u r s e , t h e i r l a c k o f o r g a n i -
z a t i o n . "
Th e D i s a r m a m e n t Co n f e r e n c e m e t o n c e a g a i n i n L o n d o n
o n F e b r u a r y
1 3, 1 9 34 .
Th e r e w e r e f a i n t i n d i c a t i o n s o f Ge r -
m a n d e s i r e t o a r r i v e a t s o m e s o l u t i o n w h i c h w o u l d m e e t t h e
d o u b l e p u r p o s e o f a v o i d i n g a n e w a r m a m e n t r a c e a n d a t t h e
s a m e t i m e o f p e r m i t t i n g Ge r m a n y s o m e o f t h e w e a p o n s f o r -
b i d d e n t o h e r b y t r e a t y r e g u l a t i o n s . Th e r e w a s n o d o u b t
a m o n g t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e t h a t Ge r m a n y w o u l d
g o o n w i t h h e r o w n r e a r m a m e n t i f t h e o t h e r p o w e r s f a i l e d t o
f i n d s o m e m e a n s o f l i m i t i n g t h e i r l a n d a r m a m e n t s . Ev e r y b o d y
k n e w t h a t Ge r m a n y w o u l d n o t s u b m i t h e r s e l f t o t h e " d i s -
h o n o r " o f c o n t r o l . Th e q u e s t i o n o f n a v a l a r m a m e n t s l o o k e d
s t i l l d a r k e r . A n e w b i l l , p a s s e d b y t h e Co n g r e s s o f t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s , h a d a u t h o r i z e d t h e b u i l d i n g o f a r e c o r d f l e e t o f o n e
h u n d r e d a n d f i f t y - f o u r n e w v e s s e l s , t h e r e p l a c e m e n t o f a l l
c a p i t a l s h i p s , a n d a p p r o p r i a t i o n s f o r a i r c r a f t
. It w a s c l e a r t h a t
a n a v a l b u i l d i n g r a c e w o u l d s e t i n i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e
e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e Wa s h i n g t o n a n d L o n d o n a g r e e m e n t s a t t h e
e n d o f 1 9 36 .
Th e Wi l h e l m n r a s s e w a s p r e s s i n g f o r a c t i o n
. Hi t l e r e x -
p l a i n e d t o v o n Ne u r a t h , w h e n t h e l a t t e r h a d r e t u r n e d f r o m
h i s l e a v e , t h a t Ge r m a n y ' s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n d i s a r m a m e n t d i s -
c u s s i o n s s e e m e d t o h i m u n s u i t a b l e , i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e , u n d e r
p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s . He m e n t i o n e d t o Ne u r a t h t h e " t r u s t -
w o r t h y i n f o r m a t i o n " h e h a d r e c e i v e d f r o m m e n w i t h e x c e l -
l e n t b u s i n e s s c o n n e c t i o n s i n F r a n c e a n d Gr e a t Br i t a i n a n d
a l s o t h e a d v i c e t h a t t h e s e m e n h a d g i v e n h i m . Th e y h a d t o l d
h i m , h e s a i d , t o o b s e r v e a s t a t e o f w a t c h f u l w a i t i n g f o r t h e
t i m e b e i n g . Ev e n t u a l l y h e w a s t o a p p r o a c h e a c h n a t i o n
9 8
COMMIS S IONERF ORD IS A RMA MENTQ U ES TIONS
s e p a r a t e l y a n d a r r a n g e w i t h t h e m i n d i v i d u a l c o n f e r e n c e s .
Vo n Ne u r a t h , w h o o c c a s i o n a l l y r e p o r t e d d i r e c t l y t o Pr e s i -
d e n t v o n Hi n d e n b u r g o n m a t t e r s o f i m p o r t a n c e , t o l d t h e
Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e Ch a n c e l l o r ' s a t t i t u d e . Hi n d e n b u r g h a d a l -
r e a d y h a d a r e p o r t f r o m h i s o w n a d v i s e r s . A s c o m m a n d e r o f
t h e a r m e d f o r c e s a n d a l i f e l o n g s o l d i e r h e w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y
i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e q u e s t i o n o f a r m a m e n t . He r e q u e s t e d Hi t l e r
t o e x p l a i n h i s f u t u r e p l a n s
. Th e F u e h r e r p o i n t e d o u t t h a t h e
w a s e n d e a v o r i n g t o b r e a k F r a n c o - Br i t i s h c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h e
d i s a r m a m e n t q u e s t i o n . He t h e n h o p e d t o r e a c h a s e p a r a t e
a g r e e m e n t w i t h F r a n c e a n d o n e w i t h Gr e a t Br i t a i n . Th e s e
i n d i v i d u a l a g r e e m e n t s w e r e n o t t o i n c l u d e a n y n e w o b l i g a -
t i o n s b u t w e r e t o g i v e Ge r m a n y e q u a l i t y i n a r m a m e n t s w i t h
h e r f o r m e r e n e m i e s .
To t h i s p r o g r a m v o n Hi n d e n b u r g h a p p i l y a g r e e d . Hi t l e r
f u r t h e r m o r e s i g n i f i e d t h a t h e i n t e n d e d t o a s k t h e Pr e s i d e n t
t o a p p o i n t a s p e c i a l c o m m i s s i o n e r f o r d i s a r m a m e n t q u e s t i o n s .
Bu t w h e n t h e Pr e s i d e n t a s k e d Hi t l e r t o s u g g e s t s o m e o n e , a n d
J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p w a s m e n t i o n e d , Hi n d e n b u r g e x -
c l a i m e d , " Wh a t ! Th a t y o u n g m a n f r o m t h e w i n e t r a d e ? "
A n d i t t o o k q u i t e s o m e e f f o r t t o c o n v i n c e t h e o l d m a n t h a t
s u c h a n a p p o i n t m e n t w a s b o t h d e s i r a b l e a n d n e c e s s a r y . " Th i s
i s a j o b f o r a g e n e r a l o r a d m i r a l , " Hi n d e n b u r g r e m o n s t r a t e d
.
On l y w h e n t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e , D r . Ot t o Me i s s n e r , c l a i m e d
t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s t h e s c i o n o f a n o l d o f f i c e r ' s f a m i l y a n d
t h a t " o n e o f h i s a n c e s t o r s h a d b e e n t h e r i g h t h a n d m a n o f
F i e l d Ma r s h a l Bl u e c h e r v o n Wa h l s t a d t , " d i d Hi n d e n b u r g g i v e
i n
. It w a s t h i s d e l i c a t e m a n i p u l a t i o n o f f a c t s w h i c h r e a l l y
c h a n g e d t h e Pr e s i d e n t ' s m i n d . On A p r i l 2 3,
1 9 34 ,
Ri b b e n -
t r o p ' s a p p o i n t m e n t a s " s p e c i a l Co m m i s s i o n e r f o r D i s a r m a -
m e n t Q u e s t i o n s " w a s p u b l i s h e d i n t h e o f f i c i a l c o l u m n s o f
t h e Re i c h s - A n z e i g e r .
S o m e b i o g r a p h i c a l d a t a o n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s " a c h i e v e m e n t s "
9 9
THIS MA N RIBBENTROP
t o d a t e w e r e a d d e d b y t h e " b i g p r e s s . " Th e y a n n o u n c e d t h a t
J o a c h i m w a s t h e s o n o f t h e r e t i r e d L i e u t e n a n t Co l o n e l Ri b -
b e n t r o p a n d t h a t h e h i m s e l f h a d b e e n d i s c h a r g e d h o n o r a b l y
a s F i r s t L i e u t e n a n t a f t e r t h e Wo r l d Wa r
. It w a s e x p r e s s l y
p o i n t e d o u t " t h a t He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p e n j o y e d t h e s p e c i a l
c o n f i d e n c e o f Ch a n c e l l o r Hi t l e r a n d , a s Hi t l e r ' s c o n f i d a n t ,
h a d a l r e a d y b e e n c h a r g e d w i t h v a r i o u s m i s s i o n s a b r o a d
. Th e s e
h a d t a k e n h i m t o L o n d o n , Pa r i s , a n d o t h e r Eu r o p e a n c a p i t a l s
d u r i n g t h e p r e c e d i n g s u m m e r
. " It e n d e d , " t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f
He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p b y t h e Pr e s i d e n t d o e s n o t s i g n i f y a
c h a n g e o r
a n e w t r e n d i n t h e Ge r m a n d i s a r m a m e n t p o l i c y .
It m e r e l y m e a n s t h a t n e w w a y s a r e b e i n g t a k e n o u t s i d e t h e
u s u a l d i p l o m a t i c p r o c e d u r e . Th i s h a s b e e n t h e c a s e i n o t h e r
c o u n t r i e s o n s i m i l a r o c c a s i o n s . "
D u r i n g t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f
1 9 33
a n d t h e f i r s t m o n t h s o f
1 9 34 , b e f o r e h i s o f f i c i a l a p p o i n t m e n t a s c o m m i s s i o n e r o n d i s -
a r m a m e n t q u e s t i o n s , Ri b b e n t r o p h a d v i s i t e d t h e F r e n c h c a p i -
t a l a t l e a s t t e n t i m e s . On s i x o f h i s t r i p s h i s w i f e a c c o m p a n i e d
h i m . Th e s e j o u r n e y s w e r e n e v e r s e c r e t , f o r A n n e l i e s p r o u d l y
i n f o r m e d h e r f r i e n d s o f a l l s u c h e v e n t s a n d e v e n o f f e r e d
e t ' w a s z u b e s o r g e n
( t o d o s o m e s h o p p i n g f o r t h e m ) . Ri b b e n -
t r o p ' s t e c h n i q u e w a s s i m p l e
. He v i s i t e d F r e n c h b u s i n e s s
c o n n e c t i o n s o f l o n g s t a n d i n g a n d t h r o u g h t h e m g o t i n t r o -
d u c t i o n s i n t o o f f i c i a l c i r c l e s
. He i n t e n t i o n a l l y a v o i d e d c a l l i n g
a t t h e Ge r m a n Em b a s s y i n t h e Ru e d e L i l l e .
Ro l a n d K o e s t e r , t h e A m b a s s a d o r , a s t a u n c h o p p o n e n t o f
t h e Na z i s , d i d n o t l i k e Ri b b e n t r o p . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h e k n e w
n o t h i n g o f Ri b b e n t r o p a n d Hi t l e r ' s i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p
.
Wh e n e v e n t u a l l y h e l e a r n e d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p h a d b e e n r e -
c e i v e d b y l e a d i n g F r e n c h s t a t e s m e n a n d h i g h o f f i c i a l s - A l e x i s
L e g e r w a s m e n t i o n e d a s o n e o f J o a c h i m ' s a c q u a i n t a n c e s
K o e s t e r r e p o r t e d o n " t h e w i n e m e r c h a n t ' s b u s t l i n g a c t i v i -
t i e s " a n d h i s Ma n g e l a n Ta k t ( w a n t o f t a c t ) . L a t e r K o e s t e r
1 00
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
w r o t e t h a t a Fr e n c h s t a t e s m a n h a d r e m a r k e d o f J o a c h i m ,
" . . . Ilo ve Wa gn e r i a n m us i c a n d Ia m gla d t h a t He r r
vo n Ri b b e n t r o p h a s s uc h a f i n e un d e r s t a n d i n go f a r t
. B ut ,
a f t e r a ll, Id o n o t s e e a n y r e a s o n w h y , a s a m e m b e r o f t h e
Fr e n c h c a b i n e t , Is h o uld b e o b li ge d t o k e e p o n d i s c us s i n g
Wa gn e r i a n m us i c w i t h t h i s m a n . " Of c o ur s e , s uc h r e p o r t s
d i d n o t r e a c h t h e Fue h r e r . Th e We s t e r n Eur o p e a n d i vi s i o n
o f t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e k e p t t h e s e r e p o r t s i n i t s s e c r e t f i le s
w h e r e t h e y w e r e c h i e f ly us e d t o a m us e a f e w f a vo r e d
h i gh e r up s .
On o n e o c c a s i o n Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s w i f e le f t c a r d s a t t h e
P a r i s Em b a s s y . Th e y h a d h e a r d t h a t t h e Am b a s s a d o r h a d
s e n t o ut i n vi t a t i o n s t o a d i n n e r p a r t y f o r o n e o f t h e f o llo w i n g
d a y s a n d t h e y e x p e c t e d t o r e c e i ve a n i n vi t a t i o n
. B ut n o t h i n g
o f t h e s o r t h a p p e n e d . Ri b b e n t r o p w a s i n f ur i a t e d
. He c a lle d
Co n s t a n t i n vo n Ne ur a t h i n B e r li n , i n t h e m i d d le o f t h e n i gh t
.
He r a n t e d t h a t h i s p e n d i n gd i s c us s i o n s w e r e b e i n gs a b o t a ge d .
It w a s a b s o lut e ly n e c e s s a r y t h a t h e b e p r e s e n t a t t h e d i n n e r i n
o r d e r t o f ur t h e r h i s c o n t a c t s . Th e s ur p r i s e d vo n Ne ur a t h , w h o
k n e w n e i t h e r a b o ut Ri b b e n t r o p ' s vi s i t t o P a r i s n o r a b o ut
K o e s t e r ' s d i n n e r , t e le p h o n e d K o e s t e r t h e n e x t m o r n i n g . Th e
Ri b b e n t r o p s r e c e i ve d t h e i r m uc h d e s i r e d i n vi t a t i o n . On ly
t h r o ugh t h i s i n c i d e n t d i d K o e s t e r le a r n f r o m vo n Ne ur a t h
t h a t " Ri b b e n t r o p a c t e d f o r t h e Fue h r e r a s a n un o f f i c i a lo b -
s e r ve r o n c e r t a i n q ue s t i o n s o f p o li t i c a li m p o r t a n c e
. " B ut t h e
K o e s t e r - Ri b b e n t r o p r e la t i o n s h i p d i d n o t i m p r o ve b e c a us e o f
t h i s f o r c e d i n vi t a t i o n .
Am b a s s a d o r Ro la n d K o e s t e r w a s n o t t h e o n ly o n e t o w h o m
t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p c a m e a s a s ur -
p r i s e
. Ma n y o f f i c i a ls , m o s t o f t h e B e r li n d i p lo m a t s , e ve n s o m e
o f t h e le a d i n gp a r t y m e m b e r s , f o un d i n t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t t h e
r e a lf i r s t c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h o s e r um o r s w h i c h s a i d t h a t J o a c h i m
" o c c a s i o n a lly w a s t a k e n i n t o t h e Fue h r e r ' s c o n f i d e n c e o n
101
THISMANRIB B ENTR`OP
q ue s t i o n s r e la t i n gt o f o r e i gn a f f a i r s
. " V i c c o K a r lvo n B ue lo w -
Sc h w a n t e , w h o i n t h e m e a n t i m e h a d r e t ur n e d w i t h h o n o r s t o
t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , o n c e s a i d la ugh i n gly t o h i s f r i e n d s , " Iw a s
t h e o n e w h o r e c o m m e n d e d J o a c h i m t o t h e Fue h r e r a s t h e
m a n w h o c o uld r e a d t h e L o n d o n Ti m e s t o h i m , a n d n o w t h i s
f e llo w h a s a b e t t e r j o b t h a n Ih a ve . "
Th e o f f i c i a la p p o i n t m e n t w a s t h e t ur n i n gp o i n t i n Ri b b e n -
t r o p ' s p o li t i c a lc a r e e r
. Mo r e t h a n t h a t , t h e f a c t t h a t h e b e c a m e
t h e m a n " i n c h a r ge o f d i s a r m a m e n t " e n a b le d h i m t o i n t e r f e r e
i n m a n y , i f n o t i n m o s t , o f t h e q ue s t i o n s w h i c h t r a d i t i o n a lly
w e r e h a n d le d b y t h e Mi n i s t r y o f Fo r e i gn Af f a i r s . Th e r e w a s
a lm o s t n o t h i n gi n t h i s d o m a i n w h i c h w a s n o t , i n s o m e
m e a s ur e , r e la t e d t o d i s a r m a m e n t . Eve n s uc h f a r - f lun gi s s ue s
a s i n t e r n a t i o n a la r r a n ge m e n t s b e t w e e n gr o up s o f i n d us t r i a l-
i s t s , r e ga r d i n gp r i c e s a n d m a r k e t s , w e r e r e la t e d . Co m m e r c i a l
t r e a t i e s p r o h i b i t i n gd e li ve r i e s o f a r m a m e n t s t o s o m e L a t i n -
Am e r i c a n c o un t r y w e r e j us t a s m uc h a m a t t e r o f i n t e r e s t t o
Ri b b e n t r o p a s w a s , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e d i s t r i b ut i o n o f m a n -
ga n e s e o r e , f r o m Rus s i a n m i n e s i n t h e Ca uc a s us , a m o n g
G e r m a n , Fr e n c h , a n d En gli s h i r o n w o r k s . Fi n a n c i a lq ue s -
t i o n s w e r e a ls o f r e q ue n t ly c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e d i s a r m a m e n t
p r o b le m . Th e f a m o us Cze c h o s lo va k i a n Sk o d a Wo r k s w e r e
un d e r t h e m a j o r i t y c o n t r o lo f t h e Fr e n c h Sc h n e i d e r - Cr e uzo t
i r o n a n d a r m a m e n t f a c t o r i e s . Di d n o t s uc h f i n a n c i a li n t e r -
r e la t i o n s h a ve s o m e i n f lue n c e o n Fr a n c e ' s a r m a m e n t c a p a c i t y ?
As a m a t t e r o f f a c t , i f Ri b b e n t r o p h a d i n s i s t e d o n r i gi d ly us i n g
a llt h e p o w e r s gi ve n t o h i m b y p r e s i d e n t i a ld e c r e e , a llm a j o r
i s s ue s c o uld b e d e c i d e d b y vo n Ne ur a t h o n ly up o n c o n -
c ur r e n c e w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p
.
Th e c r e a t i o n o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s h i p f o r d i s a r m a m e n t
q ue s t i o n s m e a n t , f ur t h e r m o r e , t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s e n t i t le d
t o d r a w s p e c i a lf un d s f r o m t h e Re i c h Tr e a s ur y . Th i s d i d n o t
m e a n f o r h i s o w n s a la r y a lo n e , b ut a ls o f o r B ue r o e x p e n s e s .
102
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
To a c e r t a i n e x t e n t , h e a n d h i s B ue r o w e r e n o w f i n a n c i a lly
i n d e p e n d e n t o f t h e Ch a n c e lle r y a n d t h e Na zi p a r t y t r e a s ur e r
.
He d i d n o t h a ve t o e x p la i n h i s e x p e n s e a c c o un t n o r gi ve
r e a s o n s f o r n e w f un d s r e q ue s t e d . Eve n i f s uc h r e q ue s t s h a d
t o b e p a s s e d a t c a b i n e t m e e t i n gs , t h e r e w a s li t t le c h a n c e t h a t
a n y b o d y w o uld o p p o s e t h e i t e m s e n t a i le d b y h i s n e w o f f i c e ,
e s p e c i a lly i f t h e a m o un t s r e m a i n e d w i t h i n r e a s o n a b le li m i t s
.
Th e B ue r o t o o k o n vi go r , a n d i t s s t a f f w a s c o n s i d e r a b ly
e n la r ge d .
Ri b b e n t r o p s e t o f f o n a r o un d o f t r i p s . He w e n t t o L o n d o n ,
Ro m e , a n d P a r i s t o i n t r o d uc e h i m s e lf t o a lls o r t s o f d i gn i t a r i e s
i n h i s n e w c a p a c i t y a n d t o " c le a r t h e gr o un d " f o r h i m s e lf
a n d h i s Fue h r e r
. He d i d a llt h i s w i t h o ut c o n s ult i n go r e ve n
vi s i t i n gt h e G e r m a n Am b a s s a d o r s a t t h e s e c a p i t a ls
. He ga ve
t h e m n o i n f o r m a t i o n o f a n y k i n d . It w a s o n ly b y m e r e c h a n c e
t h a t t h e G e r m a n Am b a s s a d o r d i s c o ve r e d t h a t vo n Ri b b e n t r o p
h a d b e e n i n c o n t a c t w i t h t h i s s t a t e s m a n o r t h a t . Oc c a s i o n a lly
a Fr e n c h o r It a li a n o f f i c i a lw a s a d vi s e d , b y h i s c h i e f , t o gi ve
He r r vo n Ri b b e n t r o p i n f o r m a t i o n . On ly w h e n Ri b b e n t r o p
w a s un a b le t o c o n t a c t p e r s o n s w h o m h e i n s i s t e d o n m e e t i n g,
d i d h e p e r e m p t o r i ly r e q ue s t p r o p e r i n t r o d uc t i o n s
. To gi ve
s uc h a n i n t r o d uc t i o n us ua lly r e q ui r e d a s p e c i a la ut h o r i za t i o n
f r o m t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , f o r w h i c h t h e Em b a s s y h a d t o a s k
.
Eve n i f s uc h a n i n q ui r y b y t h e Em b a s s y w a s a n s w e r e d b y
t e le gr a m o r o ve r t h e d i r e c t w i r e , i t f r e q ue n t ly t o o k s e ve r a l
d a y s un t i lt h e a ut h o r i za t i o n w a s r e c e i ve d . Fr i c t i o n b e t w e e n
Ri b b e n t r o p a n d va r i o us G e r m a n d i p lo m a t i c m i s s i o n s m o un t e d .
Ri b b e n t r o p e m p h a s i ze d t h i s f r i c t i o n w h e n r e p o r t i n gt o t h e
Fue h r e r
. He p o i n t e d o ut t h a t , i n o r d e r t o s e llh i s i d e a t o
f o r e i gn go ve r n m e n t s , h e n e e d e d d i p lo m a t i c r a n k i n g
. He h a d
t o b e c o m e a n a m b a s s a d o r h i m s e lf
. Th e n h e c o uld " s p e a k t o
t h o s e h i gh - h a t t e d a m b a s s a d o r s a s a n e q ua l" a n d " b e a b le t o
m a n a ge t h e s e o b s t i n a t e a n d a n t i q ua t e d c a r e e r a m b a s s a d o r s
. "
103
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
No t o n ly t h e Re i c h ' s a m b a s s a d o r s i n t h e c o un t r i e s w h i c h
t h e n e w Co m m i s s i o n e r o n Di s a r m a m e n t Que s t i o n s h o n o r e d
w i t h h i s vi s i t s b ut a ls o t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e i t s e lf w a s n o t
i n f o r m e d b y J o a c h i m o f h i s m o ve m e n t s a n d t h e a c t i o n s h e
c o n t e m p la t e d . Co n s t a n t i n vo n Ne ur a t h b e c a m e un e a s y o ve r
t h i s la c k o f c o o p e r a t i o n . B ut t h e c le ve r Se c r e t a r y o f St a t e ,
B e r n h a r d vo n B ue lo w , s o o n f o un d a w a y t o p r o vi d e t h e
n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n
. Th e p o s t o f a li a i s o n - o f f i c e r b e t w e e n
" c o m m i s s i o n e r " a n d " Fo r e i gn Of f i c e " w a s c r e a t e d
. V o n
B ue lo w ' s p e r s o n a ls e c r e t a r y , a Dr
. Th e o d o r K o r t h , la t e r
Ch a r ge d ' Af f a i r e s
i n L o n d o n , a t p r e s e n t a t t h e h e a d o f t h e
L e ga t i o n i n B e r n e , Sw i t ze r la n d , h a d a y o un ge r b r o t h e r Er i c h ,
w h o , b y m ut ua la gr e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e t w o o f f i c e s , go t t h e
j o b
. Si n c e J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p t o o k a gr e a t li k i n gt o h i s
n e w c o lle a gue , Er i c h us e d t o a c c o m p a n y h i s m a s t e r e ve r y -
w h e r e , a n d s i n c e b r o t h e r Th e o d o r k n e w w h e n c e b r o t h e r
Er i c h w a s t r a ve li n g, vo n B ue lo w c o uld , a t le a s t , f i n d o ut
w h i c h f i e ld o f a c t i vi t i e s t h e n e w Co m m i s s i o n e r h a d c h o s e n
f o r t h e t i m e b e i n g
. It w o r k e d o ut q ui t e s a t i s f a c t o r i ly , a t le a s t
f o r t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , d e s p i t e J o a c h i m ' s r e f us a lt o i n f o r m
t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e a n d vo n Ne ur a t h o f h i s m o ve m e n t s
.
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a p p o i n t m e n t w a s n o t lo ud ly h e r a ld e d b y t h e
Na zi p r e s s . Th e V o e lk i s c h e r B e o b a c h t e r ,
Hi t le r ' s p e r s o n a l
p r o p e r t y , e d i t e d b y Dr
. Alf r e d Ro s e n b e r g, ga ve
i t o n ly o n e
li n e w i t h o ut a n y c o m m e n t o n a n i n s i d e p a ge . B ut n e w s -
p a p e r s i n o t h e r c o un t r i e s r e a li ze d t h a t t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t w a s
s i gn i f i c a n t
. As Fr e d e r i c k B i r c h a ll, B e r li n c o r r e s p o n d e n t o f
t h e
Ne w Yo r k Ti m e s , p ut i t , " It i n d i c a t e d t h a t m o r e t h a n
e ve r b e f o r e G e r m a n y ' s a t t i t ud e t o w a r d s t h e d i s a r m a m e n t
p r o b le m s h o uld b e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h Hi t le r ' s p e r s o n a lc o n -
vi c t i o n s
. " Ot h e r c o r r e s p o n d e n t s ga t h e r e d f r o m t h e a p p o i n t -
m e n t t h a t vo n Ne ur a t h h a d b e e n s i d e t r a c k e d , t h a t a n e w
G e r m a n i n i t i a t i ve i n t h e d i s a r m a m e n t q ue s t i o n h a d t o b e
104
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
e x p e c t e d , a n d t h a t t h e n e w a p p o i n t e e w o uld h a ve a m i s s i o n
t o f ulf i lls i m i la r t o t h a t o f An t h o n y Ed e n f o r t h e B r i t i s h
G o ve r n m e n t .
Ha vi n gn o w a t t a i n e d o f f i c i a lr a n k , i t w a s n o lo n ge r n e c e s -
s a r y f o r Ri b b e n t r o p t o p a y vi s i t s i n f o r e i gn c a p i t a ls a s a
" p r i va t e c i t i ze n , " o r - a s h e li k e d t o p ut i t - a s a p e r s o n a l
f r i e n d o f G e r m a n y ' s Fue h r e r
.
No t e ve n a f o r t n i gh t p a s s e d a f t e r h i s a p p o i n t m e n t c a m e
t h r o ugh , w h e n h e f le w t o L o n d o n t o c o n f e r w i t h An t h o n y
Ed e n . He d i d n o t i n f o r m t h e G e r m a n Am b a s s a d o r , L e o p o ld
vo n Ho e s c h , a b o ut h i s p la n s , n o r d i d o t h e r G e r m a n d i p lo m a t s
p a r t i c i p a t e i n h i s d i s c us s i o n s w i t h t h e L o r d P r i vy Se a l . Hi s
p ur p o s e w a s o b vi o us ly t o le a r n w h a t t h e B r i t i s h a t t i t ud e
t o w a r d t h e r e s um p t i o n o f t h e d i s a r m a m e n t c o n f e r e n c e s w a s
go i n gt o b e . Th e c o n ve r s a t i o n w i t h Ed e n t o o k p la c e o n
Ma y 6 b ut b r o ugh t n o p r a c t i c a lr e s ult , s i n c e Ed e n h a d t o
a d m i t t h a t t h e B r i t i s h c a b i n e t w a s d i vi d e d o n t h i s q ue s t i o n
.
Ri b b e n t r o p a ls o c a lle d o n Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r , Si r J o h n Si m o n .
In t h e Ho us e o f Co m m o n s , t h e s e d i s c us s i o n s ga ve r i s e , o f
c o ur s e , t o s o m e c o m m e n t , a n d t h e p ub li c a t i o n o f a Wh i t e
B o o k w a s e x p e c t e d , b ut P r i m e Mi n i s t e r St a n le y B a ld w i n
p la i n ly d e c la r e d , i n t h e s e s s i o n o f Ma y 16 , t h a t n o s uc h
Wh i t e B o o k w o uld b e i s s ue d " b e c a us e t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n s
a d d e d n o t h i n gc o n c e r n i n gt h e a r m a m e n t i s s ue t o t h e m a t e r i a l
a lr e a d y i s s ue d . " In a d d i t i o n t o t h i s , t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e i n d i -
c a t e d " t h a t t h e G e r m a n r e p r e s e n t a t i ve w a s n o t e n c o ur a ge d
t o e x p e c t s up p o r t f r o m B r i t a i n f o r G e r m a n y ' s a r m a m e n t
p o li c i e s . "
Th i s c e r t a i n ly d i d n o t lo o k li k e a c h i e ve m e n t o r e ve n p r o g-
r e s s . It w a s o b vi o us ly a s e t b a c k . Ri b b e n t r o p f le w t o Ro m e t o
" c o n ve r s e " w i t h B e n i t o Mus s o li n i . In a n o f f i c i a lc o m m un i q ue ,
gi ve n o ut a f t e r t h e c o n f e r e n c e s , o n Ma y T9 , 19 34, i t w a s s a i d
" t h a t t h e c o n f e r e e s f o un d t h e m s e lve s i n c o m p le t e a gr e e m e n t
105
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
a s t o t h e a b s o lut e n e c e s s i t y o f r e a c h i n gs o m e i n t e r n a t i o n a l
a gr e e m e n t t o a vo i d a r e s um p t i o n o f t h e a r m a m e n t r a c e
. "
Th e q ue s t i o n a s t o w h e t h e r Ri b b e n t r o p , d ur i n gh i s Ro m e
vi s i t , a r r a n ge d f o r t h e f i r s t m e e t i n gb e t w e e n t h e Duc e a n d
t h e Fue h r e r ( t h e V e n i c e m e e t i n go f J un e 14- 15) i s o f n o
i m p o r t a n c e
. Th e r e i s r e a s o n t o b e li e ve t h a t t h i s m e e t i n gh a d
b e e n d e c i d e d up o n p r e vi o us ly t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s vi s i t a n d t h a t
i t h a d b e e n a r r a n ge d b y It a ly ' s c le ve r Am b a s s a d o r t o B e r li n ,
V i t t o r i o Ce r r ut i
. Ri b b e n t r o p w a s n o t p r e s e n t a t t h i s h i s t o r i c
V e n i c e m e e t i n g
. Hi s a c t i vi t i e s a t t h a t t i m e w e r e li m i t e d
s t r i c t ly t o t h e d i s a r m a m e n t q ue s t i o n . Th i s q ue s t i o n w a s a ls o
t o uc h e d up o n d ur i n gt h e Mus s o li n i - Hi t le r c o n ve r s a t i o n , a n d
i t w a s r e p o r t e d t h a t a n a gr e e m e n t w a s r e a c h e d o n " p a r i t y o f
a r m a m e n t s f o r G e r m a n y , a f t e r w h i c h s h e w o uld r e t ur n t o
t h e L e a gue
. " B ut n o p a c t w a s d r a w n up i n V e n i c e , a n d
n o t h i n gw a s s i gn e d
.
It w a s d ur i n gt h i s t i m e t h a t w h e n e ve r a n o p p o r t un i t y
o c c ur r e d Ri b b e n t r o p d i s c us s e d G e r m a n y ' s r e t ur n t o t h e
L e a gue . Wh e n h e vi s i t e d P a r i s o n J un e 16 , 19 34, i m m e d i a t e ly
a f t e r t h e Mus s o li n i - Hi t le r m e e t i n g, h e c a lle d o n L o ui s
B a r t h o u, t h e Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r i n t h e Do um e r gue c a b i n e t
. It
w a s t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t t h e Fr e n c h G o ve r n m e n t , i n s t e a d o f
us i n gd i p lo m a t i c d e t o ur s , o f f i c i a lly e n t e r e d i n t o d i r e c t d i s c us -
s i o n s w i t h G e r m a n y o n t h e a r m a m e n t p r o b le m . B ut B a r t h o u
s t ub b o r n ly r e f us e d t o go i n t o d e t a i ls o n t h i s t i c k li s h i s s ue a n d
i n s i s t e d up o n G e r m a n y f i r s t r e t ur n i n gt o t h e L e a gue a n d
p r e s e n t i n gh e r d e m a n d s t h e r e . He i s r e p o r t e d t o h a ve s a i d ,
" Th e d o o r i s s t i llo p e n o n t h e d i s a r m a m e n t i s s ue . Ta k e y o ur
p r o p o s a ls t o G e n e va w h e r e t h e y w i llb e e x a m i n e d w i t h t h e
i m p a r t i a li t y t h e y m e r i t b e c a us e o f t h e i r d e t e r m i n i n gi n f lue n c e
o n t h e p e a c e o f Eur o p e . "
Th e Fr e n c h P r e m i e r , G a s t o n Do um e r gue , a ls o r e c e i ve d
Ri b b e n t r o p
. Th i s w a s a f t e r t h e la t t e r h a d vi s i t e d B a r t h o u .
Io 6
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
B ut Do um e r gue f o r m a lly a n d f la t ly d e c li n e d t o d i s c us s t h e
p e n d i n gq ue s t i o n w i t h J o a c h i m . He b a s e d h i s r e f us a lo n t h e
t e c h n i c a li t y t h a t a llm a t t e r s o f d i p lo m a t i c i m p o r t a n c e w e r e
e x c lus i ve ly h a n d le d b y t h e Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r , B a r t h o u
.
So t h e f i r s t o f f i c i a lm i s s i o n s o f t h e n e w c o m m i s s i o n e r
s e e m e d t o h a ve e n d e d i n f a i lur e . In L o n d o n " t h e c o n ve r s a -
t i o n s h a d a d d e d n o t h i n g . " In Ro m e , " c o m p le t e a gr e e m e n t
w a s a c h i e ve d , " b ut o n ly o n a p r i n c i p le up o n w h i c h n o d i s -
a gr e e m e n t h a d e x i s t e d . In P a r i s , o n ly o n e w a y s e e m e d t o b e
o p e n , t h e r o a d t o G e n e va
.
Th e p o i n t a b o ut w h i c h Ri b b e n t r o p f e lt e s p e c i a lly b i t t e r
w a s t h e f a c t t h a t Do um e r gue h a d r e f us e d t o d i s c us s t h e i s s ue
w i t h h i m a n d h a d r e f e r r e d h i m t o L o ui s B a r t h o u, w h o , o n h i s
p a r t , s e e m e d t o p r e f e r t h e r o a d vi a G e n e va t o d i r e c t d i s -
c us s i o n s . Ri b b e n t r o p h a d e x p e c t e d t o b e m e t h a lf w a y . He
h a d t o ld f o r e i gn d i p lo m a t s t h a t a f r i e n d ly ge s t ur e o n Fr a n c e ' s
p a r t m i gh t e ve n r e o p e n t h e w a y t o G e n e va . Th e f a i lur e o f
h i s P a r i s d i s c us s i o n s e n r a ge d h i m . Wh e n An n e li e s a s k e d h i m ,
up o n h i s r e t ur n , w h e n h e i n t e n d e d t o vi s i t P a r i s a ga i n , h e
a n s w e r e d b r us q ue ly , " Th e r e w i llb e n o P a r i s vi s i t s f o r a lo n g
t i m e t o c o m e . "
Th e b lo o d p ur ge o n J un e 30,
19 34
a n d t h e un r e s t i n
G e r m a n y ' s i n n e r p o li t i c a lc i r c le d ur i n gt h e f o llo w i n gm o n t h s
e c li p s e d t h e a c t i vi t i e s o f Co m m i s s i o n e r Ri b b e n t r o p . It w a s
o n ly a t t h e e n d o f Augus t t h a t h e a ga i n b e c a m e a c t i ve . Th i s
t i m e h e w e n t t o L o n d o n . J o a c h i m ' s s t a y i n t h e B r i t i s h c a p i t a l
w a s n o t f o r t h e p ur p o s e o f d i s c us s i n gt h e ge n e r a lp r o b le m o f
i n t e r n a t i o n a ld i s a r m a m e n t b ut o f G e r m a n r e a r m a m e n t . G e r -
m a n y w a s i n b a d n e e d o f c e r t a i n r a w m a t e r i a ls . Th e s e i n -
c lud e d n i c k e la n d c o p p e r . Sh e w a s p r e p a r e d t o b uy gr e a t
q ua n t i t i e s o n c r e d i t . It i s k n o w n t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p f i n a lly
a s k e d Sc h r o e d e r ' s B a n k t o us e i t s i n f lue n c e i n t h i s m a t t e r a n d
t h a t s o m e a r r a n ge m e n t s w e r e m a d e .
107
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
An o t h e r Ri b b e n t r o p vi s i t t o L o n d o n t o o k p la c e a b o ut t h e
m i d d le o f No ve m b e r d ur i n gt h e s a m e y e a r
. In a n o f f i c i a l
B e r li n c o m m un i q ue , t h e vi s i t w a s c a lle d " p ur e ly p e r s o n a la n d
p r i va t e , " b ut J o a c h i m vi s i t e d Si r J o h n Si m o n a n d e x p la i n e d
t o h i m " t h a t t h e r e a r m a m e n t o f G e r m a n y h a d n o a ggr e s s i ve
p ur p o s e s a n d w a s o n ly t o p r o vi d e t h e c o un t r y w i t h d e f e n s i ve
a r m s up t o h e r r e q ui r e m e n t s . " J o a c h i m a ls o i n vi t e d An t h o n y
Ed e n o n t h i s t r i p . Th i s w a s a n n o un c e d a s " j us t a p e r s o n a l
c o n ve r s a t i o n o n w o r ld p r o b le m s i n ge n e r a l . "
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n t e r e s t , a t t h a t t i m e , w a s f o c us e d o n p ub li c
o p i n i o n i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e d i s a r m a m e n t p r o b le m . Th e r e
w a s a n a p p a r e n t r i f t b e t w e e n B r i t i s h a n d Fr e n c h a t t i t ud e
.
Th e B r i t i s h w e r e ge n e r a lly o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t i t w a s t i m e t o
r e a li ze t h a t G e r m a n y h a d r e a r m e d t o a gr e a t e x t e n t i n d i r e c t
vi o la t i o n o f t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y . It w a s a li t t le la t e , t h e y
f e lt , t o lo c k t h e s t a b le . Th e Fr e n c h , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w e r e
n o t i n c li n e d t o t a k e le ga lc o gn i za n c e o f G e r m a n y ' s r e a r m a -
m e n t a n d t h i s i n s p i t e o f t h e i r k n o w le d ge t h a t i t c o n t i n ue d
w i t h o ut i n t e r r up t i o n . Th e y w e r e c o n t e n t t o i gn o r e a f a c t
w h i c h i n i t s e lf w a s a n o ut r i gh t vi o la t i o n o f t h e V e r s a i lle s
Tr e a t y .
Th e Do um e r gue c a b i n e t w a s f o r c e d t o r e s i gn o n No ve m -
b e r 6 . It w a s s uc c e e d e d , o n t h e f o llo w i n gd a y , b y t h e P i e r r e
Et i e n n e Fla n d i n c a b i n e t w i t h P i e r r e L a va la s Fo r e i gn Mi n -
i s t e r . On No ve m b e r
30, P i e r r e L a va lr e q ue s t e d , i n a c o n -
c i li a t o r y s p e e c h , t h a t G e r m a n y j o i n t h e p r o p o s e d Ea s t e r n -
Eur o p e a n P a c t . " We w a n t t h e Ch a n c e llo r , " s a i d L a va l, " t o
t r a n s la t e h i s w o r d , t h a t h i s o n ly d e s i r e i s f o r p e a c e , i n t o
a c t s . " J o a c h i m li s t e n e d t o L a va l' s s p e e c h f r o m t h e vi s i t o r ' s
ga lle r y o f t h e Ch a m b r e d e De p ut e s . He w a s t h e gue s t o f
d e p ut i e s J e a n G o y a n d b li n d G e o r ge s Sc a p i n i t o w h o m h e
h a d p a i d a r e t ur n c a llf o r t h e p r e vi o us B e r li n vi s i t o f t h e
Fr e n c h w a r ve t e r a n le a d e r s .
Io 8
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s a d e x p e r i e n c e o n t h e o c c a s i o n o f h i s vi s i t s
t o G a s t o n Do um e r gue a n d L o ui s B a r t h o us ugge s t e d t o h i m
t h a t h e a s k t h i s t i m e f o r o f f i c i a lh e lp i n b r i n gi n ga b o ut a
c o n ve r s a t i o n b e t w e e n h i m s e lf a n d L a va l
. It w a s Am b a s s a d o r
Ro la n d K o e s t e r h i m s e lf w h o t o o k t h e m a t t e r up w i t h p r e m i e r
Fla n d i n . On ly a f t e r r e p e a t e d vi s i t s b y K o e s t e r , a m e e t i n g
b e t w e e n L a va la n d Ri b b e n t r o p c o uld b e a r r a n ge d . It h a d
b e e n a n e f f o r t f o r K o e s t e r t o c o n vi n c e Fla n d i n t h a t s uc h a
c o n ve r s a t i o n w o uld s e r ve a n y p ur p o s e . Fla n d i n h a d a r gue d
t h a t t h e p r e vi o us c o n ve r s a t i o n s , t h o s e w i t h L o ui s B a r t h o u,
h a d n o t b r o ugh t a n y r e s ult s
. K o e s t e r h a d h a d t o i m p r e s s
Fla n d i n w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n f lue n c e o n t h e Fue h r e r . At t h a t
t i m e , t h e Fr e n c h w e r e f e d up w i t h J o a c h i m .
Wh a t h a d Fr a n c e t o ga i n b y s uc h c o n ve r s a t i o n s ? P i e r r e
L a va lh a d t a k e n L o ui s B a r t h o u' s s e a t a f t e r t h e la t t e r h a d
f a lle n vi c t i m t o t h e gr ue s o m e a t t a c k i n w h i c h K i n gAle x a n d e r
o f Yugo s la vi a h a d b e e n k i lle d o n Oc t o b e r 9 ,
1
9 34
. B a r t h o u
h a d d i e d i n f ulf i lli n gh i s d ut y j us t a t t h e t i m e w h e n t h e
r e a li za t i o n o f a Fr a n c o - It a li a n - Yugo s la vp a c t w a s i m m i n e n t .
Suc h a p a c t , t o ge t h e r w i t h t h e a lr e a d y e x i s t i n gFr a n c o -
Rus s i a n a s w e lla s t h e Rus s o - Cze c h o s lo va k i a n a gr e e m e n t ,
w o uld h a ve m a d e t h e e n c i r c le m e n t o f G e r m a n y , o n t h e Eur o -
p e a n c o n t i n e n t , c o m p le t e
. B ut i t w a s B a r t h o u' s a n d L a va l' s
i d e a t o i n vi t e G e r m a n y i n t o t h i s s y s t e m o f p a c t s , t h e r e b y
m a k i n gh e r a n i n s i d e m e m b e r o f a lla gr e e m e n t s . So vi e t
Rus s i a ' s
e n t r y i n t o t h e L e a gue , w i t h a p e r m a n e n t s e a t o n t h e
c o un c i l, w a s a t r i um p h f o r Fr a n c e a n d , t h e r e f o r e , a s e t b a c k
f o r G e r m a n y
. St i ll, t h e d o o r r e m a i n e d o p e n f o r G e r m a n y t o
e n t e r t h e p a c t s y s t e m , e s p e c i a lly t h e Ea s t e r n P a c t , a n d G e r -
m a n y c o uld h a ve a vo i d e d e n c i r c le m e n t j us t b y b e c o m i n ga
p a r t n e r o f h e r o w n
Ei n k r e i s un g .
An y b o d y c o n ve r s a n t w i t h t h e Na zi m e n t a li t y c o uld h a ve
p r e d i c t e d t h a t Hi t le r w o uld r a t h e r h a ve e m b r a c e d t h e Mo s a i c
lo g
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
f a i t h t h a n p e r m i t P a r i s a n d Mo s c o w t o d e c i d e h i s li n e o f
c o n d uc t . So n e i t h e r B a r t h o un o r L a va lc o uld h a ve h a d a n y
i llus i o n s a s t o Hi t le r ' s a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e i r s ub t le s c h e m e s .
B ut B a r t h o ud i d n o t r e a lly c a r e w h a t Hi t le r ' s r e a c t i o n s w o uld
b e . He s a w Hi t le r ' s p r e p a r a t i o n s a s a m i gh t y b lo w w h i c h
w o uld s w e e p Fr a n c e f r o m t h e e m i n e n t p o s i t i o n w h i c h s h e
h a d a t t a i n e d a t V e r s a i lle s , a n d h e r e a c t e d t o t h i s m e n a c e w i t h
t h e s p i r i t o f a f i gh t e r . Th i s e x p la i n s t h e r um o r p r e va le n t a t t h e
t i m e t h a t t h e i n f a m o us a t t e n t a t o f Ma r s e i lle s w a s i n s t i ga t e d
b y Th i r d Re i c h a ge n t s .
" Fr a n c e t o o h a s a w i ll, " B a r t h o uh a d e x c la i m e d a t Wa r s a w
.
Co uld o n e e x p e c t a n y t h i n gs o o ut s p o k e n f r o m t h o s e s m o o t h
a n d s i n gula r ly i n e f f e c t i ve c h a r a c t e r s t o w h o m w e r e e n t r us t e d
t h e d e s t i n i e s o f t h e d e m o c r a c i e s , f r o m m e n li k e L a va l, Si m o n ,
a n d Ch a m b e r la i n ? Hi t le r h a d d e c i d e d t h a t t h e d a y o f r e c k o n -
i n gh a d c o m e o r w a s t o c o m e ve r y s o o n - w h e n e ve r h e w a s
r e a d y
. On ly B a r t h o uh a d , a t t h a t t i m e , b o t h p luc k a n d
c o m m o n s e n s e e n o ugh n o t o n ly t o s e e t h i n gs i n t h e i r r i gh t
li gh t b ut a ls o t o a c t a c c o r d i n gly . He , f o r o n e , c o uld c o n c e i ve
o f a n o t h e r w a y t o d e a lw i t h Hi t le r t h a n t h r o ugh a lo n ga go n y
o f c a p i t ula t i o n . He w a s n o t e ve n a f r a i d o f r e c a lli n g, i n
G e n e va , t h e r a t h e r c r ue lw o r d s o f Mi r a b e a u- o f w h o m h e
h a d w r i t t e n a n a b le b i o gr a p h y - " P r us s i a ' s n a t i o n a li n d us t r y
i s w a r . " Wh e n t h i s o n e f i gh t e r , i n a n o c e a n o f i n d i f f e r e n c e
a n d f a i lur e , w a s a s s a s s i n a t e d , a h i gh o f f i c i a li n P a r i s c r i e d ,
" Fr a n c e n ' a p a s d e c h a n c e ! " He d i d n o t k n o w h o w t e r r i b ly
r i gh t h e w a s .
Co n t r a r y t o B a r t h o u, L a va ld i d c a r e a b o ut w h a t Hi t le r ' s
r e a c t i o n s w e r e . He c a r e d s o m uc h t h a t f r o m t h e o ut s e t p e o p le
i n b o t h B e r li n a n d P a r i s w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r L a va lw a s a n y -
t h i n gm o r e t h a n a m e r e s t o o ge o f t h e ge n t le m a n f r o m B r a un a u
.
Th e w o r ld n o lo n ge r h a s a n y i llus i o n s a b o ut t h i s
. B ut i n
II0
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
t h o s e d a y s , L a va ls t i llw e n t t h r o ugh t h e m o t i o n s o f a Fr e n c h
Mi n i s t e r .
De c e m b e r 2,
19 34,
t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
a n n o un c e d ,
" . . .
t h a t i t w a s d o ub t f ulw h e t h e r t h e p r o p o s e d Ea s t e r n
P a c t h a d a n y f ur t h e r a t t r a c t i o n f o r G e r m a n y s i n c e i t r e s t e d
o n a Fr a n c o - Rus s i a n m i li t a r y a lli a n c e
. " Th us G e r m a n y , a s
e x p e c t e d , d e c li n e d t o e n t e r t h e Fr e n c h p a c t s c h e m e
. An d
L a va l, un d e r p r e s s ur e f r o m So vi e t Rus s i a a n d h i s o w n c o un -
t r y m e n , a n s w e r e d t h i s c h a lle n ge f o ur d a y s la t e r b y s i gn i n g,
i n G e n e va , t o ge t h e r w i t h L i t vi n o v, a p r o t o c o lb r a ve ly e x -
p r e s s i n g" t h e c o m m o n r e s o lut i o n o f t h e t w o go ve r n m e n t s t o
c a r r y t o a c o n c lus i o n t h e c o n t e m p la t e d i n t e r n a t i o n a la c t s , " -
t h a t i s t h e Ea s t e r n L o c a r n o
. Th i s p r o t o c o le ve n s t a t e d t h a t
b o t h c o un t r i e s c o n s i d e r e d t h e m s e lve s b o un d n o t t o un d e r t a k e
a n y s e p a r a t e n e go t i a t i o n s w i t h G e r m a n y w h i c h w o uld b e
c o n t r a r y t o t h e s p i r i t o f t h e p r o j e c t e d a r r a n ge m e n t
.
B ut L a va lw a s a n x i o us t o s uga r c o a t t h i s p i llf o r b o t h G e r -
m a n y a n d It a ly . Wh i le G e r m a n y h a d b e e n a w e a k r e p ub li c ,
L a va l' s p o li c y , w h e n P r i m e Mi n i s t e r i n t h e y e a r s o f t h e
d e p r e s s i o n , h a d b e e n t o b lo c k a n y f r ui t f ulc o lla b o r a t i o n
b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o un t r i e s
. He ut i li ze d t h e c o m p le t e a r s e n a l
o f p e t t y m o ve s w h i c h o n ly a Fr e n c h m a n h a s a t h i s d i s p o s a l
.
B ut w h e n G e r m a n y b e c a m e a m e n a c e un d e r Hi t le r , L a va l
d e c i d e d t h a t t h e b e s t t h i n gw o uld b e t o h a ve n o p o li c y a t a ll .
On De c e m b e r 3, a n a gr e e m e n t b e t w e e n Fr a n c e a n d G e r -
m a n y w a s s i gn e d . It e n a b le d G e r m a n y t o t a k e p o s s e s s i o n o f
m i n e s , r a i lw a y s , a n d o t h e r p r o p e r t y o n t h e Sa a r w i t h o ut a n y
lo s s o f f o r e i gn c ur r e n c y , p r o vi d e d , o f c o ur s e , t h e Sa a r i n t h e
i m p e n d i n gp le b i s c i t e , s c h e d ule d f o r J a n ua r y 13, 19 35, i n d i -
c a t e d a d e s i r e t o r e t ur n t o Na zi G e r m a n y
. Th i s w a s t h e b i g
q ue s t i o n o f t h e d a y .
Wh e n Fr a n c e , b y t h e s t i p ula t i o n s o f t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y ,
III
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
h e ld t h e Sa a r t e r r i t o r y o c c up i e d , t h e r e h a d b e e n So c i a li s t s ,
c o m m un i s t s , Ca t h o li c s , a n d li b e r a ls i n t h e Sa a r , b ut n o Na zi s
.
Fur t h e r m o r e , n o G o e b b e ls h a d p r e ve n t e d t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f
t h e Sa a r f r o m le a r n i n gt h e t r ut h a b o ut Na zi G e r m a n y
. Mo r e -
o ve r , t h e p le b i s c i t e w a s t o b e h e ld n o t un d e r t h e a ut h o r i t y o f
t h e Na zi s w h o k n e w h o w t o m a k e a m i lli o n o ut o f a ze r o a n d
a ze r o o ut o f a m i lli o n b ut un d e r t h e a us p i c e s o f a L e a gue o f
Na t i o n s c o m m i s s i o n
. No r m a lly , t h a t i s w i t h o ut t h e Na zi s i n
G e r m a n y , t h e r e s ult o f t h e p le b i s c i t e w o uld h a ve b e e n a b s o -
lut e ly c le a r . It w o uld h a ve b e e n 9 9
. 9 %f o r G e r m a n y . Th e
q ue s t i o n w a s , t h e r e f o r e , t o w h a t e x t e n t t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e
Na zi s i n t h e Fa t h e r la n d w o uld b e c o m e i n s t r um e n t a li n c ut -
t i n gd o w n t h i s p e r c e n t a ge
.
Th e i n t e lle c t ua ls i n G e r m a n y , j ud gi n gf r o m w h a t t h e y
w o uld d o i f t h e y w e r e a s k e d w h e t h e r t h e y p r e f e r r e d t o li ve
o n w i t h o ut t h e G e s t a p o a n d He r r G o e b b e ls ' e d i t o r i a ls ,
t h o ugh t t h a t t h e Sa a r w o uld vo t e a b o ut 8 o %f o r t h e s t a t us
q uo a n d 20% f o r r e t ur n t o t h e n o w Hi t le r i ze d Re i c h . St r a w
p o lls h e ld a m o n gf o r e i gn d i p lo m a t s i n B e r li n s h o w e d t h e
m o r e c a ut i o us e s t i m a t e o f a b o ut 50%f o r r e t ur n a n d 50%f o r
s t a t us q uo . On ly L a d y P h i p p s , t h e w i f e o f t h e B r i t i s h Am b a s -
s a d o r i n B e r li n , h i t t h e n a i lo n t h e h e a d w i t h 9 o %f o r r e t ur n .
Th i s a m a zi n gr e s ult w a s o n e m o r e d e va s t a t i n gb lo w f o r t h e
li b e r a ls a n d b y n o m e a n s t h e la s t o n e . L a va lc o uld h a ve p r o -
t e s t e d e a s i ly i n G e n e va a ga i n s t t h e h i d e o us un d e r gr o un d
t e r r o r t h e Na zi s e m p lo y e d i n t h e Sa a r . B ut h e h a d r e n o un c e d
li b e r a lp o li t i c s . He w a s o n ly c o n t e n t w h e n h e w a s s ur e t h a t
Hi t le r w a s c o n t e n t a n d t h a t t h e r e c o uld b e n o d o ub t t h a t
Hi t le r w a s c o n t e n t . B ut d e s p i t e t h e s up r e m e s a t i s f a c t i o n Hi t le r
d e r i ve d f r o m t h e w h o le f a r c e a n d d e s p i t e h i s p r o m i s e s o f
e x e m p la r y b e h a vi o r o n c e t h e Sa a r w a s b a c k i n t h e Re i c h , t h e
i n t e r n a t i o n a ls i t ua t i o n w a s f a r f r o m s w e e t n e s s a n d li gh t .
Af o r t n i gh t a f t e r t h e Sa a r p le b i s c i t e L a va lm e t Si r J o h n
II2
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
Si m o n i n L o n d o n
. Th e o ut c o m e w a s a c o m m un i q ue d a t e d
Fe b r ua r y 3,
1 9 35 .
It w a s c o uc h e d i n o p t i m i s t i c t e r m s a n d
e n vi s a ge d a h a p p y f ut ur e b a s e d o n e q ua li t y . Th e Re i c h ,
h a vi n gs o o f t e n p r o f e s s e d t h a t e q ua li t y a n d p e a c e a n d n o t h i n g
b ut e q ua li t y a n d p e a c e w a s i t s go a l, w a s i n vi t e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e
i n a ge n e r a ls e t t le m e n t w h i c h w o uld r e a li ze i t s a r d e n t d e s i r e
a n d , w h i le gua r a n t e e i n gt h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f i t s n e i gh b o r s ,
w o uld a t t h e s a m e t i m e gua r a n t e e i t s o w n s e c ur i t y .
Th e Re i c h a n s w e r e d t h a t i t w o uld p r e f e r b i la t e r a la r r a n ge -
m e n t s t o ge n e r a ls e t t le m e n t s
. Th e Re i c h a ls o a s k e d w h e t h e r
En gla n d h a d a n y o b j e c t i o n s t o b e gi n d i s c us s i o n s i m m e d i a t e ly
.
It w a s i n t h i s m a n n e r t h a t L o n d o n w a s lur e d a w a y f r o m P a r i s
a n d Mo s c o w i n t o t h e Re i c h ' s o w n c a m p . Si m o n s w i f t ly
d e c i d e d t h a t i t w o uld b e a go o d t h i n gt o h um o r t h e Fue h r e r
b y go i n gt o B e r li n p e r s o n a lly , t h e s o r t o f d e lus i o n w h i c h
b e c a m e , p r i o r t o Mun i c h , a ve r i t a b le o b s e s s i o n w i t h B r i t i s h
s t a t e s m e n
. In o r d e r t o p la c a t e P a r i s a n d Mo s c o w , Mr
. Ed e n
w a s s c h e d ule d t o vi s i t t h e Fr e n c h s t a t e s m e n f i r s t , t h e n a c -
c o m p a n y Si m o n t o B e r li n , a n d s ub s e q ue n t ly h e w a s t o p r o -
c e e d t o Mo s c o w
. Af e w d a y s b e f o r e Si m o n ' s a n d Ed e n ' s vi s i t
t o B e r li n , t h e B r i t i s h go ve r n m e n t r e le a s e d a Wh i t e P a p e r
c o n c e r n i n gd i s a r m a m e n t a n d r e a r m a m e n t , a d o c um e n t d e s -
t i n e d t o s e r ve a s m a t e r i a lf o r a d e b a t e i n t h e Ho us e o f
Co m m o n s a n d t o t a lly un r e la t e d t o t h e p e n d i n gn e go t i a t i o n s
.
It w a s , h o w e ve r , i n d i s c r e e t e n o ugh t o c h a r a c t e r i ze , i n a f e w
s e n t e n c e s , t h e s t a t e o f G e r m a n r e a r m a m e n t a n d m o r a le
. Th e
B r i t i s h Am b a s s a d o r i n B e r li n w a s a b r up t ly t o ld t h a t Hi t le r
h a d c o n t r a c t e d a c o ld
. Th e Fue h r e r r e gr e t t e d t h a t h e w o uld
n o t b e a b le t o s e e t h e e m i n e n t B r i t i s h s t a t e s m e n
.
Wi t h o ut t h e k n o w le d ge o f a n y b o d y i n G e r m a n y ' s Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e , Hi t le r p r o c la i m e d , o n Ma r c h
16 , t h e la w r e i n t r o d uc i n g
c o m p uls o r y m i li t a r y s e r vi c e , t h e f i r s t o p e n ly a d m i t t e d b r e a c h
o f t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y
. We e k s a f t e r , t h o s e i n t h e k n o w
113
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
r e p o r t e d t h e r e a s o n f o r t h i s un t i m e ly a c t
. Hi t le r h a d f e a r e d
t h a t t h e q ue s t i o n o f c o m p uls o r y s e r vi c e w o uld f i gur e p r o m -
i n e n t ly i n t h e d i s c us s i o n s a n d t h a t d e f i n i t e p r o m i s e s i n c o n -
n e c t i o n w i t h i t w o uld b e un a vo i d a b ly e x a c t e d f r o m h i m
. He
h a d , t h e r e f o r e , d e c i d e d t h a t c o m p uls o r y s e r vi c e s h o uld b e -
c o m e a f a c t b e f o r e a n y d i s c us s i o n s t a r t e d
.
Th e w h o le w o r ld w a s i n a t ur m o i l
. Fr a n c e r e q ue s t e d t h a t
t h e c o un c i lo f t h e L e a gue o f Na t i o n s c o n ve n e i m m e d i a t e ly
.
Eve n P i e r r e L a va l, i n a n a c r i m o n i o us n o t e , e x p r e s s e d " la
p r o t e s t a t i o n la p lus f o r m e lle
. " Mus s o li n i s p o k e o f It a ly ' s
o b li ga t i o n " t o a d va n c e t h e m o s t a m p le r e s e r va t i o n t o t h e
G e r m a n d e c i s i o n a n d i t s p r o b a b le d e ve lo p m e n t s
. " So o n a f t e r -
w a r d s h e r e c a lle d t w o h un d r e d a n d f i f t y t h o us a n d m e n t o t h e
c o lo r s , w h i le Fr a n c e h a s t i ly r e i n f o r c e d h e r t r o o p s o n t h e
Ea s t e r n f r o n t i e r . B ut G r e a t B r i t a i n , i n s p i t e o f t h e f a c t t h a t
s h e w a s t h e f i r s t t o p r o t e s t , s e e m e d t o b e m o r e c o n c i li a t o r y
t h a n t h e o t h e r p o w e r s
. Sh e le t i t b e un d e r s t o o d t h a t , i n h e r
o p i n i o n , t h e o p e n b r e a c h o f t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y , w a s , i n
i t s e lf , n o t a d e f i n i t e c a s us b e lli ,
a n d s h e i n q ui r e d i n B e r li n
" w h e t h e r G e r m a n y t h o ugh t t h a t un d e r t h e c i r c um s t a n c e s t h e
i n t e n d e d vi s i t o f Si r J o h n Si m o n w o uld s t i llb e us e f ul . " In
t h e Ho us e o f Co m m o n s , Si r J o h n Si m o n d e c la r e d , " t h a t
G r e a t B r i t a i n w a s s h o c k e d o ve r G e r m a n y ' s a c t a n d h a d e n -
t e r e d a p r o t e s t , b ut t h a t h e n e ve r t h e le s s t h o ugh t i t w o uld b e
t h e w i s e r c o ur s e n o t t o gi ve up t h e B e r li n vi s i t
. "
G r e a t B r i t a i n d i d n o t s e e m t r o ub le d , a t t h a t m o m e n t , b y
t h e i d e a t h a t s uc h a n a t t i t ud e w o uld c o n t i n ue t o m a k e Hi t le r
f e e lt h a t i n o r d e r t o b e s uc c e s s f ult h e t h i n gt o d o w a s t o
e m p lo y s h o c k t a c t i c s . He s t a r t le d t h e w h o le w o r ld b y d e -
c la r i n gt h a t t h e " s h a c k le s o f V e r s a i lle s " c o uld n o t p r e ve n t
h i m f r o m p us h i n gG e r m a n y ' s r e a r m a m e n t a h e a d a t f ulls p e e d
.
V o n Ne ur a t h a n d vo n Ho e s c h h a d , i n t h e m e a n t i m e ,
a r r a n ge d f o r Hi t le r ' s " c o ld " t o va n i s h . An d n o w t h e p la n n e d
II4
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
An glo - G e r m a n c o n f e r e n c e w a s t o b e h e ld b y a f o ur s o m e -
Si r J o h n Si m o n a n d Mr
. An t h o n y Ed e n f o r t h e B r i t i s h ,
He r r Hi t le r a n d Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r Co n s t a n t i n vo n Ne ur a t h
f o r t h e G e r m a n s
. No t e ve n i n t e r p r e t e r s w e r e t o b e p r e s e n t ,
s i n c e vo n Ne ur a t h ' s p e r f e c t c o m m a n d o f t h e En gli s h la n -
gua ge a n d Ed e n ' s k n o w le d ge o f G e r m a n w e r e c o n s i d e r e d
s uf f i c i e n t f o r t h e s e " p e r s o n a ld i s c us s i o n s
. "
Th e p r e s e n c e o f t h e Co m m i s s i o n e r o f t h e Re i c h o n Di s -
a r m a m e n t Que s t i o n s , d ur i n gt h e d i s c us s i o n s , w a s n o t a n t i c -
i p a t e d
. It w o uld h a ve b e e n d i p lo m a t i c a lly i m p o s s i b le f o r
G e r m a n y t o b e r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h r e e " n e go t i a t o r s , " a n d t h e
B r i t i s h b y o n ly t w o - i f n e go t i a t o r s w a s a t
a ll a c o r r e c t t e r m
f o r t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s o f t h e p la n n e d m e e t i n g
. Th e B r i t i s h d i d
n o t e ve n p r o p o s e t h a t t h e i r B e r li n Am b a s s a d o r , Si r Er i c
P h i p p s , b e p r e s e n t , f o r t h e y k n e w Si r Er i c w a s n o t i n t h e
Fue h r e r ' s s p e c i a lf a vo r
. J o a c h i m , w h o lo a t h e d Si r Er i c ,
t h o ugh t i t a d vi s a b le a t t h a t m o m e n t t o s ugge s t t o t h e Fue h r e r
t h a t h e p r o p o s e Si r Er i c ' s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e c o n f e r e n c e .
Th i s , J o a c h i m e x p la i n e d , w o uld s h o w t h e B r i t i s h gue s t s t h a t
p e r s o n a lf e e li n gs d i d n o t a t a lli n f lue n c e h i m i n m a t t e r s o f
p o li t i c s . Ri b b e n t r o p h a d a d r o i t ly o p e n e d t h e w a y f o r h i s o w n
p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e c o n f e r e n c e
. Hi t le r a gr e e d , a n d h e i n -
f o r m e d vo n Ne ur a t h p e r s o n a lly o f h i s d e c i s i o n
. Si r Er i c
t h o ugh t , o f c o ur s e , t h a t h i s i n c lus i o n w a s d ue t o vo n Ne ur a t h ,
a n d n e i t h e r h e n o r L o n d o n o b j e c t e d t o i t . So t h e An glo -
G e r m a n c o n ve r s a t i o n s w e r e h e ld i n B e r li n d ur i n gt h e d a y s
o f Ma r c h
25- 26 ,
19 35
a n d w i t h s i x p a r t i c i p a n t s i n s t e a d
o f f o ur .
Ma n y o f B e r li n ' s q ui c k - w i t t e d i n h a b i t a n t s h a d ga t h e r e d i n
t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
t o w i t n e s s t h e a r r i va lo f t h e B r i t i s h
De le ga t e s . It s e e m s n o t t o h a ve b e e n a ve r y i m p r e s s i ve s h o w
.
Th e f o llo w i n gi s a n e x c e r p t f r o m a le t t e r o f o n e o f o ur o ld
f r i e n d s . Sa i d h e , " t h e m ult i t ud e w a t c h e d Si m o n a n d Ed e n
115
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
d r i ve t o a n d f r o t h r o ugh t h e w e t a i r b e t w e e n t h e B r i t i s h
Em b a s s y a n d t h e Ch a n c e lle r y
. Th e i m p r e s s i o n o n e go t w a s
t h a t t h e B r i t i s h d e le ga t e s f i gur e d a s e x h i b i t Ai n t h e p a ge a n t r y
o f un i ve r s a ls ub m i s s i ve n e s s w h i c h Hi t le r w a s b us i ly c o n j ur i n g
up i n h i s p a la c e f o r t h e d i ve r s i o n o f t h e p e o p le
. On ly a f e w
y e a r s a go , t h e B r i t i s h Em b a s s y h a d h a r b o r e d t h e Oly m p i a n
L o r d d ' Ab e r n o n , c o un t e d a s a t r us t e d a d vi s e r b y m a n y a
G e r m a n Ch a n c e llo r a n d Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r . Th e G e r m a n s w h o
li n e d t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e h a d o n ly t o lo o k a t t h e t i r e d la w y e r ,
Si r J o h n , a n d h i s s o r r o w f ula i d e , t o b e c o m e a w a r e o f t h e
d e c a y o f t h e B r i t i s h p o s i t i o n i n B e r li n
. Th e i r ve r y i n t ui t i o n
t o ld t h e m t h a t Hi t le r w a s t h e w i n n e r i n t h i s e n c o un t e r a n d
w o uld go o n b e i n gt h e w i n n e r f o r a lo n gt i m e t o c o m e . I
c o uld n o t h e lp t h i n k i n g : t h e r e w e h a ve Si r J o h n , t h e e p i t o m e
o f t h e m o d e lc i t i ze n
. He h a d p a s s e d a llt h e e x a m i n a t i o n s w i t h
s um m a c um la ud e ;
h i s w e lllub r i c a t e d i f f o r m a li n t e lle c t h a s
la n d e d h i m i n t h e f r o n t r o w o f t h e le ga lp r o f e s s i o n
; h e i s a
m a s t e r i n s um m i n gup c a s e s a n d i n c o lle c t i n ge x o r b i t a n t f e e s
f o r h i s p r o f e s s i o n a lo p i n i o n s
; w h i le Hi t le r w a s a n ut t e r f a i lur e
i n e ve r y c i vi c vi r t ue a n d p r o f i c i e n c y i n w h i c h Si r J o h n s h o n e
s o b r i lli a n t ly
. B ut Hi t le r h a s o n e b i ga s s e t o f w h i c h Si r J o h n
h a s n o t e ve n a n i n k li n g- t h e d r a go n b lo o d o f p r i m i t i ve
i n s t i n c t s . Si r J o h n , p a le a n d t h i n li p p e d , d r o ve t h r o ugh t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e . On e r e a lly c o uld p i t y h i m
. As Ih e a r f r o m
Th e Ha gue , Si r J o h n o n h i s w a y h o m e t o ld c o m p a t r i o t s w h o
w e lc o m e d h i m a t t h e a i r f i e ld i n Am s t e r d a m , t h a t Hi t le r i s
`t h e m a n w i t h t h e t r a gi c e y e s
. ' If e e l, t o b e c a n d i d , t h a t
Si r J o h n un w i t t i n gly h a s d e s c r i b e d h i m s e lf . G o d h e lp us
G e r m a n L i b e r a ls i f De m o c r a c y h a s n o m o r e i m p r e s s i ve d e -
f e n d e r s t h a n Si r J o h n . . . "
In t h e c o ur s e o f t h e d i s c us s i o n s , Hi t le r e x p r e s s ly d e c la r e d
t h a t h e h a d n o i n t e n t i o n s o f go i n gt o w a r . At t h e s a m e t i m e
h e d e c li n e d a r e n e w e d B r i t i s h s ugge s t i o n f o r a n " Ea s t e r n
II6
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
L o c a r n o " a n d a ls o a n n o un c e d
t h a t t h e e x i s t i n gf r o n t i e r s
b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d i t s Ea s t e r n n e i gh b o r s c o uld n o t b e
a c c e p t e d a s un a lt e r a b le
. Af t e r t h e c o n f e r e n c e , An t h o n y Ed e n
p r o c e e d e d t o Wa r s a w w h e r e h e f o un d n o e n c o ur a ge m e n t f o r
a m ult i la t e r a lt r e a t y gua r a n t e e i n gt h e t e r r i t o r i a l
s t a t us q uo
i n Ea s t e r n Eur o p e . Th e P o le s w e r e a f r a i d t h a t s uc h a t r e a t y
w o uld a r o us e G e r m a n r e s e n t m e n t w i t h o ut a c h i e vi n gt h e d e -
s i r e d s e c ur i t y . Ed e n t h e n w e n t t o Mo s c o w .
Th e c o n f e r e n c e o f St r e s a , h e ld Ap r i l
H - 14,
r e s ult e d i n a
j o i n t d e c la r a t i o n o f G r e a t B r i t a i n , Fr a n c e , a n d It a ly , s p e a k i n g
o f " c o m p le t e a gr e e m e n t i n o p p o s i n gb y a llp r a c t i c a b le m e a n s
a n y un i la t e r a lr e p ud i a t i o n o f t r e a t i e s
. " Th i s w a s f o llo w e d b y
a n o f f i c i a ls t a t e m e n t o f t h e G e r m a n go ve r n m e n t , i n w h i c h t h e
St r e s a a gr e e m e n t w a s c a lle d a " m i li t a r y a lli a n c e " a n d i n w h i c h
t h e a p p r e h e n s i o n w a s e x p r e s s e d t h a t s uc h " a s s i s t a n c e p a c t s "
e n d a n ge r e d t h e Eur o p e a n p e a c e .
It lo o k e d a s i f G e r m a n y h a d b e c o m e c o m p le t e ly i s o la t e d
i n s p i t e o f t h e G e r m a n - B r i t i s h d i s c us s i o n s . B ut s o m e h o p e f o r
G e r m a n y c a m e a ga i n f r o m L o n d o n w h e n P r i m e Mi n i s t e r
Ra m s a y Ma c d o n a ld d e c la r e d , o n Ap r i l 17, t h a t " w i t h o ut
c o n d o n i n gG e r m a n y ' s a c t i o n , w e h a ve le f t t h e d o o r o p e n . "
Af o r t n i gh t la t e r , o n Ma y z, h e i m p lo r i n gly a s k e d a ga i n
i n
t h e Ho us e o f Co m m o n s , " w i llG e r m a n y n o t c o m e f o r w a r d
t o s h o w h e r r e a d i n e s s t o h e lp r e s t o r e t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a lc o n -
f i d e n c e s o r ud e ly s h a k e n b y h e r r e c e n t i n d e p e n d e n t a c t i o n
i n r e ga r d t o a r m a m e n t s ? " He a ls o m e n t i o n e d t h e p o s s i b i li t y
o f a n a gr e e m e n t r e la t i n gt o t h e a i r f o r c e a n d o f a n a va lp a c t ,
a s a lr e a d y s ugge s t e d a t t h e B e r li n d i s c us s i o n s b e t w e e n Hi t le r
a n d Si r J o h n Si m o n
. Suc h a n a va la gr e e m e n t s e e m e d t o b e
e s p e c i a lly d e s i r a b le t o G r e a t B r i t a i n w h e n t h e G e r m a n go v-
e r n m e n t a n n o un c e d , j us t b e f o r e Ma c d o n a ld ' s s p e e c h , t h a t i t
h a d o r d e r e d t h e b ui ld i n go f t w e lve U- b o a t s o f t w o h un d r e d
II7
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
a n d f i f t y t o n s e a c h
. " We a r e s t i llp r e p a r e d t o r e c e i ve a G e r -
m a n r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n L o n d o n , " Ma c d o n a ld c o n c lud e d
.
At t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e Fr a n c o - Rus s i a n m ut ua la s s i s t a n c e p a c t
b e c a m e a f a c t . It w a s P i e r r e L a va lw h o , a s Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r ,
p e r s o n a lly w e n t t o Mo s c o w t o d e m o n s t r a t e t o t h e w o r ld t h e
r e n e w e d Fr e n c h - Rus s i a n f r i e n d s h i p . It m a y b e s a i d t o d a y t h a t
L a va la c t e d a ls o a s m i d w i f e f o r t h e So vi e t - Cze c h o s lo va k i a n
a s s i s t a n c e a gr e e m e n t o f Ma y 16 ,
1 9 35 .
Hi t le r ' s s p e e c h , o n Ma y 2 r , i n w h i c h h e c a n d i d ly s t a t e d
t h a t G e r m a n y i n t e n d e d t o b ui ld a n a vy up t o t h i r t y - f i ve p e r -
c e n t o f t h e t o n n a ge o f t h e B r i t i s h n a va lf o r c e s , w a s m o r e
o r le s s t h e a n s w e r t o P r i m e Mi n i s t e r Ra m s a y Ma c d o n a ld ' s
d e c la r a t i o n i n t h e Ho us e o f Co m m o n s . Th e Fue h r e r h a d
a ga i n s t r uc k a b lo w w i t h o ut c o n s ult i n ge i t h e r vo n Ne ur a t h
o r vo n B ue lo w .
Th e b o ld n e s s o f t h i s d e c la r a t i o n m a d e t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e ' s
le a d i n go f f i c i a ls glo o m y . B a s i n gt h e i r o p i n i o n s o n t h e Fr a n c o -
Rus s i a n a gr e e m e n t , t h e y s p o k e o f e n c i r c le m e n t a n d i t s d a n -
ge r s f o r G e r m a n y ' s f ut ur e . To ge t i n t o s o m e k i n d o f p o li t i -
c a ld i s c us s i o n w i t h L o n d o n a s s o o n a s p o s s i b le s e e m e d , t o
t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e , m o s t e s s e n t i a l . V o n B ue lo w a n x i o us ly
s e a r c h e d f o r s o m e m i n o r i s s ue i m p o r t a n t e n o ugh t o n e c e s -
s i t a t e n e go t i a t i o n s b e t w e e n b o t h go ve r n m e n t s . If s uc h a n
i s s ue c o uld le a d t o a n un d e r s t a n d i n g, o n e c o uld b r o a d e n t h e s e
c o n f e r e n c e s a n d c o m e t o f a r - r e a c h i n ga r r a n ge m e n t s . B ue lo w
c o m p i le d a c a t a lo gue o f i s s ue s w h i c h c o uld o f f e r a p o i n t d e
d e p a r t : a n a gr e e m e n t o n a i r p o w e r i n ge n e r a l, a n o t h e r o n e
f o r t h e p r o h i b i t i o n o f a i r b o m b a r d m e n t s , o n e p r o h i b i t i n gt h e
us e o f p o i s o n ga s i n w a r f a r e , o n e r e ga r d i n gr e n e w e d p o s s i -
b i li t i e s o f a n Ea s t e r n L o c a r n o - t h i s la s t w o uld h a ve le f t t h e
q ue s t i o n o f f r o n t i e r c o r r e c t i o n s o p e n f o r p e a c e f uld i s c us s i o n s .
B ue lo w d i d n o t d a r e , h o w e ve r , t o i n c lud e a p r o p o s a lf o r a
n a va la gr e e m e n t i n s p i t e o f t h e e n c o ur a ge m e n t w h i c h t h e
II8
COMMISSIONERFORDISARMAMENTQUESTIONS
Si m o n - Hi t le r c o n f e r e n c e s a n d Ra m s a y Ma c d o n a ld ' s h i n t s
p r e s e n t e d . Eve n t h e n a vy m e n i n t h e B e n d le r s t r a s s e f e a r e d
t h a t Hi t le r ' s o p e n r e q ue s t f o r a r a t i o o f t h i r t y - f i ve p e r c e n t
o f t h e t o t a ls t r e n gt h o f B r i t i s h n a va lf o r c e s w a s b o un d t o b e
r e j e c t e d a t t h e ve r y o ut s e t .
Hi t le r f i n a lly d e c i d e d t h a t s uc h a n a va la gr e e m e n t w a s t h e
o n ly i s s ue up o n w h i c h n e w n e go t i a t i o n s w e r e w o r t h s t a r t i n g .
Hi s i n t ui t i o n , h e a r gue d , ga ve h i m r e a s o n t o b e li e ve t h a t s uc h
a n a gr e e m e n t w o uld b e m o s t d e s i r a b le f r o m b o t h t h e B r i t i s h
a n d t h e G e r m a n p o i n t s o f vi e w . An d , f ur t h e r m o r e , i f t h i s
a gr e e m e n t w a s f e a s i b le , i t w o uld f a c i li t a t e t h e a b o li t i o n o f
o t h e r V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y r e s t r i c t i o n s - e s p e c i a lly i f G r e a t
B r i t a i n o n c e o f f i c i a lly c o n d o n e d a vi o la t i o n o f t h e V e r s a i lle s
Tr e a t y , s h e c o uld n o lo n ge r i n s i s t o n t h e p r i n c i p le s o f i t s
f ulf i llm e n t up o n o t h e r o c c a s i o n s .
V o n Ne ur a t h , w h e n a s k e d b y t h e Fue h r e r t o s t a t e h i s
o p i n i o n , r e m a i n e d s i le n t . Ap p a r e n t ly h e d i d n o t b e li e ve t h a t
t h e B r i t i s h w o uld s w a llo w t h e b a i t
. It w a s t h e n d e c i d e d t h a t
L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h , t h e Am b a s s a d o r i n L o n d o n , s h o uld b e
a s k e d t o r e p o r t h i s o w n vi e w s o n t h a t q ue s t i o n . V o n Ho e s c h
w a s o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t G r e a t B r i t a i n n e ve r w o uld e n t e r i n t o
a n a va la gr e e m e n t o n t h a t r a t i o , un le s s t h e b r o a d i s s ue o f
" s e c ur i t y " w a s d i s c us s e d s i m ult a n e o us ly , f o r En gla n d , h e
p o i n t e d o ut , h a d t o t a k e i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n Fr a n c e ' s i n c e s s a n t
d e m a n d s up o n t h i s p o i n t . Wh e n vo n Ne ur a t h b r o ugh t
Ho e s c h ' s r e p o r t t o t h e Fue h r e r , Hi t le r w a s f ur i o us . " If y o u
a n d vo n Ho e s c h d o n o t b e li e ve i n t h e f e a s i b i li t y o f s uc h a n
a gr e e m e n t , Ik n o w o n e w h o d o e s - Ri b b e n t r o p ! " h e s h o ut e d .
II9
8
Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge
G ERMANY' Sn a vy , un d e r t h e s t i p ula t i o n s o f t h e V e r s a i lle s
Tr e a t y ( Ar t i c le s 18 1- 18 7) , w a s r e s t r i c t e d t o t h a t o f a t h i r d -
r a t e p o w e r . Sh e w a s n o t a llo w e d t o h a ve , a t a n y t i m e , m o r e
t h a n s i x s h i p s o f t h e li n e , w i t h a m a x i m um o f t e n t h o us a n d
t o n s e a c h
; s i x s m a llc r ui s e r s o f s i x t h o us a n d t o n s e a c h ; t w e lve
d e s t r o y e r s o f s i x h un d r e d t o n s e a c h
; a n d t w e lve t o r p e d o
b o a t s o f t w o h un d r e d t o n s e a c h
. Fur t h e r m o r e , t h e r e w a s t h e
s t i p ula t i o n t h a t n o n e o f t h e s h i p s w e r e t o b e r e p la c e d f o r
t w e n t y y e a r s f r o m t h e i r la un c h i n gd a t e s . Th i s p e r i o d w a s
r e d uc e d f o r c r ui s e r s a n d t o r p e d o b o a t s b y f i ve t o f i f t e e n
y e a r s
. P e r s o n n e l, i n c lud i n go f f i c e r s f o r t h e w h o le n a vy , w a s
li m i t e d t o f i f t e e n t h o us a n d .
Dur i n gt h e e a r ly p o s t - V e r s a i lle s y e a r s , G e r m a n y h a d n o t
b e e n a b le t o m a k e f ullus e o f t h e s e b ui ld i n gli m i t s . It t o o k
c o n s i d e r a b le t i m e f o r t h e s h i p y a r d s t o b e p ut i n c o m p le t e
w o r k i n go r d e r . St r i k e s a n d t h e i ll- f a t e d K a p p P ut s c h d e la y e d
t h e b ui ld i n gp r o gr a m lo n ge r t h a n o r i gi n a lly e x p e c t e d . Th e
G e r m a n c o n s t r uc t o r s o f " m e n o f w a r " h a ve t h e r e p ut a t i o n
o f k n o w i n gs h i p b ui ld i n ge ve n b e t t e r t h a n t h e B r i t i s h d o .
Wh e n t h e f i r s t o f t h e s o - c a lle d p o c k e t b a t t le s h i p s w a s
la un c h e d , , i t w a s a d m i t t e d b y f o r e i gn e x p e r t s t h a t t h e G e r m a n
e n gi n e e r s h a d s ur p a s s e d t h e m s e lve s . Th o ugh a llt r e a t y r e -
s t r i c t i o n s h a d b e e n o b s e r ve d , t h e n e w s h i p s o f t h e li n e p r o ve d
120
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
t o b e f a s t e r a n d f a r s t r o n ge r i n a r m a m e n t t h a n a n y b o d y h a d
e x p e c t e d .
Th e w o r ld h e a r d f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e a b o ut G e r m a n r e -
c o n s t r uc t i o n a n d e n la r ge m e n t p la n s i n a s p e e c h m a d e b y t h e
Fue h r e r a s e a r ly a s
19 34.
No t h i n gw a s s a i d a b o ut t h e n um b e r
o r t o n n a ge o f t h e d i f f e r e n t un i t s
. Th e f i gur e s gi ve n s ugge s t e d
t h a t G e r m a n y i n t e n d e d t o b ui ld a n a vy o f a t o t a lt o n n a ge
n o t h i gh e r t h a n t h i r t y - f i ve p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a lt o n n a ge o f
t h e B r i t i s h n a vy . Th i s w a s , ge n e r a lly s p e a k i n g, a r a t i o w h i c h
G r e a t B r i t a i n c o uld a c c e p t . Th e o ld p r i n c i p le o f B r i t i s h n a va l
p o li t i c s , t h e " Tw o P o w e r St a n d a r d , " h a d a lr e a d y b e e n a b a n -
d o n e d d ur i n gWo r ld Wa r I. Th e p r o gr a m b y w h i c h B r i t a i n
m e a n t t o o f f s e t t h e s h i p b ui ld i n gp r o gr a m o f Im p e r i a lG e r -
m a n y , t h e s o - c a lle d " Tw o K e e ls t o On e " s t a n d a r d c o uld n o t
p o s s i b ly b e e n f o r c e d a ga i n s t t h e r i c h e s t c o un t r y o f t h e w o r ld ,
t h e Un i t e d St a t e s . Th e e x h a us t i o n o f f i n a n c i a lp o w e r s f o r c e d
G r e a t B r i t a i n t o gi ve up i t s t r a d i t i o n a lh e ge m o n y a t s e a f o r
a t le a s t s o m e t i m e , a n d t h e r e s ult h a d b e e n a vi r t ua l" On e
P o w e r St a n d a r d " a s a d m i t t e d i n t h e Ho us e o f Co m m o n s
d e b a t e o n Ma r c h 17, 19 20 . Fi n a lly i n t h e Wa s h i n gt o n Fi ve
P o w e r Agr e e m e n t , t h e r a t i o f o r t h e b ui ld i n go f b a t t le s h i p s
f o r t h e Un i t e d St a t e s , G r e a t B r i t a i n , J a p a n , Fr a n c e a n d It a ly
h a d b e e n f i x e d a t
5- 5- 3- 1- 1
. As t h i s a gr e e m e n t w a s t o e n d i n
De c e m b e r , 19 36 , G r e a t B r i t a i n w a s p r e p a r e d t o li m i t , t h r o ugh
p e a c e f uln e go t i a t i o n s , G e r m a n y ' s n a va lp r o gr a m . En gla n d
k n e w t h a t t h e V e r s a i lle s r e s t r i c t i o n s w e r e n o lo n ge r a b le t o
p r e ve n t h e r r e a r m a m e n t o n s e a , j us t a s t h e y h a d n o t p r e ve n t e d
G e r m a n y ' s r e a r m a m e n t o n la n d . Hi t le r ' s h un c h t h a t En gla n d
w o uld w e lc o m e a n a gr e e m e n t w i t h r e a r m i n gG e r m a n y o n t h e
i s s ue o f f i x i n ga c o m f o r t a b le r a t i o f o r w a r s h i p s p r o ve d t o b e
c o r r e c t .
On Ma y 27,
1 9 34,
i t b e c a m e o f f i c i a lly k n o w n t h a t " An glo -
G e r m a n n a va lc o n ve r s a t i o n s w o uld s t a r t d ur i n gt h e f i r s t d a y s
121
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
o f J un e . " Th e B r i t i s h a t t a c h e d m uc h va lue t o t h e i m p e n d i n g
c o n f e r e n c e
. Th e y w e r e a w a r e t h a t t h e w h o le s y s t e m o f
" n a va ld i s a r m a m e n t " f i x e d b y t h e Wa s h i n gt o n a n d L o n d o n
a gr e e m e n t s w a s o b s o le t e a n d b o un d t o e x p i r e a t t h e e n d o f
1 9 3
6 . On t h e d a y o f t h e a n n o un c e m e n t o f t h e An glo - G e r m a n
c o n ve r s a t i o n s , Ad m i r a lMi n e o Os um i , J a p a n e s e Mi n i s t e r o f
t h e Na vy , f la t ly p r o c la i m e d " J a p a n ' s j us t a n d e q ui t a b le
d e m a n d s f o r n a va lp a r i t y w i t h t h e Un i t e d St a t e s a n d G r e a t
B r i t a i n . "
B e f o r e t h e An glo - G e r m a n n a va lc o n ve r s a t i o n s h a d e ve n
b e c o m e a n o f f i c i a lly e s t a b li s h e d f a c t , i t w a s a n n o un c e d t h a t
J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e " s p e c i a lc o m m i s s i o n e r , " w o uld
h e a d t h e G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n t o L o n d o n . As s o o n a s t h e c o m -
p o s i t i o n o f t h i s G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n c a m e up f o r d i s c us s i o n
b e t w e e n Hi t le r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e " s p e c i a lc o m m i s s i o n e r "
w a s vo c i f e r o us i n h i s d e m a n d t h a t h e b e gi ve n a r a n k p e r -
m i t t i n gh i m t o m o ve o n t h e s a m e f o o t i n gw i t h t h e Am b a s -
s a d o r t o L o n d o n , L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h , h i s " o b s t i n a t e
e n e m y . " Hi t le r w i lli n gly c o m p li e d . J o a c h i m w a s o f f i c i a lly
c r e a t e d Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge , a t t h a t t i m e s o m e t h i n gn e w i n
t h e h i e r a r c h y o f G e r m a n y ' s o f f i c i a ld o m . It w a s t h e s e c o n d
b i gs t e p i n J o a c h i m ' s c a r e e r .
B o t h G e r m a n y a n d En gla n d h a d o r i gi n a lly i n t e n d e d t o
k e e p t h e i r d e le ga t i o n s s m a lla n d e ve n t ua lly t o a d d e x p e r t s
f o r s p e c i a lq ue s t i o n s . Th e i d e a w a s t h a t d e t a i ls c o uld la t e r b e
a d j us t e d t h r o ugh d i p lo m a t i c c h a n n e ls , e s p e c i a lly a s i t w a s
a s s um e d a t t h a t t i m e t h a t t h e An glo - G e r m a n c o n ve r s a t i o n s
w o uld b e f o llo w e d b y c o r r e s p o n d i n gd i s c us s i o n s b e t w e e n
G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d Rus s i a , a n d t h a t f i n a lly t h e t i m e w o uld b e
r i p e f o r h o ld i n ga ge n e r a ln a va lc o n f e r e n c e f o r t h e p ur p o s e
o f r e n e w i n go r e x t e n d i n gt h e e x p i r i n gn a va lt r e a t i e s
. Th e r e
w a s , h o w e ve r , b y n o m e a n s un a n i m i t y , n o r e ve n a n un d e r -
s t a n d i n ga m o n gt h e s i gn a t o r i e s o f t h e Wa s h i n gt o n a n d
122
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
L o n d o n n a va la gr e e m e n t s c o n c e r n i n gt h e c o ur s e w h i c h s h o uld
b e a d o p t e d o n c e t h e t r e a t i e s h a d e x p i r e d . Ad m i r a lMi n e o
Os um i , t h e J a p a n e s e Mi n i s t e r o f t h e Na vy , i m m e d i a t e ly up o n
ge t t i n gr e p o r t s o n t h e L o n d o n d i s c us s i o n s , d e c la r e d i n a n
i n t e r vi e w t h a t " h e w o uld s t r o n gly o p p o s e t h e i n c lus i o n o f
G e r m a n y a n d Rus s i a i n t h e n e x t n a va lc o n f e r e n c e . "
Th e G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n o f f i c i a lly c o n s i s t e d o f t h e n e w
" Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge " a n d t w o h i gh r a n k i n go f f i c e r s o f t h e
G e r m a n Na vy , Ad m i r a lSc h us t e r a n d Ca p t a i n K i d e r le n . On
J un e 3, t h e y a r r i ve d i n L o n d o n a n d w e r e j o i n e d b y Co m -
m a n d e r Er w i n Wa s s n e r , Na va lAt t a c h e o f t h e G e r m a n
Em b a s s y . Th e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e h a d lo a n e d t h e d e le ga t i o n t w o
o f i t s b e s t le ga le x p e r t s , Dr . Fr i e d r i c h G a us s , c h i e f o f t h e
le ga ld i vi s i o n o f t h e
Aus w a e r t i ge s Am t , e x p e r i e n c e d i n b i -
la t e r a lt r e a t i e s f r o m t h e d a y s o f Ra p a llo o n w a r d , a n d Dr .
Er n s t Wo e r m a n n , w e llve r s e d i n t h e p e c uli a r i t i e s o f t h e
B r i t i s h m i n d .
Th e d r y q ua li t i e s o f Wo e r m a n n ' s le ga lm i n d a t t r a c t e d
Ri b b e n t r o p b e c a us e h e h i m s e lf w a s s o ut t e r ly la c k i n gi n t h e m
.
Fo r o n c e h e w a s i n t e lli ge n t e n o ugh t o r e c o gn i ze h i s o w n
li m i t a t i o n s . Dur i n gt h e L o n d o n d i s c us s i o n s , Ri b b e n t r o p w i s e ly
le f t t h e a c t ua ln e go t i a t i o n s t o t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e e x p e r t s . He
w a s c a ut i o us e n o ugh n o t t o s k a t e o ve r t h e t h i n i c e o f t e c h -
n i c a li t i e s . In t h i s h e c o n f o r m e d t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a lp o li c y o f
h i s B ue r o . Hi s m i s s i o n s w e r e e n t i t le d t o t h e a m us i n gs i d e o f
d i p lo m a t i c a c t i vi t i e s , t h e r e c e p t i o n s , i n t r i gue s , t h e m a p p i n g
o ut o f n e w w o r ld s . Th e m o r e t e d i o us p a r t , t h e r o ut i n e w o r k ,
t h e w o r d i n go f o f f i c i a ld o c um e n t s , a n d t h e c o n s c i e n t i o us
e la b o r a t i o n o f d e t a i ls w e r e s a f e ly le f t t o t h e c a r e e r d i p lo m a t i s t s ,
a s lo n ga s t h e y r e m a i n e d w e llh i d d e n i n t h e b a c k gr o un d .
Ala r ge s t a f f o f s e c r e t a r i e s , t r a n s la t o r s , a n d t y p i s t s b r o ugh t
t h e n um b e r o f p e r s o n s w h o a r r i ve d i n L o n d o n a s " m e m b e r s
o f t h e G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n " up t o f o r t y . Tw o f lo o r s o f t h e
123
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
f a s h i o n a b le Ca r lt o n Ho t e lh a d b e e n r e s e r ve d f o r t h e m
. Fi ve
m a gn i f i c e n t m o t o r c a r s w e r e a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l
.
Th e f i r s t t h i n gt h e n e w " Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge " d i d a f t e r
h i s a r r i va lw a s t o p r o vi d e t h e Ca r lt o n Ho t e lw i t h a h uge
G e r m a n f la gc o m p le t e w i t h Sw a s t i k a . Th i s h e o r d e r e d t h e
h o t e lt o h a n go ve r i t s Ha y m a r k e t e n t r a n c e . Ea c h c a r f le w
s i m i la r p e n n a n t s f r o m t h e i r r i gh t m ud gua r d . Th e s e b a n n e r s
a n d f la gs n a t ur a lly c r e a t e d a s e n s a t i o n a m o n gt h e m ult i t ud e s
t h r o n gi n gL o n d o n ' s We s t En d
. An d a t t h i s t i m e t h e r e w e r e
e ve n la r ge r c r o w d s i n t h e s e f a s h i o n a b le s t r e e t s , f o r t h e
B r i t i s h p e o p le w e r e c e le b r a t i n gK i n gG e o r ge ' s a n d Que e n
Ma r y ' s Tw e n t y - f i f t h J ub i le e
.
As i d e f r o m G a us s a n d Wo e r m a n n , t h e r e w e r e a ls o m i n o r
lum i n a r i e s i n t h e d e le ga t i o n . Am o n gt h e s e w e r e Dr
. Ha n s
Fr o h w e i n ( la t e r m i n i s t e r i n Re va l) , t h e Co un s e llo r s vo n
K a m p h o e ve n e r a n d Ro e d i ge r , a n d Dr . Er i c h K o r d t , p r e -
vi o us ly c o n t a c t m a n b e t w e e n t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e a n d " Co m -
m i s s i o n e r " Ri b b e n t r o p b ut n o w a d va n c e d t o s t a f f m e m b e r s h i p
w i t h t h e n e w Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge
. Th e r e w e r e a ls o s o m e
m e m b e r s o f t h e B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p .
Ea c h m e m b e r o f t h e d e le ga t i o n w a s p r o vi d e d w i t h a b r a n d
n e w f ulld r e s s s ui t , a n d s o m e o f t h e s e m e n w e r e e x t r e m e ly
h a n d s o m e . So c i a le ve n t s b e i n gt h e o r d e r o f t h e d a y , i n vi t a -
t i o n s p o ur e d i n o n t h e m . Th e e n t i r e G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n
a p p e a r e d a t t h e b a lli n L o n d o n d e r r y Ho us e , o n e o f t h e h i gh -
li gh t s o f t h a t s e a s o n . K a r lf r i e d Co un t vo n Due r c k h e i m -
Mo n t m a r t i n w a s a m o n gt h e m . He la t e r b e c a m e o n e o f t h e
B ue r o ' s
m o s t s uc c e s s f ulc o lla b o r a t o r s un t i lj e a lo us c o m p e t i t o r s
le a r n e d o f h i s n o n - Ar y a n d e s c e n t , a n d h e w a s t r a n s f e r r e d t o
o n e o f G e r m a n y ' s m i n o r un i ve r s i t i e s a s a le c t ur e r .
Th e B r i t i s h d e le ga t i o n c o n s i s t e d o f V i c e Ad m i r a lC
. J . C.
L i t t le , Ca p t a i n V . H . Da n c k w e r t o f t h e Ad m i r a lt y , a n d
Si r Ro b e r t L e s li e Cr a i gi e o f t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e
. Cr a i gi e ( la t e r
124
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
H . M. Am b a s s a d o r i n To k i o ) h a d va s t e x p e r i e n c e w i t h
b i la t e r a la n d m ult i la t e r a lt r e a t i e s
. He h a d b e e n c o n n e c t e d
w i t h t h e In t e r n a t i o n a lCo p y r i gh t Co n f e r e n c e i n B e r li n
( 19 o 8 ) ,
t h e In t e r n a t i o n a lCo n f e r e n c e f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f
t h e Ele p h a n t a n d Rh i n o c e r o s i n Af r i c a ( L o n d o n ,
19 14) , a n d
t h e In t e r n a t i o n a lCo n f e r e n c e r e la t i n gt o t h e Ne w He b r i d e s
( L o n d o n , 19 14) .
As h e p o s s e s s e d a p e r f e c t k n o w le d ge o f
G e r m a n a n d o t h e r la n gua ge s , h i s c h o i c e , f r o m t h e t e c h n i c a l
p o i n t o f vi e w o f t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , w a s a go o d o n e
. Th e
ult i m a t e d e c i s i o n r e s t e d w i t h t h e Ad m i r a lt y
. Th e Fi r s t L o r d
o f t h e Ad m i r a lt y , Si r B o lt o n Ey r e s - Mo n s e ll, " w a s k e p t i n
r e a d i n e s s f o r c o n s ult a t i o n . "
Th e f i r s t B r i t i s h p r e s s d i s p a t c h m e n t i o n e d t h e a r r i va lo f
Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s d e le ga t i o n " w i t h t h e p ur p o s e i n m i n d
o f h o ld i n gc o n ve r s a t i o n s w i t h Hi s Ma j e s t y ' s G o ve r n m e n t o n
t h e s ub j e c t o f r e la t i ve n a va ls t r e n gt h
. " It a d d e d " t h a t t h e
p o i n t i n q ue s t i o n w e r e d i s c us s i o n s o f a p ur e ly i n f o r m a ln a t ur e
w i t h t h e vi e w t o p r e p a r i n gt h e gr o un d f o r a f o r m a lc o n -
f e r e n c e
. " Th e r e f o r e , B r i t i s h p ub li c o p i n i o n s a w n o t h i n go f
s p e c i a li m p o r t a n c e i n t h e s e c o n ve r s a t i o n s
. Eve n t h e c le ve r
G e r m a n Am b a s s a d o r , L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h , c o uld n o t c o n -
c e i ve t h a t s o m e t h i n gd e f i n i t e s h o uld c o m e o f t h e m . V o n
Ho e s c h b e li e ve d t h a t , i f t h e s e d i s c us s i o n s w e r e t o d e ve lo p
i n t o s o m e t h i n gm o r e s e r i o us , s t r o n go p p o s i t i o n i n p o li t i c a l
c i r c le s w o uld m a k e i t s e lf f e lt , b e c a us e t h e le a d i n gB r i t i s h
o f f i c i a ls k n e w e n o ugh a b o ut Hi t le r a n d h i s ga n gt o s e e
t h r o ugh t h e i r p r o p o s a ls
. At t h e t i m e o f Si r J o h n Si m o n ' s a n d
An t h o n y Ed e n ' s B e r li n vi s i t , t h e
Ma n c h e s t e r G ua r d i a n ,
k n o w n f o r i t s c lo s e r e la t i o n s w i t h t h e le a d i n gm e n o f Do w n -
i n gSt r e e t , m e n t i o n e d , i n a n e d i t o r i a l, t h a t " i f t h e G e r m a n s
d i d t r y t o le a d Si r J o h n i n t o s e p a r a t e n a va ln e go t i a t i o n s , t h e y
w o uld m e e t w i t h a f i r m , t h o ugh c o ur t e o us r e b uf f
. " Eve n t h e
Ti m e s
i n i t s a r t i c le w e lc o m i n gt h e G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n ( J un e
125
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
4, 1
9 35) s a i d " t h e r e a r e p le n t y o f p e o p le b o t h h e r e a n d i n
Fr a n c e , w h o s e e i n e ve r y a p p r o a c h o f G e r m a n y t o G r e a t
B r i t a i n a n a t t e m p t t o m a k e m i s c h i e f b e t w e e n G r e a t B r i t a i n
a n d Fr a n c e
. No e x c us e s h o uld b e gi ve n f o r t h i s c h a r ge , h o w -
e ve r d i s i n ge n uo us i t m a y b e
. "
It w a s L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h ' s c o n vi c t i o n t h a t t h e Ri b b e n -
t r o p m i s s i o n w o uld e n d i n f a i lur e . He f ully r e a li ze d t h e i m -
p o r t a n c e o f s uc h a B r i t i s h - G e r m a n n a va la gr e e m e n t a s w a s
p r o p o s e d , b ut h e t h o ugh t t h a t t h e r e w a s n o p o s s i b i li t y o f t h e
B r i t i s h e n t e r i n gi n t o s uc h a p a c t w i t h o ut d e m a n d i n gf a r -
r e a c h i n ggua r a n t e e s f r o m t h e i r p a r t n e r
. Hi s c o n vi c t i o n w a s
m o t i va t e d b y h i s p e r s o n a lc o n t e m p t f o r t h e i n t e lle c t ua la n d
p o li t i c a la b i li t i e s o f " t h i s f o r m e r w i n e m e r c h a n t " o f w h o m h e
a lw a y s s p o k e , a m o n gh i s f r i e n d s , a s " t h i s f o o l
. " Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
f e e li n gt o w a r d Ho e s c h w a s o b vi o us ly c o m p o un d e d o f
j e a lo us y , m a li c e , a n d h a t r e d
. At a lun c h e o n w h i c h P r i m e
Mi n i s t e r Ra m s a y Ma c d o n a ld ga ve i n h o n o r o f t h e G e r m a n
d e le ga t i o n , Ri b b e n t r o p a n d Ho e s c h d i d n o t s p e a k t o e a c h
o t h e r .
On J un e 3, t h e d a t e o f t h e K i n g' s b i r t h d a y , t h e G e r m a n s
ga ve a r e c e p t i o n a t t h e Em b a s s y f r o m w h o s e t e r r a c e i t s
m e m b e r s a n d m a n y B r i t i s h gue s t s c o uld vi e w t h e c e r e m o n i a l
p r o c e s s i o n
. Th e r e w a s n o p la c e i n t h e w h o le o f L o n d o n f r o m
w h i c h t h i s p a r a d e c o uld h a ve b e e n vi e w e d m o r e a d va n -
t a ge o us ly
. Fr o m t h e r i gh t s i d e o f t h e t e r r a c e o n e c o uld s e e
t h e e n t i r e le n gt h o f t h e p r o c e s s i o n f r o m t h e Ma llt o B uc k -
i n gh a m P a la c e w h e r e t h e c a va lc a d e s t a r t e d
. Fr o m t h e le f t
s i d e o n e lo o k e d up o n t h e p a r a d e gr o un d s o f Wh i t e h a llw h e r e
t h e m i li t a r y c e r e m o n i e s w e r e t a k i n gp la c e . It i s n o w o n d e r
t h e n t h a t m a n y p e o p le t r i e d h a r d t o ge t a n i n vi t a t i o n . Wh e n
t h e p r o c e s s i o n p a s s e d , t h o s e p r e s e n t o n t h e t e r r a c e w e r e
d i vi d e d i n t o t h r e e gr o up s
. Th e L o n d o n s o c i e t y gue s t s w e r e
a s s e m b le d a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e t e r r a c e
. On t h e e x t r e m e r i gh t ,
1 2 6
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
Am b a s s a d o r vo n Ho e s c h w i t h h i s s t a f f a n d h i s p e r s o n a l
f r i e n d s b o w e d d e e p ly i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h o ld c o ur t c e r e -
m o n i a l
. On t h e e x t r e m e le f t , Ri b b e n t r o p , s ur r o un d e d b y t h e
m e m b e r s o f h i s B ue r o
a n d s o m e o f t h e d e le ga t i o n , s t a r e d a t
t h e p r o c e s s i o n w i t h r i gh t a r m s r a i s e d s t i f f ly i n t h e o f f i c i a l
G e r m a n
Hi t le r - G r us s . So m e m e m b e r s o f t h e f o r m e r Ro y a l
f a m i ly o f P r us s i a w e r e a ls o p r e s e n t t o w a t c h t h e j ub i le e
p r o c e s s i o n o f t h e i r h a p p i e r B r i t i s h r e la t i ve s
. Wi t h vo n
Ho e s c h ' s gr o up s t o o d Cr o w n P r i n c e s s Ce c i li a
. Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
gr o up i n c lud e d t h e K a i s e r ' s d a ugh t e r , V i c t o r i a L o ui s e , w i t h
o ut s t r e t c h e d a r m , t o ge t h e r w i t h h e r s o n , Er n s t Augus t , a
m e m b e r o f t h e Fue h r e r ' s p e r s o n a l
Sc h ut z- St a f f e l, w h o p r o ud ly
b o a s t e d o n t h a t o c c a s i o n t h a t o n ly a f e w d a y s a go h e h a d
b e e n gi ve n t h e h o n o r o f s p e c i a ld ut y b e f o r e Hi t le r ' s b e d r o o m
i n t h e Ch a n c e lle r y .
Allt h e m e m b e r s o f t h e G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n h a d b e e n
f o r c e d t o p r o m i s e Ri b b e n t r o p t h a t t h e y w o uld k e e p e ve r y -
t h i n gc o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e p e n d i n gd i s c us s i o n s i n s t r i c t e s t
c o n f i d e n c e
. Th e y h a d e s p e c i a lly p le d ge d t h e m s e lve s n o t t o
le t a s i n gle w o r d o f w h a t w e n t o n t o r e a c h He r r vo n Ho e s c h
o r t h e Em b a s s y St a f f . Th i s p le d ge i n c lud e d n o t o n ly t h e
m e m b e r s o f t h e G e r m a n Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , w h o w e r e d e le ga t e d
t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s m i s s i o n , b ut a ls o t h e Na va lAt t a c h e o f t h e
Em b a s s y , Co m m a n d e r Er w i n Wa s s n e r . As t h e r e w e r e s o m e
c le r k s a m o n gt h e Em b a s s y St a f f w h o w e r e a r d e n t p a r t y m e m -
b e r s a n d m a d e n o b o n e s a b o ut i t , Wa s s n e r h e s i t a t e d a b o ut
vi s i t i n gvo n Ho e s c h . Wa s s n e r , a n h o n e s t m a n , s uf f e r e d f o r
h e h a d b e e n f o r c e d t o p le d ge h i m s e lf t o Ri b b e n t r o p , b ut t h e
k e e p i n go f t h i s p le d ge m i gh t e a s i ly b e c o n s t r ue d a s a n a c t
o f d i s lo y a lt y t o w a r d vo n Ho e s c h . V o n Ho e s c h f o un d h i m -
s e lf d e p e n d e n t up o n t h e d a i ly o f f i c i a lc o m m un i q ue s . Th e s e
w e r e m i s le a d i n g . Co n s e q ue n t ly , h i s j ud gm e n t a s t o t h e r e s ult
o f t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n s w a s i n c o r r e c t .
1 2
7
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
On J un e 8 , Ri b b e n t r o p le f t L o n d o n t o c o n f e r w i t h t h e
Fue h r e r i n B e r c h t e s ga d e n
. It w a s d ur i n gh i s a b s e n c e t h a t a
b a llw a s gi ve n i n As c o t Ho us e b y L a d y We i ga ll, t h e w i d o w
o f t h e f o r m e r Co un s e llo r o f t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y , B a r o n
He r m a n n vo n Ec k a r d s t e i n
. V o n Ho e s c h a n d Wa s s n e r w e r e
a m o n gt h e gue s t s
. In o r d e r t o a vo i d Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s p i e s , t h e
t w o e m i n e n t d i p lo m a t s h a d t o r e t i r e t o a la va t o r y , t h e o n ly
s e c lud e d s p o t , t o e x c h a n ge t h e la t e s t p o li t i c a ln e w s
. In t h i s
w a y , vo n Ho e s c h le a r n e d t h a t " t h e f o o l" w a s a b o ut t o
a c h i e ve t h e gr e a t e s t p o li t i c a ls uc c e s s G e r m a n y h a d h a d s i n c e
t h e d a y s o f L o c a r n o .
Af e w d a y s la t e r t h e s t o r y w a s o f f i c i a lly " r e le a s e d
. " It
s t a r t e d w i t h a c o m m un i q ue o n J un e i i . Th i s h i n t e d , f o r t h e
f i r s t t i m e , " t h a t a d r a f t a gr e e m e n t w o uld b e p r e p a r e d , " a n d
t h a t " i t w a s b e li e ve d t h e un d e r s t a n d i n gw o uld r e s ult i n gr a n t -
i n gt h e G e r m a n n a vy t h i r t y - f i ve p e r c e n t o f t h e B r i t i s h
s t r e n gt h
. " At t h e s a m e t i m e , i t w a s a n n o un c e d t h a t a llo t h e r
s i gn a t o r i e s o f t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y a s w e ll
a s t h e s i gn a t o r i e s
o f t h e Wa s h i n gt o n a n d L o n d o n n a va la gr e e m e n t s h a d b e e n
i n f o r m e d o f t h e n e w un d e r s t a n d i n g
.
Th e n e w s t h a t t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n s h a d d e ve lo p e d i n t o a
f o r m a la gr e e m e n t w i t h i n s uc h a s h o r t t i m e c r e a t e d a gr e a t
s e n s a t i o n
. Th i s w a s p a r t ly d ue t o t h e f a c t t h a t i n t h e p r e -
c e d i n gd a y s a t t e n t i o n h a d b e e n d i ve r t e d b y t h e a n n o un c e -
m e n t t h a t a c h a n ge a n d r e o r ga n i za t i o n o f t h e B r i t i s h Ca b i n e t
h a d t a k e n p la c e
. Ra m s a y Ma c d o n a ld h a d b e e n r e p la c e d b y
St a n le y B a ld w i n a s P r i m e Mi n i s t e r a n d Si r J o h n Si m o n b y
Si r Sa m ue lHo a r e a s Fo r e i gn Se c r e t a r y
. An t h o n y Ed e n h a d
b e e n gi ve n t h e n e w ly c r e a t e d p o s t o f Mi n i s t e r f o r L e a gue o f
Na t i o n s Af f a i r s
. Alli n a ll, t h i s w a s a f r e s h t ur n t o t h e r i gh t .
Th e Ca b i n e t n o w i n c lud e d f i f t e e n c o n s e r va t i ve s , f o ur Na -
t i o n a lL i b e r a ls , a n d e i gh t Na t i o n a lL a b o r i t e s
. On t h e s a m e
d a y o f G r e a t B r i t a i n ' s Ca b i n e t r e s h uf f le , Fr a n c e ' s P i e r r e
128
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
Et i e n n e Fla n d i n w a s r e p la c e d a s P r i m e Mi n i s t e r b y P i e r r e
L a va l, h i s Mi n i s t e r o f Fo r e i gn Af f a i r s . He r e , t o o , a s li gh t
t ur n t o t h e r i gh t c h a r a c t e r i ze d t h e c h a n ge , b ut o n t h e o t h e r
h a n d t h e c le a va ge b e t w e e n r i gh t a n d le f t w a s gr o w i n g, a c -
c e n t ua t e d b y t h e d i s t r us t i n w h i c h t h e
Fr o n t P o p ula i r e h e ld
L a va l
.
On J un e i i ,
19 35,
t h e d a y o n w h i c h i t b e c a m e c le a r , f o r
t h e f i r s t t i m e , t h a t t h e n a va lp a r le y w o uld e n d i n a f o r m a l
a gr e e m e n t , a n o t h e r e ve n t t o o k p la c e i n L o n d o n , t h e i m p o r -
t a n c e o f w h i c h c o uld h a r d ly h a ve b e e n r e c o gn i ze d w h e n i t
o c c ur r e d
. It w a s a Que e n s Ha lls p e e c h b y Ed w a r d , P r i n c e o f
Wa le s
. Th i s s p e e c h w a s m a d e t o t h e B r i t i s h L e gi o n
. Th e
P r i n c e o f Wa le s d e c la r e d , " t h a t t h e r e w a s n o m o r e s ui t a b le
b o d y t h a n t h e f o r m e r c o m b a t a n t s o f Wo r ld Wa r It o s t r e t c h
t h e h a n d o f f r i e n d s h i p t o t h e G e r m a n s
. "
It m us t b e r e m e m b e r e d , i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p
h a d a lr e a d y us e d t h e " b r i d ge o ve r t h e w a r ve t e r a n s " i n h i s
d i s c us s i o n s i n P a r i s
. " Th e c o m m o n i n t e r e s t o f t h e ve t e r a n
gr o up s i n a llc o un t r i e s w h i c h h a d b e e n i n vo lve d i n t h e Wo r ld
Wa r " h a d s e r ve d a s L e i t m o t i f
f o r m a n y o f t h e Na zi G o ve r n -
m e n t ' s p o li t i c a ls c h e m e s . An d d i s c us s i o n s h a d e ve n b e e n
s t a r t e d b e t w e e n r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s o f t h e Am e r i c a n L e gi o n a n d
t h o s e o f t h e K y
f f h a e us e r b un d . Th e G e r m a n Fo r e i gn Of f i c e
r e a li ze d t h e s i gn i f i c a n c e w h i c h t h e Fue h r e r a t t r i b ut e d t o
t h e s e c o n n e c t i o n s , a n d i t w a s d e e m e d p o s s i b le t h a t Ri b b e n -
t r o p m i gh t b e c o m e t h e o f f i c i a lc a r e t a k e r o f t h e G e r m a n
ve t e r a n o r ga n i za t i o n s , f o r w a s t h i s n o t a le gi t i m a t e b y - p r o d uc t
o f h i s c o m m i s s i o n e r s h i p o n d i s a r m a m e n t q ue s t i o n s ? Th e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
a ls o b e li e ve d t h a t i t w a s Ri b b e n t r o p w h o h a d
i n f lue n c e d t h e P r i n c e o f Wa le s ' s e n s a t i o n a lQue e n s Ha ll
s p e e c h .
Th e o f f i c i a ls
o f Di vi s i o n E ( " E"
f o r Et i q ue t t e , Di vi s i o n
o f
P r o t o c o l) o f t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
d uly s t a r t e d p r e p a r a t i o n s
129
THIS MAN RIB B ENTROP
f o r t h e B e r li n r e c e p t i o n o f a la r ge gr o up o f B r i t i s h e x - s e r vi c e
m e n . Th i s gr o up , i t w a s e x p e c t e d , w o uld b e h e a d e d p e r s o n a lly
b y t h e P r i n c e o f Wa le s , i n o r d e r " t o s h o w G e r m a n y t h a t
t h e la s t w a r r e a lly w a s f o r go t t e n a n d t h a t go o d f r i e n d s h i p
b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o un t r i e s r ule d a ga i n . " It s e e m s , t h e r e f o r e ,
a p p r o p r i a t e i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t o s a y a f e w w o r d s a b o ut t h e
r e la t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n Ed w a r d a n d Ri b b e n t r o p .
It w a s L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h w h o i n t r o d uc e d J o a c h i m vo n
Ri b b e n t r o p t o Ed w a r d a n d Mr s . Si m p s o n
. B o t h w e r e i n t i -
m a t e f r i e n d s o f t h i s h i gh ly c ult ur e d G e r m a n Am b a s s a d o r
w h o n a t ur a lly f e lt p r o ud o f t h i s f r i e n d s h i p a n d d i d e ve r y -
t h i n gt o s t r e n gt h e n i t a n d k e e p i t a li ve
. Ho e s c h w a s a p e r f e c t
h o s t . He w a s a ls o a ge n ui n e w i t , a n d Wa lli s w a s e s p e c i a lly
a m us e d b y h i m
. B o t h Ed w a r d a n d Wa lli s a lw a y s s e e m e d
t o e n j o y t h e p a r t i e s vo n Ho e s c h ga ve i n t h e i r h o n o r .
Th e r e w e r e m a n y s m a lld i n n e r p a r t i e s
. Ho e s c h , a b a c h e lo r ,
h a d t h e r e c e p t i o n r o o m s o f t h e Em b a s s y a t h i s d i s p o s a l, a n
e x c e lle n t m a i t r e d ' h d t e l
a n d k i t c h e n s t a f f . Hi s p r i va t e f o r t un e
p e r m i t t e d h i m t o b e e x t r a va ga n t . Ho e s c h lo ve d gy p s y m us i c ,
a n d i n t h a t h e h a d s o m e t h i n gi n c o m m o n w i t h Ed w a r d
.
Wh e n Ed w a r d , Wa lli s , a n d a f e w i n t i m a t e f r i e n d s w e r e
Ho e s c h ' s gue s t s a t t h e Em b a s s y , n o m e m b e r o f t h e Em b a s s y
s t a f f w a s e ve r i n vi t e d
. Th e f a m o us b a n d o f lo w e r Re ge n t
St r e e t ' s Hun ga r i a n Re s t a ur a n t w a s h i r e d f o r t h e e ve n i n g, a
p r o c e d ur e t h a t d e p r i ve d t h e d i n e r s i n t h e r e s t a ur a n t o f t h e i r
m us i c b ut c o n t r i b ut e d va s t ly t o t h e s uc c e s s o f Ho e s c h ' s
p a r t i e s .
Ab o ut a w e e k b e f o r e t h e B e r li n vi s i t o f Si r J o h n Si m o n
a n d An t h o n y Ed e n w a s a r r a n ge d , Ri b b e n t r o p h a d f lo w n t o
L o n d o n
. Th i s t i m e p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r h i s vi s i t w e r e h a n d le d b y
t h e Em b a s s y , a n d o n t h i s o c c a s i o n J o a c h i m s h o w e d t h e m o s t
p le a s i n gs i d e o f h i s p e r s o n a li t y
. He p a i d t h e Am b a s s a d o r a
le n gt h y vi s i t a n d gli b ly m e n t i o n e d t h e h i gh e s t e e m i n w h i c h
130
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
t h e Fue h r e r h e ld vo n Ho e s c h ' s w o r k
. Ri b b e n t r o p c h a r a c t e r -
i ze d t h e vi s i t o f t h e B r i t i s h s t a t e s m e n a s t h e " c r o w n i n gglo r y
o f Ho e s c h ' s a c h i e ve m e n t
. " L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h , e ve r s us c e p -
t i b le t o h o n e y e d w o r d s , s ud d e n ly d i s c o ve r e d a n un s us p e c t e d
s i d e t o Ri b b e n t r o p
. He i n vi t e d J o a c h i m t o s p e n d t h e e ve n i n g
w i t h Ed w a r d , Wa lli s , a n d h i m s e lf
. Fr i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e s uc -
c e s s o r t o a t h r o n e w a s a n d s t i lli s s o m e t h i n ge ve r y d i p lo m a t
c h e r i s h e s
; i t i s c o n s i d e r e d b y o ld h a n d s a t f o r e i gn p o li c y a n
e x c e lle n t i n ve s t m e n t .
J o a c h i m w a s f a vo r a b ly i m p r e s s e d b y vo n Ho e s c h ' s ge s t ur e
f o r h e w a s gr e a t ly a f f e c t e d b y Wa lli s ' c h a r m a n d s p o k e a t
le n gt h w i t h Ed w a r d a b o ut h i s p e t t h e m e , " w a r ve t e r a n s ' b r i d ge
b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o un t r i e s . " Hi s a d m i r a t i o n f o r Wa lli s w a s
e vi d e n c e d i n a c ur i o us m a n n e r
. Fo r s o m e t i m e a f t e r h e m a d e
h e r a c q ua i n t a n c e , J o a c h i m , d ur i n gh i s f r e q ue n t vi s i t s i n L o n -
d o n , s e n t a b o uq ue t o f s e ve n t e e n r e d r o s e s t o Wa lli s ' h o m e
e ve r y m o r n i n g . Th i s s e c r e t s o o n le a k e d o ut
. On e o f t h e
s e c r e t a r i e s i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p e r s o n a ls t a f f s p o k e o f i t t o o n e
o f Ho e s c h ' s a s s i s t a n t s
. Ho e s c h w a s ve r y m uc h a m us e d b y
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s f lo r a la t t e n t i o n s , b ut e ve n h e w a s n o t a b le t o
d i s c o ve r t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e n um b e r s e ve n t e e n
. He d e c i d e d
t h a t t h i s n um b e r w a s " t h e w a y o f a b us i n e s s m a n . "
Th i s " s t o r y o f t h e s e ve n t e e n r o s e s " p la y s a r o le i n t h e
d r a m a o f Ed w a r d V III' s a b d i c a t i o n f o r t h e s a k e o f " t h e
w o m a n Ilo ve
. " In B e r li n d i p lo m a t i c c i r c le s , i t w a s f o r s o m e
t i m e t h e t o p i c o f t h e d a y . It b e c a m e k n o w n t h a t e ve n t h e
Fue h r e r h a d t e a s i n gly a s k e d Ri b b e n t r o p w h a t w a s b e h i n d
t h e " s e ve n t e e n r o s e s . "
Th e a n i m o s i t y o f t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e c a r e e r o f f i c i a ls t o w a r d
" t h e i n t r ud i n gNa zi , " t h e t r a ve lli n gw i n e m e r c h a n t , w h o
o f t e n s n ub b e d t h e o ld t i m e r s , c a us e d , o f c o ur s e , m a n y j o k e s
a t h i s e x p e n s e . Hi s ve n e r a t i o n o f Mr s
. Si m p s o n w a s n o t e x -
c lud e d .
i i i
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
Me m b e r s o f L o n d o n ' s d i p lo m a t i c s e t h e a r d a b o ut t h e s e ve n -
t e e n r o s e s , a n d t h e s t o r y f o un d i t s w a y , i n e x a gge r a t e d f o r m ,
t o t h e e a r s o f m a n y i n f lue n t i a lEn gli s h m e n w h o w e r e i m -
p o r t a n t i n p o li t i c s
. Th e r e w e r e p e o p le , e s p e c i a lly p a r li a -
m e n t a r y m e m b e r s o f t h e L a b o r P a r t y , w h o n o r m a lly w o uld
h a ve b e e n f a r f r o m r e s e n t f ula t a m a r r i a ge o f t h e i r k i n g
a n d a c o m m o n e r . Ed w a r d w a s s o lo ve d b y h i s lo y a ls ub j e c t s
t h a t n o o n e o f t h e m w a n t e d t o s e e h i m un h a p p y
. St i ll, t h e s e
r um o r s f r o m B e r li n w e r e i r r i t a t i n g . An d t h e s e r um o r s d i d
n o t e n d w i t h t h e s e ve n t e e n r o s e s .
B e r li n w a s f i lle d w i t h lo o s e t a lk a b o ut Ed w a r d , t h e n Hi s
Ma j e s t y . It w a s s a i d t h a t h e n e gle c t e d h i s d ut i e s i n t h e h a n -
d li n go f o f f i c i a ld o c um e n t s . Se c r e t Am b a s s a d o r i a lr e p o r t s
w e r e e s p e c i a lly e m p h a s i ze d . At Fo r t B e lve d e r e , t h e Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e d i s p a t c h b a gs w e r e s a i d t o h a ve b e e n le f t o p e n , a n d
i t w a s p o s s i b le t h a t o f f i c i a ls e c r e t s h a d le a k e d o ut t h e n . Of
c o ur s e , a llt h i s w a s o n ly r um o r . St i ll, w a s i t n o t a f a c t t h a t
t h e G e r m a n s w e r e o f t e n s ur p r i s i n gly w e lli n f o r m e d a b o ut t h e
r e p o r t s s e n t b y t h e B r i t i s h Am b a s s a d o r i n B e r li n , Si r Er i c
P h i p p s , t o Hi s Ma j e s t y ' s G o ve r n m e n t ? Wa s i t n o t t r ue t h a t
i n Na zi B e r li n , o f a llp la c e s , o n e c o uld h e a r s t o r i e s w h i c h i n
L o n d o n p a s s e d f o r s t a t e s e c r e t s ? No t h i n go f t h i s w a s e ve r
m e n t i o n e d i n t h e p r o c e e d i n gs w h i c h f i n a lly le d t o t h e K i n g' s
a b d i c a t i o n
. St i ll, t h e r e c a n b e n o d o ub t t h a t s o m e p e o p le i n
o f f i c i a lB r i t i s h c i r c le s w e r e a w a r e t h a t t h e s e r um o r s c a s t a n
un d e s i r a b le r e f le c t i o n up o n t h e i r K i n g .
Th e r e w a s gr e a t e x c i t e m e n t i n B e r li n ' s o f f i c i a lc i r c le s d ur -
i n gt h e d a y s w h e n St a n le y B a ld w i n f o ugh t h i s d r a m a t i c b a t -
t le w i t h Ed w a r d V III. No b o d y i n G e r m a n y w a s s up p o s e d
t o k n o w a n y t h i n go f t h i s b a t t le . G o e b b e ls h a d o r d e r e d t h e
p r e s s t o k e e p a n y n e w s o f t h e r o y a lc r i s i s o ut o f t h e p a p e r s
un t i la n o f f i c i a lc o m m un i q ue c o uld b e p ub li s h e d
. Th e Fue h r e r
h i m s e lf h a d t a k e n a gr e a t i n t e r e s t i n t h e d e ve lo p m e n t s
. It
132
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
w a s Ri b b e n t r o p w h o , w h e n b a c k f r o m L o n d o n , h a d r e p o r t e d
t o t h e Fue h r e r a b o ut t h e K i n g' s r o m a n c e . An d i t w a s a ls o
Ri b b e n t r o p w h o p r o vi d e d t h e Fue h r e r w i t h t w o s h o r t f i lm s
w h i c h c o uld n o t f a i lt o b e m o r e i n s t r uc t i ve t h a n t h e s p o k e n
w o r d
. On e o f t h e s e f i lm s s h o w e d Ed w a r d w i t n e s s i n gt h e
p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r h i s f a t h e r ' s f un e r a lc e r e m o n i e s i n t h e c o m -
p a n y o f Mr s . Si m p s o n . Th e p i c t ur e s le f t n o d o ub t t h a t , a t
le a s t a t t h e m o m e n t t h e y h a d b e e n t a k e n , t h e a d o r a t i o n o f
Ed w a r d f o r Mr s . Si m p s o n o ut s h o n e h i s s o r r o w a t t h e d e a t h
o f h i s f a t h e r
. On e o f o ur i n f o r m a n t s , w h o h a d s e e n t h e f i lm s
i n t h e Ch a n c e lle r y , a d d e d t h a t t h e Fue h r e r , k n o w n t o b e
ve r y f o n d o f f i lm s , h a d gi ggle d t h r o ugh o ut t h e s h o w i n go f
t h i s s p e c i a lr e e l, p r e s um a b ly t a k e n f r o m a w i n d o w o p p o s i t e .
An o t h e r f i lm s h o w e d K i n gEd w a r d o n a y a c h t i n gh o li d a y i n
t h e Me d i t e r r a n e a n . Ed w a r d a n d Wa lli s , b o t h i n w e ll- f i t t i n g
b a t h i n gs ui t s , w e r e p la y i n g, r o w i n g, b a s k i n g, a n d a p p a r e n t ly
t h o r o ugh ly e n j o y i n gt h e m s e lve s o n s o m e i s o la t e d b e a c h o n
t h e Ad r i a t i c c o a s t
. Th e Fue h r e r , w e w e r e t o ld , o n ly r e -
m a r k e d " h e r f i gur e i s n o t b a d
. " B o t h f i lm s w e r e s h o w n t o
h i m r e p e a t e d ly . Th e w i ve s o f s o m e o f t h e p a r t y le a d e r s a ls o
w a n t e d t o s e e t h e s e i n t e r e s t i n gf i lm s . An n e li e s vo n Ri b b e n -
t r o p a r r a n ge d i t .
Th e a p p e a lm a d e b y t h e s uc c e s s o r t o t h e t h r o n e i n h i s
Que e n s Ha lls p e e c h " t o s t r e t c h f o r t h t h e h a n d o f f r i e n d s h i p
t o t h e G e r m a n s " m a y n o t h a ve d i r e c t ly i n f lue n c e d t h e c o n -
ve r s a t i o n s o n t h e n a va la gr e e m e n t . Th e c o n ve r s a t i o n s h a d
a lr e a d y m a d e s o m uc h p r o gr e s s t h a t t h e r e s ult a n t a gr e e m e n t
c o uld a lm o s t b e c a lle d a n a c c o m p li s h e d f a c t . Ri b b e n t r o p d i d
n o t lo s e t i m e , h o w e ve r , i n p r o c e e d i n ga lo n gt h e li n e Ed w a r d
h a d p o i n t e d o ut . Ed w a r d ' s s ugge s t i o n " t h a t t h e r e c o uld b e
n o t e n o ugh e x c h a n ge vi s i t s b e t w e e n t h e ve t e r a n s o f t h e t w o
c o un t r i e s " le d t o t h e B e r li n vi s i t o f Ma j o r Fe a t h e r s t o n e G o d le y
a n d Co lo n e lCr o s s f i e ld . Ot h e r s i m i la r vi s i t s f o llo w e d
. It
1 3 3
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
p r o ve d t o b e o n e o f t h e c le ve r e s t a n d c h e a p e s t w a y s t o m a k e
f r i e n d s f o r Na zi - G e r m a n y i n p e a c e lo vi n g, c o n c i li a t o r y G r e a t
B r i t a i n
.
Th e o f f i c i a ls t a t e m e n t , b y w h i c h t h e w o r ld w a s i n f o r m e d
t h a t t h e An glo - G e r m a n n a va la gr e e m e n t h a d b e c o m e a f a c t ,
w a s p ub li s h e d i n L o n d o n a n d B e r li n o n J un e 18 ,
19 35 .
No t
o n ly h a d t h e G e r m a n p r o p o s a lt o p ut t h e G e r m a n n a vy o n
a t h i r t y - f i ve p e r c e n t b a s i s o f t h e B r i t i s h n a vy ' s t o n n a ge b e e n
a gr e e d up o n , b ut t h e p r o p o s a la c t ua lly m e a n t , i n vi e w o f t h e
d i s t r i b ut i o n o f t h e B r i t i s h n a va lf o r c e s o ve r t h e s e ve n s e a s ,
n e a r p a r i t y f o r t h e G e r m a n s w i t h t h e En gli s h i n t h e No r t h
Se a . Ri b b e n t r o p h a d , m o r e o ve r , b e e n a b le t o a r r a n ge p a r i t y
i n s ub m a r i n e s . In r e t ur n n o c o n c e s s i o n , n o t e ve n s o m e k i n d o f
p e a c e gua r a n t e e , h a d b e e n gr a n t e d b y t h e G e r m a n s . It w a s un -
d o ub t e d ly a gr a n d i o s e s uc c e s s f o r G e r m a n y a n d e ve n a m o r e
gr a n d i o s e o n e f o r Ri b b e n t r o p , h i m s e lf . In a li s t o f h i s a c h i e ve -
m e n t s , d r a f t e d b y h i s o w n p e n i n 19 36 , Ri b b e n t r o p p r o ud ly
s t a t e s : " On J un e , , Iw e n t t o L o n d o n . On J un e 16 , Ir e p o r t e d
t o t h e Fue h r e r t h e s i gn i n go f t h e h i s t o r i c G e r m a n - B r i t i s h
n a va lt r e a t y . Th i s a gr e e m e n t , a s i s w e llk n o w n , e li m i n a t e s
o n c e a n d f o r a llt h e n a vy r i va lr y b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d
En gla n d , w h i c h p r o ve d s o f a t a lb e f o r e t h e Wo r ld Wa r . "
It c a n n o t b e s a i d t h a t t h e B r i t i s h n e go t i a t o r s d i d n o t t r y t o
e n f o r c e s o m e o f t h e i r d e m a n d s . B ut i n t h e c o m m un i q ue , i t
lo o k e d a s i f t h e G e r m a n s h a d w o n o ut o n e ve r y p o i n t . Th e
B r i t i s h w e r e a b le t o a r r a n ge t h a t a t le a s t t h e t h i r t y - f i ve p e r
c e n t s h o uld n o t a p p ly t o t h e t o t a lt o n n a ge b ut t o e a c h w a r -
s h i p c a t e go r y s e p a r a t e ly , a n d t h a t t h e t h i r t y - f i ve p e r c e n t r a t e
s h o uld a p p ly f o r a llt i m e , e ve n i f Fr a n c e s h o uld d e c i d e t o
b ui ld a b o ve h e r e x i s t i n gt o n n a ge . Th i s , t h o ugh t t h e B r i t i s h ,
h a d a vo i d e d a s e a p o w e r r a c e . B ut o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , En gla n d
h a d m a i n t a i n e d o r i gi n a lly t h a t t h e c h i e f n a va lp o w e r s s h o uld
a p p r o ve o f t h e p r o p o s a la n d t h a t s o m e w a y s h o uld b e f o un d
I34
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
t o m a k e t h e n e c e s s a r y m o d i f i c a t i o n o f t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y
.
Th e s e p r o vi s i o n s h a d b e e n a b a n d o n e d , i n s p i t e o f t h e f a c t
t h a t En gla n d w o uld h a ve b e e n a b le , i f s h e h a d i n s i s t e d , t o
c a r r y t h e p o i n t
. At le a s t t h e n a va la t t a c h e o f t h e L o n d o n
G e r m a n Em b a s s y , Co m m a n d e r Er w i n Wa s s n e r , w a s o f t h e
o p i n i o n t h a t t h e G e r m a n d e le ga t e s w o uld h a ve gi ve n i n , a n d
t h a t t h e y w o uld h a ve e ve n t ua lly c o n c e d e d a t i m e li m i t b e f o r e
t h e a gr e e m e n t w e n t i n t o e f f e c t .
No w , G e r m a n y w a s n o t f o r b i d d e n a n y c a t e go r y o f s h i p s
.
Th i s w a s a gr e a t t r i um p h
. Th e h a t e d Di k t a t f r i e d e vo n
V e r s a i lle s
w a s b y t h e a gr e e m e n t n o t o n ly p un c h e d f ullo f
h o le s b ut p r o n o un c e d o f f i c i a lly d e a d . An d w h e n t h e a gr e e -
m e n t w a s p e r s o n a lly s i gn e d b y Si r Sa m ue lHo a r e , o n e o f t h e
p r i n c i p a ls i gn a t o r i e s a t V e r s a i lle s a n d n o w t h e n e w Se c r e t a r y
o f St a t e f o r Fo r e i gn Af f a i r s , t h e s t o c k o f t h e p r o ud c o - s i gn e r ,
J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p , w e n t s k y h i gh . Th e Re i c h ' s c o n -
t e n t i o n t h a t " b i la t e r a ln e go t i a t i o n s s h o uld r e p la c e c o n f e r e n c e
m e t h o d s " w a s t r i um p h a n t ly vi n d i c a t e d .
It c a n n o t b e s a i d t h a t t h e r e w e r e n o t p o li t i c a lly i n t e r e s t e d
m e n i n En gla n d w h o r e a li ze d t h e b lun d e r m a d e b y gi vi n gi n
t o t h e G e r m a n d e m a n d s . Eve n t h e Ti m e s w r o t e i n a n e d i t o r i a l
t h a t t h e a gr e e m e n t " i n . p r a c t i c e i n vo lve s a t a c i t d i s r e ga r d o f
t h e Tr e a t y o f V e r s a i lle s
. . . " To q uo t e t h e va i n h o p e s
o f t h e p a p e r f ur t h e r , " . . . i t w i llc o n s t i t ut e a n i m p o r t a n t a d -
va n c e i n t h e p r o c e s s o f ge t t i n gp e a c e e s t a b li s h e d up o n t h e
f i r m gr o un d o f a gr e e m e n t s f r e e ly c o n c lud e d a n d w i llo p e n
t h e f i e ld f o r a n o b le r a n d m o r e c o n s t r uc t i ve a c t i vi t y t h a n
e x c lus i ve c o n c e n t r a t i o n o n n e ga t i ve p la n s f o r p r e ve n t i n g
w a r . " No t e ve n t h e Ti m e s
c o uld f o r e s e e n o r c o uld i t r e a li ze
t h a t t h e a gr e e m e n t w a s o n ly p a r t o f t h e b i gs c h e m e w h i c h
ult i m a t e ly le d t o Wo r ld Wa r II.
Up o n f i r s t le a r n i n gt h a t t h e c o n s ult a t i o n s h a d s t a r t e d , t h e
Fr e n c h n a va la ut h o r i t i e s b e c a m e a n gr y . Th e y w e r e w h o lly
1 3 5
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
o p p o s e d t o a n y d i s c us s i o n o f t h e e n t i r e i s s ue
. B ut t h e i n -
d i gn a n t a t t i t ud e o f t h e Qua d
d ' Or s a y s ur p a s s e d e ve n t h a t o f
le Mi n i s t e r e d e la Ma r i n e ,
w h e n n e w s o f t h e a gr e e m e n t ' s c o n -
c lus i o n le a k e d o ut
. Eve n P i e r r e L a va lm a d e n o b o n e s a b o ut
t h e Fr e n c h b i t t e r n e s s i n a n a n gr y n o t e .
In t h e Ch a m b e r o f De p ut i e s o n J un e 27,
t h e Fr e n c h Na vy
Mi n i s t e r , Fr a n c o i s P i e t r i , s a i d , " t h a t i t w a s n o t t h e f a c t o f
t h e a gr e e m e n t n o r e ve n t h e G e r m a n r e a r m a m e n t w h i c h s ur -
p r i s e d t h e Fr e n c h
. It w a s t h e p r e c i p i t o us y i e ld i n go f t h e B r i t -
i s h w h i c h c a us e d us t o d o ub t n o t t h e i r f r i e n d s h i p b ut t h e i r
t r a d i t i o n a lp r ud e n c e
. " Wh i le t h e Fr e n c h r e s e n t m e n t , a s a
s ur ve y o f t h e L o n d o n Ro y a lIn s t i t ut e p ut s i t , w a s a d e e p e m o -
t i o n p i e r c e d w i t h f e a r , Mus s o li n i ' s s t a n d w a s c h a r a c t e r i ze d
b y a s li gh t a n n o y a n c e a n d p e r h a p s a n un d e r ly i n gp le a s a n t
h o p e t h a t t h e a gr e e m e n t w o uld , i n t h e f ut ur e , d r a w t h e B r i t -
i s h n a va lf o r c e s t o t h e No r t h Se a , t h us r e li e vi n gIt a ly i n t h e
Me d i t e r r a n e a n
. Sh e m i gh t h a ve a s s um e d t h a t i t w o uld
h e i gh t e n B r i t i s h r e luc t a n c e t o c r o s s It a ly ' s w a r p a t h t o a d e -
gr e e t h a t B r i t i s h o p p o s i t i o n t o It a ly ' s Af r i c a n p o li c y c o uld
b e d i s r e ga r d e d
. An t h o n y Ed e n , Mi n i s t e r f o r L e a gue o f Na -
t i o n s Af f a i r s , c o m m ut e d b e t w e e n L o n d o n , P a r i s , a n d Ro m e ,
t r y i n gt o e x p la i n a n d t o s o o t h e h ur t f e e li n gs
. In P a r i s a s w e ll
a s i n Ro m e , h e f o un d e x t r e m e ly c o o lr e c e p t i o n s
. To m a n y a
s t ud e n t i n w o r ld p o li t i c s , t h e L o n d o n n a va la gr e e m e n t w i t h
G e r m a n y w a s a ls o t h e b e gi n n i n go f P i e r r e L a va l' s a n d o t h e r
Fr e n c h p o li t i c i a n s ' h a t r e d f o r En gla n d .
L o o k i n gb a c k t o d a y t o t h e e ve n t s o f J un e ,
19 35,
o n e c a n -
n o t b ut f e e lt h a t w i t h t h e c o n c lus i o n o f t h e An glo - G e r m a n
n a va la gr e e m e n t G r e a t B r i t a i n c o m m i t t e d o n e o f h e r gr e a t e s t
p o s t - w a r p o li t i c a lb lun d e r s
. It w a s r e c o gn i ze d a s s uc h b y
m a n y e x p e r i e n c e d d i p lo m a t i s t s
. It i s t r ue t h a t t h e B r i t i s h , a t
t h a t t i m e , f e lt t h a t t h e y h a d go o d r e a s o n s f o r s t a r t i n gt h e
c o n ve r s a t i o n s
. Fi r s t ly t h e y h a d r e p o r t s t h a t G e r m a n y h a d
1 3 6
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
a lr e a d y o r d e r e d t h e c o n s t r uc t i o n o f a f e w s ub m a r i n e s d e s p i t e
t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y , a n d t h e y f e a r e d t h a t a n e w n a va lr a c e
w a s b o un d t o c o m e . Th e y f ur t h e r b e li e ve d t h a t a li m i t a t i o n
o f G e r m a n n a va lb ui ld i n gw o uld p a ve t h e w a y f o r a r e n e w a l
a n d e x t e n s i o n o f t h e Wa s h i n gt o n Tr e a t y r e ga r d i n gn a va l
a r m a m e n t s
. Do m e s t i c p r o b le m s , t h e i n c r e a s i n gn um b e r o f un -
e m p lo y e d , t h e lo n gi n go f t h e w h o le p e o p le f o r p e a c e , t h e
lulli n p o li t i c a la c t i vi t i e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e K i n gG e o r ge
a n n i ve r s a r y c e le b r a t i o n , a n d t h e m o un t i n gp r e s s ur e o f p o li t -
i c a lly i n f lue n t i a lc i r c le s f a vo r i n gc o o p e r a t i o n w i t h G e r m a n y
h a d a ls o p la y e d t h e i r p a r t . Th a t t h e p r o - Na zi s e n t i m e n t h a d
gr o w n c o n s i d e r a b ly i n B r i t a i n ' s up p e r c r us t s i n c e t h e b e -
gi n n i n go f 19 35i s p r o ve d b y t h e f a c t t h a t o n s e ve r a lo c c a -
s i o n s e ve n t h e L o n d o n Ti m e s d r o p p e d n e w s w h i c h w o uld
h a ve e x p o s e d " t h e b a d s i d e o f Na zi G e r m a n y
. " Th i s c a n o n ly
e x p la i n b ut n o t e x c us e t h e e x c e e d i n gly un i m a gi n a t i ve B r i t i s h
a t t i t ud e , w h i c h w a s r e a lly a p o li c y o f ga i n i n gt i m e n o t f o r
t h e s a k e o f a c t i o n , b ut f o r t h e s a k e o f i n a c t i o n a n d f o r w h i c h
Si r J o h n Si m o n b e a r s m o s t o f t h e r e s p o n s i b i li t y .
J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p , ut i li zi n gt o t h e f ullt h e a t m o s -
p h e r e o f " m a s t e r ly i n a c t i vi t y " p r e va i li n gi n L o n d o n a n d e x -
p lo i t i n gh i s n ui s a n c e va lue b y ge t t i n go n t h e n e r ve s o f s le e p y
B r i t i s h s t a t e s m e n w i t h a lt e r n a t e t h r e a t s a n d gli b t a lk ,
b r o ugh t h o m e a s uc c e s s w h i c h h a d n o t b e e n e x p e c t e d e i t h e r
b y t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e o r b y t h e G e r m a n n a vy . B y p e r s ua -
s i o n , h e e ve n go t t h e L o n d o n Fo r e i gn Of f i c e t o a n n o un c e t h e
p a c t i n a c o m m un i q ue i s s ue d o n a Sun d a y , a p r o c e d ur e un -
h e a r d o f a t Do w n i n gSt r e e t . In b y go n e t i m e s , o n e o f t h e
" n ur s e r y r h y m e s o f t h e a t t a c h e s " i n t h e G e r m a n Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e h a d r un :
" Un d s e lb s t w e n n So n n t a gs K r i e gb r i c h t a us ,
In Do w n i n gSt r e e t n i e m a n d i s t zuh a us . . . "
1 3 7
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
( a n d e ve n i f o n Sun d a y t h e y s h o uld w a r d e c la r e ,
n o b o d y i n Do w n i n gSt r e e t w i llb e a w a r e )
.
Wi t h t h e t r e a t y i n h i s p o c k e t , Ri b b e n t r o p h i m s e lf ga ve o ut
a le n gt h y c o m m un i q ue b e f o r e h e le f t L o n d o n o n J un e 23 . He ,
o f c o ur s e , r e p ud i a t e d t h e a s s um p t i o n t h a t G e r m a n y h a d b e e n
t r y i n gt o d r i ve a w e d ge b e t w e e n Fr a n c e a n d B r i t a i n
. B ut i n
p r o p h e t i c la n gua ge h e p i c t ur e d t h e B r i t i s h a p p e a s e m e n t p o li c y
w h i c h w a s b o un d t o f o llo w t h e f i r s t s t e p . " We m us t n o t un -
d e r t a k e t o o m uc h a t o n c e , b ut t a c k le o n e p r o b le m a f t e r t h e
o t h e r . Wi t h t h e p r e s e n t a gr e e m e n t w e h a ve b r o k e n t h e i c e
i n t h e r i gi d p o li t i c a ls i t ua t i o n i n Eur o p e . An a t m o s p h e r e o f
a p p e a s e m e n t , w h i c h lo gi c a lly m us t f o llo w , w i ll, Ia m c e r t a i n ,
p a ve t h e w a y f o r t h e s e t t le m e n t o f o t h e r p r o b le m s a n d s o t h i s
a gr e e m e n t m a y w e llb e c o m e a c o r n e r s t o n e f o r a r e a lc o n s o li -
d a t i o n o f Eur o p e . " J o a c h i m o w e s t h e s uc c e s s o f h i s f i r s t r e a lly
i m p o r t a n t d i p lo m a t i c m i s s i o n le s s t o h i s o w n d e x t e r i t y t h a n
t o t h e s h o r t s i gh t e d n e s s o f o t h e r s .
Th e r e i s n o p o s s i b le d o ub t t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p a c t ua lly m e a n t
t h e " Ne w Or d e r i n Eur o p e " w h e n h e s p o k e o f t h e " c o n s o li -
d a t i o n o f Eur o p e
. " B lue p r i n t s f o r s uc h a " Ne w Or d e r "
w e r e a t t h a t t i m e n o t o n ly d i s c us s e d b y Hi t le r , G o e r i n g, He s s ,
Ri b b e n t r o p , a n d o t h e r s b ut d e t a i ls w e r e a ls o s t ud i e d b y s uc h
Wi lb e lm s t r a s s e e x p e r t s a s t h e Re i c h s w i r t s c h a f t s - Mi n i s t e r i um
( t h e G e r m a n De p a r t m e n t o f Ec o n o m i c s ) a n d b y s p e c i a lNa zi
p a r t y a d vi s e r s
. At t i m e s t h i s f o r t h c o m i n g" Ne w Or d e r " w a s
c a lle d " t h e r e n a i s s a n c e o f Eur o p e " o r t h e " r e n a i s s a n c e o f t h e
We s t , " a n e x p r e s s i o n o c c a s i o n a lly us e d b y t h e Fue h r e r .
Hi t le r ' s c o n c e p t s o f w o r ld d e ve lo p m e n t s , e s p e c i a lly c o n -
c e r n i n gt h i s " Ne w Or d e r , " w e r e us ua lly f a r i n a d va n c e o f
t h o s e o f Ri b b e n t r o p w h o e n j o y e d a n n o un c i n ga t t h e e n d o f
h i s c o m m un i q ue , " P e o p le s a y Ih a ve m a d e i t m y li f e t a s k t o
h e lp b r i n ga b o ut a c lo s e c o lla b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n B r i t a i n , Fr a n c e ,
138
AMB ASSADORATL ARG E
a n d G e r m a n y i n w h i c h t h e o t h e r Eur o p e a n St a t e s w o uld
gla d ly j o i n . Ib e li e ve t h e s e p e o p le a r e r i gh t , a n d Ia m c o n -
vi n c e d w e a r e o n t h e b e s t r o a d n o w . "
Suc h p e o p le a s He s s , Ad o lf Wa gn e r , Sc h a ub , t h e p h o t o g-
r a p h e r Ho f f m a n n , a n d m a n y o t h e r s , f r i e n d s o f p a s t d a y s ,
le f t o ve r s f r o m t h e p a r t y ' s e a r ly p e r i o d a n d t h e " b e e r h a llb a t -
t le s , " w e r e c lo s e r t o t h e Fue h r e r ' s h e a r t t h a n G o e r i n g, G o e b -
b e ls , Ri b b e n t r o p , L e y , Fr i c k , a n d m a n y o t h e r s . Ri b b e n t r o p ,
b y vi r t ue o f h i s p a t i e n t li s t e n i n gt o t h e Fue h r e r ' s e n d le s s
t i r a d e s , e a r n e d t h e r i gh t t o b e h e a r d h i m s e lf . B ut a lt h o ugh
Ri b b e n t r o p w a s o n go o d t e r m s w i t h Hi t le r , h e w a s f a r f r o m
b e i n gr e a lly i n t i m a t e w i t h h i m . Wi t h t h e s i gn i n go f t h e n a va l
a gr e e m e n t , a llt h i s c h a n ge d . It w a s a s uc c e s s w h i c h w e n t f a r
b e y o n d e ve n Hi t le r ' s e x p e c t a t i o n s . It w a s r e a lly m o r e t h a n
a n y b o d y , Ri b b e n t r o p i n c lud e d , h a d d r e a m e d o f . Fr o m t h e
d a y Ri b b e n t r o p r e t ur n e d t o B e r li n , Mo n d a y , J un e 24,
1 9 35,
h e b e c a m e a V e r t r a ut e r d e s Fue h r e r s ,
a c o n f i d a n t , a f r i e n d ,
a n a s s o c i a t e i n t h e m o r e i n t i m a t e s c h e m e s , i d e a s , a n d p la n s .
It w a s a f t e r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e t ur n f r o m t h e n a va lp a c t c o n -
ve r s a t i o n s t h a t Hi t le r s p o k e o f Ri b b e n t r o p , t o m e n li k e G e n -
e r a lWe r n e r vo n B lo m b e r g, a s " a m a n o f B i s m a r c k i a n gi f t s . "
No w , t h e Fue h r e r d e c i d e d t o gr o o m J o a c h i m f o r t h e h i gh
p la c e o f c h i e f o f t h e G e r m a n Re i c h ' s n e w f o r e i gn p o li c y
.
1 3 9
9
Th e Re m i li t a r i za t i o n o f t h e Rh i n e la n d
a n d It s Co n s e q ue n c e
THEc o n vi c t i o n t h a t Fr a n c e a n d G r e a t B r i t a i n d i d n o t s e e
e y e t o e y e a s f a r a s t h e a p p li c a t i o n o f s a n c t i o n s a ga i n s t a gr e s -
s o r n a t i o n s w e r e c o n c e r n e d , J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e -
p o r t s t h a t G r e a t B r i t a i n w a s m uc h t o o w e a k t o r i s k a n y
m i li t a r y a c t i o n , a n d Co m m a n d e r Er w i n Wa s s n e r ' s r e p o r t s
t h a t t h e a c t ua lp o w e r o f En gla n d ' s n a vy w a s f a r f r o m w h a t
i t s r e p ut a t i o n s ugge s t e d i n d i c a t e d t o Hi t le r t h a t t h e t i m e w a s
r i p e f o r r i s k i n gt h e m o s t d a r i n go f a llh i s a s s a ult s up o n t h e
" s h a c k le s o f V e r s a i lle s , " t h e r e o c c up a t i o n o f t h e d e m i li t a r i ze d
Rh i n e la n d b y G e r m a n y ' s m i li t a r y f o r c e s .
Th e q ue s t i o n o f t h e r e m i li t a r i za t i o n o f t h e Rh i n e la n d h a d
b e e n un d e r d i s c us s i o n b e t w e e n t h e Fue h r e r a n d J o a c h i m vo n
Ri b b e n t r o p s i n c e t h e d a y s o f t h e la t t e r ' s r e t ur n f r o m L o n d o n
w i t h t h e c o m p le t e d Na va lAgr e e m e n t i n h i s p o c k e t . At t h a t
t i m e Hi t le r , w h o h a d a lw a y s b e li e ve d t h a t G e r m a n y ' s f u-
t ur e w o uld b e s o lve d i n t h e Ea s t b y a d d i n gt h e Rus s i a n
Uk r a i n e t o h e r L e b e n s r a um , w a s b us y s t ud y i n gs uc h s e e m -
i n gly r e m o t e p o s s i b i li t i e s
. L a r ge m a p s o f t h e c r a ve d t e r r i t o r y
w e r e h a n gi n g, s o f r i e n d s i n t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e r e p o r t e d , i n
t h e Fue h r e r ' s s t ud y . Me m o r a n d a a n d r e p o r t s w e r e w o r k e d o ut
b y De p a r t m e n t IV , t h e Rus s i a n Di vi s i o n o f t h e Fo r e i gn
1 40
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
Of f i c e , a s w e lla s b y Ro s e n b e r g' s m e a gr e o ut f i t a n d b y t h e
b e t t e r e q ui p p e d B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p . Th e s e r e p o r t s w e r e
vo r a c i o us ly r e a d b y Hi t le r i n p e r s o n .
" Th e Fue h r e r i s a ga i n Rus s i a m a d , " t h e y o un ge r Wi lh e lm -
s t r a s s e o f f i c i a ls s i gh e d w h e n e ve r n e w q ue s t i o n s o n Rus s i a n
p r o b le m s p o ur e d i n f r o m t h e Ch a n c e lle r y a n d h a d t o b e
a n s w e r e d a t t h e c o s t o f e t e r n a lw o r k i n gh o ur s . Th e ge n e r a l
i d e a w a s t h a t t h e We s t e r n P o w e r s s h o uld b e i n d uc e d t o
gi ve G e r m a n y a f r e e h a n d i n t h e Ea s t . In r e t ur n t h e y w o uld ,
h o w e ve r , b e o f f e r e d a llt h e a s s ur a n c e s a n d a llt h e gua r a n t e e s
f o r w h i c h t h e y w e r e a s k i n g . In p a r t i c ula r , t h e y w e r e t o b e
o f f e r e d a s o le m n p r o m i s e t h a t G e r m a n y d i d n o t i n t e n d a n y
c h a n ge o f t h e p r e s e n t s t a t us i n t h e We s t . Mus s o li n i ' s p e t
p r o j e c t , t h e f o ur - p o w e r a lli a n c e , c o n s i s t i n go f G e r m a n y ,
G r e a t B r i t a i n , Fr a n c e , a n d It a ly , w o uld e ve n t ua lly c o m e i n
h a n d y t o f o r t i f y s uc h p o li t i c a la r r a n ge m e n t s .
B ut o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e " Ea s t e r n L o c a r n o p r o j e c t , "
w h i c h a lr e a d y h a d gi ve n G e r m a n y ' s f o r e i gn p o li c y s o m uc h
t r o ub le , w a s s t i lla li ve . Wh e n Rus s i a ' s Co m m i s s a r f o r Fo r e i gn
Af f a i r s , Ma x i m L i t vi n o v, d i s c us s e d t h e p o s s i b i li t i e s o f a m ult i -
la t e r a la gr e e m e n t o n t h e Ea s t w i t h Co n s t a n t i n vo n Ne ur a t h
i n J un e ,
19 34,
h e go t t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t G e r m a n y w o uld
d e c li n e t o j o i n a n y a gr e e m e n t w h i c h w a s li k e ly t o b lo c k h e r
i n i t i a t i ve i n t h e s e r e gi o n s
. Wh e n P i e r r e L a va l, o n Ma y 2,
19 35, s i gn e d t h e Fr a n c o - So vi e t P a c t i n Mo s c o w , i t a d d e d c o n -
s i d e r a b ly t o t h e Fue h r e r ' s un e a s i n e s s , i n s p i t e o f t h e f a c t t h a t ,
a s h e w a s t o ld b y e x p e r t s , t h e r e w a s li t t le p o s s i b i li t y o f t h e
p a c t b e i n gr a t i f i e d b y t h e Fr e n c h p a r li a m e n t . To o m uc h o p -
p o s i t i o n , e s p e c i a lly i n Fr e n c h i n d us t r i a lc i r c le s , p r e va i le d
a ga i n s t a n a gr e e m e n t w i t h t h e gr e a t a n t i - c a p i t a li s t p o w e r .
St r a n ge a s i t s e e m s , i t i s a n e s t a b li s h e d f a c t t h a t i n m a n y
c o un t r i e s t h e a n t i - B o ls h e vi s t m o ve m e n t r e c e i ve d gr e a t s ub s i -
d i e s f r o m p r o d uc e r s o f s p a r k li n gw i n e s . Th i s w a s t r ue i n b o t h
I4I
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
Fr a n c e a n d G e r m a n y w h e r e t h e s e s ub s i d i e s c a m e f r o m Ri b -
b e n t r o p ' s f r i e n d s . B ut L a va l, w h o h a d y i e ld e d a s lo n ga s p o s -
s i b le t o t h e p r e s s ur e o f " ve s t e d i n t e r e s t s " a n d h a d d e la y e d t h e
p r o c e s s o f r a t i f i c a t i o n , a n n o un c e d la t e i n J a n ua r y , 19 36 , t h a t
t h e Fr a n c o - So vi e t Tr e a t y w o uld b e s ub m i t t e d t o p a r li a m e n -
t a r y a p p r o va li n t h e n e a r f ut ur e .
L a va l' s a n n o un c e m e n t w a s a n s w e r e d b y b i t t e r a t t a c k s i n
t h e G e r m a n p r e s s . L e t t e r s f r o m f r i e n d s i n t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
r i d i c ule d t h i s " a r t i f i c i a le x c i t e m e n t . "
" Ar e w e n o t d o i n gb us i n e s s w i t h So vi e t Rus s i a a llt h e
t i m e ? " , o n e o f t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n t s w r o t e
. " An d i s i t n o t q ui t e
un d e r s t a n d a b le t h a t t h e Rus s i a n s a r e lo o k i n gf o r a n y h e lp
t h e y c a n ge t ? " h e a d d e d . B ut t o Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e f a c t t h a t
t h e Fr e n c h h a d d a r e d t o e n t e r i n t o s uc h a t r e a t y w a s a c r i m e .
Se ve r a lo f h i s Fr e n c h f r i e n d s w e r e h i gh ly a m us e d , d ur i n go n e
o f J o a c h i m ' s vi s i t s t o P a r i s , a t t h e t h e a t r i c a lm a n n e r o f h i s
vi o le n t d e n un c i a t i o n s o f " B o ls h e vi s m , t h e m o s t d a n ge r o us
i lln e s s o f m a n k i n d . "
B ut J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s e x c i t e m e n t w a s b a s e d o n
m o r e s o li d f a c t s t h a n vo la t i le t e m p e r . Hi t le r r e a li ze d t h a t
f r o m t h e m o m e n t t h e Fr a n c o - Rus s i a n P a c t w a s r a t i f i e d , t h e
Fr e n c h a r m i e s w o uld b e i n t h e p o s i t i o n , i f n o t t o p r e ve n t ,
a t le a s t t o h a m p e r c o n s i d e r a b ly a n y m i li t a r y m o ve m e n t G e r -
m a n y m i gh t s t a r t i n t h e Ea s t
. Fr e n c h a r m e d f o r c e s c o uld
m a k e a s ur p r i s e e n t r a n c e i n t o t h e d e m i li t a r i ze d Rh i n e la n d a t
a n y t i m e , a n d s o , b y f o r c i n gt h e gr e a t e r p a r t o f G e r m a n y ' s
m a n p o w e r t o m a k e a s t a n d i n t h e We s t , f r us t r a t e a n y a c t i o n i n
t h e Ea s t . Fr o m t h e m o m e n t t h e r a t i f i c a t i o n b e c a m e i m m i n e n t ,
t h e r e m i li t a r i za t i o n " a s s um e d i n t h e Fue h r e r ' s i m a gi n a t i o n
t h e c h a r a c t e r o f a n un a vo i d a b le c o un t e r m e a s ur e " w h i c h h a d
t o b e e x e c ut e d a s s o o n a s p o s s i b le .
Ho w e ve r , t h i s w a s a n e n t e r p r i s e o f s uc h m a gn i t ud e t h a t i t
n e e d e d e x t e n s i ve p r e p a r a t i o n , a n d s uc c e s s w a s o n ly p o s s i b le
1 42
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
i f t h e s e p r e p a r a t i o n s w e r e c o m p le t e d i n s t r i c t e s t s e c r e c y . Th e
d a t e w a s o r i gi n a lly f i x e d f o r Ma r c h 13 . Hi t le r n o t o n ly c o n -
s i d e r e d t h e t h i r t e e n t h a " luc k y d a t e , " b ut i t h a d b e e n r e c o m -
m e n d e d b y o n e o f h i s a s t r o lo ge r a d vi s e r s a s b e i n g" e s p e c i a lly
s ui t a b le f o r i m p o r t a n t a c t i o n s . "
Un e x p e c t e d t r o ub le s a r o s e , h o w e ve r , d ur i n gt h e s e c r e t d i s -
c us s i o n s w i t h h i s c h i e f a d vi s e r s . G o e r i n ga n d G o e b b e ls d i d
n o t , o f c o ur s e , h e s i t a t e t o li n e up o b e d i e n t ly b e h i n d t h e
Fue h r e r ' s p r o gr a m . B ut vo n Ne ur a t h f r o m t h e p o li t i c a lp o i n t
o f vi e w , Dr . Hj a lm a r Sc h a c h t f r o m t h e e c o n o m i c p o i n t o f
vi e w , a n d G e n e r a lWe r n e r vo n Fr i t s c h , Ch i e f o f t h e Ar m y ,
f r o m t h e m i li t a r y p o i n t o f vi e w , a llo b j e c t e d . Th e a r gum e n t
w i t h vo n Fr i t s c h w a s p a r t i c ula r ly h e a t e d . We r n e r vo n B lo m -
b e r g, a t t h a t t i m e Mi n i s t e r o f Wa r , w a s c a lle d . He s h o w e d
m o r e m o d e r a t i o n t h a n vo n Fr i t s c h , b ut i n r e ga r d t o t h e f a c t s
c o uld o n ly s ub s t a n t i a t e t h e o p i n i o n s o f t h e a r m y ' s c o m -
m a n d e r i n c h i e f . Th i s a llt o o k p la c e b e t w e e n Ma r c h 2 a n d
Ma r c h 6 , 19 36 . Th e r e s t i lls e e m e d t o b e p le n t y o f t i m e le f t ,
f o r t h e d a t e f o r t h e r e m i li t a r i za t i o n , Ma r c h 13 .
In t h e m e a n t i m e , i t s e e m e d a d vi s a b le t o d i ve r t Fr a n c e ' s
a n d B r i t a i n ' s a t t e n t i o n . Fr e n c h p ub li c o p i n i o n w a s t a k e n c a r e
o f b y a n i n t e r vi e w t h e Fue h r e r gr a n t e d t o B e r t r a n d d e
J o uve n e lo f t h e P a r i s
Mi d i . Th i s i n t e r vi e w w a s a r r a n ge d
t h r o ugh Ot t o Ab e t z, a t t h a t t i m e Ch i e f o f t h e B ue r o Ri b b e n -
t r o p ' s Fr e n c h De p a r t m e n t . It w a s gi ve n d ur i n gt h e la s t d a y s
o f Fe b r ua r y ,
19 36
. It c ulm i n a t e d i n a n a p p e a lt o Fr a n c e " t o
c o n s i d e r w e llw h a t s h e w a s d o i n gb y e n t e r i n gi n t o a p a c t w i t h
c o m m un i s t i c Rus s i a . " Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p lut o c r a t i c f r i e n d s i n
Fr a n c e h a d b e e n a c t i ve a ga i n a n d h a d s ugge s t e d t h i s la s t a t -
t e m p t t o s a b o t a ge t h e " d a n ge r o us Fr a n c o - Rus s i a n Tr e a t y . "
" Iw i s h t o p r o ve t o t h e Fr e n c h p e o p le , " t h e Fue h r e r h a d
a d d e d , " t h a t t h e i d e a o f h e r e d i t a r y e n m i t y b e t w e e n Fr a n c e
a n d G e r m a n y i s a n a b s ur d i t y
. " An d w h e n t h e i n t e r vi e w e r
1 4 3
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
m e n t i o n e d t h a t t h i s c o n t r a d i c t e d Me i n K a ^m p f , Hi t le r a n -
s w e r e d " t h a t h e w o uld e n t e r h i s c o r r e c t i o n s i n t h e gr e a t b o o k
o f h i s t o r y . "
Th e Fr e n c h G o ve r n m e n t p r o m p t ly f e lli n t o t h e t r a p . On
t h e b a s i s o f t h i s i n t e r vi e w i t ur ge d i t s Am b a s s a d o r i n B e r li n ,
An d r e Fr a n c o i s - P o n c e t , t o s o un d o ut Hi t le r a s t o w h a t h i s
r e c o n c i li a t i o n p o li c y d i d c o n s i s t o f
. Th e Am b a s s a d o r h a d a
c o n ve r s a t i o n w i t h t h e Fue h r e r i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f vo n Ne ur a t h
o n Ma r c h 2, f i ve d a y s b e f o r e t h e r e o c c up a t i o n o f t h e Rh i n e -
la n d
. Hi t le r t o ld t h e Fr e n c h Am b a s s a d o r , t h a t " i n t h e n e a r
f ut ur e a d e t a i le d p r o gr a m w o uld b e s ub m i t t e d t o t h e Fr e n c h
G o ve r n m e n t , " a n d e ve n w h i le h e ga ve t h i s r e a s s ur a n c e , p r e p a -
r a t i o n s f o r t h e Rh i n e la n d c o up w e r e a c t ua lly c o m p le t e d .
In G r e a t B r i t a i n , t h e s ur p r i s e t a c t i c s a ls o s uc c e e d e d . No -
b o d y s e e m e d t o s us p e c t t h a t G e r m a n y w o uld a c t a s s h e
f i n a lly d i d . Ha d n o t t h e Fue h r e r h i m s e lf , i n a s p e e c h b e f o r e
t h e Re i c h s t a g( o n Ma y 21,
19 35) ,
d e c la r e d , " t h a t G e r m a n y
w o uld s c r up ulo us ly o b s e r ve e ve r y t r e a t y i t h a d s i gn e d o n
h e r o w n f r e e w i ll, e ve n t h o s e i t h a d c o n c lud e d b e f o r e t h e
Na zi s c a m e t o p o w e r
. . . "
Th e L o c a r n o Tr e a t y h a d b e e n
e x p r e s s ly m e n t i o n e d i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n .
At t h e t i m e o f K i n gG e o r ge V ' s f un e r a l, Co n s t a n t i n vo n
Ne ur a t h , c h i ld h o o d p la y m a t e o f G e o r ge ' s w i d o w , b e lo ve d
Que e n Ma r y , h a d go n e t o L o n d o n . Th i s w a s o n J a n ua r y
28 ,
19 36 . Th e p o li t i c a ls i t ua t i o n h a d b e e n d i s c us s e d b y h i m w i t h
va r i o us B r i t i s h s t a t e s m e n , i n c lud i n gAn t h o n y Ed e n . No d o ub t
h a d a r i s e n i n Ed e n ' s m i n d n o r i n Co n s t a n t i n vo n Ne ur a t h ' s
a s t o G e r m a n y ' s i n t e n t i o n o f r e s p e c t i n gh e r o b li ga t i o n s r e -
ga r d i n gt h e d e m i li t a r i ze d Rh i n e la n d zo n e . V o n Ne ur a t h ga ve
n o t t h e s li gh t e s t h i n t t h a t a c h a n ge o f a t t i t ud e w a s a t a ll
p o s s i b le , a n d i t i s e ve n t o d a y b e li e ve d a m o n gB r i t i s h o f f i c i a ls
t h a t h e c o uld n o t h a ve h a d k n o w le d ge o f w h a t w a s b r e w i n g
a t t h a t t i m e
. An t h o n y Ed e n , i n a r e p ly t o a q ue s t i o n i n t h e
1
44
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
Ho us e o f Co m m o n s o n Fe b r ua r y 12, 19 36 , p r o ud ly a n s w e r e d ,
" Hi s Ma j e s t y ' s G o ve r n m e n t s t a n d s b y i t s o b li ga t i o n s a s
gua r a n t o r o f L o c a r n o a n d . . . i n t e n d s , s h o uld t h e n e e d
a r i s e , t o f ulf i llt h e m f a i t h f ully . "
Th e s i t ua t i o n w i t h r e ga r d t o It a ly w a s a p e c uli a r o n e .
Ulr i c h vo n Ha s s e ll, t h e Re i c h ' s Am b a s s a d o r t o Ro m e , w a s
p e r s o n a lly o n go o d t e r m s w i t h IlDuc e . He h a d b e e n c a lle d
t o B e r li n s e ve r a lt i m e s d ur i n gt h e m o n t h o f Fe b r ua r y , 19 36 .
He w a s n o t o n e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s f r i e n d s , b ut t h e Fue h r e r
s e e m e d a t t h a t t i m e t o li k e h i m . V o n Ha s s e llo n h i s f i n a lvi s i t
r e p o r t e d t o t h e Fue h r e r i n p e r s o n " t h a t i n h i s o p i n i o n G e r -
m a n y c o uld c o un t o n Mus s o li n i , " a n d t h a t r e ga r d i n gt h e
e ve n t ua lo b li ga t i o n s a s gua r a n t o r o f L o c a r n o " Mus s o li n i
w o uld n o t p la y t h e p a r t o f p o li c e m a n w i t h gr e a t vi go r . " It
m us t t h e r e f o r e s e e m t h a t Mus s o li n i h a d b e e n i n f o r m e d a t
le a s t t o s o m e e x t e n t , p e r h a p s t h r o ugh vo n Ha s s e ll, a b o ut G e r -
m a n y ' s i n t e n t i o n s i n a d va n c e . Mus s o li n i , a t a n y r a t e , p la y e d
a c le ve r ga m e . He r e s i s t e d t h e b o ld s ugge s t i o n t h a t h e s h o uld
a ls o d e n o un c e t h e L o c a r n o Tr e a t y , b ut a t t h e s a m e t i m e h e
c a r e f ully lo o k e d f o r o p p o r t un i t i e s t o p r o f i t f r o m t h e s i t ua -
t i o n .
To le a d t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e s o f t h e o t h e r p o w e r s f ur t h e r
a s t r a y , t h e Fue h r e r , i n lo n gc o n ve r s a t i o n s w i t h vo n Ne ur a t h ,
d e ve lo p e d p la n s f o r a d e f i n i t e p e a c e s e t t le m e n t , w h i c h , o f
c o ur s e , s h o uld d a t e f r o m t h e t i m e w h e n t h e Rh i n e la n d r e -
o c c up a t i o n w a s c o m p le t e d
. Th e Fue h r e r t o ld vo n Ne ur a t h
t h a t h i s i d e a c o n c e r n e d s o m e s o r t o f a r r a n ge m e n t f i r s t w i t h
G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d Fr a n c e , la t e r t o i n c lud e o t h e r c o un t r i e s ,
a n d f i n a lly o p e n i n gt h e p o s s i b i li t y o f G e r m a n y ' s r e t ur n i n t o
a s o m e w h a t m o d i f i e d L e a gue . V o n Ne ur a t h w a s t o s o un d o ut
t h e o t h e r p o w e r s a s t o w h e t h e r t h e y t h o ugh t t h e t i m e r i p e
f o r a f r a n k d i s c us s i o n o f G e r m a n y ' s gr i e va n c e s , i n c lud i n ga
s e t t le m e n t o f t h e c o lo n i a lq ue s t i o n . It w a s n o us e s t a r t i n gt a lk s
1 4 5
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
i f o n e c o uld n o t e x p e c t " t o f r e e G e r m a n y f r o m t h e s h a c k le s
o f V e r s a i lle s , " b ut t h a t s h o uld a n d c o uld b e a c h i e ve d i n a
p e a c e f ulw a y
.
V o n Ne ur a t h a n d vo n B ue lo w m us t h a ve t a k e n t h e
Fue h r e r ' s w o r d s a t t h e i r f a c e va lue
. G e r m a n y ' s Am b a s s a d o r s
i n L o n d o n a n d P a r i s a s w e lla s t h e Mi n i s t e r i n B r us s e ls s o o n
go t i n s t r uc t i o n s i n t h e f o r m o f a m e m o r a n d um w i t h t h e us ua l
t e c h n i c a lh e a d i n g Zur
Re ge lun gd e r Sp r a c h e ( h o w t o a d j us t
y o ur la n gua ge i n d i s c us s i n gt h e m a t t e r w h i c h f o llo w s )
. Th i s
m e m o r a n d um e x p r e s s e d t h e w i lli n gn e s s , i n p r i n c i p le , o f t h e
G e r m a n G o ve r n m e n t t o d i s c us s c e r t a i n o f i t s gr i e va n c e s i n
t h e h o p e o f f i n d i n ga w a y t o s e t t le s o m e o f t h e d i f f e r e n c e s
o f o p i n i o n , f o r i n s t a n c e i n t h e m a t t e r o f a r m a m e n t li m i t a t i o n
a n d q ue s t i o n s c o n n e c t e d t h e r e w i t h . Ac c o r d i n gt o c us t o m t h e
o t h e r G e r m a n m i s s i o n s a b r o a d , t h o ugh n o t t h e m s e lve s s up -
p o s e d t o a c t i n t h i s c o n t i n ge n c y , r e c e i ve d c a b le s c o n t a i n i n g
t h e t e x t o f t h e m e m o r a n d um w i t h t h e h e a d i n g
Nur zur p e r -
s o e n li c h e n In f o r m a t i o n ( f o r p e r s o n a li n f o r m a t i o n o n ly )
.
Wh e n Ha n s L ut h e r , G e r m a n Am b a s s a d o r i n Wa s h i n gt o n ,
s a w t h e d e c o d e d t e x t o f t h e m e s s a ge i n q ue s t i o n , h e e x c la i m e d
h a p p i ly " f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n m o n t h s a s i lve r li n i n g" a n d i n -
vi t e d s o m e o f h i s c o lle a gue s t o h a ve a gla s s o f w i n e w i t h h i m .
Th e h e a d s o f t h e G e r m a n m i s s i o n s i n L o n d o n , P a r i s , a n d
B r us s e ls , c a r r y i n go ut t h e i r i n s t r uc t i o n s i n d ue c o ur s e , b e ga n
c o n ve r s a t i o n s w i t h o f f i c i a ls o f t h e r e s p e c t i ve Fo r e i gn Of f i c e s
.
Th e c o n ve r s a t i o n s w e r e c o n s t r uc t i ve a n d c o n c i li a t o r y i n
s p i r i t . Th e y w e r e t a k e n b y t h e go ve r n m e n t s o f G r e a t B r i t a i n ,
Fr a n c e , a n d B e lgi um a s a p o r t e n t o f G e r m a n y ' s w i lli n gn e s s
t o " c o m e a r o un d
. " P o li t i c a la t m o s p h e r e t o o k o n a r o s e a t e h ue .
Op t i m i s m b e c a m e t h e o r d e r o f t h e d a y
. Th e r e p o r t s o f t h e
h e a d s o f t h e G e r m a n m i s s i o n s o n t h e i m p r e s s i o n s t h e y h a d
ga t h e r e d d ur i n gt h e t a lk s a r r i ve d a t t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
a t
1
4
6
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
a b o ut t h e t i m e w h e n t h e o r d e r s w e r e gi ve n t h e a r m e d f o r c e s
o f t h e Th i r d Re i c h t o m a r c h i n t o t h e Rh i n e la n d .
Wh e n t h i s h a p p e n e d , vo n Ne ur a t h , a s f r i e n d s i n t h e Wi l-
h e lm s t r a s s e r e p o r t e d a t t h a t t i m e , w a n t e d t o r e s i gn . It w a s
vo n B ue lo w , t h e Se c r e t a r y o f St a t e , " w h o i n d uc e d h i m t o
a b a n d o n t h i s i d e a , a s s uc h a r e s i gn a t i o n w o uld o n ly m e a n
le t t i n gt h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e s li p i n t o t h e h a n d s o f vo n Ne ur a t h ' s
a r c h e n e m y , J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p . " Th i s w a s t h e f i r s t
t i m e w e h e a r d o f t h e p o s s i b i li t y o f J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p
b e c o m i n gt h e o f f i c i a lh e a d o f t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e . V o n
Ne ur a t h , a lw a y s i n c li n e d t o p ut t h e s h a d o w b e f o r e s ub s t a n c e ,
s w a llo w e d h i s p r i d e a n d r e m a i n e d i n o f f i c e .
On ly a b o ut a w e e k b e f o r e t h e Rh i n e la n d c o up , t h e s a m e
vo n Ne ur a t h h a d a s s ur e d t h e U. S. Am b a s s a d o r , Wi lli a m E
.
Do d d , a lm o s t i n t h e w o r d s o f t h e " m e m o r a n d um " t h a t " G e r -
m a n y w a s c o n t e m p la t i n ga r e t ur n i n t o t h e L e a gue o n t h e c o n -
d i t i o n , t h a t t h e We s t e r n p o w e r s a gr e e t o r e s t o r e t h e G e r m a n
c o lo n i e s a n d a llo w G e r m a n y t o r e e n t e r w i t h h e r a r m y t h e
d e m i li t a r i ze d zo n e o f t h e Rh i n e , " a d d i n g, t h a t " t h e Rh i n e
zo n e m i gh t p o s s i b ly a w a i t d i p lo m a t i c n e go t i a t i o n s " a n d t h a t
" t h e Fr a n c o - Rus s i a n P a c t w a s n o t r e ga r d e d a s s e r i o us , b y t h e
G e r m a n G o ve r n m e n t . "
Th i s w a s e x a c t ly t h e p o li c y t o w h i c h t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e
h a d p le d ge d i t s e lf o ve r t h e s i gn a t ur e o f vo n Ne ur a t h i n i t s
m e m o r a n d um t o i t s m i s s i o n s a b r o a d . Th e s e w e r e t h e d i r e c -
t i o n s b y w h i c h t h e G e r m a n Am b a s s a d o r s i n L o n d o n a n d
P a r i s a n d t h e G e r m a n Mi n i s t e r i n B r us s e ls w e r e gui d e d i n
t h e i r d i p lo m a t i c a p p r o a c h e s
. Th e m a n w h o h a d c h a n ge d t h e
w h o le c o n c e p t o f t h e m e m o r a n d um b y s t r e s s i n gt h e d a n ge r s
o f t h e Fr a n c o - Rus s i a n P a c t a n d w h o h a d a s s ur e d t h e Fue h r e r
t h a t " n o t h i n gw i llh a p p e n " a n d t h a t h e s h o uld d i s r e ga r d t h e
e m p h a t i c w a r n i n gs o f ge n e r a ls a n d t h e m o r e t i m i d o b j e c t i o n s
o f t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , w a s J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p
. An n e li e s
1 47
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
s i gh e d i n t h o s e d a y s , " Th e c o n f e r e n c e s n e ve r e n d
. Th e y go
o n a lln i gh t
. " Sh e w a s r i gh t . Th e c o n f e r e n c e s w e r e " go i n g
o n a lln i gh t
. " It w a s d ur i n gt h e s e n i gh t s t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p
m a n a ge d t o d e f e a t t h e o b j e c t i o n s m a d e b y vo n Ne ur a t h
a n d vo n Fr i t s c h d ur i n gt h e d a y .
Th e o r i gi n a ld a t e f o r t h e e x e c ut i o n o f t h e d a r i n gve n t ur e ,
Ma r c h
13,
h a d t o b e c h a n ge d t o Ma r c h
7
a f t e r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
B ue r o go t i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m i t s a ge n t s i n L o n d o n a n d P a r i s ,
t h a t n e w An glo - Fr e n c h d i s c us s i o n s w e r e t o s t a r t i m m e d i a t e ly .
Th e s ub j e c t o f t h e s e w a s n o t k n o w n a t t h e o ut s e t
. B ut w h a t
w a s go i n go n w a s s o o n f o un d o ut
. An t h o n y Ed e n h a d d e -
c i d e d t o a s k t h e L e a gue t o e m p lo y o i ls a n c t i o n s a ga i n s t t h e
a ggr e s s o r i n t h e w a r w i t h Et h i o p i a , n o w ge t t i n gun d e r w a y
.
In h i s f i r s t d i s c us s i o n o n t h e s ub j e c t w i t h P i e r r e Et i e n n e
Fla n d i n , L a va l' s s uc c e s s o r a t t h e
Qua i d ' Or s a y , h e f o un d ,
a ga i n s t h i s e x p e c t a t i o n s , t h a t Fr a n c e w a s n o w p r e p a r e d t o
s up p o r t En gla n d . B ut a t t h e s a m e t i m e , Fla n d i n p r o p o s e d t o
Ed e n t h a t An glo - Fr e n c h p o li t i c a lc o o p e r a t i o n s h o uld b e s up -
p le m e n t e d b y a m i li t a r y a lli a n c e
. Suc h a p r o p o s a l, o f c o ur s e ,
h a d t o b e b r o ugh t b e f o r e t h e B r i t i s h c a b i n e t
. Ed e n r e t ur n e d ,
t h e r e f o r e , t o L o n d o n w h e r e h e r e p o r t e d a t a c a b i n e t m e e t i n g
o n Ma r c h 5 . Hi s c o lle a gue s i n t h e c a b i n e t d e c i d e d , h o w e ve r ,
a ga i n s t a n a lli a n c e w i t h s uc h f a r - r e a c h i n gp o t e n t i a li t i e s
. Th i s
a ls o m e a n t t h a t Ed e n ' s p o li c y o f o i ls a n c t i o n s w o uld n o lo n ge r
r e c e i ve Fla n d i n ' s un q ua li f i e d s up p o r t
. G e r m a n y ' s Am b a s s a -
d o r i n L o n d o n , c le ve r L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h , h a d r e p o r t e d t h e
r e s ult s o f t h e " e m e r ge n c y m e e t i n go f t h e c a b i n e t " o ve r t h e
d i r e c t w i r e
. V o n Ne ur a t h , w h e n h e b r o ugh t t h i s va lua b le
p i e c e o f i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e Fue h r e r ' s k n o w le d ge , w a s t o ld ,
" Ic h w e r d e m i r d i e Sa c h e n o c h m a ls ue b e r le ge n " ( Is h a ll
t h i n k t h e m a t t e r o ve r a ga i n )
. B ut t h e Fue h r e r n e ve r i n t e n d e d
t o " t h i n k t h e m a t t e r o ve r , " f o r h e w a s a lls e t t h e m o m e n t h e
h e a r d o f vo n Ho e s c h ' s w i r e .
1 48
a ~i . i vi a a . a 1I1L L L . t 11V 1V V r 1c. 1111V r . L t 11V L
Im m e d i a t e ly a f t e r vo n Ne ur a t h ' s d e p a r t ur e , Hi t le r c a lle d
f o r G e n e r a lWe r n e r Fr e i h e r r vo n Fr i t s c h , t h e Hi gh Co m -
m a n d e r o f t h e Ar m y , a n d ur ge d h i m t o p ut t h e m a c h i n e i n t o
a c t i o n a t o n c e . On c e m o r e vo n Fr i t s c h o b j e c t e d . He d e c la r e d ,
" i n t h e n a m e o f a llt h e ge n e r a ls " t h a t t h e G e r m a n a r m y ,
d e s p i t e w h a t w a s b e i n gd o n e t o s p e e d up i t s r e a r m a m e n t ,
s t i llw a s f a r f r o m c a p a b le o f t a k i n gs uc h a r i s k . If t h e Fr e n c h
a r m y r e t a li a t e d w i t h f o r c e , t h e G e r m a n b a t t a li o n s w o uld b e
d r i ve n b a c k t h r o ugh t h e s up e r i o r i t y o f Fr e n c h m e c h a n i c a l
e q ui p m e n t a lo n e . Suc h a s e t b a c k m e a n t i n Fr i t s c h ' s o p i n i o n ,
m i li t a r y r e o c c up a t i o n o f t h e Rh i n e la n d n o t b y G e r m a n y b ut
b y Fr e n c h t r o o p s a n d c o uld e a s i ly d e ve lo p i n t o a m a j o r c o n -
f li c t , a t t h e e n d o f w h i c h G e r m a n y w o uld f i n d h e r s e lf i n a
w o r s e p o s i t i o n t h a n a t t h e c o n c lus i o n o f Wo r ld Wa r I.
V o n Fr i t s c h w e n t a s f a r a s t o s a y t h a t a llt h e ge n e r a ls w e r e ,
o f c o ur s e , h o p i n gf o r t h e d a y w h e n t h e t r e a t y r e s t r i c t i o n s
w o uld b e o f f i c i a lly a b o li s h e d , b ut t h a t i n h i s a n d h i s c o lle a gue s
o p i n i o n t h e t i m e w a s n o t r i p e f o r un d e r t a k i n gs i n vo lvi n gs uc h
e n o r m o us r i s k s a s w o uld t h e r e o c c up a t i o n o f t h e Rh i n e la n d .
In a n o t h e r c o n f e r e n c e w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e la t t e r r e -
p o r t e d ly i n s i s t e d , " t h a t s uc h a n e x c e p t i o n a lp o li t i c a lc o n -
s t e lla t i o n m a y n e ve r o c c ur a ga i n . " Th e Fue h r e r t h e n
d e t e r m i n e d up o n r e n e w e d d i s c us s i o n s w i t h h i s a r m y ' s c o m -
m a n d e r - i n - c h i e f . V o n Fr i t s c h b r o ugh t f o r w a r d t h e s a m e
a r gum e n t s a n d o f f e r e d h i s r e s i gn a t i o n . He w o uld n o t b e a r
t h e r e s p o n s i b i li t y d i s a s t e r e n t a i le d , h e p r o t e s t e d .
Th e Fue h r e r t h e n d e c la r e d " t h a t t h e w h o le r e s p o n s i b i li t y
w o uld b e h i s , " a n d t h a t t h e r i s k w o uld b e le s s e n e d i f t h e
s ur p r i s e e le m e n t w a s e x p lo i t e d t o i t s ut m o s t , a t h i n gw h i c h
c o uld o n ly b e a c h i e ve d i f t h e t r o o p s w e r e i m m e d i a t e ly s e t t o
m a r c h i n g . In c a s e o f a n y a r m e d r e s i s t a n c e b y Fr e n c h t r o o p s ,
t h e a c t i o n w a s t o b e c a lle d o f f , t h e G e r m a n t r o o p s w e r e t o
b e s e n t b a c k t o t h e i r h o m e ga r r i s o n s , a n d n e go t i a t i o n s w i t h
1 49
THIS MAN
RIB B ENTROP
t h e o t h e r p o w e r s w o uld b e s t a r t e d , n e go t i a t i o n s w h i c h h e
a lr e a d y h a d o f f e r e d i n a c o n c i li a t o r y s p e e c h s o m e d a y s b e -
f o r e . V o n Fr i t s c h , s t i llf a r f r o m b e i n gc o n vi n c e d b ut r e li e ve d
o f r e s p o n s i b i li t y , r e t ur n e d t o t h e
B e n d le r s t r a s s e i n o r d e r t o
p r e p a r e t h e f i n a lo r d e r s f o r t h e a r m y o f r e o c c up a t i o n a n d
t o t a k e t h e n e c e s s a r y p r e c a ut i o n s f o r a p o s s i b le r e t r e a t
.
Th e w h o le G e r m a n f o r c e w h i c h e n t e r e d t h e Rh i n e la n d
d ur i n gt h a t f a t e f uln i gh t o f t h e s i x t h a n d s e ve n t h o f Ma r c h ,
19 36 , c o n s i s t e d o f n i n e t e e n i n f a n t r y b a t t a li o n s a n d t h i r t e e n
a r t i lle r y un i t s
. Alli n a ll, t h e r e w e r e n o t m o r e t h a n t h i r t y -
f i ve t h o us a n d s o ld i e r s
. Th e r e w e r e a ls o a b o ut t h i r t y t h o us a n d
Sc h ut zp o li ze i ( a r m e d p o li c e ) s t a t i o n e d i n t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e
Rh i n e la n d w h i c h w a s o c c up i e d . Th e s ur p r i s e w a s n e a r ly a
c o m p le t e o n e . On ly c e r t a i n h i gh o f f i c i a ls i n t h e G e r m a n
Fo r e i gn Of f i c e k n e w " t h a t s o m e t h i n gw a s b r e w i n g . " Th e
Re i c h s t a g
h a d b e e n o r i gi n a lly c a lle d f o r a m e e t i n go n Ma r c h
13 . On Ma r c h 6 , t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e
Re i c h s t a g w e r e i n f o r m e d ,
b y w i r e , t h a t t h e Re i c h s t a g w o uld un e x p e c t e d ly c o n ve n e o n
t h e f o llo w i n gd a y , Ma r c h 7 . Th i s s h i f t i n t h e d a t e o f t h e
Re i c h s t a g
m e e t i n ga n d t h e f a c t t h a t a c e a s e le s s s e r i e s o f c o n -
f e r e n c e s i n vo lvi n gt h e Fue h r e r , vo n Fr i t s c h , vo n Ne ur a t h , a n d
s o m e o f t h e p a r t y h e a d s w e r e t a k i n gp la c e s t a r t e d va gue
r um o r s . So m e d i p lo m a t s a n d f o r e i gn n e w s p a p e r m e n i n B e r li n
t r i e d t o d i s c o ve r w h a t w a s go i n go n b ut i n va i n . Wh e n o n e
o f t h e la t t e r b lun t ly a s k e d t h e p r e s s d e p a r t m e n t " i f t r o o p s
w o uld m a r c h i n t o t h e Rh i n e la n d , " h e go t a f la t d e n i a l
. " Th a t
w o uld m e a n w a r , " s a i d t h e p r e s s c h i e f , Dr
. G o t t f r i e d As c h -
m a n n , t o Wi lli a m L . Sh i r e r , Co lum b i a B r o a d c a s t i n gCo m -
p a n y ' s B e r li n c h i e f .
Th e e n t r y o f G e r m a n y ' s a r m e d f o r c e s i n t o t h e Rh i n e la n d
t ur n e d o ut a s Hi t le r h a d f o r e s e e n . Aj ub i la n t p o p ula t i o n
gr e e t e d t h e s o ld i e r s w h o , p un c t ua lt o t h e ve r y m o m e n t , o c c u-
p i e d t h e p la c e s w h e r e t h e y w e r e t o b e b i lle t e d . Th e a p p r e -
150
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
h e n s i o n s o f vo n Fr i t s c h a n d t h e o t h e r ge n e r a ls p r o ve d t o b e
a s un f o un d e d a s vo n Ne ur a t h ' s m o r e h um b le r e m o n s t r a n c e s
.
No c o un t e r m o ve o f Fr e n c h o r B e lgi a n a r m i e s o c c ur r e d
. To
t h e G e r m a n Re i c h s t a g, s um m o n e d o n t h e m o r n i n ga f t e r
t h i s a m a zi n g t o ur d e f o r c e , Hi t le r d e c la r e d " t h a t h e w a s r e a d y
f o r a r e a l, h o n e s t , a n d e q ua lEur o p e a n c o o p e r a t i o n . " He
e x p a t i a t e d o n h i s " c o n t i n uo us p e r s o n a le f f o r t s t o w i n t h e
c o n f i d e n c e , s y m p a t h y a n d a f f e c t i o n o f t h e Fr e n c h p e o p le , "
a n d h e t h un d e r e d a ga i n s t t h e " Fr e n c h m i li t a r y a lli a n c e w i t h
t h e B o ls h e vi k s . " It w a s t h e Fr e n c h , i n Hi t le r ' s w o r d s , w h o h a d
s i n n e d " a ga i n s t t h e s p i r i t o f L o c a r n o . "
J us t b e f o r e Hi t le r s p o k e i n t h e Re i c h s t a g, t h e Wi lh e lm -
s t r a s s e
o f f i c i a lly i n f o r m e d t h e Am b a s s a d o r s o f Fr a n c e a n d
G r e a t B r i t a i n a s w e lla s t h e B e lgi um Mi n i s t e r t h a t t h e r e o c c u-
p a t i o n o f t h e d e m i li t a r i ze d Rh i n e la n d zo n e h a d t a k e n p la c e .
At t h e s a m e t i m e , i t w a s a n n o un c e d t h a t t h e L o c a r n o P a c t
h a d b e c o m e " e x t i n c t " i n c o n s e q ue n c e o f t h e Fr e n c h a gr e e -
m e n t w i t h So vi e t Rus s i a
. On t h e o t h e r h a n d , G e r m a n y p r o -
p o s e d a t w e n t y - f i ve - y e a r n o n - a ggr e s s i o n p a c t . It w a s t o b e
gua r a n t e e d b y G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d It a ly . At t h e s a m e t i m e ,
Hi t le r p r o p o s e d t h e e s t a b li s h m e n t o f a b i la t e r a ld e m i li t a r i ze d
zo n e un d e r t h e s t i p ula t i o n o f c o m p le t e p a r i t y . Fi n a lly , h e
e n vi s a ge d t h e r e t ur n o f G e r m a n y t o t h e L e a gue a n d a n a i r
p a c t . On ly o n e c o n d i t i o n w a s i m p o s e d - t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f
G e r m a n c o lo n i e s .
Th e p r o p o s e d " b i la t e r a ld e m i li t a r i ze d zo n e " w a s i m m e -
d i a t e ly r e c o gn i ze d b y t h e w o r ld ' s c h a n c e lle r i e s f o r e x a c t ly
w h a t i t w a s . It w a s n o t h i n gle s s t h a n a m e a n s o f p r e ve n t i n g
Fr e n c h i n t e r ve n t i o n i n c a s e o f G e r m a n a c t i o n a ga i n s t Aus t r i a ,
Cze c h o s lo va k i a , P o la n d , L i t h ua n i a , a n d t h e B a lk a n s t a t e s
.
Th e r e e x i s t e d w i t h i n t h e B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p ,
f o r e a c h o f t h e s e
c o un t r i e s , s a ve Aus t r i a , e x t r a o r d i n a r y a n d s i n i s t e r d e p a r t -
m e n t s w h i c h t r a i n e d a ge n t s f o r un d e r gr o un d w o r k w i t h i n
ISI
THISMAN RIB B ENTROP
t h e i r b o r d e r
. Fo r Aus t r i a , t h e Fue h r e r h a d o r ga n i ze d a s p e c i a l
" In f o r m a t i o n Se r vi c e . " Wh e r e ve r J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p
w a s a b le t o d i gup a n e x p e r t o r s p e c i a li s t f a m i li a r w i t h s o m e
q ue s t i o n r e ga r d i n gt h e p r o s p e c t i ve vi c t i m s o f G e r m a n e x p a n -
s i o n , h e i m m e d i a t e ly s e c ur e d h i s s e r vi c e s f o r h i s B ue r o . An d
a s h i s B ue r o gr e w i n p o w e r , t h e f un c t i o n s o f Ro s e n b e r g' s
Aus s e n p o li t i s c h e s Am t b e c a m e r e s t r i c t e d t o p r o p a ga n d i zi n g
G e r m a n y ' s Fo r e i gn P o li c y w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e p a r t y
i t s e lf a n d t o t a k e c a r e o f vi s i t o r s f r o m f o r e i gn c o un t r i e s . So
Ri b b e n t r o p r i d h i m s e lf o f Ro s e n b e r ga n d p r a c t i c a lly e li m -
i n a t e d h i m a s a n i n f lue n t i a lf a c t o r i n t h e Fue h r e r ' s d e c i s i o n s
o n f o r e i gn p o li c i e s .
Th e d i p lo m a t i c c o r p s i n B e r li n ge n e r a lly d i s b e li e ve d i n t h e
s i n c e r i t y o f t h e Fue h r e r ' s n e w p r o p o s a ls . Th e w o r ld a t la r ge
a ls o r e m a i n e d s k e p t i c a l
. So m e t h i n gh a d t o b e d o n e a b o ut i t
.
Eve n t h e p o li s h e d vo c a b ula r y o f t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e w a s n o t
s uf f i c i e n t t o s uga r c o a t p r e t e n d e d p a c i f i s m . Th e B ue r o Ri b -
b e n t r o p w a s a lr e a d y i n p o s s e s s i o n o f r e p o r t s a c c o r d i n gt o
w h i c h " a s s i n c e r e a s a Hi t le r p r o m i s e " h a d b e c o m e a w i t t i c i s m
a m o n gd i p lo m a t s t h e w o r ld o ve r . Ri b b e n t r o p e n ga ge d s e v-
e r a lr e t i r e d G e r m a n o f f i c i a ls , r e p ut e d t o b e i n d i s f a vo r o f t h e
n e w s y s t e m , a n d s e n t t h e m i n t o t h e w o r ld t o s e llt h e i d e a
o f a p e a c e lo vi n gG e r m a n y . On e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a ge n t s
c h a r ge d w i t h t h i s s o r t o f s p e c i a lm i s s i o n w a s t h e f o r m e r c o un -
s e llo r o f t h e L o n d o n Em b a s s y a n d Alf r e d Duf o ur - Fe r o n c e
.
Am b a s s a d o r Do d d , i n h i s m e m o i r s , c h a r a c t e r i ze d t h i s f o r m e r
f o r e i gn o f f i c i a la s a m a n w h o " r e ve a le d t h e e n t h us i a s m a lm o s t
o f a Na zi P a r t y Ch i e f , t h o ugh h e i s s up p o s e d t o b e i n o p p o -
s i t i o n o f t h e Hi t le r r e gi m e . "
Re ga r d le s s o f w h a t t h e w o r ld t h o ugh t o f Hi t le r ' s t r us t -
w o r t h i n e s s , e ve n t s h a d d e ve lo p e d e ve n b e t t e r t h a n t h e
Fue h r e r , i n h i s m o s t o p t i m i s t i c m o o d , h a d e ve r e x p e c t e d
. On
Ma r c h i o t h e G e r m a n Co n s ula t e G e n e r a li n G e n e va , t h e
152
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
G e r m a n li s t e n i n gp o s t f o r L e a gue o f Na t i o n s a c t i vi t i e s , a n d
t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y i n P a r i s r e p o r t e d s i m ult a n e o us ly t h a t t h e
r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s o f t h e L o c a r n o p o w e r s h a d m e t . Tw o d a y s
la t e r i t b e c a m e k n o w n t h a t a n o t h e r m e e t i n gh a d b e e n h e ld
i n L o n d o n a n d t h a t t h e L e a gue Co un c i lh a d b e e n c o n ve n e d .
B r i t i s h e n d e a vo r s t o i n d uc e G e r m a n y t o c ut t h e a r m y o f r e -
o c c up a t i o n d o w n t o a " s y m b o li c n um b e r " w e r e un s uc c e s s f ul .
Th e r a t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e Fr a n c o - Rus s i a p a c t b y t h e Fr e n c h
Se n a t e d i d n o t i m p r o ve t h e s i t ua t i o n . Th e B r i t i s h r e a li ze d t h e
s e r i o us n e s s o f t h e G e r m a n a c t i o n , b ut t h e y c lun gt o t h e h o p e
t h a t t h e n e w G e r m a n p r o p o s a ls " f o r t h e r e a lp a c i f i c a t i o n o f
Eur o p e " w e r e ge n ui n e . At a m e e t i n go f t h e B r i t i s h c a b i n e t
s e ve r a lm e m b e r s un d e r li n e d t h e n e c e s s i t y o f n e go t i a t i o n s w i t h
t h e Fue h r e r o n b a s i s o f t h e s e n o n - a ggr e s s i o n p r o p o s a ls . St a n le y
B a ld w i n , t h e P r i m e Mi n i s t e r , a d vi s e d t h i s . Ne vi lle Ch a m b e r -
la i n ( a t t h a t t i m e Ch a n c e llo r o f t h e Ex c h e q ue r ) d i d t h e s a m e
a n d L o r d Ha li f a x ( L o r d P r i vy Se a l) a ls o c o n c ur r e d . Th e i r
o p i n i o n s c a r r i e d w e i gh t , b ut e ve n w i t h s up p o r t f r o m o t h e r
c a b i n e t m e m b e r s t h e y r e m a i n e d un d e c i d e d .
Th e Fue h r e r a s w e lla s t h e G e r m a n Fo r e i gn Of f i c e w e r e
q ui t e un e a s y d ur i n gt h e s e d a y s
. Th e y f e a r e d t h a t t h e L e a gue
Co un c i lw o uld t a k e a c t i o n a n d c la m p s a n c t i o n s o n G e r m a n y ,
s o m e t h i n gh i gh ly d e t r i m e n t a lt o G e r m a n y ' s f o r e i gn t r a d e
a n d t h e r e f o r e t o i t s r e a r m a m e n t p r o gr a m . L e o p o ld vo n
Ho e s c h w a s o r d e r e d t o s ugge s t t o t h e B r i t i s h t h a t a G e r m a n
d e le ga t e , J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p , w h o t h e Fue h r e r t h o ugh t
" w a s ve r y p o p ula r i n L o n d o n , " s h o uld b e a d m i t t e d t o t h e
Co un c i l' s d e li b e r a t i o n s
. B ut b e f o r e vo n Ho e s c h w a s e ve n
a b le t o c o m p ly w i t h t h i s i n s t r uc t i o n , t h e L o n d o n Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e h a d a lr e a d y t a k e n t h e m a t t e r up w i t h t h e Qua i d ' Or s a y
.
L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h , w h e n r e p o r t i n go n t h i s n e w d e ve lo p -
m e n t , w a s o p t i m i s t i c a s f a r a s t h e p r o b a b i li t y o f a f o r m a li n -
vi t a t i o n w a s c o n c e r n e d
. Th e Fue h r e r , n o w i n a t e m p e r , d e -
1 5 3
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
G la r e d f la t ly i n a c o n ve r s a t i o n w i t h Si r Er i c P h i p p s , B r i t i s h
Am b a s s a d o r i n B e r li n , t h a t h e w o uld a gr e e t o s e n d a d e le ga t e
o n t w o c o n d i t i o n s
: t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i ve o f t h e Re i c h m us t b e
r e c e i ve d o n e q ua lt e r m s , a n d t h e Fue h r e r ' s n e w p e a c e p r o -
p o s a ls , i n c lud i n gn o n - a ggr e s s i o n p a c t s b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d
h e r t e r r i t o r i a ln e i gh b o r s , m us t b e d i s c us s e d
. Th e s e t w o p o i n t s
w e r e e m p h a s i ze d i n a s o le m n G e r m a n n o t e t o t h e L e a gue
Co un c i l
. It w a s a d d e d q ui t e m e n a c i n gly t h a t t h e G e r m a n
G o ve r n m e n t h a d t o b e a s s ur e d t h a t t h e p o w e r s c o n c e r n e d
w o uld e n t e r a ls b a ld i n t o n e go t i a t i o n s i n r e ga r d t o t h e Fue h r e r ' s
p e a c e p r o p o s a ls .
Th e w o r d
a ls b a ld t r a n s la t e d b y t h e L e a gue o f Na t i o n s
e x p e r t s a s m e a n i n g" i m m e d i a t e ly , " n e a r ly le d t o a r e j e c t i o n
o f t h e G e r m a n d e m a n d s
. Si r Er i c , i n c o n ve r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e ,
f i n a lly w a s a s s ur e d t h a t i t s h o uld b e i n t e r -
p r e t e d a s " i n d ue c o ur s e
. " B ut d e s p i t e t h i s t o n i n gd o w n , t h e
Co un c i l, a f t e r a le n gt h y d i s c us s i o n , c a m e t o t h e d e c i s i o n t h a t
t h e G e r m a n d e m a n d s c o uld n o t b e a c c e p t e d , b ut a t t h e s a m e
t i m e t h e Co un c i li n f o r m e d t h e G e r m a n G o ve r n m e n t t h a t h e r
d e le ga t e w o uld b e a c c o r d e d e q ua li t y
. Th i s d e c i s i o n i n f ur i a t e d
Hi t le r
. Ri b b e n t r o p s ugge s t e d t h a t G e r m a n y " n o t gi ve i n
. "
He f e lt s ur e t h a t , " n o m i li t a r y a c t i o n o f a n y k i n d w a s t o b e
e x p e c t e d . "
Th e B r i t i s h c a b i n e t , i n t h e m e a n t i m e , h a d a ga i n d i s c us s e d
t h e s i t ua t i o n a n d i t h a d d e c i d e d t h a t G r e a t B r i t a i n , a s o n e o f
t h e gua r a n t o r s o f L o c a r n o , c o uld a s s ur e G e r m a n y t h a t " t h e
B r i t i s h G o ve r n m e n t w o uld d o i t s ut m o s t t o s e e t h a t t h e
Fue h r e r ' s p e a c e p r o gr a m w o uld b e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n
. "
Si r Er i c ' s f i r s t i m p r e s s i o n , w h e n c a lli n go n t h e Fue h r e r i n
p e r s o n i n o r d e r t o i n f o r m h i m o f t h e c a b i n e t ' s d e c i s i o n , w a s
t h a t e ve n t h i s a s s ur a n c e w o uld n o t c h a n ge Hi t le r ' s m i n d
.
B ut Si r Er i c r e p o r t e d ly le t t h e Fue h r e r ' s r a ge s ub s i d e , a n d
t h e n e lo q ue n t ly a n d s t ub b o r n ly s t r e s s e d t h e n e c e s s i t y o f a c -
1 5 4
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
c e p t i n gt h e B r i t i s h p le d ge i n vi e w o f t h e d i r e n e e d f o r Eur o -
p e a n s o li d a r i t y . Hi t le r f i n a lly a gr e e d
. He d e c i d e d t h a t " t h e
G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n s h o uld p r o c e e d w i t h o ut d e la y t o L o n -
d o n . " Si r Er i c m a y h a ve c o n s i d e r e d t h i s a t e c h n i c a ls uc c e s s
t h o ugh i t i s d i f f i c ult n o t t o f i n d t h e B r i t i s h e n t h us i a s m f o r
Hi t le r ' s " p e a c e c o n t r i b ut i o n " un d e r t h e c i r c um s t a n c e s f a r c i c a l
a n d h um i li a t i n g . Eve n t h i s m e a ge r c o n c e s s i o n o n t h e p a r t o f
t h e Fue h r e r w a s n o t w o n w i t h o ut a h a r d b a t t le
. Ar e p o r t
f r o m a f r i e n d s a i d " t h a t Si r Er i c le f t t h e Fue h r e r o ut o f
b r e a t h a n d t h o r o ugh ly f a t i gue d . "
Th e d e le ga t i o n , w h i c h w a s t o r e p r e s e n t t h e G e r m a n c a s e
b e f o r e t h e L e a gue Co un c i lc o n vo k e d i n L o n d o n i n o r d e r
" t o e x a m i n e t h e Re i c h ' s a b r o ga t i o n o f t h e d e m i li t a r i ze d zo n e
o f t h e Rh i n e la n d , " c o n s i s t e d o f Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge J o a c h i m
vo n Ri b b e n t r o p
; Dr . Ha n s He i n r i c h Di e c k h o f f , Di r e c t o r o f
De p a r t m e n t III( G r e a t B r i t a i n - U. S. A
. ) o f t h e Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e ; a n d o f Dr
. Er n s t Wo e r m a n n , a s s i s t a n t c h i e f o f t h e
L e ga lDe p a r t m e n t . So m e e x p e r t s , m i n o r o f f i c i a ls , a n d m e m -
b e r s o f t h e
B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p ,
i n c lud i n gJ o a c h i m ' s p e r s o n a l
s t a f f , b r o ugh t t h e n um b e r o f t h e G e r m a n d e le ga t i o n up t o
n e a r ly f i f t y .
In a s p e e c h i n G e r m a n w h i c h Ri b b e n t r o p i n s i s t e d o n us i n g
d e s p i t e h i s p e r f e c t k n o w le d ge o f Fr e n c h a n d En gli s h a n d
a lt h o ugh d i f f i c ult i e s h a d a lr e a d y a r i s e n o ut o f p r e vi o us e r r o n e -
o us t r a n s la t i o n s o f G e r m a n s t a t e m e n t s , t h e c h i e f o f t h e G e r -
m a n d e le ga t i o n t r i e d t o e x p la i n w h y G e r m a n y h a d d e n o un c e d
t h e Tr e a t y o f L o c a r n o a n d r e m i li t a r i ze d t h e Rh i n e la n d
. Ri b -
b e n t r o p ' s s p e e c h c ulm i n a t e d i n t h e r e n e w e d a s s e r t i o n t h a t t h e
n e w Fr a n c o - So vi e t Alli a n c e " i n vo lve d a c o m p le t e d i s t ur b -
a n c e o f t h e p r e s e n t Eur o p e a n e q ui li b r i um , a n d t h e r e w i t h t h e
d e s t r uc t i o n o f t h e f un d a m e n t a lp o li t i c a la n d le ga lc o n d i t i o n s
un d e r w h i c h t h e L o c a r n o P a c t w a s s i gn e d . " Th e G e r m a n
G o ve r n m e n t , Ri b b e n t r o p f ur t h e r e x c la i m e d , w a s o f t h e
1 5 5
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
o p i n i o n , t h e r e f o r e , " t h a t t h e t r e a t y b o t h i n t h e le t t e r a n d
i n t h e p o li t i c a lm e a n i n gi s i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n t o t h e We s t e r n
Eur o p e a n s e c ur i t y s y s t e m o f L o c a r n o , a n d a c c o r d i n gly t h e
p a c t o f L o c a r n o h a s b e e n vi o la t e d b y t h e un i la t e r a la c t i o n o f
Fr a n c e , a n d t h us i n f a c t t e r m i n a t e d . "
In h i s s p e e c h , Ri b b e n t r o p d w e lt m o s t ly o n t h e a r gum e n t
" t h a t w h e n a gr e a t p o w e r li k e Fr a n c e c a n , b y t h e f o r c e o f
i t s s o ve r e i gn t y , e n t e r i n t o m i li t a r y a lli a n c e s o f s uc h va s t
e x t e n t , w i t h o ut c o n s i d e r i n ge x i s t i n gt r e a t i e s , t h e n a n o t h e r
gr e a t p o w e r li k e G e r m a n y p o s s e s s e s a t le a s t t h e r i gh t t o a s -
s ur e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e w h o le a r e a o f t h e Re i c h b y r e s t o r i n g
w i t h i n h e r o w n b o un d a r i e s t h o s e n a t ur a lr i gh t s o f s o ve r e i gn t y
w h i c h a r e gr a n t e d t o a lln a t i o n s
. "
Th e " c o n s t r uc t i ve p a r t o f t h e p r o b le m , " w h i c h Ri b b e n t r o p
o f f e r e d a t t h e e n d o f h i s s p e e c h , b e ga n , " G e r m a n y i s f i n a lly
w i lli n ga n d r e a d y t o c lo s e t h e s a d c h a p t e r o f m o r a la n d le ga l
c o n f us i o n s a n d m i s un d e r s t a n d i n gs i n Eur o p e o f w h i c h t h e y
( t h e G e r m a n s ) h a ve b e e n t h e c h i e f vi c t i m . . . t h e G e r m a n
p e o p le h a s n o w o n ly o n e s i n c e r e d e s i r e : t o li ve i n p e a c e a n d
f r i e n d s h i p w i t h i t s n e i gh b o r s f r o m n o w o n w a r d a n d t o c o -
o p e r a t e t o t h e b e s t o f i t s a b i li t y i n b ui ld i n gup r e a lEur o p e a n
s o li d a r i t y . . .
G e r m a n y w i s h e s t o t e r m i n a t e t h e lo n gp e r i o d
o f Fr a n c o - G e r m a n t e n s i o n s , c r i s e s a n d w a r s a n d w i s h e s a t
la s t o n h e r o w n a c c o un t t o p a ve t h e w a y f o r a b e t t e r f ut ur e
un d e r s t a n d i n ga n d f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n t h e s e t w o gr e a t n a -
t i o n s . "
Ri b b e n t r o p f i n i s h e d h i s s p e e c h b y p o i n t i n gt o t h e Fue h r e r ' s
n e w p e a c e o f f e r
. " B y a n a gr e e m e n t gua r a n t e e i n gt h e p e a c e o f
Eur o p e f o r t w e n t y - f i ve y e a r s , " h e s a i d , " a w o r k o f p e a c e i s
t o b e c r e a t e d e x t e n d i n gf a r b e y o n d t h e ge n e r a t i o n o f m e n
c a lle d up o n b y h i s t o r y t o a c h i e ve t h i s w o r k t o d a y
. " An d i n
h i s la s t w o r d s , h e a d d e d t h a t " t h e Co un c i lm a y f o r ge t t h e
156
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
s us c e p t i b i li t i e s o f t h e m o m e n t a n d b e a w a r e o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e
o f t h e h i s t o r i c a ld e c i s i o n w h i c h i t i s c a lle d up o n t o t a k e
. "
B ut Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s p e e c h a p p a r e n t ly d i d n o t c o m e up t o
t h e e x p e c t a t i o n s o f t h e Co un c i lm e m b e r s
. Co n s i d e r i n gt h e
t r o ub le i t t o o k t o b r i n gt h e t r e a t y b r e a k e r b e f o r e t h e Co un c i l
a n d t o i n d uc e h i m t o d e f e n d h i s m i s d e e d s , Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
s p e e c h w a s a d i s a p p o i n t m e n t , i f n o t a f a i lur e . No t a s i n gle
a r gum e n t w a s b r o ugh t f o r w a r d
. No t a n gi b le e la b o r a t i o n o f
t h e Fue h r e r ' s p e a c e p la n s w a s p r e s e n t e d
. It m a y b e t h a t m a n y
o f t h e Co un c i lm e m b e r s w e r e a ls o un f a vo r a b ly i m p r e s s e d
b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Fr e n c h , a lr e a d y ve r y m uc h s t a r t le d b y
t h e B r i t i s h " a s s ur a n c e , " w e r e le f t c o m p le t e ly i n t h e d a r k
a b o ut c e r t a i n un o f f i c i a lc o n f e r e n c e s .
Ri b b e n t r o p , i m m e d i a t e ly a f t e r h i s a r r i va li n L o n d o n , h a d
h a d a lo n gt a lk w i t h An t h o n y Ed e n
. Af t e r t h i s un e x p e c t e d
d i s c us s i o n a c a b i n e t m e e t i n gh a d t a k e n p la c e w i t h o ut a n y
r e p r e s e n t a t i ve o f t h e o t h e r p o w e r s b e i n gt a k e n i n t o c o n -
f i d e n c e
. Re s e n t m e n t a t t h i s la c k o f c o o p e r a t i o n r a n s o h i gh
t h a t s o m e o f t h e Fr e n c h d e le ga t e s s p o k e o f " B r i t i s h b e t r a y a l, "
a n d a n e x o d us o f t h e Fr e n c h f r o m t h e Co un c i lm e e t i n g
s e e m e d p o s s i b le
. Th e t e m p e r o f t h e Co un c i lw a s r e ve a le d b y
t h e f a c t , t h a t a f t e r Ri b b e n t r o p h a d e n d e d h i s s p e e c h , a vo t e
w a s i m m e d i a t e ly p r o p o s e d o n w h e t h e r o r n o t G e r m a n y w a s
a t r e a t y b r e a k e r
. On t h e b a s i s o f w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , i t w a s
i n e vi t a b le t h a t G e r m a n y s h o uld b e c o n d e m n e d
.
Ri b b e n t r o p a s s um e d t h a t h i s us e o f t h e G e r m a n la n gua ge ,
w h i c h w a s n o t f a m i li a r t o t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e d e le ga t e s , m i gh t
h a ve p a r t ly b e e n r e s p o n s i b le f o r t h e s ud d e n t ur n o f e ve n t s .
He r o s e a ga i n t o a r gue t h a t h e h a d e x p e c t e d a t le a s t a d i s -
c us s i o n o f h i s a d d r e s s a n d t h a t s o m e t i m e s h o uld b e t a k e n
t o e x a m i n e h i s r e m a r k s
. P i e r r e Et i e n n e Fla n d i n , a s h e a d o f
t h e Fr e n c h d e le ga t i o n , p r o p o s e d , i n r e p ly , t h a t t h e vo t e s h o uld
1 5 7
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
b e p o s t p o n e d un t i lt h e a f t e r n o o n s e s s i o n o f t h e Co un c i l . An d
s o i t w a s r e s o lve d up o n .
Wh e n t h e Co un c i lm e t a ga i n a f t e r t h e i n t e r lud e , e le ve n o f
t h e t w e lve d e le ga t e s vo t e d t h a t G e r m a n y h a d vi o la t e d t h e
L o c a r n o Tr e a t y
. On ly Ch i le a b s t a i n e d f r o m vo t i n g . Ec ua d o r
w a s n o t r e p r e s e n t e d . De f a c t o , i t w a s a un a n i m o us ve r d i c t !
B y t h i s vo t e o f t h e Co un c i l, i t w a s e s t a b li s h e d t h a t G e r -
m a n y ' s un i la t e r a la c t i o n w a s a b r e a c h o f Ar t i c le
43
o f t h e
Tr e a t y o f V e r s a i lle s . In c o n f o r m i t y w i t h e x i s t i n gr ule s , t h e
Co un c i li n s t r uc t e d t h e Se c r e t a r y G e n e r a lo f t h e L e a gue " i n
a p p li c a t i o n o f Ar t i c le IV , o f t h e Tr e a t y o f L o c a r n o t o n o t i f y
t h i s f i n d i n go f t h e Co un c i lw i t h o ut d e la y t o t h e P o w e r s
Si gn a t o r i e s o f t h a t Tr e a t y . "
Th e d e c i s i o n a s t o w h a t m e a s ur e s s h o uld b e t a k e n a ga i n s t
t h e t r e a t y - b r e a k e r r e s t e d w i t h t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s o f Fr a n c e
a n d B e lgi um w h o s e f r o n t i e r s , b o r d e r i n gup o n G e r m a n y , w e r e
gua r a n t e e d b y L o c a r n o a n d w i t h t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s o f G r e a t
B r i t a i n a n d It a ly , t h e p o w e r s w h i c h h a d gua r a n t e e d t h o s e
f r o n t i e r s
. It i s s a f e t o a s s um e t h a t i n e x p e c t a t i o n o f t h e Co un -
c i l' s ve r d i c t i n f o r m a lc o n s ult a t i o n s a s t o t h e p r o p e r s t e p s b y
w h i c h t h e vi o la t o r c o uld b e d uly i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e s e r i o us -
n e s s o f h e r o f f e n s e , h a d a lr e a d y go n e o n f o r s o m e t i m e
. As a
m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s o f t h e f o ur L o c a r n o P o w e r s
w e n t i n t o s e s s i o n i m m e d i a t e ly a f t e r t h e f o r m a ld e c i s i o n o f t h e
Co un c i la n d a p p r o ve d a p r o gr a m w h i c h , t o n a i ve o b s e r ve r s ,
w a s c o uc h e d i n t e r m s i n d i c a t i n ga m o d i c um o f r e s i s t a n c e
a ga i n s t Hi t le r ' s a ggr e s s i ve p o li c y
.
It i s i n t e r e s t i n gt o lo o k a t t h e s e p r o p o s a ls w h i c h w e r e d a t e d
Ma r c h 1q
a n d m a d e p ub li c s o o n a f t e r a s a n o f f i c i a ld o c um e n t
o f t h e B r i t i s h G o ve r n m e n t
. Th e i r c o m p li c a t e d le ga lve r b i a ge
d i d n o t f a c e t h e s i t ua t i o n
; o n ly a c t i o n s w o uld h a ve d o n e s o .
An d , a s us ua li n t h o s e d a y s o f Hi t le r ' s " h o us e b ui ld i n g, " h i s
158
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
p r o s p e c t i ve vi c t i m s c a lle d i n t h e la w i n o r d e r t o b e e x c us e d
f r o m a c t i n g .
In p a r a gr a p h t w o o f t h e p r o p o s a ls , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s w h o
d r a f t e d t h e m c o n s i d e r t h a t t h e G e r m a n G o ve r n m e n t c o n f e r s
up o n i t s e lf b y i t s un i la t e r a la c t i o n n o le ga lr i gh t s . He r e w e
h a ve t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e s i t ua t i o n Hi t le r e n c o un t e r e d
. Hi s
o p p o n e n t s h a d t h e r i gh t o n t h e i r s i d e , b ut i t w a s li k e e x c o m -
m un i c a t i n gL ut h e r a f t e r h i s s o - c a lle d h e r e s y
. h a d b e c o m e t h e
n o r m
. Ale ga li s t i c d e f i c i e n c y d i d n o t i n va li d a t e , i n Hi t le r ' s
e y e s , a n a c t i o n , w h e t h e r un i la t e r a lo r n o t
. Fo r t h i s p r i m i t i ve
m a n a c t i o n c a m e a lw a y s f i r s t , a n d la w w a s o n ly go o d i n s o f a r
a s i t p r e p a r e d t h e n e x t a c t i o n .
" Th i s un i la t e r a la c t i o n , " t h e p r o p o s a ls go o n , " b y i n t r o -
d uc i n ga n e w d i s t ur b i n ge le m e n t i n t o t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a ls i t u-
a t i o n , m us t n e c e s s a r i ly a p p e a r t o b e a t h r e a t t o Eur o p e a n
s e c ur i t y . " Wh a t d i d t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s d o a b o ut i t ? Th e y
un d e r t o o k " f o r t h w i t h t o i n s t r uc t t h e i r G e n e r a lSt a f f s t o e n t e r
i n t o c o n t a c t w i t h a vi e w t o a r r a n gi n gt h e t e c h n i c a lc o n d i t i o n s
i n w h i c h t h e o b li ga t i o n s w h i c h a r e b i n d i n gup o n t h e m s h o uld
b e c a r r i e d o ut i n c a s e o f un p r o vo k e d a ggr e s s i o n . "
P a r a gr a p h f o ur i n vi t e d t h e G e r m a n G o ve r n m e n t t o la y
b e f o r e t h e P e r m a n e n t Co ur t o f In t e r n a t i o n a lj us t i c e a t Th e
Ha gue i t s p h o n y a r gum e n t t h a t t h e Fr a n c o - So vi e t P a c t ga ve
G e r m a n y a r i gh t t o t e a r t h e L o c a r n o Tr e a t y t o p i e c e s - b y
o c c up y i n gd r a m a t i c a lly w i t h a r m e d f o r c e s o ve r n i gh t a n d
w i t h o ut w a r n i n gt h e Rh i n e la n d
. Th us t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s
w h o d r a f t e d t h e " p r o p o s a ls " d i d Hi t le r t h e f a vo r o f p r o -
vi d i n gf o r t h e b r a i n c h i ld o f h i s le ga le x p e r t s .
P a r a gr a p h f i ve e n vi s a ge d t h a t G e r m a n y , up o n i n vi t a t i o n ,
w o uld r e f r a i n f r o m s e n d i n gt r o o p s i n t o t h e Rh i n e la n d b e y o n d
t h e f i gur e i t h a d o f f i c i a lly a n n o un c e d . It a ls o a s s um e d t h a t
G e r m a n y w o uld r e f r a i n f r o m us i n g" p a r a m i li t a r y f o r c e s "
1 5 9
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
( SA, SS
. L a b o r Co r p s a n d o t h e r o r ga n i za t i o n s ) a s r e i n f o r c e -
m e n t o f t r o o p s a n d f r o m f o r t i f y i n gt h e zo n e a n d e q ui p p i n g
i t w i t h gr o un d w o r k s a n d la n d i n ggr o un d s . Th e a t t a c k e d
c o un t r i e s , Fr a n c e a n d B e lgi um , p r o m i s e d " s i m i la r ly t o s us -
p e n d d ur i n gt h e p e r i o d a n y d i s p a t c h o f t r o o p s i n t o t h e zo n e s
a d j o i n i n gt h e f r o n t i e r s b e t w e e n t h e i r c o un t r i e s a n d G e r -
m a n y
. " Th e i d e a t h a t h e s h o uld b e c o n t e n t f o r t h e t i m e b e i n g
w i t h a " s y m b o li c " o c c up a t i o n o f t h e Rh i n e la n d s t r uc k Hi t le r
a s p a r t i c ula r ly r i d i c ulo us , a n d h e d i d n o t f a i lt o p o k e f un a t
i t i n s e ve r a lp ub li c ut t e r a n c e s w h i c h w e r e f a r f r o m f la t t e r i n g
f o r h i s o p p o n e n t s .
P a r a gr a p h s i x i s m o r e b o ld . It s ugge s t e d t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n
i n t e r n a t i o n a lf o r c e t o b e s t a t i o n e d i n a s t r i p o f G e r m a n
t e r r i t o r y e x t e n d i n gt w e n t y k i lo m e t e r s ( a b o ut f i f t e e n m i le s )
t o t h e e a s t o f t h e B e lgi a n - G e r m a n a n d Fr e n c h - G e r m a n
f r o n t i e r s
. It a ls o s ugge s t e d a n i n t e r n a t i o n a lc o m m i s s i o n w h o s e
d ut y s h o uld b e t o s up e r vi s e t h e c a r r y i n go ut o f o b li ga t i o n s
s uc h a s p r o vi d e d b y p a r a gr a p h f i ve
. Th e s e o b li ga t i o n s w e r e
n e ve r a gr e e d t o b e c a us e t h e y w e r e m e a n i n gle s s
.
P a r a gr a p h e i gh t i s p a r t i c ula r ly i n e p t
. On c e m o r e t h e r e p r e -
s e n t a t i ve s d e c i d e d t h a t t h e p a n a c e a f o r t h e i n vo lve d s i t ua t i o n
w o uld b e t h e c o n vo c a t i o n o f a d i s c us s i o n c lub o r , i n o t h e r
w o r d s , a n i n t e r n a t i o n a lc o n f e r e n c e
. On c e m o r e a t t h i s c r i t i c a l
p o i n t i n t h e w o r ld ' s h i s t o r y , i t w a s d e c i d e d t h a t w h a t t h e
w o r ld w a n t e d w e r e ge n t le m e n i n s t r i p e d t r o us e r s w h o w o uld
f i lle n d le s s p a ge s w i t h e n d le s s r e p o r t s a n d a r gum e n t s
.
In a w o r d , t h e " c o r r e c t " w a y t o a n s w e r He r r Hi t le r ' s
b o ld e s t a n d m o s t d a n ge r o us m o ve w a s , a c c o r d i n gt o t h e
e x p e r t s w h o d r a f t e d t h e " p r o p o s a ls , " t o p a s s t h e b uc k t o c o m -
m i t t e e s w h i c h , a s e x p e r i e n c e h a d i n va r i a b ly s h o w n , w o uld
p a s s t h e b uc k t o s ub c o m m i t t e e s w h e r e t h e a f f a i r s o f t h e
w o r ld , s a f e ly m um m i f i e d , w o uld f i n d a b ur i a lp la c e
.
Th e Ma r c h 19 , 19 38 p r o p o s a ls w e r e b ui lt o n s a n d
. G r e a t
i 6 o
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
B r i t a i n w a n t e d , a t t h a t m o m e n t , a s t r o n gL e a gue p o li c y
a ga i n s t It a ly , Fr a n c e a ga i n s t G e r m a n y . Th e m a j o r i t y o f t h e
p o p ula t i o n , i n b o t h c o un t r i e s , w a n t e d t o a vo i d w a r a t a n y
p r i c e . In G r e a t B r i t a i n a d i s t i n c t p r o - G e r m a n s e n t i m e n t
h a d d e ve lo p e d , w h i le s y m p a t h y f o r t h e Fr e n c h h a d d i m i n -
i s h e d c o n s i d e r a b ly
. G e r m a n y ' s a n t i - c o m m un i s t i c a t t i t ud e h a d
ga i n e d t h e f a vo r o f G r e a t B r i t a i n ' s c o n s e r va t i ve s , w h i le B r i t i s h
li b e r a ls s y m p a t h i ze d w i t h m a n y a G e r m a n a r gum e n t f o r t h e
r e vi s i o n o f t h e V e r s a i lle s Tr e a t y . It w a s a t le a s t p a r t ly d ue t o
t h e s e f e e li n gs t h a t s o m e B r i t i s h p o li t i c i a n s e x p e c t e d t h e n e w
p e a c e p r o p o s a ls o f t h e Fue h r e r t o le a d ult i m a t e ly t o a p e a c e -
f uls o lut i o n o f a llp r o b le m s . St a n le y B a ld w i n s a i d i n t h e
Ho us e o f Co m m o n s ( J un e 18 , 19 36 ) , " Hi t le r h a s t o ld us
t h a t h e w i s h e s p e a c e , a n d i f a m a n t e lls m e t h a t , Iw i s h t o
t r y i t o ut . "
Th e d e t a i ls o f t h e d e li b e r a t i o n s a n d c o n ve r s a t i o n s h e ld i n
t h o s e d a y s b e t w e e n t h e L o c a r n o P o w e r s a n d t h e L e a gue
Co un c i ls e e m ut t e r ly w i t h o ut i m p o r t a n c e n o w
. Th e o f f i c i a l
d o c um e n t s d e a li n gw i t h d i f f e r e n t p h a s e s o f t h e d i s c us s i o n s
f i llm a n y vo lum e s . It w a s Ri b b e n t r o p , o ur i n f o r m a n t r e p o r t e d ,
w h o i n s i s t e d o n n o t d o i n ga n y t h i n ga b o ut B r i t a i n ' s p a t i e n t
p r o p o s a l
. Wh e n Si r Er i c P h i p p s r e m i n d e d t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
o f a q ue s t i o n n a i r e w h i c h t h e B r i t i s h h a d s ub m i t t e d t o G e r -
m a n y , h e w a s t o ld " t h a t t h e r e w o uld b e s o m e d e la y . " Th a t
b r i e f ly w o r d e d q ue s t i o n n a i r e h a d li t t le t o d o w i t h t r e a t y
o b li ga t i o n s . It a s k e d d i ve r s e b ut ge n e r a lq ue s t i o n s a b o ut G e r -
m a n y ' s i n t e n t i o n s . Re i t e r a t e d r e m o n s t r a n c e s b y Si r Er i c
e li c i t e d n o r e p ly . Up o n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , t h e
Fue h r e r h a d d e c i d e d " t h a t t h e m a t t e r s h o uld b e f ur t h e r p r o -
t r a c t e d . " An d s o i t w a s .
Wh e n a b o ut t h e m i d d le o f J uly , 19 36 , Si r Er i c i n t e n s i f i e d
h i s e f f o r t s t o ge t a n a n s w e r t o t h e q ue s t i o n n a i r e , i t w a s t h e
f o r t h c o m i n gOly m p i c G a m e s w h i c h a lle ge d ly m a d e f ur t h e r
16 1
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
d e la y n e c e s s a r y , a s " t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e Fue h r e r w a s c o m -
p le t e ly a b s o r b e d b y t h e m
. " Fi n a lly , o n Augus t
11, 19 36 , i t
w a s a n n o un c e d " t h a t t h e Fue h r e r h a d d e c i d e d t o a p p o i n t
J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p t o t h e p o s t o f Am b a s s a d o r i n L o n -
d o n
. " Fr o m t h e n o n Si r Er i c ' s i n s i s t e n c e e n d e d a ut o m a t i c a lly
.
Th e ge n t le m e n i n t h e B r i t i s h Fo r e i gn Of f i c e a t t h a t t i m e m a y
s t i llh a ve c h e r i s h e d t h e h o p e o f e ve n t ua lly h a vi n ga n a n s w e r
t o t h e i r w e ll- p r e p a r e d q ue s t i o n n a i r e i n t h e i r f i le s
. Ho w e ve r ,
i n t h e
Wi lh e ly n s t r a s s e ,
n o b o d y b o t h e r e d a n y lo n ge r t o p r e p a r e
n o t e s o n s o c o m p le x a n d s li p p e r y a t h e m e a s t r e a t y o b li ga t i o n s
.
Th e s ud d e n d e a t h o f L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h , Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
p r e d e c e s s o r i n L o n d o n , m us t h a ve c o m e t o J o a c h i m a s a
gr e a t r e li e f
. V o n Ho e s c h lo a t h e d h i m a n d Ri b b e n t r o p k n e w
t h a t Ho e s c h s p o k e o f h i m a s " De r Na r r " ( t h e f o o l) .
V o n Ho e s c h ' s s ud d e n d e a t h ga ve r i s e t o t h e us ua lr um o r s
o f s ui c i d e
. B ut t h e s e r um o r s a r e a b s o lut e ly gr o un d le s s . On
t h e a f t e r n o o n o f Ap r i lq , vo n Ho e s c h h a d a c c o m p a n i e d
Ri b b e n t r o p t o t h e Cr o y d o n a i r f i e ld
. He r e t ur n e d i m m e d i a t e ly
t o t h e Em b a s s y , r e m a r k i n gw i t h o b vi o us r e li e f t o o n e o f h i s
c o lle a gue s , " De r Na r r i s t , G o t t s e i Da n k , a b ge f lo ge n " ( Th a n k
G o d , t h e f o o lh a s f lo w n a w a y )
. He t h e n d r a f t e d a s h o r t
r e p o r t a b o ut h i s c o n ve r s a t i o n w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p f o r vo n
Ne ur a t h a n d f e e li n gun w e llw e n t t o b e d e a r ly . Th e n e x t
m o r n i n gh e b r e a k f a s t e d , lo o k e d t h r o ugh t h e t e le gr a m s t h e
Em b a s s y h a d r e c e i ve d d ur i n gt h e n i gh t , gla n c e d t h r o ugh
s o m e n e w s p a p e r s , a n d a s us ua lc a lle d f o r h i s va le t w h o h e lp e d
h i m t o d r e s s
. He h a d n e a r ly f i n i s h e d w h e n s ud d e n ly h e c o l-
la p s e d
. Af e w m i n ut e s la t e r h e w a s d e a d
. As t r o k e h a d e n d e d
h i s li f e
. Alt h o ugh Ho e s c h ' s r e m a i n s w e r e s e n t h o m e t o G e r -
m a n y , Ri b b e n t r o p d i d n o t a t t e n d t h e f un e r a l
.
Wh e n L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h w a s t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m P a r i s t o
L o n d o n i n No ve m b e r , 19 32, h e , a b a c h e lo r , " t o o k o n ly o n e
f r i e n d w i t h h i m , " a s h e h i m s e lf s a i d
. Th i s f r i e n d w a s " Ma r -
16 2
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
t i n , " a B e d li n gt o n . Ma r t i n w a s a go o d n a t ur e d , n o t ve r y
i n t e lli ge n t a n i m a l, a s B e d li n gt o n s a r e
. In t i m e Ma r t i n gr e w
o ld a n d d i e d . Ho e s c h m o ur n e d h i m a n d b ur i e d h i m i n t h e
Em b a s s y ga r d e n
. As m a llm a r b le t o m b s t o n e m a r k e d t h e d o g' s
r e s t i n gp la c e . Up o n t h i s s t o n e w a s a n i n s c r i p t i o n ,
" Me i n e m t r e ue n G e f a e h r t e n "
( To m y f a i t h f ulc o m p a n i o n )
L e o p o ld vo n Ho e s c h .
In t h e c o ur s e o f t h e Em b a s s y b ui ld i n g' s t a w d r y r e n o va t i o n ,
Ri b b e n t r o p d e c i d e d t h a t Ma r t i n ' s t i n y t o m b d i s f i gur e d t h e
ga r d e n . He o r d e r e d t h e t o m b s t o n e r e m o ve d a n d t h e gr a ve
le ve le d
. B ut a f r i e n d m a n a ge d t o s a ve t h e gr a ve p la t e f r o m
d e s t r uc t i o n .
Si n c e e a r ly i n 19 36 , J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s
An n e li e s h a d b e e n e n ga ge d i n s t o r m i n gt h e p o r t a ls o f En gli s h
s o c i e t y . Wh e n e ve r a p r o m i n e n t En gli s h m a n vi s i t e d B e r li n ,
J o a c h i m a r r a n ge d t o m e e t h i m a n d h a ve h i m a s h i s gue s t a t
lun c h e o n o r d i n n e r
. He h a d n o t a lw a y s b e e n s uc c e s s f uli n
h i s p ur s ui t s , f o r i n s o m e c a s e s Si r Er i c P h i p p s , t h e B r i t i s h
Am b a s s a d o r , a d vi s e d h i s c o un t r y m e n a ga i n s t b e c o m i n gt o o
f r i e n d ly w i t h t h e e x - c h a m p a gn e s a le s m a n . In s p i t e o f t h i s ,
J o a c h i m d i d a c h i e ve s e ve r a ln o t a b le s uc c e s s e s
.
Th e Ma r q ue s s a n d t h e Ma r c h i o n e s s o f L o n d o n d e r r y vi s i t e d
B e r li n e a r ly i n 19 36 . It w a s a p r i va t e vi s i t
. B ut t h e Ma r q ue s s
w a s k n o w n f o r h i s a n t i - b o ls h e vi s t s e n t i m e n t s a n d h i s f a s c i s t
s y m p a t h i e s
. Ri b b e n t r o p h a d m e t t h e Ma r q ue s s o n a p r e vi o us
o c c a s i o n i n L o n d o n a n d h a d i n vi t e d h i m t o h i s Da h le m vi lla .
Th i s i n vi t a t i o n w a s r e c i p r o c a t e d b y t h e Ma r q ue s s a n d t h e
Ma r c h i o n e s s w h o a s k e d t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s t o s p e n d t h e Wh i t -
s un t i d e w e e k e n d w i t h t h e m a t t h e i r c a s t le , Mo un t St e w a r t ,
n e a r B e lf a s t .
It w a s d ur i n gt h e B e r li n vi s i t o f t h e L o n d o n d e r r y s t h a t t h e
16 3
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
Ma r q ue s s a t t e n d e d a lun c h e o n gi ve n b y He r m a n n G o e r i n g .
An d G o e r i n g, i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h i s i llus t r i o us gue s t , s p o k e
a b o ut G r e a t B r i t a i n a s t h e t h i e f w h o h a d s t o le n G e r m a n y ' s
c o lo n i e s a n d r o b b e d h e r o f h e r go ld . L o n d o n d e r r y w a s o b vi -
o us ly a Na zi s y m p a t h i ze r a t t h i s t i m e . Th e la t e Am b a s s a d o r
Wi lli a m E. Do d d b lun t ly c a lls h i m , i n h i s m e m o i r s , " a Na zi
En gli s h m a n . "
P r i va t e le t t e r s f r o m
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e o f f i c i a ls h i n t e d t h a t
L o n d o n d e r r y ' s vi s i t t o G o e r i n gw a s i n t e n d e d t o p a ve t h e w a y
f o r d i s c us s i o n s o f a c o n f e r e n c e b e t w e e n G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d
G e r m a n y r e ga r d i n ga i r c r a f t c o n s t r uc t i o n li m i t a t i o n s . In a n y
c a s e , f o r t h e vi s i t o f t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s a t Mo un t St e w a r t , L o r d
L o n d o n d e r r y , w h o h a d b e e n Se c r e t a r y o f St a t e f o r Ai r f r o m
19 31 t o 19 35,
h a d a ls o a s k e d Si r Ed w a r d Elli n gt o n , c h i e f o f
s t a f f o f t h e Ro y a lAi r Fo r c e , t o b e p r e s e n t w i t h s e ve r a l
o f f i c e r s . Fr i e n d s i n t h e B e r li n Fo r e i gn Of f i c e b e li e ve d t h a t
Ri b b e n t r o p w a s t h e c a r r i e r o f p o li t i c a lp r o p o s a ls f r o m t h e
Fue h r e r t o L o n d o n d e r r y . Th e i d e a , i t w a s s a i d , w a s a n e w
p a c t , gua r a n t e e i n gG r e a t B r i t a i n ' s s a f e t y i n We s t e r n Eur o p e ,
i n c lud i n gt h e Me d i t e r r a n e a n , i f G e r m a n y s h o uld ge t a f r e e
h a n d i n Ea s t e r n Eur o p e - o n e o f t h e Fue h r e r ' s p e t i d e a s f o r
t h e " Ne w Or d e r
. " B ut n o t h i n gc a m e o ut o f t h e s e d i s c us s i o n s
s a ve r e s p e c t f o r t h e Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s up p o s e d s o c i a ls uc c e s s
.
L o n d o n d e r r y ' s i n f lue n c e i n go ve r n m e n t a lc i r c le s w a s gr o s s ly
o ve r e s t i m a t e d .
Th e B r i t i s h , h o w e ve r , d i d n o t r e s p e c t s o s i n gula r a s o c i a l
s uc c e s s . On t h e i r r e t ur n t r i p t o B e r li n , t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s
s t o p p e d i n L o n d o n f o r a f e w d a y s
. Th e y a r r i ve d t h e r e o n
J un e 3, 19 36 , e x p e c t i n gt o b e f e t e d b y L o n d o n s o c i e t y . B ut
d e s p i t e s o m e h a lf - h e a r t e d e n d e a vo r s b y t h e G e r m a n c h a r ge
d ' a f f a i r e s , P r i n c e Ot t o vo n B i s m a r c k , t h e s e e x p e c t a t i o n s d i d
n o t m a t e r i a li ze .
Th e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e w a s n a t ur a lly ve r y m uc h i n t e r e s t e d i n
16 4
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
k n o w i n gw h a t h a d go n e o n a t Mo un t St e w a r t . Th e Ri b b e n -
t r o p s h a d m a d e t h e i r t r i p i n o n e o f G o e r i n g' s la r ge a i r p la n e s .
Th e y h a d b e e n a c c o m p a n i e d b y a n o i s y ga n go f SS. m e n ,
s o m e o f t h e m s t a f f m e m b e r s o f t h e B ' ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p , o t h e r s
" a t t e n d a n t s i n SS. un i f o r m s . " Th e G e r m a n Em b a s s y i n L o n -
d o n a n d c o n s e q ue n t ly t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e c o uld n o t e x p e c t
t o b e e n li gh t e n e d a s t o t h e w i d e r i m p li c a t i o n s o f t h e m y s -
t e r i o us w e e k e n d a t Mo un t St e w a r t c a s t le f r o m t h e s e m e n
. B ut
Fue r s t Ot t o vo n B i s m a r c k h a d m a n a ge d t o ge t o n e o f h i s o w n
m e n , Fr i e s , t h e Se c r e t a r y o f L e ga t i o n , a n i n vi t a t i o n t o t h e
L o n d o n d e r r y s . Fr i e s , a p e r s o n a lf r i e n d o f t h e la t e Am b a s s a d o r
Ho e s c h , h a d a r r i ve d a t Mo un t St e w a r t s o m e h o ur s b e f o r e t h e
Ri b b e n t r o p s a p p e a r e d . Ri b b e n t r o p , s e e i n gt h e e m i s s a r y f r o m
t h e r i va lc a m p i n w h a t h e c o n s i d e r e d h i s p e r s o n a ls o c i a l
d o m a i n , w a s t a k e n a b a c k . Ne e d le s s t o s a y , t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
w a s i n f o r m e d a b o ut w h a t w e n t o n d ur i n gt h i s Wh i t s un t i d e
w e e k e n d .
J un e , 19 36 , w a s t h e c r uc i a lm o n t h i n t h e r e la t i o n s b e t w e e n
t h e " L o c a r n o p o w e r s " a n d G e r m a n y . Th e s e c ur i t y s y s t e m o f
L o c a r n o , t h e d a m w h i c h t h e vi c t o r s o f Wo r ld Wa r Ih a d
e r e c t e d w i t h t h e h e lp o f a p a c i f i e d G e r m a n y a ga i n s t t h e f lo o d
o f a n o t h e r Wo r ld Wa r , h a d c r um b le d , a n d n o b o d y c a r e d .
Hi t le r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p s a w , t o t h e i r d e li gh t , t h a t t h e r e -
m i li t a r i za t i o n o f t h e Rh i n e la n d , t h e b o ld e s t c o up t o d a t e i n
t h e p r o c e s s o f " b r e a k i n gd o w n t h e s h a c k le s o f V e r s a i lle s " h a d
s uc c e e d e d . In J un e t h e r e w a s n o lo n ge r r e a s o n t o b e a f r a i d o f
a n y t h i n gli k e a n o r ga n i ze d c o un t e r a c t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f
G e r m a n y ' s f o r m e r Wo r ld Wa r Ie n e m i e s
. Mo r e o ve r , Hi t le r
w a s n o t e ve n s up p o s e d t o p a y t h e p r i c e w h i c h h e h i m s e lf h a d
o f f e r e d : Th e gua r a n t e e p a c t a n d t h e r e e n t r y i n t o t h e L e a gue
o f Na t i o n s .
It w a s a b o ut t h e m i d d le o f J uly , 19 36 , t h a t a f r i e n d i n t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e r e p o r t e d , " B e li e ve m e , t h e b a t t le i s o ve r .
z6 5
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
No t h i n gw i llh a p p e n i n c o n s e q ue n c e o f t h e m a r c h i n t o t h e
Rh i n e la n d , n o t h i n g . Th e r e m a y b e s o m e m o r e m e e t i n gs a n d
c o n f e r e n c e s t o c o m e ; t h e r e m a y e ve n b e s o m e m o r e t r i p s t o
L o n d o n ; s o m e m o r e o r le s s p o li t e e x c h a n ge s o f n o t e s . Eve n
He r r vo n Ne ur a t h b e li e ve s , n o w , t h a t t h e d a n ge r p e r i o d i s
p a s s e d . "
An d s o i t w a s . G r e a t B r i t a i n , Fr a n c e , a n d B e lgi um c o n -
t i n ue d t o b e li e ve i n t h e p o s s i b i li t i e s o f a " s e c o n d L o c a r n o . "
G e r m a n y a n d It a ly w e r e e ve n i n vi t e d t o a t t e n d a n e w c o n -
f e r e n c e " t o r e s o lve , t h r o ugh t h e c o lla b o r a t i o n o f a llc o n -
c e r n e d , t h e s i t ua t i o n c r e a t e d b y t h e G e r m a n i n i t i a t i ve o f
Ma r c h 7 . " B ut i t w a s a lr e a d y d e c i d e d b y t h e Fue h r e r , t h a t
t h e w h o le a f f a i r w a s n o lo n ge r w o r t h c o n ve r s a t i o n s . Ap o li c y
o f p r o t r a c t i o n w a s t o b e p ur s ue d , a p o li c y w h i c h w a s t h e
i d e a lt h i n gf o r t h e " t e c h n i c i a n s o f t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e " t o
h a n d le .
Th e Fue h r e r f e lt r i gh t ly t h a t h e r e w a s a b lo o d le s s vi c t o r y
o f e n o r m o us i m p o r t ; h e h a d r e d uc e d Fr a n c e ' s p o li t i c a li n -
f lue n c e t o a n e x t e n t w h i c h lo w e r e d h e r va lue a s a t r e a t y
p a r t n e r . Th e m i li t a r y s t a f f t a lk s b e t w e e n G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d
Fr a n c e b o t h e r e d h i m li t t le , e s p e c i a lly a s h e c o n s i d e r e d t h e
e f f i c i e n c y o f t h e B r i t i s h ge n e r a ls t a f f " n e gli gi b le . " Th e
b un gli n go f t h e Et h i o p i a n a f f a i r b y t h e d e m o c r a c i e s , a n d t h e
r a i s i n go f h i s o w n s t a t ur e t h r o ugh t h e r e m i li t a r i za t i o n h a d ,
m o r e o ve r , ga i n e d h i m t h e f r i e n d s h i p o f Mus s o li n i .
Th e s i t ua t i o n w a s d e s c r i b e d i n a n o t h e r r e p o r t f r o m a f r i e n d
i n t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , " It h i n k t h a t n e ve r i n t h e h i s t o r y o f
t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e o n e w a s le f t s o m uc h i n t h e d a r k a b o ut
w h a t i s r e a lly go i n go n , a s n o w . Th e Fue h r e r s t i lls e e m s t o
s t i c k t o h i s o r i gi n a li d e a , t h a t G e r m a n y ' s p o li t i c a lf ut ur e li e s
i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n , w h e r e t h e p r o - G e r m a n
p ub li c s e n t i m e n t i n s p i t e o f c o un t e r c ur r e n t s s e e m s t o c o n -
t i n ue ga i n i n gs t r e n gt h . Th e w h o le a t m o s p h e r e i n un s e r e r
16 6
REMIL ITARIZATIONOFRHINEL AND
a lt e n B ud e
( i n o ur o ld p la c e ) h a s b e c o m e ve r y d ull . Eve n
He r r vo n Ne ur a t h a n d h i s s o n - i n - la w , Se c r e t a r y o f St a t e ,
( G e o r gvo n Ma c k e n s e n , n o w Am b a s s a d o r i n Ro m e ) , a r e
r a r e ly c o n s ult e d b y t h e Fue h r e r , w h i le He r r vo n Ri b b e n t r o p
o c c a s i o n a lly e x c h a n ge s c o ur t e s i e s w i t h t h e m
. It i s n o t t h e
r e gula r s um m e r lull . We o ld gua r d o f f i c i a ls a r e i n c r e a s i n gly
f o r c e d i n t o o r d i n a r y r o ut i n e w o r k . Th e f o r m e r b i gs h o t s i n
t h e d i f f e r e n t d i vi s i o n s a r e o c c up y i n gt h e m s e lve s w i t h t r i f li n g
a n d un i m p o r t a n t t e c h n i c a li t i e s w h i c h t h e y h a d c us t o m a r i ly
le f t t o m i n o r o f f i c i a ls a n d t h e i r a s s i s t a n t s
. Th e It a li a n d e s k h a s
e ve n b e e n d e p r i ve d o f t h e k n o w le d ge o f p o li t i c a lr e p o r t s
.
Mo s t o f It a li a n d a t a i s h a n d le d i n t h e c h a n c e lle r y o r i n He r r
vo n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s B ue r o a n d b y h i m p e r s o n a lly . Th e Fa r
Ea s t e r n Di vi s i o n i s a ls o k e p t i n t h e d a r k a b o ut s o m e d i s c us -
s i o n s w h i c h a p p a r e n t ly a r e go i n go n i n To k i o
. Th i s m a t t e r
a ls o s e e m s t o b e i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s h a n d s
. B ut t h a t s o m e t h i n go f
i m p o r t a n c e i s b r e w i n gi n t h i s r e ga r d c a n b e j ud ge d b y t h e
f a c t t h a t t h e n um b e r o f lo n gd i s p a t c h e s i n c o d e f o r To k i o i s
gr o w i n gd a i ly
. Th e y s e e m t o d e a lw i t h m a t t e r s o f a m i li t a r y
n a t ur e
. Ia m t o ld t h a t e ve r y m e s s a ge t o To k i o s t a r t s w i t h
t h e i n t r o d uc t o r y s y m b o l, " Fue r d e n Mi li t a e r a t t a c h e , P e r -
s o e n li c h zue n t zi f f e r n . " ( Fo r t h e m i li t a r y a t t a c h e - G e n e r a l
Euge n Ot t , la t e r Am b a s s a d o r i n To k i o - t o b e d e c i p h e r e d b y
h i m p e r s o n a lly
. ) Th e n a t ur e o f t h e s e s e c r e t m e s s a ge s w a s s o o n
t o b e r e ve a le d .
16 7
I0
Th e An t i - Co m i n t e r n P a c t w i t h J a p a n
INTHEe a r ly d a y s o f 19 36 , t h e Fue h r e r s ud d e n ly d e ve lo p e d
a
p r o n o un c e d i n t e r e s t i n e ve r y t h i n gJ a p a n e s e . Th e Fa r
Ea s t e r n Di vi s i o n o f t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e d us t e d i t s f i le s a n d
d i ve d h e a d lo n gi n t o w o r k . Me m o r a n d a w e r e d r a w n up . Th e
h i s t o r y a n d t h e s t r e n gt h o f t h e p o li t i c a lp a r t i e s w e r e a n a ly ze d ,
a n d t h e le a d i n gp e r s o n a li t i e s o f J a p a n w e r e s k e t c h e d t o Hi t -
le r ' s t a s t e , a b o ut h a lf a p a ge e a c h , t e r s e , p e r s o n a l, c le a r c ut ,
a n d t o t h e p o i n t .
Wh a t w a s t h i s a lla b o ut ? No b o d y i n t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e
s e e m e d t o k n o w . V o n Ne ur a t h t h o ugh t i t un n e c e s s a r y t o a s k
Hi t le r a b o ut i t d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t s o m e o f h i s c o lle a gue s
f e a r e d " un n e c e s s a r y c o m p li c a t i o n s
. " Th e Fue h r e r ' s b a s i c
i d e a , " t h a t G e r m a n y w a s n o t y e t s t r o n ge n o ugh f o r a lli a n c e s "
w o uld p r e ve n t s uc h c o m p li c a t i o n s . V o n Ne ur a t h a ls o p o i n t e d
o ut t h a t s uc h i n e x p li c a b le f i t s o f c ur i o s i t y o n t h e p a r t o f
Hi t le r h a d h a p p e n e d b e f o r e . In n um e r a b le m e m o r a n d a h a d
b e e n p r e p a r e d a t a d a y ' s n o t i c e o n o t h e r o c c a s i o n s a n d r e -
ga r d i n go t h e r p a r t s o f t h e w o r ld . It h a d us ua lly a m o un t e d t o
a w a s t e o f go o d p a p e r , a n d n o b o d y h a d b e e n a n y t h e w i s e r
a s t o t h e Fue h r e r ' s i n t e n t i o n s .
Th i s h a b i t p uzzle d m a n y o ld gua r d o f f i c i a ls . Th e K a i s e r
h a d b e e n k n o w n t o c o ve r n e a r ly e ve r y d o c um e n t t h a t w a s
s h o w n h i m w i t h r a t h e r i n s i p i d m a r gi n a li a
. Un f o r t un a t e ly
16 8
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
t h e s e j o t t i n gs f r e q ue n t ly i n f lue n c e d p o li t i c a ld e c i s i o n s
. Fr i e d -
r i c h Eb e r t , t h e f i r s t P r e s i d e n t o f t h e We i m a r Re p ub li c , h a d
w i s e ly r e f us e d t o f o llo w i n t h e K a i s e r ' s f o o t s t e p s . P a ulvo n
Hi n d e n b ur gh a d n e ve r li k e d t o r e a d m e m o r a n d a . He h a d
c e r t a i n ly n e ve r a s k e d f o r a n y a n d w a s s a t i s f i e d w h e n t h e
c h i e f o f t h e p r e s s d e p a r t m e n t , Dr . Wa lt e r Ze c h li n , t o ld h i m
i n a f i ve t o t e n m i n ut e le c t ur e w h a t t h e G e r m a n a n d t h e
i n t e r n a t i o n a lp r e s s h a d t o r e p o r t a n d t o c o m m e n t o n . Hi n d e n -
b ur gus ua lly e n d e d t h i s r e s um e b y s a y i n g, " Da s i s t w o h l
a lle s , w a s i c h w i s s e n m us s " ( t h a t s e e m s t o b e a llIh a ve
t o k n o w ) .
B ut Hi t le r h a d o t h e r i d e a s . As f a r a s n e w s p a p e r s w e r e
c o n c e r n e d , h e w a s c o n t e n t w i t h t h e f r uga lf a r e h e f o un d i n
t h e V o e lk i s c h e r B e o b a c h t e r ; o n s p e c i a lf o r e i gn p o li c y q ue s -
t i o n s h e w a s i n f o r m e d b y " m e m o s , " a s t h e y w e r e t r a d i t i o n a lly
c a lle d i n t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e . He n o t o n ly r e a d t h e m c a r e -
f ully , b ut h e r e m e m b e r e d t h e i r c o n t e n t s f o r w e e k s a n d
m o n t h s . Th e y w e r e n e ve r r e t ur n e d t o t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e f o r
t h e y w e n t o n f i le i n t h e B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p a n d t h e r e b e c a m e
t h e b a s i s f o r f ur t h e r e luc i d a t i o n . Hi t le r , w i t h h i s r e m a r k a b le
m e m o r y , o c c a s i o n a lly r e m a r k e d t h a t h e h a d r e a d t h e c o n t e n t s
o f s uc h a r e p o r t b e f o r e , b ut Ri b b e n t r o p n e ve r f a i le d t o i m -
p r e s s up o n h i m t h a t h i s
B ue r o
h a d b e e n a b le t o p r o c ur e a
n e w r e p o r t , t h e c o n t e n t s o f w h i c h c o n f i r m e d a p r e vi o us o n e
b ut w a s n e ve r t h e le s s q ui t e o r i gi n a l .
Re p o r t s o n J a p a n w h i c h h a d a r o us e d t h e s p e c i a li n t e r e s t
o f t h e Fue h r e r h a d c o m e f r o m q ui t e a n o t h e r s o ur c e . Euge n
Ot t , a n o f f i c e r w h o h a d s e r ve d f o r a b o ut t e n y e a r s a f t e r
Wo r ld Wa r Ii n Sc h le i c h e r ' s Mi n i s t e r a i n t , t h e p o li t i c a ld e -
p a r t m e n t o f t h e G e r m a n Wa r Of f i c e , h a d b e e n t e m p o r a r i ly
a s s i gn e d a s " e x c h a n ge o f f i c e r " t o o n e o f t h e a r t i lle r y un i t s o f
t h e J a p a n e s e a r m y . Th i s w a s n o t h i n gun us ua l . Af t e r h i s
r e t ur n t o G e r m a n y h e h a d a ga i n b e c o m e o n e o f G e n e r a l
16 9
THIS MAN RIB B ENTROP
Sc h le i c h e r ' s r i gh t h a n d m e n a n d a f t e r t h e Na zi m ur d e r o f
Sc h le i c h e r , i t w a s f o un d n e c e s s a r y t o d i s p a t c h h i m " s o m e -
w h e r e t o t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h i s w o r ld . " So h e b e c a m e Fi r s t
Mi li t a r y At t a c h e i n t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y i n To k i o . In h i s
h e a r t o f h e a r t s h e w a s a s o ld i e r a n d lo o k e d a t t h i n gs f r o m
t h a t a n gle , b ut h i s r e p o r t s d i d n o t li m i t t h e m s e lve s t o m a t t e r s
o f m i li t a r y i n t e lli ge n c e . He s o o n b e ga n t o i n t e r e s t h i m s e lf i n
t h e s t r uggle f o r c o n t r o lo f t h e J a p a n e s e G o ve r n m e n t t h a t w a s
go i n go n b e t w e e n c i vi li a n a n d m i li t a r y gr o up s . Hi s r e p o r t s
o n t h i s m a t t e r p a s s e d t h r o ugh t h e h a n d s o f t h e Am b a s s a d o r ,
He r b e r t vo n Di r k s e n , a n a b le d i p lo m a t , w h o s a w i n Ot t ' s
o b s e r va t i o n s a va lua b le s up p le m e n t t o h i s o w n c o m m un i c a -
t i o n s . As vo n Di r k s e n c o uld n o t s t a n d t h e To k i o c li m a t e a n d
h a d t o a b s e n t h i m s e lf f r o m h i s d ut i e s w h i le o n r e s t t r i p s t o
t h e h i lls , Euge n Ot t ' s r e p o r t s i n c r e a s i n gly s up p la n t e d t h e
Am b a s s a d o r ' s
. Th e f a c t t h a t He r r vo n Ne ur a t h , t h e Fo r e i gn
Mi n i s t e r , w a s a c o m p a t r i o t a n d f r i e n d o f t h e Sua b i a n , Ot t ,
f a c i li t a t e d t h i s d e ve lo p m e n t .
Wi t h B e r n h a r d vo n B ue lo w , Se c r e t a r y o f St a t e i n t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e , t h e r e la t i o n s b e t w e e n Wa r Of f i c e a n d Fo r -
e i gn Of f i c e w e r e e x c e lle n t
. Th i s a gr e e a b le c o n d i t i o n c h a n ge d
i m m e d i a t e ly a f t e r vo n B ue lo w ' s d e a t h o n J un e
21, 19 36 , a s
t h e Wa r Of f i c e i n s i s t e d o n ge t t i n gr e p o r t s f r o m G e r m a n
m i li t a r y a t t a c h e s a b r o a d d i r e c t ly , w i t h o ut a n y
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
c o n t r o l .
It w a s Ma j o r G e n e r a lWi lh e lm K e i t e l, t h e f i r s t o f t h e r e la -
t i ve ly f e w h i gh e r o f f i c e r s w h o h a d j o i n e d t h e Na zi p a r t y , w h o
d i r e c t e d t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Fue h r e r t o Euge n Ot t ' s r e p o r t s
o n J a p a n . Th e y c o n t a i n e d h i n t s " t h a t a gr e a t n um b e r o f
J a p a n e s e ge n e r a ls w e r e ve r y m uc h a t t r a c t e d b y t h e i d e a ls
o f t h e Na zi m o ve m e n t , t h a t s i n c e t h e c o n q ue s t o f Ma n c h ur i a
i n 19 31i m p o r t a n t s e c t i o n s o f J a p a n e s e i n d us t r y h a d li n e d up
b e h i n d t h e a ggr e s s i ve p o li c y o f t h e a r m y , a n d t h a t t h e d a n ge r
170
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
o f a B o ls h e vi s t a d va n c e w a s d r e a d e d b y m a n y o f J a p a n ' s
i n d us t r i a la n d f i n a n c i a lle a d e r s . "
Th r o ugh Ot t ' s r e p o r t s t h e Fue h r e r w a s i n d uc e d t o a s k h i s
p o li t i c a la d vi s e r a n d p e r s o n a lAm b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge , J o a c h i m
vo n Ri b b e n t r o p , t o d i r e c t t h e
B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s p e c i a l
a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i n n e r p o li t i c a ls i t ua t i o n i n J a p a n . Th e Fa r
Ea s t e r n d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e B ue r o i n s t a n t ly w e n t i n t o h i gh
ge a r . Un li m i t e d f un d s f o r t h e e x p lo i t a t i o n o f t h i s n e w li n e
b e c a m e a va i la b le . So m e o f i t s a s s i s t a n t s w e r e i m m e d i a t e ly a n d
un o f f i c i a lly s e n t t o To k i o
. Ri b b e n t r o p p ut t w o o f h i s b e s t
m e n o n t h e j o b . Ha n s vo n Ra um e r , n a m e s a k e a n d n e p h e w o f
t h e b r a i n y f o r m e r m i n i s t e r o f t h e De p a r t m e n t o f Co m m e r c e
i n t h e St r e s e m a n n p e r i o d , a n d G e o r gSt a h m e r , p o li t i c a l
m i n d e d , a m b i t i o us , r e c k le s s , s m a r t Ha us h o f e r p up i l, a n d Wa r
V e t e r a n s o r ga n i ze r , w e r e t h e s e t w o m e n .
Th e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e s o o n h e a r d o f t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e
B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
Fa r Ea s t e r n s e c t i o n , b ut d i d n o t a t t r i b ut e
a n y i m p o r t a n c e t o i t . To o f r e q ue n t ly h a d Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s ud -
d e n o ut b ur s t s o f e n e r gy le d t o n o t h i n g, t o o o f t e n h a d t h e y
b e e n a s h o w t o p r o ve h i s o w n i m p o r t a n c e t o h i m s e lf a n d t o
h i s Fue h r e r
. Eve n w h e n Ne ur a t h go t i n f o r m a t i o n t h r o ugh t h e
L o n d o n Em b a s s y t h a t St a h m e r a n d Ra um e r h a d t ur n e d up i n
L o n d o n f o r a c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e i r c h i e f a n d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p
w a s lo o k i n gf o r a n o p p o r t un i t y t o m e e t t h e J a p a n e s e Am b a s -
s a d o r , Sh i ge r uYo s h i d a , i n L o n d o n a t s o m e s o c i a le ve n t ,
n o b o d y a p p a r e n t ly t h o ugh t a n y t h i n gm uc h o f i t .
It m i gh t e ve n h a ve b e e n p ur e c o i n c i d e n c e t h a t a b o ut t h e
s a m e t i m e Am b a s s a d o r vo n Di r k s e n h a d b e e n a s k e d t o a c o n -
f e r e n c e i n To k i o ' s Fo r e i gn Of f i c e . Th e r e t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n
t ur n e d t o c o n f i d e n t i a lr e p o r t s w h i c h t h e e x c e lle n t J a p a n e s e
Se c r e t Se r vi c e i n So vi e t Rus s i a h a d c o m m un i c a t e d t o i t s
To k i o s up e r i o r s
. Th e s e r e p o r t s d e a lt w i t h t h e d e li b e r a t i o n s o f
t h e Se ve n t h Co n gr e s s o f t h e Co m m un i s t i c In t e r n a t i o n a l
I7I
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
w h i c h h a d m e t i n Mo s c o w ( Augus t ,
19 35)
w i t h a b o ut f o ur
h un d r e d d e le ga t e s f r o m s o m e f o r t y c o un t r i e s i n a t t e n d a n c e .
Th e m a i n p o i n t w a s a r a d i c a lc h a n ge i n t h e Co m i n t e r n p o li c y .
In t h e f ut ur e , t h e c o m m un i s t s w o uld n o lo n ge r f i gh t a ga i n s t
t h e i r " e n e m i e s o f y e s t e r d a y , " t h e b o ur ge o i s d e m o c r a c y , b ut
f i gh t o n o n e f r o n t w i t h t h e m " w i t h c o m p le t e un s e lf i s h n e s s "
a ga i n s t t h e " c o m m o n e n e m y , Fa s c i s m . "
Th e " c o n f i d e n t i a lr e p o r t s , " t h e c o n t e n t s o f w h i c h w e r e
b r o ugh t t o t h e n o t i c e o f Am b a s s a d o r vo n Di r k s e n - a s r e -
ve a le d b y h i m i n c o n ve r s a t i o n s h e ld i n Wa s h i n gt o n w i t h
m e m b e r s o f t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y o n h i s w a y t o B e r li n i n t h e
f i r s t w e e k s o f 19 38 - c o n t a i n e d t h e a s s e r t i o n " t h a t G e r m a n y
a n d J a p a n w e r e t h e c o un t r i e s t h a t h a d b e e n s i n gle d o ut b y
t h e Co m i n t e r n a s t h e s p e c i a lo b j e c t i ve s o f i t s o p e r a t i o n s . "
At t h e e n d o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e i n t h e J a p a n e s e Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e , i t w a s s ugge s t e d t o Am b a s s a d o r vo n Di r k s e n t h a t h e
" r e p o r t t o h i s go ve r n m e n t t h e w i lli n gn e s s o f J a p a n t o e n t e r
i n t o d i s c us s i o n s r e ga r d i n ga n a gr e e m e n t f o r t h e e x c h a n ge o f
i n f o r m a t i o n o n c o m m un i s t i c a c t i vi t i e s i n t h e r e s p e c t i ve c o un -
t r i e s . " Suc h " e x c h a n ge s o f i n f o r m a t i o n " w e r e a lr e a d y b e i n g
p r a c t i c e d t o a s m a lle x t e n t . Th e To k i o Ho m e Of f i c e De p a r t -
m e n t o f P o li c e Af f a i r s n o t o n ly e x c h a n ge d r e p o r t s w i t h t h e
c o r r e s p o n d i n gd e p a r t m e n t i n t h e Re i c h s - un d P r e us s i s c h e s
Mi n i s t e r i um d e s In n e r n b ut h a d s uggge s t e d , o n va r i o us o c c a -
s i o n s , t h e e x p uls i o n o f " K o r e a n a gi t a t o r s , " w h o , p o s s e s s i n g
J a p a n e s e p a s s p o r t s , w e r e li vi n gun m o le s t e d i n Na zi G e r m a n y .
Th e G e r m a n a ut h o r i t i e s h a d c o m p li e d , b ut i n s o m e m y s -
t e r i o us m a n n e r t h e o b j e c t s o f t h i s p e r s e c ut i o n w e r e w a r n e d
i n t i m e t o p e r m i t t h e m t o m o ve o n t o s a f e r p la c e s .
At t h e t i m e o f vo n Di r k s e n ' s c o n ve r s a t i o n s i n t h e To k i o
Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , t h e J a p a n e s e Am b a s s a d o r t o G e r m a n y , K i n -
t o m o V i s c o un t Mus h a k o j i , f o llo w i n gi n s t r uc t i o n s f r o m h i s
go ve r n m e n t , c a lle d o n vo n Ne ur a t h . Th i s m o ve b r o ugh t t h e
1 7 2
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
m a t t e r t o t h e n o t i c e o f t h e G e r m a n go ve r n m e n t d i r e c t ly .
Th e G e r m a n Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r i m m e d i a t e ly r e p o r t e d t o t h e
Fue h r e r , w h o s a w , i n t h e J a p a n e s e p r o p o s a l, a r e a lgo d s e n d
.
He d e c i d e d " t h a t t h e d i s c us s i o n s w i t h t h e J a p a n e s e s h o uld b e
h a n d le d b y J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p un d e r h i s , t h e Fue h r e r ' s ,
p e r s o n a ls up e r vi s i o n . " Wh e n vo n Ne ur a t h r e ve a le d t h i s d e c i -
s i o n t o V i s c o un t Mus h a k o j i , h e h i t a s n a g
. Th e Am b a s s a d o r
d e c la r e d t h a t un d e r t h e c i r c um s t a n c e s h e w o uld d e s i gn a t e t h e
m i li t a r y a t t a c h e , Hi r o s h i Os h i m a , t o t a k e c a r e o f t h e n e go -
t i a t i o n s w i t h He r r vo n Ri b b e n t r o p . An d vo n Ne ur a t h a n d
V i s c o un t Mus h a k o j i b o t h a gr e e d n o t t o i n t e r f e r e un n e c e s -
s a r i ly . As a m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e p r o p o s e d d i s c us s i o n s d i d n o t
s e e m t o b e o f gr e a t i m p o r t a n c e . Th e y c o uld r e s ult o n ly i n a
f o r m a lc o n f i r m a t i o n o f p o li t i c a lc o o p e r a t i o n a n d a p o o li n g
o f n e w s . Th e la t t e r w a s a lr e a d y f un c t i o n i n g . No t h i n g, h o w -
e ve r , c o uld h a ve s ui t e d Ri b b e n t r o p b e t t e r . In Euge n Ot t ' s
r e p o r t s , Os h i m a , w h o h a d b e e n a m i li t a r y a t t a c h e a t t h e
B e r li n J a p a n e s e Em b a s s y f r o m t h e b e gi n n i n go f
19 35,
w a s
d e s c r i b e d a s " a m a n w h o b e lo n gs t o t h e i n n e r c i r c le o f J a p a n ' s
m i li t a r y c a m a r i lla a n d t h e r e f o r e ve r y w e lli n f o r m e d a b o ut
e ve r y t h i n gc o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e m i li t a r i s t s a n d t h e i r p la n s f o r
t h e f ut ur e . "
Out o f t h i s s e t - up a s o m e w h a t lud i c r o us s i t ua t i o n a r o s e .
Th e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e w a s m o r e f r i e n d ly t o Ch i n a t h a n t o
J a p a n . Ex c e lle n t t r a d e r e la t i o n s e x i s t e d b e t w e e n G e r m a n y
a n d t h e f o r m e r , a n d t h e r e w a s e ve n a gr o up o f G e r m a n m i li -
t a r y e x p e r t s , h e a d e d b y G e n e r a lAle x a n d e r vo n Fa lk e n h a us e n ,
a d vi s i n gCh i a n gK a i - s h e k . B ut t h e Fue h r e r , d e s p i t e vo n Ne u-
r a t h ' s a d vi c e t o t h e c o n t r a r y , w a s d e t e r m i n e d t o c o m e t o
t e r m s w i t h t h e " Ar y a n s o f t h e Ea s t . " It w a s e ve n p o s s i b le
t h a t i n o r d e r t o ga i n J a p a n ' s f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o o p e r a t i o n h e
w o uld m a k e a n a lli a n c e w i t h h e r . It i s p r o b a b le t h a t h e
t h o ugh t s uc h a n a lli a n c e w o uld b e o f gr e a t i m p o r t a n c e i n
1
7
3
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
t h e e x e c ut i o n o f " t h e m a s t e r p la n , " t h e p la n t o p e r s ua d e
B r i t a i n t o gr a n t G e r m a n y " a f r e e h a n d i n t h e Ea s t .
.
. "
Th e t e r m " Ea s t " w a s , o f c o ur s e , t o b e ge n e r o us ly i n t e r p r e t e d
.
B ut t h e s t ub b o r n B r i t i s h , d e s p i t e gi vi n gi n o n m a n y p o i n t s ,
f a i le d t o s h o w e n t h us i a s m f o r Hi t le r ' s la t e s t p e t s c h e m e .
Ab e t t e r b a s i s f o r d i s c us s i o n s w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n c o uld p o s -
s i b ly b e f o un d i f G e r m a n y e n t e r e d i n t o m ut ua lun d e r s t a n d i n g
w i t h o t h e r p o w e r s . Th e a c h i e ve m e n t o f t h i s w a s n o t s i m p le ,
f o r t h e n e w G e r m a n y h a d o n ly e n e m i e s a m o n gt h e o t h e r
n a t i o n s . Eve n Mus s o li n i ' s c o o p e r a t i o n h a d n o t a s y e t b e e n
d e f i n i t e ly w o n . At t h i s t i m e h e w a s b lo c k i n gG e r m a n y ' s
i n t e r e s t s w h e r e ve r h e c o uld , e s p e c i a lly i n t h e B a lk a n s a n d i n
Aus t r i a . So m e t h i n gh a d t o b e d o n e .
P e r h a p s t h e d i s c us s i o n s w i t h J a p a n o n a c o m m o n s t a n d
a ga i n s t t h e " m ut ua le n e m y B o ls h e vi s m " w o uld h a ve s ub -
s t a n t i a lr e s ult s . Mo r e o ve r , s e ve r a lo f t h e Fue h r e r ' s f r i e n d s
a n d a d vi s e r s h a d p o i n t e d o ut t i m e a n d a ga i n t h a t f o r a n
e f f e c t i ve f i gh t a ga i n s t B o ls h e vi s m c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h J a p a n w a s
a p r i m e n e c e s s i t y . G e r m a n y ' s f a m o us ge o p o li t i c i a n , P r o f e s s o r
K a r lHa us h o f e r , a n e x p e r t o n a llq ue s t i o n s r e ga r d i n gJ a p a n ,
t h e c o un t r y i n w h i c h h e h a d li ve d f o r m a n y y e a r s , h a d us e d
h i s f o r m e r a s s i s t a n t , Rud o lf He s s , m o r e t h a n o n c e t o i m p r e s s
up o n Hi t le r t h e d e s i r a b i li t y o f ga i n i n gJ a p a n ' s f r i e n d s h i p . On
t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e Fue h r e r k n e w t h a t t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e ,
e s p e c i a lly vo n Ne ur a t h , w a s s us p i c i o us o f J a p a n ' s p o li c y . He
a ls o k n e w t h a t Hj a lm a r Sc h a c h t r e a li ze d t h e gr e a t d a n ge r o f
J a p a n e s e c o m p e t i t i o n i n t h e So ut h Am e r i c a n , Ne a r Ea s t , a n d
t h e In d i a n m a r k e t s . To o , t h e i n f lue n t i a lHa m b ur ga n d B r e m e n
e x p o r t e r s a s w e lla s t h e s h i p p i n gi n t e r e s t s f a vo r e d f r i e n d ly
r e la t i o n s w i t h Ch i n a a n d p a r t i c ula r ly f e a r e d t h e p o s s i b i li t y o f
a s e t b a c k i n b us i n e s s r e la t i o n s w i t h t h a t c o un t r y .
In t h e m e a n t i m e , t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n s b e t w e e n J o a c h i m a n d
Hi r o s h i Os h i m a w e n t o n w i t h o ut t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e i n t e r e s t -
1 7 4
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
i n gi t s e lf i n t h e m
. V o n Ne ur a t h h a d w i s e ly d e c i d e d n o t t o
i n t e r f e r e w i t h J o a c h i m ' s
Ar b e i t s f e ld ( d o m a i n ) w h e n e ve r t h e
Fue h r e r h a d e x p r e s s ly a s s i gn e d a t a s k t o h i s " p e r s o n a lc o l-
la b o r a t o r i n m a t t e r s o f f o r e i gn p o li c y . " An d vo n Ne ur a t h ' s
p a s s i vi t y h a d s lo w ly b ut s ur e ly p e n e t r a t e d t h e w h o le Fo r -
e i gn Of f i c e
. Mo s t o f i t s m e m b e r s w e r e n o w a p a t h e t i c . Th e y
c o n s o le d t h e m s e lve s b y a c k n o w le d gi n gt h a t n o r m a la d va n c e -
m e n t w a s , a t le a s t , n o t h a m p e r e d b y t h i s s t a t e o f a f f a i r s , a n d
t h e y c o n c lud e d t h a t t h e b e s t o n e c o uld d o , i n s uc h t i m e s , w a s
n o t t o b e c o m e c o n s p i c uo us
. As Si e ge s s a i d , w h e n a s k e d w h a t
h e d i d d ur i n gt h e Fr e n c h r e vo lut i o n , " Is uc c e e d e d i n li vi n g. "
Th e c o n ve r s a t i o n s b e t w e e n Ri b b e n t r o p a n d Os h i m a p r o -
gr e s s e d s lo w ly
. Os h i m a h a d t o r e p o r t t o h i s go ve r n m e n t o n
e ve r y d e t a i l
. Th e J a p a n e s e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e w a s t a k i n gt h e
f o r m ula t i o n o f t h e a gr e e m e n t ve r y s e r i o us ly , c a ut i o us ly a vo i d -
i n ga n y t h i n gt h a t w e n t b e y o n d t h e i m m e d i a t e p ur p o s e o f
t h e p a c t . Ri b b e n t r o p , t o o , w a s o c c up i e d w i t h m a n y o t h e r
t i m e c o n s um i n gm a t t e r s .
Os h i m a d e s i r e d a p r i va t e a ud i e n c e w i t h t h e Fue h r e r , a n d
o n ly a f t e r m a n y d e la y s Ri b b e n t r o p a r r a n ge d i t . Th e Fue h r e r ,
i n a lo n gt i r a d e , e la b o r a t e d h i s o w n i d e a s o n G e r m a n - J a p a n e s e
c o o p e r a t i o n . Os h i m a k n e w t h a t h e w o uld n o t b e a b le t o ge t
t h e J a p a n e s e G o ve r n m e n t t o a c c e p t Hi t le r ' s f a r - f lun gs c h e m e ,
b ut i n t a k i n gle a ve - h e h a d b e e n c a lle d t o To k i o t o r e p o r t -
h e e x p r e s s e d t h e h o p e t h a t h i s go ve r n m e n t w o uld a gr e e t o
s o m e e x t e n s i o n o f i t s o r i gi n a lp r o p o s a l
.
B ut Os h i m a r e t ur n e d t o B e r li n , i n Augus t , 19 36 , e m p t y -
h a n d e d . Hi s go ve r n m e n t , o n t h e a d vi c e o f c e r t a i n le ve l
h e a d e d , h i gh o f f i c i a ls i n To k i o ' s Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , h a d d e c i d e d
t h a t t h e An t i - Co m i n t e r n P a c t , a s p r o p o s e d b y t h e J a p a n e s e
G o ve r n m e n t a n d a s d r a f t e d o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e s e p r o p o s a ls ,
w a s a b s o lut e ly s ui t e d t o i t s p ur p o s e .
Th e Ch i n e s e G o ve r n m e n t h a d , i n t h e m e a n t i m e , h e a r d o f
1 7 5
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
t h e p e n d i n gJ a p a n e s e - G e r m a n c o n ve r s a t i o n s . Wh e n i t b e -
c a m e k n o w n t h a t t h e G e r m a n - J a p a n e s e An t i - Co m i n t e r n P a c t
h a d b e e n s i gn e d i n B e r li n , Ch i n a ' s p o li t i c a la n d c o m m e r c i a l
w o r ld w a s e n r a ge d . Ma n y Ch i n e s e le a d e r s t ur n e d i m m e d i a t e ly
a n d d e c i s i ve ly a n t i - G e r m a n . Th e G e r m a n m i li t a r y m i s s i o n
d i s c us s e d d e p a r t ur e , b ut n o b o d y le f t . G e r m a n m e r c h a n t s i n
Ch i n a a ls o r a ge d , f o r t h i s s o m e w h a t w h i m s i c a ld e ve lo p m e n t i n
G e r m a n p o li t i c s m e a n t t h e e n d o f t h e i r s uc c e s s f ule n d e a vo r s .
V o n Ne ur a t h a n d t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e w o n d e r e d , a s us ua l,
w h a t a t t i t ud e t o t a k e . At la s t t h e y d e c i d e d t h a t t h e An t i -
Co m i n t e r n P a c t , b e c a us e i t w a s n o t n e go t i a t e d t h r o ugh
p r o p e r c h a n n e ls , w a s o n e o f t h e Fue h r e r ' s p r i va t e a f f a i r s .
Th e y w e r e j o y f ully r e li e ve d w h e n Ri b b e n t r o p w a s c a lle d
f r o m L o n d o n t o s i gn i t . No w t h e w h o le w o r ld w o uld k n o w
t h a t t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e h a d n o t h a d a n y t h i n gt o d o w i t h t h i s
f a r - r e a c h i n gd e c i s i o n a n d t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p h a d . Ri b b e n t r o p
w a s ut t e r ly d e li r i o us w i t h j o y .
Th e d a y f i x e d f o r t h e c e r e m o n i o us s i gn i n go f t h e d o c u-
m e n t , No ve m b e r 25, 19 36 , a p p r o a c h e d . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p la n e
s t o o d w a i t i n gi n Cr o y d o n . Th e c h a n n e lw a s s t o r m y a n d
f o ggy . Ri b b e n t r o p w a s a d vi s e d n o t t o m a k e t h e j o ur n e y b y
a i r . Th a t p o s s i b ly w o uld h a ve c a us e d h i m t o m i s s s i gn i n gt h i s
t r e a t y w h i c h h e r e ga r d e d w i t h p a t e r n a lt e n d e r n e s s . De s p i t e
w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s , d e s p i t e w a r n i n gs , h e f le w t o B e r li n ,
a r r i ve d i n t i m e , a n d h i s s i gn a t ur e a d o r n s t h e i m p o r t a n t d o c u-
m e n t
. L e ga lly Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s i gn a t ur e c o uld n o t b i n d t h e
Re i c h a t t h a t t i m e . J a p a n m us t h a ve b e e n a s s ur e d o f i t s
le ga li t y , f o r t h e G e r m a n Fo r e i gn Of f i c e t h e d o c um e n t " d i d
n o t e x i s t . "
In J a p a n i t s e lf , t h e P a c t w a s n o t c o n s i d e r e d a s s o m e t h i n g
o f gr e a t i m p o r t a n c e . So m e o f f i c i a la n d s e m i - o f f i c i a ld e m o n -
s t r a t i o n s w e r e a r r a n ge d . Th e m o s t i m p r e s s i ve o f t h e s e w a s a
p r o c e s s i o n o f s c h o o lc h i ld r e n w a vi n gJ a p a n e s e a n d Na zi f la gs .
176
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
Th i s d e m o n s t r a t i o n w a s o r ga n i ze d b y t h e c o m b i n e d e f f o r t s
o f To k i o ' s G e r m a n c o lo n y , t h e y o un ge r m e m b e r s o f t h e
G e r m a n Em b a s s y , a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g
B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p
e m i s s a r i e s
. It s e e m s t h a t i t w a s q ui t e a c o s t ly a f f a i r , t h e m o s t
e x p e n s i ve i t e m b e i n gt h e J a p a n e s e e q ui va le n t o f i c e c r e a m
c o n e s
. Af t e r le n gt h y d i s c us s i o n s a b o ut w h o s h o uld p a y f o r
t h i s va s t e x p e n d i t ur e , t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e s uc c e e d e d i n b ur d e n -
i n gt h e B ue r o Ri b b e n t r o p w i t h t h e c o s t s
. At la s t a vi c t o r y f o r
t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e .
Th e o f f i c i a lr e a c t i o n i n J a p a n t o t h e s i gn i n go f t h e P a c t
w a s d e c i d e d ly a c o o lo n e
. Wh i le J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p .
t r i e d d e s p e r a t e ly t o m a gn i f y t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e a gr e e -
m e n t , t h e J a p a n e s e d i d e ve r y t h i n gt o m i n i m i ze i t
. St i llt h e r e
w a s t h e " s up p le m e n t a r y p r o t o c o l" t h e t e x t o f w h i c h w a s
n e ve r p ub li s h e d
. Th i s m y s t e r i o us c i r c um s t a n c e a r o us e d s us -
p i c i o n , t o s a y n o t h i n go f c ur i o s i t y
.
At t h e b e gi n n i n go f 19 37, Iw a s a d vi s e d b y o n e o f m y o ld
c o lle a gue s " t h a t t h e s e c r e t p r o t o c o le m b o d i e d n o t h i n gb ut a
w o r k i n gs c h e m e f o r t h e t e c h n i c a li t i e s o f t h e c o o p e r a t i o n b e -
t w e e n t h e J a p a n e s e a n d G e r m a n Ho m e Of f i c e s . " It w a s
f ur t h e r m e n t i o n e d " t h a t a n e x c h a n ge o f o f f i c i a ls , s p e c i a li zi n g
i n a n t i - c o m i n t e r n a c t i vi t i e s w a s c o n t e m p la t e d
. " An d i n 19 38 ,
a " s p e c i a ld e le ga t e o f t h e
Re i c h s m i n i s t e r i um d e s In n e r n
( G e r m a n Ho m e Of f i c e ) , i n t h e p e r s o n o f G us t a vHub e r , w a s
a d d e d t o t h e s t a f f o f t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y i n To k i o . " It c a n
b e t a k e n f o r gr a n t e d , t h a t t h e J a p a n e s e a ls o d e le ga t e d o n e o r
m o r e e x p e r t s o f s i m i la r e x p e r i e n c e t o t h e s t a f f o f t h e i r B e r li n
Em b a s s y i n s p i t e o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e o f f i c i a l
V e r ze i c b n i s d e r
Mi t gli e d e r d e s Di p lo m a t i s c h e n K o r p s n e ve r li s t e d t h e m . B ut
p e r h a p s t h e r e w a s m o r e b e h i n d t h e " s up p le m e n t a r y p r o t o c o l . "
Th e Fue h r e r ' s i d e a o f m a k i n gt h e An t i - Co m i n t e r n P a c t
w i t h J a p a n t h e n uc le us f o r a c o m m o n Eur o p e a n f r o n t , i n -
c lud i n gG r e a t B r i t a i n , b ut e x c lud i n g" d e ge n e r a t e d Fr a n c e "
1
7 7
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
w h o " h a d gi ve n e vi d e n t p r o o f o f h e r d e c a d e n c e b y f a lli n g
s o lo w a s t o a s s o c i a t e h e r s e lf w i t h B o ls h e vi s m , " s e e m e d , e ve n
t o Ri b b e n t r o p , p r e m a t ur e a t t h a t t i m e . It t o o k n e a r ly a y e a s
b e f o r e It a ly w a s r e a d y t o j o i n ( No ve m b e r 6 , 19 37) ;
i t t o o k
a n o t h e r y e a r un t i la " c ult ur a lp a c t " w a s a r r a n ge d b e t w e e n
J a p a n a n d Hun ga r y ( No ve m b e r 13, 19 38 ) . Th i s c ult ur a l
p a c t f a i le d , h o w e ve r , t o p le a s e Ri b b e n t r o p , a n d le t t e r s f r o m
B e r li n m e n t i o n e d " t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s f ur i o us b e c a us e t h e
Hun ga r i a n s w i t h t h e h e lp o f J a p a n h a d s t o le n h i s t h un d e r
. "
B ut Ri b b e n t r o p s i gn e d a s i m i la r a gr e e m e n t f o r G e r m a n y o n
t h e s e c o n d a n n i ve r s a r y o f t h e An t i - Co m i n t e r n P a c t
. J a p a n
a n d G e r m a n y t i m e d t h e a c c e s s i o n o f Ma n c h uk uo ( Fe b r ua r y
24,
1 9 39 )
s o c le ve r ly t h a t Hun ga r y s i gn e d s i m ult a n e o us ly
.
On Ma r c h 27, Fr a n c o Sp a i n f o llo w e d
. Th e s i gn i n gup o f
Slo va k i a w a s o n e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s f o r G e r m a n y ' s gr a n t i n g
s e m i - i n d e p e n d e n c e t o t h i s p up p e t s t a t e
. Ro um a n i a ' s , Cr o a t i a ' s ,
a n d f i n a lly B ulga r i a ' s s i gn a t ur e s w e r e t h e r e s ult s o f t h e m i li -
t a r y d e ve lo p m e n t s o f Wo r ld Wa r II
. An d t h e i r s i gn a t ur e s
f i n a lly f o r c e d t h e m , a f t e r P e a r lHa r b o r , t o n o t i f y t h e Un i t e d
St a t e s , " t h a t t h e y w e r e a t w a r w i t h t h a t c o un t r y o w i n gt o
t h e s t i p ula t i o n s o f p r e vi o us a gr e e m e n t s . "
J o a c h i m m a d e e a c h n e w s i gn i n go f t h e P a c t a c e r e m o n i o us
a f f a i r
. Hi s va n i t y d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e w o r ld a t la r ge b e r e -
m i n d e d o ve r a n d o ve r a ga i n , t h a t h e , t h e gr e a t a n d f a r s i gh t e d
m a s t e r o f Eur o p e a n p o li t i c s , h a d b e e n t h e i n i t i a t o r o f t h e
" t r i a n gle a gr e e m e n t " ( G e r m a n y , J a p a n , It a ly ) , t h e b e gi n n i n g
o f a n e w " w o r ld o r d e r " ( We lt o r d n un g) .
An d h e t o o k gr e a t
p a i n s t o s t r e n gt h e n h i s s c a t t e r e d k n o w le d ge o f t h e h i s t o r y o f
t h e n a t i o n s i n vo lve d s o t h a t i n d i s c us s i o n s w i t h Ax i s p a r t n e r s
h i s m i li t a r y b e a r i n ga n d t e m p e s t uo us a r gum e n t s m i gh t f i n d
s o m e s up p o r t i n i n t e lle c t ua lc o m p e t e n c e
. B ut t h e k n o w le d ge
h e a t t a i n e d b y le c t ur e s gi ve n h i m b y s t a f f m e m b e r s w h o
k n e w t h e d i ve r s e b a c k gr o un d s o f t h e n e w a lli e s r e m a i n e d
178
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
f r a gm e n t a r y . On c e a s a h e a t e d d i s c us s i o n o n Fa r Ea s t e r n
p o li c y w a s go i n go n i n h i s a n t e c h a m b e r a m o n gm e m b e r s o f
h i s s t a f f , o n e un i f o r m e d c o n n o i s s e ur d i s c us s e d t h e r e s ult s o f
t h e p e a c e o f Sh i m o n o s e k i w h i c h e n d e d t h e J a p a n e s e - Ch i n a
Wa r o f 18 9 5 . Ri b b e n t r o p h a d e n t e r e d t h e r o o m w i t h o ut i n t e r -
r up t i n gt h e li ve ly c o n ve r s a t i o n . B ut s ud d e n ly h e a s k e d , " Wh o
w a s t h i s d i p lo m a t i s t , Sh i m o n o s e k i ? " Hi s le a r n e d d i s c i p le s
w e r e h a r d p ut n o t t o la ugh i n h i s f a c e .
Ri b b e n t r o p o r d e r e d a p o m p o us b ut s up p o s e d ly h a n d s o m e
m a ga zi n e t o b e p ub li s h e d . It w a s c a lle d
B e r li n Ro m To k i o ,
a n d i t w a s p r i n t e d o n f o o ls c a p s i ze p a p e r o f t h e f i n e s t m a k e .
It w a s a d o r n e d w i t h p i c t ur e s o f t h e Fue h r e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p ,
e a c h o f w h i c h o c c up i e d a f ullp a ge . Th e t e x t w a s i n G e r m a n ,
It a li a n , a n d J a p a n e s e , a n d f o r t h e la t t e r s p e c i a lt y p e h a d b e e n
d e s i gn e d a n d c ut . Th e f i r s t i s s ue r a n t o o n e h un d r e d t h o u-
s a n d c o p i e s . It w a s d i s t r i b ut e d b y t h e G e r m a n m i s s i o n s a b r o a d
t o a lls t a t e s m e n , m e m b e r s o f t h e va r i o us p a r li a m e n t s , e d i t o r s ,
w r i t e r s , a n d h o t e la n d s h i p li b r a r i e s . Th e f r e i gh t a lo n e c o s t
a f o r t un e . B ut m o n e y d i d n o t m a t t e r , a n d f o r m o n t h s e m -
b a s s i e s , le ga t i o n s , c o n s ula t e s , a n d a ge n c i e s w e r e s w a m p e d
w i t h t h i s " i m p o r t a n t p ub li c a t i o n . " Un h a p p i ly t h e r e w a s n o
w a y o f ge t t i n gr i d o f t h e m , f o r i t w a s i m p o s s i b le t o f i n d
m a n y p e o p le i n t e r e s t e d i n He r r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s e lf - a d ve r t i s i n g
c a m p a i gn . Am o n t h a f t e r t h e f i r s t d i s t r i b ut i o n , t h e G e r m a n
o f f i c e s a b r o a d r e c e i ve d a n e w c i r c ula r i n q ui r i n gh o w m a n y
a d d i t i o n a lc o p i e s c o uld b e " us e f ully d i s t r i b ut e d . " Eve r y e m -
b a s s y , le ga t i o n , a n d c o n s ula t e o r d e r e d a n e w b a t c h , a lt h o ugh
i t w a s a lm o s t i m p o s s i b le t o m o ve a b o ut i n t h e m b e c a us e o f
t h e p a p e r a va la n c h e
. It s e e m e d t h a t t h e w o r ld ' s h a p p i n e s s
d e p e n d e d o n t h e c h i e f ' s b r a i n c h i ld .
J o a c h i m h a d a ve r y s p e c i a lr e a s o n f o r i n s i s t i n go n t h e
w i d e s t d i s t r i b ut i o n o f t h i s f i r s t i s s ue . It c o n t a i n e d a n " a n o n y -
m o us s t ud y " t i t le d Ac t i ve G e r m a n Fo r e i gn P o li c y . Th i s
1 7 9
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
s t ud y w a s b a s e d o n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s o w n h a n d w r i t t e n n o t e s ,
r e w r i t t e n b y t h e c h i e f o f t h e Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r ' s p e r s o n a l
p r e s s d e p a r t m e n t , Dr
. P a ulSc h m i d t , a d ull- w i t t e d p o ly glo t .
In f e w o t h e r d o c um e n t s i s Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c a p a c i t y f o r s w a llo w -
i n gh i s o w n s e lf - p r a i s e s h o w n t o s uc h a n e x t e n t . In e s s e n c e h e
s a y s , " . . .
Th e Fue h r e r f r e q ue n t ly m a d e i t c le a r t h a t h e
o w e d h i s s uc c e s s e s , a s i d e f r o m t h e un q ue s t i o n i n gc o n f i d e n c e ,
f a i t h , a n d d e vo t i o n o f t h e G e r m a n p e o p le , t o t h e gr o up o f
lo y a la n d un f li n c h i n gm e n t o w h o s e e f f e c t i ve c a r e a n d a d m i n -
i s t r a t i o n t h e d i f f e r e n t d e p a r t m e n t s o f s t a t e a n d s o c i e t y a r e
e n t r us t e d . Th e G e r m a n p e o p le a r e f ully a w a r e t o d a y , a f t e r
t h e s uc c e s s e s i n f o r e i gn p o li t i c s i n t h e p a s t y e a r s , t h a t t h e
Fue h r e r i s p r i vi le ge d t o h a ve a s Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r a c r e a t i ve
a n d a c t i ve p e r s o n a li t y , w h o , i m b ue d w i t h t h e Fue h r e r ' s
i d e a ls , i s c a p a b le o f r e a li zi n gt h e m i n t h e s p h e r e o f w o r ld
p o li t i c a ld y n a m i c s a n d i n t h e li gh t o f a n e w o r d e r f o r i n t e r -
n a t i o n a lc o - e x i s t e n c e
. Th e G e r m a n p e o p le w e r e a b le t o
w i t n e s s t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f o b s o le t e d i p lo m a t i c n o t i o n s b y
t h e G e r m a n Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r w h o t h r e w h i m s e lf un r e -
s e r ve d ly i n t o t h e t a s k o f b ui ld i n gup n e w p r i n c i p le s w h i c h
w o uld b e t t e r c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e vi t a ln e e d s o f t h e n a t i o n s a n d
w o uld s a f e gua r d a n o r ga n i c a n d p e a c e f ulf ut ur e .
" P a r t i c ula r ly t h e h i s t o r i c a le ve n t s o f Ma r c h o f t h i s y e a r
h a ve b o r n e o ut a n e w t h e t r ut h o f t h e Fue h r e r ' s w o r d s b e f o r e
t h e Re i c h s t a gJ a n ua r y 30,
19 39
:
`Im us t s t r e s s i n t h i s h o ur t h e
f a c t t h a t , n e x t t o t h e i m p uls i ve a n d i n s p i r i n gd e e d s o f t h e
Fi e ld Ma r s h a l, o ur o ld p a r t y m e m b e r G o e r i n g, i t w a s t h e c o r -
r e c t a s w e lla s b o ld j ud gm e n t i n ge n e r a la n d o ut s t a n d i n g
h a n d li n gi n d e t a i lo f a lld i p lo m a t i c p r o b le m s o n t h e p a r t o f
p a r t y m e m b e r Ri b b e n t r o p t h a t h a ve m o s t e f f e c t i ve ly a s s i s t e d
m e i n a t t a i n i n gm y p o li t i c a le n d s . '
" Th e s e w o r d s a r e n o t o n ly a n e x p r e s s i o n o f gr a t i t ud e a n d
a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r a p e r f o r m a n c e w h i c h a f t e r y e a r s o f p r e p a -
I8 0
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
r a t i o n f o un d i t s c li m a x i n t h e t e lli n gd i p lo m a t i c s uc c e s s e s o f
t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s , b ut a ls o a h i n t o f w h a t q ua li t i e s t h e
Fue h r e r t h i n k s h i s f o r e i gn m i n i s t e r s h o uld h a ve - q ua li t i e s
w h i c h a r e s p e c t a c ula r ly un i t e d i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p e r s o n a li t y .
Ap o li t i c a lle a d e r s h i p t h a t i s e a ge r f o r r e s ult s a n d i n t e n s e ly
a c t i ve h a s n o us e f o r a c o o lc o n t e m p la t i o n o f d i p lo m a t i c p r o c -
e s s e s , f o r s c e p t i c i s m i n t h e f a c e o f n e w e n t e r p r i s e s o r f o r a
r e s i gn e d a t t i t ud e w h i c h m e r e ly c o m p r e h e n d s e ve n t s b ut
b lo c k s a lld e t e r m i n e d e f f o r t .
" Th e n a t i o n a ls o c i a li s t i d e a o f d e e d s a n d t h e p r i n c i p le o f
c o n s t r uc t i ve a c t i o n i s p a r t o f i t s s y s t e m . Ri b b e n t r o p i s f o r
t h i s ve r y r e a s o n t h e i d e a lf o r e i gn m i n i s t e r o f t h e G e r m a n
p e o p le w h o h a ve f ully gr a s p e d t h i s un d e r ly i n gi d e a . Hi s
c r e a t i ve i m a gi n a t i o n a n d h i s va s t c o n c e p t i o n s , w h i c h m o ve
i n e n t i r e ly n e w p a t h s a n d un d e r t o t a lly c h a n ge d c o n d i t i o n s ,
a r e j o i n e d t o a c t i vi t y a n d r e s o lve a t a m o m e n t ' s n o t i c e . Suc h
a r e t h e p r e m i s e s t h a t e n a b le h i m t o t h i n k a n d w o r k i n t h e
f r a m e w o r k o f t h e Fue h r e r ' s f a r - r e a c h i n gs c h e m e s .
" Th i s f a c t i s e s p e c i a lly w e lld e m o n s t r a t e d i n c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h t h e f o un d a t i o n a n d s uc c e s s f ulc o n s o li d a t i o n o f t h e An t i -
Co m i n t e r n w h e r e t h e s t r i k i n gun i t y o f
We lt a n s c h a uun g
( p o li t i c a lp h i lo s o p h y ) a n d f o r e i gn p o li t i c s f o un d i t s e x -
p r e s s i o n f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e . Wh e n Am b a s s a d o r i n L o n d o n , h e
p r e p a r e d t h e d e f e n s i ve f r o n t a ga i n s t t h e w o r ld e n e m y , B o ls h e -
vi s m , a n d b y s i gn i n gt h e G e r m a n - J a p a n e s e a gr e e m e n t o f
No ve m b e r 25, 19 36 ,
h e c r e a t e d t h e p la t f o r m f o r h i s la t e r
d i p lo m a t i c m o ve s
. In
19 37,
t h e Ax i s p a r t n e r , It a ly , j o i n e d t h e
p a c t a n d s o c o m p le t e d h i s t r i a n gula r s t r uc t ur e , t h e p o i n t
o f d e p a r t ur e f o r t h e n e w o r d e r w h i c h r e s t s o n t h e n a t ur a l
a n d j us t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e p e o p le s
. P ub li c o p i n i o n i n t h e w o r ld
a t la r ge , a t f i r s t m e r e ly s ur p r i s e d , w a s s o o n c o n vi n c e d t h a t t h e
t r i a n gula r c o m b i n a t i o n , B e r li n - Ro m e - To k i o , h a d b e c o m e t h e
n uc le us o f a n e w e r a . In t h e n o n - i n t e r ve n t i o n c o m m i t t e e vo n
18 1
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
Ri b b e n t r o p e n e r ge t i c a lly c o n t i n ue d h i s b a t t le a ga i n s t So vi e t
t a c t i c s a n d m e r c i le s s ly un m a s k e d t h e f a b r i c a t i o n s o f t h e
We s t e r n p o w e r s w h i c h a r e e s s e n t i a lly r e s p o n s i b le f o r t h e
d i s a s t e r i n Sp a i n .
" Th e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e w o r ld p o li t i c a lt r i a n gle i n t o a
f r o n t o f a lln a t i o n s w h i c h t h i n k i n t e r m s o f a c o n s t r uc t i ve
a n d p e a c e f ulf ut ur e i s p a r t o f h i s gr e a t s e r vi c e s i n t h e f i e ld o f
i n t e r n a t i o n a lr e la t i o n s w h i c h h e h a s r e n d e r e d n o t o n ly t o
G e r m a n y b ut t o t h e w o r ld . . . "
Th e t r a n s la t i o n i s a s c lo s e t o t h e G e r m a n o r i gi n a la s p o s s i -
b le . Un f o r t un a t e ly t h i s Ri b b e n t r o p - Sc h m i d t c o n c o c t i o n ga i n s
w h e n r e a d i n En gli s h
. Th e o r i gi n a lG e r m a n le a d s o n ly t o
c o n t i n uo us la ugh t e r . Ac a r e e r - o f f i c i a lo f t h e B e r li n Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e r e a d i t a lo ud t o h i s f r i e n d s
. " Ia m gla d t h e f o o li s a t
le a s t s a t i s f i e d w i t h h i m s e lf , " h e o b s e r ve d w h e n h e h a d
f i n i s h e d .
Th e J a p a n e s e h a d s uf f i c i e n t r e a s o n t o d i s t r us t t h e Na zi
p o li c y
. Th e Rus s i a n c o n s p i r a c y t r i a ls o f 19 37p lun ge d t h e
e x c e lle n t J a p a n e s e i n t e lli ge n c e s e r vi c e i n t o h i gh ge a r
. So o n
t h e J a p a n e s e b e c a m e c o n vi n c e d t h a t t h e a c c us a t i o n s a ga i n s t
Ma r s h a lMi c h a e lTuk h a c h e vs k y a n d a gr o up o f o t h e r h i gh
r a n k i n gge n e r a ls o f c o n s p i r i n gw i t h G e r m a n y w e r e q ui t e
w e llf o un d e d
. It s e e m e d t h a t t h e r e w a s t r ut h i n t h e s t o r y
o f a m i li t a r y p ut s c h p la n n e d w i t h a vi e w o f b r i n gi n ga b o ut
a n a lli a n c e b e t w e e n a n a r m y d o m i n a t e d Rus s i a a n d Na zi f i e d
G e r m a n y .
It i s li t t le w o n d e r , t h e n , t h a t t h e a n n o un c e m e n t o f t h e
G e r m a n - Rus s i a n No n - Aggr e s s i o n P a c t o f Augus t
2 3h a d a
b o m b s h e lle f f e c t i n To k i o
. Th e Hi r a m un a Ca b i n e t r e s i gn e d
i m m e d i a t e ly , d e c la r i n g" t h a t t h e p a c t h a d c r e a t e d a n un -
e x p e c t e d a n d c o m p le x s i t ua t i o n i n Eur o p e , n e c e s s i t a t i n ga
c h a n ge i n J a p a n e s e f o r e i gn p o li c y
. " Wh e n i n t h e f i r s t
d a y s o f Se p t e m b e r , 19 39 , Fr a n c e a n d G r e a t B r i t a i n d e c la r e d
18 2
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
w a r o n G e r m a n y , t h e n e w c a b i n e t Ab e w e n t a s f a r a s t o s a y
o f f i c i a lly , t h a t " J a p a n i n t e n d s n o t t o b e i n vo lve d , " a n d t h a t
s h e " w o uld c o n c e n t r a t e h e r e f f o r t s o n t h e s e t t le m e n t o f t h e
Ch i n a a f f a i r . "
Hi r o s h i Os h i m a , t h e J a p a n e s e Am b a s s a d o r i n B e r li n , f e lt ,
a s h e h i m s e lf r e p o r t e d t o h i s f r i e n d s i n Wa s h i n gt o n o n h i s
w a y h o m e , " a s i f h e h a d d r o p p e d f r o m t h e c lo ud s . " Mo r e -
o ve r , h e f e a r e d " t h a t h e h a d lo s t f a c e , " s o m e t h i n gt h a t e ve n
i n o ur m o d e m d a y s c o un t s a lo t i n t h e li f e o f a n Or i e n t a l
d i p lo m a t
. Os h i m a h a d i m m e d i a t e ly a s k e d t o b e r e c a lle d , a n d
h i s r e s i gn a t i o n w a s f i n a lly a c c e p t e d .
On h i s w a y b a c k t o To k i o h e s t a y e d f o r a b o ut a f o r t -
n i gh t i n Wa s h i n gt o n a n d r e la t e d q ui t e f r e e ly , t o a f e w o f
h i s f e llo w c o un t r y m e n , h i s e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h t h e Fue h r e r
a n d e s p e c i a lly w i t h J o a c h i m . Th a t Ri b b e n t r o p h a d a s k e d
h i m , Os h i m a , n o t t o t e llt h e Fue h r e r e ve r y d e t a i lo f t h e i r
d i s c us s i o n s w a s o n e o f t h e m o r e i n t e r e s t i n gt h i n gs Os h i m a
r e ve a le d a n d t h a t t h e G e r m a n s a r r a n ge d a n d p a i d f o r t h e
" s p o n t a n e o us p ub li c d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n To k i o " o n t h e o c -
c a s i o n o f t h e s i gn i n go f t h e " An t i - Co m i n t e m P a c t " w a s
a n o t h e r . He a ls o r e ve a le d t h a t a d a y o r t w o b e f o r e J o a c h i m
w e n t b y a i r p la n e t o Mo s c o w , t h e J a p a n e s e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e ,
h a vi n gle a r n e d f r o m i t s Mo s c o w Em b a s s y t h a t p e n d i n gc o m -
m e r c i a ln e go t i a t i o n s w i t h G e r m a n y w o uld s o o n t a k e a d e -
c i s i ve t ur n t o w a r d t h e p o li t i c a ls i d e , h a d o r d e r e d i t s B e r li n
Am b a s s a d o r , " J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s m o s t i n t i m a t e
f r i e n d , " Os h i m a , t o m a k e s ui t a b le i n q ui r i e s . B ut Fo r e i gn
Mi n i s t e r vo n Ri b b e n t r o p h a d " p r e t e n d e d n o t t o b e i n h i s
o f f i c e . " At h i s h o m e a s i m i la r a n s w e r h a d b e e n gi ve n t h e
Am b a s s a d o r w h o c a lle d i n p e r s o n . An d s a i d h e , " Ih a d a m p le
p r o o f t h a t i n b o t h c a s e s Iw a s t o ld a li e . " B a c k i n t h e Fo r e i gn
Of f i c e , la t e t h a t s a m e e ve n i n g, o n e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s y o un ge r
a s s i s t a n t s h a d i n f o r m e d t h e h a r a s s e d Am b a s s a d o r " t h a t t h e r e
18 3
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
w a s n o t h i n gi n t h o s e Rus s i a n r um o r s . " So Os h i m a h a d w i r e d
To k i o a s o o t h i n gm e s s a ge i n w h i c h t h e s e r i o us n e s s o f t h e
r um o r s w a s d e n i e d
. B ut b e f o r e t h e Am b a s s a d o r ' s t e le gr a m
h a d r e a c h e d h i s s up e r i o r s , t h e w h o le w o r ld h a d h e a r d t h a t
Ri b b e n t r o p h a d f lo w n t o Mo s c o w , a n d t h a t t h e c o m m e r c i a l
a gr e e m e n t w o uld b e f o llo w e d b y a n o n - a ggr e s s i o n p a c t .
Os h i m a h a d b e e n s t up e f i e d .
Hi t le r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p f e lt t h a t t h e y h a d t o d o s o m e t h i n g
i n o r d e r t o r e p a i r t h e d a m a ge . In t h e b e gi n n i n gi t w a s a p -
p a r e n t ly q ui t e i m p o s s i b le t o r e c o n c i le Os h i m a a n d h i s s u-
p e r i o r s . Th e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e Se c r e t a r y o f St a t e " f o r s p e c i a l
p r o b le m s , " Dr . Wi lh e lm K e p p le r , w e n t f r o m B e r li n t o
To k i o , b r i n gi n gOs h i m a a le t t e r i n t h e Fue h r e r ' s o w n h a n d .
B ut K e p p le r ' s e x p la n a t i o n s d i d n o t s uc c e e d i n d i s p e lli n g
J a p a n e s e a n ge r a n d d i s t r us t . He p o i n t e d o ut t h a t n o t h i n g
h a d c h a n ge d a n d t h a t t h e t e m p o r a r y a gr e e m e n t w i t h Rus s i a
w o uld s ur e ly r e s ult i n m ut ua lb e n e f i t t o e ve r y b o d y c o n -
c e r n e d . K e p p le r r e t ur n e d t o B e r li n w i t h o ut a d e f i n i t e a n s w e r .
Th e J a p a n e s e , e s p e c i a lly Os h i m a , w e r e s t i ll a n gr y .
Ri b b e n t r o p t h e n s e n t h i s p e r s o n a lr i gh t h a n d m a n o n
Fa r Ea s t e r n Af f a i r s , He i n r i c h G e o r gSt a h m e r , t o To k i o . He ,
t o o , a t t e m p t e d t o e x p la i n t h e n e c e s s i t y o f t h e G e r m a n - Rus -
s i a n a gr e e m e n t . Th e s e e x p la n a t i o n s w e r e p r o b a b ly o f a n a -
t ur e w h i c h w o uld h a ve m a d e t h e Rus s i a n s a n gr y , i f t h e y h a d
li s t e n e d i n , f o r b y s o m e m e a n s , St a h m e r , n o w Am b a s s a d o r
i n To k i o , s uc c e e d e d
. Sa b ur o K ur us u, w h o h a d t a k e n Os h i m a ' s
p la c e i n B e r li n , w a s c a lle d b a c k t o To k i o , a n d t h e r e c o n c i le d
Os h i m a w a s a p p o i n t e d a n e w . On Fe b r ua r y 28 , 19 41, h e o n c e
a ga i n p r e s e n t e d h i s c r e d e n t i a ls t o t h e Fue h r e r . Ri b b e n t r o p
w a s , o f c o ur s e , p r e s e n t . Th e p h o t o gr a p h s p ub li s h e d i n t h e
J a p a n e s e p r e s s s h o w e d a llt h r e e gr i n n i n gh a p p i ly .
Wh y Os h i m a w a s r e a p p o i n t e d Am b a s s a d o r t o B e r li n , a n d
h o w i t w a s p o s s i b le t o i n d uc e t h e m a n , " w h o w o uld r a t h e r e a t
1 8
4
THEANTI- COMINTERNP ACTWITHJ AP AN
h i s h a t t h a n t o r e t ur n t o G e r m a n y , " t o a c c e p t t h i s a p p o i n t -
m e n t , i s a m y s t e r y
. It n o t o n ly c a m e a s a s ur p r i s e , b ut i t a ls o
c a us e d gr e a t e x c i t e m e n t a m o n gt h e m e m b e r s o f t h e J a p a n e s e
Em b a s s y i n Wa s h i n gt o n . Th e y r e m e m b e r e d t h e w a y Os h i m a ,
f o llo w i n gh i s r e s i gn a t i o n , h a d t a lk e d t o t h e m a b o ut h i s e x -
p e r i e n c e s i n B e r li n . " It i s
a d i s gr a c e , " h e i s r e p o r t e d a s h a vi n g
s a i d , " h o w Ri b b e n t r o p c h e a t e d m e
. B ut t h e r e i s a c e r t a i n
c o n s o la t i o n i n t h e f a c t t h a t w e w e r e a b le t o c o n f i n e o ur s e lve s
t o t h e s t i p ula t i o n s o f t h e An t i - Co m i n t e r n P a c t a n d t h a t o ur
h a n d s a r e f r e e p o li t i c a lly a n d i n a m i li t a r y w a y . Af t e r a ll, t h i s
ly i n gFo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r ( Ri b b e n t r o p ) h a s t r i e d h a r d , b ut
h e d i d n o t s uc c e e d i n t r a p p i n gus i n o n e o f t h o s e c a r e f ully
p la n n e d a n d m a s t e r ly e x e c ut e d s p i d e r w e b s d e s i gn e d b y
Fue h r e r Hi t le r , s p un b y d i s c i p le Ri b b e n t r o p . On e h a s t o b e
o n h i s gua r d w i t h t h i s s p i d e r , Ri b b e n t r o p . Eve n i n o r d i n a r y
s o c i a lc o n ve r s a t i o n h e t r i e s t o t r a p y o u
. At o n e t i m e h e d o e s
i t w i t h a s h o r t t h r e a d , a t a n o t h e r w i t h a lo n go n e
. An d b e -
f o r e y o ua r e a w a r e o f i t , y o uh a ve t o us e a lly o ur w i t s t o
d i s e n t a n gle y o ur s e lf . We h a ve n o w le a r n e d o ur le s s o n
. "
At t h e s a m e t i m e , Os h i m a t o ld h i s c o lle a gue s i n Wa s h i n g-
t o n h o w t h e G e r m a n o f f i c i a ls b o a s t e d " t h a t t h e Fue h r e r
w o uld e ve n t ua lly m a k e Mus s o li n i ' G a ule i t e r f ue r It a li e n " '
( d i s t r i c t le a d e r f o r It a ly )
.
Th e r e s e e m s t o us n o r e a s o n t o d o ub t t h a t Os h i m a ' s ut -
t e r a n c e s h a ve b e e n r e p o r t e d c o r r e c t ly a t t h a t t i m e , a s o n e
o f o ur i n f o r m a n t s w a s a h i gh o f f i c i a li n t h e Wa s h i n gt o n
Em b a s s y a n d t h e o t h e r , a J a p a n e s e j o ur n a li s t o f r e p ut a t i o n
.
Th e r e , o f c o ur s e , m a y h a ve b e e n s o m e d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e
w o r d i n gb ut s ur e ly n o t i n t h e c o n t e n t o f Os h i m a ' s s t a t e m e n t
.
Ho w un d e r t h e s e c i r c um s t a n c e s c a n Os h i m a ' s r e a p p o i n t -
m e n t b e e x p la i n e d ? We d o n o t k n o w t h e a n s w e r
. B ut o n e
p o s s i b le i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w o uld b e t h a t t h e J a p a n e s e , a f t e r t h e
t r e a t m e n t a c c o r d e d t o t h e i r Am b a s s a d o r b y J o a c h i m vo n
18 5
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
Ri b b e n t r o p ,
d e c i d e d t o p la y a n o t h e r ga m e . P e r h a p s t h e
Fa r Ea s t e r n p a r t n e r o f t h e " t r i a n gula r c o m b i n a t i o n , B e r li n -
Ro m e - To k i o " d e c i d e d t o p la y t h e p a r t o f t h e s p i d e r i n s t e a d
o f t h e f ly . Th e y m a y h a ve s p un t h e w e b i n To k i o " o n e lo n g
t h r e a d , o n e s h o r t o n e , a lt e r n a t e ly
. " Th e Tr i p a r t i t e P a c t
o f Se p t e m b e r
27,
19 40
w a s t h e o ut c o m e . B y t h i s P a c t , a s
Se c r e t a r y o f St a t e Co r d e llHulls e t f o r t h i n h i s r a d i o a d d r e s s
o f J uly 23, 19 42, " G e r m a n y , J a p a n , a n d It a ly i n e f f e c t a gr e e d
t h a t i f a n y c o un t r y n o t t h e n a t w a r w i t h o n e o f t h e m p la c e s
o b s t a c le s i n t h e w a y o f t h e p r o gr a m o f c o n q ue s t o f a n y o f
t h e m , t h e t h r e e w o uld un i t e i n p o li t i c a l, m i li t a r y , a n d e c o -
n o m i c a c t i o n a ga i n s t t h a t c o un t r y
. " It w a s t h i s n e w a gr e e -
m e n t w h i c h f o r c e d G e r m a n y a n d It a ly t o d e c la r e w a r o n
t h e Un i t e d St a t e s j us t a t a m o m e n t w h e n b o t h c o un t r i e s
t r i e d h a r d t o k e e p t h e Un i t e d St a t e s n e ut r a l
. Th e J a p a n e s e
w a r lo r d s w e r e i n a p o s i t i o n t o f o r c e , w i t h t h e t r e a c h e r o us
s ur p r i s e a t t a c k o n P e a r lHa r b o r , t h e h a n d o f t h e i r Eur o p e a n
t r e a t y p a r t n e r s , w h i le t h e y h a ve r e f us e d , a t le a s t up t o t h e
m o m e n t o f m y w r i t i n g, t o " c r e a t e a s e c o n d f r o n t i n Si b e r i a . "
J o a c h i m vo n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s t r e a t m e n t o f Hi r o s h o Os h i m a w a s
e vi d e n t ly n o t t h e la s t w o r d i n t h e m a t t e r .
1 8 6
II
Ri b b e n t r o p i n L o n d o n
Wi t h h i s Ne w Ye a r ' s w i s h e s f o r 19 36 , o n e o f o ur f r i e n d s
i n t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e w r o t e ,
" . . . Wh e n Ri b b e n t r o p c a m e
b a c k f r o m L o n d o n t o B e r li n t h e f i r s t t i m e d ur i n gh i s Am b a s -
s a d o r s h i p , a la d y c o m p li m e n t e d h i m o n h i s un us ua lly h e a lt h y
a p p e a r a n c e
. In f a c t , J o a c h i m h a d p ut o n w e i gh t
. `Th i s i s t h e
f i r s t t i m e t h a t Ih a ve b e e n a b le t o s le e p q ui e t ly , h a vi n gr e a c h e d
m y go a l, ' Ri b b e n t r o p n a i ve ly a n s w e r e d
. "
RIB B ENTROP ' SAm b a s s a d o r s h i p t o t h e Co ur t o f St
. J a m e s
- f r o m Oc t o b e r 3o t h , 19 36 , t i llMa r c h 14t h , 19 38 , d e s e r ve s
o ur s p e c i a la t t e n t i o n
. Th i s p h a s e o f h i s li f e i llus t r a t e s n o t
o n ly b e t t e r t h a n a n y o t h e r t h e d a n ge r o us va ga r i e s o f h i s
d i s i n t e gr a t e d p e r s o n a li t y , b ut a ls o t h e w h o le t r a gi c t a n gle
o f An glo - G e r m a n r e la t i o n s . It w o uld b e , h o w e ve r , un f a i r t o
la y t h e b la m e f o r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s b e h a vi o r up o n G e r m a n y ' s
d o o r s t e p s
. He i s t h e p r i ze e x h i b i t o f w h a t t h e Na zi s t h i n k
c o n s t i t ut e s w i s d o m o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a ls t a ge
. In t h e lo n g
li n e o f o ut s t a n d i n gAm b a s s a d o r s w h o h a ve s e r ve d G e r m a n y
i n L o n d o n , Ri b b e n t r o p r e p r e s e n t s c o m p le t e r e t r o gr e s s i o n
. He
i s t h e a n t i t h e s i s o f h o w , a c c o r d i n gt o t h e le gi t i m a t e
Wi l-
h e lm s t r a s s e ,
An glo - G e r m a n r e la t i o n s s h o uld b e h a n d le d .
18 7
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
Wh e n Ho e s c h w a s d e a d a n d P r i n c e B i s m a r c k c h a r ge
d ' a f f a i r e s i n L o n d o n , Ri b b e n t r o p vi s i t e d , a s w e h a ve a lr e a d y
r e la t e d , t h e Ma r q ue s s o f L o n d o n d e r r y a t Mo un t St e w a r t
Ca s t le i n Ma y , 19 36
. Th e Ma r q ue s s h a d p r e vi o us ly c a lle d o n
Hi t le r a n d w a s a lla s t i r w i t h t h e p o s s i b i li t y o f a la s t i n g
An glo - G e r m a n r a p p r o c h e m e n t . Ri b b e n t r o p h a d a d e li gh t f ul
t i m e un f o ld i n gHi t le r ' s t h e s i s t h a t w o r ld p e a c e w o uld b e
a s s ur e d , i f G e r m a n y w e r e t o b e p e r m i t t e d t o s e t t le h e r d e s -
t i n i e s o n t h e c o n t i n e n t
. To m a k e t h e i d e a m o r e p a la t a b le
h e a d d e d o n c e m o r e t h a t G e r m a n y w o uld a c q ui r e h e r
L e b e n s r a um ( li vi n gs p a c e ) b y p e a c e f ulm e t h o d s . It i s e a s y
t o b e li e ve t h a t n e i t h e r Hi t le r n o r Ri b b e n t r o p h e r e i n d ulge d
i n h y p o c r i s y
. Th e i r p la n s f o r " b lo o d le s s c o n q ue s t " w e r e
m a d e , a n d t h e y w e r e e a ge r f o r G r e a t B r i t a i n ' s b le s s i n g .
L o r d L o n d o n d e r r y w a s s w i f t t o s e e Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p o i n t ,
a n d h e w a s s ur e t h a t e ve r y b o d y e ls e i n En gla n d w o uld t o o ,
i f t h e i d e a w a s p ut a c r o s s c le ve r ly . " Wh y d o n ' t y o ud o i t
y o ur s e lf ? " h e a s k e d J o a c h i m
. " Yo uw o uld m a k e t h e i d e a l
Am b a s s a d o r . Yo uh a ve t h e Fue h r e r ' s c o n f i d e n c e
; y o uk n o w
En gla n d ; n o b o d y li k e s t h e B o ls h i e s
; a n d w e a llw a n t t h e
f a c t s s t r a i gh t
. "
Th i s w a s e x a c t ly w h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a n t e d t o h e a r f r o m
h i s h o s t
. He r e p li e d t h a t t h e r e w o uld b e n o s e n s e i n s e n d i n g
h i m t o L o n d o n i f t h e En gli s h le f t s o m e b o d y li k e Si r Er i c
P h i p p s a s Am b a s s a d o r i n B e r li n . It w a s a q ue s t i o n o f p ut t i n g
t h e w h o le p r o b le m o f An glo - G e r m a n r e la t i o n s o n a n e w a n d
m o r e s o li d b a s i s . Th e Fue h r e r , Ri b b e n t r o p c a n d i d ly t o ld L o r d
L o n d o n d e r r y , c o uld n o t s t a n d t h e lo o k s o f Si r Er i c a n d
w o uld li k e n o t h i n gm o r e t h a n t o s e e h i m r e p la c e d b y a
" m o r e m o d e r n " d i p lo m a t w h o s h o w e d , a t le a s t , s o m e un d e r -
s t a n d i n ga n d a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e c h a n ge s w h i c h h a d t a k e n
p la c e i n G e r m a n y
. Ri b b e n t r o p d i d n o t f a i lt o a d d t h a t t h e
Fue h r e r h a d c r e a t e d a s p e c i a ln a m e f o r L a d y P h i p p s
. He
18 8
RIB B ENTROP INL ONDON
c a lle d h e r t h e
He i li ge Re t s c h w e s t e r , m e a n i n g- m o r e o r le s s -
t h e " p i o us s o b s i s t e r
. " L a d y P h i p p s , i t s e e m e d , m a d e a p o i n t
o f p a y i n gh e r d e vo t i o n t o G o d e ve r y m o r n i n gi n B e r li n ' s
St . He d w i g' s Ca t h e d r a l
. In s p i t e o f L o n d o n d e r r y ' s t i m i d a t -
t e m p t s t o c h a n ge t h e c o n ve r s a t i o n , Ri b b e n t r o p w o uld n o t
m i t i ga t e h i s w r a t h a ga i n s t t h e d i gn i f i e d Am b a s s a d o r i a l
c o up le i n B e r li n .
Th i s w a s n ' t ve r y go o d p o li t i c s , f o r L a d y P h i p p s w a s
L a d y V a n s i t t a r t ' s s i s t e r , Si r Ro b e r t ( n o w L o r d ) V a n s i t t a r t
b e i n gt h e n t h e a ll- p o w e r f ulp e r m a n e n t Un d e r s e c r e t a r y o f
St a t e f o r Fo r e i gn Af f a i r s
. Wh e n Ri b b e n t r o p , o n h i s w a y
h o m e f r o m Mo un t St e w a r t Ca s t le , s t o p p e d i n L o n d o n a n d ,
c a lli n gi n Do w n i n gSt r e e t , f o un d n o b o d y t o r e c e i ve h i m ,
h e h a d n o d i f f i c ult y i n s ur m i s i n gt h a t b e h i n d t h i s m a s s i ve
c o ld s h o uld e r lo o m e d t h e s h a d o w o f t h e o ut r a ge d Si r Ro b e r t
.
Th e q ue s t i o n o f w h o s h o uld b e c o m e Ho e s c h ' s s uc c e s s o r
i n L o n d o n w a s e a ge r ly d i s c us s e d a m o n ge x p e r t s i n b o t h
En gla n d a n d G e r m a n y
. Alr e a d y i n J un e , 19 36 , w e h e a r d i n
Ne w Yo r k , t h r o ugh a le t t e r f r o m B e r li n , t h a t t h e
Wi lh e lm -
s t r a s s e
c o un t e d o n t h e p e r m a n e n t t r a n s f e r o f t h e r e s t le s s o ut -
s i d e r , Ri b b e n t r o p , t o t h e B r i t i s h c a p i t a l
. Th e y e ve n s e e m e d
t o r e j o i c e i n t h e f a c t b e c a us e , " Fr o m n o w o n h e w i llb e
un d e r c o n t r o l
. Hi s s o c i a la m b i t i o n s , " t h e le t t e r w e n t o n ,
" n e ve r f ulf i lle d o n G e r m a n s o i l, h a ve a b e t t e r c h a n c e i n Old
En gla n d t h a n i n Na zi G e r m a n y
. Co n s t a n t i n ( He r r vo n
Ne ur a t h ) w h o h a t e s t h i s f e llo w Ri b b e n t r o p li k e t h e d e vi l' s
gr a n d m o t h e r , h i m s e lf p r e s e n t e d J o a c h i m a s t h e
Wi lh e lm -
s t r a s s e
c a n d i d a t e , w h e n t h e Fue h r e r e x p r e s s e d t h e vi e w t h a t
s o m e t h i n gh a d t o b e d o n e t o f i lls o i m p o r t a n t a j o b a n d t h a t
He r r vo n B i s m a r c k d i d n o t s e e m t o f i t i n t o L e o p o ld vo n
Ho e s c h ' s b i gs h o e s , n o t e ve n t e m p o r a r i ly
. We h a ve r e a s o n
t o b e li e ve , " t h e le t t e r c o n c lud e d , " t h a t t h i s s la n d e r i n go f
B i s m a r c k i s t h e w o r k o f Ri b b e n t r o p
. Ma y b e t h e la s t d r e s s
18 9
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
o f Fr a uvo n B i s m a r c k o ut d i d t h e n e w e s t c r e a t i o n w h i c h
An n e li e s t o o k t o L o n d o n ? "
Wh i le t h e Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e
t h o ugh t i t c le ve r t o a d vo c a t e
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s n o m i n a t i o n t o L o n d o n , i t d i s p la y e d s o m uc h
e n t h us i a s m i n d o i n gs o t h a t J o a c h i m b e c a m e s us p i c i o us .
Ne ur a t h w o uld n o t d a n gle t h e L o n d o n p o s t b e f o r e h i s n o s e
w i t h s uc h a w i n n i n gs m i le i f t h e h o n o r h a d n o t m e a n t t h a t
t h e Fue h r e r w o uld h a ve t o d o w i t h o ut Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n s p i r i n g
p r e s e n c e a n d w o uld h a ve t o r e ly m o r e o n t h e lo y a lf o r e i gn
m i n i s t e r f r o m Sw a b i a
. Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a p p o i n t m e n t w a s o f -
f i c i a lly a n n o un c e d
o n Augus t Ii . Mo n t h s la t e r h e w a s s t i lli n
G e r m a n y , p r e p a r i n gt h e An t i - Co m i n t e r n a gr e e m e n t w i t h
J a p a n , c o n d uc t i n gL lo y d G e o r ge t o B e r c h t e s ga d e n , b ut
lo a t h t o m o ve t h e c e n t e r o f h i s a c t i vi t i e s t o o f a r a w a y f r o m
t h e m a gn e t i c Ad o lf .
Th e f o llo w i n gw a s w r i t t e n t o m e a b o ut t h e e n d o f Augus t
f r o m a f r i e n d i n t h e
Wi lh - e lm s t r a s s e , " . . . J o a c h i m ' s o f -
f i c i a la p p o i n t m e n t i s a lr e a d y a f o r t n i gh t o ld , b ut n o b o d y
c a n t e llw h e n h e i n t e n d s t o le a ve f o r L o n d o n o r i f h e i s
go i n gt o L o n d o n a t a ll . Hi s n e r ve s s e e m t o b e i n b a d s h a p e
a t p r e s e n t . On e o f o ur m ut ua lf r i e n d s t o ld m e t h a t J o a c h i m
i s e ve n a c t i n gli k e a n a ugh t y c h i ld t o w a r d s t h e Fue h r e r , i n -
s i s t i n go n c e r t a i n d e m a n d s w h i c h lo o k s i lly t o us b ut f o r
w h i c h h e s ur e ly h a s h i s s p e c i a lr e a s o n s
. Th e Fue h r e r i s gi v-
i n gi n t o s o m e d e gr e e , b ut i n m a n y c a s e s h e h a s r e f us e d
J o a c h i m ' s w i s h e s . In a n y c a s e , t h e Fue h r e r i s n o w c o n vi n c e d
t h a t t h e
B ue r o s h o uld n e i t h e r b e d i s s o lve d n o r m e r ge d w i t h
t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e b ut s h o uld r e m a i n i n i t s a c t ua lf o r m w i t h
a li m i t e d p e r s o n n e li n B e r li n . J o a c h i m , i f h e f i n a lly d e c i d e s
t o m o ve t o L o n d o n , w o uld k e e p t h i s o r ga n i za t i o n a t t h e
Fue h r e r ' s d i s p o s a l . If d e c i s i o n s f o r t h e B ue r o -
a r e n e c e s s a r y ,
t h e r e i s t h e lo n gd i s t a n c e t e le p h o n e , t h e r e i s t h e d i r e c t w i r e ,
t h e r e i s a ls o t h e p o s s i b i li t y o f s e n d i n go n e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
Igo
RIB B ENTROP INL ONDON
p e t s b y a i r p la n e t o L o n d o n . An d i f w e a r e luc k y , s o m e o f
t h e s e p la y b o y s w i t h t h e i r h i gh s a la r i e s , t h e i r un li m i t e d e x -
p e n s e a c c o un t s , a n d t h e i r e x c e lle n t L o n d o n - m a d e w a r d r o b e ,
m a y b r e a k t h e i r n e c k s o n s uc h o c c a s i o n s . "
Th i s le t t e r e x p la i n s Ri b b e n t r o p ' s m a i n o c c up a t i o n i n
t h e s e d a y s . He s t r a i n e d e ve r y n e r ve b o t h t o go t o L o n d o n
a n d t o r e t a i n h i s ve r y s p e c i a lp o s i t i o n w i t h t h e Fue h r e r .
No r m a lly , a n d i f Ne ur a t h w o uld h a ve h a d h i s w a y , t h e
a m b i t i o us J o a c h i m w o uld h a ve b e e n p i ge o n h o le d a t la s t . He
w a s n o lo n ge r " Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge " - a n a m b i guo us t h i n g,
a h i gh s o un d i n gp o t e n t i a li t y d e p e n d i n gf o r e f f e c t i ve n e s s o n
n o t h i n gb ut t h e Fue h r e r ' s w h i m s . An Am b a s s a d o r ' s f un c t i o n s ,
He r r vo n Ne ur a t h a r gue d , a r e r i gi d ly m a r k e d . He ge t s h i s
i n s t r uc t i o n s f r o m t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e , i n f a c t f r o m t h e Fo r e i gn
Mi n i s t e r . Hi s s a la r y a n d h i s e x p e n s e s a r e p a i d o ut o f t h e
b ud ge t o f t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e . Th e r e f o r e , h i s r e p o r t s h a ve
t o b e d i r e c t e d t o t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e
.
Wh e n vo n Ne ur a t h f o un d a n o c c a s i o n t o m a k e t h i s p o i n t
o f vi e w c le a r t o t h e Fue h r e r , h e f o un d t o h i s o w n s ur p r i s e
h i s w h i m s i c a lb o s s s y m p a t h e t i c . B ut a t t h e s a m e t i m e h e a ls o
le a r n e d t h a t J o a c h i m w a s b y n o m e a n s i n c li n e d t o r e c e i ve
h i s o r d e r s f r o m t h e Fo r e i gn Mi n i s t e r o r t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e .
Ne ur a t h w a s a ls o t o ld b y Hi t le r t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s e x -
p e c t i n gt o ge t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h a t i t le w h i c h w o uld
s h o w t h e w o r ld t h a t h e w a s s e n t t o L o n d o n a s a s p e c i a l
s up e r - a p p o i n t e e o f t h e Fue h r e r , a t i t le b e a ut i f ule n o ugh t o
i n d i c a t e , i n Hi t le r ' s o w n w o r d s , t h a t " Ri b b e n t r o p w a s b e t t e r
t h a n h i s b r e t h r e n . "
Th e r e w a s a p r e c e d e n t f o r t h i s . Fr a n zvo n P a p e n h a d
t e m p o r a r i ly h e ld t h e le ga t i o n i n V i e n n a w i t h t h e t i t le o f
" Sp e c i a lAm b a s s a d o r o f t h e Fue h r e r . " B ut He r r vo n Ne ur a t h ,
i n h i s d i s c us s i o n w i t h Hi t le r , d e c la r e d t h a t s uc h p r o c e d ur e
w a s a n i m p o s s i b i li t y i n L o n d o n a t t h e Co ur t o f St . J a m e s
19 1
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
w i t h i t s t r a d i t i o n s a n d i t s f o r m a li t i e s . Suc h a t i t le a s " Sp e c i a l
Am b a s s a d o r " c o uld o n ly b e a r r a n ge d , i f a t a ll, t h r o ugh
le n gt h y d i s c us s i o n s w i t h t h e c o m p e t e n t B r i t i s h a ut h o r i t i e s
.
Ye s , i f G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d G e r m a n y h a d b e e n p a r t n e r s i n a n
a lli a n c e f o r a n um b e r o f y e a r s , i f t h e p e o p le o f t h e t w o
c o un t r i e s h a d li ve d i n lo n g- s t a n d i n gf r i e n d s h i p , a m ut ua l
a gr e e m e n t t o r a i s e t h e r a n k s o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i ve d i p lo m a t i c
r e p r e s e n t a t i ve s w o uld b e a t le a s t a p o s s i b i li t y
. B ut un d e r t h e
p r e va i li n gc i r c um s t a n c e s ?
Th e d i s c us s i o n s a b o ut vo n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r a n k a n d t i t le a s
Am b a s s a d o r i n L o n d o n w e n t o n
. Hi t le r s e e m e d o c c a s i o n a lly
t o a gr e e w i t h Ne ur a t h ' s vi e w p o i n t , b ut Ri b b e n t r o p w a s a b -
s o lut e ly s t ub b o r n i n h i s d e m a n d s . At la s t h e a n n o un c e d h i s
r e a lc o n c e r n . He w o uld s t a y i n B e r li n , a d i p lo m a t i c t e c h n i c i a n
w o uld b e n a m e d Am b a s s a d o r , a n d h e w o uld h a n d le f ut ur e
c o n ve r s a t i o n s i n L o n d o n a s b e f o r e o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e
Fue h r e r ' s p r o gr a m
. Ne ur a t h h a s t i ly a gr e e d t o a c o m p r o m i s e.
Of c o ur s e , i t w a s n o t p o s s i b le t o c r e a t e t h e p o s t o f a " Sp e c i a l
Am b a s s a d o r o f t h e Fue h r e r , " b ut i f He r r vo n Ri b b e n t r o p
k e p t h i s r a n k a n d t i t le o f " Am b a s s a d o r a t L a r ge " b y o r d e r s
o f t h e Fue h r e r , i t w o uld n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h d i p lo m a t i c us a ge .
Na t ur a lly , i n L o n d o n , He r r vo n Ri b b e n t r o p w o uld b e t h e
" Am b a s s a d o r t o t h e Co ur t o f St . J a m e s " a n d n o t h i n ge ls e .
B ut i t w a s a m a t t e r o f c us t o m t h a t t h e Fue h r e r c o uld c a ll
He r r vo n Ri b b e n t r o p f o r c o n s ult a t i o n t o B e r li n w h e n e ve r
h e t h o ugh t i t w o uld s e r ve a p ur p o s e
. An d a n e x p e r i e n c e d ,
r e li a b le , Am b a s s a d o r i a ls ub s t i t ut e , a k i n d o f p e r m a n e n t
c h a r ge
d ' a
f a i r e s w i t h t h e n e c e s s a r y e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e m a n i f o ld
p r o b le m s a n d t e c h n i c a li t i e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h a m i s s i o n o f t h e
m a gn i t ud e o f t h e L o n d o n Em b a s s y w o uld b e a p p o i n t e d f o r
t h e " r o ut i n e " j o b .
So a f t e r a ll, n e i t h e r Ne ur a t h n o r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s e n e m i e s i n
t h e p a r t y , li k e G o e r i n ga n d G o e b b e ls , s uc c e e d e d i n d i s p o s i n g
19 2
RIB B ENTROP INL ONDON
o f t h e p r o b le m c h i ld . Th e i r b i c k e r i n gh a d o n ly r e s ult e d i n
Ri b b e n t r o p s p r e a d i n gh i s i n f lue n c e a llo ve r Eur o p e w i t h o ut
e ve n le a vi n gB e r li n
.
Ri b b e n t r o p h a d i d e a s o n h o w t h e ve r y s p e c i a ls p e c i m e n
o f a r c h - c o n f i d e n t w h o m h e e m b o d i e d s h o uld m a k e h i s
e n t r e e
j o y e us e
i n t o L o n d o n . He a ls o h a d i d e a s o n h o w h e s h o uld
p a r a d e h i m s e lf o n t h e s h o r e s o f t h e Th a m e s . Th e s e i d e a s c o s t
t h e Re i c h a lo t o f m o n e y a t a t i m e w h e n m e n w h o d a r e d t o
c h a n ge a m a r k i n t o a n e q ui va le n t i n f o r e i gn c ur r e n c y , o r
o n ly h a d a f e w c e n t s o f f o r e i gn c ur r e n c y , w i t h o ut t e lli n gt h e
a ut h o r i t i e s a b o ut i t , va n i s h e d f o r m a n y y e a r s b e h i n d t h e
gr e y
w a lls o f a p e n i t e n t i a r y o r lo s t t h e i r h e a d s . B ut Ri b b e n t r o p
f o un d n o d i f f i c ult i e s i n t r a n s p o r t i n gh i m s e lf a n d h i s e n t o u-
r a ge o f o n e h un d r e d a n d t w e n t y s t o o ge s t o L o n d o n
. No r d i d
h e la c k f un d s w i t h w h i c h t o m a i n t a i n t h e m t h e r e i n p o m p
a n d w i t h s a la r i e s a n d d a i ly a llo w a n c e s f a r s ur p a s s i n gt h e
p a y o f t h e r e gula r Fo r e i gn Of f i c e o f f i c i a ls .
At t h e e n d o f e a c h m o n t h , e a c h o f t h e r e gula r o f f i c i a ls w a s
p a i d a c e r t a i n a m o un t i n c a s h w i t h o ut a n y r e c e i p t o r b o o k -
k e e p i n g, j us t t o e q ua li ze h i s i n c o m e w i t h t h a t o f t h e SS
. m e n
w h o h a d go n e t o L o n d o n w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p
. Th e m o n e y
c a m e o ut o f t h e a p p a r e n t ly un li m i t e d a n d un c o n t r o lle d f un d
f o r " e x p e n s e s i n s e c r e t m a t t e r " ( G e h e i m e Aus ga b e n ) w h i c h
w a s k e p t i n t h e Em b a s s y a n d f o r w h i c h Ri b b e n t r o p , h i m -
s e lf , a n d a n e ld e r ly o f f i c i a li n h i s t r us t h a d t h e k e y s
. Th i s
s e c r e t f un d w a s p a r t o f t h e So n d e r f o n d s d e s Fue h r e r s
( s p e c i a l
f un d o f t h e Fue h r e r ) a n d w a s r e p le n i s h e d w i t h c a s h f lo w n b y
p la n e f r o m Am s t e r d a m w h e r e G e r m a n m a r k s a lw a y s f o un d
a r e a d y m a r k e t , e ve n f o r la r ge a m o un t s
. Th e t r a n s a c t i o n s
f o r t h e " s e c r e t f un d " a n d " s p e c i a lf un d " c a us e d t h e m a n y
r um o r s a c c o r d i n gt o w h i c h le a d i n gNa zi s h a d s i d e t r a c k e d
la r ge s um s a b r o a d i n o r d e r t o a c c um ula t e a n e s t e go ,
d a r k e r d a y s t o c o m e
. Th i s d o e s n o t e x c lud e t h e p o s s i b i li t y
1 9 3
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
t h a t i n d i vi d ua lp a r t y h e a d s m a y h a ve us e d t h e o p p o r t un i t y
f o r t h e i r p e r s o n a la d va n t a ge
. St i ll, n o t a s i n gle c a s e o f a n y
i m p o r t a n c e h a s y e t b e e n p r o ve n , a t le a s t n o t i n Am s t e r d a m .
In r e c e n t y e a r s t h e w o r ld h a s b e c o m e a c c us t o m e d t o Na zi
e m b a s s i e s a n d le ga t i o n s s ud d e n ly s w e lli n gt o a b n o r m a lp r o -
p o r t i o n s t h r o ugh t h e a d d i t i o n o f w h o le ga n gs o f p lug- ugli e s
s m uggle d i n un d e r c o ve r o f d i p lo m a t i c i m m un i t y a n d f o r
w h o s e p r e s e n c e e ve n t h e h a r a s s e d e x p e r t s o f t h e
Wi lh e lm -
s t r a s s e f o un d n o va li d e x c us e
. In t h e s e c a s e s , t h e d i p lo m a t i c
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e Th i r d Re i c h s e r ve d a s a c o n ve n i e n t
b r i d ge h e a d f o r t h e i n va s i o n o f t h e r e s p e c t i ve c o un t r y - i t
a s s um e d t h e f un c t i o n o f t h e Tr o j a n Ho r s e
. Wh e n t h e h o r s e
s t a r t e d t o d e ve lo p a f i t o f e le p h a n t i a s i s e ve r y b o d y k n e w t h a t
c o n q ue s t w a s n o t f a r o f f
. B ut w h e n Ri b b e n t r o p c a m e t o
L o n d o n h i s p r o gr a m w a s r e a lly a n d t r uly go o d w i ll, n o t h i n g
b ut go o d w i ll
. Wh y h e c o n s i d e r e d i t n e c e s s a r y t o t r a n s f o r m
t h e d i s t i n gui s h e d G e r m a n Em b a s s y a t Ca r lt o n Ho us e Te r r a c e
i n t o a n a r m e d c a m p i s o n e o f t h e m y s t e r i e s o f h i s c o m p le x
p s y c h o lo gy .
No b o d y li k e d w a r i n En gla n d
. Th e c h i e f o b j e c t i o n En g-
la n d h a d a ga i n s t t h e Na zi s w a s t h e i r w o r s h i p o f w a r . Ri b -
b e n t r o p , b y m a k i n gh i s p e a c e f ulr e s i d e n c e i n p e a c e f ulL o n -
d o n b r i s t le w i t h m a r t i a lf i gur e s , a c t e d li k e t h e m ur d e r e r w h o ,
a f t e r m uc h s h i lly - s h a lly i n ga n d d o d gi n gt h e i s s ue , s ud d e n ly
t h un d e r s , " Ye s , y o uh y p o c r i t e s , Ia m a m ur d e r e r , a n d Ia m
p r o ud o f i t , " w i n n i n ge ve n a p p la us e b y i t
.
Tr uc ule n t J o a c h i m h a d n ' t t h e f a i n t e s t i d e a o f w h a t t o d o
w i t h h i s SS. m e n . Tw o h a d b e e n p la n t e d , o n e h a n d o n d a gge r
a n d t h e o t h e r o n r e vo lve r , i n f r o n t o f h i s s t ud y . Th e y w e r e
c a lle d t h e St a llw a c h e ( s t a b le gua r d ) a n d d i d n o t li k e i t .
So m e w e r e ut i li ze d a s n i gh t w a t c h m e n , f o o t m e n , m e s s e n ge r s ,
a n d s p i e s . Th e r e w e r e o t h e r s w h o h a d b e e n p r o m i s e d a
go o d t i m e , w h o e x p e c t e d a t le a s t t o b e c o m e ge n e r a ls , a n d
1 9
4
RIB B ENTROP INL ONDON
n o w An n e li e s p ut t h e m t o s c r ub b i n gt h e s p a c i o us f lo o r s o f
t h e r e m o d e le d Em b a s s y , t o p o li s h i n gd o o r h a n d le s , a n d t o
w a s h i n gd i s h e s
. It w a s d i s a p p o i n t i n g . On e d a y t h e i r Ro t t e n -
f ue h r e r
( gr o up le a d e r ) , a c e r t a i n Sc h a r c h e w s k i , go t d e a d
d r un k i n h i s d e s p a i r . Fi n a lly h e la n d e d i n o n e o f t h e e a s y
c h a i r s a t t h e e n t r a n c e o f t h e s ui t e o f r e c e p t i o n r o o m s . Un -
f o r t un a t e ly f o r h i m h e s n o r e d vo c i f e r o us ly . An n e li e s w o k e
h i m r a t h e r s ud d e n ly w i t h a f e w r e m a r k s w h i c h w e r e c a lc u-
la t e d t o b r i n gh i m b a c k t o e a r t h
. Th e gr o up le a d e r r e f us e d ,
h o w e ve r , t o s o b e r up
. He d e f i n i t e ly f o r go t h i s SS . t r a i n i n g
i n t h i s e m e r ge n c y
. Mo r e h o r r i b le s t i ll, h e f o r go t t h e r e s p e c t
d ue h i s b o s s ' la w f ulw i f e . No t o n ly d i d h e d e c li n e t o o b e y ,
h e a ls o s p o k e h i s m i n d
. He t o ld Fr a uvo n Ri b b e n t r o p w h a t
h e t h o ugh t o f h e r , o f h e r h us b a n d , a n d o f t h e " b r a t s . "
He s h o ut e d h i s o p i n i o n s o f t h e w a s t e o f m o n e y go i n go n i n
t h e f a m i ly
. Th i s w a s s ur e ly n o t i n h a r m o n y w i t h t h e Fue h r e r ' s
p r i n c i p le o f G e m e i n n ut zge b t vo r Ei ge n n ut z
( t h e ge n e r a l
go o d c o m e s b e f o r e p e r s o n a lgo o d )
. Wa r m i n gup t o h i s s ub -
j e c t , h e p r o c e e d e d t o c a llAn n e li e s n a m e s w h i c h s h e m o s t
c e r t a i n ly h a d n o t h e a r d i n h e r w h o le li f e
. He e n d e d w i t h
a f a m o us , i f s li gh t ly o b s c e n e , q uo t a t i o n f r o m G o e t h e ' s
G o e t zvo n B e r li c h i n ge n .
J o a c h i m , f a r f r o m p le a s e d , o r d e r e d
s o m e o f t h e gr o up le a d e r ' s o w n s ub o r d i n a t e s t o t r a n s p o r t t h e
d e li n q ue n t t o a s p a r e r o o m o n t h e f i f t h f lo o r o f t h e Em b a s s y
b ui ld i n g . He p ut a n a r m e d gua r d a t t h e d o o r
. Ne x t , t h e e x -
c i t e d Am b a s s a d o r c a lle d up h i s f r i e n d a n d t h e s up r e m e
SS. c h i e f , He i n r i c h Hi m m le r , i n B e r li n
. Th e n e x t m o r n i n g,
p o o r Sc h a r s c h e w s k i w a s d i s p a t c h e d , un d e r h e a vy gua r d , a n d
i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p e r s o n a la i r p la n e , t o B e r li n
. So m e m a i lb a gs
a n d a la r ge p a c k a ge o f s a n d w i c h e s w e r e t h e o n ly o t h e r c a r go
.
Wh a t f i n a lly h a p p e n e d t o Sc h a r s c h e w s k i h a s n o t b e c o m e
k n o w n e ve n t o t h e Em b a s s y s t a f f
.
Wh i le t h e SS
. m e n p e r i s h e d o f b o r e d o m a n d p i n e d f o r
1 9 5
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
t h e m o r e e x c i t i n gb us i n e s s i n w h i c h t h e i r c o lle a gue s i n G e r -
m a n y w e r e e n ga ge d i n t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s o f Da c h a u
a n d Or a n i e n b ur g, t h e r e w a s n ' t ve r y m uc h f o r t h e i n n um e r -
a b le B ue r o s t o o ge s t o d o e i t h e r . Th e y h a d n e ve r le a r n e d t o
d o a s t r o k e o f n o r m a l, s o li d w o r k . It i s o n e o f t h e f e w i n -
s t a n c e s w h e n o n e o f t h e m o r e e x t r a va ga n t s t o r i e s f r o m t h e
Ar a b i a n Ni gh t s
b e c o m e s t r ue . Th e lo a f e r s w e r e p a i d f o r
t h e i r lo a f i n gw i t h go o d s ub s t a n t i a lp o un d n o t e s w h i c h t h e
Re i c h s b a n k i n B e r li n h a d t o s a c r i f i c e w i t h m a n y h e a r t - r e n d -
i n gs o b s . B ut , Ri b b e n t r o p w o uld s a y , t h e y a r e lo a f i n gm e t h o d -
i c a lly a n d w i t h c h a r m
.
He w o uld o r ga n i ze e ve r y t h i n g- e ve n a n a n t i - B o ls h e vi k
c r us a d e o r , i f n e c e s s a r y , a p r o - B o ls h e vi k c r us a d e . Hi s
p h a la n x o f c h a r m e r s w o uld s w a r m o ut e ve r y m o r n i n gun d e r
h i s b e n i gn e y e s , r un n i n ga b o ut t o w n , d i n i n g, a n d w i n i n g,
" c o n t a c t i n g" p r o s p e c t i ve f a n s f o r t h e Th i r d Re i c h , p r o s e ly -
t i zi n go r , i f t h i s w a s w a n t e d , s p r e a d i n gc a lum n i e s .
Ri b b e n t r o p , a s w e k n o w , s uf f e r e d f r o m t h e d e lus i o n t h a t
t h e s o c i a li s t i c e x p e r i m e n t o f h i s un d e r p r i vi le ge d Fue h r e r
n e e d e d b la s e L o n d o n s o c i e t y a s a k i n d o f f a i r y go d m o t h e r
.
B a r o n Ad o lf St e e n gr a c h t , o n e o f t h e " e a r ly Na zi s , " t h e s o -
c a lle d Alt e K a e m p f e r , w a s a t t a c h e d t o t h e Em b a s s y s t a f f
b e c a us e h e a n d h i s b e a ut i f ulw i f e Ille m i e , n e e vo n Ha h n ,
c la i m e d t o h a ve " e x c e lle n t c o n n e c t i o n s i n L o n d o n ' s up p e r
c r us t . " Aus t r i a n Rud o lp h Sp i t zy w a s a n o t h e r m e m b e r o f t h e
e n t o ur a ge . He s t a r t le d h i s c o lle a gue s b y c a lm ly a n n o un c i n g
t h a t t h e m o m e n t t h e Na zi s m a r c h e d i n t o h i s h o m e c o un t r y ,
h i s f a t h e r , a n i n t e r n a t i o n a la ut h o r i t y o n o r t h o p e d y w h o h a d
t h us f a r h e s i t a t e d t o e m b r a c e t h e Na zi c r e e d , w o uld b e
d a n gle d f r o m a la m p p o s t .
Th e f e w r e gula r Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e o f f i c i a ls w h o s t i llla b o r e d
i n t h e la b y r i n t h i n e o f f i c e s o f Ca r lt o n Ho us e Te r r a c e w e r e
s w a m p e d w i t h c le r i c a lw o r k a n d h o p e le s s ly o ut n um b e r e d .
I9 6
RIB B ENTROP INL ONDON
Th e " Am b a s s a d o r i a ls ub s t i t ut e " w h o w a s s up p o s e d t o k e e p
t h e b a llr o lli n gw h i le Ri b b e n t r o p c o o le d h i s h e e ls i n Hi t le r ' s
a n t e c h a m b e r i n B e r li n , w a s Er n s t Wo e r m a n n , w h o m w e h a ve
a lr e a d y d i s c us s e d i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e L e a gue o f Na t i o n
p r o c e e d i n gs i n L o n d o n a f t e r t h e Rh i n e la n d a f f a i r
. Th i s f r e a k -
i s h y e s - m a n a n d b a c h e lo r , w e llve r s e d i n t h e d r a f t i n go f
i m p e r s o n a lj ur i d i c a l q ui d p r o q uo s a n d o f c h i lly Ma c h i a ve lli a n
i n n ue n d o e s , e n j o y e d t h e li b e r t y o f i n ve s t i n gh i s s a la r y , c o m -
f o r t a b ly b o o s t e d w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a d ve n t , i n un d i lut e d
Sc o t c h w h i s k y .
Am o n gJ o a c h i m ' s o t h e r a d vi s e r s w e r e t a ll, r e d h a i r e d
Do e r n b e r g( w h o m w e h a ve a lr e a d y m e n t i o n e d ) r e la t e d
t h r o ugh h i s m o t h e r t o t h e B a t t e n b e r gs a n d t h e r e f o r e o f f e r i n g
Ri b b e n t r o p a go o d j um p i n go f f p o i n t i n t o c o ur t c i r c le s , a n d
Er i c h K o r d t , n o w Mi n i s t e r i n B e r n e . K o r d t w a s J o a c h i m ' s
c le ve r e s t a d vi s e r .
J o a c h i m a c c o m p a n i e d L lo y d G e o r ge o n h i s f a m o us vi s i t
t o B e r c h t e s ga d e n d ur i n gt h e e a r ly d a y s o f Se p t e m b e r , a n d
a b o ut t h i s t i m e a f r i e n d i n t h e
Wi lh e lm s t r a s s e w r o t e t o us
a b o ut t h e " p o li t i c a lo ut lo o k . " He r e a r e h i s w o r d s : " Wi t h o ut
d o ub t t h e Fue h r e r a t t a c h e s gr e a t h o p e s t o J o a c h i m ' s m i s s i o n
t o L o n d o n . It m us t n o t b e e a s y f o r Hi t le r t o f i x a k i n d o f
d e f i n i t e p r o gr a m w i t h t h i s q ue e r f e llo w ( Ri b b e n t r o p ) , b ut
t h e d i s c us s i o n s a r e go i n go n a n d o n
. No t o n e o f o ur o ld
En gla n d K e n n e r ( e x p e r t s i n En gli s h a f f a i r s ) h a s b e e n c o n -
s ult e d
. On ly o c c a s i o n a lly w e c a n j ud ge b y t h e c h a r a c t e r o f
t h e m e m o r a n d a w h i c h t h e Fo r e i gn Of f i c e s t i lls e e m s e n t i t le d
t o p r e p a r e , w h a t i s go i n go n a n d w h a t q ue s t i o n s a r e un d e r
d i s c us s i o n . Th e Fue h r e r i s m o s t o f t h e t i m e i n B e r c h t e s ga d e n ,
h a s h i s p e r s o n a ls t a f f w i t h h i m , a n d m o s t o f t h e m i n ut e s a n d
d o c um e n t s a r e r e q ue s t e d o ve r t h e d i r e c t w i r e
. Th e r e a r e
t h r e e gr o up s o f p r o b le m s w h i c h s e e m t o h a ve c r y s t a lli ze d
:
t h e p r o b le m o f t h e r e t ur n o f t h e m a n d a t e d c o lo n i e s t o G e t -
1 9 7
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
m a n y
; h o w t o i n t e n s i f y t h e r e la t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e w a r ve t e r -
a n s t h r o ugh t h e i r o r ga n i za t i o n s o n b o t h s i d e s
; h o w t o e x t e n d
c ult ur a lr e la t i o n s . On t h e la t t e r s ub j e c t e ve n o ur o w n De -
p a r t m e n t V I
( K ult ur - Ab t e i lun g) i s n o w ge t t i n gb us y a n d
i f e ve r y t h i n gi s w o r k i n go ut a llr i gh t o n e m a y s e e s o m e f i r e -
w o r k s i n t h e f o r m o f m us i c , e x c h a n ge s t ud e n t s , le c t ur e r s ,
e t c
. o n b o t h s i d e s , t h e B r i t i s h a s w e lla s t h e G e r m a n
. Eve n
t h e p e t p r o j e c t o f t h e la t e Ho e s c h ( Am b a s s a d o r L e o p o ld
vo n Ho e s c h ) , t h e e x c h a n ge o f gue s t p e r f o r m a n c e s o f t h e
Dr e s d e n Op e r a a n d t h e L o n d o n P h i lh a r m o n i c s , h a s b e e n
d us t e d up a n d s ur e ly w i llb e c a r r i e d o ut
. An d i f i t i s a r e a l
s uc c e s s , y o uc a n b e s ur e t h a t L o n d o n a n d t h e B r i t i s h
p r o vi n c e s w i llge t t o h e a r m o r e G e r m a n m us i c t h a n t h e y a r e
p o s s i b ly a b le t o s w a llo w
. Th e e x c h a n ge vi s i t s o f w a r ve t e r a n s
a r e h a n d le d s o le ly b y t h e B ue r o , a n d w e a r e o n ly s ur p r i s e d
t h a t t h e
B ue r o d i d n o t a ls o m o n o p o li ze t h e w h o le o f t h e
c ult ur a lp r o gr a m , i n w h i c h Ri b b e n t r o p - w e c a llh i m h e r e
t h e `f i r s t vi o li n ' - t a k e s a gr e a t p e r s o n a li n t e r e s t . "
Up o n J o a c h i m ' s a r r i va li n L o n d o n h e m a d e a s t a t e m e n t o f
a f un d a m e n t a ln a t ur e . He s a i d , " G e r m a n y w a n t s t h e f r i e n d -
s h i p o f G r e a t B r i t a i n , a n d It h i n k t h e B r i t i s h p e o p le w a n t
G e r m a n f r i e n d s h i p . " Th e n h e b a r k e d , " Th e Fue h r e r i s
c o n vi n c e d t h a t t h e o n ly r e a ld a n ge r f o r Eur o p e a n d t h e
B r i t i s h Em p i r e i s t h e f ur t h e r s p r e a d o f c o m m un i s m , t h e m o s t
t e r r i b le o f a lld i s e a s e s , t e r r i b le b e c a us e t h e p e o p le o n ly r e a li ze
t h e d a n ge r w h e n i t i s t o o la t e . Clo s e r c o lla b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n
o ur t w o c o un t r i e s i n t h i s s e n s e i s n o t o n ly i m p o r t a n t , b ut i n
m y o p i n i o n i s a vi t a ln e c e s s i t y i n o ur c o m m o n s t r uggle f o r
up h o ld i n go ur c i vi li za t i o n a n d c ult ur e s . Ia m o n ly t o o w i lli n g
t o d o e ve r y t h i n gIc a n t o h e lp
. "
19 8
RIB B ENTROP INL ONDON
It i s un d e n i a b le t h a t t h i s d r a m a t i c s t a t e m e n t , w h i c h e a r n e d
J o a c h i m t h e n i c k n a m e , " B r i c k e n d r o p , " h a s t h e m e r i t o f
o p e n i n gt h e e y e s o f i n t e r e s t e d o b s e r ve r s a s t o w h a t t h e r e a l
i s s ue b e h i n d t h e w h o le ve n t ur e w a s . Ch a r m e ur s , ve t e r a n s ,
m us i c , e ve n t h e n ui s a n c e va lue o f c o lo n i e s w e r e b ut us e d
a s a s c r e e n b e h i n d w h i c h t h e a li gn m e n t o f G r e a t B r i t a i n o n
t h e s i d e o f Hi t le r a ga i n s t Mo s c o w w a s t h e r e a lt h i n g . If
Ri b b e n t r o p c o uld h a ve a c h i e ve d t h i s m a i n c o n d i t i o n , a llt h e
h e c t i c m o t i o n s h e w e n t t h r o ugh , h i s o n e h un d r e d a n d t w e n t y
h e n c h m e n a n d SS. m e n , h i s t h r e e m i lli o n m a r k r e m o d e li n g
o f t h e Em b a s s y , h i s a i r p la n e s b uzzi n gm a d ly t o a n d f r o b e -
t w e e n Alb i o n a n d t h e c o n t i n e n t , a llt h i s w o uld h a ve b e e n
j us t i f i e d
. An d m a k e n o m i s t a k e , b ut f o r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n -
a d e q ua c y a n d t h e i n h e r e n t b lo o d t h i r s t y m o r b i d n e s s o f t h e
w h o le Hi t le r s y s t e m , t h i s a li gn m e n t o f En gla n d i n a c o m m o n
f r o n t a ga i n s t B o ls h e vi s m s e e m e d a d e f i n i t e p o s s i b i li t y e ve n
t o p o li t i c i a n s le s s b li n d t h a n t h e Na zi s
. Th e ve r y p e o p le w h o
w e r e i n p o w e r i n En gla n d w e r e i n p o w e r la r ge ly b e c a us e o f
t h e n o t o r i o us f r a ud c a lle d t h e Zi n o vj e vle t t e r . No t t h a t t h e
f r a ud w a s t h e r e m a r k a b le t h i n g, b ut t h a t t h e w e ll- t i m e d
c o n j ur i n gup o f t h e B o ls h e vi s t b o ge y m a n h a d b e e n e n o ugh
t o p ut t h e la r ge s t c o n s e r va t i ve m a j o r i t y i n h i s t o r y i n t o t h e
B r i t i s h p a r li a m e n t
.
L o r d L o n d o n d e r r y ( Ch a r li e t o J o a c h i m ) a n d h i s f r i e n d s
b e lo n ge d w i t h o ut r e s e r va t i o n t o t h e le ge n d a r y Cli ve d e n s e t
.
He r e w e r e J o a c h i m ' s i n t i m a t e s . It w a s t h e k i n d o f w o r ld h e
c h e r i s h e d , t h e w o r ld w h i c h h e h a d a lw a y s w a n t e d t o f r e -
q ue n t - r i c h , s ub s t a n t i a lm e n , m e m b e r s o f t h e b e s t c lub s ,
a c c us t o m e d t o t r a d i t i o n a ld e f e r e n c e f r o m t h e lo w e r o r d e r s
.
Ri b b e n t r o p f o un d p r o - G e r m a n s e n t i m e n t i n h i gh p la c e s i n
En gla n d a n d h e c o n s i d e r e d i t h i s b i gge s t a s s e t w h e n c o m i n g
t o L o n d o n . To e x p a n d i t , t o m a k e i t o ve r w h e lm i n gun t i l
Hi t le r h a d t h e b a c k i n go f t h e B r i t i s h Em p i r e i n e ve r y a n d
1 9 9
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
e a c h o f h i s f ut ur e vi o le n t m o ve s t o w a r d s t h e Ea s t , t h i s w a s
t h e o n ly r e a lo b j e c t o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s m i s s i o n
. Hi s li t t le s p e e c h
a t V i c t o r i a St a t i o n , o f w h i c h m i m e o gr a p h e d c o p i e s w e r e
p r e s e n t e d t o t h e a s s e m b le d j o ur n a li s t s , w a s
a b a llo n d ' e s s a i .
As i t h a p p e n e d , i t w a s a ls o , ve r y m uc h t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s ur -
p r i s e , a b lun d e r
. Th a t c o m m un i s t s a n d le f t i s t s w o uld p r o t e s t ,
h e h a d o f c o ur s e e x p e c t e d
. Suc h p r o t e s t , h e f e lt , w o uld b e
h e lp f ul
. B ut m uc h t o h i s a m a ze m e n t , r e s p e c t a b le p a p e r s w e r e
c r i t i c a lt o o , a n d a b o ut a w e e k la t e r , No ve m b e r 4, 19 36 , n o
le s s a m a n t h a n Si r Aus t e n Ch a m b e r la i n p ub li s h e d a w e i gh t y
r e m o n s t r a n c e i n t h e Da i ly
Te le gr a p h .
B r i t a n n i a ' s h a llo w e d i n s ula r i t y a s s e r t e d i t s e lf i n t h e p e r s o n
o f Si r Aus t e n w h o s e s o le m n i t y a lw a y s r e m i n d e d f r i gh t e n e d
Co n t i n e n t a ls o f P h i n e a s Fo gg, t h e m a n w h o c i r c le d t h e w o r ld
i n e i gh t y d a y s w i t h o ut e ve r s h o w i n ga t r a c e o f t h a t p a r d o n -
a b le e x c i t e m e n t w h i c h un f a m i li a r s ur r o un d i n gs o r d i n a r i ly
b r i n gw i t h t h e m
. Si r Aus t e n i n t h i s i n s t a n c e w a s , h o w e ve r ,
e x c i t e d
. " If o ur f r i e n d s h i p i s t o b e s o ugh t , " h e w r o t e , " le t
i t b e f o r i t s o w n s a k e
. Co m m o n s y m p a t h i e s , c o m m o n i n t e r -
e s t s , a n d a c o m m o n p ur p o s e a r e a m o r e s t a b le a n d a h e a lt h i e r
f o un d a t i o n f o r f r i e n d s h i p t h a n p r e j ud i c e a n d p a s s i o n . . .
( Co m m un i s m ) i s a s a li e n t o o ur t r a d i t i o n a n d a s i n c o m p a t i b le
w i t h o ur i n s t i t ut i o n s a s Na zi s m i t s e lf . Th e e n c i r c le m e n t o f
Rus s i a h a s a s li t t le a t t r a c t i o n f o r us a s t h e e n c i r c le m e n t o f
G e r m a n y . Th e ve r b a lc o n t e s t s o f Na zi a n d B o ls h e vi k a r e n o t
w o r t h t h e b o n e s o f a B r i t i s h G r e n a d i e r
. "
Th e p a r a lle li s m Si r Aus t e n d r e w b e t w e e n t h e Na zi a n d
So vi e t s y s t e m w a s o n e o f t h e t h i n gs t h e Na zi s m o s t r e s e n t e d
.
Th e y h a d d e vo t e d a w h o le p a r t y c o n gr e s s a t Nur e m b e r g
i n
19 35
t o t h e s o le t a s k o f s h o w i n gt h e w o r ld t h e f un d a m e n t a l
a n d e n o r m o us d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e i r m e lo d r a m a t i c e n t e r -
p r i s e a n d w h a t t h e y c a lle d Ma r x i s t c r i m e s . No b o d y w i lld e n y
t h a t t h e r e i s a b a s i c d i f f e r e n c e - Na zi s m i s i n s p i r e d b y lo w e r
200
RIB B ENTROP INL ONDON
m i d d le c la s s i d e o lo gy a n d Co m m un i s m b y p r o le t a r i a n i d e o l-
o gy
. On e h a s G e r m a n p e c uli a r i t i e s a n d t h e o t h e r , d e s p i t e i t s
o f f i c i a li n t e r n a t i o n a li s m , Rus s i a n p e c uli a r i t i e s
. B ut Si r Aus t e n ,
un m o ve d , c h o s e t o a n n o un c e t h a t t o En gla n d i t d i d n o t
m a t t e r w h e t h e r t h e " w a ve o f t h e f ut ur e " r o lle d o n t h e s h o r e
o f h i s t o r y i n r e d o r i n b r o w n t i n t s . En gla n d h a d n o li k i n g
f o r e i t h e r .
B ut w o r s e w a s s t i llt o c o m e . Si r Aus t e n , i n t h e s a m e a r t i c le ,
t o o k e x c e p t i o n t o t h e f a c t t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s m i s s i o n o f
f r i e n d s h i p - a ga i n s t w h i c h h e w a s f a r f r o m o b j e c t i n g- w a s
a c c o m p a n i e d b y un f r i e n d ly n o i s e s i n B e r li n
. Out o f t h e b lue
s k y G o e r i n gh a d o n c e a ga i n s o un d e d , a t t h e ve r y t i m e Ri b -
b e n t r o p s t a r t e d h i s a p p e a s e m e n t c a m p a i gn i n L o n d o n , t h a t
t h r e a d b a r e b a t t le c r y , " G o t t s t r a f e En gla n d ! "
" Th r o ugh c o un t le s s lo ud s p e a k e r s , " Si r Aus t e n w r o t e d i s -
a p p r o vi n gly , " a n d f r o m e ve r y b r o a d c a s t i n gs t a t i o n i n G e r -
m a n y h e p r o c la i m e d t o a li s t e n i n gn a t i o n w h i c h n e ve r w i ll
b e a llo w e d t o h e a r t h e o t h e r s i d e t h a t a llt h e s e p r i va t i o n s ,
a llt h e s e s a c r i f i c e s a r e r e q ui r e d o f t h e G e r m a n p e o p le o n ly
b e c a us e t h e i r c o lo n i e s w e r e s t o le n f r o m t h e m a f t e r a n `un -
f o r t un a t e ' w a r , a n d t h e i r go ld s t o le n f r o m t h e m b y a n un j us t
p e a c e . . . An d , le s t w e s h o uld t h i n k t h i s o ut b ur s t a n a c c i -
d e n t , Dr . G o e b b e ls , un w i lli n gt o b e le f t b e h i n d , a n n o un c e d
t w o d a y s la t e r t h a t G e r m a n y `w i llo f c o ur s e t a k e up t h e
f i gh t o f o ur c o lo n i e s
. " '
Wh i c h Is G e r m a n y ' s Aut h e n t i c V o i c e ? Si r Aus t e n n a m e d
h i s a r t i c le .
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s gr e a t m i s t a k e w a s i n t h i n k i n gt h a t a f e w
e x c la m a t i o n s f r o m " d i s gr un t le d p lut o c r a t s " w e r e " t h e vo i c e
o f t h e p e o p le . " B ut e ve n w h e r e t h e s e p lut o c r a t s w e r e c o n -
c e r n e d , t h e y w e r e n e ve r q ui t e a s e n c h a n t e d w i t h He r r Ri b -
b e n t r o p ' s s o c i a lt a le n t s a s h e m a d e h i s Fue h r e r b e li e ve
. It i s
t r ue t h a t t h e y c r o w d e d t h e " G r a n d Ce n t r a lSt a t i o n "
( Fr a n k -
201
THISMANRIB B ENTROP
f ur t e r Ha up t b a h n h o f ) a s t h e le gi t i m a t e
Wi lb e lm s t r a s s e c a lle d
J o a c h i m ' s r e m o d e le d Em b a s s y , b ut t h e y c r o w d e d
t h e So vi e t
Em b a s s y t o o . J o a c h i m ' s Em b a s s y w a s
m o s t e la b o r a t e . Fo r
s i x m o n t h s , d a y a n d n i gh t , o n e h un d r e d
i m p o r t e d m o d e l
s p e c i m e n s o f t h e " r e b o r n G e r m a n w o r k m a n " o r " w o r k -
s la ve s , " a c c o r d i n gt o t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , h us t le d a n d b us t le d
f r a n t i c a lly i n Ca r lt o n Ho us e Te r r a c e ,
li n k i n g, i n w a r d ly a t
le a s t , No . 9 , t h e o r i gi n a lEm b a s s y , w i t h No . 8 a n d No . 7,
t h e la t t e r f o r m e r ly t h e t o w n h o us e o f t h e Duk e s o f Ma r l-
b o r o ugh . L i t t le w o n d e r t h e n t h a t p e o p le w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n
s e e i n gt h e r e s ult s , e s p e c i a lly a s t h i s r e m o d e li n go f h i s t o r i c
m a n s i o n s i n o n e o f t h e m o s t p r o m i n e n t s e c t i o n s o f L o n d o n
h a d a r o us e d h e a t e d c o m m e n t s o n t h e p a r t o f En gli s h m e n
w h o t r e m b le d f o r t h e p r e s e r va t i o n o f lo c a lc o lo r . If Ri b b e n -
t r o p h a d h a d h i s w a y h e w o uld h a ve e r e c t e d i n t h e h e a r t
o f t h e B r i t i s h Em p i r e a Fue h r e r h a us , o n e o f t h o s e glo r i f i e d
b a r r a c k s e n li ve n e d b y h uge s w a s t i k a s w h i c h r e s e m b le d a
b e h a vi o r i s t d e f i n i t i o n o f lo ve - a llt h e s y m p t o m s a n d n o h e a r t
t o i t . i
Th i s h o r r o r w a s luc k i ly a ve r t e d t h r o ugh
t h e p r o t e s t o f
B r i t i s h a ut h o r i t i e s , s o Ri b b e n t r o p h a d t o
c o n c e n t r a t e o n t h e
i n t e r i o r .
Ca r lt o n Ho us e Te r r a c e 9 , SWi , w a s a s t r uc t ur e
w i t h a d e f i n i t e r e ge n c y a t m o s p h e r e . It w a s a m a n s i o n o f
m e m o r i e s r e p le t e w i t h w h i s p e r i n g ga lle r i e s a n d s h a d o w y
c o r n e r s , i r r e ve r e n t ly c a lle d r a t
h o le s b y Em b a s s y o f f i c i a ls .
It e c h o e d a lo n gc e n t ur y o f li f e i n L o n d o n a t i t s m o s t d i s -
t i n gui s h e d . Of t h i s p r i c e le s s r e li c ,
Ri b b e n t r o p c o n t r i ve d t o
m a k e a gy m n a s i um f o r SS. m e n ,
a Fue h r e r s c h ule , a n a c a d e m y
f o r t h e p r o p a ga t i o n o f Wo t a n
.
On Ma r c h 30, X9 37, t h e
Da i ly Te le gr a p h s h o w e d He r r
vo n Ri b b e n t r o p a m i d s t t h e d i s h e a r t e n i n gs ur r o un d i n gs w h i c h
h e a n d He r r Sp e e r , t h e p a r t y a r c h i t e c t ,
h a d t h o ugh t f i t t i n g
f o r e x p o r t t o t h e Th a m e s
. Fo r a lo n gt i m e , a s o n e lo o k s , o n e
202
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
d o e s n o t s e e a n y t h i n g , a n d t h e n o n e s e e s t o o m u c h , b e c a u s e
e a c h o b j e c t , u n r e l a t e d t o t h e n e x t , h o p e l e s s l y i s o l a t e d i n t h e
v a c u u m c a l l e d " s p i r i t o f t h e Th i r d Re i c h , " s t i c k s o u t g r i m l y
a n d a c c u s i n g l y a s i f t o m a k e s u r e t h a t i t i s n o t o v e r l o o k e d
.
Th e r e w a s n o t o n e g o o d p i c t u r e i n a l l t h e o f f i c i a l " e i g h t
v e r y l a r g e , a n d t w o s l i g h t l y s m a l l e r d r a w i n g r o o m s , b a l l -
r o o m s , a n d o t h e r r e c e p t i o n r o o m s " w h i c h Ri b b e n t r o p c r e a t e d
i n h i s t h r e e h o u s e s i n o r d e r t o b e a b l e t o e n t e r t a i n a t l e a s t a
t h o u s a n d p e o p l e a t a t i m e . Oh , y e s , t h e r e w e r e g o o d p i c -
t u r e s - a Lu c a s C r a n a c h ,
Lu c r e zi a s t i c k i n g a s u i c i d a l d a g g e r
i n t o h e r s o m e w h a t w o o d e n b r e a s t , a n d a t o u c h i n g l y p i o u s
M a d o n n a b y F r a A n g e l i c o - t h e l a t t e r A n n e l i e s ' p r o p e r t y
.
F r a u v o n Ri b b e n t r o p t o o k c a r e t o s u r r o u n d t h i s t r e a s u r e
w i t h s e c r e t d e v i c e s - t h e Em b a s s y w a s s i m p l y p u n c t u r e d b y
s u c h s e c r e t d e v i c e s . Th e o f f i c e s o f t h e s t a f f w e r e l a v i s h l y
p r o v i d e d w i t h c o n t r a p t i o n s w h i c h r e c o r d e d t h e r e m a r k s o f
t h e o f f i c i a l s o r p e r m i t t e d t h e G e s t a p o a g e n t , s i t t i n g i n t h e
a t t i c , t o l i s t e n i n
. Th e F r a A n g e l i c o h a d t h e u n c o m f o r t a b l e
h a b i t o f s o u n d i n g a n e x c r u c i a t i n g a l a r m e v e r y t i m e i t w a s
t o u c h e d , w h i c h h a p p e n e d f o r i n s t a n c e w h e n a s e r v a n t w a s
d u s t i n g i t s f r a m e . " F r a A n g e l i c o i n d i s t r e s s , " s a i d t h e o f f i c i a l s
w h e n a n g u i s h e d s i g n a l s f i l l e d t h e b u i l d i n g . Th e n o i s e w e n t
o n a n d o n i n d e f i n i t e l y i f A n n e l i e s Ri b b e n t r o p , w h o w a s t h e
o n l y o n e w h o h a d a k e y t o s t o p i t , h a p p e n e d t o b e a w a y
.
Bu t t a s t e o r n o t a s t e , i f y o u p a y t h r e e m i l l i o n m a r k s f o r
y o u r r e c e p t i o n r o o m s , y o u c a n a l w a y s g e t p e o p l e t o f i l l t h e m
i n q u a n t i t i e s . Ri b b e n t r o p d i d m o r e t h a n e x p e n d t h r e e m i l l i o n
m a r k s . F o r h i s m o r e s p e c t a c u l a r r e c e p t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y f o r a
s u p e r l a t i v e r o u t d u r i n g t h e c o r o n a t i o n d a y s o f 1 9 3 7 , h e
o r d e r e d a i r p l a n e s f r o m Be r l i n . Th e s e c a r r i e d t e n t s , m o r e
f o o t m e n , m o r e S S . m e n , b e a u t i e s , c e l e b r i t i e s , a n d t h e b e s t
d a n c e b a n d i n G e r m a n y , w h o s e c l a i m t o f a m e w a s t h a t i t
m a n a g e d t o a v o i d " u n - G e r m a n " j a zza n d s w i n g w i t h o u t
203
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
b e i n g d u l l . A n d b e s t o f a l l , t h r o u g h t h e a i r c a m e s a i l i n g He r r
Ho r c h e r , h i m s e l f , t h e Br i l l a t - S a v a r i n o f Be r l i n , l e a d i n g t h e
b a t t a l i o n s o f h i s g a s t r o n o m i c s p e c i a l t i e s , a l l t h e p h e a s a n t s ,
o r t o l a n s , t r o u t s , c a p o n s , l o b s t e r s , t r u f f l e s , a n d c a v i a r i n t h e
w o r l d w i t h w h i c h h e w a s t o f e e d a n d t o c o n q u e r t h e Br i t i s h
l i o n .
Tw o t h o u s a n d p e o p l e c a m e t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c o r o n a t i o n
r e c e p t i o n . Th e o n c e d i g n i f i e d Em b a s s y w a s r e m i n i s c e n t o f
t h e a m u s e m e n t p a r k o f a W o r l d ' s F a i r , b u t t h e q u a l i t y o f h i s
f e s t i v i t y d i d n o t b o t h e r J o a c h i m a t a l l
. He e n j o y e d t h e d e a r l y
b o u g h t p o p u l a r i t y o f h i s e s t a b l i s h m e n t . He h a d a s s i g n e d t o
e v e r y Em b a s s y o f f i c i a l f o u r o f t h e m o r e p r o m i n e n t g u e s t s ,
s o t h a t t h e y m i g h t n o t g e t l o s t i n t h e r i o t o r f e e l n e g l e c t e d .
Bu t h e h a d a s s i g n e d He r r W o e r m a n n e x c l u s i v e l y t o M r
.
Or m s b y G o r e , t h e c o l o n i a l s e c r e t a r y , b e c a u s e , h e s a i d n a i v e l y
b u t e a r n e s t l y , " A j u n i o r w o u l d n o t d o f o r M r . Or m s b y
G o r e
; a f t e r a l l , w e w a n t o u r c o l o n i e s b a c k , d o n ' t w e ? "
Th e i d e a o f o b t a i n i n g c o l o n i e s a s w e l l a s t h e f r i e n d s h i p o f
G r e a t Br i t a i n m e r e l y b y o p e n i n g i n n u m e r a b l e c a s e s o f
He i zk e l l Tr o c k e n w a s o n e o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s g r e a t m i s t a k e s .
Th e r e w e r e m a n y p e o p l e i n Lo n d o n w h o d i d n o t l i k e t h e
Bo l s h e v i k i a n d t h e r e w e r e m a n y w h o l i k e d J o a c h i m ' s c h a m -
p a g n e - b u t a s a p l a t f o r m f o r a n e w t r e n d i n w o r l d p o l i t i c s
t h i s w a s n o t e n o u g h a s l o n g a s Hi t l e r r e l e n t l e s s l y p e r f e c t e d
h i s t e c h n i q u e o f e x t e r m i n a t i n g l i b e r t y w h o l e s a l e a t h o m e .
No r d i d Ri b b e n t r o p g e t o n a s w e l l w i t h t h e i n n e r c i r c l e o f
t h e C l i v e d e n s e t , a n d h e n e v e r w a s , c o n t r a r y t o r u m o r , a n
i n t i m a t e o f M r s . S i m p s o n w h o f o u n d h i s b u n c h e s o f r o s e s
r a t h e r u n c a l l e d f o r .
On e d a y , w h e n h e v i s i t e d Lo r d De r b y i n t h e c o u n t r y , a s
u s u a l w i t h a n e n t o u r a g e o f u n i n v i t e d S S . m e n , h e w a s c h a s -
t i s e d b y t h e f o r m i d a b l e Ea r l a s i f h e w e r e a s c h o o l b o y
. A n -
o t h e r t i m e , d u r i n g a d i n n e r p a r t y , La d y A s t o r c a l l e d o v e r
204
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
t h e t a b l e t o Ri b b e n t r o p , " A r e n ' t y o u a d a m n e d b a d A m b a s -
s a d o r ? " On i n q u i r i n g w h y , h e w a s t o l d , " Be c a u s e y o u h a v e
n o s e n s e o f h u m o r . " J o a c h i m r e p l i e d , " Y o u s h o u l d s e e m e
t e l l i n g j o k e s t o Hi t l e r a n d h o w w e b o t h r o a r w i t h l a u g h t e r
. "
It w a s n ' t s u c h a b a d a n s w e r , b u t t h e s t o r y s h o w s t h a t t h e
m i s t r e s s o f C l i v e d e n w a s n o t b l i n d t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s h o r t -
c o m i n g s . No b o d y i n Lo n d o n w a s q u i t e a s b l i n d a s Ri b b e n -
t r o p h a d e x p e c t e d .
A b o u t t h e c o l o n i a l q u e s t i o n - i t w a s o n e o f t h o s e t h i n g s
i n w h i c h Hi t l e r w a s n o t o r i g i n a l l y i n t e r e s t e d
. It w a s w i t h
g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y t h a t m e n l i k e S c h a c h t , n o t a Na zi b u t a n
o l d f a s h i o n e d i m p e r i a l i s t a t h e a r t , c o n v i n c e d Hi t l e r t h a t
c o l o n i e s w e r e w o r t h c l a m o r i n g f o r . Ri b b e n t r o p a l s o a p p r e -
c i a t e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f c o l o n i e s . He a p p r e c i a t e d t h e m a s
o b j e c t s f o r b a r g a i n i n g a n d a s o f f e r i n g o c c a s i o n s f o r r i g h t e o u s
i n d i g n a t i o n a n d h e a l s o w a s d e l u d e d i n t o t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e y
c o u l d a c t u a l l y b e h a d . It i s q u i t e t r u e t h a t i n En g l a n d a n d
A m e r i c a t h e r e s t i t u t i o n o f t h e f o r m e r G e r m a n c o l o n i e s w a s
s e r i o u s l y d i s c u s s e d , a t l e a s t a m o n g l a y m e n . A r o u n d 1 9 3 7 o n e
c o u l d f r e q u e n t l y h e a r , i n A m e r i c a , s e n t i m e n t s t o t h e e f f e c t
t h a t t h e r e t u r n o f t h e c o l o n i e s w o u l d p e r h a p s s e t t l e a l l t h e
u n r e s t . A s i f a f e w i n h o s p i t a b l e r e g i o n s a t t h e w o r l d ' s e n d
c o u l d e v e r h a v e i n d u c e d Hi t l e r t o s t o p c o v e t i n g t h e h u g e
t r o p h i e s w h i c h l a y a t h i s d o o r s t e p . Ne v e r t h e l e s s , i f t h e s t r o n g
s e n t i m e n t i n A m e r i c a a n d En g l a n d i n f a v o r o f t h e r e s t i t u t i o n
w o u l d h a v e a c t u a l l y m a d e G e r m a n y l o r d o f s o m e d a r k e m -
p i r e , i t w o u l d h a v e l o o k e d l i k e a n e w t r i u m p h f o r Na zi
m e t h o d s
. A n d i f t h e d e a l w o u l d h a v e b e e n m a d e t h r o u g h
Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e s t a t u r e o f Hi t l e r ' s p o c k e t - Bi s m a r c k w o u l d
h a v e g r o w n i m m e n s e l y .
In t h i s c o n n e c t i o n w e r e c e i v e d t h e f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n
f r o m a f r i e n d i n Be r l i n : " Ou r f r i e n d J o a c h i m s e e m s t o h a v e
r e s e r v e d t h e c o l o n i e s f o r h i m s e l f . Hi s m o v e h a s b r o u g h t h i m
205
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
s e v e r a l n e w f r i e n d s , b u t a g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f n e w e n e m i e s .
On e o f t h e n e w f r i e n d s s e e m s t o b e Dr . S c h a c h t , w h o a l -
w a y s - a n d o f t e n i n v a i n - h a s t r i e d t o t u r n t h e F u e h r e r ' s
a t t e n t i o n t o t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e c o l o n i a l p r o b l e m a n d
s u r e l y w a s b e h i n d t h e d i s c u s s i o n s t h e F u e h r e r h e l d r e c e n t l y
w i t h a l l s o r t s o f e x p e r t s
. Ot h e r s a r e s o m e o f t h e h i g h o f f i c i a l s
o f t h e
Ko l o n i a l a m t ( t h e f o r m e r M i n i s t r y f o r C o l o n i e s ) e s p e -
c i a l l y t h e g o v e r n o r s , e a c h o f w h o m w o u l d l o v e t o r e t u r n
t o t h e i r p r e v i o u s a c t i v i t i e s , h i g h s a l a r i e s , a n d s o v e r e i g n l i v e s
.
A m o n g t h e n e w e n e m i e s , G e n e r a l v o n Ep p s e e m s t o b e t h e
m o s t a g g r e s s i v e , a s h e h a d b e l i e v e d t h a t n o b o d y b u t h i m s e l f
s h o u l d b e i n c h a r g e o f G e r m a n y ' s c o l o n i a l a s p i r a t i o n s a n d
n o w h a s t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p h a s c h e a t e d h i m
i n t h i s d e s i r e
. It w a s J o a c h i m w h o i n d u c e d t h e F u e h r e r t o
d i s s o l v e Ep p ' s C o l o n i a l Le a g u e
. It w a s J o a c h i m a g a i n w h o
a r r a n g e d t h a t t h e n a t i o n a l c o n v e n t i o n f o r t h e r e t u r n o f t h e
c o l o n i e s w a s p o s t p o n e d i n d e f i n i t e l y
. It m e a n s t h a t a l l c o l o n i a l
p r o p a g a n d a i s t o b e r e d u c e d t o a m i n i m u m i n t h e h o p e t h a t
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s ` i n f l u e n t i a l f r i e n d s ' i n G r e a t Br i t a i n w i l l m u s t e r
e n o u g h c o u r a g e t o e n g i n e e r s o m e k i n d o f n e w a c c o r d
. Bu t t h e
Ep p g r o u p a n d s o m e o t h e r i n f l u e n t i a l f a c t i o n s i n t h e p a r t y
a r e o p p o s e d t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a c t i o n
. Th e y d o n o t b e l i e v e
t h a t h e w i l l s u c c e e d , t h e y w a n t t o k e e p t h e d i r e c t i o n i n
c o l o n i a l m a t t e r s i n t h e i r o w n h a n d s
. S o m e f i r e w o r k s w i t h i n
t h e p a r t y m a y b e t h e u p s h o t o f i t a l l
. Bu t w h o c a n p r e d i c t
a n y t h i n g d e f i n i t e i n o u r t i m e
. It a l l d e p e n d s w h e t h e r t h e
F u e h r e r ' s d e c i s i o n w a s a f i n a l o n e o r w h e t h e r h e c h a n g e s h i s
m i n d a g a i n i n t h i s m a t t e r
. "
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p o l i t i c s i n t h i s c a s e c o n s i s t e d , t h e r e f o r e , i n
l e t t i n g t h e c o l o n i a l p r o b l e m r i p e n i n t h e p a l e s u n o f En g -
l a n d ' s b a d c o n s c i e n c e u n t i l t h e f r u i t s i n t h e s h a p e o f d i v e r s e
d e s e r t s a n d t r a d i n g p o s t s w o u l d f a l l i n t o t h e l a p o f t h e e x -
p e c t a n t G e r m a n p e o p l e
. Ne i t h e r p a t i e n c e n o r g o o d p s y -
206
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
c h o l o g y w a s u s u a l l y a s t r o n g p o i n t w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p , b u t
h e r e h e f o l l o w e d t h e e x p r e s s a d v i c e o f h i s En g l i s h f r i e n d s
w h o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t s h r i l l c o l o n i a l d e m a n d s o n t h e p a r t
o f t h e Na zi s w o u l d h o p e l e s s l y c o u n t e r a c t t h e s l o w e r o s i v e
e f f e c t o f En g l a n d ' s n e w l y a c q u i r e d m e e k n e s s
. Lo r d Lo n d o n -
d e r r y w a s f o r e m o s t a m o n g h i s a d v i s e r s . A t M o u n t S t e w a r t
C a s t l e t h e Lo r d h a d t o l d h i s g u e s t t h a t t h e t r a n s a c t i o n w o u l d
n o t b e e a s y . Th e c o l o n i e s w e r e m a n d a t e d . G r e a t Br i t a i n
c o u l d n o t d e a l w i t h t h e m a s i f s h e o w n e d t h e m
. Th e c o m -
p l i c a t e d m a c h i n e r y o f t h e Le a g u e o f Na t i o n s w a s i n v o l v e d .
Th e En g l i s h p e o p l e o n t h e w h o l e w o u l d w e l c o m e a n e q u i t a -
b l e s e t t l e m e n t , h o w e v e r , i f t h e Na zi s w o u l d n o t s p o i l e v e r y -
t h i n g b y e m b a r k i n g u p o n o n e o f t h e i r f a v o r i t e s c r e a m i n g
s p r e e s .
W e h a v e s e e n w h a t J o a c h i m d i d i n o r d e r t o c o m p l y w i t h
Lo r d Lo n d o n d e r r y ' s s u g g e s t i o n s . Bu t w e h a v e a l s o s e e n w h a t
t h e Na zi s d i d t h e m o m e n t J o a c h i m a r r i v e d i n Lo n d o n a n d
h o w s o u r l y S i r A u s t e n r e a c t e d . G o e r i n g ' s a n d G o e b b e l s '
t i r a d e s a b o u t s t o l e n c o l o n i e s , s u p p l e m e n t e d b y l u s t y s p e e c h e s
o n t h e p a r t o f m i n o r Na zi s w e r e , a t t h a t t i m e , m o r e c a l c u l a t e d
t o c r e a t e d i f f i c u l t i e s f o r Ri b b e n t r o p t h a n t o s a b o t a g e En g -
l a n d ' s p o l i c y o f a p p e a s e m e n t .
J o a c h i m f u r i o u s l y b o m b a r d e d t h e F u e h r e r w i t h p r o t e s t s
f r o m Lo n d o n o v e r t h e e x t r a s p e c i a l t e l e p h o n e l i n e . Hi t l e r ,
a f t e r s o m e h e s i t a t i o n , c l a m p e d d o w n o n G o e r i n g , G o e b b e l s ,
a n d Ep p a l t h o u g h l e s s c o n s e q u e n t i a l p a r t y o f f i c i a l s w e r e s t i l l
p e r m i t t e d t o a c c u s e p e r f i d i o u s A l b i o n a n d t o a l e s s e r d e g r e e
F r a n c e , b u t n e v e r J a p a n , f o r h a v i n g h e l p e d t h e m s e l v e s t o
G e r m a n y ' s o v e r s e a p o s s e s s i o n s . Ri b b e n t r o p a n d n o t t h e p a r t y
i n s i d e G e r m a n y , s o Hi t l e r c o n c l u d e d , s h o u l d b e c o m e t h e
m o u t h p i e c e i n t h i s m a t t e r .
It w a s d e c i d e d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t t h e " m i s s i o n o f f r i e n d s h i p "
s h o u l d b e g i n w i t h a p u b l i c d e c l a r a t i o n , b y t h e n e w e n v o y ,
207
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
r e l a t i n g h o w G e r m a n y r e a l l y f e l t a b o u t c o l o n i e s
. Ri b b e n -
t r o p i s a h o p e l e s s s p e a k e r , a n d h e k n o w s i t , b u t h e c o u l d n o t
a v o i d m a k i n g t h i s s p e e c h . He c h o s e t h e
A n g l o - G e r m a n F e l -
l o w s h i p
a s a s u t i a b l e e n v i r o n m e n t f o r h i s p r o n u n c i a m e n t o , a n d
h e f i x e d t h e d a t e f o r De c e m b e r 1 2 .
It w a s h i s f i r s t p u b l i c a p -
p e a r a n c e i n Lo n d o n s i n c e h i s i l l - f a t e d p e r f o r m a n c e a t V i c t o r i a
S t a t i o n
. Th e t e x t o f h i s s p e e c h , w h i c h h e r e a d w o r d f o r w o r d ,
w a s c a r e f u l l y p l a n n e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h Hi t l e r , a n d n o t
v e r y m u c h w e n t a m i s s t h i s t i m e , t h o u g h n o t h i n g v e r y m u c h
w a s g a i n e d e i t h e r .
Th e A n g l o - G e r m a n F e l l o w s h i p w a s a r a t h e r g l a m o r o u s
u n d e r t a k i n g d e s t i n e d t o f o s t e r t h e f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n En g -
l a n d a n d G e r m a n y . In t h e s p i r i t o f t h e g r e a t C e c i l Rh o d e s
w h o i n t e n d e d t o m a k e f a s h i o n a b l e , w i t h t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f
t h e Rh o d e s s c h o l a r s h i p s , a p o l i c y o f c u l t u r a l f r a t e r n i za t i o n
b e t w e e n t h e A n g l o - S a x o n c o u n t r i e s a n d G e r m a n y , t h i s f e l -
l o w s h i p g a t h e r e d p r o m i n e n t En g l i s h m e n a n d G e r m a n s w h o
e x c h a n g e d g o o d - h u m o r e d c o m p l i m e n t s w i t h e a c h o t h e r .
Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e f e l l o w s h i p o n t h e G e r m a n s i d e w a s t h e Du k e
o f S a x e - C o b u r g , b o r n a n d r a i s e d i n En g l a n d a s Du k e o f
A l b a n y , w h o , t h o u g h s p e a k i n g G e r m a n w i t h a n En g l i s h a c -
c e n t , i d e n t i f i e d h i m s e l f o n e h u n d r e d p e r c e n t w i t h Hi t l e r ' s
p a n - G e r m a n f r e n zy . Pr e s i d e n t o n t h e En g l i s h s i d e w a s Lo r d
M o u n t Te m p l e , s o n - i n - l a w o f S i r Er n e s t C a s s e l , f a m o u s
p l u t o c r a t i c f r i e n d o f Ki n g Ed w a r d V II, a n d f a t h e r - i n - l a w
o f Lo r d Lo u i s M o u n t b a t t e n , o f t h e C o m m a n d o s
. Ri b b e n t r o p
t r i e d t o e x e r c i s e h i s , a c c o r d i n g t o La d y A s t o r , s a d l y u n d e -
v e l o p e d s e n s e o f h u m o r a t t h e e x p e n s e o f t h e f e l l o w s h i p ' s
Br i t i s h p r e s i d e n t b y d e c l a r i n g t h a t t h i s t e m p l e s h o u l d n o t b e
d e s t r o y e d i n s p i t e o f t h e J e w i s h w i f e b e c a u s e i t s u s e f u l n e s s
w a s n o t y e t e x h a u s t e d
. Lo r d M o u n t Te m p l e w a s u s e f u l i n d e e d
i n l e n d i n g h i s g o o d n a m e t o t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
g l o r i f i e d F i f t h C o l u m n i n G r e a t Br i t a i n
.
2o 8
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a u d i e n c e o n De c e m b e r 1 2 i n c l u d e d , a s i d e
f r o m Lo r d M o u n t Te m p l e , Lo r d Lo n d o n d e r r y ( r e c o g n i ze d
l e a d e r o f p r o - G e r m a n o p i n i o n i n Br i t a i n ) ; Lo r d Re d e s d a l e ,
f a t h e r o f U n i t y M i t f o r d ; Lo r d Lo t h i a n , l a t e r A m b a s s a d o r i n
W a s h i n g t o n ; t h e Du k e o f W e l l i n g t o n ; Lo r d Re n n e l l , f o r m e r
A m b a s s a d o r t o Ro m e ; S i r A r n o l d W i l s o n , p r i n c i p a l a d v i s e r
o f Ne v i l l e C h a m b e r l a i n a t Be r c h t e s g a d e n a n d M u n i c h w h o ,
a f t e r t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e w a r , w a s o n e o f t h e f i r s t f l y e r s o f
t h e Br i t i s h A i r F o r c e t o l o s e h i s l i f e o v e r G e r m a n y
; S i r He n r y
E. Br i t t a i n ; Lo r d Da v i e s ( p a c i f i s t )
; M a j o r G e n e r a l Hu t c h i n -
s o n , c h a i r m a n o f t h e Na t i o n a l Li b e r a l o r g a n i za t i o n ; Lo r d M o t -
t i s t o n e ; S i r F r a n k Ne w n e s s ; a n d m a n y o t h e r s , a l t o g e t h e r b e -
t w e e n s i x h u n d r e d a n d s e v e n h u n d r e d g u e s t s
. A l l t h e s e f r i e n d s
o f A n g l o - G e r m a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g h a d o n e t h i n g i n c o m m o n
:
t h e d e s i r e t o a v e r t a n e w a r m e d c l a s h w i t h G e r m a n y , w h a t -
e v e r t h e c o s t
. Th e s e p e o p l e m a y h a v e m e a n t w e l l , b u t t h e y
f o r g o t t h a t , w h e n t h e y s a i d G e r m a n y , w h i c h i s a g o o d t h i n g ,
t h e y m e a n t i n r e a l i t y Na zi , w h i c h i s a b a d t h i n g . Th e y g a v e
Ri b b e n t r o p , a n d t h r o u g h h i m Hi t l e r , t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t
En g l a n d w o u l d n o t f i g h t u n d e r a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h a t n o t h -
i n g t h e Na zi s c o u l d d o w o u l d e v e r r u f f l e Br i t i s h c o m p l a c e n c y .
Th e r e i s a c e r t a i n r e s e m b l a n c e b e t w e e n t h i s g r o u p , j o k i n g l y
c a l l e d t h e " He i l Hi t l e r g a n g , " a n d t h e A m e r i c a n i s o l a t i o n i s t s
o f p r e - Pe a r l Ha r b o r d a y s
.
Ri b b e n t r o p , i n h i s s p e e c h , a s s e r t e d t h a t G e r m a n y d i d n o t
w a n t t o g o i n f o r a b s o l u t e s e l f - s u f f i c i e n c y . G e r m a n y w a n t s ,
h e e x p l a i n e d , t o b e o n c e a g a i n a n a t i o n a b l e t o p u r s u e h e r
d a i l y w o r k w i t h o u t b e i n g c o n s t a n t l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h c a r e s
d u e t o l a c k o f t h e n e c e s s i t i e s o f l i f e
. Bu t , h e a d d e d , " t h e
F u e h r e r r e a l i ze s t h a t t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f c o l o n i e s i s n e c e s s a r y
f o r a p r o p e r s u p p l y w i t h r a w m a t e r i a l s , a n d f o r i m p r o v i n g
t h e s t a n d a r d o f h i s p e o p l e t h r o u g h t r a d e e x p a n s i o n . Th e o n l y
209
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
s o l u t i o n o f w o r l d d i f f i c u l t i e s i s a n a d j u s t m e n t b e t w e e n t h e
h a v e s a n d t h e h a v e n o t n a t i o n s . "
A f t e r i n d u l g i n g i n t h e " d e s t r u c t i v e d o c t r i n e o f t h e Th i r d
In t e r n a t i o n a l " a n d t h e " s h a c k l e s o f t h e V e r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y , "
J o a c h i m c l o s e d w i t h a n a p p e a l t o t h e p e o p l e o f G r e a t Br i t a i n
.
" En g l a n d a n d G e r m a n y , " h e s a i d , " h a v e h a d o n l y o n e c o n -
f l i c t i n t h e i r l o n g h i s t o r y o f f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s , a n d t h i s w a s
a t e r r i b l e a n d t r a g i c m i s t a k e w h i c h m u s t n e v e r b e r e p e a t e d .
Th e r e i s t o b e n o w i n n e r i n t h e l o n g r u n . W e a l l k n o w t o d a y
t h a t a n o t h e r c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n o u r t w o g r e a t n a t i o n s - a n -
o t h e r u n i v e r s a l W o r l d W a r - w o u l d m e a n t h e u n a v o i d a b l e
v i c t o r y o f w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a n d Bo l s h e v i s m a n d t h e d e s t r u c -
t i o n o f e v e r y t h i n g d e a r t o u s f o r g e n e r a t i o n s . "
He m a d e i t c l e a r a t t h e s a m e t i m e , h o w e v e r , t h a t " G e r -
m a n y , h a v i n g o n c e a g a i n e n t e r e d t h e r i n g o f b i g p o w e r s i n
t
f w o r l d a n d h a v i n g g o t a c c u s t o m e d t o s t a n d o n h e r o w n
f e e s . w i l l n e v e r a l l o w a n y b o d y t o m e n a c e t h e s e c u r i t y o f
h e r - p e o p l e . "
In s p i t e o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e w h o l e a u d i e n c e c o n s i s t e d o f
a d h e r e n t s o f p r o - G e r m a n p o l i c y , Ri b b e n t r o p ' s l e c t u r e d i d
n o t m a k e a s t r o n g i m p r e s s i o n
. Bu t t h e c o m m e n t s w e r e n o t
u n f r i e n d l y e i t h e r . In a n s w e r i n g , Lo r d Lo n d o n d e r r y s u g g e s t e d
" t h a t t h e w o r l d l e a d e r s s h o u l d m e e t t o d e t e r m i n e a p r o g r a m
o f p e a c e
. " Th e m a i n p o i n t w a s t h a t Ru s s i a w a s e x p r e s s l y
o m i t t e d f r o m a n y " p r o g r a m o f p e a c e " w h i c h t h e
A n g l o -
G e r m a n F e l l o w s h i p w o u l d c a r e t o h a t c h o u t
.
W h i l e Ri b b e n t r o p s u c c e e d e d n e i t h e r w i t h p a t i e n c e n o r
w i t h e l o q u e n c e i n g i v i n g t h e c o l o n i a l p r o b l e m a m o r e p r o p i -
t i o u s t w i s t f r o m t h e G e r m a n p o i n t o f v i e w , h e s c o r e d s u c -
c e s s e s i n a f i e l d w h e r e h e w a s m o r e a t h o m e
: C i v i l W a r
. I
a l l u d e , o f c o u r s e , t o t h e S p a n i s h C i v i l W a r a n d t o t h e i l l -
f a m e d No n - In t e r v e n t i o n C o m m i t t e e i n Lo n d o n
.
Ev e r y Na zi , w h e t h e r e l e g a n t J o a c h i m o r a s t r e e t s w e e p e r ,
21 0
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
i s a t o n c e e l e c t r i f i e d w h e n t h e a t m o s p h e r e c e a s e s t o b e
a c a d e m i c a n d t h e w i t c h e s s a b b a t h o f a t o t a l i t a r i a n r i o t w i t h
i t s b l o o d t h i r s t y r h e t o r i c a n d m u r d e r o u s c o n s u m m a t i o n b e -
c o m e s t h e o r d e r o f t h e d a y
. Ev e n W o r l d W a r IIc a n o n l y
b e s e e n b y Na zi s i n t e r m s n o r m a l l y a p p l i e d t o i n t e r n a l r e v o l u -
t i o n s b e c a u s e o t h e r w i s e i t w o u l d l a c k f l a v o r . Th e r e p e t i t i o n
o f s t r i c t l y p a t r i o t i c g e s t u r e s d l a W i l l i a m IIh a s n o a p p e a l f o r
Na zi s . Th e m o m e n t , h o w e v e r , a n e v e n t t a k e s o n t h e c o l o r
o f a p r o g r a m , t h e Na zi f e e l s h i s h o u r h a s c o m e , a n d h e
t h r o w s h i m s e l f i n t o t h e c h a s e w i t h t h e t r a g i - c o m i c ze a l o f
a b u l l r u n n i n g a f t e r a r e d r a g . In o r d e r t o m a k e W o r l d W a r II
w o r t h w h i l e f o r t h e Na zi i m a g i n a t i o n , Dr
. G o e b b e l s i n e v i -
t a b l y h a d t o g r a c e Pr e s i d e n t Ro o s e v e l t w i t h a J e w i s h a n -
c e s t r e s s w h o a l l e g e d l y w a s s o w i n g h e r w i l d o a t s s o m e w h e r e
d u r i n g t h e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y .
Th e S p a n i s h C i v i l W a r w a s t h e s o r t o f c a t a s t r o p h e i n
w h i c h t h e Na zi s h a d t o i n v o l v e t h e m s e l v e s . Th e i d e a t h a t
t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e Ib e r i a n c o n f l i c t w a s o c c a s i o n e d b y
g e o p o l i t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f s o m e p r o f u n d i t y i s o n l y a n
a f t e r t h o u g h t
. To i n t e r v e n e w h e r e t h e p u n i s h m e n t o f l i b e r a l s
i s c o n c e r n e d i s t o Na zi s a m a t t e r o f p r i n c i p l e .
Ri b b e n t r o p r e j o i c e d a t t h e S p a n i s h d e b a c l e
. W h a t t o t h e
w o r l d w a s a t r a g e d y , t o h i m w a s a b i g c h a n c e
. By h e l p i n g
F r a n c o , h e b e c a m e t h e c h a m p i o n o f t h a t En g l a n d h e c a r e d
f o r a n d c o n s i d e r e d a l o n e w o r t h t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Na zi
r e v o l u t i o n , t h e En g l a n d o f v e s t e d i n t e r e s t s , b i g n a m e s , a n d
t i m i d s o u l s . He r e w e h a v e p a r a d o x . Th e A m b a s s a d o r o f t h e
Re i c h , w h i c h p r o c l a i m e d i t s e l f a s h a v i n g l a u n c h e d t h e m o s t
r a d i c a l r e v o l u t i o n o f o u r t i m e , p a r a d e d g l e e f u l l y h a n d i n
h a n d w i t h t h e Du k e o f A l b a i n f r o n t o f p o l i t e l y a p p l a u d i n g
En g l i s h To r i e s . Th e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h , p i l l o r i ze d b y t h e Na zi s
i n G e r m a n y a s a h a v e n f o r f r a u d a n d s u p e r s t i t i o n , w a s s a v e d
i n Lo n d o n b y J o a c h i m v o n Ri b b e n t r o p
. C a p i t a l i s m , w h i c h o n
21 1
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
t h e c o n t i n e n t w a s t h e g i l d e d f o r t r e s s o f " k n a v e s " a g a i n s t
w h i c h t h e w a v e s o f t h e G e r m a n r e v o l u t i o n t h u n d e r e d , w a s
i n Lo n d o n i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h e p a l l a d i u m
e v e r y d e c e n t m a n s h o u l d d e f e n d a g a i n s t t h e Re d s . Bu t t h e
i r o n y o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i s s u m m e d u p i n t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s s a m e
Ri b b e n t r o p b a c k e d u p b y n e a r l y a l l o f h i s c o l l e a g u e s , r o a r e d
d e f i a n c e a t Iv a n M a i s k y i n t h e No n - In t e r v e n t i o n C o m m i t t e e .
M a i s k y a l s o p l a y e d a l i t t l e n o n - i n t e r v e n t i o n i n S p a i n , a n d
t w o y e a r s l a t e r s a w h i m i n M o s c o w r e p o r t i n g t o h i s s u p e r i o r s
o n w h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s a n d w h y i t h a d n o t t u r n e d o u t
b e t t e r .
A t t h e t i m e o f t h e S p a n i s h W a r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a r t i f i c e s s t i l l
h a d , h o w e v e r , w i d e c u r r e n c y a m o n g t h e p e o p l e w h o c o u n t e d .
W e m a y v e n t u r e t o s a y t h a t a t n o t i m e i n h i s w h o l e c a r e e r ,
b o t h e a r l i e r a n d l a t e r , w a s Ri b b e n t r o p i n a h a p p i e r p o s i t i o n
t h a n w h e n h e s l e w ' t h e d r a g o n o f l e f t i s m i n t h e No n - In t e r -
v e n t i o n C o m m i t t e e i n Lo n d o n . Th e r e h e p l o t t e d d e a t h a n d
d e s t r u c t i o n w i t h h i s It a l i a n c o l l e a g u e , Di n o G r a n d i , a n d y e t
h e w a s a l w a y s i n t h e c o m p a n y o f r e s p e c t a b l e p e o p l e
. On c e
m o r e w e w i t n e s s t h e i m p o r t a n t p s y c h o l o g i c a l p h e n o m e n o n
o f Na zi s b e c o m i n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n o r d e r t o b e c o m e r e -
s p e c t a b l e . Th e y w e r e g a n g s t e r s w i t h a s e n t i m e n t a l l o n g i n g
f o r c o n f o r m i t y . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s g o a l w a s t o t h r o w o f f t h e w i l d
m a n ' s a t t i r e a n d t o p r e t e n d t h a t h i s j o b o f c l e a n s i n g t h e
e a r t h o f u n w o r t h y s u b h u m a n c o h a b i t a n t s w a s d o n e , o r a l -
m o s t d o n e , a n d t h a t n o w h e h a d n o o b j e c t i o n t o t h e e n j o y -
m e n t o f a w e l l - e a r n e d r e s t h o b n o b b i n g w i t h t h e c r e a m o f
t h e h u m a n s p e c i e s .
In t h e No n - In t e r v e n t i o n C o m m i t t e e , Ri b b e n t r o p w a s p a r t
o f a c o m m o n f r o n t w i t h a l l t h e r i g h t p e o p l e . Lo r d Pl y m o u t h
s a t i n t h e c h a i r s m i l i n g i n d u l g e n t l y a t h i s l i t t l e s l i p s i n d e m o -
c r a t i c p r o c e d u r e , w h i l e M a i s k y , i n f a r f r o m s p l e n d i d i s o l a -
t i o n , w a s m a d e t h e w h i p p i n g b o y f o r a l l t h e o u t r a g e s t h e
21 2
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
Re d s
h a d u n d e n i a b l y p e r p e t r a t e d
a g a i n s t t h e e s t a b l i s h e d
o r d e r s i n c e 1 9 1 7
. Th e j o k e w a s , t o s a y i t a g a i n , t h a t Ri b -
b e n t r o p , w h o w a s t h e o r e t i c a l l y j u s t a s m u c h a g a i n s t t h e
e s t a b l i s h e d o r d e r a s t h e Re d s , h u g e l y e n j o y e d w e a r i n g t h e
r o b e o f l e g a l i t y w i t h w h i c h h e c l o a k e d t h e i l l e g a l a c t s o f
t h e Na zi s i n S p a i n
. Le g a l i t y , t h a t w a s a n o t h e r a s p e c t o f
r e s p e c t a b i l i t y w h i c h t h e Na zi s c r a v e d
. Hi t l e r i n s i s t e d t h a t
h e h a d c o m e t o p o w e r " l e g a l l y , " t h a t h e h a d a b o l i s h e d t h e
c o n s t i t u t i o n , m u r d e r e d h i s b e s t f r i e n d s o n J u n e 3 0,
1 9 3 4,
a n d
s m a s h e d t h e Lo c a r n o Pa c t " l e g a l l y
. " Ev e r y t h i n g w a s v e r y
" l e g a l " a b o u t G e r m a n i n t e r v e n t i o n i n S p a i n t o o
. Th e No n -
In t e r v e n t i o n C o m m i t t e e u s u a l l y d i d n o t n o t i c e a n y i n f r i n g e -
m e n t s , a n d i f i t d i d , Ri b b e n t r o p i n s i s t e d o n a m i n u t e i n v e s t i -
g a t i o n , i n t h e b e s t Le a g u e o f Na t i o n s m a n n e r , w i t h t h e r e s u l t
t h a t t h e p o o r s u b - c o m m i t t e e e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e j o b g o t
c a u g h t i n a n a v a l a n c h e o f s o m a n y f a c t s t h a t i t f o u n d i t m o r e
e x p e d i e n t t o a d j o u r n s o o n e r t h a n r a i s e i t s v o i c e i n u n p o p u l a r
p r o t e s t s .
Th u s Ri b b e n t r o p s u c c e s s f u l l y a p p l i e d t h e m a c h i n e l i b e r a l
c o u n t r i e s h a d c r e a t e d i n o r d e r t o a n n i h i l a t e l i b e r a l i s m i n
S p a i n .
A f e w m i n o r t o u c h e s w i l l r o u n d o u t t h i s a c c o u n t o f
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a c t i v i t i e s i n Lo n d o n
. Ri b b e n t r o p , a s e v e r y b o d y
k n o w s , c a u s e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e s t i r w h e n b r e a k i n g t h r o u g h
t h e h a l l o w e d C o u r t c e r e m o n i a l o n t h e o c c a s i o n o f h i s f i r s t
s o l e m n a u d i e n c e w i t h t h e Ki n g o n F e b r u a r y 5,
1
9 3 7 , b y
s h o u t i n g n o t " He i l G e o r g e , " w h i c h w o u l d h a v e b e e n u n -
u s u a l b u t a t l e a s t u n d e r s t a n d a b l e , b u t h i s b a t t l e c r y " He i l
Hi t l e r ! " He w a s s u p p o s e d t o p r e s e n t h i s c r e d e n t i a l s t o t h e
S o v e r e i g n w h o l o o k e d f o r w a r d t o t h e c e r e m o n y w i t h t h e
p o l i t e b o r e d o m n a t u r a l t o a m a n f o r w h o m c e r e m o n i e s a r e
n o t a n o v e l e x p e r i e n c e
. A n t h o n y Ed e n a n d t h e V i c e M a r s h a l
o f t h e Di p l o m a t i c C o r p s , S i r J o h n Be r k e l e y M o n c k , a c c o m -
21 3
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
p a n i e d J o a c h i m w h o i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e p r o t o c o l s h o u l d
h a v e a p p r o a c h e d t h e Ki n g w i t h t h e t h r e e b o w s w h i c h w o u l d
a u t o m a t i c a l l y h a v e b r o u g h t h i m t o a s t a n d s t i l l a f e w s t e p s
f r o m t h e Ro y a l p r e s e n c e
. Bu t J o a c h i m , o n c e i n t h e a u d i e n c e
r o o m , s m a r t l y o u t d i s t a n c e d h i s h o r r i f i e d e s c o r t a n d w a s n e x t
s e e n w a v i n g h i s h a n d f o r n o a p p a r e n t r e a s o n a l m o s t l e s s
t h a n t w o i n c h e s u n d e r t h e Ki n g ' s n o s e , h a i l i n g Hi t l e r l u s t i l y .
Th i s d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f Na zi i n d e p e n d e n c e i n t h e f a c e o f
t h e Br i t i s h m o n a r c h Ri b b e n t r o p o r d e r e d w i d e l y p u b l i c i ze d
i n G e r m a n n e w s p a p e r s
. S o m e h o w h i s u n c o m p r o m i s i n g g e s -
t u r e s e e m e d t o h i m a g o o d e x a m p l e o f t h a t f u l l - b l o o d e d Na zi
d i p l o m a c y b y w h i c h h e d e s i r e d t o r e p l a c e t h e d e c a d e n t
" c o r r e c t n e s s " o f t h e W e i m a r r e p u b l i c . Th e En g l i s h p r e s s
w a s n o t s o s a n g u i n e a b o u t i t , a n d p u b l i s h e d a c a r i c a t u r e
s h o w i n g t h e S o v i e t A m b a s s a d o r i n Be r l i n m e n a c i n g Hi t l e r ' s
n o s e w i t h a c l e n c h e d f i s t
. Th i s w a s c a p t i o n e d , " If e v e r y b o d y
w a n t s t o g r e e t h i s o w n w a y . " A n o t h e r p a p e r r e m e m b e r e d
t h a t i n t h e d a y s o f o l d Q u e e n V i c t o r i a o n e o f t h e d e s p o t s
s t r a i g h t o u t o f t h e A f r i c a n k r a a l w a s r e c e i v e d b y He r M a j e s t y
a n d s h o w e d h i s a p p r e c i a t i o n b y k n o c k i n g h i s h e a d t h r e e
t i m e s a g a i n s t t h e f l o o r . Bu t u n d a u n t e d b y t h e s e p a r a l l e l s ,
Ri b b e n t r o p , f i v e d a y s l a t e r a t a l e v e e , t h i s t i m e s u r r o u n d e d
b y t h e b r e a t h l e s s a t t e n t i o n o f t h e w h o l e d i s t i n g u i s h e d g a t h e r -
i n g , s t a r t e d h i s a n t i c s a l l o v e r a g a i n , o m i t t i n g , h o w e v e r , a t
t h e i n s i s t e n c e o f Do w n i n g S t r e e t , t h e u n s o l i c i t e d b u t s t e n t o -
r i a n e v o c a t i o n o f h i s t r i b a l c h i e f i n Be r l i n . Ev e n p a r l i a m e n t
s h o w e d a n i n t e r e s t i n t h e Na zi A m b a s s a d o r ' s u n u s u a l b e a r i n g ,
a n d a m e m b e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e Br i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r i n
Be r l i n s h o u l d r o a r Ru l e Br i t a n n i a e v e r y t i m e h e m e t t h e
F u e h r e r .
U n e x p e c t e d l y , Hi t l e r h i m s e l f , c a u s e d Ri b b e n t r o p t o c e a s e
t h i s n o v e l l i n e o f a p p r o a c h t o En g l a n d ' s h e a r t
. A n En g l i s h
f r i e n d h a d w r i t t e n t o Ne u r a t h i n Be r l i n t h a t i t w o u l d b e a
21 4
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
g o o d t h i n g i f J o a c h i m b e h a v e d i n s o m e m o r e n o r m a l f a s h i o n
.
Ne u r a t h r u s h e d t o t h e F u e h r e r w i t h a s c h o l a r l y e x p o s e
d r a f t e d b y t h e t h e n
C h e f d u Pr o t o c o l ,
V i c c o v o n Bu e l o w -
S c h w a n t e , a n d c a r r i e d t h e d a y
. J o a c h i m h a d t o g i v e u p h i s
p e c u l i a r g r e e t i n g w h e n c o n v e r s i n g o f f i c i a l l y w i t h t h e Ki n g ,
b u t h e f e l t b i t t e r a b o u t i t , a n d Bu e l o w - S c h w a n t e h a d t o p a y ,
w h e n t h e t i m e w a s r i p e , w i t h h i s j o b .
Th e s t o r y o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s a l u t a t i o n w a s n o t f o r g o t t e n b y
Lo n d o n , a n d w h e n W e s t m i n s t e r A b b e y w a s f i l l e d w i t h g u e s t s
f o r t h e c o r o n a t i o n c e r e m o n y , t h e p a g e s w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o
h e l p t h o s e p e r s o n s w h o r a i s e d t h e i r h a n d s t o t h e w e l l - c o n -
c e a l e d c o m f o r t s t a t i o n s
. It w a s e x p r e s s l y a d d e d , h o w e v e r ,
t h a t i f Hi s Ex c e l l e n c y t h e G e r m a n A m b a s s a d o r s h o u l d r a i s e
h i s h a n d , t h i s w o u l d n o t n e c e s s a r i l y i m p l y a n u n c o n q u e r a b l e
u r g e o n h i s p a r t .
Ri b b e n t r o p i n s i s t e d o n w r i t i n g a l l o f h i s d i p l o m a t i c c o m -
m u n i c a t i o n s , i n v i t a t i o n s , a n d a n s w e r s i n G e r m a n
. In r e t u r n ,
d i s p a t c h e s i n Ru s s i a n , S i a m e s e , C h i n e s e a n d A r a b i a n s c r i p t
p o u r e d i n t o t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y a n d r e m i n d e d t h e w o n d e r -
i n g A m b a s s a d o r t h a t p a t r i o t i s m d o e s n o t a l w a y s f a c i l i t a t e
i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n t e r c o u r s e
.
It w a s e a s i e r t o b e p a t r i o t i c w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e G e r m a n s
w h o l i v e d i n En g l a n d , t h e s o - c a l l e d G e r m a n c o l o n y
. Th e r e
i s n o t a d i p l o m a t i c s e r v i c e i n t h e w o r l d w h i c h i s n o t w e l l
a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e c o u n t l e s s t r o u b l e s i n e v i t a b l y c r o p p i n g
u p i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n a n Em b a s s y o r Le g a t i o n a n d
t h e r e s p e c t i v e " c o l o n y
. " Ri b b e n t r o p w h i p p e d t h e c o l o n y
i n t o t h e Na zi l i n e w i t h a n i r o n r o d
. Th o s e w h o r e f u s e d t o
o b e y o r d e r s w e r e t r a i t o r s , a n d t h a t w a s n o t a j o k e w h e r e
Na zi s w e r e c o n c e r n e d a s l o n g a s y o u h a d r e l a t i v e s o r i n t e r e s t s
i n t h e F a t h e r l a n d
. C e r t a i n G e r m a n a s s o c i a t i o n s o f l i b e r a l o r
m o n a r c h i s t i c l e a n i n g s w e r e b o y c o t t e d a n d d i e d o u t
. Th e
t h o u s a n d s o f
f r a u l e i n s a n d c h a m b e r m a i d s w h o f o r m e d t h e
21 5
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
b u l k o f t h e G e r m a n p o p u l a t i o n i n En g l a n d w e r e o r g a n i ze d
b y Ot t o Ka r l o w a
. He h a d b e e n a c a p t a i n i n t h e G e r m a n
n a v y u n d e r t h e Ka i s e r ( l a t e r h e w a s k i l l e d i n No r w a y i n
1 9 40i n n a v a l a c t i o n ) . In En g l a n d h e o r g a n i ze d t h e s e c o m -
p a t r i o t s i n t o a v a s t s p y r i n g . Th e c o u n t l e s s r e p o r t s t h e s e
i m p r o v i s e d M a t a Ha r i s s e n t t o t h e Em b a s s y s e e m e d t o p r o v e
c o n c l u s i v e l y t o Ri b b e n t r o p t h a t En g l a n d ' s c h i e f c o n c e r n w a s
t o p u t h e r n o b l e h e a d i n t h e s a n d a n d t o h o p e t h a t t h i s
p o p u l a r m a n e u v r e w o u l d i n d u c e Ru s s i a t o v a n i s h f r o m t h e
e a r t h .
F o r t h e i r l o y a l e x e r t i o n s t h e " c o l o n y " w a s r e w a r d e d b y
t h e s o r t o f " s t r e n g t h t h r o u g h j o y " e n t e r t a i n m e n t s f o r w h i c h
t h e Na zi s h a d b e c o m e f a m o u s . On e o f t h e s e c e l e b r a t i o n s , t h e
h a r v e s t f e s t i v a l r a l l y , o f f e r e d J o a c h i m a n o c c a s i o n t o a p p e a r
f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e a s t h e F u e h r e r ' s r e s p l e n d e n t m e s s e n g e r
b e f o r e t h o u s a n d s o f s o n s a n d d a u g h t e r s o f t h e m a s t e r r a c e
.
In s u c h m o m e n t s h e t h o u g h t i t h i s d u t y t o b r i d g e t h e s o c i a l
g u l f h e w a s u s u a l l y s o c o n c e r n e d a b o u t . He b e c a m e e n e r -
g e t i c a l l y p a t e r n a l w i t h t h e w o r k m e n w h o t r a n s f o r m e d t h e
Em b a s s y i n t o a w i n t e r g a r d e n
. W h e n e v e r o n e o f t h e s e a t h l e t e s
r e c e i v e d n e w s t h a t t h e w i f e b a c k h o m e h a d a d d e d t o Hi t l e r ' s
l e g i o n s b y g i v i n g b i r t h t o a s o n , h e w o u l d a n n o u n c e t h e
h a p p y e v e n t t o t h e A m b a s s a d o r , a s k i n g a t t h e s a m e t i m e
f o r t h e p r i v i l e g e o f n a m i n g t h e p r o m i s i n g o f f s p r i n g J o a c h i m .
Th i s c l e v e r m o v e e a r n e d h i m t h r e e h u n d r e d m a r k s . S e v e n
l i t t l e J o a c h i m s w e r e b o r n d u r i n g t h e s i x m o n t h s t h e w o r k -
m e n l a b o r e d i n Lo n d o n .
Th e a l m o s t d e m o n i a c p o w e r t h e Na zi o r g a n i za t i o n e x e r -
c i s e d o v e r G e r m a n n a t i o n a l s a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d m a d e i t e a s y
f o r Ri b b e n t r o p t o s w e e p f r o m h i s p a t h a l m o s t a n y s e m b l a n c e
o f r e s i s t a n c e
. Th e A n g l o - G e r m a n A c a d e m i c Bu r e a u w a s
s u c c e s s f u l l y d e l i b e r a l i ze d b y d i s m i s s a l o f t h e s e c r e t a r y , Dr
.
De i s s m a n n , a n d h i s a s s i s t a n t , Ba r o n e s s Tr e s c k o w
. Ot h e r G e r -
21 6
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
m a n - En g l i s h a s s o c i a t i o n s w h i c h d i d n o t f a l l i n l i n e , l i k e t h e
D' A b e r n o n C l u b a n d t h e G e r m a n - En g l i s h C o m r a d e s h i p , w e r e
d r o w n e d i n J o a c h i m ' s d e l u g e o f Na zi f i c a t i o n
. Th e r e w a s
o n l y t h e G e r m a n Ho s p i t a l i n Lo n d o n w h i c h c a r r i e d o n i t s
h u m a n i t a r i a n w o r k a s u s u a l i n s p i t e o f t h e b i g b a d w o l f
w h i c h h o w l e d t h r e a t e n i n g l y f r o m C a r l t o n Ho u s e Te r r a c e .
Ba r o n Br u n o S c h r o e d e r , w h o s e f a m i l y , o r i g i n a l l y f r o m Ha m -
b u r g , h a d w o n a v e r y d i s t i n g u i s h e d p o s i t i o n i n En g l a n d a n d
w a s b y f a r t h e g r e a t e s t a s s e t t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y h a d
a m o n g t h e G e r m a n e l e m e n t t h e r e , f l a t l y d e c l i n e d t o d i s m i s s
t h e J e w i s h p h y s i c i a n s i n t h i s h o s p i t a l w h i c h h e s u p p o r t e d .
He e v e n r e f u s e d t o c l o s e t h e k o s h e r k i t c h e n f o r J e w i s h
p a t i e n t s
. F o r o n c e Ri b b e n t r o p w a s n o n p l u s s e d . He c o u l d
n o t v e r y w e l l d i s m i s s t h e v e n e r a b l e g e n t l e m a n w h o w a s a n
En g l i s h c i t i ze n . He c o u l d n o t e v e n h a v e h i m s e a l e d i n a n
a i r p l a n e a n d s e n t t o a G e r m a n c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p . S o a n
a n o m a l o u s s i t u a t i o n d e v e l o p e d . W h i l e t h e s w a s t i k a w a v e d
f r o m t h e r o o f o f t h e G e r m a n Ho s p i t a l , t h e s p e c i a l k i t c h e n
u n d e r n e a t h s t e a d f a s t l y t u r n e d o u t f o o d t h a t w a s p r e p a r e d i n
s t r i c t a c c o r d a n c e w i t h p a t r i a r c h a l r i t e s .
A s p e c i a l c o n c e r n o f Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s B' u e r o w a s t h e
e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f c o r d i a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G e r m a n a n d Br i t -
i s h v e t e r a n s o f W o r l d W a r I
. It h a s t o b e a d m i t t e d t h a t
Ri b b e n t r o p w a s g o o d i n s n a t c h i n g p r o m i s i n g i s s u e s f r o m
o t h e r p e o p l e a n d e x p l o i t i n g t h e m f o r h i s p a r t i c u l a r e n d s
.
Th e r e w e r e h u g e o r g a n i za t i o n s o f a n c i e n t v e t e r a n s i n b o t h
G e r m a n y a n d En g l a n d . Ri b b e n t r o p u n d e r t o o k t o b r i n g t h e m
t o g e t h e r b y a l l m e a n s o f g o o d w i l l v i s i t s . A s w e h a v e s e e n , t h i s
w a s a m a t t e r a l s o c l o s e t o t h e Pr i n c e o f W a l e s ' h e a r t
. Th e r e
i s a b s o l u t e l y n o r e a s o n t o b e l i t t l e t h e i d e a i n i t s e l f
. Th a t p e o p l e
w h o h a v e f o u g h t e a c h o t h e r s h o u l d s e e t h e b i g g e r i s s u e s o f
l i f e a f t e r t h e t i d e o f d e a t h h a s r e c e d e d i s n o t h i n g b u t n o b l e
a n d g o o d . Th e t i t a n i c s t r u g g l e h a d b e e n m u c h l a r g e r t h a n
21 7
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
t h e p o l i t i c a l i s s u e b e h i n d i t . Ev e r y b o d y w h o h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d
i n t h e b a t t l e w a s s t a m p e d w i t h t h e d e s t i n y h e h a d m a d e a n d
h e h a d s u f f e r e d .
Bu t t h e r e i s n o h u m a n b e i n g i n t h e w o r l d w h o w i l l n o t
b e c o m e i n h u m a n u n d e r t h e t o u c h o f a Na zi
. Th i s s p l e n d i d
i d e a o f o l d f o e s f i n d i n g r e c o n c i l i a t i o n i n a n a r e a o f m u t u a l
t r u s t w a s t o Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s Bu e r o j u s t a n o t h e r m e a n s
o f w o r m i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e Br i t i s h
w h i l e t h e y p r e p a r e d a n o t h e r e r a o f d i s t r u s t .
Ri b b e n t r o p c a l l e d t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e Br i t i s h Le g i o n , m e n
l i k e M a j o r F e t h e r s t o n e G o d l e y , S i r Ia n Ha m i l t o n , a n d Li e u -
t e n a n t C o l o n e l G e o r g e Ro w l a n d s o n C r o s s f i e l d , t h e " b i g f i s h "
w h i c h h e h a d t o c a t c h p e r s o n a l l y
. F o r t h e s m a l l f r y , a r o u n d
o f c e l e b r a t i o n s o n t h e u s u a l d a zzl i n g s c a l e , w a s e n o u g h . Bu t
w h e n e v e r S i r Ia n , " a v e r y u s e f u l i n s t i t u t i o n w h i c h w o u l d
h a v e h a d t o b e i n v e n t e d i f i t h a d n o t e x i s t e d a l r e a d y , " a s
Ri b b e n t r o p c h a r a c t e r i ze d t h e o l d w a r r i o r f r o m t h e Da r -
d a n e l l e s , c a m e t o Be r l i n , t h e Na zi s w o u l d a l w a y s d i g u p
s o m e o l d f l a g , d r u m , o r t r u m p e t w h i c h w o u l d b e h a n d e d
o v e r t o h i m t o t h e a c c o m p a n i m e n t o f s p e e c h e s , h u r r a h s , a n d
s a l v o s .
G e r m a n w a r v e t e r a n s w e r e a l s o l a v i s h l y e n t e r t a i n e d i n
En g l a n d
. On l y a f e w d a y s b e f o r e Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a r r i v a l , a s
n e w A m b a s s a d o r , t h e Du k e o f S a x e - C o b u r g , s o u s e f u l t o
t h e Na zi c a u s e , h a d b r o u g h t a g r o u p o v e r t o Lo n d o n . Th e r e
w e r e , h o w e v e r , m i s g i v i n g s i n En g l a n d , a s f a r a s t h e s p i r i t o f
f a i r p l a y h a d s u r v i v e d t h e e p i d e m i c o f a p p e a s e m e n t , t o t h e
e f f e c t t h a t t h e Na zi s w h o e x p l o i t e d t h e v e t e r a n - a n g l e u n -
s c r u p u l o u s l y a n d n o i s i l y f o r s o f a r a s i t h e l p e d t h e m p o l i t -
i c a l l y , h a d n o s u c h t e n d e r c o n c e r n s t o w a r d J e w i s h v e t e r a n s
w h o h a d f o u g h t i n G e r m a n y ' s o w n r a n k s
. W h i l e t h e f o r m e r
e n e m i e s o f G e r m a n y w e r e e n t e r t a i n e d i n b e e r a n d c h a m -
p a g n e h a l l s , J e w s w h o h a d f o u g h t o n t h e G e r m a n s i d e w e r e
21 8
RIBBENTROPINLONDON
r o b b e d o f t h e i r d e c o r a t i o n s a n d d i s g r a c e d i n e v e r y p o s s i b l e
w a y . Ev e n t h o s e w h o h a d l o s t t h e i r e y e s w h i l e f i g h t i n g f o r
G e r m a n y w e r e d r i v e n f r o m t h e i n s t i t u t i o n s w h e r e t h e y h a d
f o u n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i r A r y a n c o m r a d e s , a r e f u g e . F r o m
w a r m e m o r i a l s t h e n a m e s o f J e w i s h s o l d i e r s k i l l e d i n a c t i o n
w e r e s c r a t c h e d o f f o r p a i n t e d o v e r i n y e l l o w . It i s d o u b t f u l
w h e t h e r Ri b b e n t r o p a n d h i s s h a d y a c c o m p l i c e s s u c c e e d e d
i n e x p l a i n i n g t o t h e i r En g l i s h f r i e n d s t h e m a n n e r w i t h w h i c h
t h e Na zi s a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e s u p r e m e s a c r i f i c e r e n d e r e d b y
i t s J e w i s h c i t i ze n r y f o r t h e G e r m a n c a u s e .
On e o f t h e m o r e a m u s i n g r e s u l t s o f t h e s e g e t - t o g e t h e r
p a r t i e s b e t w e e n En g l i s h a n d G e r m a n w a r v e t e r a n s w a s t h e
a p p a r e n t m i s c o n c e p t i o n h a r b o r e d b y Ru d o l f He s s , n u m b e r
t w o Na zi , t h a t S i r Ia n Ha m i l t o n w a s i d e n t i c a l w i t h t h e Du k e
o f Ha m i l t o n , o r a t l e a s t a m e m b e r o f t h e Du k e ' s f a m i l y . He s s
h a d s e e n s o m u c h o f S i r Ia n i n Be r l i n t h a t , w h e n h e d e c i d e d
t o e x c h a n g e t h e G e r m a n f o r t h e Br i t i s h c l i m a t e , h e c o u l d n o t
t h i n k o f a b e t t e r p l a c e t o g o t h a n t h e Ha m i l t o n e s t a t e . He
h a d , p e r h a p s , d e c i d e d l y o l d - f a s h i o n e d i d e a s o f t h e h a b i t s o f
S c o t c h c l a n s , w h i c h h e s u p p o s e d l y f i g u r e d g a t h e r e d i n t o t o
i n t h e a n c e s t r a l m a n s i o n w a i t i n g f o r s o m e v i s i t o r f r o m t h e
s k y . Or w a s i t o n e o f t h e c l e v e r b o y s o f t h e Bu e r o Ri b b e n -
t r o p
w h o d i r e c t e d He s s t o t h e w r o n g a d d r e s s ?
In c o n c l u s i o n l e t u s s a y t h a t t h e Lo n d o n Em b a s s y w a s t h e
g r e a t t u r n i n g p o i n t i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c a r e e r . He e x p l o i t e d d e s -
p e r a t e l y a l l o f t h e a s s e t s w h i c h h e h a d a n d w h i c h h e t h o u g h t
h e h a d . Bu t b y a c t i n g u n d e r a n u n n a t u r a l p r e s s u r e , w i t h
f o r c e d g e s t u r e s a n d a l l t h e o v e r d o n e m a n n e r i s m o f h i s b e -
w i l d e r i n g c r e e d , h e s h o c k e d , p r o v o k e d , i r r i t a t e d , o r a m u s e d
t h e Br i t i s h p u b l i c w h i c h t h o u g h t i t c o u l d d i s r e g a r d t h e
o m i n o u s m e a n i n g o f t h e c l o w n i s h s p e c t a c l e . W h i l e w e c o n -
c e d e t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s h o r t c o m i n g s w e r e n o t s o m u c h h i s
o w n a s t y p i c a l l y G e r m a n s h o r t c o m i n g s , a n d t h a t t h e Br i t i s h
21 9
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
m a n i a f o r n o r m a l c y i n a n a b n o r m a l w o r l d i s a s h o r t c o m i n g
t o o , w e o b j e c t t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s b o a s t f u l a s s e r t i o n t h a t h i s
s u p e r - m e t h o d s w o u l d b r i n g a b o u t m i r a c l e s w h e r e a m o r e
c a u t i o u s d i p l o m a c y f a i l e d . Ne v e r m i n d h o w b a d o r h o w g o o d
h i s m a n n e r s w e r e i f t h e s u b s t a n c e o f h i s m i s s i o n h a d b e e n
g o o d t h e r e w o u l d h a v e b e e n p e a c e a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g . He
w a s e s s e n t i a l l y a p r i s o n e r o f h i s h u n g r y , c r u e l s c h e m e s -
s h i f t i n g n e r v o u s l y f r o m A n g l o p h o b i a t o A n g l o m a n i a a n d b a c k
a g a i n - b u t h e w a s n e v e r o f o n e p i e c e , n e v e r s u r e o f h i m s e l f
h o w e v e r s t i f f l y h e r a i s e d h i s a r m . He w a s t h e l i v i n g b a d c o n -
s c i e n c e o f a c o n s p i r a c y a n d n o t t h e d i p l o m a t i c r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
o f a h e a l t h y p o w e r . Th e g o o d o l d W i l h e l m s t r a s s e s o f a r h a d
b e e n u s e d b y t h e Na zi s a s a f i g l e a f t o h i d e t h e b r u t a l n a k e d -
n e s s o f t h e i r a m b i t i o n s . Ri b b e n t r o p , i n Lo n d o n f o r t h e f i r s t
t i m e , s t e p p e d o u t o f t h e s h a d o w u p o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s c e n e ,
b u t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y h e r e l i e d f o r t h e s u c c e s s o f h i s m i s s i o n
n o t o n t h e s i m p l e t r u t h o f h i s c a u s e , w h i c h w a s b a d , b u t o n
i t s g o r g e o u s t r a p p i n g s
. He w a s t r u l y a Na zi a m b a s s a d o r a n d
w a s , t h e r e f o r e , b o u n d t o f a i l .
220
1 2
Ri b b e n t r o p Be c o m e s M i n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n
A f f a i r s
W HENo l d Pr e s i d e n t v o n Hi n d e n b u r g f i n a l l y h a d b e e n p e r -
s u a d e d i n t h e l a s t d a y s o f J a n u a r y
1 9 3 3
t o a p p o i n t t h e
" Bo h e m i a n c o r p o r a l , " A d o l f Hi t l e r , t o t h e c h a n c e l l o r s h i p o f
t h e Re i c h , o n e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s w a s t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y o f
F o r e i g n A f f a i r s s h o u l d r e m a i n i n t h e h a n d s o f i t s h o l d e r , a t
t h a t t i m e t h e e m i n e n t a n d p e r s o n a b l e C o n s t a n t i n F r e i h e r r v o n
Ne u r a t h . Bu t w h e n t h e t i m e c a m e , t h e F u e h r e r f o u n d r e a s o n s
a n d m e a n s t o r e m o v e v o n Ne u r a t h .
W h a t f o l l o w s i s a r e n d e r i n g o f C o n s t a n t i n v o n Ne u r a t h ' s
o w n s t o r y o f h o w h i s d i s m i s s a l w a s s t a g e d . V o n Ne u r a t h t o l d
t h i s s t o r y t o o n e o f h i s o l d e s t f r i e n d s i n t h e F o r e i g n S e r v i c e
o f t h e Re i c h .
" Th e F u e h r e r h a d b e e n v e r y k i n d t o m e o n t h e o c c a s i o n
o f m y s i x t y - f i f t h b i r t h d a y
. W h e n c a l l i n g i n p e r s o n t o c o n -
g r a t u l a t e m e , h e r e a l l y o u t d i d h i m s e l f i n s w e e t n e s s
. He t o o k
b o t h m y h a n d s a n d s a i d t h a t t h e n e w t y p e o f g o v e r n m e n t ,
h i s g o v e r n m e n t , m u s t h a v e b e e n h a r d t o c o m p l y w i t h i n i t s
f i r s t y e a r s
. Im a y n o t a l w a y s h a v e l i k e d h i s w a y s o f t h i n k i n g ,
t h e r a p i d i t y o f h i s d e c i s i o n s a n d - w i t h a t w i n k l e i n h i s e y e s -
s o m e o f h i s m e t h o d s
. Bu t , a d d e d h e , ` It r i e d m y b e s t q u i t e
o f t e n t o a v o i d i n c o n v e n i e n c e s , a n d Ia m s u r e t h a t Ia c h i e v e d
t h e r e s u l t t h a t y o u a r e n o w o n e o f u s
. Ia m s u r e y o u a r e .
If e e l i t . Ik n o w i t , a n d Ia m h a p p y a b o u t
i t . " '
221
THIS M A N RIBBENTROP
" Of c o u r s e , It h a n k e d t h e F u e h r e r w a r m l y
. Ir e a l l y w a s
m o v e d , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n Iw a s t o l d t h a t h e h a d t a k e n t h e
p a i n s t o s e l e c t , a s a g i f t f o r m e , a m e d i e v a l m a s t e r p i e c e . He
h a d s e l e c t e d s o m e t h i n g M a r i e l e ( Ne u r a t h ' s w i f e ) a n d I
w e r e d e l i g h t e d t o h a v e . A n d Ir e a l i ze d t h a t t h e F u e h r e r
h a d d o n e e v e r y t h i n g h e c o u l d t o f o s t e r o u r f r i e n d s h i p . A t
l e a s t h e a l w a y s h a d t o l d m e o f h i s r e s p e c t f o r m y k n o w l e d g e
a n d e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e f i e l d i n w h i c h Iw a s i n c h a r g e , a n d I
h a v e t o a d m i t e v e n n o w t h a t Ia l w a y s r e s p e c t e d t h e a m o u n t
o f k n o w l e d g e a s i m p l e m a n l i k e Hi t l e r w a s a b l e t o a c c u m u l a t e
w i t h o u t t h e r i g h t s c h o o l i n g a n d t h e r i g h t o p p o r t u n i t i e s . If
Hi t l e r h a d h a d t h e c h a n c e o f t r a v e l l i n g a b r o a d , i f h e h a d
l e a r n e d l a n g u a g e s , i f h e h a d r e c e i v e d p r o p e r e d u c a t i o n , h e
r e a l l y w o u l d h a v e b e c o m e o n e o f t h e w o r l d ' s g r e a t s t a t e s m e n .
" A f t e r t h e d i n n e r s a n d l u n c h e o n s w h i c h w e r e g i v e n o n m y
b i r t h d a y a n n i v e r s a r y w e r e o v e r , " v o n Ne u r a t h c o n t i n u e d ,
" M a r i e l e a n d Id e c i d e d t o g o t o o u r Le i n f e l d e r h o f f o r a s h o r t
h o l i d a y
. M a r i e l e w a n t e d t o h a v e s o m e f u r n i t u r e r e p a i r e d a n d
o t h e r t h i n g s a r r a n g e d . A s t h e r e w a s a l u l l i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f
o u r f o r e i g n s e r v i c e , It e l e p h o n e d t o La m m e r s ( Dr . H. H.
La m m e r s , C h i e f o f t h e C h a n c e l l e r y ) t o a s k i f t h e r e w a s a
c a b i n e t m e e t i n g e x p e c t e d , a n d Ii n f o r m e d h i m t h a t w e w e r e
p l a n n i n g t o t a k e a f e w d a y s o f f
. Im e n t i o n e d t h a t Iw o u l d
c a l l o n t h e F u e h r e r i n p e r s o n b e f o r e l e a v i n g . M a r i e l e i m m e d i -
a t e l y s t a r t e d t o p a c k
. S h e i n t e n d e d t o s t a y a f e w d a y s l o n g e r
a n d t o p a y a v i s i t a t De g e r l o c h
( a p l a c e i n t h e c l o s e n e i g h -
b o r h o o d o f S t u t t g a r t w h e r e F r a u v a n Ne u r a t h ' s m o t h e r ,
Ba r o n e s s v o n M o s e r , h a d h e r h o m e )
. A b o u t n o o n Ir e c e i v e d
a c a l l f r o m La m m e r s t e l l i n g m e t h a t t h e F u e h r e r w a n t e d t o
s e e m e a t 3 P. M . t o d i s c u s s c e r t a i n p o i n t s i n w h i c h h e w a s
i n t e r e s t e d a n d t h a t He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p w o u l d b e p r e s e n t
.
Th i s w a s n o t h i n g e x c e p t i o n a l , f o r Ri b b e n t r o p v i s i t e d Be r l i n
v e r y o f t e n
. A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , h e w a s a u t h o r i ze d t o a b s e n t
h i m s e l f f r o m h i s Lo n d o n p o s t w i t h o u t t h e u s u a l ` l e a v e ' f o r
222
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
w h i c h T, o r a t l e a s t t h e p e r s o n n e l d e p a r t m e n t , w o u l d h a v e
h a d t o b e a s k e d i f h e i n t e n d e d t o r e p o r t t o t h e F u e h r e r p e r -
s o n a l l y
. Ri b b e n t r o p a n d Ih a d b e c o m e m o r e f r i e n d l y , a t l e a s t
o u t w a r d l y
. He w a s p o l i t e n e s s i t s e l f w h e n e v e r h e s a w m e , a n d
o n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s t h e F u e h r e r h a d r e m a r k e d t h a t Ri b b e n -
t r o p h a d i n s i s t e d t h a t n o d e c i s i o n s h o u l d b e m a d e o n t h i s
q u e s t i o n o r t h a t w i t h o u t h e a r i n g m y a d v i c e
.
" W e l l , w e s a t t o g e t h e r f o r a b o u t a n h o u r , Hi t l e r a s u s u a l
d o i n g m o s t o f t h e t a l k i n g , b u t b e f o r e g o i n g o n t o a n e w
s u b j e c t h e a l w a y s a s k e d m e , a s w e l l a s Ri b b e n t r o p , f o r o u r
o p i n i o n s , a n d h e m o s t l y d e c i d e d a s Iw o u l d h a v e d o n e
. In
s o m e q u e s t i o n s o f m i n o r i m p o r t a n c e , h e s a i d , ` It h i n k He r r
v o n Ri b b e n t r o p i s r i g h t , ' a n d t h a t m e a n t t h a t m y p o i n t o f
v i e w h a d n o t b e e n a c c e p t e d . Bu t t h i s w a s t h e e x c e p t i o n , n o t
t h e r u l e .
" Th e n h e s a i d g o o d b y e t o m e , w i s h i n g m e
G l u e c k l i c h e
Re i s e
( b o n v o y a g e ) a n d e x p r e s s i n g t h e h o p e t h a t w e b o t h ,
M a r i e l e a n d I, w o u l d s p e n d a f e w q u i e t d a y s w h i c h w o u l d d o
u s a l o t o f g o o d
. He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p j o i n e d h i m i n s a y i n g
t h a t h e h o p e d w e w o u l d s e e e a c h o t h e r v e r y s o o n . He d i d n o t
t e l l m e w h e n h e i n t e n d e d t o f l y b a c k t o Lo n d o n , b u t Ih a d
t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t h e w o u l d d o s o t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y .
" Ir e t u r n e d t o t h e
V i l l a ( t h e r e s i d e n c e o f t h e F o r e i g n
M i n i s t e r w a s a r a t h e r s i m p l e h o u s e o n t h e
Ti e r g a r t e n f r o n t
o f t h e m i n i s t e r i a l g a r d e n ; i t s t o o d b e h i n d t h e m a i n b u i l d i n g o f
t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e o n t h e
W i l h e l m s t r a s s e ) w h e r e Ii n t e n d e d
t o s p e a k w i t h M a r i e l e a b o u t s o m e r a t h e r w o r n s u i t s w h i c h I
p l a n n e d t o t a k e t o Le i n f e l d e r h o f . A b o u t h a l f a n h o u r l a t e r
t h e t e l e p h o n e r a n g , a n d Iw a s a s k e d t o c o m e b a c k t o t h e
C h a n c e l l e r y a s t h e F u e h r e r w a n t e d t o s e e m e a g a i n ` f o r a f e w
m i n u t e s . ' Ir e t u r n e d i m m e d i a t e l y t h r o u g h t h e ` p a r k . ' Im e t
t h e F u e h r e r o n h i s w a y t o t h e C h a n c e l l e r y g a r d e n . He l o o k e d
j o l l y , l i n k e d h i s a r m i n t o m i n e , a n d s a i d , ` W h a t Ih a v e t o t e l l
223
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
y o u w e c a n d i s c u s s w h i l e s t r o l l i n g i n t h e g a r d e n . ' Ig l a d l y
a g r e e d . A f t e r s o m e s t e p s , - Hi t l e r s a i d q u i t e c a s u a l l y , ` Ih a v e
d e c i d e d t o a p p o i n t He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r .
A n o t h e r t a s k o f g r e a t e s t i m p o r t a n c e i s w a i t i n g f o r y o u
. Y o u
w i l l b e c o m e Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e Pr i v y C o u n c i l , a n i n s t i t u t i o n
w h i c h h a s b e e n c r e a t e d t o d a y i n f u l f i l l m e n t o f o n e o f m y
m o s t a r d e n t d e s i r e s a n d f o r w h i c h t h e s t a t u t e h a s j u s t t h i s
m o m e n t b e e n w o r k e d o u t b y La m m e r s a f t e r m y i n s t r u c t i o n s
. '
" Th e F u e h r e r , s t i l l v e r y f r i e n d l y a n d e x t r e m e l y p o l i t e ,
t u r n e d o n h i s h e e l s a n d w e n t b a c k i n t o t h e C h a n c e l l e r y . If e l t
a s t h o u g h Ih a d d r o p p e d f r o m t h e c l o u d s
. Bu t t h e r e w a s
n o t h i n g f o r m e t o d o b u t r e t u r n t o t h e
V i l l a , a n d Id i d .
" W h e n Ie n t e r e d t h e h o u s e , M a r i e l e s a i d , ' Da s i s t a b e r
s c h n e l l g e g a n g e n ' ( t h a t w a s o v e r q u i c k l y )
. No t i c i n g t h a t I
l o o k e d a l i t t l e p a l e s h e s a i d t h a t s h e w a s g l a d w e w e r e t o
h a v e a f e w q u i e t d a y s . It r i e d t o b r e a k t h e n e w s t o h e r b y
r e p e a t i n g w h a t t h e F u e h r e r h a d t o l d m e
. Bu t i n s p i t e o f m y
c a r e f u l n e s s , M a r i e l e f a i n t e d
. Ip u t h e r o n t h e s o f a , c o o l e d h e r
f o r e h e a d , h e l d h e r h a n d
. A f t e r s o m e t i m e s h e c a m e t o . Id e -
c i d e d t h a t w e w o u l d p o s t p o n e o u r t r i p .
" Be f o r e Iw a s a b l e t o s p e a k t o m y s o n - i n - l a w o r m y
d a u g h t e r W i n i f r e d - t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r m y s o n - i n - l a w ,
G e o r g e v o n M a c k e n s e n , w o u l d r e m a i n i n h i s p o s i t i o n a s S e c -
r e t a r y o f S t a t e h a d n o t e v e n b e e n m e n t i o n e d b y t h e F u e h r e r
a n d M a r i e l e p r e s u m e d t h a t t h e F u e h r e r a p p a r e n t l y h a d n o t
y e t t h o u g h t o f t h a t - A s c h m a n n ( Dr
. G o t t f r i e d A s c h m a n n ,
C h i e f o f t h e Pr e s s Di v i s i o n ) c a l l e d m e u p
. He i n f o r m e d m e
t h a t h e h a d r e c e i v e d a c o m m u n i q u e f r o m t h e C h a n c e l l e r y
a n d s t a r t e d t o r e a d i t t o m e . Ih e a r d o n l y t h e w o r d s t h a t I
h a d r e q u e s t e d m y r e t i r e m e n t . It o l d A s c h m a n n , w h o h a d
a l w a y s b e h a v e d d e c e n t l y , t h a t t h i s w a s a l i e
. He a n s w e r e d
t h a t a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r f r o m t h e F u e h r e r a d d r e s s e d t o m e h a d
s i m i l a r c o n t e n t s . It o l d h i m t h a t Ie x p e c t e d t o h a v e p l e n t y
224
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
o f t i m e t o r e a d i t l a t e r , t h a n k e d h i m f o r h i s g o o d w i l l , a n d
h u n g u p . "
He r e e n d s t h e s t o r y a s t o l d b y v o n Ne u r a t h .
Th e " p e r s o n a l l e t t e r " w r i t t e n b y t h e F u e h r e r t o C o n s t a n t i n
v o n Ne u r a t h w a s w o r d e d i n v e r y f l a t t e r i n g t e r m s . " On t h e
o c c a s i o n o f t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e f i r s t h a l f d e c a d e o f Na t i o n a l
S o c i a l i s t i c G o v e r n m e n t , " i t r e a d s i n Ot t o To l i s c h u s ' t r a n s l a -
t i o n i n a c a b l e r e p o r t t o t h e Ne w Y o r k Ti m e s , p u b l i s h e d o n
F e b r u a r y 5,
1 9 3 8 ,
" y o u h a v e r e q u e s t e d m e t o a l l o w y o u t o
r e t i r e . Ia m n o t a b l e t o g r a n t t h i s r e q u e s t a s Ic a n n o t s p a r e
y o u r s e r v i c e s e v e n i n v i e w o f y o u r r e c e n t s i x t y - f i f t h b i r t h d a y
a n d f o r t i e t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f s e r v i c e . In t h e f i v e y e a r s o f o u r
w o r k t o g e t h e r y o u r c o u n s e l a n d y o u r j u d g m e n t h a v e b e -
c o m e a n e c e s s i t y f o r m e . W h e n It h e r e f o r e r e l i e v e y o u o f
y o u r d u t i e s i n t h e Re i c h M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s a n d
a p p o i n t y o u p r e s i d e n t o f t h e s e c r e t C a b i n e t C o u n c i l , i t i s i n
o r d e r t o h a v e i n f u t u r e a c o u n s e l o r b y m y
s i d e a t t h e h i g h e s t
p o i n t i n t h e Re i c h
. "
It i s e a s y t o i m a g i n e t h e f e e l i n g s w h i c h a s s a i l e d t h e
Ph i l e m o n a n d Ba u c i s o f t h e Th i r d Re i c h , C o n s t a n t i n a n d
M a r i e l e . A p a r t f r o m s a d r e f l e c t i o n s o f a p e r s o n a l n a t u r e ,
Ne u r a t h w a s c o n s c i e n t i o u s e n o u g h t o s h u d d e r a t t h e i d e a o f
Ri b b e n t r o p s t e e r i n g t h e Re i c h t h r o u g h t h e r e e f s o f c o n t e m p o -
r a r y h i s t o r y , c h e c k e d o n l y , i f c h e c k e d a t a l l , b y Hi t l e r ' s
f a n a t i c a l u r g e t o b e m o r e c l e v e r a n d s u c c e s s f u l t h a n t h e r e s t
o f m a n k i n d . Of c o u r s e , t h e r e w a s Ne u r a t h ' s a p p o i n t m e n t t o
t h a t m y s t i c a l b o d y c a l l e d Pr i v y C o u n c i l , c o m p o s e d o f h i m a s
p r e s i d e n t , Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e t h r e e l e a d e r s o f t h e a r m e d f o r c e s ,
a n d G o e r i n g , G o e b b e l s , He s s , a n d La m m e r s , c h i e f o f Hi t l e r ' s
C h a n c e l l e r y . Th i s w a s s o m u c h " e y e w a s h , " a k i n d o f d i g n i f i e d
r e t r e a t , a n d - a s e v e n t s p r o v e d - i f f u n c t i o n i n g a t a l l , f u n c -
t i o n i n g a s a s i e s t a b e t w e e n s e r i o u s b u s i n e s s . Th e f a c t r e m a i n e d
t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e m a n w h o , w i t h h i s v a i n e s c a p a d e s , h a d
225
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
d o n e e v e r y t h i n g t o i r r i t a t e f r i e n d a n d f o e a l i k e , w a s a l l o w e d
t o d r i v e o u t o f t h e f o r e i g n o f f i c e w h a t c o n s e r v a t i v e a n d s a n e
j u d g m e n t h e , Ne u r a t h , a n d c a p a b l e a i d e s l i k e Ho e s c h ,
Bu e l o w , Ko e p k e a n d A s c h m a n n , h a d p a t i e n t l y b u i l t u p
t h r o u g h t h e y e a r s
. Bu t h a v i n g r e f l e c t e d u p o n t h e v i r t u e s o f
h i s p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n , Ne u r a t h d e c i d e d t o t u r n t h e o t h e r c h e e k
a n d t o m a i n t a i n a s h o w o f c o r d i a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h h i s s u c c e s s o r ,
t h e i n d o m i t a b l e Ri b b e n t r o p
.
Ri b b e n t r o p , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t m a k e i t e a s y f o r h i s p r e d e c e s -
s o r t o l i v e u p t o t h i s c o m m e n d a b l e p r o g r a m o f a p p e a s e m e n t .
No t s a t i s f i e d w i t h f u l l v i c t o r y o v e r h i s a r c h e n e m y , h e s e e m e d
t o n e e d a n o u t l e t f o r h i s v i n d i c t i v e n e s s . Po o r M a r i e l e , C o n -
s t a n t i n ' s w i f e , h e d e c i d e d , s h o u l d f e e l t h a t h e w a s n o w t h e
m a s t e r
. Th e m o r n i n g a f t e r h i s a p p o i n t m e n t , a m i n o r o f f i c i a l
o f t h e W i l h e l m s t r a s s e ' s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e p a r t m e n t a p p e a r e d
a t t h e m i n i s t e r i a l v i l l a . He w i s h e d o n l y t o b e a s h e l p f u l a s
p o s s i b l e , h e s a d l y t o l d p o o r M a r i e l e , b u t h e h a d s t r i c t o r d e r s
t o i n f o r m t h e s e r v a n t s w h o w e r e o n t h e p a y r o l l o f t h e F o r e i g n
Of f i c e t h a t t h e y w e r e n o w t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e h o u s e h o l d o f
He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p a n d t h a t f r o m n o w o n t h e y h a d t o b e
o n d u t y a t t h e Da h l e m V i l l a . A l s o t h e s i l v e r w a r e , c h i n a , g l a s s ,
e t c . , e t c . , i n s h o r t a l l Re i c h s e i g e n t u m ( p r o p e r t y o f t h e Re i c h ) ,
h a d t o b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e Da h l e m V i l l a w i t h o u t d e l a y .
Ev e n t h e p a l m t r e e s w h i c h a d o r n e d t h e a n t e r o o m w e r e i n -
c l u d e d . A n d t h e n h e a d d e d h e s i t a n t l y - w o u l d t h e Ba r o n e s s
b e k i n d e n o u g h t o f i x t h e d a t e o f h e r d e p a r t u r e , f o r t h e n e w
m i n i s t e r , He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p , w i s h e d t o m o v e i n t o h i s
o f f i c i a l h a b i t a t i o n a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e , " i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e
s e r v i c e . "
It w a s t o o m u c h f o r M a r i e l e t o s w a l l o w . Th e s h o c k r e -
s t o r e d h e r e n e r g y . Pa c k i n g s t a r t e d i m m e d i a t e l y . Th e s m a l l
e s t a t e ,
Le i n f e l d e r h o f , w o u l d n o w d o q u i t e n i c e l y . S h e w o u l d
s h o w t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s " t h a t r e a l n o b i l i t y k n e w h o w t o t a k e
226
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
i t . " F o r e i g n d i p l o m a t s i n Be r l i n w e r e
n o t e d i f i e d b y
J o a c h i m ' s a c t i o n
. Th e y t h o u g h t a n d s a i d t h a t t h i s o b v i o u s l y
p r o v e d t h a t a d o p t i o n d o e s n o t m a k e a n o b l e m a n . A f t e r a l l
t h i s , t h e Ri b b e n t r o p s n e v e r m o v e d i n t o t h e m i n i s t e r i a l v i l l a
i n t h e He r m a n n G o e r i n g S t r a s s e . It w a s n o t p a l a t i a l e n o u g h
f o r t h e v o n Ri b b e n t r o p s
. In c i d e n t a l l y , He r m a n n G o e r i n g
S t r a s s e
w a s t h e e r s t w h i l e G u s t a v S t r e s e m a n n S t r a s s e , b u t
a p p a r e n t l y t h e Na zi s d i d n o t w i s h t o b e r e m i n d e d o f t h e
g r e a t s t a t e s m a n w h o h a d w o r k e d h i m s e l f t o d e a t h f o r h i s
F a t h e r l a n d .
Th e f i r s t t h i n g J o a c h i m c o n f i d e d t o h i s p r e d e c e s s o r , w h e n
t h e y m e t a g a i n , w a s t h a t t h e F u e h r e r h a d d e c i d e d t o t r a n s f e r
G e o r g v o n M a c k e n s e n , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e , t o Ro m e a s
A m b a s s a d o r . Th a t w o u l d s u r e l y p l e a s e C o n s t a n t i n . It w a s i n
Ro m e t h a t v o n M a c k e n s e n h a d s e r v e d a s s e c o n d s e c r e t a r y
u n d e r v o n Ne u r a t h ; i t w a s t h e r e t h a t G e o r g a n d W i n i f r e d ,
Ne u r a t h ' s d a u g h t e r , h a d b e c o m e e n g a g e d . Th e n v o n Ri b b e n -
t r o p m e n t i o n e d t h a t F r e i h e r r Er n s t v o n W e i zs a e c k e r w a s t o
b e a p p o i n t e d S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e . W i t h t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t
C o n s t a n t i n c o u l d o n l y w h o l e h e a r t e d l y a g r e e . W e i zs a e c k e r ,
f o r m e r l y a n a v a l o f f i c e r , h a d b e e n C h i e f o f t h e Po l i t i c a l
S e c t i o n o f t h e
W i l h e l m s t r a s s e f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , a n d h e
b e l o n g e d t o t h e m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e w i n g o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e .
Th e n v o n Ri b b e n t r o p a s k e d i f v o n Ne u r a t h w o u l d b e k i n d
e n o u g h t o s t a y i n o f f i c e a s " A c t i n g M i n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n
A f f a i r s " u n t i l h e r e t u r n e d f r o m h i s Lo n d o n f a r e w e l l v i s i t s .
F i n a l l y J o a c h i m r e a s s u r e d v o n Ne u r a t h b y t e l l i n g h i m t h a t
t h e F u e h r e r i n t e n d e d t o m a k e u s e o f h i s g r e a t d i p l o m a t i c
e x p e r i e n c e " f o r s p e c i a l m i s s i o n s " w h e n e v e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s
o c c u r r e d .
Th i s f r i e n d l y t e t e - a - t e t e h a d o n e r e s u l t . A f e w d a y s a f t e r
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a p p o i n t m e n t , h e w a s f o r m a l l y i n d u c t e d i n t o h i s
n e w o f f i c e b y v o n Ne u r a t h i n p e r s o n . C o n s t a n t i n , a s t h e
227
k
THIS M A N RIBBENTROP
r e t i r i n g c h i e f , s p o k e f i r s t a n d w e n t a s f a r a s t o s a y , " t h a t h e
w a s r e a l l y h a p p y t o h a n d t h e r e i n s o v e r t o a y o u n g e r m a n
w h o h a d b y h i s s u c c e s s e s g i v e n p r o o f o f h i s a b i l i t i e s
. " Th e
o l d e r o f f i c i a l s c o u l d n o t b e l i e v e t h e i r e a r s . Th e n h e , C o n -
s t a n t i n , t h a n k e d h i s c o l l e a g u e s w h o h a d w o r k e d w i t h h i m
d u r i n g t h e f i v e a n d a h a l f y e a r s i n w h i c h h e h a d b e e n i n
c h a r g e o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e . He w h o h a t e d a l l k i n d s o f
s p e e c h e s a n d w a s k n o w n t o b e a n e n e m y o f o r a t o r y - o n e o f
t h e r e a s o n s w h y h e d i s t r u s t e d p a r l i a m e n t a r y m e t h o d s - o n
t h a t o c c a s i o n s p o k e s o e l o q u e n t l y t h a t s o m e o f t h e o f f i c i a l s
w e r e m o v e d t o t e a r s .
Th e g r e a t s u r p r i s e c a m e w h e n h i s s u c c e s s o r , v o n Ri b b e n -
t r o p , t o l d t h e a s s e m b l e d o f f i c i a l s t h a t h e i n t e n d e d t o c a r r y
o n i n t h e " Ne u r a t h t r a d i t i o n . " He e x p r e s s l y m e n t i o n e d t h a t
t h e r e w a s f u l l a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n h i s p r e d e c e s s o r ' s a n d h i s
o w n v i e w s o n a l l m a t t e r s o f G e r m a n y ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y . Th e
a p p o i n t m e n t o f He r r v o n Ne u r a t h t o t h e p o s t o f Pr e s i d e n t
o f t h e Pr i v y C o u n c i l p r o v e d , s a i d Ri b b e n t r o p f i n a l l y , t h a t
t h e s e r v i c e s o f t h i s m a n , o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t G e r m a n s t a t e s -
m e n , w o u l d b e u t i l i ze d f o r t h e F a t h e r l a n d ' s b e n e f i t f o r m a n y
y e a r s t o c o m e . A n d a s h e , Ri b b e n t r o p , h a d b e e n a p p o i n t e d
a m e m b e r o f t h i s c o u n c i l t o o , h e w a s l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o t h e
p r i v i l e g e o f m a i n t a i n i n g c o n t a c t s w i t h h i s p r e d e c e s s o r .
If t h e o l d e r o f f i c i a l s h a d b e e n b a f f l e d b y Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a p -
p a r e n t e a g e r n e s s t o p l a y u p t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l a t m o s p h e r e o f
m e l l o w d e t a c h m e n t w h i c h g a v e t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e i t s i v o r y
t o w e r c a c h e t a n d i f t h e y h o p e d f o r a m o m e n t t h a t , a s C h i n a
a b s o r b s h e r c o n q u e r o r s , t h e W i l h e l m s t r a s s e w o u l d a b s o r b
t h e i d i o s y n c r a s i e s a n d a w k w a r d m a n n e r i s m s o f i t s n e w c h i e f ,
t h e y w e r e s a d l y m i s t a k e n
. Th e t o u c h i n g s c e n e s o f b r o t h e r l y
l o v e s t a g e d b y Ne u r a t h a n d Ri b b e n t r o p i n p u b l i c w a s a
t r u m p e d - u p s h o w .
Th e n e x t d a y Ri b b e n t r o p ' s d i p l o m a t i c s m i l e d i s a p p e a r e d
.
228
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
A n o t h e r c o n v o c a t i o n w a s s t a g e d f o r a l l t h e o f f i c i a l s a n d
e m p l o y e e s o f t h e m i n i s t r y
. Th e y w e r e l i n e d u p , m i l i t a r y
f a s h i o n , i n t h e i n n e r c o u r t
. Ri b b e n t r o p b u r s t o u t o f h i s
p r i v a t e o f f i c e w i t h t h e u n c a n n y s t i f f n e s s o f a m i n i a t u r e
F r a n k e n s t e i n . G r i m l y h e p l a n t e d h i m s e l f b e f o r e e a c h i n d i -
v i d u a l c o l l e a g u e a n d , f l a u n t i n g a Hi t l e r - t r u s s i n t h e i r f a c e s ,
p l e d g e d o n e a f t e r t h e o t h e r t o u n d y i n g l o y a l t y t o t h e
F u e h r e r ' s w o r l d s h a k i n g c a u s e . Ev e n m o r e i m p r e s s i v e w a s a
c i r c u l a r i s s u e d a f e w d a y s l a t e r w h i c h a n n o u n c e d t h a t " c a r e -
l e s s t a l k a n d n e g l i g e n c e o f d u t y w o u l d i n t h e f u t u r e b e
r u t h l e s s l y s t a m p e d o u t b y t h e S u p r e m e La w Lo r d . "
Th e h i s t o r y o f t h e Hi t l e r - t r u s s i n t h e p r e c i n c t s o f t h e
F o r e i g n Of f i c e i s a m u s i n g . A
Hi t l e r - G r u s s e n t a i l s g i v i n g t h e
a n a t o m y a t r e m e n d o u s j e r k b y m e a n s o f h e e l c l i c k i n g a n d
s t r e t c h i n g o u t t h e r i g h t a r m w i t h r u t h l e s s e n e r g y . Th i s b o d i l y
e x e r c i s e i s s u p p o s e d t o b e a c c o m p a n i e d b y a r e v e r b e r a t i n g
He i l Hi t l e r ! Th e m e a n i n g o f i t a l l i s t o d e m o n s t r a t e o p e n l y
t h e i r o n w i l l a n d f a n a t i c a l f a i t h t h a t a n i m a t e s t h e c i t i ze n
o f t h e Th i r d Re i c h .
Th e e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e Hi t l e r - G r u s s , u n d e r d i r e t h r e a t s ,
a t t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e a f t e r 1 9 3 3 w a s a p a t h e t i c t h i n g . Th e
r i g h t a r m , i n s t e a d o f t r i u m p h a n t l y p i e r c i n g t h e i g n o b l e
c l o u d s w h i c h d u l l e d t h e s u n o f t h e " Ne w Or d e r , " f l a p p e d u p
a n d d o w n l i k e t h e w i n g o f a g r o g g y d u c k , w h i l e t h e f a c e o f
t h e p e r s o n e n g a g e d i n e x p r e s s i n g h i s o p t i m i s t i c a d h e r e n c e t o
He r r Hi t l e r a s s u m e d a n a p o l o g e t i c a n d a l t o g e t h e r s h e e p i s h
g r i n . To a s k t h e s e p e o p l e w h o s a w i n Hi t l e r t h e a r c h e n e m y
o f t h e S t r e s e m a n n i a n t r a d i t i o n w h i c h w a s s o m u c h m o r e t o
t h e i r l i k i n g , t o h a i l Hi t l e r w i t h a d i s p l a y o f e x o r b i t a n t g e s t i c u -
l a t i o n , w a s l i k e a s k i n g a M o h a m m e d a n t o p r o f e s s h i s a d m i r a -
t i o n f o r a p i g b y p l a n t i n g a k i s s o n i t s s n o u t
. It w a s a p i e c e o f
s a d i s m c a l c u l a t e d t o r i d i c u l e t h e n o t o r i o u s W i l h e l m s t r a s s e
a l o o f n e s s f r o m s o - c a l l e d m a t t e r s o f v i t a l c o n c e r n . Th e h a r -
2 2 9
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
a s s e d o f f i c i a l s r e t a l i a t e d b y s i g n i n g p r i v a t e l e t t e r s o f s a f e d e s t i -
n a t i o n
He i l t Hi t l e r , m e a n i n g " c u r e Hi t l e r - i f y o u c a n
. "
S h o r t l y a f t e r t h e Na zi s h a d c o m e t o p o w e r s e v e r a l a t t e m p t s
w e r e m a d e t o b r i n g t h e r e l u c t a n t m e m b e r s o f t h e F o r e i g n
Of f i c e i n t o t h e f o l d o f t h e n e w c r e e d
. On o n e o c c a s i o n ,
a c c o r d i n g t o a l e t t e r f r o m o n e o f o u r f r i e n d s , t h e y w e r e
h e r d e d i n t o a p u b l i c g a r d e n f o r a Bi e r a b e n d
w i t h t h e e n t i r e
t e c h n i c a l s t a f f w h i l e He r r Ro s e n b e r g c l i m b e d t h e p l a t f o r m i n
o r d e r t o e n l a r g e u p o n t h e m a n i f o l d b l e s s i n g s t h e Na zi s w e r e
b o u n d t o b e s t o w u p o n t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e
. Ro s e n b e r g s t r u c k
e v e r y b o d y a s a v e r y i n s i g n i f i c a n t y o u n g m a n . Ne i t h e r b y t e m -
p e r a m e n t a l b e a r i n g n o r b y i n t e l l e c t u a l v i g o r d i d h e t r a n s c e n d
t h e i m a g e o f a v i s i t o r f r o m a h i c k t o w n w h o h a s w o n f a m e i n
h i s r e m o t e c o m m u n i t y f o r t h e s k i l l f u l w a y h e h a s a c q u i t t e d
h i m s e l f i n h i s d u t i e s i n a b a r b e r s h o p o r s h o e s t o r e . Bu t t h e g r e a t
e v e n t o f t h e e v e n i n g w a s c o m m u n i t y s i n g i n g o f t h e Ho r s t
W e s s e l Li e d . Pa t r i o t i c c i t i ze n s , w h e n s i n g i n g t h i s s l u g g i s h
p a r t y a n t h e m , w e r e s u p p o s e d t o r a i s e t h e r i g h t a r m . Ev e r y -
b o d y p r e s e n t m a n i f e s t e d h i s d e s i r e t o c o n f o r m w i t h e s t a b l i s h e d
c u s t o m , b u t n o b o d y a s i d e f r o m a f e w Na zi s s u s p e c t e d t h a t
t h e r e w a s m o r e t h a n o n e v e r s e t o t h e Ho r s t W e s s e l Li e d .
A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e r e w a s , a t t h a t t i m e , o n l y o n e i n -
v e t e r a t e Na zi i n t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , a n d h e w a s t h e j a n i t o r
.
In c o n s e q u e n c e , t h e j a n i t o r w a s i n c h a r g e o f t h e p r o c e e d i n g s ,
a n d h e e n j o y e d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f i m p r e s s i n g t h e g e n t l e m e n
i n s t r i p e d p a n t s w i t h h i s e x a l t e d s t a t u s . Th e Ho r s t W e s s e l
Li e d n e v e r e n d e d . Th e j a n i t o r ' s k n o w l e d g e o f t h e h y m n
s e e m e d i n e x h a u s t i b l e . On t h e s p u r o f t h e m o m e n t , h e i m -
p r o v i s e d e v e r n e w a n d e v e r m o r e v i o l e n t d e n u n c i a t i o n s o f
Na zi s m ' s e n e m i e s . A n d e v e r y t i m e o n e o f t h e f a t i g u e d d i p l o -
m a t s t r i e d t o r e l a x t h e r i g i d a n d d e c i d e d l y u n c o m f o r t a b l e
a t t i t u d e w h i c h p a t r i o t i c d u t y a n d t h e e x i g e n c i e s o f c a r e e r
d e m a n d e d , t h e j a n i t o r t h u n d e r e d , " G e n t l e m e n , t h e r i g h t
23 0
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
a r m ! " A t l a s t Ro s e n b e r g t a p p e d h i m o n t h e s h o u l d e r a n d
s a i d , " Do n ' t f o r g e t , M a x , t h e y a r e n o t y e t i n a c o n c e n t r a t i o n
c a m p . "
C o n s t a n t i n v o n Ne u r a t h r e m a i n e d i n c h a r g e o f t h e F o r e i g n
Of f i c e u n t i l t h e c r u c i a l d a y s o f t h e A u s t r i a n A n s c b l u s s w e r e
o v e r . He d i d n o t p l a y a n a c t i v e p a r t i n t h e A n s c h l u s s , n o r
d i d Ri b b e n t r o p . M u s s o l i n i a n d Hi t l e r , w h i l e h e l p i n g F r a n c o ,
h a d f o u n d t h a t t h e y h a d s o m u c h i n c o m m o n a n d t h i s n o t
o n l y i n S p a i n t h a t t h e y h a d d e c i d e d t o f o r g e t t h e o l d m i s -
u n d e r s t a n d i n g s c o n c e r n i n g A u s t r i a . M u s s o l i n i r e l u c t a n t l y
a g r e e d t o l e t t h e A n s c h l u s s t a k e i t s c o u r s e , o r a t l e a s t n o t t o
o b j e c t a g a i n s t Na zi m i n i s t e r s o c c u p y i n g t h e r o o m s w h e r e
Do l l f u s s h a d b e e n m u r d e r e d . Ri b b e n t r o p a t t e n d e d t h e f i r s t
m e e t i n g b e t w e e n S c h u s c h n i g g a n d Hi t l e r i n Be r c h t e s g a d e n
w i t h o u t t a k i n g a n y a c t i v e p a r t i n i t . Ri b b e n t r o p w a s o r d e r e d
b y t h e F u e h r e r t o s e t o u t i m m e d i a t e l y a n d i n t h e g r e a t e s t
s e c r e c y t o Ro m e t o k e e p t h e Du c e p o s t e d r e g a r d i n g t h e
Be r c h t e s g a d e n p r o c e e d i n g s . In t h e c r i t i c a l d a y s o f t h e i m -
p e n d i n g A u s t r i a n d e b a c l e , i t w a s o n l y n a t u r a l t h a t Hi t l e r f e l t
t h a t h e s h o u l d s e n d h i s t r u s t e d a d v i s e r t o t h e c r a f t y a n d n o t
y e t t h o r o u g h l y c o n v i n c e d Du c e t o e m p h a s i ze t h e r o l e h e w a s
s u p p o s e d t o p l a y i n t h e g a m e - n a m e l y , t o d o n o t h i n g
. Hi s j o b
i n Ro m e d o n e , Ri b b e n t r o p p r o c e e d e d t o Lo n d o n t o p a y
t h e u s u a l r o u n d o f f o r m a l v i s i t s a n d t o g i v e a f a r e w e l l p a r t y
t o h i s En g l i s h f r i e n d s a t t h e Em b a s s y .
He a r r i v e d i n Lo n d o n o n M a r c h 9 , j u s t " a f e w h o u r s t o o
e a r l y t o h a v e h a d n e w s o f t h e f o r t h c o m i n g p l e b i s c i t e i n
A u s t r i a , " a s t h e Ne w Y o r k Ti m e s w r o t e t h e n e x t d a y . Ri b -
b e n t r o p m a d e a t o u r o f Lo n d o n ' s m o s t p r o m i n e n t a d d r e s s e s
- Bu c k i n g h a m Pa l a c e , i o Do w n i n g S t r e e t , a n d Lo r d Ha l i f a x ' s
2 3 1
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
s a n c t u m . He p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e s e e d i f i c e s w i t h t h e s t u d i e d
i n d i f f e r e n c e o f a m a n w h o k n o w s w h e r e h e s t a n d s . Th e
En g l i s h m e n w h o h a d n o t r e a c t e d p r o p e r l y t o h i s a r t i f i c i a l
g l a m o u r c o u l d n o t h e l p f e e l i n g n o n p l u s s e d b y h i s a r t i f i c i a l
s i l e n c e . He h a d t h e m g u e s s i n g , a n d h e e n j o y e d t h e s u p e r i o r i t y
o f a p e r s o n w h o h o l d s t h e i n i t i a t i v e .
It w o u l d h a v e b e e n w e l l f o r Ri b b e n t r o p t o e x p l a i n t h e
c o n t e m p l a t e d A u s t r i a n c o u p , b u t h e h a d d e c i d e d t o m a i n t a i n
a m y s t e r i o u s s i l e n c e . F u r t h e r m o r e , h e h a d a l s o d e c i d e d t h a t a
s m a l l d o s e o f i m p u d e n c e w o u l d n o t w o r k . Th e p r e s t i g e o f
t h e Th i r d Re i c h w o u l d b e s e r v e d o n l y b y a b i g d o s e . He
t h e r e f o r e s u b m i t t e d f i v e d e m a n d s t o t h e Br i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t .
De m a n d o n e i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e p r e s s b e f o r b i d d e n t o p u b l i s h
u n f r i e n d l y n e w s p a p e r a r t i c l e s a b o u t Na zi s m . Lo r d Ha l i f a x
h a d n o t w a i t e d u n t i l Ri b b e n t r o p n o t i f i e d h i m p e r s o n a l l y o f
t h i s w e l l - k n o w n g r i e v a n c e o f t h e G e r m a n G o v e r n m e n t . Th e
Br i t i s h F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y h a d a l r e a d y t r i e d " s w e e t r e a s o n -
a b l e n e s s " o n Br i t i s h n e w s p a p e r m e n w h o m h e h a d c a l l e d t o -
g e t h e r t h e d a y o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a r r i v a l i n Lo n d o n ( M a r c h 9 )
.
Hi s i d e a w a s t o " i m p r o v e t h e A n g l o - G e r m a n a t m o s p h e r e
. "
A n a d m i r a b l e p o l i c y , o n l y i t d i d n o t f i t i n w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
i d e a o f m a k i n g t h e Br i t i s h l i k e t h e Na zi s b y k i c k i n g t h e i r
s h i n s . In r e a l i t y , a l l t h e e x c i t e m e n t o f Hi t l e r , G o e b b e l s , a n d
Ri b b e n t r o p a b o u t w h a t t h e y t e r m e d " J e w i s h l i e s a b o u t Na zi -
G e r m a n y " w a s p a r t o f t h e i r p l a n t o f i n d " g r i e v a n c e " a g a i n s t
t h e d e m o c r a c i e s .
De m a n d t w o : Re c o g n i t i o n i n p r i n c i p l e o f G e r m a n y ' s
c o l o n i a l d e m a n d s . In a d d i t i o n Ri b b e n t r o p w a n t e d a n a s -
s u r a n c e t h a t a c o l o n i a l s e t t l e m e n t w o u l d n o t b e m a d e p a r t
o f a g e n e r a l Eu r o p e a n s e t t l e m e n t . Th i s p o i n t m e a n t , t h e r e -
f o r e , t h a t En g l a n d s h o u l d r e c o g n i ze G e r m a n y ' s r i g h t t o t h e
u n c o n d i t i o n a l r e t u r n o f h e r f o r m e r c o l o n i e s . Th i s w a s a n
e x t r a o r d i n a r y d e m a n d , b e c a u s e En g l a n d , i f s h e a c c e p t e d i t ,
23 2
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
w o u l d n o l o n g e r b e i n a p o s i t i o n t o b a r t e r t h e c o l o n i e s
a g a i n s t a G e r m a n g u a r a n t e e f o r g o o d b e h a v i o r o r d i s a r m a -
m e n t o r r e t u r n t o t h e Le a g u e o f Na t i o n s .
De m a n d t h r e e : A s s u r a n c e t h a t G r e a t Br i t a i n w o u l d n o t t r y
t o d i s t u r b t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n Be r l i n a n d Ro m e .
De m a n d f o u r
: A d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t G r e a t Br i t a i n v i e w w i t h
s y m p a t h y t h e f a t e o f G e r m a n s l i v i n g b e y o n d t h e Re i c h
.
De m a n d f i v e : Re c o g n i t i o n o f G e r m a n y ' s r i g h t t o d e f e n d
h e r s e l f a g a i n s t Bo l s h e v i s m .
W e c a n n o t b e l i e v e t h a t J o a c h i m w o u l d h a v e g o t t e n v e r y
f a r w i t h h i s d e m a n d s e v e n i f t h e A u s t r i a n
c o u p h a d n o t
i n t e r f e r e d .
A s w e a l r e a d y s a i d , Ri b b e n t r o p a r r i v e d i n Lo n d o n o n
M a r c h g , f o u r d a y s b e f o r e G e r m a n s o l d i e r s a n d G e s t a p o
m e n i n v a d e d A u s t r i a . On M a r c h I
i h e t o o k l e a v e o f Ki n g
G e o r g e V Ia n d a t t e n d e d a f a r e w e l l l u n c h e o n g i v e n i n h i s
h o n o r b y Pr i m e M i n i s t e r Ne v i l l e C h a m b e r l a i n
. Th e e v e n i n g
o f M a r c h 21
w a s r e s e r v e d f o r h i s b i g f a r e w e l l r e c e p t i o n a t
C a r l t o n Ho u s e Te r r a c e .
It i s d i f f i c u l t t o s a y w h e t h e r t h i s r e c e p t i o n h a d b e e n
p u r p o s e l y s e t f o r t h e d a y w h e n S S
. t r o o p e r s m o u n t e d b l a c k e d -
o u t a i r p l a n e s i n M u n i c h
. It i s d i f f i c u l t t o t i m e e v e r y t h i n g
e x a c t l y . It m a y h a v e b e e n c o i n c i d e n c e
. A t a n y r a t e , A u s t r i a ' s
M i n i s t e r i n Lo n d o n , Ba r o n ( n o w S i r ) G e o r g e F r a n c k e n s t e i n ,
w a s a m o n g J o a c h i m ' s g u e s t s
. S o w e r e m a n y m e m b e r s o f t h e
Br i t i s h c a b i n e t a n d s o w a s a l m o s t e v e r y b o d y w h o c o u n t e d
i n Lo n d o n ' s p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l l i f e
. M a n y h a d j u s t c o m e t o
s h o w t h e i r g o o d w i l l a n d s a y g o o d b y e
. Pi c t u r e s w e r e t a k e n
o f Ri b b e n t r o p c l a s p i n g Br i t i s h s t a t e s m e n ' s h a n d s i n t h e m o s t
c o r d i a l o f a u r e v o i r s
. Du r i n g t h e h o u r s o f t h e f a r e w e l l r e -
c e p t i o n , h i s t o r y w a s b e i n g m a d e
. Th e y o u n g e r m e m b e r s o f
t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y , w h o w e r e i n t h e k n o w , s n e a k e d t o t h e
r a d i o s i n t h e u p p e r r o o m s o f t h e Em b a s s y b u i l d i n g a n d
2 3 3
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
l i s t e n e d t o t h e Be r l i n s t a t i o n s . W h e n t h e g u e s t s f i n a l l y l e f t ,
G e r m a n t r o o p s h a d a l r e a d y c r o s s e d t h e A u s t r i a n f r o n t i e r .
Ri b b e n t r o p w i s h e d t o f l y b a c k t h e n e x t m o r n i n g " i n o r d e r
t o b e n e x t t o t h e F u e h r e r o n t h i s h i s t o r i c e v e n t . " A m o r e
t a n g i b l e r e a s o n w a s t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n o f t h e " La w f o r t h e
Re u n i o n o f A u s t r i a w i t h t h e G e r m a n Re i c h . " It w a s d a t e d
" Li n z, M a r c h 1 3 , 1 9 3 8, " a n d i t b e a r s t h e s i g n a t u r e s o f t h e
F u e h r e r , F r i c k , Ri b b e n t r o p , a n d He s s . Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s
n o t a b l e t o s i g n i t i n p e r s o n , a t l e a s t n o t a t t h e t i m e o f i t s
p u b l i c a t i o n
. S u c h t r i f l i n g m a t t e r s a r e o f n o i m p o r t a n c e i n
t h e Na zi r e g i m e
. It d i d n o t e v e n p r e v e n t Ri b b e n t r o p , w h o s e
r o l e i n t h e a n n e x a t i o n o f A u s t r i a - a s i d e f r o m s t e a l i n g a n t i q u e s
a n d a c a s t l e o u t o f t h e b o o t y - h a d b e e n v e r y s m a l l i n d e e d ,
t o c l a i m , i n t h e d a t a g i v e n t o t h e e d i t o r s o f t h e Br i t i s h
W h o ' s W h o , p e r s o n a l c r e d i t f o r t h e t r a n s a c t i o n
.
A n y w a y , t h a t a i r p l a n e w h i c h w a s t o c a r r y h i m h o m e
f a i l e d t o a r r i v e f r o m Be r l i n
. Th e G e r m a n a i r m i n i s t r y h a d
i s s u e d o r d e r s t h a t n o p l a n e w a s t o l e a v e G e r m a n a i r p o r t s
w i t h o u t a s p e c i a l p e r m i t . Th e r e s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n a " s e r i e s
o f m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s . " Th e r e a s o n f o r t h e m w a s v o n Ne u r a t h
w h o s t i l l h a d t o r e v e n g e h i m s e l f f o r J o a c h i m ' s t r e a t m e n t
o f M a r i e l e .
J o a c h i m , i n g r e a t a g i t a t i o n , c a l l e d Be r l i n f r o m Lo n d o n .
He f e v e r i s h l y i n q u i r e d w h y h i s s t r i c t o r d e r s h a d b e e n d i s -
r e g a r d e d
. Th i s c a l l c a m e t o v o n Ne u r a t h ' s a t t e n t i o n . C o n -
s t a n t i n a t o n c e i n f o r m e d He r m a n n G o e r i n g w h o h a t e d , a n d
s t i l l h a t e s , Ri b b e n t r o p
. U n s e r He r m a n n n o t o n l y c a l m l y r e -
n e w e d t h e o r d e r s t h a t n o p l a n e s h o u l d l e a v e t h e a i r f i e l d s
w i t h o u t s p e c i a l p e r m i t o f t h e a i r m i n i s t r y , b u t m a d e i t s t i l l
t i g h t e r
. He d e c r e e d t h a t h e h a d t o b e a s k e d i n p e r s o n b e f o r e
s u c h p e r m i t w a s t o b e g r a n t e d .
F u r i o u s l y Ri b b e n t r o p f i n a l l y d e c i d e d , o n M a r c h
1 4, t o
r e t u r n v i a Do v e r . Ti c k e t s a n d l u g g a g e w e r e a r r a n g e d f o r
2 3 4
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
t h e b o a t j o u r n e y a n d t h e t r a i n w h e n a l l o f a s u d d e n h i s p l a n e
a r r i v e d a t C r o y d o n . Of c o u r s e t h e d e c i s i o n t o r e t u r n b y t r a i n
w a s q u i c k l y v o i d e d . A l o n g d i s t a n c e c a l l b r o u g h t t h e i n f o r -
m a t i o n t h a t Dr . Hj a l m a r S c h a c h t w a s a l s o p r e p a r i n g t o v i s i t
V i e n n a . A n o t h e r c a l l f r o m t h e n e w f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r i n v i t e d
S c h a c h t t o m a k e t h e t r i p t o V i e n n a w i t h h i m . Th e f a c t t h a t
s o i m p o r t a n t a n e v e n t a s " t h e r e t u r n o f A u s t r i a i n t o t h e
Re i c h " s h o u l d h a v e t a k e n p l a c e w i t h o u t h i s b e i n g p r e s e n t , n o t
t o m e n t i o n w i t h o u t h i s a c t i v e c o l l a b o r a t i o n , a n n o y e d J o a c h i m .
He w a s n o t i n t h e b e s t o f h u m o r o n t h a t t r i p . Bu t w h e n ,
o n M a r c h 1 5, A u s t r i a ' s " l i q u i d a t i n g s e c r e t a r y o f f o r e i g n
a f f a i r s , " Dr . G u i d o S c h m i d t , t h e m a n w h o h a d b e t r a y e d h i s
b o s o m f r i e n d a n d s c h o o l m a t e S c h u s c h n i g g t o t h e Na zi s , w a s
f o u n d w a i t i n g a t t h e A s p e r n a i r d r o m e , J o a c h i m ' s f a c e b e c a m e
c h e e r f u l a g a i n . S i n c e t h e F u e h r e r a n d t h e r e a l b i g w i g s -
i n c l u d i n g G o e r i n g - h a d l e f t V i e n n a d a y s b e f o r e , Ri b b e n t r o p
n o w b e c a m e , t e m p o r a r i l y , t h e h i g h e s t r a n k i n g Na zi p r e s e n t ,
a n d h e m a d e g o o d u s e o f t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
. A c c o m p a n i e d
b y G u i d o S c h m i d t , h e f i r s t v i s i t e d t h e Ba l l h a u s p l a t z, t h e s e a t
o f t h e f o r m e r A u s t r i a n S t a t e De p a r t m e n t . He r e G u i d o p e r -
s o n a l l y o p e n e d t h e b i g d o o r s t o t h e r o o m s i n w h i c h A u s t r i a ' s
g r e a t e s t s t a t e s m a n , Pr i n c e C l e m e n s M e t t e r n i c h , t h e p r e s i d e n t
o f t h e 1 81 5C o n g r e s s o f V i e n n a , h a d w o r k e d f o r v e r y d i f -
f e r e n t p r i n c i p l e s t h a n S c h m i d t a n d Ri b b e n t r o p r e p r e s e n t e d .
Th e b i g g l o b e , o n c e t h e p r o p e r t y o f M e t t e r n i c h , c a u g h t Ri b -
b e n t r o p ' s e y e s
. " De n m u s s i c h h a b e n , " ( t h a t Im u s t h a v e ) h e
s a i d t o G u i d o
. Bu t p o o r G u i d o h a d a l r e a d y p r o m i s e d t o s e n d
i t t o He r m a n n G o e r i n g . G u i d o ' s p e r s o n a l p o l i c y w a s b a s e d
o n f r i e n d s h i p w i t h " b i g He r m a n n " w h o h e t h o u g h t w o u l d
b e c o m e c h i e f o f a s e m i - i n d e p e n d e n t A u s t r i a n S t a t e w i t h i n t h e
o r b i t o f t h e Re i c h
. G u i d o ' s f a n t a s i e s a t t h a t t i m e w e n t s o f a r
a s t o b e l i e v e t h a t " c h i e f o f s t a t e " He r m a n n G o e r i n g w o u l d
s e l e c t h i m a s A u s t r i a ' s " s p e c i a l a m b a s s a d o r t o t h e Ho l y S e e . "
2 3 5
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
W e l l a w a r e o f G u i d o ' s a t t a c h m e n t t o He r m a n n G o e r i n g , o u r
J o a c h i m n e v e r t h e l e s s i n s i s t e d o n
,
g e t t i n g M e t t e r n i c h ' s g l o b e ,
a n d t h e h i s t o r i c a l o b j e c t w e n t t o Be r l i n t h e s a m e d a y w h e r e
i t n o w a d o r n s J o a c h i m ' s s t u d y .
G u i d o S c h m i d t ' s w e l f a r e w a s n o w e n d a n g e r e d . Ho w t h i s
e x p e r i e n c e d l i a r a r r a n g e d t h e t r u t h s o t h a t i t b e c a m e p a l a t a b l e
t o G o e r i n g h a s n o t b e e n r e c o r d e d . Bu t h e s u c c e e d e d i n g e t -
t i n g
U n s e r He r m a n n i n t o a f i n e f i t a t t h e e x p e n s e o f J o a c h i m ,
w h o , u s e l e s s a s h e w a s i n t h e m a t t e r o f a n n e x i n g A u s t r i a ,
h a d p r o v e d s o e f f i c i e n t i n a n n e x i n g a n t i q u e s . G u i d o a t t h e
s a m e t i m e w a s a b l e t o f e a t h e r h i s o w n n e s t
. He l a n d e d o n e o f
t h e h i g h e s t p a i d j o b s i n t h e
Ne u e W e l t o r d n u n g , t h a t o f
g e n e r a l m a n a g e r o f t h e
He r m a n n G o e r i n g - W e r k e , w h i c h
t o o k o v e r a l l t h e h e a v y i n d u s t r i e s i n f o r m e r A u s t r i a , C ze c h o -
s l o v a k i a , Po l a n d , a n d Y u g o s l a v i a . He m a n a g e d t o k e e p i t a n d
m a y e n j o y i t s b e n e f i t s - u n t i l t h e d a y o f t h e g r e a t r e c k o n i n g
c o m e s .
J o a c h i m a l s o h a d o r d e r e d S c h m i d t t o h a v e a l l
Ba l l h a u s p l a t z
f i l e s o f p o l i t i c a l i m p o r t i m m e d i a t e l y p a c k e d a n d s e n t b y
m o t o r t r u c k s t o t h e
W i l h e l m s t r a s s e . A g r o u p o f e x p e r i e n c e d
Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p
s t a f f m e m b e r s h a d a l r e a d y b e e n o r d e r e d t o
s t a r t a t h o r o u g h i n v e s t i g a t i o n w h i c h w a s s u p p o s e d t o p r e p a r e
t h e m a t e r i a l f o r a n e w " W h i t e Bo o k , " w h i c h w o u l d s h o w
t h e w o r l d " A u s t r i a ' s g u i l t , " m e a n i n g t h a t s h e h a d " i n t r i g u e d "
w i t h t h e h e l p o f G r e a t Br i t a i n , F r a n c e , a n d C ze c h o s l o v a k i a
a g a i n s t G e r m a n y a n d i t s Na zi l e a d e r s
. W h e n t h e f i l e s a r r i v e d
i n Be r l i n , o n l y t h e It a l i a n i n t r i g u e s c o u l d b e p r o v e d - a n d
t h a t w a s s o m e t h i n g t o b e a v o i d e d
. Re p o r t s o n t h e c o n s u l t a -
t i o n s w i t h t h e Br i t i s h , F r e n c h , a n d C ze c h o s l o v a k i a n s t a t e s -
m e n w e r e " u n f o r t u n a t e l y m i s s i n g
. " A f t e r a f e w h e c t i c d a y s ,
t h e r e s e a r c h w o r k h a d t o b e a b a n d o n e d
. Th e " A u s t r i a n f i l e s "
w e r e f i n a l l y p l a c e d i n t h e c e l l a r s o f t h e A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t
.
Th e r e t h e y s e e m t o r o t
. In a n y c a s e n o t h i n g w a s e v e r h e a r d
23 6
BEC OM ES M INIS TEROF F OREIG NA F F A IRS
a g a i n a b o u t t h e p l a n o f i s s u i n g a " W h i t e Bo o k o n A u s t r i a ' s
i n t r i g u e s a g a i n s t t h e Re i c h . "
Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s o u t f o r a m o r e l u c r a t i v e p i e c e o f
b o o t y i n A u s t r i a . He d i d n o t l o s e s i g h t o f S c h l o s s F u s c h l n e a r
S a l zb u r g , p r o p e r t y o f t h e A u s t r i a n n o b l e m a n G u s t a v v o n
Re m n i t z. Th i s v o n Re m n i t zh a d b e e n a t h o r n i n J o a c h i m ' s
s i d e f o r a l o n g t i m e
. Ha v i n g m a r r i e d a n i e c e o f F r i t zTh y s s e n ,
t h e r i c h i n d u s t r i a l i s t , Re m n i t zh a d m a d e t h e h o u s e o f h i s f o r e -
f a t h e r s a c e n t e r f o r d i s t i n g u i s h e d f o r e i g n e r s v i s i t i n g t h e
f a m o u s S a l zb u r g m u s i c f e s t i v a l s
. On c e J o a c h i m , f r e q u e n t i n g
t h e s e f e s t i v a l s t o o , w h i l e w a i t i n g f o r t h e F u e h r e r t o o r d e r
h i m t o c o m e t o Be r c h t e s g a d e n , t r i e d t o g e t a n i n v i t a t i o n t o
o n e o f t h e e v e n i n g s o n w h i c h a g r o u p o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y
k n o w n v i s i t o r s w e r e d i n e d a n d w i n e d a t t h e
S c h l o s s F u s c h l .
Bu t G u s t a v v o n Re m n i t zd i d n o t r e s p o n d
. A f t e r t h e
A n s c h l u s s ,
v o n Re m n i t z, k n o w n a s a n a r d e n t f i g h t e r f o r
A u s t r i a ' s i n d e p e n d e n c e , w a s p u t i n t o a c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p
b y He i n r i c h Hi m m l e r , J o a c h i m ' s m o s t i n t i m a t e f r i e n d . Po o r
v o n Re m n i t zn e v e r s a w h i s f a m i l y a g a i n . He d i e d o r w a s
m u r d e r e d i n Da c h a u
. Ev e n b e f o r e t h a t h a p p e n e d , F r a u v o n
Re m n i t za n d h e r y o u n g b o y h a d b e e n d r i v e n o u t o f h e r
c a s t l e i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t b y s t o r m t r o o p e r s
. Ri b b e n -
t r o p " t o o k o v e r , " t h e c a s t l e i n t o t o , l o c k , s t o c k , a n d b a r r e l .
In S c h l o s s F u s c h l
h e r e c e i v e d h i s " f r i e n d " C i a n o . He r e h e
r e s i d e d w h e n h e w a n t e d t o b e " n e a r t o t h e F u e h r e r . " He r e
t h e c o n f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e F u e h r e r a n d M u s s o l i n i o n M a y 5,
1 9 42t o o k p l a c e . Th e o f f i c i a l c o m m u n i q u e a n n o u n c e d t h a t
J o a c h i m w a s t h e h o s t a t t h a t m e e t i n g " i n h i s f a t h e r ' s c a s t l e
. "
Po o r Li e u t e n a n t C o l o n e l Ri c h a r d Ri b b e n t r o p , J o a c h i m ' s
f a t h e r , w h o h a d d i e d s h o r t l y b e f o r e , u n d o u b t e d l y t u r n e d i n
h i s g r a v e a t t h i s f r a u d u l e n t e x p l o i t a t i o n o f h i s n a m e
. A t l e a s t
l e t u s a s s u m e i n h i s h o n o r t h a t h e d i d
.
2 3 7
' 3
Ri b b e n t r o p a n d S o u t h Ty r o l
RIBBENTROPe n t e r e d t h e It a l i a n s c e n e i n a b i g w a y a f t e r
t h e A u s t r i a n c o u p , w h e n b o t h h e a n d Hi t l e r p a i d t h e i r s o l e m n
v i s i t t o Ro m e i n M a y , 1 9 3 8, o n l y t w o m o n t h s a f t e r A u s t r i a ' s
d e m i s e . It w a s t i m e t o m a k e a b i g s h o w o f G e r m a n - It a l i a n
s o l i d a r i t y , b u t a s l o n g a s t h e S o u t h Ty r o l w a s p e r m i t t e d t o
r e m i n d t h e w o r l d t h a t u n d e r n e a t h t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m o f t h e
n e w o r d e r t h e o p e n w o u n d o f n a t i o n a l a n t a g o n i s m w a s n o t
c l o s e d , t h e s h o w w o u l d b e m a r r e d . W h e n Hi t l e r r e c o g n i ze d ,
i n a s p e e c h i n t h e Pa l a zzo V e n e zi a , t h a t t h e Br e n n e r Pa s s w a s
t h e f r o n t i e r t o t h e No r t h " t o a l l e t e r n i t y " ( a r e l a t i v e
n o t i o n e s p e c i a l l y t o Hi t l e r ) , h e k i l l e d t h e S o u t h Ty r o l e v e n
m o r e e f f e c t i v e l y t h a n h e h a d k i l l e d A u s t r i a
. A u s t r i a n
" A r y a n s " h a d b e e n a l l o w e d t o s t a y w h e r e t h e y w e r e
. Th e
G e r m a n p o p u l a t i o n w a s t o b e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e S o u t h Ty r o l
.
Th i s w o u l d l e a v e n o d o u b t t h a t h e m e a n t b u s i n e s s a n d t h a t
h e w o u l d n o t p e r m i t s e n t i m e n t a l f e e l i n g s t o o b s t r u c t h i s
w o r l d - e m b r a c i n g s c h e m e s .
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a s s i g n m e n t w a s t o p r e p a r e t h e c r u e l o p e r -
a t i o n
. W e s h o u l d n o t a s s u m e t h a t t h e r e w e r e l a c k i n g , o n t h e
G e r m a n a s w e l l a s o n t h e It a l i a n s i d e , p e o p l e w h o v i e w e d
t h e w h o l e i n h u m a n s c h e m e w i t h d i s t a s t e . In It a l y , F a s c i s m
h a d a l w a y s s h o w e d g r e a t e r r e s p e c t f o r c o n t i n u i t y t h a n e i t h e r
Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p h a d e v e r m a n i f e s t e d
. To t h e m , a n y -
a 3 8
RIBBENTROPA NDS OU THTY ROL
t h i n g t h a t w a s i n t u n e w i t h n a t u r e ' s p a t i e n t g r o w t h s e e m e d
t o c a l l f o r a n n i h i l a t i o n . In t h i s i n s t a n c e , t h e It a l i a n g o v e r n -
m e n t w a s a s k e d t o g i v e u p t w o h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d s t u r d y
c i t i ze n s w h o s e l o y a l t y w a s p e r h a p s d i v i d e d b u t w h o h a d
n e v e r t h e l e s s s e n t e x c e l l e n t s o l d i e r s i n t o t h e m o d e m It a l i a n
a r m y , w h o h a d p a i d g o o d t a x e s , a n d w h o h a d t i l l e d t h e i r
h e r e d i t a r y s o i l i n d u s t r i o u s l y . F u r t h e r m o r e w h i l e t h e It a l i a n
s t a t e l o s t t h e s e p e o p l e , i t w a s s u p p o s e d t o p a y t h e m f o r w h a t
t h e y l e f t b e h i n d . A c e r t a i n a m o u n t o f h e s i t a t i o n o n t h e p a r t
o f It a l y i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e .
Th a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s e a g e r n e s s t o a t t a i n a " r e a l i s t i c " s o l u t i o n
p r o v o k e d t h e l i v e l i e s t a n t i p a t h y a m o n g G e r m a n s , e v e n t h o s e
i n o f f i c i a l p o s i t i o n s , i s b o r n e o u t b y t h e f o l l o w i n g e x c e r p t
f r o m a l e t t e r Ir e c e i v e d f r o m a m e m b e r o f t h e G e r m a n
Em b a s s y i n Ro m e : " Ia m d e e p l y a s h a m e d o f t h i s t r e a c h e r o u s
p o l i c y f o r w h i c h i n t i m e s t o c o m e w e s h a l l h a v e t o p a y
d e a r l y . " It i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t t h i s l e t t e r w a s w r i t t e n i n De -
c e m b e r ,
1 9 3 7 ,
f o r i t s h o w s t h a t t h e m a t t e r w a s a l r e a d y s e t t l e d
i n p r i n c i p l e a t t h i s e a r l y d a t e
. Th e l e t t e r i n s i s t s t h a t t h e S o u t h
Ty r o l w a s t h e b r i b e w h i c h c a u s e d M u s s o l i n i ' s d i s i n t e r e s t e d -
n e s s d u r i n g t h e A n s c h l u s s . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e i s r e a s o n
t o b e l i e v e t h a t M u s s o l i n i w a s m u c h m o r e h e s i t a n t i n t h e
S o u t h Ty r o l q u e s t i o n t h a n Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p a n d t h a t
h i s i n a c t i o n d u r i n g t h e c r i t i c a l d a y s o f A u s t r i a ' s i n v a s i o n w a s
p r i m a r i l y t h e r e s u l t o f a g r a n d i o s e p r o g r a m o f M e d i t e r r a n e a n
e x p a n s i o n w h i c h w a s d a n g l e d b e f o r e h i s n o s e .
Th e l e t t e r g o e s o n : " Ri b b e n t r o p , h a v i n g v i s i t e d t h e Du c e
a g a i n u n o f f i c i a l l y i n t h e s e d a y s w i t h o u t n o t i f y i n g t h e Em b a s s y
a t a l l , f i n a l l y s e e m s t o h a v e a c h i e v e d f u l l m u t u a l c o o p e r a t i o n
b e t w e e n t h e t w o n a t i o n s . Th e r e w i l l b e n o m a s s i n g o f t r o o p s
a n y m o r e , n o t e v e n f i e r y s p e e c h e s b y 1 1 Du c e w h e n t h e t i m e
i s r i p e i n V i e n n a . Bu t t h e p r i c e t h a t h a s t o b e p a i d i s a g r e a t
o n e . Th e G e r m a n s o f S o u t h Ty r o l h a v e b e e n s o l d d o w n t h e
2 3 9
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
r i v e r
. Th e y w i l l h a v e t o c h o o s e b e t w e e n r e s e t t l e m e n t s o m e -
w h e r e i n Ea s t Pr u s s i a o r W u e r t t e m b e r g , i f t h e y w a n t t o
b e c o m e G e r m a n c i t i ze n s , o r t h e y w i l l h a v e t o m o v e t o
S o u t h e r n It a l y , i f t h e y w a n t t o r e m a i n It a l i a n - - o r t h e y c a n
c o m m i t s u i c i d e
. No o t h e r w a y o u t h a s b e e n l e f t t o t h e m .
Th e o n l y G e r m a n c o n d i t i o n i s t o p o s t p o n e t h e p u b l i c a t i o n
a n d t h e e x e c u t i o n o f t h i s d e c i s i o n i n o r d e r t o h a v e a m p l e
t i m e f o r t h e n e c e s s a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s . "
Bu t M u s s o l i n i h i m s e l f a p p l i e d t h e b r a k e s . He i n s i s t e d t h a t
n o b o d y b e s e n t t o G e r m a n y w h o h a d n o t f i r s t b e e n g i v e n a
c h a n c e o f s t a t i n g h i s o w n o p i n i o n u n i n f l u e n c e d b y o u t s i d e
p r e s s u r e . He t h o u g h t t h a t o n l y t w e n t y p e r c e n t o f t h e
G e r m a n - s p e a k i n g Ty r o l i a n s w o u l d c a r e t o g i v e u p t h e i r s n u g
h o m e s a n d f o l l o w t h e Pi e d Pi p e r o v e r t h e A l p s i n t o t h e
s w a s t i k a d o m i n a t e d b a r r a c k c a l l e d G e r m a n y . Bu t h e w a s
m i s t a k e n .
A f t e r m u c h a d o Ri b b e n t r o p s u c c e e d e d , i n t h e m i d d l e o f
J u n e , 1 9 3 8, i n b r i n g i n g a b o u t a n a r r a n g e m e n t b y w h i c h t h e
t e c h n i c a l i t i e s w e r e s e t t l e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e It a l i a n
a u t h o r i t i e s . Th e f i r s t g r o u p t o b e m o v e d w e r e t h e Re i c h s -
d e u t s c h e , m e a n i n g t h e G e r m a n n a t i o n a l s , t w e l v e h u n d r e d
s o u l s , t e n h u n d r e d o f w h o m h a d b e e n A u s t r i a n s t h r e e m o n t h s
a g o . Th i s w a s t h e e n d o f t h e S o u t h Ty r o l i a n n o b i l i t y , f a m i l i e s
l i k e t h e W o l k e n s t e i n s , t h e En ze n b e r g s , a n d t h e Tr a p p s , w h o
s i n c e t h e d a y s o f Ki n g La u r i n , t h e c r o w n e d g o b l i n , h a d
r e i g n e d o v e r t h e s c a r l e t r o c k s o f t h e Do l o m i t e s , a n d h a d
a l w a y s k n o w n h o w t o d e f e n d t h e i r c a s t l e s a g a i n s t i n t r u d e r s
.
Bu t t h e m e t h o d s o f t h e Ne w Or d e r p r o v e d t o o m u c h f o r
t h e m . A f t e r t h e
Re i c h s d e u t s c h e , t h e V o l k s d e u t s c h e - It a l i a n
c i t i ze n s w h o s p o k e G e r m a n - w e r e t o g o .
Th e r e i s a g o o d c h a n c e t h a t a m a j o r i t y o f t h e G e r m a n
s p e a k i n g Ty r o l i a n s w o u l d h a v e r e m a i n e d i n t h e i r f a m i l i a r
s u r r o u n d i n g s r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e s e n s a t i o n a l f u t u r e p l a n n e d f o r
240
RIBBENTROPA NDS OU THTY ROL
t h e m i n t h e Th i r d Re i c h , i f Na zi a g e n t s h a d n o t s w a r m e d
t h r o u g h t h e u n h a p p y v a l l e y s , s p r e a d i n g f r a u d u l e n t r u m o r s t o
t h e e f f e c t t h a t n o b o d y w h o s p o k e G e r m a n w o u l d b e a l l o w e d
t o r e m a i n i n S o u t h Ty r o l
. Th e s e w i l d e y e d s t r a n g e r s w h o
a p p e a r e d s o u t h o f t h e Br e n n e r a s t h e y h a d a p p e a r e d o r w e r e
t o a p p e a r i n A u s t r i a , C ze c h o s l o v a k i a , Ho l l a n d , No r w a y , a n d
o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e g l o b e t o l d t h e i r v i c t i m s t h a t i f t h e y d i d
n o t c h o s e t o m o v e t o G e r m a n y , It a l y w o u l d s e n d t h e m s o m e -
w h e r e S o u t h , p e r h a p s t o A f r i c a , a p r o s p e c t w h i c h h a d l i t t l e
a t t r a c t i o n f o r t h e w e a t h e r b e a t e n m o u n t a i n e e r s
. Th i s s t o r y
w a s a l s o m e n t i o n e d b y t h e l e t t e r w r i t e r i n t h e G e r m a n
Em b a s s y i n Ro m e w h o m w e h a v e q u o t e d . Th a t t h e t e c h n i q u e
o f d e m o r a l i za t i o n w a s w e l l h a n d l e d n o b o d y w i l l d o u b t i f w e
r e m e m b e r t h a t He r r Hi m m l e r h i m s e l f , S S
. l e a d e r a n d b o s s o f
h a n g m a n He y d r i c h , w a s i n c h a r g e o f t h e t r a n s a c t i o n o n t h e
G e r m a n s i d e . A n d a l l t h i s h a p p e n e d d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e
J u n e , 1 9 3 8 a g r e e m e n t s p o k e o f a n " u n i n f l u e n c e d " d e c i s i o n o n
t h e p a r t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n . Th e r e s u l t w a s t h a t n o t t w e n t y
p e r c e n t o f t h e S o u t h Ty r o l i a n s b u t a l m o s t e v e r y b o d y p r e -
p a r e d t o l e a v e M u s s o l i n i ' s r e g i o n s , a d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h n o t
o n l y w a s h a r d l y f l a t t e r i n g t o t h e It a l i a n s b u t f o r c e d t h e m t o
p a y o u t a l m o s t f i f t e e n b i l l i o n l i r e i n i n d e m n i t i e s .
A f e w d a y s a f t e r h i s r e t u r n f r o m t h e Ro m e v i s i t , Ri b b e n -
t r o p i n a F o r e i g n Of f i c e c i r c u l a r d a t e d M a y 1 9 , 1 9 3 8, d e c r e e d ,
i n t r u l y Na p o l e o n i c m a n n e r , t h a t t h e S o u t h Ty r o l e a n q u e s -
t i o n h a d c e a s e d t o e x i s t . Th r o u g h t h i s p r o n u n c i a m e n t o h e
h o p e d t o p r e v e n t c r i t i c a l m i n d s i n t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e a n d
o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s - e v e n t h e G e s t a p o w a s m e n t i o n e d - f r o m
c o m m e n t i n g u p o n t h e " l i q u i d a t i o n " o f S o u t h Ty r o l
. S o o n
a f t e r , Hi t l e r o r d e r e d t h a t a n y d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e S o u t h Ty r o l i n
p u b l i c o r i n p r i v a t e w o u l d b e p u n i s h e d w i t h a v i s i t t o a c o n -
c e n t r a t i o n c a m p
. Th e S o u t h Ty r o l i a n e p i s o d e i s p a r t o f t h e
g e n e r a l r e a r r a n g e m e n t o f p o p u l a t i o n s t h a t i n a u g u r a t e d t h e
241
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
Ne w Or d e r
. Th e n e x t y e a r t h e Ba l t i c p o p u l a t i o n w a s f o r c e d
t o m o v e i n t o G e r m a n y
; Po l e s w e r e p u t t o f o r c e d l a b o r ;
J e w s w e r e s h i f t e d t o l e t h a l a s s i g n m e n t s o r l o c k e d u p i n
g h e t t o s
. In 1 9 40, t h e F r e n c h m e n w h o h a d l i v e d i n A l s a c e
Lo r r a i n e w e r e d r i v e n o u t , a n d s o i t w e n t
. Pe r h a p s o n e d a y
t h e Na zi s t h e m s e l v e s w i l l b e p l a n t e d i n s o m e r e m o t e r e g i o n -
p e r h a p s He l l .
242
1 4
Ri b b e n t r o p - S c h a c h t W i e d e m a n n
J OA C HIM ' S j e a l o u s y a n d r a n c o u r w e r e p a r t l y r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r t h e e s t r a n g e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e F u e h r e r a n d Dr . Hj a l m a r
S c h a c h t w h i c h l e d t o t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h i s f i n a n c i a l w i za r d
f r o m h i s l e a d e r s h i p o f G e r m a n y ' s e c o n o m i c a n d f i n a n c i a l
o r g a n i za t i o n . It a l s o b r o u g h t a b o u t t h e r e m o v a l o f Hi t l e r ' s
W o r l d W a r Is u p e r i o r , C a p t a i n F r i t zW i e d e m a n n , f r o m h i s
p o s i t i o n a s a t r u s t e d p e r s o n a l A . D. C
. i n t h e C h a n c e l l e r y .
Dr . Hj a l m a r S c h a c h t n e v e r t h o u g h t m u c h o f Ri b b e n t r o p .
He h a d k n o w n J o a c h i m s i n c e t h e l a t t e r ' s w i n e m e r c h a n t
d a y s
. He h a d o b s e r v e d a l l t h e p h a s e s o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c l i m b
f r o m c a f e s o c i e t y ' s l o w e r r a n k s t o i t s u p p e r s t r a t a . He p o s -
s e s s e d k n o w l e d g e o f s o m e d o u b t f u l m o n e t a r y t r a n s a c t i o n s i n
w h i c h J o a c h i m h a d b e e n e n g a g e d d u r i n g t h e i n f l a t i o n . Es p e -
c i a l l y i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e Hi t l e r - Ri b b e n t r o p c o n n e c t i o n ,
S c h a c h t q u i t e o p e n l y a n d i n n o u n c e r t a i n t e r m s q u e s t i o n e d
t h e u p s t a r t ' s a b i l i t y t o j u d g e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s
.
A t t h e t i m e w h e n r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G o e r i n g a n d S c h a c h t
b e c a m e s t r a i n e d , c u l m i n a t i n g i n S c h a c h t ' s r e f u s a l t o f i n a n c e -
w i t h Re i c h s f u n d s - t h e i l l - f a t e d a n d w a s t e f u l e x p l o i t a t i o n o f
t h e S a l zg i t t e r i r o n o r e s a n d i n S c h a c h t ' s e l i m i n a t i o n f r o m t h e
p o s t o f M i n i s t e r o f Ec o n o m i c A f f a i r s , J o a c h i m f a n n e d t h e
f l a m e s o f o p p o s i t i o n w h e n e v e r a n o p p o r t u n i t y o f f e r e d . Th e
h i g h c o l l a r e d a u t h o r i t y o f f i n a n c e s w a s i n h i s w a y e v e r y -
2
43
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
w h e r e , e s p e c i a l l y b e c a u s e o f S c h a c h t ' s f r i e n d s h i p w i t h S i r
M o n t a g u No r m a n , G o v e r n o r o f t h e Ba n k o f En g l a n d
.
S i r M o n t a g u a l s o h a d l i t t l e e s t e e m f o r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p o l i t i c a l
i n s i g h t a n d m a d e n o b o n e s a b o u t i t
. S c h a c h t o c c a s i o n a l l y
m e n t i o n e d t h e G o v e r n o r ' s o p i n i o n o n t h i s p o i n t t o Hi t l e r ,
w h o , a t c e r t a i n t i m e s , e n j o y e d d o u s i n g Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c o m -
p l a c e n c y b y p r o v i n g t o h i m t h a t n o t e v e r y b o d y l o o k e d u p o n
h i m a s t h e p r o v i d e n t i a l e x p e r t o n En g l i s h a f f a i r s . Th i s w a s
e n o u g h t o c o n v i n c e Ri b b e n t r o p t h a t S c h a c h t ' s i n f l u e n c e o n
Hi t l e r w a s e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t
. Th e m i g h t y m a n ' s f a l l c a m e
o n J a n u a r y I9 , 1 9 3 9 , w h e n Hi t l e r s i g n e d t h e d e c r e e w h i c h
e n d e d t h e " f i n a n c i a l w i za r d ' s " r u l e a s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e Re i c h s -
b a n k
. Th e r e p e r c u s s i o n s w e r e w o r l d w i d e . S c h a c h t w a s i n t e r -
n a t i o n a l l y c o n s i d e r e d a n i s l a n d o f s a n i t y i n a n o c e a n o f i n s a n e
s c h e m e r s
. W h i l e Ri b b e n t r o p w a s t o o s m a l l a m a n t o b e
c r e d i t e d w i t h t h e e c l i p s e o f t h i s l a s t v e s t i g e o f f i n a n c i a l c o n -
s c i e n c e , h e h a d h i s p a r t i c u l a r r e a s o n s t o h a s t e n t h e d e v e l o p -
m e n t
. A m o n g t h e s e r e a s o n s w a s s t i l l a n o t h e r m a n h e h a d
l e a r n e d t o h a t e - C a p t a i n F r i t zW i e d e m a n n .
Du r i n g W o r l d W a r I, w h e n A d o l f Hi t l e r s e r v e d a s v o l u n -
t e e r w i t h t h e S i x t e e n t h Ba v a r i a n In f a n t r y Re g i m e n t , W i e d e -
m a n n w a s f i r s t a l i e u t e n a n t a n d l a t e r a c a p t a i n . Th e h i s t o r y
o f t h e r e g i m e n t d o e s n o t m e n t i o n i t , b u t C a p t a i n W i e d e m a n n
s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n t h e m a n w h o s u g g e s t e d La n c e C o r p o r a l
A d o l f Hi t l e r f o r d e c o r a t i o n w i t h t h e c o v e t e d Ir o n C r o s s .
La n c e C o r p o r a l Hi t l e r s u r e l y w o u l d h a v e p r e f e r r e d t h e r a n k
o f f u l l - c o r p o r a l r a t h e r t h a n t h i s d e c o r a t i o n , b u t t h i s w a s o u t
o f t h e q u e s t i o n a t t h e t i m e , b e c a u s e Hi t l e r , a c i t i ze n o f
A u s t r i a , n e v e r c o u l d a d v a n c e h i g h e r i n t h e r a n k s a s l o n g a s
h e w a s a f o r e i g n e r . S u c h w a s t h e r u l e , a n d i t w a s o b s e r v e d .
A f t e r t h e w a r , C a p t a i n W i e d e m a n n r e t i r e d t o a s m a l l e s t a t e
i n h i s n a t i v e Ba v a r i a . He r e h e a t t e n d e d t o h i s f i e l d s , g r o w i n g
w h e a t a n d v e g e t a b l e s . W h e n Hi t l e r b e c a m e C h a n c e l l o r , h e
244
RIBBENTROP- S C HA C HT- W IEDEM A NN
o f f e r e d h i s f o r m e r s u p e r i o r a j o b i n t h e C h a n c e l l e r y . W i e d e -
m a n n h e s i t a n t l y a c c e p t e d . He s o o n w a s m a d e o n e o f Hi t l e r ' s
p e r s o n a l A . D. C . ' s .
He n o t o n l y e n j o y e d t h e F u e h r e r ' s f u l l e s t
c o n f i d e n c e i n p r i v a t e b u t w a s o p e n l y f a v o r e d b y h i m
. M a n y
o f t h e o l d g u a r d p a r t y c o m b a t a n t s b e c a m e e x t r e m e l y j e a l o u s
.
Th e y p o i n t e d o u t t h a t C a p t a i n W i e d e m a n n w a s n o t e v e n a
p a r t y m e m b e r
. Th i s w a s , i n a n y c a s e , t r u e i n t h e d a y s w h e n
h e a c t e d a s Hi d e r ' s p e r s o n a l A
. D
. C .
W i e d e m a n n e x i s t e d i n a s t a t e o f i s o l a t i o n , f o r h e w a s r e -
s e r v e d , u n c o m m u n i c a t i v e , a n d k e p t h i m s e l f a p a r t f r o m t h e
o t h e r m e m b e r s o f Hi t l e r ' s s t a f f
. A m o n g t h e h i g h e r o f f i c i a l s i n
t h e F u e h r e r ' s i m m e d i a t e e n t o u r a g e , Dr
. Ha n s Th o m s e n , t h e
c o n t a c t m a n b e t w e e n t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e a n d t h e C h a n c e l l e r y ,
a n i n h e r i t a n c e f r o m t h e Pa p e n c h a n c e l l o r s h i p , w a s h i s o n l y
f r i e n d . Th i s i s t h e s a m e Th o m s e n w h o l a t e r w a s
c h a r g e
d ' a f f a i r e s o f t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y i n W a s h i n g t o n u n t i l t h e
t i m e w h e n h e h a d t o p r e s e n t t h e G e r m a n d e c l a r a t i o n o f w a r
t o t h e De p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e
. He i s n o w M i n i s t e r a t S t o c k h o l m
.
C a p t a i n W i e d e m a n n , i n s y m p a t h y w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p - h a t e d
Ru d o l f He s s , f e l t l i t t l e i n c l i n a t i o n t o f l a t t e r t h e p r i m a d o n n a
w h o w a s i n c h a r g e o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e
. On m a n y a n o c c a -
s i o n , h e d i s t i n c t l y f e l t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s j e a l o u s y b u t i t d i d n o t
b o t h e r h i m t o o m u c h
. J o a c h i m a l s o d i s l i k e d h i m b e c a u s e o f
h i s g o o d c o n n e c t i o n s i n t h e w o r l d ' s c a p i t a l s , h i s p o p u l a r i t y
w i t h t h e Be r l i n d i p l o m a t i c s e t , a n d h i s s e c r e t r e p o r t s t o t h e
F u e h r e r
. " Ri b b e n t r o p ' s n e w e s t j e a l o u s y , " w r o t e a n a s s i s t a n t
i n t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e i n M a y , 1 9 3 8, " i s C a p t a i n W i e d e m a n n
.
He r e a l l y s e e m s t o h a v e d e v e l o p e d i n t o a p a i n i n J o a c h i m ' s
n e c k . "
Th i s p a i n b e c a m e e v e n w o r s e
. To w a r d s t h e e n d o f M a y ,
1 9 3 8, s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e Ro m e t r i p , t h e Hi t l e r - Ri b b e n t r o p
r e l a t i o n s h i p s u d d e n l y s e e m e d t o g o s o u r
. F r i e n d s r e p o r t e d ,
" J o a c h i m s e e m s t o b e i n d i s f a v o r w i t h t h e F u e h r e r a t t h e
2 45
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
p r e s e n t t i m e , a t l e a s t r e l a t i o n s a r e s o m e w h a t s t r a i n e d
. Ev e n
He r r v o n Ne u r a t h w o u l d n e v e r h a v e s t o o d f o r s o m a n y h u -
m i l i a t i o n s a s Ri b b e n t r o p h a s t o s u b m i t t o a t t i m e s . Th e r e a s o n
s e e m s t o b e t h a t t h e F u e h r e r h a s r e a l i ze d J o a c h i m ' s f a i l u r e i n
b r i n g i n g a b o u t r e a l c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e Br i t i s h , a n d t h e i d e a
o f s u c h a c o o p e r a t i o n s t i l l s e e m s t o p l a y a g r e a t r o l e i n t h e
F u e h r e r ' s m i n d . J o a c h i m ' s h a t r e d a g a i n s t t h e Br i t i s h b e c o m e s
m o r e a n d m o r e o u t s p o k e n . Oc c a s i o n a l l y i t i s q u i t e v i o l e n t .
S u r e l y i t i s m o r e s h a r p l y a c c e n t u a t e d t h a n i n t h e Lo n d o n d a y s
w h e n h e o n l y c a l l e d t h e m i m p u d e n t a n d u n w i s e . J o a c h i m ' s
f e e l i n g s a r e c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n t h e n e w Br i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r
( S i r Ne v i l e He n d e r s o n ) w h o s e v e r y a p p e a r a n c e h e h a t e s
( d e n e r n i c h t r i e c h e n k a n n ) . He s e e m s t o f o r g e t t h a t h e
( Ri b b e n t r o p ) i s a t l e a s t p a r t l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r He n d e r s o n ' s
p r e d e c e s s o r ' s ( S i r Er i c Ph i p p s ) r e c a l l . "
A s u s u a l w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c o u n t l e s s a v e r s i o n s , h i s h a t r e d
o f S i r Ne v i l e h a d i t s s o u r c e i n h i s v a n i t y . S i r Ne v i l e t h o u g h t
i t w i s e t o w i n t h e f r i e n d s h i p o f He r m a n n G o e r i n g a n d t o
d i s c u s s t h e p o l i t i c a l h o r i zo n w i t h t h i s " s e c o n d i n c o m m a n d , "
i n t h e c o r r e c t a s s u m p t i o n , t h a t p o p u l a r He r m a n n , i n s p i t e o f
c o n t r a d i c t i n g r u m o r s , a l w a y s h a d b e e n a n d a l w a y s w o u l d b e
t h e m o s t i n t i m a t e a n d m o s t v a l u e d o f t h e F u e h r e r ' s a d v i s e r s
.
A s i t w a s c u s t o m a r y f o r G o e r i n g t o j o i n t h e F u e h r e r s e v e r a l
t i m e s e v e r y w e e k f o r l u n c h e o n i n t h e C h a n c e l l e r y a n d f o r a
h e a r t - t o - h e a r t t a l k o n p e n d i n g p r o b l e m s , Hi t l e r r e c e i v e d f i r s t
h a n d i n f o r m a t i o n o n S i r Ne v i l e ' s i d e a s a n d i n t e n t i o n s a n d w a s
a b l e t o c o n t r a d i c t Ri b b e n t r o p w h e n t h e l a t t e r r e p o r t e d a
d i f f e r e n t s t o r y
. On s o m e o c c a s i o n s , S i r Ne v i l e w a s , h o w e v e r ,
a b l e t o e x t r a c t v a l u a b l e h i n t s f r o m C a p t a i n W i e d e m a n n
.
Ri b b e n t r o p b e c a m e e n r a g e d
. Re p e a t e d l y h e h a d p o i n t e d o u t
t o S i r Ne v i l e t h a t t h e u s u a l d i p l o m a t i c m e t h o d w a s t o i n q u i r e
a t t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , w h e r e h e ( Ri b b e n t r o p ) o r t h e S e c r e -
t a r y o f S t a t e ( W e i s za e c k e r ) w e r e a l w a y s a v a i l a b l e f o r a n
2 46
RIBBENTROP- S C HA C HT- W IEDEM A NN
u r g e n t i n t e r v i e w . W h e n a Lo n d o n n e w s p a p e r r e p o r t m a d e
i t p l a i n t h a t S i r Ne v i l e h a d s o u g h t d i r e c t i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m
t h e G e r m a n W a r De p a r t m e n t , Ri b b e n t r o p b e c a m e s o f u r i o u s
t h a t , i n a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h t h e Br i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r , h e
d e c l a r e d " t h a t n o m i l i t a r y i n f o r m a t i o n w o u l d b e g i v e n h i m
i n t h e f u t u r e . " Ri b b e n t r o p ' s l a c k o f e q u i l i b r i u m i s s u f f i c i e n t l y
i l l u s t r a t e d b y t h e f a c t - a s r e p o r t e d b y S i r Ne v i l e - t h a t
Ri b b e n t r o p " u s e d t h e m o s t r e p r e h e n s i b l e , b l o o d t h i r s t y l a n -
g u a g e r e g a r d i n g t h e C ze c h s . ` Th e y w o u l d , ' h e a s s u r e d m e ,
` b e e x t e r m i n a t e d , w o m e n , c h i l d r e n , a n d a l l . " ' S i r Ne v i l e ' s
d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h i s s c e n e c o r r e s p o n d s w i t h a r e p o r t b y Be r l i n
f r i e n d s , i n d i c a t i n g t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s d i s f a v o r s e e m e d t o b e
t h e r e s u l t o f a l u n c h e o n d i s c u s s i o n b e t w e e n t h e F u e h r e r a n d
G o e r i n g . C a p t a i n W i e d e m a n n w a s c a l l e d i n , a t t h a t t i m e , t o
r e p o r t o n w h a t h e h a d h e a r d r e g a r d i n g t h e Ri b b e n t r o p -
He n d e r s o n i n c i d e n t
. A n a r g u m e n t b e t w e e n t h e F u e h r e r a n d
Ri b b e n t r o p f o l l o w e d
. F r o m t h i s t h e F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r r e -
t u r n e d t o h i s o f f i c e f l a b b e r g a s t e d
( w i e e i n b e g o s s e n e r Pu d e l ) .
J o a c h i m , a l w a y s a g o o d h a t e r , n o w l o a t h e d Ne v i l e
. A s
He n d e r s o n h i m s e l f h a s d e s c r i b e d i t i n h i s m e m o i r s , h i s m e e t -
i n g s w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p w e r e t h e a n t i t h e s i s o f c o r d i a l . Bu t t h e r e
w a s n o t v e r y m u c h J o a c h i m c o u l d d o a g a i n s t G o e r i n g ' s p e r -
s o n a l f r i e n d a n d Hi s Br i t i s h M a j e s t y ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
. S o h e
s i n g l e d o u t W i e d e m a n n a s s c a p e g o a t .
Th e F u e h r e r , w h o i s k n o w n f o r e x p e r t l y p l a y i n g h i s c o l -
l a b o r a t o r s o n e a g a i n s t a n o t h e r , r u b b e d s a l t i n t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
w o u n d s b y m a k i n g W i e d e m a n n , f o r s o m e t i m e a t l e a s t , h i s
s p e c i a l f a v o r i t e
. J o a c h i m , o f c o u r s e , d i d a l l h e c o u l d t o a p p e a s e
h i s b e l o v e d F u e h r e r
. C a r e f u l l y , b u t s y s t e m a t i c a l l y , h e u n d e r -
m i n e d W i e d e m a n n ' s p o s i t i o n
. It m u s t b e a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e
C a p t a i n h a d b e c o m e s o m e w h a t c a r e l e s s a n d t o o s e l f - r e l i a n t .
Ri b b e n t r o p , a t t h e r i g h t m o m e n t , s u b m i t t e d a r e p o r t t o Hi t l e r
f r o m o n e o f h i s Bu e r o ' s
a g e n t s . Th i s r e p o r t p r o v e d t h a t
2 47
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
W i e d e m a n n h a d f a i l e d t o t e l l t h e F u e h r e r c o r r e c t l y a l l t h e
d e t a i l s o f h i s p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h " a l a d y o f h i s h e a r t " i n
Lo n d o n . Th r o u g h t h e g o o d o f f i c e s o f h i s b o s o m f r i e n d ,
He i n r i c h Hi m m l e r , Ri b b e n t r o p a l s o h a d a r r a n g e d f o r W i e d e -
m a n n t o b e w a t c h e d b y e x p e r i e n c e d G e s t a p o a g e n t s . Hi t l e r
s o o n r e c e i v e d a r e p o r t f r o m Hi m m l e r r e v e a l i n g t h a t t h e
" e v i l d o e r " W i e d e m a n n h a d b e e n v i s i t i n g Dr
. Hj a l m a r
S c h a c h t r e g u l a r l y a t t h e Re i c h s b a n k t o d i s c u s s p o l i t i c a l p r o b -
l e m s w i t h h i m a n d t o c r i t i c i ze t h e m e n w i t h w h o m Hi t l e r s u r -
r o u n d e d h i m s e l f
. A s t h e Hi t l e r - S c h a c h t r e l a t i o n s h a d c o o l e d
o f f c o n s i d e r a b l y d u r i n g t h e l a s t m o n t h s a n d t h e F u e h r e r
a l r e a d y h a d d e c i d e d t o d i s m i s s S c h a c h t , t h e Ri b b e n t r o p -
Hi m m l e r i n t r i g u e w o r k e d p e r f e c t l y . Th e a c t i o n w a s s o c a r e -
f u l l y p r e p a r e d t h a t o n J a n u a r y 20,
1 9 3 9 ,
a s a W i l h e l m s t r a s s e
f r i e n d o f o u r s s h o r t l y a f t e r w a r d s r e p o r t e d , W i e d e m a n n , t o
h i s o w n s u r p r i s e , w a s t o l d b y S c h a c h t o v e r t h e t e l e p h o n e t h a t
t h e l a t t e r c o u l d n o t k e e p h i s a p p o i n t m e n t w i t h h i m f o r t h e
d a y - a s h e w a s n o l o n g e r t h e Re i c h s b a n k ' s c h i e f . A f e w
m i n u t e s l a t e r , W i e d e m a n n w a s c a l l e d b e f o r e t h e F u e h r e r . He
w a s f o r m a l l y i n f o r m e d b y h i s s u b o r d i n a t e i n W o r l d W a r I
t h a t t h e i r w a y s h a d t o p a r t . Ho w e v e r , t h e c a p t a i n w a s o f f e r e d
b y h i s F u e h r e r " a n y p o s t o v e r s e a s i n t h e G e r m a n c o n s u l a r
s e r v i c e . "
W i e d e m a n n , w h o h a d u s e d h i s l a s t f u r l o u g h a y e a r a g o
t o v i s i t h i s f r i e n d , Dr . Ha n s Th o m s e n , i n W a s h i n g t o n , a n d t o
m a k e a t r i p t o t h e W e s t C o a s t , c h o s e S a n F r a n c i s c o , C a l i -
f o r n i a , w h i c h p o s t h a d b e c o m e v a c a n t w h e n M a n f r e d v o n
Ki l l i n g e r , a f t e r s o m e i r r e p a r a b l e b l u n d e r s , h a d b e e n r e c a l l e d
s e v e r a l m o n t h s b e f o r e . Ne e d l e s s t o s a y , Ri b b e n t r o p d i d e v e r y -
t h i n g i n h i s p o w e r t o c o m p l e t e t h e a p p o i n t m e n t i n o r d e r t o
g e t r i d o f t h e m a n w h o s e i n f l u e n c e o n t h e F u e h r e r h a d
b e c o m e s o u n c o m f o r t a b l e t o h i m . W i e d e m a n n , t o o , l o s t n o
t i m e
. A f e w w e e k s l a t e r h e a r r i v e d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d ,
248
RIBBENTROP- S C HA C HT- W IEDEM A NN
a f t e r a s h o r t s t a y w i t h h i s f r i e n d Th o m s e n , t o o k o v e r t h e
C o n s u l a t e G e n e r a l i n S a n F r a n c i s c o , o n M a r c h 9 , 1 9 3 9
.
W i e d e m a n n , b y t h e w a y , w a s o n e o f t h e f e w o f f i c i a l s w h o ,
a f t e r t h e c l o s i n g d o w n o f t h e G e r m a n c o n s u l a r o f f i c e s i n t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s , w a s i m m e d i a t e l y a p p o i n t e d t o a n o t h e r p o s t
o v e r s e a s . He w a s m a d e C o n s u l G e n e r a l i n Ti e n t s i n , C h i n a ,
a n d p r o c e e d e d t o h i s p o s t v i a Li s b o n a n d S o u t h A m e r i c a
w i t h o u t m a k i n g a n a t t e m p t t o a p p e a r i n Be r l i n .
W i e d e m a n n ' s t r i p f r o m S a n F r a n c i s c o t o Ti e n t s i n i n t h e
m i d s t o f W o r l d W a r IIa n d h o w h e m a n a g e d t o e l u d e Be r l i n
w o u l d m a k e a t h r i l l i n g c h a p t e r i n a n y d i p l o m a t i c Od y s s e y
.
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h i s p o c k e t ; a s a m a t t e r o f f a c t h e w a s n o t a t a l l s u r e w h e t h e r
w h a t e v e r s y m p a t h y Hi t l e r s t i l l h a d f o r h i s f o r m e r s u p e r i o r
i n W o r l d W a r Iw o u l d , i n t h e l o n g r u n , h o l d o u t a g a i n s t t h e
c a m p a i g n o f h a t e Ri b b e n t r o p w a s w a g i n g a g a i n s t h i m . Th e
F u e h r e r h a d n o t p r o v e d r e l i a b l e w h e n t h e f r i e n d l y a n d
i n t i m a t e t e r m s e x i s t i n g b e t w e e n W i e d e m a n n a n d S c h a c h t
h a d b e e n r e v e a l e d t o h i m
. U n d e r t h e Na zi r e g i m e , o n e m u s t
c a r e f u l l y a v o i d b e i n g s e e n w i t h " h a v e b e e n s " a n d p e r s o n s
u n d e r s u s p i c i o n . On e h a s t o d e v e l o p a s i x t h s e n s e w h i c h
r e g i s t e r s t h e r i s e a n d d e c l i n e o f t h e b i g w i g s . Th i s s i x t h s e n s e
i s Ri b b e n t r o p ' s b i g g e s t a s s e t . W i e d e m a n n , t o o , h a d l e a r n e d
h i s l e s s o n , a n d w a s n o w e a g e r l y c o l l e c t i n g w h a t e v e r i n f o r m a -
t i o n h e c o u l d g e t w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e a t m o s p h e r e p r e v a i l i n g i n
Be r l i n . In W a s h i n g t o n , t h e r e w a s Dr
. Ha n s Th o m s e n , t h e
c h a r g e d ' a f f a i r s , w h o t r i e d t o s h i e l d h i m a n d t o k e e p h i m
p o s t e d . C o n t a c t s a r e u s e f u l e v e r y w h e r e , n o t o n l y i n Be r l i n
.
F r o m h i s m a n y v i s i t s t o Lo n d o n , h e h a d a f e w v a l u a b l e c o n -
n e c t i o n s t h e r e t o o . Th e g e n i a l Ba v a r i a n h a d m a n a g e d t o i n -
s p i r e s o m e o f Hi s M a j e s t y ' s o f f i c i a l s w i t h k i n d f e e l i n g s t o w a r d
h i m . A f e w o f t h e s e c o n n e c t i o n s m u s t h a v e s u r v i v e d t h e o u t -
b r e a k o f W o r l d W a r II
. It i s u s e l e s s , a t l e a s t i m p r a c t i c a l , t o
2 4 9
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m e n t i o n a n y n a m e s . Bu t i t i s a f a c t t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s b i t t e r
h a t r e d o f W i e d e m a n n e a r n e d t h e l a t t e r e n o u g h s y m p a t h y
o n t h e Br i t i s h s i d e t o s e c u r e h i s s m o o t h p a s s a g e t o Ti e n t s i n ,
s o t h a t h e w o u l d n o t b e o b l i g e d t o p a s s t h r o u g h Be r l i n w h e r e
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n t i m a t e f r i e n d He i n r i c h Hi m m l e r , t h e Lo r d
o f t h e d r e a d e d G e s t a p o , k n e w h o w t o f i n d w a y s a n d m e a n s
t o r e m o v e b y a c c i d e n t o r o t h e r i n e x p l i c a b l e , b u t h i g h l y
p r a c t i c a l m e t h o d s s o m e b o d y w h o " w a s i n t h e w a y . "
Tw o d a y s b e f o r e t h e J a p a n e s e s h i p w h i c h c a r r i e d W i e d e -
m a n n w a s s c h e d u l e d t o l e a v e , s o m e t h i n g u n f o r e s e e n h a p -
p e n e d . Dr . Ha n s Bo r c h e r s , G e r m a n C o n s u l G e n e r a l i n Ne w
Y o r k C i t y , g o t w i n d o f t h i s c l e v e r a r r a n g e m e n t . He t o o h a d
l i t t l e i n c l i n a t i o n t o t r a v e l a r o u n d t h e w o r l d i n o r d e r t o
r e a c h h i s n e w p o s t , i n h i s c a s e S h a n g h a i . It c e r t a i n l y s e e m e d
w o r t h w h i l e t o f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t t h e C a p t a i n ' s s c h e m e .
Th e r e f o r e , h e c a l l e d u p a n d t r i e d t o b e s m a r t . " W h e n a r e
y o u c o m i n g t o Ne w Y o r k t o j o i n u s f o r t h e t r i p t o Li s b o n ? "
h e a s k e d c r a f t y W i e d e m a n n . " Do y o u w a n t m e t o m a k e
r e s e r v a t i o n s f o r y o u a n d t o f a c i l i t a t e y o u r s t a y i n Ne w Y o r k
C i t y ? " W i e d e m a n n f e l l i n t o t h e t r a p a n d t o l d h i s Ne w Y o r k
c o l l e a g u e t h a t h e i n t e n d e d , o n t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e Br i t i s h s a f e
c o n d u c t p r o m i s e , t o t r a v e l d i r e c t l y t o J a p a n - o c c u p i e d
C h i n a . " Th i s i s g r a n d ! " s h o u t e d Bo r c h e r s o v e r t h e p h o n e .
" Iw i l l t a k e t h e n e x t p l a n e a n d j o i n y o u . Iw i l l k e e p y o u
c o m p a n y o n t h e t r i p t o t h e F a r Ea s t . "
No s o o n e r s a i d t h a n d o n e . Th r e e a i r p l a n e s w e r e h i r e d t o
t r a n s p o r t Bo r c h e r s , F r a u Bo r c h e r s , n e e Ba r o n e s s v o n S c h r o e t -
t e r - S t u t t e r h e i m , h e r m a i d , a n d n u m e r o u s t r u n k s t o S a n
F r a n c i s c o . Th e y a r r i v e d i n t i m e t o c a t c h t h e b o a t . Bu t , u n -
f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e Br i t i s h d i d n o t l i k e t h i s h u r r y
. Th e y d i d n o t
f e e l f o r t h e Bo r c h e r s c l a n t h e s y m p a t h y t h e y f e l t f o r t h e
a m i a b l e W i e d e m a n n . No s a f e c o n d u c t p a p e r s w e r e p r o m i s e d
o r i s s u e d f o r t h e Bo r c h e r s . It w a s t o o b a d . Th e y h a d t o r e -
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RIBBENTROP- S C HA C HT- W IEDEM A NN
t u r n t o Ne w Y o r k j u s t a s s p e e d i l y a s t h e y h a d c o m e , f o r t h e y
h a d t o b e t h e r e i n t i m e f o r t h e s a i l i n j o f t h e S . S . W e s t Po i n t
o n J u l y 1 8,
1 9 41
.
W i e d e m a n n w a s t h e r e a l v i c t i m . He h a d t o
g o w i t h t h e Bo r c h e r s , o r d e r s f r o m Be r l i n !
Th e h i r i n g o f t h r e e a i r p l a n e s f o r t h e t r i p Ne w Y o r k -
S a n F r a n c i s c o , a n d b a c k c o s t t h e Re i c h s o m e
$ 9 , 000
o r m o r e ,
b u t i n t h e Th i r d Re i c h s u c h e x p e n d i t u r e s a r e o f m i n o r i m -
p o r t a n c e . Ha d n o t t h e y s h o w n t h e Br i t i s h e r s t h a t t h e y d i d
n o t c a r e f o r f a v o r s ?
Po o r W i e d e m a n n d i d n o t e n j o y t h e t r i p o n t h e S S W e s t
Po i n t . Th e c l o s e r h e d r i f t e d t o w a r d s t h e l i o n ' s d e n i n Be r l i n ,
t h e m o r e h e e n v i e d Pu t zi Ha n f s t a e n g l , s a f e i n a n i n t e r n m e n t
c a m p i n C a n a d a . A f t e r h i s a r r i v a l i n Li s b o n , h e f e l l i l l - i n
g o o d t i m e a n d c o n v e n i e n t l y - i l l n e s s p r e v e n t i n g h i m f r o m
j o i n i n g t h e o t h e r o f f i c i a l s w h o r e t u r n e d t o Be r l i n b y s p e c i a l
t r a i n .
In s t e a d , b y s o m e c o i n c i d e n c e , h e o b t a i n e d a n e w s a f e
c o n d u c t p a p e r f r o m t h e Br i t i s h . A s h e h a d a l r e a d y r e c e i v e d
i n s t r u c t i o n s t o p r o c e e d s t r a i g h t t o h i s p o s t i n Ti e n t s i n , h e
h a d n o t h i n g e l s e t o d o b u t t o h a v e t h i s i n s t r u c t i o n c o n f i r m e d
a n d n o t b y Ri b b e n t r o p i n p e r s o n , o f c o u r s e . W h o w o u l d
w a n t t o b o t h e r t h e M i n i s t e r o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s w i t h s u c h a
t r i f l e . W i t h t h e b l e s s i n g o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g f r i e n d s i n t h e
W i l h e h n s t r a s s e ,
W i e d e m a n n s a i l e d u n d e r t h e S p a n i s h f l a g
t o Bu e n o s A i r e s , s t a y e d t h e r e f o r a f e w d a y s a t t h e G e r m a n
Em b a s s y , p r o c e e d e d t o V a l p a r a i s o j u s t i n t i m e t o r e a c h
a n o t h e r J a p a n e s e b o a t , c r o s s e d t h e Pa c i f i c , a n d f i n a l l y r e a c h e d
J a p a n a n d Ti e n t s i n . Dr . Ha n s Bo r c h e r s w a s n o t a b l e t o g e t
t o S h a n g h a i . Bu t W i e d e m a n n s u r e l y i s i n t h e F a r Ea s t . W e
h a v e s e e n a p i c t u r e i n s o m e m a g a zi n e c o n f i r m i n g h i s p r e s e n c e
t h e r e . A n d a c c o r d i n g t o a n e w s i t e m , h e h a s e v e n b e e n
s m a s h e d u p i n a t r a i n w r e c k .
2 5 1
1 5
7 h e Ru s s o - G e r m a n Pa c t o f A u g u s t 23 ,
1
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1 9 3 9
a p p e a r e d t o b e s o n a t u r a l a d e v e l o p m e n t
i n t h e l i g h t o f G e r m a n - Ru s s i a n r e l a t i o n s a f t e r 1 9 1 8 t h a t
Na zi d i p l o m a c y , w h i c h s o f a r h a d w o n i t s v i c t o r i e s b y t h e
u n e x p e c t e d r e v i v a l o f c a v e m a n m e t h o d s , i m p r e s s e d t h e i n -
n o c e n t b y s t a n d e r w i t h a n o l e s s u n e x p e c t e d a d o p t i o n o f
s u b t l e t y . W a s Ri b b e n t r o p b e h i n d t h e a s t o u n d i n g m o v e ?
C o u l d i t b e t h a t w e h a d f a i l e d t o p e r c e i v e a s t r e a k o f f i n e s s e
i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s u s u a l l y o b v i o u s p s y c h o l o g y ? J u l e s Ro m a i n s ,
i n t h e d a y s w h e n h e s e a r c h e d a c t u a l p o l i t i c s r a t h e r t h a n h i s
o w n i m a g i n a t i o n f o r M e e t o f G o o d W i l l , w a s
i m p r e s s e d b y
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s " e i g h t e e n t h - c e n t u r y m e n t a l i t y . " If i n s t a n c e s
o f t h i s m e n t a l i t y h a v e s o f a r e s c a p e d u s , d i d i t c o m e t o l i g h t
i n M o s c o w ?
W h e n l o o k i n g t o d a y a t t h e p i c t u r e s t a k e n o n t h e o c c a s i o n
o f t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e Ru s s o - G e r m a n No n - A g g r e s s i o n Pa c t
o n A u g u s t 23 ,
1 9 3 9 ,
o u r e y e s a r e a r r e s t e d c h i e f l y b y t h e f o l -
l o w i n g p e r s o n a l i t i e s : Ri b b e n t r o p , p r o u d a s a b u l l f i g h t e r ; t h e
c o l d - b l o o d e d G e r m a n A m b a s s a d o r t o M o s c o w , C o u n t
F r i e d r i c h W e r n e r v o n d e r S c h u l e n b u r g , q u i t e a p a t h e t i c a n d
a p p a r e n t l y e x h a u s t e d ; V l a c h e s l a v M i k h a i l o w i t s c h M o l o t o f f ,
S o v i e t Ru s s i a ' s b r a n d n e w F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , t h e m a n t o w h o m
t h e v o t e o f t h e Ru s s i a n p e o p l e g a v e t h e n i c k n a m e Ka m e n a y a
Po p o s c h k a ( s t o n e b a c k s i d e ) b e c a u s e h e w a s k n o w n a l w a y s
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t o s i t a t h i s d e s k s t u d y i n g r e p o r t s a n d o f f i c i a l d o c u m e n t s
c a l m a n d u n m o v e d
; a n d J o s e p h S t a l i n , w i t h a s c o r n f u l s m i r k .
It c a n n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d n o w w h e t h e r t h e r e p o r t s w h i c h
r e a c h e d u s s o o n a f t e r t h e o u t b r e a k o f W o r l d W a r IIr e g a r d -
i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e S o v i e t - G e r m a n d i s c u s s i o n s p r e c e d i n g
t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e t r e a t y a r e c o r r e c t . Th e s e r e p o r t s c a m e
v e r b a l l y f r o m G e r m a n s w h o h a d b e e n i n M o s c o w a t t h e t i m e
o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n s a n d h a d c o m e t o A m e r i c a v i a t h e t r a n s -
S i b e r i a n r a i l r o a d a n d J a p a n
. Th e s e v e r b a l r e p o r t s w e r e v e r i -
f i e d l a t e r o n b y i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h o l d f r i e n d s i n t h e d i p l o -
m a t i c c o r p s h a d r e c e i v e d t h r o u g h t h e i r f o r e i g n o f f i c e s f r o m
t h e i r o w n m i s s i o n s i n M o s c o w
. On e c a n u n d e r s t a n d t h a t i n
v i e w o f t h e s e n s a t i o n t h e n e w S o v i e t - G e r m a n a g r e e m e n t
c r e a t e d , e v e r y b o d y i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e i n t r i c a c i e s o f f o r e i g n
p o l i t i c s t r i e d t o f i n d o u t f o r h i m s e l f o r f r o m h i s s u p e r i o r s
a b o u t t h e p e r s o n a l f a c t o r s w h i c h h a d h a d a n y b e a r i n g o n
t h e s i t u a t i o n . By m u c h e x c h a n g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h e p i c t u r e
w a s f i n a l l y r o u n d e d o u t .
To u n d e r s t a n d w h a t w a s g o i n g o n , w e m u s t g o b a c k i n t o
h i s t o r y b r i e f l y .
A t t h e e n d o f 1 9 20, F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r W a l t e r S i m o n s r e -
c e i v e d a r e p o r t f r o m o n e o f t h e G e r m a n e n g i n e e r s w h o h a d
l i v e d i n Ru s s i a t h r o u g h w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n . Le n i n w a s
p l a n n i n g t o e l e c t r i f y a l l Ru s s i a . S i m o n s a d h e r e d t o t h e t h e o r i e s
o f Ru d o l f S t e i n e r , p h i l o s o p h e r a n d f o u n d e r o f A n t h r o p o s o -
p h y ,
a c u l t r a t h e r t h a n a p h i l o s o p h i c a l t h e o r y . W e w e r e t o l d
a t t h e t i m e t h a t S i m o n s h a d a s k e d S t e i n e r w h a t h e t h o u g h t
o f Le n i n ' s i d e a s , a n d t h e f a m o u s a n t h r o p o s o p h i s t r e c o m -
m e n d e d t o f o l l o w No a h ' s e x a m p l e a n d t o s e n d o u t a d o v e
t o f i n d o u t . Th i s i s w h a t S i m o n s d i d .
A t t h i s t i m e , t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s , G e r m a n y a n d Ru s s i a ,
w e r e n o l o n g e r n e i g h b o r s . A l l t h e G e r m a n s k n e w w a s t h a t
t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t h a d i n t r o d u c e d a f o r e i g n t r a d e m o -
253
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
n o p o l y a n d t h a t t h e r e f o r e e x p o r t s a n d i m p o r t s b y i n d i v i d u a l s
w e r e f o r b i d d e n . No b o d y i n G e r m a n y c o u l d e v e n i m a g i n e
h o w a n a p p a r a t u s c o u l d w o r k w h i c h h a d t o r e g u l a t e t h e
e n t i r e d e m a n d f o r f o r e i g n g o o d s a n d t h e e n t i r e e x p o r t t r a d e
f o r a p o p u l a t i o n o f a b o u t o n e h u n d r e d a n d t h i r t y m i l l i o n
i n h a b i t a n t s a n d a t e r r i t o r y a t l e a s t a s l a r g e a s o u r U n i t e d
S t a t e s .
A t t h i s t i m e , G e r m a n y h a d o n l y o n e m a n i n M o s c o w
h a n d l i n g t h e e x c h a n g e o f p r i s o n e r s o f w a r , a m a n b y t h e
n a m e o f G u s t a v Hi l g e r . S o v i e t Ru s s i a h a d a p p o i n t e d a s
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i n Be r l i n f o r t h e s a m e p u r p o s e o n e V i c t o r
Ko p p , a p e r s o n a l f r i e n d o f Le n i n , w h o y e a r s l a t e r b e c a m e
Ru s s i a n A m b a s s a d o r i n To k i o a n d d i e d a s M i n i s t e r i n S t o c k -
h o l m .
Th e f i r s t d i s c u s s i o n s c o n c e r n i n g a t r a d e a g r e e m e n t t o o k
p l a c e i n M o s c o w . Th e r e w a s o n l y o n e p u r c h a s i n g a g e n c y ,
r e p r e s e n t i n g a l l o f S o v i e t Ru s s i a ' s s t a t e i n d u s t r y - n o o t h e r
e x i s t e d - a n d t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g s i m i l a r o n t h e G e r m a n s i d e .
In t h e m e a n t i m e , t h e S o v i e t s h a d s e n t t o Be r l i n a n o t h e r
e m i s s a r y , Ka r l Ra d e k , e x p e r t o n t h e i n t e r p l a y o f p o l i t i c s a n d
t r a d e , a b r i l l i a n t f e l l o w , f u l l o f s a t i r i c a l w i t . He w a s w e l l
e q u i p p e d t o p u t a c r o s s t o w h o m s o e v e r h e m e t i n t h e W i l -
h e l m s t r a s s e t h e i d e a o f a c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d
S o v i e t Ru s s i a . Th e d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e o f
t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s i n h i s o p i n i o n w e r e b u t s m a l l o b s t a c l e s
w h i c h c o u l d e a s i l y b e o v e r c o m e i n v i e w o f t h e g r e a t p o l i t i c a l
n e c e s s i t y o f b r i n g i n g t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s t o g e t h e r .
Th e d i s c u s s i o n s , h e l d i n t h e u n h e a t e d r o o m s o f a r e q u i s i -
t i o n e d h o t e l , t o o k p l a c e , f o r t h e m o s t p a r t , a t n i g h t
. G e o r g i i
W a s s i l i e w i t s c h Ts c h i t s c h e r i n , t h e F o r e i g n C o m m i s s a r , p r e -
f e r r e d t o r e c e i v e h i s v i s i t o r s s h o r t l y b e f o r e m i d n i g h t
. Th e
S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t a t t h a t t i m e w a s p e r f e c t l y c o n v i n c e d
2 5 4
RU S S O- G ERM A NPA C TOF A U G U S T 2
3 , 1 9 3 9
t h a t G e r m a n y s o o n w o u l d b e c o m e a p a r t o f S o v i e t Ru s s i a
.
Bu t i t d i d n o t .
A t l a s t t h e t r a d e p a c t b e t w e e n t h e n e w G e r m a n y a n d t h e
n e w S o v i e t Ru s s i a w a s s i g n e d i n F e b r u a r y , 1 9 21 . It w a s o n l y
a p r o v i s i o n a l a g r e e m e n t , a n d i t w a s d u e t o t h e v i s i o n a n d
t h e r e a l i s t i c j u d g m e n t o f A g o v o n M a l t za n , a t t h a t t i m e
i n c h a r g e o f t h e Ru s s i a n Di v i s i o n o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , t h a t
t h e p r o v i s i o n a l a g r e e m e n t , i n s p i t e o f a l l d i f f i c u l t i e s , d e v e l -
o p e d i n t o a f o r m a l t r e a t y . On M a y 6, 1 9 21 , t h i s t r e a t y w a s
s i g n e d . To s e t t l e t h e t h o r n y p r o b l e m o f l e g a l l y s a f e g u a r d i n g
G e r m a n f i r m s i n t h e i r d e a l i n g s w i t h a s o v e r e i g n s t a t e , a
S o v i e t Ha n d e l s v e r t r e t u n g ( t r a d e a g e n c y ) i n Be r l i n w a s
c r e a t e d a n d t h e c h i e f o f t h i s i n s t i t u t i o n e v e n r e c e i v e d p e r -
s o n a l d i p l o m a t i c i m m u n i t y .
Tr a d e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d Ru s s i a g r e w b e y o n d
e x p e c t a t i o n s . A g o v o n M a l t za n ( l a t e r A m b a s s a d o r i n W a s h -
i n g t o n ) h a d b e c o m e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e a n d v e r y i n f l u e n t i a l .
G e r m a n y ' s f i r s t A m b a s s a d o r t o M o s c o w , c l e v e r U l r i c h G r a f
v o n Br o c k d o r f - Ra n t za u , r e a l i ze d t h a t c l o s e b u s i n e s s c o n -
n e c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s w e r e i n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r
i m p r o v e d p o l i t i c a l r e l a t i o n s . In 1 9 22, t h e f i r s t b a r t e r t r a n s a c -
t i o n b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d Ru s s i a t o o k p l a c e . Tw e n t y m i l -
l i o n d o l l a r s ' w o r t h o f Ru s s i a n g r a i n w e r e t r a d e d a g a i n s t t h e
s a m e v a l u e i n G e r m a n i n d u s t r i a l g o o d s . He l p e d b y r e v o l v i n g
b a n k c r e d i t s g u a r a n t e e d b y t h e Re i c h , t o t a l G e r m a n e x p o r t s
t o Ru s s i a i n t h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n 1 9 22 a n d
1 9 3 3
e x c e e d e d t h r e e
b i l l i o n m a r k s , a t t h e p r e s e n t r a t e o f e x c h a n g e a l m o s t t w e l v e
h u n d r e d m i l l i o n d o l l a r s .
S o o n M a l t za n ' s p o l i c y b o r e f r u i t . On Ea s t e r S u n d a y , 1 9 22,
G e r m a n y a n d S o v i e t Ru s s i a c o n c l u d e d t h e i r f i r s t p o l i t i c a l
p a c t , t h e Tr e a t y o f Ra p a l l o . Th i s t r e a t y w a s r e n e w e d s e v e r a l
t i m e s
. F i n a l l y , a s a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d , i t w a s t h r o w n i n t o t h e
2 5 5
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
a s h c a n b y t h e Na zi s , m u c h t o t h e d i s t r e s s o f b o t h W i l h e l m -
s t r a s s e a n d Be n d l e r s t r a s s e - t h e d i p l o m a t i c a n d t h e m i l i t a r y
l e a d e r s h i p o f p r e - Hi t l e r d a y s .
Of c o u r s e , b o t h s i d e s w e n t t h r o u g h m a n y a n x i o u s m o -
m e n t s b e f o r e t h i s u n t o w a r d f i n a l e . Re l a t i o n s w e r e o f t e n
s t r a i n e d u n d e r t h e W e i m a r Re p u b l i c t o o . Th e c o d e d e p a r t -
m e n t o f t h e W i l h e l m s t r a s s e , h e a d e d b y a s h r e w d c a p t a i n o f
t h e n a v y , A l b e r t S e l c h o w , r e p u t a b l y d e c i p h e r e d m o s t o f t h e
c o d e s , e v e n t h e m o s t c o m p l i c a t e d a n d c l o s e l y g u a r d e d o n e s
o f a n y c o u n t r y o n t h i s g l o b e . No t o n l y t h a t , b u t k n o w i n g
t h e w e a k n e s s e s o f t h e d e c i p h e r e d c o d e s , t h i s d e p a r t m e n t m a n -
a g e d t o c o n c o c t a G e r m a n c o d e o f i t s o w n w h i c h c o u l d n o t
b e d e c i p h e r e d b e c a u s e t h e b a s i s o f t h e c o d e w o r d s w a s c h a n g -
i n g i n d e p e n d e n t l y a n d a u t o m a t i c a l l y b y a s y s t e m u n k n o w n
t o t h e o f f i c i a l w h o u s e d t h e c i p h e r . Of c o u r s e t h i s w a s a
g r e a t h e l p . On e w a s a b l e t o c o n t r o l t h e g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h e
o r d e r s t h e Ha n d e l s v e r t r e t u n g r e c e i v e d f r o m M o s c o w . Be r l i n
h a d b e c o m e t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e t r a d e e x e c u t i v e s f o r t h e
w h o l e o f Ru s s i a . If o n e s a w a n o r d e r g i v e n t o Be r l i n t o b u y
g r a i n o n t h e C h i c a g o p i t t o r a i s e t h e w o r l d m a r k e t p r i c e s
i t w a s e a s y t o f i g u r e o u t t h a t Ru s s i a i n t e n d e d t o s e l l a g r e a t
q u a n t i t y t o Be r l i n a t m u c h h i g h e r p r i c e l e v e l s . Bu t a l s o v e r y
i m p o r t a n t p o l i t i c a l h i n t s w e r e r e c e i v e d b y t h e " b l a c k c h a m -
b e r " o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e .
G e r m a n y h a s l e a r n e d f r o m t h e S o v i e t s h o w t o o r g a n i ze
b a r t e r t r a d e . A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , t h e w h o l e S o u t h A m e r i c a n
b a r t e r b u s i n e s s b u i l t u p b y o r d e r s o f Dr . Hj a l m a r S c h a c h t i s
p r a c t i c a l l y n o t h i n g b u t a c o p y o f t h e m e t h o d s f i r s t a p p l i e d
b y Ru s s i a n e x p e r t s . A g o v o n M a l t za n o n c e q u o t e d Le n i n
a s h a v i n g s a i d , " W h e n o n e d a y c o m m u n i s m w i l l r u l e o v e r
G e r m a n y , i t w i l l b e s o e f f i c i e n t a n d e x e m p l a r y t h a t n o b o d y
w i l l s p e a k o f Ru s s i a n c o m m u n i s m a n y l o n g e r . "
Ru s s o - G e r m a n r e l a t i o n s d e t e r i o r a t e d r a p i d l y a f t e r t h e
2 56
RU S S O- G ERM A NPA C TOF A U G U S T 23 ,
1
9 3 9
Na zi s c a m e t o p o w e r . In S e p t e m b e r ,
1 9 3 4,
t h e S o v i e t U n i o n
w a s a d m i t t e d t o Le a g u e m e m b e r s h i p . Li t v i n o v ' s s p e e c h e s i n
G e n e v a , h i s b l u n t w a r n i n g s a n d d i r e p r o p h e c i e s t e s t i f y t o h i s
f o r e s i g h t . He w a s b y i n s t i n c t a n d i n t e l l i g e n c e p r e d e s t i n e d t o
e v a l u a t e t h e Na zi m e n a c e c o r r e c t l y , b u t l i k e C a s s a n d r a h e
w a s n o t h e e d e d b y t h e b o u r g e o i s p o w e r s . Li t v i n o v w a x e d
s a r c a s t i c m o r e t h a n o n c e . A t o n e o f t h e d i s a r m a m e n t c o n -
f e r e n c e m e e t i n g s w h e n t h e q u e s t i o n a r o s e a s t o w h e t h e r o n l y
a r m a m e n t s o f a c e r t a i n c a l i b e r s h o u l d b e f o r b i d d e n , Li t v i n o v
e x c l a i m e d , " Ic a n n o t s e e a n y d i f f e r e n c e i n b e i n g s h o t b y a b i g
g u n o r b y a s m a l l r e v o l v e r . If Ia m k i l l e d , w h a t d i f f e r e n c e
d o e s t h e s i ze o f t h e m u zzl e m a k e ? "
In d i c t a t o r i a l l y r u l e d c o u n t r i e s - a n d S o v i e t Ru s s i a u n -
d o u b t e d l y i s o n e o f t h e m - l i t t l e i s k n o w n a b o u t t h e m a n
o r m e n w h o m a k e f o r e i g n p o l i c y . A s f o r G e r m a n y , w e a r e
n o t a b s o l u t e l y i n t h e d a r k i n t h i s r e g a r d , b u t a s f o r Ru s s i a
w e k n o w p r a c t i c a l l y n o t h i n g . If o n e d o e s n o t k n o w , o n e i s
e n t i t l e d t o g u e s s , b u t h e w h o i n t e n d s t o k e e p t o t h e h i s t o r i c a l
t r u t h , h a s t o c o n f e s s t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f h i s k n o w l e d g e . On e
c a n s a f e l y s a y t h a t S t a l i n r e c e i v e d q u i t e r e l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n
t h r o u g h h i s
Na r c o m i n d i e l ( t h e Ru s s i a n S t a t e De p a r t m e n t )
a n d t h a t M a x i m Li t v i n o v , t h e f o r e i g n s e c r e t a r y a n d c h i e f
o f t h e Na r c o m i n d i e l , k n e w h o w t o e x t r a c t s u f f i c i e n t r e l i a b l e
i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m Ru s s i a ' s d i p l o m a t i c a g e n c i e s a l l o v e r t h e
w o r l d a s w e l l a s f r o m h i s o w n c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h f o r e i g n
d i p l o m a t s . If h e r e p o r t e d c a n d i d l y t o S t a l i n - a n d t h e r e i s
n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t r e a s o n t o s u p p o s e t h a t h e d i d n o t - h e c o u l d
o n l y s t a t e t h a t Hi t l e r ' s p l a y o f p o i n t i n g a l l h i s f i n g e r s a t t h e
d a n g e r o u s b i g r e d b e a r f o u n d a h e a r t y r e s p o n s e e v e r y w h e r e -
t h a t i s i n a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s w h i c h g e n e r a l l y a r e r e g a r d e d a s
" c a p i t a l i s t i c . " If t h e r e w e r e a n y d o u b t s , Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s p e e c h
u p o n h i s a r r i v a l a t V i c t o r i a S t a t i o n , a s A m b a s s a d o r t o Br i t a i n ,
t o l d t h e w o r l d e x a c t l y h o w m a t t e r s s t o o d . Hi s c o n v e r s a t i o n s
2 57
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
w i t h Br i t i s h c o n s e r v a t i v e s , s t a t e s m e n a s w e l l a s i n d u s t r i a l i s t s ,
b a n k e r s a n d p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s w e r e e a g e r l y f o l l o w e d b y Iv a n
M a i s k y , Ru s s i a ' s a s t u t e A m b a s s a d o r t o Br i t a i n . A l e x a n d e r
Tr o y a n o w s k i , Ru s s i a ' s f i r s t A m b a s s a d o r t o W a s h i n g t o n a f t e r
Li t v i n o v ' s v i s i t i n
1 9 3 3 ,
w a s a l s o a w e l l - i n f o r m e d m a n .
Th e m e e t i n g s o f t h e S p a n i s h n o n - i n t e r v e n t i o n c o m m i t t e e
i n Lo n d o n s h o w e d e v e r y b o d y f r o m w h e n c e t h e w i n d b l e w .
W h e n C ze c h o s l o v a k i a w a s e n d a n g e r e d a n d t h e Ru s s i a n s o f -
f e r e d t h e i r h e l p i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h p r e v i o u s t r e a t i e s , F r a n c e
q u i t e o p e n l y r e f u s e d t o c o o p e r a t e
. W h e n Ne v i l l e C h a m b e r -
l a i n a n d Da l a d i e r m e t w i t h Hi t l e r a n d M u s s o l i n i i n M u n i c h ,
t h e Ru s s i a n s c o u l d n o t d o u b t t h a t t h e s e A n g l o - F r e n c h s t a t e s -
m e n h a d s o l d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n d o w n t h e r i v e r i n t h e f a l s e
h o p e t h a t t h i s w o u l d s a v e t h e i r o w n p e o p l e t h e h o r r o r s o f a
n e w w a r . S t a l i n a n d h i s f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r m u s t h a v e r e a l i ze d
w h a t t h a t m e a n t . On e c a n a s s u m e t h a t S t a l i n i s s u s p i c i o u s a t
l e a s t i n p o l i t i c s . A n d t h a t h e t r i e d t o t a k e t h e b u l l b y t h e
h o r n s w a s , i n t h e l i g h t o f e v e n t s w h i c h h a v e o c c u r r e d s i n c e ,
q u i t e n a t u r a l a n d a l m o s t i n e v i t a b l e
. On e c o u l d n o t , t h e r e f o r e ,
b e v e r y m u c h s u r p r i s e d t o h e a r t h a t t h e f i r s t s u g g e s t i o n f o r
a Ru s s o - G e r m a n n o n - a g g r e s s i o n p a c t c a m e f r o m t h e Ru s s i a n
s i d e . No b o d y w i l l a d m i t t h a t , o f c o u r s e , a n d n o b o d y i s e x -
p e c t e d t o d o s o . Bu t f r i e n d s w h o p a s s e d t h r o u g h Ne w Y o r k
C i t y a n d h a v e h a d o c c a s i o n t o d i s c u s s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s
d u r i n g t h e i r s t a y i n M o s c o w d e f i n i t e l y s t a t e d e x a c t l y w h a t
w e h a v e t r i e d t o c o n v e y i n t h e f o r e g o i n g l i n e s
. A n d w e h a v e
n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t d o u b t t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n g i v e n u s w a s
c o r r e c t .
On M a y 3 , ; 1 9 3 9 , t h e n e w s w e n t a r o u n d t h e w o r l d t h a t
M a x i m Li t v i n o v h a d b e e n r e p l a c e d a s c h i e f o f t h e Na r c o i n i n -
d i e l b y V . M . M o l o t o f f
. Ev e r y o n e w h o k n e w i n s t i n c t i v e l y
w h i c h w a y t h e w i n d w a s b l o w i n g i n p o l i t i c s f e l t i m m e d i a t e l y
t h a t a c h a n g e i n Ru s s i a ' s f o r e i g n p o l i c y w a s b o u n d t o c o m e .
258
RU S S O- G ERM A NPA C TOF A U G U S T 2
3 , 1 9 3 9
Th a t G r e a t Br i t a i n a n d F r a n c e d i d n o t r e a l i ze t h a t t h e w a y
t h e r u s t y b r a s s h a t s t h e y h a d s e n t t o M o s c o w c o n d u c t e d t h e
c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e Ru s s i a n g o v e r n m e n t c o n c e r n i n g a n
a n t i - Hi t l e r f r o n t w o u l d i n c r e a s e S t a l i n ' s d i s t r u s t a n d m a k e
h i m m o r e r e c e p t i v e t o G e r m a n y ' s c o u n t e r p r o p o s a l s , w h i c h
h e r e c e i v e d s e c r e t l y , b e l o n g s i n a c h a p t e r w h i c h i s u s u a l l y
c a l l e d V e r p a s s t e G e l e g e n h e i t e n ( m i s s e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s ) . U n -
f o r t u n a t e l y , G r e a t Br i t a i n w a s n o t a b l y r e p r e s e n t e d i n M o s -
c o w w h i l e G e r m a n y w a s .
V o n d e r S c h u l e n b u r g i s k n o w n t o b e a n o l d f o x , a n d
a m o n g h i s s t a f f w e r e e x t r e m e l y c o m p e t e n t o l d h a n d s a t S o v i e t
a f f a i r s
. Th e o l d S o v i e t - G e r m a n m i l i t a r y f r i e n d s h i p , d a t i n g
f r o m t h e d a y s w h e n Os c a r v o n Ni e d e r m a y e r r e s i d e d i n M o s -
c o w a n d c o n t r o l l e d t h e e x c h a n g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e
G e r m a n a n d t h e Ru s s i a n g e n e r a l s t a f f , a l s o c a m e i n v e r y
h a n d y . Th e d i s c u s s i o n w e n t o n i n s o d i s c r e e t a w a y t h a t v o n
d e r S c h u l e n b u r g r e p o r t e d t o t h e F u e h r e r p e r s o n a l l y . To
c a m o u f l a g e h i s i n t e n t i o n o f v i s i t i n g Be r l i n h e a s k e d b y t e l e -
g r a m o n e o f h i s m a n y Be r l i n l a d y - l o v e s - h e i s a b a c h e l o r - t o
v i s i t h i m i n M o s c o w . Th i s w a s t o i n d i c a t e t o t h e Ru s s i a n s t h a t
h e d i d n o t e x p e c t t o l e a v e h i s p o s t a t t h a t t i m e
. Ne e d l e s s t o s a y
t h a t t h e l o v e b i r d a r r i v e d i n M o s c o w j u s t a d a y a f t e r S c h u l e n -
b u r g h a d d e p a r t e d f o r Be r l i n . Ev e n t h e s m a r t J a p a n e s e d i p l o -
m a t s w e r e o u t s m a r t e d - a n d , m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f a l l , J o a c h i m
v o n Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e C h i e f o f t h e F o r e i g n Of f i c e , o n l y k n e w
h a l f o f t h e t r u t h . Of c o u r s e , w h e n t h e c o m m e r c i a l a g r e e m e n t
w a s s i g n e d o n A u g u s t
1 9 ,
1 9 3 9 ,
t h e c a t w a s o u t o f t h e b a g
.
Bu t e v e n t h e n t h e Br i t i s h a n d F r e n c h b r a s s h a t s w e r e s t i l l
h o p e f u l .
Th e f i n a l a g r e e m e n t , s i g n e d i n M o s c o w o n A u g u s t
23 ,
1 9 3 9 ,
r e v e a l e d p l a i n l y t o t h e w h o l e w o r l d t h a t S t a l i n w a s t o p
m a n
. He n o w h a d Hi t l e r i n t h e p a l m o f h i s h a n d , s i n c e t h e
F u e h r e r c o u l d o n l y r i s k w a r i f h e w a s s u r e o f S t a l i n . A t
2 59
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
l e a s t , i t l o o k e d t h a t w a y a t t h e t i m e . Th e Ru s s i a n s p l a y e d
t h e i r r o l e s l i k e e x c e l l e n t a c t o r s , b u t t h e G e r m a n s , s o f a r
a s a c t i n g i s c o n c e r n e d , w e r e e v e n b e t t e r
.
A m o n g t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p a t t h e t i m e
o f J o a c h i m ' s t e r m a s A m b a s s a d o r i n Lo n d o n , w a s o n e G e o r g e
Po p o f f
. Th i s Po p o f f w a s a Lo n d o n c o r r e s p o n d e n t f o r c e r t a i n
Li t h u a n i a n a n d Hu n g a r i a n n e w s p a p e r s , b u t r e p o r t e d , f r o m
t i m e t o t i m e , t o t h e F r a n k f u r t e r Z e i t u n g
. Hi s a r t i c l e s m a d e
q u i t e g o o d r e a d i n g
. He w a s Ru s s i a n b y b i r t h , h a d w o r k e d
i n t h e d a y s o f S t r e s e m a n n a s o n e o f t h e a s s i s t a n t s i n Dr
.
Ka r l v o n Lo e s c h ' s De u t s c h e r S c h u t zb u n d ,
a n i n s t i t u t i o n
w h i c h w a s s u p p o s e d t o t a k e c a r e o f c e r t a i n g r o u p s o f
A u s -
l a n d s De u t s c h e
a n d w h i c h , a f t e r t h e Na zi s w e r e i n t h e s a d d l e ,
e n d e d i n A l f r e d Ro s e n b e r g ' s r a c i a l s h o p . Ri b b e n t r o p
l u r e d Po p o f f a w a y f r o m h i s e a r l y c o m p e t i t o r
. Po p o f f d r e w ,
t h r o u g h Em b a s s y C h a n c e l l o r W i l h e l m A c h i l l e s , a m o n t h l y
s a l a r y o f o n e h u n d r e d p o u n d s s t e r l i n g a n d b e s i d e s w a s f u l l y
r e i m b u r s e d f o r h i s " e x p e n s e s
. " He w a s q u i t e w e l l k n o w n i n
t h e Lo n d o n s o c i a l s e t , a n d La d y Ox f o r d , f o r m e r l y M a r g o t
A s q u i t h , c a l l e d h i m " m y d e a r f r i e n d G e o r g e
. "
Ne v i l l e C h a m b e r l a i n s p e n t m a n y e x t e n d e d w e e k e n d s f i s h -
i n g f o r t r o u t o n t h e e s t a t e o f o n e o f h i s r e l a t i v e s i n S c o t l a n d
.
He s a t a t t h e h e a d o f t h e h o s t ' s b r e a k f a s t t a b l e a n d f e l t
f r e e i n t h e m o u n t a i n s o l i t u d e t o u n b u r d e n h i s h e a r t o f c a n d i d
p o l i t i c a l o b s e r v a t i o n s
. He e x p r e s s e d o n s u c h o c c a s i o n s a n t i -
b o l s h e v i s t v i e w s o f
s o o u t s p o k e n a n a t u r e t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p
c o u l d n o t h a v e h o p e d f o r b e t t e r e x p r e s s i o n f r o m a l e a d i n g
Br i t i s h s t a t e s m a n
. W h e n Ne v i l l e a n d h i s u m b r e l l a l e f t h i s
r e l a t i v e ' s e s t a t e a n d h i s r e t u r n t o Lo n d o n w a s o f f i c i a l l y a n -
n o u n c e d i n t h e Ti m e s ,
G e o r g e Po p o f f t o o k t h e t r a i n t o
S c o t l a n d t o v i s i t t h e v e r y p l a c e w h e r e t h e Pr i m e M i n i s t e r
h a d e n j o y e d t r o u t f i s h i n g a n d w h e r e h e h a d i n d u l g e d i n
f r o n t o f h i s h o s t i n p u n g e n t p o l i t i c a l r e m a r k s
. Th e i n f o r m a -
26o
RU S S O- G ERM A NPA C TOF A U G U S T 2
3 , 1 9 3 9
t i o n w h i c h Po p o f f r e c e i v e d a t t h e s e q u i t e r e g u l a r o c c a s i o n s
w a s c o m p i l e d i n t o l e n g t h y r e p o r t s w h i c h p r o m i n e n t l y
f e a t u r e d Ne v i l l e ' s c o m m e n t s o n C o m m u n i s m a n d S t a l i n .
Th e s e r e p o r t s , f r o m t h e p e n o f a g i f t e d j o u r n a l i s t , w e r e c o n -
s i d e r e d s o i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e F u e h r e r w a s a l w a y s g i v e n a
c o p y , a n d a s e c o n d c o p y w a s s e n t b y d i s p a t c h b a g t o A m b a s -
s a d o r C o u n t v o n d e r S c h u l e n b u r g . S c h u l e n b u r g w a s v e r y
k e e n t o g e t t h e s e r e p o r t s t h e q u i c k e s t w a y p o s s i b l e .
M a n y t e l e g r a m s f r o m h i m c o n f i r m h i s i m p a t i e n c e i n a w a i t i n g
f u r t h e r " i n f o r m a t i o n o n t r o u t f i s h i n g w h i c h p r o v e s t o b e o f
g r e a t e s t i n t e r e s t t o m y p e r s o n a l c l i e n t s . " W h e t h e r S t a l i n
i n p e r s o n w a s o n e o f t h e s e c l i e n t s , n o b o d y w i l l b e a b l e t o
t e l l , b u t i t m a y h a v e b e e n s u f f i c i e n t i f t h e y r e a c h e d S t a l i n
t h r o u g h M o l o t o f f .
S o m e h o w t h e s e c r e t o f Po p o f f ' s v i s i t s t o S c o t l a n d m u s t
h a v e l e a k e d o u t
. W h e n t h e " f o r e i g n c o r r e s p o n d e n t " -
t r a v e l l i n g a s u s u a l o n a La t v i a n p a s s p o r t r e t u r n e d o n e f i n e
d a y f r o m Be r l i n t o t h e Br i t i s h s h o r e s - h e w a s u n c e r e m o n i -
o u s l y a d v i s e d t h a t n o l a n d i n g p e r m i t w o u l d b e g r a n t e d h i m
.
A n d t h a t w a s t h a t . F o r a f e w w e e k s a f t e r t h e Br i t i s h a u t h o r i -
t i e s h a d d e a l t h i m t h i s b l o w , h e l i v e d i n g r e a t s t y l e a t t h e
Ho t e l Br i s t o l i n Be r l i n . La t e r o n h e w a s t r a n s f e r r e d " b y h i s
n e w s p a p e r " t o Ro m e .
Th a t Ri b b e n t r o p , t h e k n i g h t - e r r a n t o f a n t i - Bo l s h e v i s m ,
w e n t p e r s o n a l l y t o M o s c o w , s h o o k h a n d s a n d c o n f e r r e d
t e t e - a - t e t e w i t h S t a l i n a n d M o l o t o f f , d i n e d a n d w i n e d w i t h
t h e p a r t y l e a d e r s i s r e a l l y o n e o f t h e m o s t a m u s i n g a n d s e n s a -
t i o n a l s t o r i e s o n e c a n i m a g i n e . Th i s w a s t h e s a m e J o a c h i m
w h o c o u l d n o t s i t d o w n a t a d i n n e r t a b l e w i t h o u t e x p a n d i n g
v o c i f e r o u s l y u p o n t h e " g r e a t e s t p e s t o f o u r w o r l d " d i e
S c h ' w e i n e i n M o s k a r u ( t h e s w i n e i n M o s c o w ) , a n d n o w h e
h a d t o f l y t h e r e a n d s i g n t h e p a c t i n p e r s o n . S o h e b e t r a y e d
261
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
h i s b o s o m f r i e n d a n d p a c t p a r t n e r , Hi r o s h i Os h i m a , t h e
J a p a n e s e A m b a s s a d o r .
W h a t e v e r o n e ' s o p i n i o n a b o u t t h e c h a n g e i n Ru s s o - G e r -
m a n r e l a t i o n s m a y b e , o n e h a s t o a d m i t t h a t t h e n e w p a c t
i n i t s e l f w a s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t e v e n t s o f a r o f t h e e v e n t f u l
p e r i o d w h i c h b e g a n w i t h t h e Na zi
M a c h t u e b e r n a h m e , t h e
Na zi a c c e s s i o n t o p o w e r . On e h a s t o k e e p i n m i n d t h a t e v e n
i n t h e t i m e s o f t h e W e i m a r Re p u b l i c , w i t h i t s m u l t i t u d e o f
p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s a n d c u r r e n t s , w i t h l a r g e p a r t s o f t h e G e r m a n
p e o p l e b e i n g s t r i c t l y , e v e n f a n a t i c a l l y o p p o s e d t o t h e S o v i e t
r e g i m e , t h e s o - c a l l e d Ru s s e n k r e d i t e ,
t h e l o a n s f o r f i n a n c i n g
t h e b u s i n e s s r e l a t i o n s w i t h Ru s s i a , w e r e a l w a y s a n d w i t h
o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y , v o t e d o n b y a l l p a r t i e s a l i k e
. Th e s e
c r e d i t s n e e d e d p a r l i a m e n t a r y r a t i f i c a t i o n t o b e c o m e l a w
.
Th e y a l w a y s g o t i t , a n d i t w a s t h e o n l y b i l l w h i c h w a s n o t
s u b j e c t t o d e b a t e
. Bu t t h e y g o t n o t o n l y t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e
p a r l i a m e n t , b u t t h e p e o p l e i t s e l f f e l t t h a t e c o n o m i c c o -
o p e r a t i o n w i t h Ru s s i a w a s a m a t t e r o f p r i m e n e c e s s i t y . On
t h i s p o i n t , t h e m i l i t a r y c l a s s a s w e l l a s t h e c i v i l i a n s , t h e
r i c h a n d t h e p o o r , w e r e i n a g r e e m e n t . It w a s , b e s i d e s , t h e
p o l i t i c a l t e s t a m e n t o f Bi s m a r c k , t h a t G e r m a n y n e v e r , n e v e r ,
n e v e r s h o u l d h a v e Ru s s i a a s a n e n e m y
. G e r m a n y h a d l o s t
t h e w a r o f 1 9 1 4 f o r n o t h a v i n g h e e d e d t h i s s o u n d a d v i c e .
Be c a u s e o f a l l t h i s , t h e v i o l e n t a n t i - Ru s s i a n t u r n o f t h e
Hi t l e r r e g i m e w a s t h e m o s t d e b a t e d i t e m i n t h e w h o l e
Na zi p r o g r a m , h o w e v e r p o p u l a r t h e p e r s e c u t i o n o f c o m -
m u n i s t s i n s i d e G e r m a n y w a s w i t h c e r t a i n g r o u p s . W h e t h e r
Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p h a d m a d e u p t h e i r m i n d s n e v e r t o
t a k e t h e Ru s s i a n a l l i a n c e o f A u g u s t 23 ,
1
9 3 9 , s e r i o u s l y , o r
n o t , t h e f a c t t h a t Na zi s m o v e r c a m e h i s w e l t a n s c h a u l i c h e
s c r u p l e s a n d d i d s o m e t h i n g s o e m i n e n t l y r e a l i s t i c a n d s o b e r
f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f p o w e r p o l i t i c s a s t o g o t o M o s c o w
e n h a n c e d i t s p r e s t i g e e n o r m o u s l y .
2 6 2
RU S S O- G ERM A NPA C TOF A U G U S T
23 ,
1 9 3 9
Th i s i s t h e n w h a t w e f i n d i f w e s u m u p t h e e v e n t s l e a d i n g
u p t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s a p p e a r a n c e i n t h e Kr e m l i n
: Th e C ze c h
a f f a i r s e e n f r o m t h e Ru s s i a n a n g l e m e a n t t h e b r e a k i n g u p o f
t h e f a t e f u l F r a n c o - Ru s s i a n a l l i a n c e , w h i c h s q u e e ze d G e r m a n y
b e t w e e n t w o f r o n t s , a s i t u a t i o n w h i c h w a s a g g r a v a t e d b y
t h e f a c t t h a t C ze c h o s l o v a k i a b e l o n g e d t o t h i s a n t i - G e r m a n
c o m b i n a t i o n
. Hi t l e r a n d t h e G e r m a n g e n e r a l s a s s u m e d t h a t
t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e C ze c h a n d t h e Ru s s i a n g e n e r a l
s t a f f s w e r e w e l l a d v a n c e d , w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t t h e Ru s s i a n
a i r f l e e t c o u l d e v e n t u a l l y s t r i k e d e v a s t a t i n g l y a g a i n s t G e r m a n y
f r o m C ze c h t e r r i t o r y
. Ev e r y b o d y i n t h e k n o w i n Be r l i n w a s
v e r y m u c h s u r p r i s e d t o l e a r n , a f t e r t h e f a l l o f C ze c h o s l o v a k i a ,
t h a t i n r e a l i t y t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r a j o i n t Ru s s o - C ze c h a t -
t a c k a g a i n s t G e r m a n y h a d b e e n n o n - e x i s t e n t
.
A s t h e Po l i s h c r i s i s m o u n t e d a n d S i r Ne v i l e He n d e r s o n
k e p t r e p e a t i n g m o n o t o n o u s l y t h a t En g l a n d w o u l d f i g h t f o r
Po l a n d , w h a t e v e r Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p r i v a t e o p i n i o n i n t h e m a t t e r
w a s , t h e p r i m a d o n n a o f t h e
W i l h e l m s t r a s s e t h o u g h t t h a t
a n y t h i n g w o u l d d o t o i n s u r e h i s t h e o r y t h a t En g l a n d w o u l d
n o t f i g h t , a t h e o r y o n w h i c h h i s p r e s t i g e w a s f o u n d e d
. Th u s ,
J o a c h i m b e c a m e r e c o n c i l e d t o t h e i d e a o f g o i n g t o M o s c o w ,
a s f i t t i n g a c l i m a x t o h i s c a r e e r a s w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e a p -
p o i n t m e n t o f J o h n Br o w n a s o v e r s e e r o f a s l a v e p l a n t a t i o n .
To Ri b b e n t r o p i t w a s t h e b l u f f t h a t c o u n t e d . He l i k e d t o
t h i n k t h a t o n c e t h e Ru s s i a n n e u t r a l i t y w a s i n h i s p o c k e t
Po l a n d w a s l e f t w i t h o u t f r i e n d s a n d t h a t En g l a n d , w h o s e
i n t e r e s t h a d b e e n t o e n t a n g l e Ru s s i a i n a w a r w i t h G e r m a n y ,
w o u l d w i t h d r a w h e r f i n g e r s f r o m t h e c o n t i n e n t a l p i e t h e
m o m e n t t h i s a t t r a c t i v e p o s s i b i l i t y w a s g o n e
. Ri b b e n t r o p ,
w h e n f l y i n g b a c k f r o m M o s c o w , w a s s u r e t h a t h e h a d g a i n e d
a g r e a t d i p l o m a t i c v i c t o r y o v e r t h e o b s t r e p e r o u s M u n i c h
p a r t n e r s a n d o v e r o l d En g l a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r , a n d t h a t Na zi -
G e r m a n y w a s g o i n g t o g a i n a m i l i t a r y v i c t o r y o v e r Po l a n d .
263
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
Bu t t h e r e h i s i m a g i n a t i o n s t o p p e d . F o r En g l a n d w e n t i n t o t h e
w a r i n e a r n e s t . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s M o s c o w t r i u m p h a n d a l l p r e -
v i o u s a c h i e v e m e n t s w e r e j e o p a r d i ze d a n d w e n t f r o m b a d t o
w o r s e . Ic a n n o t b u t f e e l t h a t b o t h Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p
n e v e r c o n s i d e r e d t h e S o v i e t p a c t a s a n y t h i n g b u t a c l e v e r
t e m p o r a r y d e v i c e w h i c h s e r v e d i t s p u r p o s e f o r t h e m o m e n t
a n d c o u l d b e d i s c a r d e d w h e n e v e r i t p l e a s e d t h e m .
2 64
1 6
Th e Po l i s h C r i s i s
THEg i g a n t i c , e a r t h s h a k i n g o p e r a t i o n s o f W o r l d W a r II
h a v e , d i p l o m a t i c a l l y s p e a k i n g , a t i n y r o o t h a l f b u r i e d i n t h e
e n o r m o u s m a s s o f d o c u m e n t s w h i c h l i t t e r s t h e c o m m o n
g r o u n d o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s . Th i s i n f i n i t e s i m a l r o o t i s
t h e s o - c a l l e d Br i t i s h Bl a n c o - S c h e c k ,
t h e b l a n k c h e q u e o f f e r e d
t o Po l a n d b y G r e a t Br i t a i n i n f o r m o f a n a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n
Pr i m e M i n i s t e r C h a m b e r l a i n a n d t h e Po l i s h M i n i s t e r o f
F o r e i g n Re l a t i o n s , J o s e p h Be c k . Th i s a g r e e m e n t w a s p u b -
l i s h e d o n A p r i l 6,
1 9 3 9 .
It w a s f o r e s h a d o w e d b y a s t a t e m e n t
f r o m C h a m b e r l a i n i n t h e Ho u s e o f C o m m o n s o n M a r c h 3 1 ,
1 9 3 9 .
If y o u a s k Ri b b e n t r o p w h y G e r m a n y i s a t w a r , h e w i l l
a n s w e r t h a t i t i s b e c a u s e En g l a n d w e n t o u t o f h e r w a y t o
g u a r a n t e e Po l a n d h e r h e l p i f Po l a n d s h o u l d b e i n v o l v e d
t h r o u g h h e r o w n f o l l y i n a w a r w i t h G e r m a n y . Th i s " b l a n k
c h e q u e " w a s t h e b i g g e s t i t e m i n t h e w h o l e a r g u m e n t w h i c h
l e d u p t o t h e m u r d e r o u s a t t a c k a g a i n s t Po l a n d o n S e p t e m b e r
1 ,
1 9 3 9 .
Th r o u g h t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h i s " b l a n k c h e q u e , " t h e
Po l i s h - G e r m a n t e n s i o n i n t h e s u m m e r o f
1 9 3 9
w a s n o l o n g e r
a Po l i s h - G e r m a n t e n s i o n b u t a n A n g l o - G e r m a n t e n s i o n .
Ri b b e n t r o p , i n h i s p r e f a c e t o t h e G e r m a n W h i t e Bo o k , d a t e d
De c e m b e r
3 , 1 9 3 9 ,
p u t i t t h i s w a y : " En g l a n d w a s d e t e r m i n e d
t o s t e p w i t h n a k e d f o r c e i n t o t h e p a t h o f t h e F u e h r e r w h o s e
265
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
i n s p i r e d s t a t e s m a n s h i p h a d s u c c e e d e d i n d o i n g
a w a y w i t h
t h e m o s t o f V e r s a i l l e s ' o d i o u s c r i m e s w i t h o u t
a n y b l o o d s h e d
a n d w i t h o u t t h e s l i g h t e s t i n t e r f e r e n c e i n En g l a n d ' s i n t e r e s t s
.
In t h e s a m e w a y , t h e F u e h r e r w o u l d h a v e c o n t r i v e d t o s o l v e
p e a c e f u l l y t h e G e r m a n - Po l i s h p r o b l e m i f En g l a n d h a d n o t
u s e d Po l a n d a s a t o o l o f h e r " w i l l t o w a r " a n d i f , t h r o u g h
t h i s c r i m i n a l p o l i c y , s h e h a d n o t p r e c i p i t a t e d Eu r o p e i n t o t h e
c o n f l i c t
. " Te r r i t o r i a l g u a r a n t e e s e x t e n d e d b y W e s t e r n p o w e r s
t o G e r m a n y ' s Ea s t e r n n e i g h b o r s w e r e d e f i n i t e l y n o t i n f a v o r
w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p .
Hi t l e r h a d s i g n e d , o n S e p t e m b e r 29 , 1 9 3 8, a s u p p l e m e n t t o
t h e M u n i c h Pa c t a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h t h e n e w f r o n t i e r s o f
C ze c h o s l o v a k i a w o u l d b e s a f e g u a r d e d b y a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l
g u a r a n t e e
. He w a s b o u n d b y h i s s i g n a t u r e t o g i v e h i s g u a r a n -
t e e a n d t o l e t It a l y , F r a n c e , a n d G r e a t Br i t a i n g i v e t h e i r s
.
A g a i n a n d a g a i n , t h e F r e n c h a n d Br i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t s t r i e d
t o s e t t l e t h e m a t t e r o f a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l g u a r a n t e e f o r t h e r e m -
n a n t o f C ze c h o s l o v a k i a
. A t l a s t M o n s i e u r C o u l o n d r e , t h e
F r e n c h A m b a s s a d o r , t w o w e e k s b e f o r e t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f
Pr a g u e , r e c e i v e d a n o t e f r o m Ri b b e n t r o p o f w h i c h e v e n t h e
k i n d h e a r t e d C o u l o n d r e s a i d t h a t i t c o n t a i n e d c e r t a i n " b r u t a l
a n d p e r f i d i o u s i n n u e n d o s
. " W e a r e h e r e m a i n l y i n t e r e s t e d
i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s t a t e m e n t w h i c h m a i n t a i n e d t h a t e n g a g e m e n t s
o n t h e p a r t o f W e s t e r n p o w e r s b y w h i c h t h e
s t a t u s q u o o f
r e g i o n s s i t u a t e d i n Ea s t e r n Eu r o p e l i k e C ze c h o s l o v a k i a , Hu n -
g a r y , a n d Po l a n d , s h o u l d b e g u a r a n t e e d , w o u l d h a v e t h e e f f e c t
o f " p r o m o t i n g u n r e a s o n a b l e t e n d e n c i e s " i n t h e s e c o u n t r i e s
.
U n r e a s o n a b l e t e n d e n c i e s , a c c o r d i n g t o Ri b b e n t r o p , w a s a
d i s i n c l i n a t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f Ea s t Eu r o p e a n s t a t e s m e n t o b e
h a u l e d , w h e n t h e i r t i m e h a d c o m e , t o Be r l i n o r Be r c h t e s g a d e n
a n d t h e r e b e s u b m i t t e d , a s h a p p e n e d t o S c h u s c h n i g g a n d
Ha c h a , t o t h e c o n c e n t r a t e d p e r s u a s i v e e f f o r t s f o r w h i c h t h e
G e s t a p o , i m p e r s o n a t e d b y Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p , i s f a m o u s .
266
THEPOLIS HC RIS IS

r
Th e r e f o r e ,
o n M a r c h 21 ,
1 9 3 9
w h e n Ri b b e n t r o p a p -
p r o a c h e d Li p s k i , t h e Po l i s h A m b a s s a d o r i n Be r l i n , a n d a n -
n o u n c e d t o h i m t h a t Da n zi g s h o u l d b e r e s t o r e d t o t h e Re i c h ,
Po l a n d f e l t t h a t t h i s w a s n o m e r e i m p r o v e m e n t o f G e r m a n
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a c r o s s t h e c o r r i d o r , b u t " t h a t h e r h o u r h a d
c o m e . " In a m e m o r a n d u m d a t e d M a y 5, 1 9 3 9 , t h e Po l i s h
g o v e r n m e n t e x p r e s s e d i t s r e a c t i o n t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s u d d e n
d e m a n d s w h i c h , a m p l i f i e d b y t h e r e v e r b e r a t i o n s o f t h e G e r -
m a n o c c u p a t i o n o f Pr a g u e , h a d a l l t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ' o f Na zi
s t r o n g - a r m t e c h n i q u e . " It i s c l e a r , " s a i d t h e m e m o r a n d u m
( Th e Br i t i s h W a r Bl u e Bo o k , p a g e 42) " t h a t n e g o t i a t i o n s
i n w h i c h o n e S t a t e f o r m u l a t e s d e m a n d s a n d t h e o t h e r i s t o
b e o b l i g e d t o a c c e p t t h e s e d e m a n d s u n a l t e r e d a r e n o t n e g o t i a -
t i o n s i n t h e s p i r i t o f t h e ( Po l i s h - G e r m a n ) d e c l a r a t i o n o f
1
9 3 4
a n d a r e i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e v i t a l i n t e r e s t s a n d d i g n i t y o f
Po l a n d . "
Po l a n d r e f u s e d , t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s c o n s t e r n a t i o n a n d f u r y ,
t o r o u n d o u t t h e a l r e a d y s t a g g e r i n g s u c c e s s e s o f Hi t l e r ' s w i l d
w e s t m e t h o d s w i t h a c o n t r i b u t i o n o f h e r o w n . In a r e p o r t o f
t h e F r e n c h A m b a s s a d o r , d a t e d M a y 22,
1 9 3 9 ,
w e r e a d t h a t
Ri b b e n t r o p c o n s i d e r e d t h e f a c t t h a t Po l a n d r e j e c t e d Hi t l e r ' s
p r o p o s a l s , " i n c r e d i b l e . " Th e p r o p o s a l s w e r e Hi t l e r ' s p e r s o n a l
i d e a . Ri b b e n t r o p w o u l d n e v e r h a v e a p p r o v e d t h e m
. Th e y
w e r e , i n h i s o p i n i o n , o f a n i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e " m i l d n e s s a n d
b r o a d m i n d e d n e s s . " Ri b b e n t r o p t h o u g h t i t i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e
t h a t Hi t l e r c o u l d h a v e b e e n s o m o d e s t i n h i s c l a i m s a n d s o
g e n e r o u s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e p r i c e h e w a s w i l l i n g t o p a y .
W h a t w a s t h i s p r i c e ? In a s p e e c h b e f o r e t h e G e r m a n
Re i c h s t a g o n A p r i l 28,
1 9 3 9 ,
Hi t l e r f o r m u l a t e d f i v e p o i n t s
w h i c h h e w o u l d h a v e b e e n w i l l i n g t o c o n c e d e , i f h e h a d n o t
b e e n s o d i s a p p o i n t e d b y t h e Po l e s ' r e f u s a l t o s u r r e n d e r . J o s e p h
Be c k , i n h i s M a y 5s p e e c h b e f o r e t h e Po l i s h p a r l i a m e n t , c o m -
m e n t e d o n t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o f t h e s e p o i n t s t h u s : " In h i s
267
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
s p e e c h , t h e C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e Re i c h p r o p o s e s , a s a c o n c e s s i o n
o n h i s p a r t , t h e r e c o g n i t i o n a n d d e f i n i t e a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e
p r e s e n t f r o n t i e r b e t w e e n Po l a n d a n d G e r m a n y . Im u s t p o i n t
o u t t h a t t h i s w o u l d h a v e b e e n a q u e s t i o n o f r e c o g n i zi n g w h a t
i s d e j u r e a n d d e f a c t o o u r i n d i s p u t a b l e p r o p e r t y . " It i s a
c o n c e s s i o n w h i c h w o u l d s e e m o f s i n g u l a r l y l i t t l e v a l u e i n t h e
f a c e o f w h a t h a p p e n e d t o C ze c h o s l o v a k i a a n d o f Hi t l e r ' s
p r o m i s e s i n h e r r e s p e c t .
Hi t l e r d i d n o t t a k e i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t t h e f a t e o f
C ze c h o s l o v a k i a h e l p e d f o r m Po l a n d ' s d e c i s i o n n o t t o s u r -
r e n d e r s u b s t a n t i a l r i g h t s o n t h e s p u r o f t h e m o m e n t i n e x -
c h a n g e f o r v a g u e p r o m i s e s . He b r o k e o f f , i n o r d e r t o p u n i s h
Po l a n d , t h e
1 9 3 4
Po l i s h - G e r m a n d e c l a r a t i o n o f n o n - a g g r e s -
s i o n , a p a c t w h i c h w a s c o n c l u d e d f o r t e n y e a r s w i t h o u t a n y
p r o v i s i o n f o r t e r m i n a t i o n d u r i n g t h a t t i m e . Th e Po l i s h g o v -
e r n m e n t w a s o b v i o u s l y p e r f e c t l y r i g h t i n n o t a c c e p t i n g
Hi t l e r ' s p l e d g e a s v a l i d c u r r e n c y .
A s w e h a v e a l r e a d y s e e n , Ri b b e n t r o p , a l l t h r o u g h t h e
s u m m e r o f 1 9 3 9 , w a s g o i n g t o h a r p o n t h e f a c t t h a t Po l a n d
d i d n o t b u y h e r s e c u r i t y t h r o u g h t h e s u r r e n d e r o f Da n zi g
i n t h e d a y s f o l l o w i n g t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f Pr a g u e . Bu t h e
n e v e r m e n t i o n e d w h a t Be c k t e r m e d " t h e w e a k e n i n g o f c o l -
l e c t i v e i n t e r n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s " a n d " t h e c o m p l e t e c h a n g e
i n t h e m e t h o d o f i n t e r c o u r s e b e t w e e n n a t i o n s
. " A c c o r d i n g
t o Ri b b e n t r o p t h i s w a s n o t a t t h e r o o t o f t h e r e f u s a l b u t
En g l a n d ' s " b l a n k c h e q u e w a s . " Ho w e v e r , w h e n Po l a n d a n -
s w e r e d Ri b b e n t r o p ' s h i g h - h a n d e d d e m a n d t o s u r r e n d e r Da n zi g
s h e d i d n o t e v e n r e f u s e b u t s i m p l y m a d e c o u n t e r p r o p o s a l s -
Po l a n d d i d n o t a s y e t p o s s e s s t h e En g l i s h g u a r a n t e e . It i s
t r u e , t h a t Be c k w e n t t o Lo n d o n a t t h e e n d o f M a r c h i n
o r d e r t o a s k t h e Br i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t f o r h e l p . A n d Ri b b e n -
t r o p , i n t h e m e m o r a n d u m h a n d e d t o t h e Po l i s h g o v e r n m e n t
o n A p r i l 28, 1 9 3 9 , t r e a t e d Be c k ' s j o u r n e y a s i f a v a s s a l h a d
268
THE POLIS H C RIS IS
d e s e r t e d t h e c a m p o f h i s f e u d a l l o r d a n d o f f e r e d h i s s e r v i c e s
t o t h e e n e m y . Th e w h o l e m e m o r a n d u m i s w r i t t e n o n a h i g h
n o t e o f i n d i g n a t i o n . Th e r e i s i n t h e m e m o r a n d u m a s e n t i -
m e n t a l s t r a i n a b o u t t h e b e a u t y a n d g e n e r o s i t y o f t h e G e r m a n
S i e g f r i e d a n d t h e f a i t h l e s s n e s s a n d b a s e n e s s o f t h e Po l i s h
Ha g e n w h i c h Hi t l e r e x p l o i t e d t o s t i l l m o r e e f f e c t i n h i s
s p e e c h o f A p r i l z8 . U p o n t h a t o c c a s i o n h e i n d u l g e d l a v i s h l y
i n h i s w e l l - k n o w n t r a i t s o f s e l f - p i t y a n d s e l f - a d o r a t i o n .
" En c i r c l e m e n t , " s c r e a m e d Ri b b e n t r o p . Pe r h a p s h e w a s
r i g h t , b u t w h y t h i s s u d d e n i n t e r e s t o f Lo n d o n i n s u c h a f a t e -
f u l c o u r s e , s u c h a d e s p e r a t e r e v i v a l o f d i s c a r d e d n o t i o n s f r o m
t h e Ed w a r d i a n e r a ? V e r n o n Ba r t l e t t , i n t h e l e t t e r b y w h i c h
h e a n s w e r e d , o n Oc t o b e r 1 9 42, t h e c o n t e n t i o n o f He n r y Lu c e
i n Li f e t h a t En g l a n d m e r e l y p l a n n e d a w a r t o h o l d t h e
Br i t i s h Em p i r e t o g e t h e r , w r i t e s , " Y o u c o u l d h a r d l y f i n d a
c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d o f l e s s o b v i o u s i n t e r e s t t o t h e Br i t i s h
Em p i r e t h a n Po l a n d . "
If s u c c e s s f u l d i p l o m a c y h a d s o f a r m e a n t t h e p r e v e n t i o n
o f d a n g e r o u s c o m b i n a t i o n s w h i c h w e r e l i a b l e t o o b s t r u c t t h e
m o v e s h i s o w n c o u n t r y w a s p l a n n i n g , t h e f a m o u s " b l a n k
c h e q u e " i n d i c a t e s t h e e n o r m i t y o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s f a i l u r e a s
a d i p l o m a t . Th e m o s t u n n a t u r a l , t h e m o s t u n i m a g i n a b l e a l -
l i a n c e w a s f o r m e d b e t w e e n t h e s e c u r e i s l a n d w h o s e p e a c e
p o l i c y , f o r c e f u l l y b a c k e d u p b y t h e Na t i o n a l Pe a c e Ba l l o t
o f 1 9 3 4, w a s p r o v e r b i a l a n d t h e S l a v p o w e r w i t h i t s e x t r e m e
e m o t i o n s , u n s e t t l e d f r o n t i e r s , a n d u n c h a r t e d d e s t i n i e s . A y e a r
e a r l i e r , i t h a d b e e n En g l a n d ' s " p e a c e a t a l m o s t a n y p r i c e "
p o l i c y w h i c h h a d e l i c i t e d s c o r n a n d l a u g h t e r i n Be r l i n a n d
Be r c h t e s g a d e n .
In M a y , 1 9 3 8, w e r e c e i v e d a n i n t e r e s t i n g l e t t e r f r o m a
f r i e n d i n t h e
W i l h e l m s t r a s s e . It t a l k e d a b o u t t h e C ze c h c r i s i s .
He r e i s a n e x c e r p t f r o m i t
: " . . . t h e f i r e w o r k s a r e b o u n d
t o e x p l o d e s o o n , f o r Hi t l e r i s n o w s u r e , t h r o u g h C h a m b e r -
269
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
l a i n ' s d e c l a r a t i o n i n t h e Ho u s e o f C o m m o n s ( h i s s t a t e m e n t
o f M a r c h i 4) , t h a t G r e a t Br i t a i n w i l l n o t l i f t a f i n g e r t o h e l p
t h e C ze c h s . A r e t h e En g l i s h r e a l l y s o b l i n d a s n o t t o s e e
C h a m b e r l a i n ' s d e c l a r a t i o n i s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e e n d o f
C ze c h o s l o v a k i a ? "
A t a b o u t t h e s a m e t i m e t h a t t h i s l e t t e r w a s w r i t t e n i n t h e
e a r l y s u m m e r o f 1 9 3 8, Ra u s c h n i n g , a s h e r e l a t e s i n
M e n o f
C h a o s , m e t a G e r m a n a c q u a i n t a n c e i n Z u r i c h . He d i s c u s s e d
t h e c r i s i s w i t h t h i s a c q u a i n t a n c e . Th i s g e n t l e m a n ' s a p p r a i s a l
o f Br i t a i n ' s r o l e i n t h e s i t u a t i o n c o r r e s p o n d e d w i t h t h e o p i n -
i o n o f t h e l e t t e r w r i t e r w e h a v e j u s t q u o t e d , o n l y h e r e j o i c e d
w h e r e a s o u r f r i e n d i n t h e W i l h e i r n s t r a s s e w a s g r i e v e d , j u s t
a s Ra u s c h n i n g w a s
. " A n d y o u r W e s t e r n Po w e r s h a v e s w a l -
l o w e d i t a l l , " c r i e d Ra u s c h n i n g ' s a c q u a i n t a n c e .
Th e r e c a n b e n o d o u b t t h a t p e o p l e i n G e r m a n y w e r e
m e n t a l l y i n t o x i c a t e d a t t h e t i m e . M u c h l o o s e t a l k w a s g o i n g
o n a t t h e e x p e n s e o f G r e a t Br i t a i n n o t o n l y i n G e r m a n y a n d
a l l Eu r o p e b u t i n A s i a a n d A m e r i c a a s w e l l . Ne w s o u r c e s o f
v i t a l i t y w e r e t a p p e d . Th e m u s c u l a r s o n s o f t h e e a r t h , n a k e d
t o t h e w a i s t a n d s w i n g i n g h u g e h a m m e r s , a s s k e t c h e d b y
Hi t l e r ' s c o u r t p a i n t e r s f o r t h e Na zi a r t s h o w s , m o v e d i r -
r e s i s t i b l y a g a i n s t t h e " v e s t e d i n t e r e s t s , " a n d i t w a s t h e d e s p a i r
o f e x i l e d l i b e r a l s t h a t t h e y s u d d e n l y h a d t o i d e n t i f y t h e m -
s e l v e s w i t h t h e s e v e s t e d i n t e r e s t s a n d a d o o m e d p h i l o s o p h y .
Th i s w a s t h e a t m o s p h e r e i n 1 9 3 8 a n d
1 9 3 9 .
Bu t t h e " v e s t e d
i n t e r e s t s " g a v e Po l a n d a b l a n k c h e q u e o n A p r i l 6,
1
9 3 9 .
Ta u n t e d , r i d i c u l e d , c h a l l e n g e d , Br i t a i n d e c i d e d , i n t h e t w e l f t h
h o u r , t h a t Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p d i d n o t o f f e r t h e w o r l d
p r o s p e c t s w h i c h h e r c o n s c i e n c e c o u l d a f f o r d t o e n d o r s e a n d
t h a t i t w o u l d b e j u s t a s w e l l f o r Br i t a i n t o i n s i s t , a t t h e r i s k
o f w a r , o n t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f c e r t a i n u s a g e s i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l
r e l a t i o n s
. F o r t h e G e r m a n l i b e r a l w h o i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y
A n g l o p h i l e , t h e p o i n t i s t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e t r a d i t i o n a l u s a g e s
27 0
THEPOLIS HC RIS IS
w e r e d e f e c t i v e , a n d a l t h o u g h a w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a g a i n s t t h e
v e s t e d i n t e r e s t s w a s g o i n g o n , t h e w a y Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p
h a n d l e d G e r m a n p o l i t i c s f o r c e d a d o o m e d p h i l o s o p h y , a r i p e ,
m i s g u i d e d a n d u n e s s e n t i a l s o c i e t y i n t o h e r o i s m . A f t e r t h e
A n g l o - Po l i s h a g r e e m e n t , w h i c h w a s a h e r o i c a c t , b e c a u s e
Hi t l e r , b e i n g w h a t h e i s , i t m e a n t i n e v i t a b l e w a r , t h e " v e s t e d
i n t e r e s t s " c h a n g e d f r o m m i n u s t o p l u s . Th e y b e c a m e o n e
w i t h t h e p o s i t i v e i d e a o f j u s t i c e w h i c h c o r r e s p o n d e d w i t h t h e
f u n d a m e n t a l d e c e n c y o f t h e Br i t i s h p e o p l e a s a w h o l e
. It w a s
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s g r e a t m i s t a k e t o t h i n k t h a t b y i n f l a t i n g w h a t
h e a s s u m e d w a s t h e d e a d l e t t e r o f d i p l o m a c y w i t h m e l o -
d r a m a t i c e f f e c t s a n d a v e n g i n g f u r y h e w a s " p r o g r e s s i v e . "
No w t a k e t h e Po l i s h a f f a i r o n c e m o r e . Da n zi g l o o k s v e r y
G e r m a n
. It i s a g r a n d o l d t o w n o n t h e Ba l t i c . No r m a l l y i t
i s d i f f i c u l t t o s e e w h y a s o r t o f G e r m a n i r r e d e n t a s h o u l d h a v e
b e e n c r e a t e d t h e r e a t a l l . Th e Po l e s h a d G d y n i a ; t h e y c o u l d
h a v e h a d a l l t h e f a c i l i t i e s t h e y l i k e d a t Da n zi g . Th e r e w a s
n o n e c e s s i t y o f h a v i n g s o m e b o d y f r o m t h e Le a g u e o f Na -
t i o n s r e s i d e o n t h e s p o t a n d c o m p l i c a t e t h e m a t t e r w i t h f a r -
f e t c h e d l e g a l i s t i c i n t r i c a c i e s w h i c h h a d w o r k e d w e l l n e i t h e r
i n M a n c h u r i a n o r i n Et h i o p i a . It w a s a l e g i t i m a t e g o a l o f
G e r m a n p o l i c y t o g e t Da n zi g b a c k i n t o t h e Re i c h . Ri b b e n -
t r o p , h o w e v e r , w a s n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e m e d i e v a l t r e a s u r e s
o f Da n zi g a n d i n t h e b u r n i n g i f m i s g u i d e d l o y a l t y o f i t s
G e r m a n i n h a b i t a n t s
. He w a s i n t e r e s t e d i n e x p o s i n g t h e
w i c k e d n e s s o f t h e Po l e s
. Th e r e i s a g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n
w a n t i n g a t h i n g f o r i t s o w n s a k e a n d w a n t i n g a t h i n g i n
o r d e r t o h a v e i t r e f u s e d a n d s o h a v e a g r i e v a n c e a g a i n s t t h e
p e r s o n w h o r e f u s e s i t .
W e d o n o t h a v e t o g o i n t o t h e d e t a i l s o f Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
a b r u p t v e r b a l d e m a n d f o r t h e s u r r e n d e r o f Da n zi g o n
M a r c h 21 ,
1 9 3 9 , a n d w h a t f o l l o w e d , o n c e a g a i n . Bu t i t i s
n e c e s s a r y t o r e m e m b e r t h i s p r o v o c a t i v e p r o c e d u r e , d o u b l y
27 I
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
p r o v o c a t i v e b e c a u s e i t f o l l o w e d i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e h u m i l -
i a t i n g e n d o f C ze c h o s l o v a k i a
. Th e Po l e s h a s t e n e d t o m a k e
c o u n t e r p r o p o s a l s w h i c h i s t h e m o s t n a t u r a l t h i n g i n d i p l o -
m a c y . Bu t a s f a r a s Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p w e r e c o n c e r n e d
" t h e Po l e s h a d m i s s e d t h e i r h i s t o r i c a l c h a n c e
. " Th e y w e r e
d o o m e d . Th e y h a d t o b e a n n i h i l a t e d
. Th e y h a d n o t o n l y
r e f u s e d t o a c c e p t t h e s u p e r l a t i v e l y g e n e r o u s o f f e r o f t h e
g r e a t m e n i n Be r l i n , t h e y h a d d r a g g e d En g l a n d i n t o Ea s t e r n
Eu r o p e a n a f f a i r s , a c a p i t a l c r i m e . In Po l a n d , Hi t l e r a n d Ri b -
b e n t r o p i n t e n d e d t o s t r i k e En g l a n d a n d w h o s o e v e r a l l i e d
h e r s e l f w i t h En g l a n d w o u l d p e r i s h
.
A f t e r t h e d a n g e r o f Ru s s i a s i d i n g w i t h En g l a n d a g a i n s t
Hi t l e r ' s " d y n a m i s m " w a s d i s p e r s e d i n M o s c o w o n A u g u s t
23 , 1 9 3 9 , t h e g r e a t s e t t l i n g o f a c c o u n t s w i t h Po l a n d c o u l d
b e g i n
. W h a t m a k e s t h e s l a u g h t e r o f Po l a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y u n -
b e a r a b l e i s t h e w a y i t i s r e p r e s e n t e d a s a p e d a g o g i c a l a c t , a s
a j u s t i n t e r f e r e n c e b y t h e Re i c h , i n t h e " M a c e d o n i a n " c o n d i -
t i o n s e x i s t i n g o n t h e Ea s t e r n f r o n t i e r , a s a c o r r e c t i v e t h e
G e r m a n Ku l t u r t r a e g e r
r e l u c t a n t l y h a d t o a d m i n i s t e r a f t e r
m i l d e r m e t h o d s h a d b e e n o f n o a v a i l
. A s t o " M a c e d o n i a n
c o n d i t i o n s " o n e h a s t o r e m e m b e r t h e w o u n d s t h e g o v e r n -
m e n t i n G e r m a n y i n f l i c t e d u p o n t h e p r e s t i g e a n d d i g n i t y o f
i t s o w n c i t i ze n s i n t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s
. On e h a s t o
t h i n k o f t h e a r t i f i c i a l r e g r e s s i o n i n t h i n k i n g a n d f e e l i n g w h i c h
t h e g o v e r n m e n t f o r c e d o n t h e o n c e r i c h a n d c o m p l e x G e r m a n
i n t e l l i g e n c e
. No d i s i n t e r e s t e d g e s t u r e , n o p i o u s g a t h e r i n g , n o
f i n e o r s p i r i t u a l h o u r w a s p o s s i b l e i n G e r m a n y w i t h o u t t h e
b r u t a l c r e t i n i s m o f t h e
S t u e r m e r a n d t h e V o e l k i s c h e r Be o -
b a c h t e r
c r e e p i n g i n c o n s c i o u s l y a n d s u b c o n s c i o u s l y l i k e
s o m e c o n t a g i o u s d i s e a s e
. W h i l e Ri b b e n t r o p c o l l e c t e d c a s t l e s
w h o s e o w n e r s w e r e b u t c h e r e d i n Da c h a u , t h e b i g c a s t l e o f
t h e G e r m a n i m a g i n a t i o n w a s b l o w n t o p i e c e s b y t h e g u t t e r
l a n g u a g e o f A d o l f Hi t l e r
. On e h a s t o t h i n k o f t h e a t t a c k
27 2
THEPOLIS HC RIS IS
o n p e r f e c t l y h a r m l e s s p e o p l e m a d e b y p a i d i m b e c i l e s a n d
a s s a s s i n s i n e v e r y n o o k a n d c o r n e r o f t h e Re i c h d u r i n g t h e
p o g r o m i n No v e m b e r , 1 9 3 8 . Th e " M a c e d o n i a n c o n d i t i o n s "
w e r e n o t o n t h e Po l i s h - G e r m a n b o r d e r . Th e y w e r e i n Be r l i n .
A n d s e c o n d l y , a s t o t h e a l l e g e d u n r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e
Po l i s h g o v e r n m e n t ; l i k e a m a g i c i a n w h o p r o d u c e s a r a b b i t ,
Ri b b e n t r o p p r o d u c e d " r e a s o n a b l e " t e r m s a f t e r t h e t w e l f t h
h o u r h a d p a s s e d , t h e m o s t a m a zi n g b u t a l s o t h e m o s t o b v i o u s
w i n d o w d r e s s i n g i n h i s t o r y . Ev e r y b o d y k n o w s t h e s t o r y
f r o m S i r Ne v i l e He n d e r s o n ' s m e m o i r s . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e a s o n -
a b l e p r o p o s a l s s u g g e s t e d t h e r e t u r n o f Da n zi g , a p l e b i s c i t e i n
t h e c o r r i d o r , d e m i l i t a r i za t i o n o f Da n zi g a n d G d y n i a , a n
i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m i t t e e o f i n q u i r y o n t h e t r e a t m e n t o f
m i n o r i t i e s , a n d d e m o b i l i za t i o n o f t h e G e r m a n a n d Po l i s h
a r m i e s . A d m i r a b l e p r o p o s a l s i n d e e d - i n s p i r e d b y t h e m o s t
d e l i c a t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n s c i e n c e . Th e t r o u b l e w a s t h a t t h e y
w e r e c o n c o c t e d , a s G o e r i n g a l l b u t c o n f e s s e d t o S i r Ne v i l e ,
m e r e l y s o t h a t t h e y c o u l d b e b r o a d c a s t e d t o t h e w o r l d i n
o r d e r t o p r o v e t h e " g o o d f a i t h " o f t h e G e r m a n g o v e r n m e n t .
Th e y a p p e a r e d o n l y a f t e r t h e u l t i m a t u m o f A u g u s t 29 w h i c h
d e m a n d e d t h a t a Po l i s h p l e n i p o t e n t i a r y s h o u l d p r e s e n t h i m -
s e l f t o Ri b b e n t r o p b e f o r e m i d n i g h t A u g u s t 3 o h a d e x p i r e d .
A s Be c k , w h o s e f a t e w a s s u r e l y n o t a n e a s y o n e i n t h e d a y s
w h i c h w e r e t o f o l l o w , w a s r e l u c t a n t t o c o m e t o Be r l i n i n
o r d e r t o b e h a r r i e d a r o u n d a c o n f e r e n c e t a b l e u n t i l t h e m o r n -
i n g h o u r s a s h a d h a p p e n e d t o Ha c h a , i t m a d e a l l t h e d i f f e r e n c e
i n t h e w o r l d t o h i m t o k n o w t h a t t h e b a s i s f o r t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s
w a s g o i n g t o b e a " r e a s o n a b l e " o n e . Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p w a s
d e t e r m i n e d t h a t h e s h o u l d n o t k n o w .
Th i s i s a l l w e l l t o l d b y t h e l a t e S i r Ne v i l e He n d e r s o n .
Du r i n g t h e m e m o r a b l e i n t e r v i e w h e h a d w i t h Ri b b e n t r o p a t
m i d n i g h t A u g u s t 3 0, Ri b b e n t r o p , w h o " k e p t j u m p i n g t o h i s
f e e t i n a s t a t e o f g r e a t e x c i t e m e n t , p r o d u c e d a l e n g t h y d o c u -
2 7 3
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
m e n t w h i c h h e r e a d o u t t o m e i n G e r m a n o r r a t h e r g a b b l e d
t h r o u g h t o m e a s f a s t a s h e c o u l d i n t h e t o n e o f t h e u t m o s t
s c o r n a n d a n n o y a n c e . " Ri b b e n t r o p i s f o n d o f m a k i n g a s h o w
o f h i s e m o t i o n s
. If y o u a r e t e m p t e d t o o b s e r v e h i s e x p r e s s i o n
u p o n a n h i s t o r i c a l o c c a s i o n , w a t c h h i m i n t h e Na zi f i l m o f
t h e W a r i n t h e W e s t , i n t h e r a i l r o a d c a r i n C o m p i e g n e d u r i n g
t h e a r r i v a l o f F r e n c h n e g o t i a t o r s . Th e m a s k o f b o r e d d i s g u s t
h e w e a r s i s a l m o s t i n d e c e n t . Bu t n o m a t t e r w h a t r o l e Ri b b e n -
t r o p c h o s e t o a c t d u r i n g h i s i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e Br i t i s h
A m b a s s a d o r , S i r Ne v i l e w a s j u s t i f i a b l y e a g e r t o g e t t h e t e x t
o f t h e p a r t i n o r d e r t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h e g o o d n e w s o f i t s
c o m p a r a t i v e s a n i t y t o t h e Po l e s . Bu t " He r r v o n Ri b b e n t r o p
w h o a l w a y s m i s t o o k r u d e n e s s f o r s t r e n g t h , r e f u s e d c a t e g o r i -
c a l l y ; t h r e w t h e d o c u m e n t w i t h a c o n t e m p t u o u s g e s t u r e o n
t h e t a b l e ; a n d s a i d t h a t i t w a s n o w o u t o f d a t e ( u e b e r h o l t )
s i n c e n o Po l i s h e m i s s a r y h a d a r r i v e d a t Be r l i n b y m i d n i g h t . "
Th i s d o c u m e n t , S i r Ne v i l e r e m a r k s , Ri b b e n t r o p h a d
p r o m i s e d t o p l a c e , i f p o s s i b l e , a t t h e d i s p o s a l o f t h e Br i t i s h
g o v e r n m e n t b e f o r e m i d n i g h t , t h a t i s , b e f o r e i t w a s u e b e r h o l t .
He d i d n o t d o s o . Bu t , a b o v e a l l , a s k s S i r Ne v i l e ( p a g e z86) ,
" w h y d i d h e r e f u s e e v e n t h e n t o h a n d t h e m t o m e ? No t e v e n
Hi t l e r c o u l d h o n e s t l y h a v e e x p e c t e d t h e Po l i s h G o v e r n m e n t
t o a p p o i n t a p l e n i p o t e n t i a r y t o d i s c u s s p r o p o s a l s i n r e g a r d t o
w h i c h i t w a s c o m p l e t e l y i n t h e d a r k . Di d Ri b b e n t r o p a n d
h i s m a s t e r n o t w i s h t h e m t o c o m m u n i c a t e t o t h e Po l i s h
G o v e r n m e n t l e s t t h e l a t t e r m i g h t i n f a c t a g r e e t o n e g o t i a t e ?
It i s t h e o n l y c o n c l u s i o n w h i c h o n e c a n d r a w f r o m t h i s
e p i s o d e , s i n c e i t m i g h t h a v e m a d e a l l t h e d i f f e r e n c e t o t h e
i n s t r u c t i o n s g i v e n t o M r . Li p s k i o n t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y i f
t h e Po l i s h G o v e r n m e n t h a d b e e n c o g n i za n t o f t h e o f f i c i a l
t e x t o f t h e G e r m a n p r o p o s a l s . In t h e m s e l v e s a n d t a k e n a t
t h e i r f a c e v a l u e , t h e y w e r e n o t u n r e a s o n a b l e a n d m i g h t w e l l
h a v e s e r v e d a s a b a s i s f o r n e g o t i a t i o n . Th a t i s w h y o n e c a n
2 7 4
THEPOLIS HC RIS IS
o n l y a s s u m e t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p d i d n o t w i s h t h e m t o b e d i s -
c u s s e d , a n d h i s a t t i t u d e t h a t n i g h t w a s n o t o n l y o n e o f i l l
m a n n e r s , b u t a l s o o f i l l f a i t h . "
It w i l l b e i m p o s s i b l e t o o m i t t h i s w e l l - k n o w n e p i s o d e i n
a n y n a r r a t i v e d e a l i n g w i t h t h e o u t b r e a k o f W o r l d W a r II
.
If J o a c h i m c r a v e d i m m o r t a l i t y , h e h a s a c h i e v e d h i s g o a l , b u t
m o r e i n t h e m a n n e r o f He r o s t r a t u s , t h e m a n w h o b u r n e d t h e
w o r l d ' s m o s t b e a u t i f u l t e m p l e , t h a n i n t h e m a n n e r o f A l e x -
a n d e r w h o e x p a n d e d t h e G r e e k d r e a m t o t h e b a n k s o f
t h e In d u s .
S i r Ne v i l e i n s i s t s t h a t t h e En g l i s h d i d e v e r y t h i n g t o c o n -
v i n c e Ri b b e n t r o p t h a t t h e y w o u l d f i g h t i n c a s e Po l a n d w a s
a t t a c k e d . It i s u n d e n i a b l e t h a t t h e d o c u m e n t s a s s e m b l e d i n
t h e Br i t i s h Bl u e Bo o k p r o v e j u s t t h a t
. Ri b b e n t r o p , h o w e v e r ,
" t o t h e l a s t c o n t i n u e d t o a s s e r t t h a t En g l a n d w o u l d n e v e r
f i g h t
. " Th i s i s v e r y t r u e , b u t w e c a n n o t a g r e e w i t h t h e c o n -
c l u s i o n s t h e Br i t i s h d i p l o m a t d r a w s f r o m t h i s " f o o l i s h o b s t i -
n a c y . " S i r Ne v i l e t h i n k s i t i s f a k e d
. W o r s e , h e t h i n k s Ri b b e n -
t r o p n e e d e d a w a r t o p r o v e t o t h e w o r l d t h a t h e w a s a n o t h e r
Bi s m a r c k . It i s m y s i n c e r e c o n v i c t i o n t h a t Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n -
t r o p h a d d e c i d e d u p o n a w a r a g a i n s t Po l a n d . Th e y w e r e
a b s o l u t e l y d e t e r m i n e d t o d o t o Po l a n d w h a t t h e y w e r e p r e -
v e n t e d , t h r o u g h t h e M u n i c h a r r a n g e m e n t , t o d o t o C ze c h o -
s l o v a k i a a y e a r b e f o r e . Th e y n e e d e d a n a w e - i n s p i r i n g d e m o n -
s t r a t i o n t o p r o v e t h a t f r o m n o w o n G e r m a n y w o u l d n o t
t o l e r a t e j o k e s a t h e r e x p e n s e o n t h e p a r t o f " r i d i c u l o u s " s t a t e s ,
a s Hi t l e r c a l l e d Po l a n d , i n t h e Re i c h s t a g , a f t e r t h e c o n q u e s t
.
Th a t w a s s e t t l e d , b u t t h e y d i d n o t w a n t t o h a v e En g l a n d a s
a n e n e m y , o r r a t h e r , t h e y g e n u i n e l y d i d n o t e x p e c t En g l a n d
t o d o a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t
. Th e i r m i n d s w e r e m a d e u p . Th e y
w o u l d n o t b e d e t e r r e d a g a i n , t h i s t i m e b y En g l a n d m e d d l i n g
i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s c e n e . Bu t t h a t t h i s p o l i c y m e a n t w a r
w i t h En g l a n d a n d F r a n c e , t h e y d i d n o t b e l i e v e . On l y e i g h t
2 7 5
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
d a y s b e f o r e t h e m e m o r a b l e He n d e r s o n - Ri b b e n t r o p i n t e r -
v i e w , Hi t l e r d e c l a r e d , b e f o r e t h e g e n e r a l s , a c c o r d i n g t o
Lo u i s Lo c h n e r , " Ik n o w t h o s e w r e t c h e d w o r m s , Da l a d i e r
a n d C h a m b e r l a i n , f r o m M u n i c h . . Th e y w i l l b e t o o c o w a r d l y
t o a t t a c k . Th e y w o n ' t g o b e y o n d a b l o c k a d e . " A n d a f t e r t h e
Po l i s h c o n q u e s t , Hi t l e r p o m p o u s l y a n n o u n c e d , o n Oc t o b e r 6,
b e f o r e t h e Re i c h s t a g , t h a t h e w a s n o w w i l l i n g t o o p e n p e a c e
n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h En g l a n d a n d F r a n c e
. He h a d n o t t h e
s l i g h t e s t d o u b t t h a t w i t h h i s m i l i t a r y v i c t o r y c o m i n g o n t o p
o f t h e M o s c o w d i p l o m a t i c v i c t o r y , t h e En g l i s h , r e p u t e d t o b e
r e a l i s t i c , w o u l d b e o n l y t o o g l a d t o b e a l l o w e d , i n s p i t e o f
t h e i r p r e v i o u s s l i p s , t o s a l u t e t h e n e w C a e s a r
. Th e c o n s t e r n a -
t i o n i n Be r l i n , w h e n C h a m b e r l a i n p o l i t e l y d e c l i n e d , w a s
t r e m e n d o u s a n d w a s n o t f a k e d . Th e b i t t e r r e s e n t m e n t o f
b e i n g t u r n e d d o w n b y En g l a n d b e f o r e t h e e y e s o f t h e w h o l e
w o r l d c a n s t i l l b e p e r c e i v e d i n Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p r e f a c e t o t h e
G e r m a n W h i t e Bo o k .
" Th e m i n d , " a c c o r d i n g t o M i l t o n , " i n i t s o w n p l a c e , a n d
i n i t s e l f c a n m a k e a h e a v e n o f h e l l , a h e l l o f h e a v e n . " Hi t l e r
a n d Ri b b e n t r o p h a d f o l l o w e d t h e g o o d o l d G e r m a n c u s t o m
o f f i r s t c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e w o r l d i n t h e i r o w n m i n d s - n o t a
v e r y b e a u t i f u l w o r l d . It w a s , i n f a c t , t h e w o r l d o f p e s s i m i s t s -
a w o r l d w h i c h d e s p i s e s t h e h u m b l e a n d w o r s h i p s t h e p o w e r -
f u l . W h a t t h e r e a l w o r l d w a s s u p p o s e d t o d o w a s t o i l l u s t r a t e
t h e p e r s p i c a c i t y o f t h e m a s t e r m i n d s b y b e h a v i n g e x a c t l y h o w
t h e y h a d p r e d i c t e d i t w o u l d b e h a v e
. If i t b e h a v e d d i f f e r e n t l y ,
Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p w h o h a d i n t e r p r e t e d n o t t h e w o r l d
b u t t h e i r o w n i m p e r f e c t s t a g e o f d e v e l o p m e n t , w o u l d , b y n o
m e a n s , b l a m e t h e m s e l v e s b u t w o u l d f e e l v e r y m u c h o f f e n d e d
b y w h a t t h e y c o n s i d e r e d a n u g l y s h o r t c o m i n g i n e v e r y t h i n g
t h a t w a s n o t Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p . Th o u g h i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o
r e f u t e t h e u n o r i g i n a l c o n t e n t i o n o f Hi t l e r t h a t i t i s d e s i r a b l e
t o h a v e p o w e r i n p o l i t i c s , h e w a s m i s t a k e n a b o u t t h e s a t i s -
27 6
THEPOLIS HC RIS IS
f a c t i o n h e w o u l d g e t o u t o f t h e f a c t t h a t p o w e r w a s r e s t o r e d
t o G e r m a n y . Hi s p r i m i t i v e p s y c h o l o g y h a d s u g g e s t e d t o h i m
t h a t a s l o n g a s h e w a s n o t p o w e r f u l h e w a s n o t h o n o r a b l e : t h a t
w i t h p o w e r w o u l d c o m a h o n o r , i n t h e o u t w a r d a n d i n w a r d
s e n s e . A t M u n i c h w h e n h e w a s a r b i t e r o f Eu r o p e a n d t h e
w o r l d a n d w h e n t h e m i g h t y f l o c k e d t o h i s a b o d e , h e h a d h i s
m a g n i f i c e n t h o u r , b u t i t w a s s h o r t l i v e d .
In t h e F r e n c h Y e l l o w Bo o k , t h e r e i s a r e p o r t b y t h e
c h a r g e
d ' a f f a i r e s
i n Be r l i n , d e M o n t b a s . It i s d a t e d J a n u a r y S ,
1 9 3 9 ,
a n d i t d e s c r i b e s t h e W e l t s c h m e r z t h a t e n t e r e d t h e h e a r t s o f
t h e Na zi c h i e f s a t t h e v e r y m o m e n t w h e n F a t e w a s s m i l i n g
a t t h e m a s i t h a d n e v e r d o n e b e f o r e a n d w a s n e v e r t o d o a f t e r .
Th i s i s h o w h e c h a r a c t e r i ze s t h e f e e l i n g s o f t h e a u t h o r i t i e s
i n Be r l i n : " S o f a r a s f o r e i g n p o l i c y i s c o n c e r n e d , G r e a t e r
G e r m a n y d i d a c q u i r e n e i t h e r t h e s y m p a t h e t i c a p p l a u s e n o r
t h e r e s p e c t a n d t h e p r e s t i g e w h i c h i t c o u l d e x p e c t o n t h e b a s i s
o f i t s v i c t o r i e s . In s p i t e o f t h e M u n i c h a g r e e m e n t t h e En g l i s h -
G e r m a n r e l a t i o n s w e r e u n s a t i s f a c t o r y a s n e v e r b e f o r e . " A n d
t h e n h e g o e s o n t o d w e l l o n t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f G e r m a n -
A m e r i c a n r e l a t i o n s i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e p o g r o m i n No -
v e m b e r , 1 9 3 8a n d t h e h o s t i l e a t t i t u d e o f Pr e s i d e n t Ro o s e v e l t .
Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p f e l t m i s u n d e r s t o o d
. Th e y w e r e d i s -
a p p o i n t e d t h a t , d e s p i t e t h e i r v i c t o r i e s , t h e y d i d n o t b a s k i n t h e
s u n o f w o r l d a p p r o v a l o r t h a t t h e i r w i s h e s w e r e n o t c a t e r e d t o
u n h e s i t a t i n g l y b y s o l i c i t o u s n e i g h b o r s , b u t t h a t t h e i r W e l t -
a n s c h a u u n g w a s n e i t h e r l i k e d n o r a c c e p t e d a n d t h a t t h e y h a d
t o c u t t h e i r p a t h t o g l o r y t h r o u g h a n i n c r e a s i n g l y h o s t i l e
e n v i r o n m e n t . Th i s d i s a p p o i n t m e n t w a s a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r
i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f W o r l d W a r II
. He n d e r s o n n e g l e c t s t h i s
p a r t i c u l a r a s p e c t o f t h e p s y c h o l o g y o f t h e Na zi s w h o , w h i l e
i n d u l g i n g i n t h e i r h a t r e d s , e x p e c t e d t h a t t h e e c h o w o u l d b e
l o v e . Th e y h a d l o s t t h e i r i l l u s i o n s
. He n d e r s o n a s c r i b e s Ri b -
b e n t r o p ' s q u a i n t p e r f o r m a n c e i n t h e l a s t d a y s o f A u g u s t t o
2 7 7
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
s o t r i v i a l a n i m p u l s e a s p e r s o n a l a d v a n c e m e n t . Ev e n w h e n
Ri b b e n t r o p e n t e r s a w o r l d h i s t o r i c a l h o u r , h e m a k e s i t s e e m
t r i v i a l
. Y e t t h e m a i n i m p u l s e m a y h a v e b e e n , a s w i t h h i s
m a s t e r , t h e r e s e n t m e n t f e l t a g a i n s t t h e w h o l e o f c r e a t i o n b y
a n u n d e v e l o p e d c h a r a c t e r w h o s u d d e n l y r e a l i ze s t h a t w h a t -
e v e r g r a n d e u r s a n d m o n s t r o s i t i e s h e c o u l d e n g i n e e r , h e w i l l
n e v e r b e a b l e t o j u m p o v e r h i s o w n s h a d o w .
2
7
8
' 7
Ho w Ri b b e n t r o p Pr e p a r e d " Pe a c e i n Ou r Ti m e "
IF W El o o k f o r a r e a s o n a s t o w h y p e a c e s h o u l d h a v e
d i s a p p e a r e d f r o m t h e Eu r o p e a n c o n t i n e n t i n t h e t w e n t i e t h
c e n t u r y , o u r e y e s t u r n t o G e r m a n y , a c c u s i n g l y . Th e r e i s a
w i d e s p r e a d f e e l i n g t h a t h e r e i s a g i a n t w i t h a n u n b a l a n c e d
p s y c h o l o g y , a d i f f i c u l t a n d m o s t p a t h o l o g i c a l c a s e o f m e n t a l
a n d p h y s i c a l m a l a d j u s t m e n t , a n d a n i n c l i n a t i o n t o m u r d e r o u s
p r a c t i c e s w h i c h i s a s t o u n d i n g i n a c o u n t r y w h o s e c o n t r i b u -
t i o n s t o c i v i l i za t i o n a r e , b y c o m m o n c o n s e n t , e n o r m o u s
.
Du r i n g W o r l d W a r I, t h i s f e e l i n g c r e a t e d t h e i m a g e o f a
s o r t o f F r a n k e n s t e i n ' s m o n s t e r . G e r m a n y b e c a m e a n i n v a d e r
f r o m s o m e i n h u m a n p l a n e t
. S h e w a s a b e a s t o f i n c o n c e i v a b l e
c r u e l t y a n d m o n s t r o u s a s p i r a t i o n s
. Bu t a f t e r t h e w a r w a s o v e r ,
w h e n t h e p r o f e s s o r s s t a r t e d d i g g i n g i n t o t h e f i l e s , t h e d i p l o -
m a t i c e v i d e n c e , f o r p a r t i c u l a r l y F r a n k e n s t e i n i a n b e h a v i o r o n
G e r m a n y ' s p a r t , w a s a t l e a s t i n s u f f i c i e n t
. Be t h m a n n , t h e
C h a n c e l l o r , s e e m e d t o h a v e i n v i t e d t h e c a t a s t r o p h e b y i r r e s o -
l u t i o n r a t h e r t h a n b y p r e m e d i t a t i o n
. Th e Ka i s e r , , d e s p i t e h i s
u s u a l h a b i t o f r e g u l a r l y t a l k i n g o u t o f t u n e , w a s n o t h i n g b u t
a c o r k o n t h e w a v e s , a n d t h e l e a d i n g m i l i t a r i s t s w e r e n o t v e r y
d i f f e r e n t i n t h e i r e a g e r n e s s t o e m p l o y t h e i n s t r u m e n t s o f w a r
.
A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , V i e n n a a n d Pe t e r s b u r g a p p e a r , i n t h e
l i g h t o f h i s t o r y , t o h a v e b e e n m o r e p o t e n t a g e n t s o n t h e r o a d
t o w a r t h a n Be r l i n .
2 7 9
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
De s p i t e t h i s e x t e n u a t i n g e v i d e n c e , i t i s a f a c t t h a t G e r m a n y
h a d f a i l e d t o u t i l i ze h e r e n o r m o u s p o w e r u n r e s e r v e d l y f o r
t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f p e a c e
. No t o n l y t h e t r a d i t i o n s o f t h e
c l a s s i c a l G e r m a n y o f Ka n t , t r a d i t i o n s w h i c h i n d e e d h a d b e e n
e n t i r e l y a n d t r a g i c a l l y e c l i p s e d i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y b y
t h e b l o o d a n d i r o n p h i l o s o p h y o f Bi s m a r c k a n d Be r n h a r d i ,
b u t p r i m i t i v e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f e x p e d i e n c y w o u l d h a v e r e c -
o m m e n d e d s u c h a c o u r s e
. F o r i n s t a n c e , a t t h e v e r y m o m e n t
w h e n w a r b r o k e o u t , 1 9 1 4,
t h e s k i l l f u l s y s t e m o f a l l i a n c e s
a n d g u a r a n t e e s b e h i n d w h i c h Bi s m a r c k h a d t r i e d t o s h e l t e r
t h e e m p i r e o f h i s m a k i n g h a d c o m p l e t e l y c o l l a p s e d . G e r m a n y ,
i n s t e a d o f b e i n g t h e c e n t r e o f a f r i e n d l y c o n c e r t o f n a t i o n s ,
w a s i s o l a t e d
. Th e A u s t r i a n a l l i a n c e , t h e l a s t r e m a i n i n g v e s t i g e
o f t h e Bi s m a r c k i a n d i p l o m a t i c s t r u c t u r e , h a d b e c o m e m e r e l y
a l i a b i l i t y a n d f o r c e d Be r l i n i n t o a b l i n d p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e
b l u n d e r e r s i n V i e n n a . Th e r e w a s r e a l l y n o t h i n g G e r m a n y
c o u l d g a i n b y w a r w h i c h i t c o u l d n o t g a i n a h u n d r e d f o l d b y
m a i n t a i n i n g p e a c e .
Ho w e v e r , a c c o r d i n g t o
M e i n Ka m p f ,
t h e G e r m a n y o f
W i l h e l m IId i d n o t t a l k a n d a c t s u f f i c i e n t l y a l o n g m a r t i a l
l i n e s . If i t h a d , i t w o u l d h a v e w o n t h e w a r . A s l o n g a s
Bi s m a r c k w a s a t t h e h e l m i n G e r m a n y , F r a n c e w a s i s o l a t e d .
A f t e r t w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s o f W i l h e l m II, G e r m a n y w a s i s o l a t e d .
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e Na zi s , t h e r e a s o n f o r t h i s w a s n o t b e c a u s e
t h e s t a b i l i zi n g i n f l u e n c e a n d t h e r e l a t i v e l y l i m i t e d a n d d e -
f e n s i v e p r o g r a m s o f t h e o l d C h a n c e l l o r w e r e f o l l o w e d b y
t h e e r r a t i c s c h e m e s , c h i l d i s h s u s c e p t i b i l i t i e s , a n d b l u s t e r i n g
p h r a s e s o f t h e Ka i s e r a n d h i s c l i q u e , b u t b e c a u s e G e r m a n y
h a d i n v i t e d h e r e n c i r c l e m e n t b y h e r w e a k n e s s . It e m o n e o f
t h e Na zi p r o g r a m , a s f a r a s f o r e i g n a f f a i r s w e r e c o n c e r n e d ,
w a s , t h e r e f o r e , n o t t o r e p e a t t h i s m i s t a k e a n d t o m a k e G e r -
m a n y s u p e r l a t i v e l y f o r m i d a b l e i n a m i l i t a r y s e n s e t o t h e
e x c l u s i o n o f a n y o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . Th i s w o u l d r e s u l t i n
28o
HOW HEPREPA REII" PEA C EINOU RTIM E "
a p r o n o u n c e d d i s i n c l i n a t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f p o t e n t i a l c o m -
p e t i t o r s t o b a n d t o g e t h e r a g a i n w i t h h o s t i l e i n t e n t i o n s . Th e y
w o u l d r u s h t o w a r d a g r e e m e n t s w i t h G e r m a n y i n o r d e r t o
i n s u r e i t s b e n e v o l e n c e .
Ir o n i c a l l y , y e t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , C h a n c e l l o r Pr i n c e Bu e l o w
h a d v e r y m u c h t h e s a m e i d e a w h e n p u s h i n g t h e n a v a l
p r o g r a m o f i m p e r i a l G e r m a n y a h e a d . He , a l s o , h a d t h e
i d e a t h a t o n c e G e r m a n y h a d . a r r i v e d a t h e r m a x i m u m
s t r e n g t h o n l a n d a n d s e a , t h e n o t i o n o f i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h h e r
m i g h t f o r c i b l y w o u l d b e a b a n d o n e d b y h e r a d v e r s a r i e s ,
s i m p l y b e c a u s e t h e r i s k w o u l d b e t o o g r e a t . G e r m a n y w o u l d
t h e n b e i n a p o s i t i o n t o c o m m a n d t h e p r o s t r a t e r e s p e c t o f t h e
w o r l d w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o b o t h e r a b o u t t h e r e s e n t m e n t t h a t
w a s l i k e l y t o c r o p u p . Th e s i t u a t i o n Pr i n c e Bu e l o w e n v i s a g e d
w a s i d e a l f r o m t h e G e r m a n p o i n t o f v i e w .
It w a s w e l l - u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e Im p e r i a l G e r m a n g o v e r n -
m e n t t h a t G e r m a n y , i n p u r s u a n c e o f t h i s p r o g r a m , w o u l d
h a v e t o p a s s t h r o u g h a " d a n g e r zo n e , " a p e r i o d w h e n i t s s u p e -
r i o r i t y i n t e r m s o f a r m s a n d p r e p a r e d n e s s w a s n o t y e t u n q u e s -
t i o n e d . Th i s p e r i o d w o u l d a f f o r d G e r m a n y ' s e n e m i e s t h e i r l a s t
c h a n c e t o s t r i k e w i t h a n y p r o s p e c t o f s u c c e s s a n d s o s a v e t h e i r
i n d e p e n d e n c e f r o m t h e w h i m s o f t h e i n e x o r a b l e g r o w i n g Te u -
t o n i c He r c u l e s . It w a s Bu e l o w ' s o b v i o u s c o u n s e l t h a t t h e
G e r m a n g o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d a v o i d w a r a t a l l c o s t s w h e n
p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t h i s d a n g e r zo n e . Hi s f u r y , w h e n Be t h m a n n ,
h i s s u c c e s s o r , d i d n o t m a n a g e t o d o s o a n d p e r m i t t e d w a r t o
b r e a k o u t a t t h e w o r s t p o s s i b l e m o m e n t f o r G e r m a n y , w a s
u n b o u n d e d a n d i s r e f l e c t e d a l l t h r o u g h h i s m e m o i r s . Bu e l o w
p o i n t s o u t s e v e r a l p e a c e - s a v i n g d e v i c e s Be t h m a n n c o u l d h a v e
e m p l o y e d i n t h e e m e r g e n c y , a n d p r o b a b l y h e i s r i g h t .
In t h e l a t e t h i r t i e s , t h e Na zi s f a c e d t h e s a m e " d a n g e r zo n e "
Bu e l o w h a d p r e d i c t e d f o r G e r m a n y b e f o r e 1 9 1 4, a n d . t h e y
w e r e a l s o a w a r e o f i t . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s p r o b l e m t h e n s h o u l d h a v e
281
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
b e e n p e a c e , j u s t a s Bu e l o w ' s a n d Be t h m a n n ' s p r o b l e m h a d
b e e n - p e a c e n o t a s a n e n d i n i t s e l f b u t a s a m e a n s t o a t t a i n
a n u n c h a l l e n g e d " p l a c e i n t h e s u n " f o r G e r m a n y . S o f a r a s
t h e n o t i o n o f p e a c e a s s u c h w a s c o n c e r n e d , G e r m a n y w a s
c e r t a i n l y o n e w i t h t h e g e n e r a l t r e n d o f t h e t i m e . Ev e r y b o d y
a b h o r r e d w a r . S o f a r a s t h e u l t i m a t e e n d o f t h e Na zi " p e a c e "
p o l i c y w a s c o n c e r n e d , t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f t h e Eu r o p e a n s c e n e
b y s h e e r w e i g h t o f s u p e r a r m a m e n t s , G e r m a n y w a s o b v i o u s l y
n o t i n a c c o r d w i t h h e r n e i g h b o r s . Ri b b e n t r o p ' s j o b w a s ,
t h e r e f o r e , t o e m p h a s i ze , i n t h e e d d i e s a n d s h o a l s o f t h e d a n g e r
zo n e , t h o s e s i d e s o f t h e G e r m a n f o r e i g n p o l i c y w h i c h w e r e
i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a c c e p t a b l e , w h i l e t h e o b j e c t i o n a b l e u l t i m a t e
g o a l h a d e i t h e r t o b e h i d d e n f r o m t h e e y e s o f t h e w o r l d o r
t o b e m a d e a t t r a c t i v e b y a g e n e r o u s u s e o f M a c h i a v e l l i a n
t r i c k s . He r e t h e Na zi s h a d t h e i n i t i a l a d v a n t a g e . Bu t a s i n
e v e r y t h i n g , t h e Na zi s o v e r d i d t h e i r d i s r e g a r d o f f o r m a l d i p l o -
m a t i c r u l e s a n d b e c a m e b o r e s a s t h e y t r i e d t h e s a m e j o k e s
o v e r a n d o v e r a g a i n .
No r m a l l y , o f c o u r s e , t h e o f f i c e o f d i p l o m a t s c o n s i s t s i n
i n s p i r i n g c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e s a n i t y a n d r e l i a b i l i t y o f t h e c o u n -
t r y t h e y s e r v e . Th e Na zi s t r i e d t h i s a n g l e t o o . Th e y u s e d
g e n t l e m e n w i t h c l e a n f i n g e r n a i l s a n d l a d i e s , e i t h e r o f t h e
M a t a Ha r i o r o f t h e m o s t i n n o c u o u s Ha u s f r a u t y p e , t o s e l l
t h e i r l i t t l e r e v o l u t i o n t o g u l l i b l e f o r e i g n e r s . Th e y u s e d t i t l e d
a n d s c h o l a r l y c a r e e r m e n , p r o f e s s o r s o f r e p u t e , a n d b u s i n e s s -
m e n o f i m p e c c a b l e s t a n d i n g . Th e y s e n t t h e m a b r o a d t o t e s t i f y
f o r t h e b l e s s e d r e g u l a r i t y o f e v e n t s a t h o m e
. Th e Ol y m p i c s
w e r e h e l d i n Be r l i n a s i f e q u a l i t y o f r a c e s a n d b r o t h e r h o o d o f
m a n w e r e t h e v e r y e s s e n c e o f t h e Na zi c r e e d . En t h u s i a s t i c
v i s i t o r s f r o m a b r o a d w e r e e n t e r t a i n e d i n f o r m e r r o y a l c a s t l e s
w i t h c a n d l e l i g h t , m u s i c , l o b s t e r , a n d c h a m p a g n e . Th e y r e -
c e i v e d d e c o r a t i o n s . En g l i s h a n d F r e n c h v e t e r a n s o f t h e W a r
2 8 2
HOW HEPREPA RED" PEA C EINOU RTIM E"
o f 1 9 1 4w e r e i n v i t e d t o Be r l i n a n d f r a t e r n i ze d w i t h G e r m a n
v e t e r a n s .
Bu t o n e h a d o n l y t o l o o k i n t o t h e c o n c o c t i o n o f p r e p o s -
t e r o u s c u r s e s a n d c h e a p p r o p h e c i e s c a l l e d M e i n Ka n zp f i n
o r d e r t o r e a l i ze t h a t a n y p o l i c y b a s e d o n t h i s d o c u m e n t w a s
b o u n d t o c l a s h s o o n e r o r l a t e r w i t h t h e p o l i t i c a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s
o f t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d . M e i n Ka n r p f , t h i s e p i c o f t h e h a l f -
b a k e d m i n d , p l a y e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c s a s c h i l d r e n p l a y
c o w b o y s a n d In d i a n s . Th o s e w h o t o o k t h e p r e c e p t s o f M e i n
Ka m p f a s t h e i r m o d e l , d i d n o t o n l y t e r r o r i ze a n d p e r s e c u t e
m e m b e r s o f g r o u p s a n d o r g a n i za t i o n s w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f i l i -
a t i o n s i n s i d e G e r m a n y , b u t b l i t h e l y m u r d e r e d Dr . Do l l f u s s ,
t h e h e a d o f a f r i e n d l y n e i g h b o r l y n a t i o n . Th e y a s s a s s i n a t e d
e m i g r a n t s i n t h e i r t r u s t e d a s y l u m s . Pr o f e s s o r Br u n o Le s s i n g
i n C ze c h o s l o v a k i a i s o n l y o n e e x a m p l e h e r e
. Th e y k i d n a p p e d
o t h e r s i n S w i t ze r l a n d . Th e y v i o l a t e d f r o n t i e r s i n c e s s a n t l y , a n d
t h e y o r g a n i ze d , a t o f f i c i a l p a r t y m e e t i n g s i n Nu r e m b e r g , i n
t h e m i d s t o f p e a c e , h y s t e r i c a l c r u s a d e s o f h a t r e d a n d s l a n d e r
a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . Th e s e d i s t u r b i n g p r a c t i c e s m a d e
d i p l o m a t i c i n t e r c o u r s e w i t h t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d a l e s s o n i n
" d a n g e r o u s l i v i n g . "
Th e g o o d o l d f o r e i g n o f f i c e i n t h e W i l h e l n u t r a s s e w a s
a m a ze d a t t h e M e i n Ka r n p f i n s p i r e d Na zi s a n d He r r Ri b b e n -
t r o p , m a k i n g a m a d h o u s e o f d i p l o m a c y a n d y e t m a n a g i n g
t o s u r v i v e . It i s t r u e t h a t , f o r a l o n g t i m e , t h e y w e r e a n u n -
f a v o r a b l y c o n s p i c u o u s a n d h i g h l y s u s p e c t a d d i t i o n t o t h e
i n t e r n a t i o n a l s c e n e , b u t t h e y s u r v i v e d . A f t e r t h e a s s a s s i n a t i o n
o f t h e i r o n e a n d o n l y o p p o n e n t o f a n y c a l i b e r , Ba r t h o u , a n d
e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e b u n g l i n g o f t h e Et h i o p i a n a f f a i r b y t h e
d e m o c r a c i e s , t h e y p r o s p e r e d
. Th e o l d d i s p l o m a t i s t s i n t h e
W i l h e l m s t r a s s e a s k e d t h e m s e l v e s h o w i t w a s p o s s i b l e t h a t
t h e Na zi s c o u l d v i o l a t e e v e r y p r o c e d u r e t h e c a r e e r m e n h a d
283
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
c h e r i s h e d a n d y e t b e s u c c e s s f u l . Th e r e w e r e t h e o r i e s i n
e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h i s p h e n o m e n o n :
i . F u n d a m e n t a l l y , t h e w o r l d w a s m o r e i n t e r e s t e d i n s e e i n g
G e r m a n y a s a w h o l e s a t i s f i e d a n d u n i t e d i n t h e a d o r a t i o n o f
h e r i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e l e a d e r t h a n c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e s u p -
p r e s s i o n o f c e r t a i n " n o n - c o n f o r m i s t g r o u p s " l i k e J e w s , C a t h -
o l i c s , M a s o n s , e t c
.
2 . W a r w a s s u c h a n e x t r e m e l y u n c i v i l i ze d a n d c l u m s y
e x p e d i e n t t h a t e v e n t h e w i l d e s t e s c a p a d e s o f t h e Na zi s w e r e
a c c e p t e d a s a l e s s e r e v i l .
3 . Th e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g i n t h e Na zi c l a i m t h a t Eu r o p e w a s
Ba l k a n i ze d a n d u n w i e l d y a n d t h a t i t n e e d e d s o m e r e m o d e l l i n g ,
e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e Ea s t .
4 . Th e r e w a s s o m e t h i n g , t o o , i n t h e Na zi c l a i m t h a t Bo l -
s h e v i s m w a s a g r e a t m e n a c e a n d t h a t o n l y t o u g h p e o p l e c o u l d
c h e c k i t .
5 . Po s s i b l y t h e Na zi s w e r e r i g h t w h e n t h e y c l a i m e d t h a t
t h e y h a d a b i g r e v o l u t i o n o n t h e i r h a n d s a n d t h a t i r r e g u -
l a r i t i e s w e r e b o u n d t o h a p p e n i n t h e b e g i n n i n g o f e v e r y
r e v o l u t i o n ; s o o n e v e r y t h i n g w o u l d b e n o r m a l a g a i n .
6 . Th e i n t i m i d a t i o n t a c t i c s o n t h e p a r t o f t h e Na zi s h a d
w o r k e d
; t h e w o r l d w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e s e c r e t a r m a m e n t s
o f t h e Na zi s h a d a l r e a d y a t t a i n e d s u c h p r o p o r t i o n s t h a t a n -
t a g o n i s m w o u l d n o t p a y a n y m o r e
; a n d , a l l i n a l l , w a s i t n o t
s a f e r t o c o m e t o t e r m s w i t h G e r m a n y ?
Bu t t h e Na zi p o l i c y , d e s p i t e i t s b u l l - i n - t h e - c h i n a s h o p
m e t h o d s , s e e m e d t o h a v e , i n t h e e y e s o f e x p e r i e n c e d o b s e r v e r s ,
q u i t e a f e w c h a n c e s o f s u c c e s s . Th e g o a l w a s , a s Ih a v e
p o i n t e d o u t , t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f s u c h a n e n o r m o u s s u p e r i o r i t y
i n a r m a m e n t s t h a t t h e Ne w Or d e r c o u l d b e i m p o s e d u p o n
Eu r o p e a n d t h e w o r l d w i t h t h e c r u s h i n g i n e v i t a b i l i t y o f f a t e .
If u n d e r s u c h i d e a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n i s o l a t e d a n d f e e b l e
o p p o n e n t s h o u l d c h o o s e a r m e d r e s i s t a n c e , t h e r e s u l t w o u l d b e
2
8
4
HOW HEPREPA RED` PEA C EINOU RTIM E"
n o t a w a r b u t a w a l k o v e r . A l w a y s s p e a k i n g f r o m t h e p o i n t
o f v i e w o f w h a t a Na zi f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r s h o u l d h a v e d o n e
i n o r d e r t o a s s u r e a s t a t e o f a f f a i r s w h i c h t h e w o r l d w o u l d
h a v e e v e r y r e a s o n t o d r e a d a n d t o p r e v e n t , i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o
c o n c e i v e o f p r o c e d u r e s w h i c h a r e v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h o s e
t h e Na zi s a c t u a l l y f o l l o w e d : f i r s t l y , m a k i n g t h e d e m o c r a t i c
p r i n c i p l e o f s e l f d e t e r m i n a t i o n a p p l y t o t h e G e r m a n r a c e a s
a w h o l e , t h u s s h a t t e r i n g t h e h o s t i l e b u l w a r k s i n t h e Ea s t
w i t h t h e h e l p o f a n a g r e e m e n t r e s p e c t a b l e i n i t s e l f , a n d s e c -
o n d l y , e x p l o i t i n g t h e l e g e n d t h a t t h e c o m m u n i s t i c b o g e y w a s
a n t e p o r t a l . Th e s e p r o m i s i n g a n d c l e v e r p r o c e d u r e s , i n o r d e r
n o t t o d e f e a t t h e i r p u r p o s e , t h a t i s p r e p a r i n g G e r m a n y ' s m i l i -
t a r y s u p r e m a c y w i t h o u t a w a r b r e a k i n g o u t b e f o r e t h e t i m e
w a s r i p e , n e e d e d e d i t i n g . Th i s w a s t h e j o b o f t h e F o r e i g n
M i n i s t e r , a n d h e r e Ri b b e n t r o p f a i l e d d i s a s t r o u s l y .
Na t u r a l l y , i t w a s a l l i m p o r t a n t t o q u i e t c e r t a i n a p p r e h e n -
s i o n s o n t h e p a r t o f G e r m a n y ' s n e i g h b o r s l e s t t e r r i t o r i a l
a g g r a n d i ze m e n t i n A u s t r i a a n d C ze c h o s l o v a k i a c l a i m e d a s a
r i g h t f u l p a t r i m o n y o f t h e G e r m a n r a c e i n t h e h o u r o f i t s
u n i f i c a t i o n w a s i n r e a l i t y i n t e n d e d t o s e r v e a s a p l a t f o r m f o r
a n a m b i t i o u s a n d v i c i o u s i m p e r i a l i s t i c p r o g r a m . It i s u n n e c e s -
s a r y t o r e c a l l t h e t e r r i f i c n o i s e t h a t a c c o m p a n i e d t h e a n n e x -
a t i o n o f A u s t r i a a n d G e r m a n - s p e a k i n g p a r t s o f C ze c h o s l o -
v a k i a . W h a t e v e r y b o d y w h o k n e w t h e Na zi s k n e w a l l t h e
t i m e , b u t w h a t l a r g e a n d i n f l u e n t i a l g r o u p s a b r o a d t y p i f i e d
b y M r
. C h a m b e r l a i n s t i l l r e f u s e d t o b e l i e v e , h a d n o w b e c o m e
w o r l d - w i d e c o m m o n k n o w l e d g e . Th e w o r l d n o l o n g e r d e a l t
w i t h a t e m p e r a t e , h o n e s t , i n d u s t r i o u s , p i o u s , s e l f d e n y i n g
G e r m a n y .
If w e c a n n o t c a l l Ri b b e n t r o p t h e i n v e n t o r o f t h o s e s h o c k
t a c t i c s w h i c h w i t h t h e i r c r u d e n e s s a n d b r u t a l i t y d i s c r e d i t e d
G e r m a n y , i t i s a w e l l d o c u m e n t e d f a c t t h a t h e d i d e v e r y t h i n g
t o f o s t e r t h e m . It w a s p r e c i s e l y h i s t o u g h n e s s , a s c o m p a r e d
285
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
w i t h Ne u r a t h ' s c a u t i o n , t h a t r e c o m m e n d e d h i m t o Hi t l e r
.
Di s a s t r o u s a s t h e g o a l o f t h e Na zi s , a m i l i t a r y s u p r e m a c y o f
u n p a r a l l e l e d m a g n i t u d e , w a s f o r t h e w o r l d a t l a r g e , i t i s
d i f f i c u l t t o s e e t h e p a r t i c u l a r m e r i t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s t o u g h n e s s
w a s s u p p o s e d t o h a v e i n t h e s i t u a t i o n , f r o m t h e Na zi p o i n t
o f v i e w . Be f o r e Ri b b e n t r o p ' s e y e s s t o o d G e r m a n y ' s d e f e a t
i n 1 9 1 8, c a u s e d p a r t i a l l y b y p s y c h o l o g i c a l b l u n d e r s o n t h e
p a r t o f t h e Ka i s e r b e f o r e 1 9 1 4 . Th e Na zi s k n e w t h a t i t w a s
e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e i r s a k e t o a v o i d t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l i s o l a t i o n
t h a t h a d b r o u g h t a b o u t
1 9 1 8, a n d y e t , t h e Na zi F o r e i g n
M i n i s t e r k n e w o f n o t h i n g b e t t e r t o d o t h a n t o r e p r o d u c e t h e
v e r y s i n s o f t h e i m p e r i a l d i p l o m a c y , o n l y o n a n u n p r e c e -
d e n t e d s c a l e . It w a s l i k e s o m e b o d y , w h o h a v i n g s l i p p e d o n
t h e s t a i r c a s e , a t t e m p t s t o r e a c h t h e s e c o n d f l o o r f r o m t h e
o u t s i d e , b y c l i m b i n g t h e w a l l
.
Th e r e w a s s t u p i d i t y , l e t h a r g y , u n p r e p a r e d n e s s , a n d e v e n
c r o o k e d n e s s i n F r a n c e a n d En g l a n d t h a t m a d e t h e s u c c e s s e s
i n A u s t r i a a n d C ze c h o s l o v a k i a p o s s i b l e , b u t t h e m a i n a s s e t
w h i c h Hi t l e r a n d Ri b b e n t r o p w e r e a b l e t o e x p l o i t u n s c r u p u -
l o u s l y w a s a f e e l i n g , o n t h e p a r t o f t h e
1 9 1 8
v i c t o r s , t h a t t h e
t i m e h a d c o m e t o s h o w g o o d w i l l t o w a r d t h e b e w i l d e r i n g
m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f G e r m a n y . Th i s f e e l i n g w a s a c c e n t u a t e d b y
t h e l a m e n t a b l e s t a t e o f a f f a i r s i n t h e d e m o c r a c i e s . Th e s e c o n -
d i t i o n s s u g g e s t e d t h a t a f f a i r s a t h o m e n e e d e d m e n d i n g t o o ,
a n d p e r h a p s e v e n m o r e u r g e n t l y . No w t h e d e m o c r a c i e s w e r e
w i l l i n g t o s a c r i f i c e t h e i r p r e s t i g e a n d a l l t h e g u a r a n t e e s t h e y
h a d w o n i n f o u r a n d a h a l f y e a r s o f W o r l d W a r , t h e i r a l l i -
a n c e s , t h e Le a g u e o f Na t i o n s , t h e i r s t r a t e g i c c o n t r o l , i n o r d e r
t o s a t i s f y t h e Na zi s b y p e r m i t t i n g t h e m t o g r a b A u s t r i a a n d
t h e S u d e t e n .
If t h i s e n o r m o u s s u c c e s s s e e m e d i n d e e d t o p r o c l a i m t h e
b r i l l i a n c e o f Hi t l e r ' s a n d Ri b b e n t r o p ' s t a c t i c s , i t w a s t h e r e
a n d t h e n t h a t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n c o m p e t e n c e f o r h i s j o b w a s
286
HOW HEPREPA RED" PEA C EINOU RTIM E"
m o s t g l a r i n g l y r e v e a l e d
. It i s t r u e t h a t t h e f a t a l c h a n g e o f
h e a r t o n t h e p a r t o f t h e d e m o c r a c i e s a s f a r a s G e r m a n a s p i r a -
t i o n s w e r e c o n c e r n e d , e m b o d i e d b y M r
. C h a m b e r l a i n ' s p o l i c y ,
a n n i h i l a t e d t h e p o s i t i o n o f l i b e r a l s i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e G e r -
m a n y . Bu t t h e Na zi s h a d n o t y e t w o n t h e g a m e e i t h e r . If
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s s y s t e m h a d r e s p o n d e d a t a l l t o t h e f i n e r n u a n c e s
o f t h e d i p l o m a t i c g a m e , h e w o u l d h a v e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e
h o n o r o f h i s p r o f e s s i o n i s t o c a t c h t h e b i r d a n d n o t t o a d v e r -
t i s e t h e k i l l h a l f w a y b y g l o a t i n g a n d b o a s t i n g o f t h e g r a t i f y i n g
p r o s p e c t o f i t s b e i n g c a u g h t . In v i e w o f t h e u l t i m a t e e n d
o f t h e Na zi p o l i c y i t s h o u l d n o t h a v e m a t t e r e d a b i t t o
Ri b b e n t r o p w h e t h e r h e d e a l t w i t h g o u t y p l u t o c r a t s o r u n -
f a s h i o n a b l e c o m m u n i s t s . Th e o n l y t h i n g t h a t s h o u l d h a v e
m a t t e r e d w a s t h a t t h e y d i d n o t k i c k .
Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p w i l f u l l y g a v e t h e A u s t r i a n a n d C ze c h o -
s l o v a k i a n s u c c e s s e s a n a s p e c t t h a t w o u l d a s s u r e h i m t h e
p l a u d i t s o f t h e f a n a t i c a l m o b a t h o m e b u t w o u l d a t t h e s a m e
t i m e e n l i g h t e n e v e n t h e F u e h r e r ' s m o s t a r d e n t a d m i r e r s
a b r o a d a b o u t t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f d o i n g b u s i n e s s w i t h Hi t l e r .
He t o l d t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e , t h i r s t i n g f o r s o m e r e c o g n i t i o n
o f t h e i r n e w l y w o n p r o m i n e n c e , t h a t t h e w a y t h e C ze c h
p r o b l e m h a d b e e n s o l v e d w a s t y p i c a l o f h o w G e r m a n f o r e i g n
p o l i t i c s w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d e v e r a f t e r
. Hi t l e r , c o m f o r t a b l y
i n s t a l l e d a s h e a d o f t h e w o r l d ' s g r e a t e s t a r m y , h a d o n l y t o
s u l k i n h i s t e n t a n d t h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r s o f t h e w o r l d ' s n o b l e s t
e m p i r e s w o u l d b r e a t h l e s s l y r u s h i n t o h i s p r e s e n c e a n d h a n d
h i m , o n a s i l v e r p l a t t e r , t h e c h o i c e s t b i t s o f l a n d a n d s e a , s o
t h a t h e m i g h t s m i l e a g a i n . In a w o r d , Ri b b e n t r o p c h o s e t o
a n t i c i p a t e t h e G e r m a n m i l l e n n i u m h i s p o l i c y w a s s u p p o s e d
t o c r e a t e
. He m i s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e v e r y s p e c i a l b a s i s f o r t h e
M u n i c h a g r e e m e n t a n d m a d e i t l o o k a s i f t h e w o r l d , b y s i g n -
i n g i t , h a d d e f i n i t e l y r e c o g n i ze d t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h e t o t a l i t a r i a n
r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s .
287
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
Th e S u l t a n f r o m Br a u n a u w a s p e r m i t t e d t o d i n h i s t r i u m p h
i n t o t h e e a r s o f h i s v a s s a l s i n Lo n d o n a n d Pa r i s
. In t h e
S a a r b r u e c k e n s p e e c h , a f e w w e e k s a f t e r t h e C ze c h s e t t l e m e n t ,
Hi t l e r , s i n g l i n g o u t t h e d u p e d M r
. C h a m b e r l a i n f o r a f u l l
m e a s u r e o f h i s c o n t e m p t , j u b i l a n t l y r i d i c u l e d t h e u m b r e l l a
m a n w h o h a d p l a y e d i n t o h i s h a n d s
. In t h e s a m e b r e a t h h e
w a r n e d t h e En g l i s h t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e w a r e o f e v e r e x c h a n g -
i n g t h e s e c o n v e n i e n t g e n t l e m e n f o r l e s s a m e n a b l e l e a d e r s , f o r
i n s t a n c e C h u r c h i l l , Ed e n , a n d e v e n Du f f C o o p e r w h o h a d
d a r e d t o d i s a p p r o v e o f t h e F u e h r e r ' s i n s p i r e d m e t h o d s
. Th e
i n f a n t i l i s m b e h i n d t h e i m p o s i n g f a c a d e o f t h e Th i r d Re i c h
h a s r a r e l y f o u n d a m o r e i l l u m i n a t i n g e x h i b i t i o n , a n d w e o w e
t h i s q u e s t i o n a b l e s p e c t a c l e l e s s t o t h e c o n q u e s t - m a d F u e h r e r
t h a n t o Ri b b e n t r o p w h o w a s s u p p o s e d t o c o n t r o l t h e d i p l o -
m a t i c u t t e r a n c e s o f h i s r a v i n g b o s s .
Th e C ze c h s e t t l e m e n t h a d b e e n a d i s a s t r o u s d e f e a t f o r
l i b e r a l o p i n i o n a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d , b u t t h e d i s c o m f i t u r e o f
M r
. C h a m b e r l a i n ' s c r i t i c s w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o m p l e t e i f t h e
b e h a v i o u r o f t h e Na zi s , a f t e r t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e M u n i c h Pa c t ,
h a d b e e n m o d e r a t e a n d r e a s o n a b l e . W e i n s i s t o n t h i s p o i n t
b e c a u s e i t s h o w s Ri b b e n t r o p a s a c o m m o n - p l a c e p l a y b o y o f
e x t r e m e l y l i m i t e d i n s t i n c t . Ri b b e n t r o p g a v e h i s n a m e t o t h e
m o s t v i c i o u s p o g r o m i n Eu r o p e s i n c e t h e d a y s o f Di o c l e t i a n
.
It w a s a s i f Ri b b e n t r o p c o n s i d e r e d i t h i s p a r t i c u l a r m i s s i o n
t o j u s t i f y t h e d i r e s t p r o p h e c i e s o f t h e l i b e r a l s
.
Th e m a r c h i n t o Pr a g u e , o n t o p o f a l l t h i s , w a s a n a l m o s t
s u p e r f l u o u s i f r e d u n d a n t r e m i n d e r t h a t t h e Na zi s r e g a r d e d
t h e b a r r i e r s o f l a w e l i m i n a t e d f r o m t h e i r r o a d t o g l o r y
. Ev e r y -
b o d y w a s b y n o w a w a r e o f i t a n y w a y
. A n d i t w a s n o w m o r e
t h a n c l e a r t h a t t h e t r i b u l a t i o n s o f t h e G e r m a n m i n o r i t i e s h a d
b e e n u s e d a s t h e m i r a g e t h a t o c c u p i e d t h e m i n d o f Lo r d
Ru n c i m a n w h i l e t h e Na zi s s a i d " w e l f a r e o f c o - n a t i o n a l s "
( V o l k s g e n o s s e n )
a n d m e a n t t h e S k o d a w o r k s . Ri b b e n t r o p
288
HOW HEPREPA RED" PEA C EINOU RTIM E"
d i d n o t e v e n b o t h e r t o s o f t e n t h i s e x p o s u r e o f h i s a n d h i s
f e l l o w s ' t r u e p h y s i o g n o m y b y a p o l i t e s h o w o f e m b a r r a s s -
m e n t . Or d i n a r i l y i t i s n o t t h o u g h t d e s i r a b l e i n a f o r e i g n
m i n i s t e r t o e m p h a s i ze c a l l o u s n e s s , a n d i t w a s Ri b b e n t r o p ' s
m i s t a k e t h a t h e b e l i e v e d h e c o u l d p l a y C a l i g u l a b e f o r e t h e
c a u s e h e s e r v e d w a s b e y o n d r e t r i b u t i v e j u s t i c e .
A s w e h a v e s e e n , o n e m a i n a s s e t o f Na zi G e r m a n y , a v a g u e
f e e l i n g o f g u i l t a n d f a t i g u e o n t h e p a r t o f t h e v i c t o r s o f
1 9 1 8, a n d a d e s i r e t o b e a c c o m m o d a t i n g i n t h e f a c e o f t h e
f o r m e r e n e m y ' s i n s i s t e n t c l a i m s , w a s f r i v o l o u s l y e x p l o i t e d
a n d t h e n c o n t e m p t u o u s l y t h r o w n o v e r b o a r d . Th e o t h e r m a i n
a s s e t , t h e a n t a g o n i s m o f t h e W e s t a g a i n s t S o v i e t Ru s s i a , w a s
h a r d l y t r e a t e d w i t h m o r e c o n s i s t e n c y . In o r d e r t o t a k e f u l l
a d v a n t a g e o f t h i s l a t t e r a s s e t , i t w a s m e r e l y n e c e s s a r y t o
p e r s u a d e t h e w o r l d t h a t t h e Na zi s w e r e a l e s s e r e v i l t h a n t h e
c o m m u n i s t s . Ri b b e n t r o p h a d s t a r t e d o u t f o r Lo n d o n c o n -
v i n c e d t h a t h i s c o p i o u s d i p l o m a t i c g i f t s w o u l d e n a b l e h i m t o
f o r c e , o n t h e c a u t i o u s En g l i s h m e n , h i s i d e a o f h o w t h e s i t u a -
t i o n s h o u l d b e h a n d l e d
. Ha i l i n g t h e Ki n g d l a Hi t l e r a n d
f l i n g i n g a b o u t t h e m o n e y o f h i s i m p o v e r i s h e d c o u n t r y m e n
o n a n i n d e c e n t s c a l e , h e a c t e d a s i f h e w a s a l r e a d y i n c o m -
m a n d o f t h e d i p l o m a t i c g e n e r a l s t a f f o f a n U n i t e d Oc c i d e n t ,
a n d a s i f , w i l d l y a c c l a i m e d b y g r a t e f u l To r i e s , h e w a s a b o u t
t o c o e r c e M o s c o w i n t o a b a n d o n m e n t o f i t s s i n i s t e r s c h e m e s .
Ri b b e n t r o p a l w a y s h a s a t e n d e n c y t o a n t i c i p a t e h i s d r e a m s
a n d t o b e h a v e a s i f t h e r e w e r e n e i t h e r f a t e n o r h i s o w n
i n a d e q u a c y b e t w e e n h i m s e l f a n d t h e i r r e a l i za t i o n
.
A f t e r t h e Po l i s h c a m p a i g n w a s o v e r , i n 1 9 3 9 , Ri b b e n t r o p ,
i n a s p e e c h h e m a d e a t Da n zi g , v o i c e d h i s u t t e r i n c r e d u l i t y
a t t h e Br i t i s h r e f u s a l t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e a d v a n t a g e s h e h a d
o f f e r e d t h e m
. If t h e y h a d b a c k e d t h e r i g h t h o r s e , t h e y w o u l d
h a v e s h a r e d i n t h e s p o i l s
. Th e s t u b b o r n a t t i t u d e o f t h e Br i t i s h
h a d w o u n d e d h i m d e e p l y , e v e n w h e n h e h a d b e e n A m b a s s a -
289
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
d o r i n Lo n d o n . W e h a v e s e e n t h a t t h e M u n i c h v i c t o r y h a d
f a i l e d e n t i r e l y i n a p p e a s i n g h i s r a n c o u r a g a i n s t A l b i o n . On
t h e c o n t r a r y , h e c o n c e i v e d t h e c h i l d i s h n o t i o n t h a t s t e p p i n g
o n t h e i r t o e s w a s t h e p r o p e r m e t h o d t o d e a l w i t h En g l i s h m e n .
Th e b e s t p r o o f t h a t h e h a d c o m p l e t e l y g i v e n u p a n y h o p e
o f i n d u c i n g t h e W e s t e r n p o w e r s t o a c c e p t h i s s t a r r y v i s i o n
o f Eu r o p e ' s f u t u r e w a s t h e a b s e n c e o f a n y d i p l o m a t i c p r e p -
a r a t i o n o f t h e Pr a g u e c o u p , a n d o f a n y e x c u s e a f t e r w a r d .
To Ri b b e n t r o p , i t w a s e n o u g h t o c o m m i t t h i s t r e m e n d o u s
b r e a c h o f f a i t h , t h e m a r c h i n t o Pr a g u e . He w a s s u r e t h a t t h e
d e m o c r a c i e s w o u l d b e " s t u n n e d " a n d w o u l d r e m a i n s o .
Bu t e v e n Ri b b e n t r o p c o u l d n o t h e l p n o t i c i n g , a s t h e Po l i s h
q u e s t i o n c a m e u p , t h a t s o m e t h i n g r e s e m b l i n g r e s i s t a n c e w a s
a t l a s t f o r m i n g i n Lo n d o n . He w a s s t a k i n g h i s p r e s t i g e o n
t h e t h e o r y t h a t t h e En g l i s h w o u l d n o t f i g h t . Na t u r a l l y t h e
En g l i s h w o u l d n o t h a v e f o u g h t , i f Ri b b e n t r o p h a d b e e n a b l e
t o c o n v i n c e t h e m t h a t n o t f i g h t i n g w a s i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s
o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f n a t i o n s a n d o f Br i t a i n p a r t i c u l a r l y . Th a t
h e h a d f a i l e d t o c o n v i n c e Eu r o p e , m o r b i d l y a v e r s e t o w a r ,
s p e a k s f o r h i s r e c o r d . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t s p e a k s f o r En g -
l a n d ' s r e c o r d t h a t s h e r a t h e r p r e f e r r e d t o r i s k , w i t h t h e
" b l a n k c h e q u e " t o Po l a n d , n o t o n l y t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e
Em p i r e b u t a l s o t h e e x t e r m i n a t i o n o f h e r c o u n t r y a n d p e o p l e
r a t h e r t h a n " w i n t h e w o r l d b y s e l l i n g h e r s o u l t o t h e d e v i l . "
Th i s a l m o s t s u i c i d a l p a c t b e t w e e n En g l a n d a n d Po l a n d w i l l
b e r e g a r d e d b y f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s a s t h e o u t s t a n d i n g a c t o f
d e c e n c y , c o m m i t t e d a t a t i m e w h e n t h e A x i s m a d e d e c e n c y
i n p o l i t i c s a j o k e .
2 9
0
z8
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s C h a r a c t e r a s IS e e It
RIBBENTROPi s t h e s o r t o f G e r m a n w h o h a s l o s t h i m s e l f
a n d i s l o o k i n g f o r a s u b s t i t u t e
. Th e Na zi p a r t y i s t h e l i m b o
o f l o s t a n d n o t a s y e t u n r e c o v e r e d t y p e s b e t w e e n t h e d e v i l o f
p h i l i s t i n i s m a n d t h e d e e p s e a o f t h e s u p e r m a n . Th e p h i l i s t i n e
i s c a t e r e d t o b y g r o t e s q u e l y w o r d e d l a w s l i k e t h e G e s e t zzu r
W i e d e r e i n f u e b r u n g d e s Be r u f s b e a m t e n t u m s ,
b y t h e r e i n t r o -
d u c t i o n o f g r i m d i s c i p l i n e , b y g l o r i f i e d p r o v i n c i a l i s m l i k e
" b l o o d a n d s o i l , " p e a s a n t d a n c e s , a n d b e e r . Th e s u p e r m a n ,
o n t h e c o n t r a r y , r e v e l s i n g i g a n t i c , e a r t h s h a k i n g p l o t s , i n a n
e n d l e s s s u c c e s s i o n o f " w o r l d h i s t o r i c d e c i s i o n s , " i n d i s p l a y s
o f i m m o r a l g r a n d e u r d l a Ni e t zs c h e a n d d ' A n n u n zi o , a n d
i n l a y i n g d o w n t h e l a w t o t r e m b l i n g c o n t i n e n t s .
Ri b b e n t r o p i s d e c i d e d l y t r y i n g t o s e l l t h e w o r l d t h e s u p e r -
m a n s l a n t
. Le t u s c o n c e d e t h a t h e h a s i m a g i n a t i o n e n o u g h
t o s e e t h a t i n a b i l l i o n h o r s e p o w e r c i v i l i za t i o n l i k e o u r s i n t e r -
n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c s c a l l , p e r h a p s , f o r s t r e a m l i n e s n o t k n o w n i n
t h e h o r s e a n d b u g g y d a y s . He i s a b l e t o p e r c e i v e t h a t Pr o -
f e s s o r Ha u s h o f e r ' s g e o p o l i t i c a l s c h e m e s h a v e a c e r t a i n r e -
s e m b l a n c e t o w e l l - i n t e g r a t e d d y n a m o s , s y n t h e t i c r u b b e r , a n d
i n d u s t r i a l a n d m i l i t a r y c o m b i n e s . Ri b b e n t r o p l o v e s t o t h i n k
o f h i m s e l f a s t h e p a r a g o n o f t h e Ne w Er a , t h e M e t t e r n i c h o f
a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r d e r b a s e d o n m a s t e r r a c e s , o r p e r h a p s o n e
m a s t e r r a c e - t h e G e r m a n . He d e l i g h t s i n t h i n k i n g o f h i m s e l f
29 1
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
a s t h e Pr e s i d e n t o f a l e a g u e o f t h r e e o r f o u r t o t a l i t a r i a n u n i t s
.
If t h i s w e r e a l l , i t w o u l d n o t s o u n d s o t e r r i b l e . Th e s a d
t r u t h , h o w e v e r , s e e m s t o b e t h a t v e r y p o s s i b l y t h e r e i s a b i g
r o l e t h a t n e e d s t o b e p l a y e d , b u t t h e a c t o r w h o m a k e s u s
b e l i e v e t h a t h e i s p l a y i n g i t , p l a y s i n r e a l i t y o n l y t h e o u t e r
a t t r i b u t e s o f t h e r o l e , n o t i t s e s s e n c e . Th e a c t o r i s n a i v e l y
c o n v i n c e d t h a t b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n t h e a t t r i b u t e s a n d m a k i n g
t h e m d a zzl i n g , e v e r y b o d y w i l l b e l i e v e t h e m s e l v e s t o b e f a c e
t o f a c e w i t h t h e r e a l t h i n g
. Ri b b e n t r o p r e c a l l s c e r t a i n a r t i s t s
a n d w r i t e r s i n t h e e x p r e s s i o n i s t i c i n t e r l u d e o f t h e W e i m a r
Re p u b l i c . Th e y k n e w t h a t o u r a g e i n v i t e s g r e a t , u n h e a r d - o f
e m o t i o n s , a c h a n g e o f h e a r t , u p h e a v a l s , p r o c l a m a t i o n s , a r d e n t
c o n f e s s i o n s
. Th e y k n e w i t , b u t t h e r e w a s n o S h a k e s p e a r e o r
Ti t i a n a m o n g t h e m t o m a k e t h e k n o w l e d g e c o m e t r u e . Ri b -
b e n t r o p k n o w s t h a t t h e M a s t e r o f t h e Tw e n t i e t h C e n t u r y i s
s u p p o s e d t o u s e i n c r e d i b l y h i g h - p o w e r e d a i r p l a n e s ; t o m o v e
a b o u t i n s u p e r c a r s p r e c e d e d a n d t r a i l e d b y c l o u d s o f m o t o r
c y c l e s ; t o c r o s s f r o n t i e r s i n s p e c i a l t r a i n s e l e g a n t l y p a i n t e d
i n p o w d e r b l u e , b u t w h i s t l i n g o m i n o u s l y ; t o s t e a l c a s t l e s i n
c o n s p i c u o u s m o u n t a i n s o l i t u d e s n e a r S a l zb u r g - h e k n o w s i t
a l l . It i s t h e c l i c h e o f a m i n d i n c a p a b l e o f f o l l o w i n g i t s o w n
o r g a n i c l a w a n d t h e r e f o r e e s c a p i n g i n t o s t a g e e f f e c t s
. If Hi t -
l e r i s t h e r e i n c a r n a t i o n o f Kn i p p e r d o l l i n g , t h e A n a b a p t i s t ,
Ri b b e n t r o p i s j u s t a h a l f - b a k e d C a g l i o s t r o .
To d r e s s t h i s s i n i s t e r a n d g r o t e s q u e c h a r a c t e r i n t h e l a n -
g u a g e o f s c h o o l p s y c h o l o g y : " Hi s p s y c h o l o g i c a l v a g a r i e s a r e
c a u s e d b y a n i n t e r a c t i n g e m e r g e n c e a n d s u b m e r g e n c e o f c e r -
t a i n e x p e r i e n c e s e t s o n d i f f e r e n t p l a n e s . " A n d t h e r e w a s a l s o
a n u n c a n n y c a p a c i t y f o r t a k i n g o f f e n s e . Th e r e w a s , f i r s t o f a l l ,
t h e r e v o l t a g a i n s t t h e s t u f f i n e s s a n d p r o v i n c i a l i s m o f h i s e a r l y
l i f e . Th e m e t i c u l o u s h a b i t s o f t h e G e r m a n m i d d l e c l a s s b e f o r e
1 9 1 4g e n e r a l l y g o t o n t h e n e r v e s o f i t s m o s t a l e r t p r o g e n y . A n
o p p r e s s i v e c o n f o r m i t y t o a r c h a i c b u t f o r m i d a b l e p r i n c i p l e s
2 9 2
RIBBENTROP' S C HA RA C TERA S IS EEIT
d e p r i v e d l i f e i n s m a l l g a r r i s o n t o w n s , w h e r e Ri b b e n t r o p w a s
d e s t i n e d t o g r o w u p , o f t h e b l e s s i n g o f s p o n t a n e i t y . Ev e r y
m o v e w a s e s t a b l i s h e d b y p r e c e d e n t
. No t h i n g w h i c h m e t t h e
e y e o r m i n d l i v e d o n i t s o w n m o m e n t u m b u t h a d i t s p r e d e s -
t i n e d p l a c e i n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l s c h e m e o f G e r m a n i c v i r t u e s .
Th e c o m p l a c e n c y w i t h w h i c h t h e i n e v i t a b i l i t y o f i n h e r i t e d
c l o c k w o r k m e t h o d s w a s a c c e p t e d b y t h e o l d e r g e n e r a t i o n s
w a s c o n s i d e r a b l y r e s e n t e d b y s o n s a n d d a u g h t e r s o f i n d u s -
t r i o u s b u t a l t o g e t h e r p e t t y t r a d e s m e n a n d o f f i c i a l s
. Th e y
e i t h e r f o r m e d w i l d e y e d a s s o c i a t i o n s o f y o u n g s t e r s l i k e t h e
W a n d e r v o e g e l
w h o e s c a p e d d o m e s t i c , s c h o l a s t i c , o r p r o -
f e s s i o n a l t y r a n n y b y r o a m i n g t h r o u g h t h e w o o d s o f t h e
F a t h e r l a n d , w h e r e t h e y w e r e d e e p e s t
; o r t h e y r e a d Ba u d e l a i r e ,
Ni e t zs c h e , Os c a r W i l d e , a n d t h e
Ta t l e r a n d i n d u l g e d i n
v i s i o n s o f t h e g r a n d m o n d e r e p r e s e n t e d b y b o r e d G r a n d
Du k e s , d e m o n i a c a l c r i m i n a l s w i t h v i l l a s i n M o n t e C a r l o , o r
e x c l u s i v e d o w a g e r s a t t h e F a u b o u r g S t
. G e r m a i n . Ri b b e n t r o p
a d h e r e s t o t h e l a t t e r g r o u p .
Th e o p p o s i t i o n a g a i n s t t h e s u b a l t e r n p e d a n t i s m w h i c h ,
i r o n i c a l l y e n o u g h , w a s t o b e o n e o f t h e f a c t o r s o f G e r m a n y ' s
d o w n f a l l i n 1 9 1 8, c r y s t a l l i ze d a r o u n d t h e p e r s o n o f Th e o b a l d
v o n Be t h m a n n - Ho l l w e g , a g i l e Bu e l o w ' s p e d a n t i c a n d s e r i o u s
s u c c e s s o r w h o l e d G e r m a n y i n t o w a r i n 1 9 1 4
. Th e b a t t l e s o f
Ta n n e n b e r g a n d t h e M a r n e w e r e a l m o s t e c l i p s e d b y t h e
b a t t l e t h a t w a s f o u g h t i n s i d e G e r m a n y a r o u n d Be t h m a n n .
It w a s a b a t t l e o f t h e s o u l , l i k e t h e Dr e y f u s a f f a i r i n
F r a n c e f i f t e e n y e a r s b e f o r e . Be t h m a n n w a s t h e G e r m a n
c o u n t e r p a r t o f C h a m b e r l a i n . He e m b o d i e d c e r t a i n o f h i s
c o u n t r y ' s v i r t u e s , w h i c h , b e c a u s e t h e y n o l o n g e r s u i t e d t h e
d r a m a t i c d e m a n d s o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , h a d i n a c r i t i c a l
h o u r o n l y s e n t i m e n t a l a p p e a l , a n d t h a t w a s n o t e n o u g h
. Li k e
a l l t h e n a t i o n a l i s t i c a l l y m i n d e d p e o p l e i n G e r m a n y , Ri b b e n -
t r o p w a s a n t i - Be t h m a n n
. He w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t G e r m a n y
2 9 3
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
l o s t t h e w a r i n 1 9 1 8n o t b e c a u s e o f a n y s u p e r f i c i a l i t y o f
G e r m a n y ' s w a r a i m s o r b e c a u s e o f t h e g r e a t e r v i t a l i t y o f
t h e d e m o c r a t i c i d e a , b u t b e c a u s e o f t h e p e r s i s t e n t s u r v i v a l
o f t h e De u t s c h e M i c h e l , a s y m b o l s t a n d i n g f o r m i s g u i d e d
a n d p e d a n t i c c r e d u l i t y a n d i g n o r a n c e o f t h e w a y s o f t h e
w o r l d , h a l f t o u c h i n g i n i g n o r a n c e , h a l f e x a s p e r a t i n g .
Be c a u s e h e w a s l u c k y e n o u g h t o c o m e i n t o m o n e y , h e
e n j o y e d e x u b e r a n t l y t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e r e p u b l i c - n o t
f r o m t h e d e m o c r a t i c b u t f r o m t h e a r i s t o c r a t i c a n g l e . Th e
r e p r e s s i o n s g r o w n i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f h i s f a t h e r ' s i n f a n t r y b a r -
r a c k s w e r e b l i t h e l y l i f t e d i n a w h i r l o f " h i g h l i f e . " Th e
c o v e t e d s p l e n d o u r o f m e t r o p o l i t a n s o c i e t y b e c a m e h i s d a i l y
b r e a d
. Th e r e i s n o t h i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y r e p r e h e n s i b l e i n s n o b -
b e r y . Ne a r l y e v e r y o n e g o e s t h r o u g h t i m e s w h e n t o h a v e a
g r o u p o f h e a v i l y t i t l e d o r o t h e r w i s e p r o m i n e n t p e r s o n a l i t i e s
a r o u n d t h e d i n n e r t a b l e a p p e a r s m o r e m e r i t o r i o u s t h a n t o
l i s t e n t o t h e M o o n l i g h t S o n a t a i n s o l i t u d e . Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p
w a s a s n o b w i t h a v e n g e a n c e . To t w i s t h i s s t o m a c h w i t h
c a v i a r i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e Du k e o f De v o n s h i r e o r t h e
A m e r i c a n A m b a s s a d o r h e w o u l d w a l k m o r e t h a n a m i l e . He
c o n s i d e r e d t h i s s o r t o f t h i n g t h e s u p r e m e m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f
W e l t a n s c h a u u n g . I a m s u r e h e h a d , a t t i m e s , a c r i m o n i o u s
a r g u m e n t s w i t h h i s m o d e s t f a t h e r w h o h e a r t i l y d i s a p p r o v e d
o f t h e p l u t o c r a t i c h a b i t s o f h i s s o n . Ri b b e n t r o p l i v e d t h e l i f e
o f a d a n d y a s o t h e r s l i v e t h e l i f e o f a c o n s p i r a t o r - i n d e f i a n c e
o f t h e t e a c h i n g s o f h i s e l d e r s a n d b e t t e r s , c o n s c i o u s l y w o u n d -
i n g t h e m w i t h h i s m u n d a n e w h i m s i n o r d e r t o r e v e n g e h i m -
s e l f f o r d r e a r y h o u r s o f i n s t r u c t i o n i n p h i l i s t i n e r i g h t e o u s n e s s .
Bu t u n c o n s c i o u s l y h e w o u n d e d t h e a t a v i s m s w i t h i n h i s o w n
s o u l . Th i s m a n , w h o i n v a i n t r i e d t o o u t - p l u t o c r a t t h e p l u t o -
c r a t s o f Be r l i n u n d e r t h e W e i m a r Re p u b l i c , u s e d a m o v e m e n t
t h a t s t a n k o f t h e v u l g a r h e r d h e d e s p i s e d i n o r d e r t o a t t a i n
t h e s o c i a l t r i u m p h s w h i c h h e s o n a i v e l y p a r a d e d t h r o u g h o u t
2 9 4
RIBBENTROP' S C HA RA C TERA S IS EEIT
Eu r o p e
. Th e r e i s n o g e n u i n e t r a i t i n h i m . A l l o f h i s l i f e i s a n
a t t e m p t t o " g e t e v e n " w i t h s o m e o n e o r s o m e t h i n g ; t o v e n t
h i s s p l e e n a g a i n s t o n e s o c i a l g r o u p a f t e r t h e o t h e r w h e r e h i s
a m b i t i o n s a n d g i f t s w e r e n o t a p p r o p r i a t e l y r e c o g n i ze d .
A s a p l u t o c r a t Ri b b e n t r o p g o t f a r , b u t n o t f a r e n o u g h
f o r h i s t a s t e . W h e n h e h e a r d t h e c l a r i o n c a l l o f t h e e t e r n a l
a d o l e s c e n t f r o m Br a u n a u , h e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t a g r e a t m a n y
o f h i s c o m p e t i t o r s f o r t h e t i t l e o f a r b i t e r e l e g a n t i a r u m w e r e
n a m e d a f t e r d i g n i t a r i e s i n t h e Ol d Te s t a m e n t , a n d h a d t h e r e -
f o r e n o r i g h t t o s t a n d i n h i s w a y . Ha v i n g a v e n g e d h i m s e l f
b y a l i f e o f c o n s p i c u o u s c o n s u m p t i o n o n h i s S p a r t a n u n c l e s
a n d a u n t s , h e n o w t u r n e d f u r i o u s l y a g a i n s t u n l u c k y n o n -
A r y a n s w h o s e p l e a s a n t r i e s a t h i s e x p e n s e r a n k l e d i n h i s m i n d
a n d i n w h o m h e c h a s t i s e d h i s o w n e x c e s s e s . U n d e r t h e i n f l u -
e n c e o f Hi t l e r ' s s t e r n a p o s t r o p h e s t h e m o n e y e d , p l e a s u r e -
h u n t i n g c i t y d w e l l e r w a s d i s c a r d e d a s a m o d e l i n s m a r t l i v i n g
a n d i g n o m i n i o u s l y l u m p e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h a t t h o r o u g h l y
u n d e s i r a b l e c a t e g o r y c a l l e d " j u d e o - c o m m u n i s t i c e l e m e n t s . "
S t e n d h a l s a y s , " F o r t h e G e r m a n s t r u t h h i s n o t w h a t e x i s t s ,
b u t w h a t o u g h t t o b e t r u e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r s y s t e m . " Ri b -
b e n t r o p ' s s y s t e m c a l l e d a t t h a t p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t f o r a
d r a g o n b e c a u s e h i s h e r o i c p r o p e n s i t i e s , n e g l e c t e d i n t h e b u s i -
n e s s o f s e l l i n g a n d c o n s u m i n g c h a m p a g n e , w a n t e d t o b e
e m p l o y e d i n s l a y i n g i t . Bu t Ri b b e n t r o p ' s i n t e r e s t i n t h e " g r e a t
w o r l d " s u g g e s t e d t o h i m a n e v e n n o b l e r r o l e t h a n t h a t o f
m e r e l y p u r g i n g t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e o f t h e i n f e c t i o n w h i c h
h e h a d h a d s o a m p l e a n d s o i n t i m a t e a n o c c a s i o n t o s t u d y . He
t h i r s t e d t o s a v e w h a t h e c a l l e d t h e " d e c e n t p e o p l e , " t h a t i s
F r a n c e a n d En g l a n d t o o .
W i l h e l m IIo n c e p a i n t e d a p i c t u r e w h i c h , b a d a s i t w a s ,
y o u m a y o r m a y n o t c a l l p r o p h e t i c
. It w a s n a m e d
: " Na t i o n s
o f Eu r o p e S a v e Y o u r Ho l i e s t Po s s e s s i o n s . " It s h o w e d S t
.
M i c h a e l o n a p r o m o n t o r y w a v i n g a f i e r y s w o r d b e f o r e a
2 9 5
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
g r o u p o f s l i g h t l y d i s m a y e d Br u n h i l d a s , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e d i f -
f e r e n t S t a t e s t h a t f o r m e d t h e Oc c i d e n t b e f o r e 1 9 1 4 . F a r i n
t h e d i s t a n c e t o w e r e d t h e g e n t l e Bu d d h a t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a
n i g h t m a r i s h i d o l - t h e y e l l o w p e r i l .
No w Ri b b e n t r o p w a s S t . M i c h a e l t r a v e l l i n g i n b r e a t h -
t a k i n g l u x u r y t o Pa r i s a n d Lo n d o n a n d f i l l i n g t h e b o u d o i r s
o f t h e e l e c t w i t h d i r e w a r n i n g s - n o t o f t h e y e l l o w p e r i l ( h e
w a s q u i c k i n r e c o g n i zi n g f e l l o w A r y a n s i n t h e J a p a n e s e ) b u t
o f t h e j u d e o - c o m m u n i s t i c p e r i l .
He m a y h a v e h a d a p e r f e c t r i g h t t o f e e l t h a t w a y . Th e r e
w a s , h o w e v e r , t h a t u n f o r t u n a t e e a g e r n e s s o f h i s t o i m p r e s s
h i s A r y a n f r i e n d s a b r o a d w i t h e v e n a g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f
w o r l d l y o s t e n t a t i o n t h a n h e h a d l e a r n e d t o m a s t e r w h i l e
h o b n o b b i n g w i t h t h e G o l d s c h m i d t - Ro t h s c h i l d s . Pe o p l e c o u l d
n o t h e l p r e m e m b e r i n g t h a t J o h n t h e Ba p t i s t , w h e n a n n o u n c -
i n g a Ne w Da y , w a s c l a d i n a h a i r s h i r t a n d f e d o n l o c u s t s
.
A f t e r a l l , h e w a s n o t s o m u c h t h e d e l e g a t e o f a p e o p l e t h a t
h a d s e e n t h e s i l v e r l i n i n g , b u t o f h i s o w n i n c l i n a t i o n t o c l i m b
.
He o u t - En g l i s h e d t h e En g l i s h . Dr
. Le y , b o s s o f t h e G e r m a n
La b o r f r o n t , r e t u r n e d f r o m a v i s i t t o Ri b b e n t r o p ' s Lo n d o n
Em b a s s y t e l l i n g s t r a n g e s t o r i e s t o t h e r o u g h n e c k s a t h o m e
.
" Ic o u l d n o t e v e n u n d e r s t a n d w h a t h e s a i d t o m e
. He s p e a k s
G e r m a n l i k e a n En g l i s h m a n w h o t r i e s t o s p e a k G e r m a n o u t
o f s h e e r c o n d e s c e n s i o n
. ".
Th e En g l i s h h a t e t o b e r u s h e d
. A g a i n Ri b b e n t r o p g o t s u r -
p r i s i n g l y f a r , b u t n o t q u i t e f a r e n o u g h
. A g a i n t h e t i m e h a d
c o m e w h e n h e h a d t o g e t e v e n
. A g o o d e x a m p l e o f h o w h e
c a r r i e d o u t h i s p u e r i l e v i n d i c t i v e n e s s c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e
m e m o i r s o f S i r Ne v i l e He n d e r s o n
. W e r e f e r t o t h e s c e n e
t h a t t o o k p l a c e w h e n t h e Br i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r t o o k l e a v e o f
t h e W i l h e l n s t r a s s e . A t t h a t m o m e n t o n e p o i n t h a d b e e n
c l a r i f i e d : t h e d r a g o n i n M o s c o w h a d t o b e s l a i n w i t h o u t t h e
b l e s s i n g o f a g r a t e f u l l y a p p l a u d i n g Oc c i d e n t
. A s a m a t t e r o f
29 6
RIBBENTROP' S C HA RA C TERA S IS EEIT
f a c t , t h e A r y a n f r i e n d s i n Pa r i s a n d Lo n d o n h a d t o b e s l a i n
f i r s t
.
Th e r e w a s a m o m e n t i n o u r W e s t e r n s o c i e t y w h e n p e o p l e
w e r e n o t o n l y a n g r y a t e a c h o t h e r b u t a l s o f u r i o u s w i t h
t h e m s e l v e s
. Th e w o r l d w a s n o t a s b e a u t i f u l a n y m o r e , w i t h
a l l t h e u n e m p l o y e d , a n d y o u c o u l d p u s h a l l t h e c u s t o m a r y
b u t t o n s a s m u c h a s y o u l i k e d , h a p p i n e s s a n d p r o s p e r i t y d i d
n o t r e t u r n
. S o m e b o d y a p p e a r e d a t t h i s p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o m e n t
a n d t o l d i n a m o s t v i o l e n t l a n g u a g e a n d w i t h c u r s e s b o r n i n
t h e d e p t h s o f e x a s p e r a t i o n t h a t h e k n e w a l l t h e t i m e t h a t t h e
s t u f f e d s h i r t s w e r e w r o n g
. Th e r e w a s c o n s t e r n a t i o n e v e r y -
w h e r e a n d a v e r t e d e y e s a n d g u i l t y c o n s c i e n c e s
. Bu t t h e w i s e
m e n s a i d
: a l l t h i s i s f i n e a s f a r a s i t g o e s , b u t y o u m u s t b e
c a r e f u l
. Th i s t h e y s a i d t o t h e v i o l e n t g e n t l e m a n w h o d i d n o t
l i k e t o b e c a r e f u l b u t g a v e i n
. A t l a s t Ri b b e n t r o p a p p e a r e d
a n d t o l d h i m , " No n s e n s e , y o u r m e t h o d i s t h e r i g h t o n e
. Y o u
h a v e f l a b b e r g a s t e d e v e r y o n e
. Th e w h o l e w o r l d i s t o t t e r i n g ,
e x c e p t y o u
. Id o n o t s a y l i k e t h o s e i d i o t s w h o t e l l y o u t o b e
c a r e f u l
. On t h e c o n t r a r y g o f u l l s t e a m a h e a d
. " Th i s w a s
Ri b b e n t r o p ' s r e c i p e f o r s u c c e s s
. It w o r k e d w i t h Hi t l e r w h o ,
l i k e a n a v e n g i n g a n g e l , c o u l d d e a l o u t s h o c k s r i g h t a n d l e f t
w i t h t h e b l e s s i n g o f t h a t p o l i s h e d c o s m o p o l i t a n J o a c h i m , a n d
i t w o r k e d q u i t e a f e w t i m e s w i t h t h e w o r l d , w h i c h w a s n o t
y e t a c c u s t o m e d t o t h e n e w f a n g l e d t a c t i c s o f t h e e n t e r p r i s i n g
t e a m
; j u s t a s t h e Ro m a n s h a d t o g e t a c c u s t o m e d t o Py r r h u s '
e l e p h a n t s
. Bu t i n t h e l o n g r u n , t h e Ro m a n s c o u l d s t a n d e l e -
p h a n t s , a n d i n t h e l o n g r u n A d o l f ' s a n d J o a c h i m ' s u n k i n d
l i t t l e j o k e s f a i l e d t o u p s e t t h e i r v i c t i m s q u i t e a s m u c h a s i n
t h e b e g i n n i n g .
A s a d f a c t , a d e p l o r a b l e r e s u l t , e n t i r e l y d u e , Ri b b e n t r o p
2 9 7
THIS M A NRIBBENTROP
i s t e l l i n g Hi t l e r , t o t h e i d i o c y p r e v a i l i n g i n t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s
o f t h e d e m o c r a c i e s
. W e c a n b e s u r e t h a t h e w i l l n e v e r a c c u s e
h i m s e l f a n d h i s o w n , t o p u t i t m i l d l y , e r r a t i c m a n n e r , a m a n -
n e r t h a t s e r v e d o n l y t o b r i n g i n t o r e l i e f t h e v a g a r i e s o f h i s
u n e d u c a t e d e m p l o y e r i n Be r c h t e s g a d e n
. Ne v e r b e f o r e , i f
n o t i n t h e d a y s o f M e s s a l i n a a n d t h e Po m p a d o u r , h a v e h i s -
t o r i c d e c i s i o n s o f g r a v e c o n s e q u e n c e b e c o m e s o m u c h t h e
p l a y t h i n g s o f m o r b i d v a n i t y t h a n n o w , w h e n Ri b b e n t r o p i s
d r i v i n g t h e a p o c a l y p t i c h o r s e s o f t h e G e r m a n f o r e i g n p o l i c y
.
M y s l e e p i s u s u a l l y u n d i s t u r b e d
. Bu t i n t h e d a y s w h e n I
f i n i s h e d t h i s m a n u s c r i p t , t h e Ol d G e r m a n F o r e i g n Of f i c e
a p p e a r e d i n m y d r e a m s
. Iw a s w a l k i n g a l o n g b e s i d e t h e o l d
C h a n c e l l e r y , a n d f i n a l l y Ir e a c h e d t h e e n t r a n c e t o No
. 7 6,
t h e e n t r a n c e w h i c h i s c a l l e d t h e
M i n i s t e r t r e p p e , t h e s t a i r c a s e
r e s e r v e d f o r t h e m i n i s t e r a n d h i s v i s i t o r s o f d i p l o m a t i c r a n k
.
Ol d S c h m i d t , t h e d o o r m a n w i t h t h e w h i t e b e a r d , g r e e t e d m e
.
He w a s f r i e n d l y - a s h e h a s a l w a y s b e e n
. He p o i n t e d t o t h e
t a l l l a m p p o s t w h i c h f l a n k e d t h e e n t r a n c e o n i t s l e f t
. A n d
t h e r e Is a w a b o d y h a n g i n g - Ri b b e n t r o p ' s b o d y d r e s s e d i n
t h e u n i f o r m w h i c h h e h a d i n t r o d u c e d f o r w e a r i n t h e F o r e i g n
S e r v i c e
. Iw o k e u p s h u d d e r i n g . Bu t t h i n k i n g i t o v e r , Im u s t
c o n f e s s t h a t Ik n e w t h a t t h i s l a m p p o s t w o u l d d o !
2 9 8
A b e t z, Ot t o , G e r m a n y ' s " A m b a s s a d o r
t o Oc c u p i e d F r a n c e , " g o , 1 43
A l b a , Du k e o f , S p a n i s h A m b a s s a d o r
t o Lo n d o n , 21 1
A l v e n s l e b e n , A l v o v o n , 42
A l v e n s l e b e n , En o v o n , 42
A l v e n s l e b e n , W e r n e r v o n , 23 , 82
A n g l o - G e r m a n F e l l o w s h i p , 21 0
A r n t ze n , M r s . F a n n i e , n e e He n k e l l ,
s i s t e r o f F r a u v o n Ri b b e n t r o p , 1 3 ,
1 7
A r n t ze n , Or l o , 1 3
A s c h m a n n , G o t t f r i e d , C h i e f , Pr e s s
De p a r t m e n t , A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t ,
1 50, 224, 226
A s t o r , La d y , 204
Ba l d w i n , S t a n l e y , Br i t i s h Pr i m e M i n -
i s t e r , 1 3 2, 1 53 , 1 61
Ba r t h o u , Lo u i s , F r e n c h F o r e i g n M i n -
i s t e r , 1 07 , 1 09 f
Bi r c h a l l , F r e d e r i c k , Be r l i n C o r r e -
s p o n d e n t Ne w Y o r k Ti m e s , 1 04
Bi s m a r c k , Pr i n c e Ot t o v o n , C o u n s e l o r
o f G e r m a n Em b a s s y i n Lo n d o n ,
1 64f , 1 88f
Bl o m b e r g , G e n e r a l W e r n e r v o n , G e r -
m a n M i n i s t e r o f W a r , 1 3 9 , 1 43
Br i c k e n d r o p ( n i c k n a m e ) , 27
Bu e l o w , Be r n h a r d v o n , ( U n d e r ) S e c -
r e t a r y o f S t a t e o f t h e A u s w a e r t i g e s
A m t , 23 , 9 1 , 9 5, 1 04, 1 08, 1 46f , 1 7 0
Bu e l o w - S c h w a n t e , V i c c o A l e x a n d e r
v o n , C h i e f , Di v i s i o n o f Pr o t o c o l ,
A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t , 7 1 f f , 7 6, 1 02,
21 5
Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p , 3 4, 8o , 85, 89 f f ,
1 23 f , 1 27 , 1 51 f , 1 55, 1 67 , 1 69 , 1 7 1 ,
1 7 7 , 1 9 0, 21 7 f f , 247 , 260
Bu t t e r , C ze c h o f f i c i a l , 69 f
In d e x
2 9 9
By e r s , Dr . J . Ro d d i c k , C a n a d i a n
p h y s i c i a n , 40
C e c i l i a , C r o w n Pr i n c e s s , 1 27
C e r r u t t i , V i t t o r i o , It a l i a n A m b a s s a d o r
t o Be r l i n , l o b
C h a m b e r l a i n , Ne v i l l e , Br i t i s h Pr i m e
M i n i s t e r , 1 1 0,
1 53
. 209 . 23 3 , 258,
27 6, 288, 29 3
C h i a n g , Ka i - s h e k , 1 7 3
C h v a l k o w s k y , F r a n z, C ze c h M i n i s t e r ,
69 f
C i a n o , C o u n t , It a l i a n F o r e i g n M i n -
i s t e r , 23 7
C l e m m , W e r n e r C . v o n , 3 2
C l i v e d e n S e t , 204
C o n n a u g h t , Du c h e s s o f , 47
C o n n a u g h t , Du k e o f , G o v e r n o r G e n -
e r a l o f C a n a d a , 45
f f
C r a i g i e , S i r Ro b e r t Le s l i e , 1 24
C r o s s f i e l d , C o l . , 1 3 3
D' A b e r n o n , Lo r d , Br i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r
t o Be r l i n , 6o f , 1 1 6
Da l a d i e r , Ed o u a r d , F r e n c h Pr i m e
M i n i s t e r , 9 7 , 258, 27 6
Da n c k w e r t , C a p t a i n H. V . , Of f i c e r o f
t h e Br i t i s h A d m i r a l t y , 1 24
Da v i e s , Lo r d , t o g
Da v i s , No r m a n H . , 9 4
Da v i s , W i l l i a m R. , 3 2
De i s s m a n n , Dr . , 21 6
Di e c k h o f f , Dr . Ha n s He i n r i c h , C h i e f ,
A n g l o - A m e r i c a n Di v i s i o n , A u s w a e r
t i g e s A m t , . 1
55
Di r k s e n , He r b e r t v o n , G e r m a n A m -
b a s s a d o r t o To k i o , 1 7 0 f f
Do d d , W i l l i a m E. , A m e r i c a n A m -
b a s s a d o r t o Be r l i n , 1 47 , 1 52, 1 64
1 28, 1 3 0, 1 3 6, 1 44, 1 48
. 1 57
Ed w a r d , Pr i n c e o f W a l e s , 1 29 f f , 21 7
Eh r h a r d t , C a p t a i n , 8
Ei t e l F r i e d r i c h , Pr i n c e , 66
El l i n g t o n , S i r Ed w a r d , C h i e f o f S t a f f
o f t h e Ro y a l A i r F o r c e , 1 64
Er zb e r g e r , M a t t h i a s , p r o m i n e n t G e r -
m a n p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n a n d M i n i s t e r ,
4f f
Ey r e s - M o n s e l l , S i r Bo l t o n , F i r s t Lo r d
o f t h e A d m i r a l t y , 1 25
F a b r i c i u s , Dr . W i l h e l m , G e r m a n
M i n i s t e r t o Bu c h a r e s t , 3 3
F a l k e n h a u s e n , G e n e r a l A l e x a n d e r
v o n , G e r m a n m i l i t a r y a d v i s e r t o
t h e C h i n e s e G o v e r n m e n t , 1 7 3
F a l k e n h a y n , G e n e r a l Er i c h v o n , G e r -
m a n m i l i t a r y l e a d e r i n W o r l d W a r
1 , 51
F l a m e n g , A u g u s t e , F r e n c h p a i n t e r , 7 9
F l a n d i n , Pi e r r e Et i e n n e , F r e n c h
Pr i m e M i n i s t e r , 1 o 8f , 1 29 , 1 48, 1 57
F r a n c k e n s t e i n , Ba r o n G e o r g e , A u s -
t r i a n M i n i s t e r t o Lo n d o n , 23 3
F r a n c o i s - Po n c e t , A n d r e , F r e n c h A m -
b a s s a d o r t o Be r l i n , 1 44
F r i c k , W i l h e l m , G e r m a n M i n i s t e r o f
t h e In t e r i o r , 8f f , 25
.
7 5
.
84, 1
3 9
F r i e d l a e n d e r - F u l d , v o n , 66
F r i e d m a n , C ze c h o f f i c i a l , 69 f
F r i e s , S e c r e t a r y o f Le g a t i o n o f t h e
Lo n d o n G e r m a n Em b a s s y , 1 65
INDEX
3 0
0
G o l d s c h m i d t - Ro t h s c h i l d , v o n , 66
G o y , J e a n , F r e n c h Pa r l i a m e n t a r i a n ,
1 08
Ha l i f a x , Lo r d , 1 53 , 23 1
Ha n f s t a e n g e l , Pu t zi , 84, 251
Ha s s e l , U l r i c h v o n , G e r m a n A m b a s -
s a d o r t o Ro m e , 1 45
Ha u s h o f e r , Ka r l , Pr o f e s s o r , G e o p o l i -
t i c i a n , g o , 1 7 1
He l l d o r f , C o u n t W o l f f He i n r i c h v o n ,
7 1 f f , 7 5
He n d e r s o n , S i r Ne v i l e , Br i t i s h A m -
b a s s a d o r t o Be r l i n , 246f , 263 , 27 3 f f
He n k e l l , A n n e l i e s ( M r s . v o n Ri b -
b e n t r o p ) , 1 1 f f , 56f , 7 6, 1 3 3 , 1 63
He n k e l l , F r a u , n e e M i c h e l s , 1 2, 1 6f
He n k e l l , Ot t o , 1 1 f f , 1 6, 56
He s s , Ru d o l p h , Hi t l e r ' s De p u t y ,
1 3 8f , 1 7 4, 21 9 , 225
Hi m m l e r , He i n r i c h , C h i e f o f t h e
G e s t a p o ,
3 7 .
68,
1 9 5 . 241
. 248, 250
Hi n d e n b u r g , Os c a r v o n , t h e Pr e s i -
d e n t ' s s o n , 81
Hi n d e n b u r g , Pa u l v o n , Pr e s i d e n t o f
t h e Re i c h , 3 f , 8o , g g , 1 6g , 221
Hi t l e r , A d o l f , 8f , 25f , 67 , 69 f
Hi t l e r , J u g e n d , 3 4f
Ho a r e , S i r S a m u e l , Br i t i s h F o r e i g n
M i n i s t e r , 1 28, 1 3 5
Ho e s c h , Le o p o l d v o n , G e r m a n A m -
b a s s a d o r t o Lo n d o n , 24, 1 05, 1 1 4,
1 1 9 , 1 22, 1 25f f , 1 3 0, 1 48
Do e r n b e r g , zu Ha u s e n - Di e t e r s h a u s e n , F r i t s c h , G e n e r a l W e r n e r v o n , C h i e f
o f t h e G e r m a n A r m y C o m m a n d ,
1 43 , 1 48f f
A l e x a n d e r v o n , C h i e f , Pr o t o c o l
Di v i s i o n , A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t , 7 7 f
Do l l f u s s , En g e l b e r t , C h a n c e l l o r o f F r o h w e i n , Ha n s , C h i e f , S h i p p i n g Di -
A u s t r i a , 23 1 v i s i o n , A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t , 1 24
Do u m e r g u e , G a s t o n , F r e n c h Pr i m e
M i n i s t e r , , o 6 f f
Du e r c k h e i m - M o n t m a r t i n ,
C o u n t v o n , 1 24
Ka r l f r i e d ,
G a u s s , F r i e d r i c h , A m b a s s a d o r , C h i e f ,
Le g a l Di v i s i o n , A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t ,
1 23
Du f o u r - F e r o n c e , A l f r e d , Ex - C o u n s e l - G o d l e y , M a j o r F e a t h e r s t o n e , 1 3 3 , 21 8
G o e b b e l s , J o s e p h , G e r m a n M i n i s t e r
o f Pr o p a g a n d a , 5
,
7 5
. 84, 1 1 2, 1 3 2,
1 3 9 , 201 , 207 , 225
l o r o f t h e G e r m a n Em b a s s y i n
Lo n d o n , 1 52
Eb e r t , F r i e d r i c h , F i r s t Pr e s i d e n t o f
t h e G e r m a n Re p u b l i c , 3 f , 1 69
Ed e n , A n t h o n y , Br i t i s h F o r e i g n M i n -
G o e r i n g , He r m a n n ,
G e r m a n A i r
C h i e f a n d M i n i s t e r o f Ec o n o m i c s ,
7 5, 84, 1 3 8f , 1 64, 1 80, 207 , 225,
i s t e r , 1 05, 1 o 8, 1 1 3 , 1 1 5, 1 1 7 , 1 25,
23 4. 246
Ho f f m a n n , He i n r i c h , Hi t l e r ' s p h o t o g -
r a p h e r , 1 3 9
Hu b e r , G u s t a v , Re p r e s e n t a t i v e o f
t h e G e s t a p o a t t h e To k i o G e r m a n
Em b a s s y , 1 7 7
Hu l l , C o r d e l l , A m e r i c a n S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e , 1 86
J e n k e , A l b e r t , 3 2 f f
Ka p p Pu t s c h , 8, 1 0, 7 2, 1 20
Ka r l o w a , Ot t o , 21 6
Ka u f m a n n , Ka r l , G a u l e i t e r o f Ha m -
b u r g , g o
Ke i t e l , W i l h e l m , G e r m a n G e n e r a l ,
1 7 0
Ke m p f f , Lu d w i g , G e r m a n C o n s u l
G e n e r a l i n M o n t r e a l , 50
Ke p p l e r , W i l h e l m , G e r m a n S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e " f o r s p e c i a l t a s k s , " 1 84
Ki d e r l e n , C a p t a i n , G e r m a n d e l e g a t e
t o t h e Lo n d o n n a v a l n e g o t i a t i o n s ,
1 23
Ki l l i n g e r , M a n f r e d v o n , G e r m a n
C o n s u l G e n e r a l i n S a n F r a n c i s c o ,
8f f , 248
Ko e s t e r , Ro l a n d , G e r m a n A m b a s s a -
d o r t o Pa r i s , 9 9 f f , 1 o g
Ko r d t , Dr . Er i c h , 1 24
Ko r t h , Dr
. Th e o d o r , 1 04
Ku r u s u , S a b u r o , J a p a n e s e A m b a s s a -
d o r t o Be r l i n , 1 84
La c r o i x , V i c t o r Le o p o l d d e , F r e n c h
M i n i s t e r t o Pr a g u e , 6g
La v a l , Pi e r r e , F r e n c h F o r e i g n M i n i s -
t e r , 1 o 8f f , 1 1 4, 1 1 8, 1 29 , 1 3 6, 1 41 f
Le y , Ro b e r t , Le a d e r o f G e r m a n
La b o r F r o n t , 1 3 8, 29 6
Li p s k i , J o ze f , Po l i s h A m b a s s a d o r t o
Be r l i n , 267
, 27 4
Li t t l e , C . J . C . , Br i t i s h V i c e A d m i r a l ,
1 24
Li t v i n o v , M a x i m , S o v i e t C o m m i s s a r
f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , 1 1 1 , 1 41 , 257 f
Lo n d o n d e r r y , M a r q u e s s , 1 63 , 1 88,
1 9 9 , 207 , 209
Lo t h i a n , Lo r d , 209
Lu e d e c k e , Ku r t , 86
Lu t h e r , Ha n s , G e r m a n A m b a s s a d o r
t o W a s h i n g t o n , 1 46
INDEX
3 0 1
M a c d o n a l d , Ra m s a y , Br i t i s h Pr i m e
M i n i s t e r , 1 1
f f , 1 26, 1 28
M a c h i a v e l l i , Ni c c o l o , 7 9 , 89
M a c k e n s e n , G e o r g v o n , ( U n d e r ) S e c -
r e t a r y o f S t a t e i n t h e A u s w a e r t i g e s
A m t , 224, 227
M e i s s n e r , Ot t o , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e i n
t h e o f f i c e o f t h e G e r m a n p r e s i d e n t ,
. 82, 9 9
M e n d e l s s o h n - Ba r t h o l d y , p r o f e s s o r A l -
b r e c h t v o n , g o
M e y e r , He i n r i c h , 27
M i c h e l , W o l f g a n g , 59
M o l o t o f f , V . M . , S o v i e t C o m m i s s a r
f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , 252, 258
M o u n t b a t t e n , Lo r d Lo u i s , 208
M u l v e y , Th o m a s , C a n a d i a n U n d e r -
s e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e , 48f
M u n , Ba r o n d e , 57
, 59
M u s h a k o y i , V i s c o u n t Ki n t o m o , J a p -
a n e s e A m b a s s a d o r t o Be r l i n , 1 7 2f
M u s s o l i n i , Be n i t o , 9 5, 1 05f , 1 1 4, 1 3 6,
1 41 , 1 45, 1 66, 1 7 4
. 23 7
M u t h e r , J o h a n n e s , 58
Ne u r a t h , C o n s t a n t i n F r e i h e r r v o n ,
, G e r m a n F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r , 25f f , 9 1 ,
9 5, 9 9 , 1 01 f , 1 1 4f ,
1 1 8f , 1 43 f f ,
1 47 f f , 1 51 , 1 66f f , 1 7 0f , 1 7 3
. 1 7 5f ,
1 89 , 1 9 1 , 21 4, 221 f , 225f f
Os h i m a , Hi r o s h i , J a p a n e s e A m b a s s a -
d o r t o Be r l i n , 1 7 3 f f , 1 83 f f , 262
Os t h i l f e , 81
Os u m i , M i n e o , J a p a n e s e A d m i r a l
a n d M i n i s t e r o f Na v y , 1 22f
Ot t , G e n e r a l Eu g e n , G e r m a n A m -
b a s s a d o r t o To k i o , 1 67 , 1 7 3
Pa p e n , F r a n zv o n , G e r m a n p o l i t i c i a n ,
l a t e r A m b a s s a d o r t o V i e n n a a n d
t o A n k a r a , 2o f f , 24f , 64, 81 f
Ph i p p s , S i r Er i c , Br i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r
t o Be r l i n , t 1 f f , 1 3 2, 1 54f , 1 61 f ,
1 88, 246
Ph i p p s , La d y , 1 1 2, 1 88 f f
Pi e t r i , F r a n c o i s , F r e n c h M i n i s t e r o f
Na v y , 1 3 6
Pl a t e n
. Ha l l e r m u n d , C o u n t Os c a r v o n ,
Lo r d C h a m b e r l a i n o f W i l h e l m II,
66
Pl y m o u t h , Lo r d , 21 2
Po l i g n a c , C o u n t M a x e n c e , 63
Po p o f f , G e o r g e , 26o f
Pr i t t w i t z a n d G a f f r o n , F r i e d r i c h
W i l h e l m v o n , G e r m a n A m b a s s a d o r
t o W a s h i n g t o n , 87
Pr i t t w i t za n d G a f f r o n , Ol g a M a r -
g a r e t e v o n , 3 1
Ra d e k , Ka r l , S o v i e t Em i s s a r y t o
Be r l i n , 254
Ra u m e r , Ha n s v o n , M e m b e r o f t h e
" Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p , " 1 7 1
Ra u s c h n i n g , He r m a n , 88
Re d f e r n , F r a n c i s , 65f
Re l p h , M a j o r H
. , 48
Re m n i t z, G u s t a v v o n , 23 7
Ri b b e n t r o p , A d o l p h , 3 3
Ii b b e n t r o p , A n n e l i e s - s e e He n k e l l ,
A n n e l i e s
Ri b b e n t r o p a n d C o . , 1 3 , 57 f f , 62
Ri b b e n t r o p , Be t t i n a , 3 3
, 3 6
Ri b b e n t r o p , In g e b o r g , 3 2
Ri b b e n t r o p , J o a c h i m v o n - s e e Ta b l e
o f C o n t e n t s
Ri b b e n t r o p , Lo t h a r , 3 1 , 40
Ri b b e n t r o p , Ri c h a r d ,
Li e u t e n a n t
C o l o n e l , 3 0, 3 9 , 7 6
Ri b b e n t r o p , Ru d i , 3 3 f
Ri b b e n t r o p , U r s u l a , 3 3
Ro e d e r n , C o u n t e s s v o n ,
Ro e h r s , M a j o r , 56
Ro m a i n s , J u l e s , 3 0
Ro s e n b e r g , A l f r e d , C h i e f o f F o r e i g n
Po l i c y De p a r t m e n t o f t h e Na t i o n a l -
S o c i a l i s t Pa r t y , 84f f ,
1 04, 1 41 , 1 52,
260
S a u e r b r u c h , Dr . F e r d i n a n d , m e d i c a l
a u t h o r i t y , 3 6
S a x e - C o b u r g , Du k e o f , 208, 21 8
S c a r p i n i , G e o r g e , F r e n c h Pa r l i a m e n -
t a r i a n , 1 o 8
S c h a c h t ,
Hj a l m a r Ho r a c e G r e e l y ,
Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e G e r m a n Re i c h s -
b a n k , M i n i s t e r o f Ec o n o m i c s ,
1
43 ,
1 7 4, 206, 243 f , 248f , 256
S c h a r s c h e w s k i , 1 9 5
S c h e i d e m a n n , Ph i l i p p , C h a n c e l l o r o f
t h e Re i c h , 3
7 4
INDEX
3 0
2
S c h l e i c h e r , G e n e r a l Ku r t v o n , C h a n -
c e l l o r o f t h e Re i c h , 8o f f , 1 69 f
S c h m i d t , G u i d o , A u s t r i a n M i n i s t e r
o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , 288f
S c h m i d t , Pa u l , 1 8o
S c h n e i d e r , F r i e d r i c h W i l h e l m , 6g
S c h n e i d e r , Os w a l d , C h i e f , Di v i s i o n
o f F o r e i g n S e r v i c e Pe r s o n n e l , A u s -
w a e r t i g e s A m t , 1 8f
S c h r o e d e r , Ba r o n Ku r t v o n , 81
S c h u b e r t , Ka r l v o n , ( U n d e r ) S e c r e -
t a r y o f S t a t e a t t h e A u s w a e r t i g e s
A m t , 7 4
S c h u r m a n , J a c o b G o u l d , A m e r i c a n
A m b a s s a d o r t o Be r l i n , 1 g , 6o f
S c h u s t e r , A d m i r a l , G e r m a n De l e g a t e
t o t h e Lo n d o n n a v a l n e g o t i a t i o n s ,
1 23
S c h w a r z, F r a n zXa v e r , Tr e a s u r e r o f
t h e Na t i o n a l - S o c i a l i s t Pa r t y , 87
S h i r e r , W i l l i a m L . , Be r l i n r e p r e s e n t a -
t i v e C o l u m b i a Br o a d c a s t i n g C o m -
p a n y , 1 50
S i m o n , S i r J o h n , Br i t i s h F o r e i g n
M i n i s t e r , 1 o 5, 1 o 8, 1 1 2f f , 1 1 9 , 1 25,
1 28
' S p i t zy , Ru d o l p h , 1 9 6
S t a h m e r , He i n r i c h G e o r g , m e m b e r o f
t h e " Bu e r o Ri b b e n t r o p , " g o , 1 7 1 ,
1 84
S t e e n g r a c h t , A d o l p h v a n , A g r i c u l -
t u r a l A t t a c h 6, t o t h e Lo n d o n G e r -
m a n Em b a s s y , 1 9 6
S t o h r e r , Eb e r h a r d v o n , C h i e f , Di v i -
s i o n o f F o r e i g n S e r v i c e Pe r s o n n e l ,
A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t , 7 8
S t r a u s s , Ot t m a r , G e r m a n In d u s t r i -
a l i s t , 5f f ,
1 0
f , 55f , 66, 68
S t r e s e m a n n , G u s t a v , C h a n c e l l o r o f
t h e Re i c h , 1 8f
Th o r n e r , He i n z, 3 4 f f
Th y s s e n , F r i t z, 23 7
To l i s c h u s , Ot t o ,
Ne w Y o r k Ti m e s
Be r l i n C o r r e s p o n d e n t , 225
Tu k h a c h e w s k y , M i c h a e l , S o v i e t G e n -
e r a l , 1 82
U n i o n C l u b ( Be r l i n ) , 63 , 66
V a n s i t t a r t , S i r Ro b e r t a n d La d y , 1 89
V e r s a i l l e s Tr e a t y , 3 , 9 3 f , 1 o 8, i l l ,
1 1 3 f , 1 1 9 f , 1 28, 1 3 5, 1 3 7 , 1 61 , 21 0
V i c t o r i a Lo u i s e , Pr i n c e s s , 1 27
W a l k e r , S i r A l e x a n d e r , 57
W a s s n e r , C o m m a n d e r Er w i n , Na v a l
A t t a c h 6t o t h e Lo n d o n G e r m a n
Em b a s s y , 1 23 , 1 27 , 1 3 5, 1 40
W e i g a l l , La d y , 1 28
W e i s m a n , Ro b e r t , Pr u s s i a n S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e , 7 7 f
W i e d e m a n n , C a p t a i n F r i t z, G e r m a n
C o n s u l G e n e r a l i n S a n F r a n c i s c o ,
9 f , 243 f f
INDEX
3 0 3
W i r t h , J o s e p h , C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e
Re i c h , 8, 20
W o e r m a n n , Dr . Er n s t , A s s i s t a n t
C h i e f , Le g a l Di v i s i o n , A u s w a e r t i g e s
A m t , 1 23 f , 1 55
W o l f f , Ot t o , G e r m a n i n d u s t r i a l i s t ,
l g f
Y o s h i d a , S h i g e r u , J a p a n e s e A m b a s s a -
d o r t o Lo n d o n , 1 7 1
Z e c h l i n , W a l t e r , C h i e f , Pr e s s De p a r t -
m e n t , A u s w a e r t i g e s A m t , 1 6g
FranklinInstituteofBoston
STUDENTANDTEACHERIN
FRANKLININSTITUTEOFBOSTON
Intheearlydays,youngmenborrowed
moneyfromtheFranklinFundtolearntradesof
thattime .Accordingtotherecords,theywanted
tobebricklayers,cabinetmakers,tanners,silver-
smiths,blacksmiths,tallowchandlers(candle-
makers),coopers,bakers,andhairdressers .
Today,graduatesofthetwo-yearprograms
findjobsasassistantsinchemicalresearch,civil
engineering,architecture,electricalmaintenance,
electricalengineering,electronicresearch,me-
chanicalengineering,automotiverepair,com-
mercialphotography,andinfactoriesrequiring
specialskills .
MinistersoftheoldestEpiscopalian,Congrega-
tionalandPresbyterianChurchesinthatTown
;
whoaretoletoutthesameuponInterestatfive
percentperAnnumtosuchyoungmarried
artificers,undertheageoftwenty-fiveyears,as
have served an Apprenticeshipinthesaid
Town ; and faithfully
fulfilled
the
Duties
requiredintheirIndentures,soastoobtaina
good moral Character
from
at
least two
RespectableCitizens,whoarewillingtobecome
theirSuretiesinaBondwiththeApplicantsfor
theRepaymentofthemoniessolentwith
InterestaccordingtotheTerms . . . .
Among the
" youngmarriedartificers"
whoborrowedmoneyfromthisfundin
Mayof1 7 9 1 wereabricklayer,acabinet
maker,atanner,asilversmith,ablack-
smith,asaddler,andabaker .Theypaid
backtheirloanswithinterest .
AccordingtoFranklin' swill,thefund
wasdividedintotwopartsinbothBoston
and Philadelphia, the first togather
interestforonehundredyears,andthe
second,fortwohundredyears .InBoston,
afterahundredyears,the1 000pounds
sterling amounted
to $432,000 with
whichtheBoardofManagersestablisheda
tradeschool,theFranklinInstitute
.The
secondpartofthefundavailablein1 9 9 1 ,
aftertwohundredyears,isnowwellover
amilliondollars .
InPhiladelphia,Franklinrequestedthat
thecityofficialshandlethemoney .He
recommendedthatthehundred-yearfund
bespent" inbringingbyPipestheW ater
ofW issahickonCreekintotheTown . . .I
alsorecommendmakingtheSchuylkill
compleatelynavigable ." Sincetheseneeds
FRANKLININSTITUTEOFBOSTON
Intime,fewer" youngmarriedartificers"
appliedforloansfromtheFranklinFund.The
apprenticesystemofFranklin' sdaywasno
longerpopular .Thetrusteesponderedawayto
carryoutFranklin' sinstructionsinthespiritof
hiswill .In1 9 08,plansweremadetospendthe
moneyforatradeschoolwherestudentscould
learnskillsneededinnewindustries .Theschool
isnowco-educational .
FranklinInstituteofBoston
nolongerex isted,theBoardofTrustees
inPhiladelphiaturnedoverthefirstpart
ofthe Franklin Fund, alittle over
$1 33,000,toerecttheFranklinInstitute
inthatcity.W ithgoodmanagementand
profits,thefundgrewtooveramillion
andahalfdollars .Attheendoftwo
hundredyears,themoneyonhandistobe
" dividedbetweentheinhabitantsofthe
cityofPhiladelphiaandtheG overnmentof
Pennsylvania" asstatedinFranklin' swill .
Franklinrememberedchildreninthe
Bostonschools .Heleftinhiswill" One
hundredPoundsSterling" tobe" putto
Interest, andsocontinuedatInterest
forever,whichInterestannuallyshallbe
laidoutinSilverMedals,andgivenas
honorary Rewards annually by
the
DirectorsofthesaidFreeSchoolsforthe
encouragementofScholarship
To-
day, students in the Boston Public
Schoolsstillvieforthehonorofwinning
aFranklinMedal .
BenjaminFranklin,oneofthefewrich
menintheBritishcolonies,livedtoplay
apartinwritingaconstitutionforanew
republic,theUnitedStatesofAmerica .
Awarethatthenewgovernmentneeded
informedcitizenstosurvive,heprovideda
wayforhislifelonginterestineducationto
functionafterhisdeath .
Manywealthymeninthiscountryhave
followedFranklin' sideaandestablished
foundations to support artmuseums,
music schools, symphonyorchestras,
collegesanduniversities .Afoundation
frequentlyreflectstheinterestorhobbyof
themanwhogiveshismoneytosupportit .
For ex ample,
Henry E. Huntington
collected rare books,
manuscripts,
paintings,andartobjectsasahobby .Then
hedecidedtosharehistreasureswiththe
public,
freeofcharge,andsetupa
526
THE BLUEBOY
byThomasG ainsborough
TheBLUEBOYwasJonathanButtall,theson
ofawealthyironmongerinLondon .Hisportrait
waspaintedbyG ainsboroughaboutthetimeof
theAmericanRevolution.
Anothergreatportraitpainter,SirJoshua
Reynolds,wholivedatthesametime,madethis
statement :" thatthemassesoflightinapicture
oughttobealwaysofawarm,mellowcolor,
yellow,red,orayellowishwhite,andthatthe
blue,gray,orthegreencolorsbekeptalmost
entirelyoutofthesemasses,andbeusedonlyto
supportorsetoffthesewarmcolors ."
Accordingtotradition,torefuteReynolds'
remark,G ainsboroughpaintedyoungButtal' s
costumeinshadesvaryingfrompaleturquoiseto
deepestazureblue .Thefamousportraitwas
purchasedbyHenryE.Huntingtonin1 9 21 for
hisartgallery,opentothepublicandfreeof
charge.Duringtheyear,thousandsofchildren
accompaniedbytheirparentsandteachersvisit
theHenryE.HuntingtonLibraryandArtG allery
toseetheBLUEBOY
.
HenryE.Huntington
LibraryandArtG allery
arieswhocrossedtheplainstoOregontell
inglowingtermsoftheabundanceof
salmonandofhowtheyenjoyedthefresh
fishafterlivingforweeksondriedbuffalo
meat
.Onescientisttoldofseeingsalmon
sonumerousinheadwatersofstreams
thattheIndianswadedintothepoolsand
killedthefishwithcedarpaddleboards
.
Theearlysettlersalsosaltedanddried
salmonastheIndiansdid
.Theydepended
onitforwinterfood
.Beforethearrivalof
the
pioneers who occupied the
land,
huntersandtrapperscarrieddriedsalmon
intheirpackswherevertheywent
.The
fishingindustrywasestablishedabout1 800
bytheNorthwestFurCompany,which
later merged
with the Hudson' sBay
Company
.Salmonwassaltedandcuredto
supply the company
men whowere
trackingthroughthewilderness .By1 835
theHudson' sBayCompanywasshipping
about4000barrelsofsaltedsalmonper
yeartotheHawaiianIslands .In1 836over
67 ,000salmonweresenttothecompany' s
tradingpostsalongtheupperFraserRiver .
Intheyearthatthefirstsettlerscameto
ElliottBay,ChiefSeattle,forwhomtheir
villagewasnamed,broughtDr .Maynard
fromOlympiatostartafishingbusiness
andgiveemploymenttomembersofhis
tribe
.Barrelsofsalmonwerepackedin
brineand shipped
to San Francisco .
Althoughthefishspoiledenroute,the
ventureestablishedthefishingindustryas
thesecondcommercialenterpriseonElliott
Bay.
The Fraser River with
its many
tributariesanditschainoflakesisthe
greatestsockeyeriverintheworld
; and
sockeyesalmonknowit
.Sodofishermen
who caughtover
1 9 5,000,000ofthis
speciesintheFraserRiverbetween1 89 4
and1 9 1 7
.Itwasin1 863,duringtheW ar
ProvincialArchives,V ictoria,BritishColumbia
SALMONFISHING ONTHEFRASERRIV ER
Simon Fraser,aclerkintheNorthwest
Company,wassentfromeasternCanadato
westernCanadatoestablishnewfur-tradingposts
amongtheIndiantribeswestoftheRocky
Mountains
.
OnMay22,1 808,anex ploringpartyledby
SimonFraserleftFortG eorgetopaddlecanoes
downalargerivernotyettraveledbywhitemen
.
W asthisgreatrivertheColumbia?Itwasa
hazardousvoyageovertreacherousrapids,through
narrowrock-walledcanyons,andwithencounters
withunfriendlyIndians
.Intheswiftcurrentofthe
stream,canoessometimesgatheredspeedofthirty
milesperhour
.ThepartysightedtheG eorgia
StraitontheseconddayofJuly,provingthatthe
riverwasnottheColumbia .Itwasnamedfor
SimonFraser
.Theriverbecamefamousforfish,
notfurs
.Itwasthefavoritewaterwayofsalmon .
BetweentheStates,thatthefirstsalmon
wascannedonthisriverinnorthern
W ashington .Threeyearslaterthefirst
cannerywasbuiltontheColumbiaRiver .
Itwasthecanningprocess,moreprofitable
thansaltingordrying,thatmadefishinga
leadingindustryintheNorthwest .
Salmonarecaughtgoinguptherivers
becausetheadultsnevergobackdownto
theseaagain .Theylayeggsanddie .W hen
hatchedtheyoungfryremaininthese
quietwatersuntiltheycanswimfreely .
4 1 3
Theythenworktheirwaytotheocean .
Theyoungofsockeyeandking,orchinook
salmon,maystayinfreshwateruntiltheir
secondspring.Thosestartingtotheocean
asyearlingshaveabetterchancetosurvive ;
buttheirrealgrowthtakesplaceinsalt
water .Thekingsalmon,largestofthefive
commonspecies,likestospawnindeeper
andswifterwaters
.Theaverageweightof
kingsalmonistwenty-twopoundsbutfish
havebeencaughtweighingsix typounds
andmore .Beingstrongandheavythe
chinookslikethewideColumbiaRiver
withitslargetributariesandsometimeslay
theireggsinthemainchannelsofstreams .
Thislargespecies,adeeppinkcolor,
bringsthehighestpriceinmarkets .Asa
resultmanyhavebeentrappedforthe
fisheriesontheirupstreamrunsandtoo
fewhavereachedthespawninggrounds .
Theirnumbersaredeclining.
Therivalrybetweenfishermenfrom
CanadaandtheUnitedStatesdamagedthe
sockeye industry in theFraserRiver
country .In1 9 37 thetwonationsmadea
treatytoworktogetheringuardingthe
sockeyefromover-fishingandtobuild
ladderstoaidthesalmoningettingover
dams and otherunnatural barriersin
streams .Someyearsbefore,anothertreaty
rescued halibutfrom over-fishingand
restoredthenormalsupplytofishermenof
bothnations .Thefutureofthisbusiness,
likelumbering,dependsuponconservation .
Insomeplaceslogginghasdestroyedthe
watershedandthestreamswheresalmon
spawnedhavedriedup .However,the
greatesthazardtothefisharethedams
blockingtheriverstostorewaterfor
irrigationandtogenerateelectricpower .
Sometimes,thestrugglingsalmonarelifted
tothetopofadambyelevatorswhich
operatelikecanallocks .Salmonhavea
4 1 4
hominginstinctwhichleadsthemtothe
spawninggroundsoftheirforefathers - to
die .Togetthere,manyareforcedto
accepttheaidofman' sinvention .
FARMING ISV ARIED
INTHENORTHW EST
THECASCADE MOUNTAINS divide
thestatesofW ashingtonandOregoninto
twokindsofclimate,moistanddry .On
theoceansidewhererainfallisplentiful,
theforestsaredense,thesoilisrich,and
thecropsareabundant .Ontheeasternside
therainfallislightbecausefewclouds
blowinginfromtheseacancrosstherange
withoutdroppingtheirmoisture .Seattle,
onPugetSound,hasanaverageyearly
rainfall of thirty-four inches ; while
Spokane,intheeasternpartofW ashington,
haslessthanhalfthatamount,six teen
inches .TherodeotownofPendleton,
Oregon,eastofthemountains,hasan
averageyearlyrainfallofonlyfourteen
inches ; whiletherosecityofPortland,near
theseacoast,hasthreetimesasmuchrain,
forty-twoinchesinall
.Thisvarietyof
climateaccountsforthevarietyofcropsin
theNorthwest
.Ontherainysideofthe
mountainsthefarmersspecializeinfruits,
vegetables,anddairycows
.Ontheeastern
sidetheydependeduponwheat,forage,
andbeefcattleuntilirrigation,insome
places,enlargedtheirproduction
.
ForirrigationandpowertheNorthwest
hasitsowngreatriver,theColumbia
.This
streamrisesintheCanadianRockiesand
flowsabout200milesnorthwestbefore
turningsouthforthe500mileruntothe
UnitedStatesborder .TheColumbiaenters
thiscountryinthenortheasterncornerof
thestateofW ashington .
G OLD MINERS - AURORA CLAIM ON W ILLIAMS CREEK - 1 867
W hengoldwasdiscoveredamongtheheadwatersoftheFraserRiverinCanada,
miningwasaddedtotheleadingindustriesofthenorthwesternpartofNorthAmerica .
MinersworkingtheAuroraClaimonW illiamsCreekwereaveraging$20adayin
Septemberof1 867 .Someofthegroundonbedrockofthisstreamyielded$2 .25to
thepan .
Ninety miles west of Spokane, in
ColumbiaCanyon,theriverisspannedby
theG randCouleeDam,containingenough
concretetopaveafour-lanehighwayfrom
SeattletoNewYorkCity .Behindthis
barriertwicetheheightofNiagaraFalls,
theriverbacksuptoformareservoir,
namedLake Roosevelt for President
FranklinD.Roosevelt .Thisbodyofwater
ex tendsalmosttotheCanadianborder,a
distanceof1 51 miles .
TheG randCouleeDam,costingabout
$225,000,000
was constructed bythe
BureauofReclamation .Aswaterreachesa
vastareathroughanirrigat .~ .,systemwith
4000milesofcanals,thesettlerswillbegin
topayacertainamountperacreforthe
ProvincialArchives,V ictoria,BritishColumbia
watertorepaytheG overnmentforthecosts
ofconstruction .Thatwilltakealongtime
.
Inthemeantimeelectricpower,generated
bythefallingwater,isbeingsoldtoprivate
companiesandfordefenseprojectstomake
payments .
TheBonnevilleDam,belowColumbia
G orge,wasthelargestuntiltheG rand
Couleewasbuilt .Bothhavelargepower-
plants . However,
much ofthepower
generatedattheG randCouleemustbeused
topumpirrigationwateruptothedesert
landbecausethemillionandmoreacresto
beirrigatedareatahigheraltitudethanthe
dam.TheNorthwestneedsmoreelectricity
foritsindustriesandmoredamsarebeing
constructedintheColumbiaRiver
.
4 1 5
W ho
owns the ColumbiaRiver?W hat
statehaspriorrighttothewaterinthe
stream? On July 1 6, 1 9 52
Congress
approved the Interstate
Compact
Commissiondrawnupbyrepresentatives
from W ashington, Idaho,
Oregon,
W yoming, and Montana
to settle by
agreementtheuseofwaterininterstate
streams .InOctoberofthesameyear,ata
committeemeetinginYakima,W ashington,
apermanentorganizationwasformedwith
headquartersinBoise,Idaho .TheStatesof
NevadaandUtahdidnotjointhecompact
.
Atthismeeting,however,thesestatesand
theDominionofCanadawereinvitedto
sendrepresentativestomeetingsofthe
InterstateCompactCommission .
Sincethedaysofthefirstsettlers,water
fromtheColumbiaRiverhasbeenused
forirrigation,butforlandnearthestream .
TheW enatcheeV alleyontheeasternside
HOODRIV ERV ALLEYINOREG ON
Hood River
V alleyrisesgentlyfromthe
ColumbiaRivertothebaseofMt
.Hood,an
ex tinctvolcano,risingtotheheightof1 1 ,245
feet
.Thislandwasaforestofevergreenswhenthe
firstsettlerscameovertheOregonTrail .Today,
dairyingandfruitfarmingareleadingindustries
.
A[Monner
of the Cascade
Mountains was a
semi-desert . A missionary,
Father De
G rassi,taughttheIndianstoirrigatethe
valleywithwaterfromtheColumbiaRiver .
In 1 87 2PhilipMiller,ahomesteader,
plantedthefirstappletreesinthisvalley
.
Moresettlerscameandplantedappletrees
wherethesoilwasrich,thedayswere
sunny,andthenightswerecool
.Theapple
industry,however,waitedfortherailroad,
theG reatNorthern,in1 89 2 .Thefirst
carload of apples
was shipped from
Miller' sranchinthefallof1 9 01
.Now
theW enatcheeV alley,thirty-fivemiles
long,claimstobethe" AppleCapital ."
The orchards arewatered from the
ColumbiaRiverandsmalltributariesthat
flowdownfromthemountains
.
Farthereastandsoutharetherolling
wheatlandsofW ashington .Thesoftwhite
wheatgrowninthePacificNorthwest
makesamoistflourpreferredforcakesand
fancypastries .Asmorelandgetswater,
moreorchardsandmorefieldsspreadover
thelandscape .Manyofthecropsthat
flourishontherainysideoftheCascades
canbegrownonthedrysideeastofthe
mountainswithirrigation .
Thestockmanisstillsecureontheplains
ofeasternOregonwherenogreatriver
flowstobeharnessedforirrigation .To
cowboysridingtherangeandherders
minding theirsheep, the Pendleton
Roundupisthebigeventoftheyear .Itis
ranch country east of the Cascade
MountainsinOregon .W ithoutirrigation
thefarmerwillnotarrivetorunhisplow
throughthestockman' spasture .
MAP:
W A1 7 r
OurUnitedStates byEdgarB .W esley
Chapter 22
THELUREOF
G OLDANDSILV ER
MANYOFTHE
richestgoldfindswere
madebyaccident .Lateinthespringof
1 850asmallbandofMormonemigrants
campedontheCarsonRiverinNevadato
waitforthesnowtomeltinthehigh
countrysotheycouldcrosstheSierras .To
passawaythetime,someofthemendida
littleprospectinginacanyonnearby
.In
washingthefirstpanofgraveltheyfound
gold .TheynamedtheplaceG oldCanyon
.
Althoughthemenearnedfrom$5to$8a
day,theydidnotstay .W henthesnow
melted,thepartycrossedthemountain
rangetothe" diggings" intheSacramento
V alleyandleftafortunebehindthem
.
Theyhadcampednearabigbonanza,the
famousComstockLode .
NineyearslatertwoIrishmen,Peteand
Pat,wereprospectinginthesameregion .
Theydugapitinasmallmountainstream
toburytheirtoolforwashinggravel
.Just
outofcuriositytheywashedthrough
theirrockersomeofthedirtfromthe
bottomofthepit .Theyknewtheyhad
madeastrikewhentheyfoundflakesof
glitteringgold.Theyweremuchannoyed
withheavyblackchunksthatclogged
IntheMountainRegions
theirrockerandhinderedthewashingof
golddust
.Theytossedtheblackmetal
aside,thinkingitworthless
.
Lateintheafternoonofthesameday,
HenryComstock,searchingforhismus-
tang pony, happenedalong.Hesaw
thegold.Instantlyhedeclaredthatthe
landwashisclaimandthreatenedtohave
the Irishmenarrested
.Tosettlethe
matter,PeteandPattookinComstockas
apartner,althoughheknewaslittle
aboutminingastheydid .However,
Comstock' sloudboastingaboutHISmine
attachedhisnametothebonanza .Samples
ofthe" blackstuff" weresenttoNevada
Citytobeassayed
.Itwaspuresilver .
Thenewsspreadlikeaprairiefire
.
Miners,gamblers,andadventurersswarmed
overtheSierrastoseeknewfortunesin
W ashoeCounty,thenapartofUtahbut
soontobeinthestateofNevada .Itwas
summertime
.Tentsdottedthehillsides
butmanysleptonthegroundwithout
shelterofanykind.Theorewasrichbut
ittookex pensivemachinerytotunnel
intothemountainanddigitout .Pete,
Pat,andtheirbluffingpartnersoldoutto
menwhocouldfinancetheproject
.The
wealthfromthefamousComstockLode
helpedLincolntofighttheW arBetween
41 7
the
States and made anumber of
millionaires .
More than $40,000,000 in
gold and silver was taken from this
district .
Some mines aroundSilverCity,
Nevada,arestillproducingwithprofit
.
TenyearsafterMarshalldiscoveredgold
inthetailraceofSutter' smill,prospectors
4 1 8
TitleInsuranceandTrustCompany,LosAngeles
TONOPAH,NEV ADAIN1 9 02
ThisstreetsceneinTonopahwastypicalofnewminingtownsduringboomdays .A
teamsterisonthewaytonearbycampswithaloadofcots,bedsprings,andfoodfor
miners .Thewagonfreightercarriesabarrelofwaterformanandbeastinthedeseri
country.Trunksandsuitcasesofnewarrivalsarepiledhighon .&heboardwalkinfrontof
alittlehotelwithasignadvertising:ANICENEW BED,$7 .50amonth,50anight.
werepanningintheSouthPlatte,Cherry
Creek,andotherstreamsoftheColorado
Rockies
." Pike' sPeakorBust" becamethe
sloganofanothergoldrushandanother
westwardmigration
.One" Pike' sPeaker"
wrote in a letterto
thefolksback
home
Camped for
the night . There are
60
men
and 1 2wagons in the company,
all
wellprovidedwithfood,clothing,andammuni-
tion
.Thereisnohouseinsightorsignofciviliza-
tion, -
butprairie - boundless,endless .Ifeelfirst
rate -
free,freeasair! W elivebythesideofour
wagonandsleepinthetent
.Idothewashing,
Charliewashesthedishes,andDuntondrivesthe
teamandattendstotheox enandwagon
. . . .
W hileIaminmytentwritingbythelightofa
lantern,theG ermansaresinging,andtheothersare
fiddlinganddancing .W ehavemerrytimesouthere
.
A donkey discovered
the rich
MizpahveininNevadawhichyielded
$1 50,000,000ingoldandsilveroreand
madeTonopahaminingtown .In1 9 00a
Nevadarancherloadedfourburroswith
suppliesandwentprospecting.Oneevening
hecampednearaplacewhichtheIndians
calledTonopah,theirwordforlittlewater
.
The nex tmorningaduststormwas
blowingandtheburroswerenowherein
sight .Afterasearchtherancherfound
themhuddledbehindabigdarkrockthat
providedalittleshelterfromthewindand
thedust .W hilewaitingforthestormto
blowover,theprospectorchippedoff
piecesoftherocktotakewithhimtobe
assayed.Thischunkofblackrockona
lonelydesertprovedtobetheoutcropping
ofarichveinofsilverore .Itwasnamed
Mizpah.Nothavingthecapitaltodevelop
themine,theranchersoldhisholdingfor
somecashandsharesofstockinthe
TonopahMiningCompany.Heretiredtoa
quietranchlife,arichman .
G old was the magnet that drew
thousands across
the plains, through
mountainpasses,andoversandywastesto
establishtheminingindustryinthatvast
regionlyingbetweentheMissouriRiver
andthePacificOcean .Today,western
minesfurnishavarietyofminerals,from
gypsum to gems, for a variety of
PANNING
FOR G OLD IN COLORADO
W ith pick, pan and shovel, richand
poor,
old
and young, lawyer and laborer worked
sidebyside,independentlyandalone .Panningfor
goldwasdemocraticandadventurousforfortune
seekers,andinspiredversesinthenewspapers
.
THEG OLDSEEKER' SSONG
" Takeuptheox en,boys,andharnessupthe
mules ;
Packawayprovisionsandbringalongthetools ;
Thepickandtheshovel,andapanthatwon' t
leak ;
Andwe' llstartforthegoldmines .Hurrahfor
thePeak!
W e' llcrosstheboldMissouri,andwe' llsteerfor
theW est,
Andwe' lltaketheroadwethinkistheshortest
andthebest ;
W e' lltravelo' ertheplains,wherethewindis
blowingbleak,
Andthesandywastesshallechowith - Hurrah
forPike' sPeak!
W e' llsitaroundthecampfirewhenallourwork
isdone,
Andsingoursongs,andcrackourjokes,and
haveourshareoffun ;
Andwhenwe' retiredofjokesandsongs,our
blanketswewillseek,
Todreamoffriends,andhome,andgold.Hurrah
forPike' sPeak!
(HannibalMessenger,April28,1 859 )
TitleInsuranceandTrustCompany,LosAngeles
lktleinsuranceandTrustuumpwry,LosAngeles
MAILSTAG ETOG OLDFIELD,NEV ADA,1 9 05
Stagecoacheswereusedforhaulingmailand
passengers
untilrailroadswere
builtintothe
miningcamps .
G oldfieldenjoyedastory-book
boomduringtheearlydaysofthiscentury
.As
theveinsofrichorewereex hausted,theyieldof
goldandsilverbecamelessandless
.Thecampis
alonelytown,sprawledoverasaddlebetween
twobarrenpeaks,morethanamilehigh
.Some
oftheold-timersremain,confidentthatnewores
willbefoundinthebleakhillstobringanew
boomtoG oldfield.
industriesalloverthenation .Thiskindof
miningisamoney-makingbusinessbutit
lacksthelureofgoldandsilver .
W ESTERNMINESSUPPLYMANY
MINERALSFORMANUFACTURERS
No ONEKNOW S howlongprehistoric
manusedcopperbeforehelearnedtomix
itwithtintomakebronze .Piecesof
bronzehavebeenfoundinEgyptiantombs
nearly6000yearsold
.TheisleofCyprus
intheMediterraneanwasanancientsource
ofcopperandfromthisislandthemetal
tookitsname .Itwasfirstcalledcyprium,
thencuprum,andfinallycopper .Noother
metalhasservedmansolongandsowell .
4 2 0
Butte,Montana,boastsofbeingthe
greatestminingcampintheworld
.Copper
didit
.Thecityisbuiltoveramazeof
tunnelsandundergroundworkingsthat
piercethe" richesthillonearth" toadepth
ofalmostamile .Minersgodownincages
todigthevaluableoreintheseshafts
.The
productisbroughttothesurfaceinhuge
elevators
.InUtahalongthewesternshore
oftheG reatSaltLake,anunusualcopper
mineex istswherenoonedigsforore
.The
minerssimplycutawaythemountainswith
bigelectricshovels .Itisnecessarytoscoop
up 450,000,000 tons
ofore to get
8,000,000poundsofcopper
.Somegold,
silver,andmolybdenumarealsofoundin
thislowgradecopperore .Themineralsare
ex tractedinmillsandsmeltersinG arfield,
nearby,onthelakeshore .Arizonais
another copper-producing state where
mineswereworkedbytheSpaniardsbefore
this territory belonged
totheUnited
States .TheRockyMountainsfromCanada
toMex icoyieldcopperores .
Zinc,thenon-rustmetal,isusually
presentinorescontainingcopper,silver,
andlead
.Primitivemandiscoveredthata
mix tureofcopperandzincmadebrass
.At
G reatFalls,Montana,aminingcompany
operatesazincplant,thelargestofitskind
intheworld
.Althoughthebrass i ndustry .i s
stillzinc' sbiggestcustomer,thisnon-rust
metalhascometohavemorevarieduses
thananyotherex ceptiron
.
Likecopperandzinc,leadisoneofthe
oldestmetalsknowntoman .ThePharaohs
ofancientEgyptmadesolderfromleadto
glazetheirpottery
.TheBabyloniansused
leadtofastenironboltsintostonebridges .
Nearly4000yearsago,theChinesehad
leadcoinsbeforesilvermoneycameinto
use .TheRomanshadleadwaterpipesin
theirprivatehomesandpublicbaths
.Since
the metal is found
in orescontaining
copper, zinc, andsilver,
the Rocky
Mountainstateshaveleadsmelters
.
However,theminingindustryofthe
W estowesmuchofitssuccesstoplain
blackcoal
.Itwarmedtheminer' scabin,
cookedhisfood,andfiredthefurnaces
thatsmeltedtheores
.Colorado,Utahand
W yominghavethousandsofacresofcoal
lands .
FromtheIndians,earlypioneersheard
of" rocks
that burn" andoftensaw
outcroppingsofcoaldeposits .Littlewas
donetodevelopthesecoalbedsuntilthe
first railroad was built across
the
continent .In1 869 thefirsttonofcoal
wasminedatRockSprings,W yoming
.The
basinoftheG reenRiverisrichincoal
depositsfromitssourceintheW indRiver
RangetoitsjunctionwiththeColoradoin
southeasternUtah
.W iththecompletionof
eachnewrailroadinthemountainstates,
coalmineswereopenedtosupplyfuelfor
theengines .Inturnthesecoalmines
broughtbusinesstotherailroads .
Althoughelectricityandoilarestrong
competitorsofcoalinindustry,thisfuel
willprobablynotbereplacedentirelyfor
heatinginalongtime
.W henwinterwinds
howlandheavysnowfall,manlikesthe
warmthofglowingredcoalsinthehome
grateandthecabinstove .
Thebasicminerals,suchasgold,silver,
copper,zinc,iron,lead,andcoalarethe
breadandbutteroftheminingindustry
.
Themineriseveronthelookoutfornew
mineralstoservetheneedsofmanu-
facturers .Inprocessingthebasicmetals,
newandvaluablemineralsarefound
.This
never-endingsearchkeepsthespiritof
adventurealiveinthebusiness
.
Utahhaswholemountainsofgypsum
andenoughsalttosupplytheworldfora
longtime .Californiahasthelargestknown
supplyofborax nowbeingminedfor
commercialpurposes .Idahohaseighty-five
percentofthephosphaterockknownto
ex istintheUnitedStates
.W henthesoilof
ournationbecomeslessproductive,this
bedofphosphaterockunderlying268,000
acresofgroundmayrevivethefarmland .
BothNevadaandCaliforniahavelarge
depositsofmagnesiteoreandthesaltthat
isneededtoprocesstheore .
Leadville,Coloradointhegoldrushof
1 860wasaroaringcamp .Afewyearslater
the town
was almost deserted .Silver
broughtanotherboomthatswelledthe
populationto30,000in1 87 5
.W henthat
bubbleburst,theminingcamp,situated
abouttwomilesabovesealevel,
again
becameaghosttown
.Nowanewmetalis
bringingnewprosperitytotheoldmining
villageintheRockyMountains
.Itis
molybdenum,whichisusedlikestarchin
makingtoolsteel
.Mostofitcamefroma
mountainoforenearLeadville .Thesteel
industry' sdemandforbothmolybdenum
COPPERMINE
- BING HAM,UTAH
ThismineoftheKennecottCopperCorpora-
tionisthelargestsurfacecoppermineinNorth
America,coveringover1 000acresofex cavated
ore - richearth
.About1 7 7 milesofrailroad
tracksaremovedfromterracetoterraceasthe
mountainisbeingslowlydemolishedtosupply
smeltersatG arfieldwithore
.
Courtesy,SaltLakeChamberofCommerce
andvanadiumhasledtothediscoveryof
thesesilver-whitemetalsinotherplaces .
From Paradox
V alley in western
Colorado,inthebasinoftheDoloresRiver,
yellowishcarnotiteorewasshippedto
Francefortheex perimentswhichledto
thediscoveryofradiumbyMme
.Curie .
Thissamecarnotiteorethatproduces
radiumtocureman' sillsalsocontains
uraniumtomakethatfrightfulweaponof
modernwarfare,theatomicbomb
.Before
itstremendous powerwasknown,
a
world-widesearchbeganforthenickel-
whitemetalthathadbeenusedinmaking
steel,stainlesssilverware,andpottery .
G emsfoundinmountainregionsofthe
W estaremadeintojewelryinfactoriesof
theEast
.AjetminenearZionCanyonin
southernUtahproducestheshinyblack
stonefromwhichbeads,buckles,and
buttonsaremade
.Idahofurnishesopalsfor
NewYorkjewelers
.In1 89 6asheepherder
discoveredsapphiresinYogoG ulchinthe
LittleBeltMountainsofMontana
.The
claimthathesoldfor$1 600hasproduced
$1 0,000,000worthofsapphires .
Minersandmanufacturerswalkhandin
hand,
dependinguponeachotherfor
prosperity
.Steelisdippedinmoltenzincto
makeagalvanizedmetalthatwillnotrust
.
Thiscoatingofzincwasprobablyoneofthe
firstknownmethodsofpreventingrust
.Zinc
hasbeenusedforflashlightbatteries,lidsfor
canningjars,guttersonhouses,rubbertires,
hardware,
paints,automobiles, washing
machines,andmanyotherarticles
.Because
zincserveswithothermetalsinalloysandis
oftencoveredwithpaint,thepublicisnot
alwaysawareofthisimportantnon-rust
metalintheworldofindustry
.Overone
hundredindustriesuseleadinmanufactur-
ingtheirproducts
.Amongtheseareaircraft,
automobile,building,canning,chemical,
4 2 2
dyeing,ex plosives,electrical,gasoline,glass,
paint,printing,plumbing,radio,andrubber
.
Asametal,magnesiumisusedinphotog-
rapher' sflashlights,signallights,andfire-
works
.Asacompounditisusedinmedi-
cines,toothpowders,silvercleaners,electric
batteries,tex tiles,
bleaching solutions,
paper,andfurnacelinings
.
Thepolishedsilverinknives,forks,and
spoonsmadebysilversmithsinNewEngland
maycomefromoresburiedforcenturiesin
thehardhillsoftheEastTinticMountainsof
Utah,orfromminesinIdaho
.G oldfrom
westernstatesmaybemeltedintobullion
andstoredatFortKnox ,toguardthe
facevalueofourpapermoney
.Molybdenum
fromColoradomaybeshippedtosteelmills
inG ary
.Indiana,andPittsburgh,Pennsyl-
vania,tohardenthesteelusedbymanufac-
turersoftoolsinHartford,Connecticut
.
Althoughminingisaddingnewminerals
withlongnamesthatsendusscurryingtothe
dictionaryandcountsproductionindizzy
millions,theindustrybeganwithapick,a
pan,andashovel
.Tofindnewdepositsand
newminerals,miningnowdependsupon
geologists,mineralogists,metallurgists,and
otherscientists
.W hereistheminingman
whodoesnotgreetanoldprospectorwitha
heartyhandshake?W hentheymeetinthe
desertandthemountain,thescientistshares
theprospector' scoffeeandbeansandsleeps
byhiscampfire
.Ofwhatdotheydream?
FARMING ANDSTOCK
RAISING COMPETEW ITH
MINING ANDLUMBERING
THE MINER AND THE
LOG G ER
followedthetrapperandthehunter
.Then
camethestockmanwithhisherdsandthe
farmerwithhisplow
.Theminerwho
HOMESTEADERSG OING W ESTONTHEOV ERLANDTRAIL - 1 882
ThisphotographwastakenonatrailacrossW yoming.Thewagoncaravans
continuedlongaftertrainswererunning .Manyhomesteaderscouldnotaffordtotravel
byrail.Theyhadhorses,cattle,wagons,furniture,andclothing,butlittlereadycash .
Ingoingoverlandbywagon,theyhadteamstoplowthegroundandplanttheircrops,
andcattleforastartinlivestock .
pockmarked the hills with holes in the
earth
welcomed meat onthe hoof in
mountainmeadowsandfruitsinbloomon
valleyfloors .Thetimecamewhenthe
cropsofthesoilbroughtmoremoneythan
theoresinthehills .EveninColorado," the
miningstate," thevalueoffarmproducts
ex ceedsthevalueofminerals .Fruittrees
flaunttheirblossomsinthevalleyswhen
thepeaksaretoppedwithsnow .Utah
celery,Coloradopeas,andIdahopotatoes
findawaitingmarketinmanystates
.On
thewide,highplateausapproachingthe
mountainranges,sugarbeetsareapaying
crop
.Alfalfaiseverywherebecausestock-
raisingisimportantinthemountainstates .
ItisgenerallybelievedthatColumbus
broughtthefirstsheeptotheW estern
Hemisphere .These animals were the
ancestorsoftheMex icansheeponwhich
UnionPacificRailroad
wasfoundedthewool-growingindustryof
the Southwest . Becausesheephavea
herdinginstinct,theycanbehandled
successfully with little help in open
countrywithoutfences .Sheepwilleat
weedsandshrubsthatcattlewillnottouch .
Theycansurviveinthesemi-aridplateau
regionsoftheW est .Insummershepherds
drivetheirflockshigherandhigherasthe
snow melts, until they are above
timberline .Thesummerhikeronvacation
inthemountainsseesflocksofsheep
grazinginmeadowscarpetedwithfragile
whiteprimrosesandbrilliantbluelupine .
Notsolongago,therangewasfree .
Somestillisfree,butforthemostpart
stockmennowleasemuchofthegrazing
landfortheirhorses,cattle,sheep,and
goats .Inanumberofwesternstatesland
wassetasidetoprovidesupportforschools
4 2 3
andotherpublicinstitutions
.Thislandcan
beleasedbystockmen
.W yominghasthe
most state-owned land becausealaw
prohibitsthesaleofanystatelandforless
than $1 0 per acre . W yoming, the
stockman' sparadise,isthestateofwide
openspaces,jinglingspurs,high-heeled
boots,ten-gallonhats,andcowboys .
By carefully obeying grazingrules,
stockmencansecurepermitstograzetheir
herdsinnationalforests .Althoughthey
paysomuchperheadofstockforthis
privilege,manypeopleobjecttotheplan .
Theyclaimthedomesticanimalseatthe
forageneededtofeedthewildlifeinthese
protectedareas .Themountainstateof
Idahohasover20,000,000acresofforest
preserveswhileKansas,aprairiestate,
hasnone .
W esterners
live and toil with
mountainsintheirscenery,intheirwork,
andintheirhearts .Thefishermantrolling
his net
onPugetSoundpredictsthe
weatherbylookingtowardtheeasttosee
ifMt
.Baker' swhitecrestisclear .The
cowboyroundsuphiscattleonhigh
plateaushemmedinbymountainranges
thatareblueinthedistance
.Theherder
watcheshissheepfeedingintimberline
meadowsabovethecloudswheretheskyis
purpleatnoon,goldatsunset,pinkat
dawn,andtheairisthinandclear .
No mountains
are more cherished,
perhaps,thanthefirstrangeoftheRockies
risingfromthecentralplain
.Pike' sPeak
andLong' sPeakarelandmarksforthe
peoplewholiveonthewesternfringeof
theprairie
.Snowonthesepeaksmeans
waterintheditchesandcropsinthefields
.
Thefarmersplantpotatoes,cutalfalfa,and
toptheirsugarbeets
.Theirlivescannot
escape the changing
moods of the
mountains,theireverydaycompanionsina
workadayworld
.
RAISING SHEEP IS A BIG INDUSTRY IN MONTANA
Sheep graze during the summer in high mountainmeadows nestledamong
snowy ranges inMontana .
MontanaHighwayCommission
ALITTLECAMPFIRE
INSPIREDABIG IDEA
W HENLEW ISANDCLARKledthe
firstex peditionintotheNorthwestin
1 804,theytookalongsturdyoutdoors-
menwhoknewhowtosurviveinawilder-
ness .Amongthefirsttoenlistasaprivate
wasafrontiersman,JohnColter
.Hejoined
Lewisasahunterwhenthecaptain' s
keelboattiedupatMaysville,Kentucky,on
October1 5,1 803 .Nearlythreeyearslater
onthereturntripfromthePacific,Colter
askedforhisdischargetojointwotrappers,
DicksonandHancockofIllinois,whomhe
chancedtomeetontheway
.Theyhad
offeredhimathirdoftheirfurbusinessif
hewouldjointhem
.Officersandmenin
theex peditiongaveColterknives,powder
horns,hatchets,andenoughsuppliesto
maintainhiminthewildernessfortwo
years .PassingthroughtheMandanvillages,
LewisandClarkbadefarewelltoSacajawea
andColter
.Theytiedtheircanoestogether
andheadedforhome .
Itwasalongcoldwinterforthethree
trappersontheYellowstoneRiver
.By
springthemenhadquarreled
.Colterleftto
trapaloneandtookhisbeaverskinsalong
inacanoe .Assoonastheicebrokeinthe
YellowstoneRiver,Colterpaddleddownto
theMissouriandondownthatswollen
rivertothemarketinSt .Louistosellhis
furs .AtthejunctionofthePlatteRiverhe
wassurprisedtoseeseveralkeelboatstied
to trees . Rising
above the groveof
cottonwoodswasthesmokeofcampfires .
He
had come upon the furhunting
ex peditionofManuelLisa .Thesolitary
figurepaddlingthroughtheswirlingwaters
towardtheriverbankattractedmenfrom
Lisa' s ex pedition . They hailed their
welcometoColter
.Coltermetseveral
NationalParkService
CLIMBING EAG LE CLIFF,
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Mountain climbingisapopularsportinthe
nationalparksoftheW est .Thepeaksinthe
backgroundofthemountaineerareMt .Meeker,
Long' sPeak,andLadyW ashington .
friends
from the Lewis and
Clark
ex pedition
.TheyhadjoinedManuelLisa' s
newlyformedcompanytotrapbeaveron
theupperMissouri
.
LisapersuadedColtertojoinhisfur
company.Again,onthewaybackto
civilization,Colterhaltedtoreturntothe
wilderness .HeguidedLisa' spartytothe
junctionoftheYellowstoneandBigHorn
Rivers .Herethemenerectedalogcabin
consistingoftworoomsandaloft
.This
tradingpost
was the first
permanent
buildinginthepresentstateofMontana .It
wasknownasManuel' sFort
.Thenex tstep
wastonotifytheIndiantribesofthispost
andtoinvitethemtobringintheirfurs .
4 2 5
Lisa dispatched
Colter into unex plored
country to getbusiness
from tribes .
Alonewithathirty-poundpackonhis
backandarifleinhishand,Colterstarted
on a
longjourneyintoanunknown
wildernesswhichtheIndianscalled" Land
ofBurningMountains
." Hewasprobably
thefirstwhitemantoseeW indRiver
Range,theG randTeton,JacksonHole,
andtheheadwatersoftheG reenRiver
andtheSnakeRiver
.Thewondersof
natureunrolledbeforehiseyes
.G eysers
spoutedintotheair,mudboiledinpaint
pots, and
hot springs bubbled
over
colored rocks
. W hen he
returned to
Manuel' sFortandtoldaboutthisstrange
LONG ' S
PEAK - ROCKYMOUNTAIN
NATIONALPARK - COLORADO
In
1 81 9 ,Congressvotedmoneytosendanengineer,MajorStephenH
.Longwith
300mentoex ploretheterritoryoftheLouisianaPurchaselyingnorthoftheRed
RiverbetweentheMississippiRiverandtheRockyMountains
.Thepartywentupthe
MissouriRivertoCouncilBluffsinanewsternwheelerwiththebowintheformofa
serpent' shead
.ToimpresstheIndians,smokeescapedfromthenostrilsofthesnake
insteadoftheusualfuinelonasteamboat
.
AfteradisastrouswinteratCouncilBluffsandthelossofonethirdofthemen,
Congressorderedallthetroopstoreturnex ceptafew
.Thepartyfinallyconsistedofsix
soldiersforprotection,scientists,asurveyor,andanartist,nineteeninalltocomplete
thejourneyonhorseback .
ThegroupfollowedthePlatteRivertothejunctionoftheNorthandSouthForks,
andthenturnedsouth
.W hilecampedonthesiteofthepresentcityofDenver,
Colorado,themen" weregreatlyimpressedbyaloftypeak,square-topped,risingfrom
themountainrange
." Onhismap,Longmarkedit" HighestPeak" butthenamewas
changedtoLong' sPeakinhishonor
.
In1 9 1 5,thisspectacularregionof405squaremileswithfifteenpeaksabove1 3,000
feet,manylakes,andseveralglaciersbecametheRockyMountainNationalPark
.
NationalParkService
wonderland,the traders laughedathim
.
Twenty-seven years later another
trapper, Jim Bridger, forwhomFort
Bridgerwasnamed,toldthesamestory.
Hislistenersshruggedtheirshouldersand
laughedatanotherofoldJim' syarns .
Makingfunofthemountainman,whowas
amasterstoryteller,hisfriendswrotehis
epitaph - HereLIESBridger .Forsix ty
yearspeople refused
to believethese
fantastictalesthoughhuntersandtrappers
verifiedthemagainandagain .
Finallyin1 87 0anofficialex pedition,
composedoftenprominentmenwhomthe
publictrusted,wasorganizedtoinvestigate
theserumorsandseparatetruthfrom
fiction .Theleaderoftheex peditionwas
G eneralHenryD.W ashburnwhohad
servedintheW arBetweentheStatesand
hadbeenelectedtoCongressfortwo
terms .AlltenwerefromMontana :a
presidentofabank,anassessorofinternal
revenue, leadingmerchants,andJudge
Cornelius Hedges, a highly esteemed
lawyer .Thernenenteredthe" Landof
BurningMountains" believingnothingthey
hadeverheard,onlytobeastonishedby
thewonderstheysawwiththeirowneyes.
OnthechillyeveningofSeptember
1 9 th,theex plorersmadetheircampfireat
thejunctionoftheFireholeandG ibbon
Rivers .Thetimewasnearingfortheirreturn .
Theybegantowonderwhatpeoplewould
saywhentheytoldofseeingpinkand
lavendermudseethinginholesinthe
ground
; jetsofsteamspoutingfrompitsand
crevices ; petrifiedwoodburiedforagesun-
derlavaandashesbelchedfromcratersof
volcanoeslongex tinct ; arivertumblingover
awaterfall31 0feethigh; andacanyon
twentymileslongandoverathousandfeet
deep,withtintedwallsofvolcanicrock .
W ouldtheytoo,beridiculed?
Montana Highway Commission
G LACIER NATIONAL PARK - MONTANA
This
park
is well named with 60 glaciers
perched
upon
rocky
ledges,all thatisleftfrom
theiceage,andglaciallakesnumbering200in
thevalleys
.AnearlyFrenchex plorercalledthis
region," thelandofshiningmountains" because
thesnow-cappedpeakswithpatchesofglacialice
glistenedinthesunlight .
AlthoughLewisandClarkmentionedthese
mountains,littlewasknownaboutthemuntil
engineersseekingarouteforarailroadentered
theregion .Surveyors,toestablishtheborder
betweentheUnitedStatesandCanadaonthe
49 thparallel,trampedoverthe mountainsin
1 861 .
In1 9 1 0,PresidentTaftsignedthebillmaking
thisscenicareaanationalpark .G lacierNational
Parkcovers1 500acres,touchingW aterton-Lakes
NationalParkinCanada.In1 9 32,thetwowere
joinedinthefirmbelief" thatitwillforeverbe
anappropriatesymbolofpermanentpeaceand
friendship ."
Allofthisterritorywaspublicland .
Seatedaroundthefire,thementalkedof
homesteadingthewonderland,withsome
takingthegeysers,somethehotsprings,
andothersthecanyonoftheYellowstone
River.DuringthisconversationHedges,the
4
27
Judge from Helena,remained silent . He
staredthoughtfullyatthesputteringlogsof
thecampfire .W henhedidspeak,however,
hiswordsechoedaroundtheglobe .He
declaredthatsuchawonderlandofnature
shouldremainforever,untouched,tobe
enjoyedbyallthepeopleinalltheworld.
Thereandthen,bythelightofthe
campfire,theex plorerssolemnlypledged
themselvestoworkunceasinglytohavethis
regionsetasideasanationalpark,forthe
citizensoftheUnitedStatesandvisitors
fromotherlands
.
Twoyearslaterin1 87 2anactof
Congress established the Yellowstone
NationalPark,thefirstintheworld,asa
" pleasuringgroundforthebenefitand
enjoymentofthepeople
." NathanielPitt
Langford,oneoftheW ashburnEx pedition,
wasappointedtobethefirstsuperin-
tendentofthefirstnationalpark .Heheld
thisofficeforfiveyearswithouteither
salaryorex penses .Herefusedanyre-
munerationtopreventthejobfrombeing
giventoamanwhomightallowtheregion
tobecommercializedandthenatural
beautyruined.Langfordsuccessfullypre-
ventedallattemptsofmentoobtainleases
andtherighttobuildfencesaroundthe
wondersandtochargeadmission .Nocon-
cessionsweregranted.Lateritwasneces-
sarytoprovideaccommodationsforthe
millionsofsightseerswhocamefromall
overthecountrytoviewthewonderlandbut
Thefamouscampfirescenere-enactedasithappened, September1 9 ,1 87 0,atthe
junctionoftheFireholeandG ibbonRiversinYellowstone Park,W yoming.
NationalParkService
thearearemainsanationalparkforallthe
people
.
Thenationalparkideaspreadoverthis
countryandovertheentireworld.Bigideas
areborn,sometimes,inunex pectedplaces .
Itisfittingthataninvitationtoenjoythe
beautiesofnatureshouldcomefroma
campfiregroupinawilderness .Theold
W eststilllivesbecausealawyerfrom
Montana suggested to
his fireside
companionsthattheysharewiththeir
fellowmen,thethrillstheyhadex perienced
inanoutdoorwonderland.
RECREATIONISBIG BUSINESS
EV ERY YEAR,
millionsofvacationists
playpioneerinthenationalparkscovering
morethan6,500,000acreswestofthe
MississippiRiver .Likefurtrappers,wagon
immigrants,andminingprospectors,they
fishinmountainstreams,cookovera
campfire,andsleepintents
.Theyrideover
scenic trails,
ski down theslopesof
mountains,andclimbtorockypinnacles .
Mostofthevacationpioneersarecity
dwellersseekingescapefromthenoiseand
thespeedoftheireverydaylives
.Fornearly
fiftyweeksoftheyeartheydriveboltsand
rivetsonassemblylines ; writelettersand
operateofficemachines ; and serve
customerswitheverythingfromaham
sandwichtoadieseltruck .Thepeopleof
theUnitedStatessupportatouristbusiness
inwhichmanymillionsofdollarsare
invested.Theygosightseeingforfunasdid
adventurersintheearlydays .Ascientist
who rodehorsebackwithapartyof
trappersfromSt .LouistoOregoninthe
1 830' skeptadiaryofhisex periencesin
thewesternwilderness .Itispackedwith
thrillingescapes.Hewroteofoneex perience :
June1 0,1 836 :Intheafternoon,oneofourmen
hadaperilousadventurewithagrizzlybear .He
sawtheanimalcrouchinghishugeframeinsome
willowswhichskirtedtheriver .Approachingon
horsebacktowithintwentyyards,hefiredupon
thebear .Thebeastwasonlyslightlywoundedby
theshot,andwithafiercegrowl,rushedfromhis
coverandgavechase .Thehorsehappenedtobea
slowone .Forthedistanceofhalfamile,the
racewasclose,withthebearfrequentlysnapping
atthehorse' sheels .Theterrifiedrider,whohad
losthishatatthestart,usedwhipandspur,
frequentlylookingbackathisruggedand
determinedfoe .Hiswildshrieks," Shoothim!
Shoothim! " broughthuntersinthepartytohis
rescue,andthebearwaskilled.Themanrodein
amonghisfellows,paleandhaggard,butcured
of meddlingwithgrizzlybears .
Today,inthenationalparksandforests
wherewildlifeisprotected,touristshunt
bearsandotheranimalswithacamera,
notagun .Theshygrizzliesarescarceand
areseldomseenbysummervacationists,
butblackandbrownbearsarerather
tame,andattimes,alittletoofamiliar
.
Signs areposted withthe warning,
" Feeding,Molesting,Teasing,orTouching
BearsIsProhibited." Sometimesatourist
hasdifficultyex plainingtoafriendlybruin
thatthecandybox isempty .Beaversbuild
theirhousesinstreamswithoutfearof
traps ; stripedchipmunkssitupandbegfor
peanuts ; curiouspackratscarryoffsmall
articlesthatarebrightandcolored
.Birds,
too,findthenationalpreservesahavenof
delightandsafety.Thetrumpeterswan,
oncethoughttobeex tinct,haschosen
YellowstoneParkforanestingplace .
Theforestsarepracticallyuntouched
.
Treesare cut down onlytoprovide
shelterand roadsforthethrongsof
visitors.W ildflowersgrowinabundance
andtouristsarerequestednottopick
them. The waterfalls, unharnessed for
electricpower,tumbleintofrothyrivers
notdrainedbyirrigation .Thisconserva-
4 29
tionisprofitableforman' spurseaswellas
hispleasureasitprotectsthewatershed.In
uncutforeststhesnowmeltsslowly,thus
preventingfloodsandmaintainingasteady
flowofwaterinthestreams .
States,too,havesetasiderecreation
areasandparkswheretheircitizensmay
relax and play atpioneering.Inour
modernworld,recreationisconsideredto
beanecessity.W orkhardandplayhardis
theslogan .Manycorporations,employing
large numbers of men and women,
provide gymnasiums, baseball fields,
swimmingpools,readingrooms,andother
opportunities for play after working
hours .Laborunionshaveclubhousesfor
theirmembers .Thememberswhorush
throughthemorningtraffictopuncha
timeclockarethepeoplewhoturnthe
wheels of our complex industrial
civilization .Theypromotedrecreationand
madeitbigbusiness .W henvacationrolls
along,theyhitthetouristtrailtoseeka
change,toplayatpioneering,andtosee
thecontinent .Ourpush-buttonciviliza-
tionofspeed,efficiency,andproduction
began ontheeasterncoastofNorth
America,wherethenationbegan,and
grewupwiththecountry.W hen?How?
W hy?
MT.RAINIER IN W ASHING TON
CaptainG eorgeV ancouveroftheBritishNavywassailingalongthenorthwestcoast
ofNorthAmericaduringthetermofW ashingtonasfirstPresidentoftheUnited
States.Henamedalonewhitemountainforhisfriend,AdmiralRainier .
TotheIndians,themountainwasTahoma,agod.Itwasprobably1 6,000feethigh
beforethetopwasblowntobitsbyanex plosion,describedinIndianlegends
.Today,
thepeakrises1 4,408feetabovesealevel.Thisnationalparkisscarcelymorethana
mountain,containinglessthan240,000acres .Thespace,thoughnotlarge,aboundsin
beautyfornatureloversandwiththrillsforskiersandmountaineers .
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - CALIFORNIA
Duringtheiceage,glaciersgougedouttheU-shapedvalleywithsheergranite walls
risingtotheheightofalmostamileinsomeplaces .Streamsdroppinginto thevalley
breakintofrothyspray,creatinganumberofwaterfalls .
OnedayanIndianboywaswalkingtoMirrorLakebelowthefallstospearfish . On
thewayhemetagrizzlybear,alsogoingfishingin
MirrorLake .Inthefightthat
followed,theIndianladwaswoundedandthebearwaskilled .Thetribesliving inthe
shelteredbasincalleditAh-wah-nee,orgrassyvalley . Afterthebraveboywonthe
fight,boththetribeandtheplacewerecalledYosemite,Indianwordforgrizzly bear .
431
PARTNINE
ManufacturingCenters
intheNortheast
Chapter 23 :
A New W ay of Life
Chapter 24 : Inland W aterways Spread
Industry
SAMUELSLATER
" FATHEROFAMERICANMANUFACTURES"
IntheoldSlaterMill,seenthroughthewindow,thefirstwater-poweredmachinerywasusedto
producecottonyarn
.In1 7 9 1 ,thesiteoverlookingtheBlackstoneRiverwaspurchasedfor350
Spanishmilleddollars
.In1 7 9 3,AlmyBrownandSlater,theowners,beganspinningonmachinesin
Pawtucket,RhodeIsland
.Theoldmillisnowamuseumwherewater-poweredmachineryisbeing
ex hibitedinoperationtoshowvisitorsthecrudebeginningofthefactorysystemintheUnitedStates
.
Chapter
23
IRONW ASTHEFIRST
MINERALINDUSTRY
INTHETIMEofQueenElizabethI,
lawswerepassedthattreescouldnotbe
choppeddownforfuelwithinfourteen
milesoftheseaoranynavigableriver ; and
thatnowhereinEnglandcouldoak,beech,
orashbeusedformakingcharcoal
.The
timberwasneededtobuildshipsforthe
growingcommerceofthelittleisland
kingdom.
SincetheBritishironmasters
dependeduponcharcoalforsmeltingiron
ore,theselawswereahardship
.W ith
interesttheyreadHariot' sreport(page50)
ofoneoftheex ploringex peditionsthat
W alterRaleighsenttotheCarolinacoast
.
Americawasalandofforestsand" intwo
placesofthecountrey" hestated," wee
foundeneerethewatersidethegroundto
berockie,which,bythetriallofaminerall
man,wasfoundetoholdironrichly
." The
Englishex plorers,liketheSpaniards,were
lookingforgoldanddidnottakebacka
sampleoftheironore .
AfterironwasdiscoveredinV irginia,a
groupofmencalledtheSouthampton
Adventurersformedacompanyandsent
overskilledworkmenandtheirfamiliesto
erectthefirstironworksinAmerica .The
434
ANewW ayofLife
sitechosenwasonFallingCreek,six ty-six
milesuptheriverfromJamestown,where
ironorehadbeenfoundinbogs
.OnMarch
22,1 622,whenthefurnacewasfired,
Indiansattacked
.Theydestroyedevery-
thingandkilledtheworkmenandtheir
families
.Theyoungsonofthesuper-
intendent,whoescapedbyhidinginthe
woods,madehiswaybacktoJamestown
andreportedthetragedy
.Perhapsthe
Indiansthoughtthefurnace,belchingfire
andsmoke,wasamonsterthatwould
devourthem
.Theworkswerenotrebuilt
because
the" adventurers" ranoutof
money.They hadlost
all they had
invested .
Althoughalittleironwasshippedto
EnglandbytheLondonCompany,thefirst
reallysuccessfulironworkswerebuiltby
anothercompanyofEnglishadventurers
.
TheywerebuiltontheSaugusRivernear
Lynn,Massachusetts,whereiron,washed
downbyrains,wasfishedfromswamps
andbogswithlongtongs
.Theironworkers
namedtheirvillageHammersmith,where
one
oftheirhousesstillstands
.Men
employedattheironworkswereex empt
frompayingtax esandwereex cusedfrom
thetiresomechoreofwatchingforIndian
attacks
.Sincethecolonistspaidforkettles,
UnitedStatesSteelCorporation
COOKING POTW ASFIRST
PRODUCTOFSAUG USIRONW ORKS - 1 644
Theironworkersdecidedtheirfirstproduct
wouldbesomethinguseful .JosephJenks,a
skilledironworkerfromEnglandpouredmolten
metalfromthefurnaceintoamoldhehadmade
insand
.W hentheironwassolid,hebrokeapart
themoldandheldupthiscookingpot,stillin
ex istenceandcherishedbythedescendantsof
themanwhosoldthelandfortheironworks.
anchors,andscytheswithbeaverpelts,bags
ofgrain,andIndianwampuminsteadof
money,theEnglishadventurersrealized
littleornothingontheirinvestment .The
colonists,however,wereprovidedwith
cookingutensilsandfarmtools
.
The successofironencouragedan
attempttomakesteelfromaportionof
theoutput .In 1 655amanlivingin
Southold, Long Island, informed the
G eneralCourt ofNew Havenofhis
" abilitieandintendmenttomakesteele" if
certainprivilegesweregrantedtohim .The
courtencouragedhimbyagreeingthathis
propertywouldnotbetax edfortenyears .
However,hewaswarnednottotakeclay
andwoodfromprivategroundswithout
theowner' spermission,asthecourtwas
unwilling
" tomeddlewithanyman' s
proprietie
." Itisnotknownforcertain
whetherornotthismansucceededin
makingsteel
.Thecreditforthefirststeel
manufacturedinthiscountryprobably
belongstoanothermanfromConnecticut
.
Twosmithsdeclaredinwriting
:
ThismaycertifyallconcernedthatSamuel
HigleyofthistownofSimsburycametothe
shopofus,beingblacksmiths,sometimeinJune
intheyearonethousandsevenhundredand
twenty-five,anddesiredustolethimhavea
poundortwoofiron . -
Hedesiredthatwetake
noticeofthemthatwemightknowthemagain,
for,saidhe,IamgoingtomakeSteelofthisIron,
andIshallinafewdaysbringthemtoyoutotry
forsteel
.Accordinglyhebroughtthesamepieces
whichwelethimhave,andweprovedthemand
foundthemgoodsteel,whichwasthefirststeel
RESTORATIONOFEARLY
IRONW ORKS,SAUG US,MASSACHUSETTS
In1 9 48,thestill-ex istingironmasters' shouse,
erectedin1 646-1 647 ontheSaugusRivernorth
ofBoston,determinedthesiteofthefirstiron-
worksinMassachusetts .W hereweretheworks?
Diggingthroughlayersofearth,theremainsofthe
furnace,theforge,andtheslittingmillwere
discovered.Surprisingly,after300years,asection
ofawoodenwaterwheelwasfoundburied22%
feetunderthepavementofCentralStreet.Theold
ironworkshasbeenrestored,andwateragain
splashesoverthewaterwheelsasincolonialdays .
thateverwasmadeinthiscountrythateverwe
saworheardof
.Aswitnessourhandsthis7 th
dayofMay,1 7 28
.TimothPhelpsJohnDrake
W illiamPenn,whoownedironworksin
England,lookedfororeinhiscolonyand
soonfoundit .Althoughhetriedtoinduce
hiscoloniststodigtheoreanduseit,this
wasnotdoneuntiltwoyearsbeforehis
deathwhenaQuakerblacksmithinBerks
Countymadeironinhisforge
.Tosatisfy
thedemandforarticlesofiron,littleforges
andfurnacessprangupwhereverfamilies
settledinnewcountry.Sometimesfarmers,
whoknewsomethingabouttheirontrade,
builtsmallfurnaces,wherewoodwas
plentiful,tosmelttheirontheyneeded
forpots,nails,hinges,hoes,andmany
items .W henneighborsneededthesesame
articles,thefarmerlefttheplowforthe
furnace . Some large ironworks were
startedinthisway.
CaptainAugustineW ashington,fatherof
thefirstPresidentoftheUnitedStates,was
anironmanufactureraswellasaplantation
ownerwhenhisfamoussonwasborn
.
W henironorewasdiscoveredononeofhis
bigfarmsalongthePotomacRiverbelow
MountV ernon,hetradedthe1 600acresof
landforone-six thinterestinPrincipio
Company
.Thiswasthelargestironworks
inthecolonies
.Afurnacewasbuilton
W ashington' splantationandothersatthe
headofChesapeakeBay
.Fromtheseiron-
workswithdirectwatertransportation,
barsofthemetalwereshippedtoEngland .
Theirproductssometimesbroughtahigher
pricethanSwedishorRussianiron .
TheironplantationsofPennsylvania
weremuchlikethecottonplantationsof
theoldSouth,ex ceptthatthelaborers
were miners, woodchoppers,
charcoal
burners,andteamstersaswellasfarmers
.
Thesecommunitieswereself-supporting,
raisingtheirownfoodandweavingtheir
owncloth.However,mostofthelaborin
thefieldandattheloomwasperformed
HOPEW ELLIRONPLANTATIONNEARBIRDSBORO,PENNSYLV ANIA
MarkBird,theownerofthisironplantation,outfitted300soldiersforW ashington' s
armyathisownex pense
.ProductsfromHopewellfarmsandironfromHopewell' s
furnacesweregenerouslysuppliedtofightingmenintheRevolutionaryW ar .Sincethe
ContinentalCongresswasunabletopayforallofthesegoods,Birdwentbankrupt,
andhisironplantationwassoldbythesheriff .
TheNationalSocietyoftheColonialDamesofAmerica
intheCommonwealthofPennsylvania
A" LIBERTY" FIREPLACE
ThisironfireplacewasmadeontheHopewell
IronPlantationnearBirdsboro,Pennsylvania
.The
designonthefrontplateshowsanangelblowing
atrumpet,announcing" BELIBERTYTHINE."
bythewomenandchildrenwhilethemen
werebusyinthewoodsandthemines .
Lifecenteredaroundthemansionhouse
wheretheownerlivedandthegeneral
storewhereeggs,butter,milk,vegetables,
andlaborweretradedforsugar,molasses,
shoes, medicines, and coffins . The
woodcuttersandcharcoalburnersgreatly
outnumberedtheminersandironmasters
becauseoneblastfurnace,inasingleday,
consumedallthetimberonanacreof
ground
.Someoftheseironplantations,
located in heavily forested regions,
coveredasmuchas1 0,000acresofland .
Othersweresmall,onlyafewhundred
acres,likeV alleyForge .
TheBritishParliamentbecamealarmed
atthegrowthoftheironindustry .They
wereafraidthatthecolonistswouldmake
allthekettles,Dutchovens,nails,shovels,
tongs,anchors,andotherarticlesthey
coulduseandwouldceasetobuyfrom
Britishmerchants .TheActof1 7 50of
Parliamentencouragedtheproductionof
Americanpigironandbarironasmany
British
manufacturers preferred it to
Swedishironbecauseitdidnotrustso
quickly.Thissameactdeclaredthatafter
June24,1 7 50,thecolonialgovernorshad
theduty" topreventtheerectionofany
mill,orotherengine,forslittingorrolling
ofiron,oranyplating-forgetoworkwitha
tilt-hammer,oranyfurnaceformaking
steelinanyofthesaidcolonies ." Since
manyironworksweretuckedawayin
forests,wherewoodwasplentifulfor
charcoal,thisactcouldnotbeenforced .
By1 7 7 5whentheRevolutionaryW ar
brokeout,thecolonieshadmoreforges
and furnacesthanEnglandandW ales
MAKING NAILSAT
HOMEINCOLONIALDAYS
Neighborhood merchants stocked narrow
stripsofironfromslittingmills,alongwithfood,
clothing,hardware,tools,andanythingtheycould
selltocustomersintownandcountry.Onlong
winterevenings,theseironrodswereheatedin
tinyforgesinchimneycornersandcutinaviseto
the proper length. Farm families, including
children,poundedbroadtopsonthewarmpieces
ofiron .Thesehand-hammerednailswerereturned
tothestorekeeperandtradedfor articlesthe
farmers needed andcould not provide for
themselves .Manufacturingbeganathome .
UnitedStatesSteelCorporation
4
3 7
combined.The colonies were producing
fourteen percent of the world' s iron .
Cannon,muskets, shot, shells, bayonets,
ax es,campkettles,andswordsweremade
in80blastfurnacesandabout1 7 5forges
scatteredthroughoutthecolonies .
Steelemergedasthemetalofwarin
thestruggleforindependence .Duringthe
Revolutionary W arsome statesoffered
premiumsforsteel,neededforswordsand
bayonets
.NorthCarolina,wherethefirst
ironorehadbeendiscoveredbyRaleigh' s
ex plorers,offeredthesumofnearly$500
tothefirstman who,withineighteen
months,succeededinmakingsteelequal
inqualitytoBritishsteel .Arewardof
over$2000wasofferedinSouthCarolina
tothefirstthreeworksproducing500
poundsofsteel .
Althoughmenemployedinironand
steelworkswereex emptfrommilitary
service,somanyenlistedin thepatriot
armies, that it was necessary touse
prisoners of war in iron and steel
manufacture .ManyoftheHessiansstayed
afterthewarwasoverandkeptthesame
jobstheyhadhadasprisoners .Fivesigners
oftheDeclarationofIndependencewerein
the ironbusiness
. Two
morebecame
generals,NathanaelG reenefrom
Rhode
Island and DanielMorgan, acharcoal
burner for his father' s furnace in
Pennsylvania .Theironworksmakingguns
andammunitionfortheAmericanarmies
weretargetsforBritishattack .Manywere
burned .Adetachmentofsoldiers from
Howe' sarmy,retreating toPhiladelphia
tospendthewinterof1 7 7 7 -7 8,burned
the Mount Joy Iron W orks, better
known as V alley Forge . On this
iron plantation W ashington spent the
same winter drilling his ragged
Continentals .
4 3 8
COALCOMPETESW ITHCHARCOAL
FIV E HUNDRED
YEARS before
ColumbusfoundtheNewW orld,theHopi
IndiansofArizonawereusinglignite,a
varietyofcoal,tofiretheirpottery .As
farasisknown,thiswastheonlyuse
madeofthemineralbyanytribeex cept
for
ornament . The common use was
crushingitintopowdertoblackentheir
facesforceremonials
.
In
NorthAmericawhentrees were
plentifuleverywhere,
woodcookedthe
foodandheatedthehouses
; charcoalfired
theforgesintheblacksmithshopsand
smeltedtheoreinthefurnacesofiron-
works .Blacksmithswerethefirsttouse
mineralcoalinplaceofcharcoal .In1 7 02a
HuguenotlivingontheJamesRiverabout
fourteenmilesaboveRichmondsenthis
requesttotheColonialCouncilofV irginia
:
DavidMenestrierablacksmithandoneofye
frenchRefugeesInhabitingLucianaPetitionshis
Ex cellencythathemayhaveleavetouseyecoal
mineslatelydiscoveredthereforhisforge .
TherequestwasgrantedfortheFrench
blacksmith" totakewhatcoalesheshall
wantoutofyesaidcoalmineforyeuseof
hisforge ."
CoaldiscoveredalongtheJamesRiver
above
Richmond did reachcolonial
markets .Thesemineshadtheadvantageof
cheapwater transportation . Although
ex plorersnoted
coaldepositsinmany
places,mostofthissupplywasoutofreach
becausetherewasnowaytogetitto
market .BothJolietandLaSallementioned
findingcoalalongtheIllinoisRiver .Dr.
W alkerwrotefrequentlyaboutcoalinthe
diaryofhisjourneyintoKentucky.W hen
theirshoesworeout,W alkerandhisparty
wereforcedtoseekshelterinahugecave
in Rockcastle County while they made
new moccasins out
ofthehideofanelk
theyhadkilled.W alkerthusdescribesthe
caveinhisjournal
:
May1 2,1 7 50 -
Undertherockisasoftkind
ofStonealmostlikeAllumintaste ; belowitA
LayerofCoalabout1 2Inchesthickandwhite
clayunderthat . -
May1 3,1 7 50 - TheSabbath.
May1 4,1 7 50 - W ewroteseveralofour
NameswithCoalundertheRock, -
FiveyearsbeforetheW arforIn-
dependence,G eorgeW ashingtontrailed
throughthewildernesstotheOhioRiver,
paddlingdownthatstreaminacanoeas
farasthemouthoftheKanawhaRiver .
Hewasbusysurveyinglandtopayoffthe
V irginiaofficerswhohadservedinthe
FrenchandIndianW ar .Inhisjournalof
thistourW ashingtonmentionscoal :
Oct .1 4,1 7 7 0 - AtCaptainCrawford' sallday .
W enttoseeacoalminenotfarfromhishouse
onthebanksoftheriver,(Youghiogheny,near
Connelsville,Pennsylvania) ; Thecoalseemedto
beoftheverybestkind,burningfreely,and
abundanceofit .
The
coalseenbyJoliet,LaSalle,
W alker,andW ashingtonwasbituminous,
orsoftcoal
.Anthracite,orstonecoal,
wasfirstusedintheforgeoftheG ore
Brothers, blacksmiths
who settled in
W ilkes-Barre,Pennsylvaniaabout1 7 69 .
Theydiscoveredthatthehardcoal,so
plentifulallaroundthem,madeahotter
fire than
charcoalandlastedlonger .
DuringtheRevolutionaryW aranthracite
fromthisregionwasfloatedonbarges
downtheSusquehannaRivertoHarrisburg
.
Itwastakenoverlandinwagonstostoke
thefurnacesofthearmoryatCarlisle
wheregunsweremadeforW ashington' s
soldiers.
Charcoalcontinuedtobeusedinthe
BituminousCoalInstitute
STRIPMINING THEPITTSBURG H
SEAMINEASTERNOHIO
ThePittsburghSeamisalayerofcoalnearthe
surface,foundinPennsylvania,Ohio,W estV ir-
giniaandMaryland .Insomeplaces,layersofrock
andsoilmustberemovedtouncoverthisrichde-
positofbituminouscoal .Inotherplaces,likethis
stripminingoperationnearSt .Clairsville,Ohiothe
seamrisestothetopofthegroundwherethecoal
canbescoopedupinhugebuckets,loadedinto
trucks,andhauledtoapreparationplanttobe
cleanedandsizedforsale .Earlyex plorersreported
findingcoalthroughouttheAppalachianregion .
ironfurnacesuntilthescarcityoftrees
forcedoperatorstoturntocoal .Thenfor
sometimebuyersfavoredironproducedin
charcoalfurnaces .Itwastheinventionof
thesteamenginethatmadecoalagreat
commercialproduct .Coalbecamethefuel
tofiretheboilersthatcreatedthesteam
to
operate thenumerous
inventions
usheringinthemachineage
.
MACHINERYAIDS
THEG ROW THOFINDUSTRY
W HILE
THE COLONISTS inNorth
AmericawerequarrelingwithEnglandover
tradeandtax es,industryintheBritishIsles
4 3 9
wasbeingmovedfromthehometothe
factory by the invention of power
machinerytodotheworkofhands .This
movementduringthelatterpartofthe
eighteenthcenturysochangedthepattern
oflivingthatitwascalledtheIndustrial
Revolution
.Afewinventorsledtheway.
JamesW attwasafrailandstudiousboy
whowantedtobeaninstrument-maker,
notformusicbutforscience .Hisfather
senthimtoschoolinLondonwherehe
couldlearnthistrade .Attheageoftwenty
hereturnedtohishometownofG reenock,
Scotland, with akitoftoolsanda
craftsman' sskill .Afewmonthslaterhe
wasemployedbytheCollegeofG lasgowto
cleansomeinstruments,purchasedinthe
W estIndiesforuseinthedepartmentof
astronomy .Lateraprofessoraskedhimto
repairamodelenginethathadfailedto
operatesuccessfullyinhisclassroom.W att
discoveredthatawasteofsteamcausedthe
enginetostopafterafewstrokes .How
couldhesavethissteamtoprovidethe
energytokeeptheenginegoing?Ona
pleasantdayinMayof1 7 65whilestrolling
ontheG lasgowG reen,theplansuddenly
poppedintohismindforcondensingsteam
withoutcoolingthecylinder,aprinciple
stillinusetodayinsteamturbines
.W att' s
inventionoftheseparatecondenserso
improvedthesteamenginethatitsoonwas
usedtopumpwaterfromBritishminesand
tooperatemachineryinBritishmills
.
Meanwhile
the inventionoftex tile
machineryinEnglandwascreatingafuture
marketfortheimprovedsteamengine
.
James
Hargreaves, a poor
weaver in
Lancashire,inventedamachinewitha
numberofspindlesplacedupright,sideby
side,allspinningatthesametime
.Hetried
tokeepitasecret,butthenewsleakedout
thathewasoperatingaspinningmachinein
4 4 0
hisown
home . Fearing this device,
neighbors,whodependeduponhandwork
toearnaliving,brokeintotheinventor' s
houseandsmashedhisspinningjenny .
Hargreavesmanagedtomakeafewofthese
Arkwright,abarberandhairdyerwitha
knackfortinkering,wasalsoatworkona
spinning machine .
The youngest of
thirteen children
in a poor family,
Richardhadlittleschooling.Hecould
barelywritebuthewasanaturalmechanic .
Fearing that
mobswoulddestroyhis
invention,Arkwrightalsofledfromhis
hometowntoNottingham
.There,two
bankersadvancedthemoneytomanu-
facturehismachinesforashareofthe
profits
.SamuelNeed,apartnerofthe
ingeniousfarmer,JedediahStrutt,joined
thebankersinbusiness
.Strutthadperfect-
edaframeformakingribbedstockings .
InDerbyshiretheybuiltamillwherethe
wheelswereturnedbywater
.Everafter,
Arkwright' sspinningmachinewascalled
the" waterframe
." SinceHargreaves' jenny
madeasoftthreadforwoofandArk-
wright' sframespunahardthreadforwarp,
Britishmanufacturersusedbothinventions
andotherlabor-savingdevices .W iththe
newmachinerytheBritishcouldmake
clothfasterandsellitcheaper,andso
increasedtheirsaleseverywhere
.Therefore,
everyeffortwasmadetokeepother
countriesfromcopyingthemachines
; but
thenewinventionscrossedtheAtlantic
.
W illiamSlater,anindependentfarmer
whoownedhisland,wasaneighborof
JedediahStruttinDerbyshire,England.He
helpedthethreemanufacturerstofind
machinesprivately and sell them for
enoughmoneyto
buy clothesfor his
manychildrenand the familyfled to
Nottingham.
At about
the same time Richard
andpurchasethelandwithwaterprivileges
onwhichtheyerectedthemill .Strutt
offeredtoacceptSlater' soldestsonasan
apprenticeandtoteachhimthecotton
spinningtrade .Thefathersuggestedthat
hetakeSamuel,hisfifthson,whohada
" mechanical
turn, andwas good at
figures
." Theladwasnotquitefourteen .
Duringthisprobationtheboy' sfatherfell
fromaloadofhayanddiedsoonafter
theaccident
.SinceSamuel' swork had
been satisfactory,
Strutt accepted the
fatherless ladasanapprenticein his
factoryandtookhimintohisownhome
tolivewithhisfamily.
InthepaperofindentureSamuelSlater
promisedtoservehismasterforsix anda
halfyears .Heagreednotto :
contractmatrimonywithinthesaidterm,play
atcards,dice,oranyunlawfulgames,haunt
tavernsorplayhouses,norabsenthimselffrom
hismaster' sservicedayornightunlawfully,but
inallthingsasafaithfulapprenticetobehave
himselftowardhismasterduringthesaidterm .
JedediahStruttsignedtheindenture,
agreeing:
inconsiderationofthetrueandfaithfulservice
ofthesaidSamuelSlater,hisapprenticeintheart
ofcottonspinning, - toteachandinstructhim, -
findinguntothesaidapprenticesufficientmeat,
drink,washingandlodgingduringthesaidterm .
Offersofprizesbysome American
manufacturingsocietiesandstategovern-
ments
to inventors and machinists
encouragedtheyoungapprenticetoseek
hisfortuneintheNewW orldwhenhe
hadlearnedhistrade .Hetoldthesecret
tonoone,notevenhismotherandolder
brothers
.W henSamuelhadcompletedhis
apprenticeship of six years
and six
months,hismasterwassopleasedwith
hisprogressthathehiredhimtooversee
theconstructionofanewmill
.W henit
wascompleted,theyoungmandecidedto
gototheUnitedStatesandenterinto
businessforhimself.Howcouldheget
outofEngland?
Early in September, 1 7 89 , Samuel
Slater, then twenty-one yearsofage,
askedhismothertopackhisclothesashe
wasleavingonthestagecoachforLondon .
Because he had worked
with the
Arkwrightmachines,hedaredtellnoone
thathewasboundfortheUnitedStates .
Ex portofthenewinventionsinwholeor
in part
anddrawings ofthem were
forbidden by law.
Machinists who
operated them could
not leave the
country
.Everyshipandeverypassenger
onboardwassearchedbeforesailingfrom
aBritishport
.FortunatelySamuelSlater
wasacountryboyandlookedlikea
farmer .Disguisedasafieldhandhetook
nothingtoidentifyhimasamachinist
ex cepthisindenture,whichhehidinhis
oldworkclothes .Thesearchersdidnot
findit .Justbeforethevesselsailed,he
mailedalettertohismotherwiththe
newsthathewasgoingtotryhisluckin
theNewW orld.
Afteravoyageofsix ty-six dayshe
arrivedinNewYorkandwenttoworkin
asmallfactory.Hestayedthereonly
threeweeksbecausethemachineswere
poorandtheneighborhooddidnothavea
single streamtofurnishwaterpower .
DuringthistimeSlaterchancedtomeet
thecaptainofasloopcarryingcargo
betweenProvidenceandNewYork .From
him helearnedthatMoses Brown,a
manufacturer in Rhode Island, was
lookingforafactorymanager .Slaterwrote
alettertoBrown,ex plainingthathecould
buildtheArkwrightmachines .Brownhad
triedwaterpowerunsuccessfullyandwas
4 4 1
using horsepower . HeansweredSlater' s
letterinhisQuakerway,offeringthe
youngmanashareoftheprofits," ifthou
wiltcome
." SlaterwenttoPawtucket
wherehebeganbuildingtheArkwright
waterframesentirelyfrommemory
.He
putintooperationthefirstsuccessfulwater
mill in the United States .Forthis
achievementheearnedthetitle," Fatherof
AmericanCottonManufacture ."
AsinEnglandtheintroductionofpower
machinerybegantochangethewayoflife
intheUnitedStates .Laborersweremoved
fromhomestofactorieswheremachines
didtheworkofhands .
Soon afterthenewmachineswere
introducedbySlater,thewaterwheelsof
cottonmillswereturningintheshort,swift
riversofNewHampshire,Connecticut,and
Massachusetts . At first these factories
producedcottonyarn,whichwassoldto
weaversintheneighborhoodtobewoven
intoclothontheirhandloomsathome .
G raduallynewitemsweremanufactured.
OnedaySamuelSlatershowedhiswife
someunusuallyfinesmoothyarnspun
fromlongstaplecottoninhismill .She
twisteditintothreadonanoldfashioned
spinningwheel .Testingitonseams,she
foundittobestrongerthanthelinen
threadshehadbeenusing
.Inthemillof
Almy,BrownandSlaterthefirstcotton
sewingthreadwasmade .
Theindustrialrevolutionmovedmore
slowlyintheUnitedStatesthaninEngland .
Foryearsaftercardingandspinningwere
doneinfactorieswithmachinery,weaving
continuedtobedoneinhomesbyhand
.
Farmhouses of New England were
miniaturemills .W henasinglemachine
could produce
more in aday than
many hands, the
home manufacturer
couldnolongercompetewiththemill
4 4 2
owner .W eavingmovedintothefactory .
Lowell,Massachusetts,becameoneof
thefirstfactorytowns .BeforetheEnglish
hadsettledontheshoresofMassachusetts,
thesiteofLowellatthejunctionofthe
ConcordandtheMerrimacRiverswas
calledW amesit .Itwasthecapitalofthe
PawtucketIndianswhogatheredthereto
catchsalmon,shad,andmanykindsoffish
inthewatersaroundthePawtucketFalls .
AbouteightyearsbeforethePilgrims
landed,
a
mysterious
epidemicalmost
annihilatedthetribeslivinginthatpartof
thecountry.DanielG ookin,amagistrate
oftheMassachusetts BayColony, in
chargeofIndianaffairs,wroteinhis
historyoftheNewEnglandtribes :
IhavediscoursedwithsomeoldIndiansthat
werethenyouths,whosaythatthebodieswere
ex ceedingyellow,describingitbyayellow
garmenttheywore,bothbeforetheydiedand
afterward .
Onlyaboutone-tenthofthe3000men
inthePawtuckettribesurvivedthefatal
sickness .Thesmallnumberofsurvivors
were unable to resist the English
settlement oftheirlands .Thirty-three
yearsafterthearrivalofthePilgrims,about
fortysettlersinW oburnandConcordsent
a petition to the G eneralCourt of
Massachusetts .Theyaskedforalandgrant
ex tendingsix milesalongtheMerrimac
Riverandsix milesalongtheConcord
River,nearthejunctionofthesetwo
streams .Thisareaofthirty-six squaremiles
includedW amesit,theancientcapitalof
thePawtuckets .Rev .JohnEliot,defending
thetribe,sentanotherpetitiontothe
court,askingthatthelandlyingaround
PawtucketandW amesitFallsbereserved
forhis" prayingIndians" whosewigwams
stoodonthesite
.TheMassachusettscourt
settledthedisputewithacompromise
.The
courtgavethesettlersthelandtheywanted
ex ceptfor2500acresalongtheriverbanks
nearthefallswheretheIndianslived.
However,asmoreandmoresettlers
cametofishintheriversandtocuttimber
fromtheforests,thePawtucketswere
crowdedoutoftheiroldhome
.Thebig
demandforshiptimberinEnglandandin
thecoloniesmadelumberingprofitablefor
theearlysettlers
.Raftsoflogscutfromthe
forestsalongtheMerrimacwerefloated
downtherivertoNewburyportonthe
seacoast .Thelogswereusedinshipbuilding
thereorsentacrossthesea .
In1 7 9 2duringW ashington' stermas
President,acompanywasformedtodiga
canalaroundthefalls .Fivehundredshares
ofstockweresoldat$1 00asharetoraise
thesumof$50,000todigacanalamile
andahalflong.Thecanalstartedataspot
above Pawtucket Falls and dropped
thirty-twofeetthroughfourlockstoflow
intotheConcordRiver .Fiveyearslatera
bigcrowdgatheredtoseethefirstboat
passthroughthefirstcanaltobeopenedin
thenewUnitedStates
.W hentheboat
enteredthecanalwhichwasjammedon
bothsideswithsightseers,thesidescaved
in .Thespectatorsplungedintothecanaland
dousedthepassengersonboardtheboat .
Noonewasdrowned.
AftertheMiddlesex Canalwasopenedin
1 804,connectingtheMerrimacRiverwith
theCharlesRiverinBoston,lumbermen
floatedtheirraftstothattown .Business
dwindledonthePawtucketCanal
.Although
itwasapoorinvestmentforthestock-
holders,theoldcanalinspiredthefounding
ofthefirstbigmanufacturingcityinthe
UnitedStates - Lowell,Massachusetts .
In1 81 0FrancisCabotLowelltooka
voyagetoEnglandforhishealth .Because
hewasamanufacturerhevisitedmillsin
Englandtoobservenewmachinerybeing
usedinproducingcottoncloth,especially
the power loom operated by steam.
Althoughthesteamenginewasinventedby
anumberofmen,JamesW attisgenerally
creditedwithmakingmanyimprovements
that made it practical in cotton
manufacture .In1 7 85theRev .Cartwright
ofKentinventedapowerloomtobe
operatedbysteam.Manyimprovements
werenecessarybeforethemachinecame
intogeneraluseinBritishmills
.
Thegrowthofcottonmanufacturewas
slowuntilLowellreturnedfromEngland
shortlybeforetheW arof1 81 2
.Asinthe
caseofHargreaves' jennyandArkwright' s
waterframe,thesecretofCartwright' s
powerloomwasguardedbytheBritish
G overnment
.LikeSlater,Lowelldepended
uponhismemory.
W hentheW arof1 81 2cutoffBritish
imports,
Americans were forced to
manufacturegoodstosupplytheirown
needs .Lowelldiscussedtheideaofstarting
acottonmillwitharelative,PatrickTracy
Jackson,whowasfamiliarwiththeprocess
intheSlatermills .Needingpowerlooms
forweaving,theyboughtanordinaryloom
andbegantoex periment .Lowellhada
knackformechanicsandfinallysucceeded
inbuildingapowerloommuchlikethe
CartwrightmodelhehadseeninEngland .
ThenLowellandJacksonaskedtheir
friendstoinvestmoneyinacompanyto
makecottoncloth.Thetwomenraiseda
capital of $1 00,000, purchased water
poweratW altham,Massachusetts,and
hiredaskilledmechanicandinventorto
installthemachinery.Themechanicfound
itnecessarytoinventanumberofdevices
tomakethepowerloomswork .Then,
whenthepowerloomswereputinto
4 4 3
operation, the yarn purchasedfrom
spinningmillscouldnotbeusedonthe
newlooms
.Theysoldtheyarntohand
weaversintheneighborhoodandconstruct-
edspecialspinningmachinesintheirown
mill .
Beforethenewfactoryhadproduceda
singleyardofclothforsale,theW arof1 81 2
ended.The$1 00,000hadbeenspent
.After
thepeacewassigned,cheapcottonyardage
fromEnglandandIndiafloodedtheAmeri-
canmarket,forcingfactoriestoclosetheir
doors .MechanicsoutofworkwentW est
beyondthemountains,toseekfarmsinthe
OhioV alleywheretheycouldraiseenough
producetofeedtheirfamilies .Yet,inspite
oftheloss,another$1 00,000wasinvestedin
theW althammills .Lowellspentmuchtime
inW ashingtonwherehepleadedwith
Congressmentopassatarifflaw,placinga
dutyonimportedgoods,andthussave
Americanmanufacturefromruin
.Hecon-
vincedJohnC
.CalhounofSouthCarolina
thataprotectivetariffwouldenablethe
southernplantertosellhiscottonto
northernmillsforcashtopurchasehismanu-
facturedgoodsinthiscountry .Thiswould
keepAmericandollarsathomeforAmerican
prosperity.TheTariffof1 81 6placingaduty
onforeigngoodswaspassed.Thislaw
increasedemploymentinthemillsand
sloweddownthewestwardmarchthatwas
draining off the population of New
England.ThefollowingyearLowelldied,
leavingtheresponsibilityoftheW altham
factoriestohispartner,Jackson .
Onedayin1 820EzraW orthenfrom
AmesburycalledonJacksontosuggestthat
theW althamCompanystartfactoriesina
newplaceandputhimincharge .Jackson
waswillingtoconsiderthepropositionif
goodwaterpowercouldbefound.Asa
boyW orthenhadfishedatPawtucket
4
4 4
Fallsandheknewthecountrywell .W ith
apieceofchalkhesketchedamapofthe
location on the floor, convincinghis
friendthattheoldcanalcouldfurnishthe
waterpowerformanymills .Jackson
senthissuperintendentwithW orthento
ex aminethelandatthejunctionofthe
ConcordandMerrimacRivers .Thesite
waschosen fora
newmanufacturing
town .
TheW althamCompany bought
the
500sharesofcanalstockandnearly400
acresoffarmlandforabout$1 00,000 .
Fivehundredmenwereemployedtowiden
themileandahalflongcanaltosix tyfeet
andtodeepenittoeightfeetatacostof
$1 20,000 .In1 822onthebankoftheriver
thefoundationwaslaidforthefirstcotton
mill, the Merrimack Manufacturing
Company.
Ezra W orthen was made
superintendent
. As more and more
manufacturerscame,lateralcanalswere
dugtoprovidewaterpowerfortheir
mills .In1 826thelittlevillageoffactories
wasincorporatedasthetownofLowellin
honorofthemanwhohaddonemuchto
establishmanufacturinginNewEngland .
TenyearslaterLowellwasthe" Spindle
City" where9 ,000,000poundsofcotton
wereturnedinto30,000,000yardsof
clothbysix mills .
W henmanufacturingmovedfromthe
home to the factory, home
laborers
soughtemploymentinthemills .Since
mostoftheseoperatorswere-countrygirls
skilledinhandicraft,theysoonlearnedto
handlemachinery.Thelaborofyoung
men, however, wasscarce . W ithland
cheapandplentifulinunsettledcountry,
theyoungmenwentW est .Fewreturned
tomarrythegirlstheyhadleftbehind .The
Americanurgetoownlandsloweddown
theindustrialrevolutionintheUnited
Boyn ton
EARLY MAP
OF LOW ELL,
MASSACHUSETTS
- CITY OF
MILLS
This map shows
how an industrial city
was
laid out when
factories depended upon water
power . Mills were
huddled along the
Merrimack
and Concord
Rivers, and along
the branches of
the main
Pawtucket Canal.
The sketch
in the upper right hand
corner
shows the boarding
houses where the
mill girls
lived. Twenty
churches are listed in the lower
right hand corner .
Church attendance
was
required by mill owners,
as a rule .
Lowell, Massachusetts,
built for the
tex tile
industry, became
known as the " Spindle
City."
States, where many preferred profits in
agriculture to wages in manufacturing.
In Lowellthemillgirlslivedinthree
storybrickboardinghouses,providedby
theiremployersandmanagedbyahouse
motherwhosupervisedthecareofthe
girls . Everyonehadtobeinbyten
o' clockatnightwhenthedoorswere
locked.Thistypeofboardinghousewasa
uniqueinstitutionthatdidnotbecome
thelivingpatterninotherfactorytowns .
In1 845thematronofaboardinghouse
for the Merrimack Manufacturing
Companymadethisreportinasurvey :
KepthouseonMerrimacksix years ; twenty-
eight boarders now; two hundred in all ;
seventy-fivehavebeenmarried,havingkept
account ; twohavedied; fourgonehomesick ;
threedismissedforbadconduct ; verylittlesickness .
The effortsofbothemployersand
employees to make Lowellamodel
factorytowndrewvisitorsfromallover
the United States and from
foreign
countries .Manypraisedtheplaceasa
modelindustrialcommunityandothers
criticized it . There were
thirty-three
churchesinLowellwhenthepopulation
was under 30,000 . The town had
thirty-threemills .Togetoperatorsfor
machines,manufacturersfounditnecessary
to
assureparentsthattheirdaughters
wouldbeprovidedwithbothreligiousand
educationalopportunities .Ruleslikethe
followingwerepostedinthemills :
Allpersonsarerequiredtobeconstantin
attendanceonpublicworship,atoneofthe
regularplacesofworshipinthisplace .Persons
whodonotcomplywiththeaboveregulationswill
notbeemployedbythecompany
.
Laborwasscarceduringthesummer
whenmanygirlswenthometohelponthe
farm. Since the work daywasfrom
daylighttodark,asarule,theyreturnedin
thewinterwhenthedayswereshorterto
attendtheeveningschoolsprovidedbythe
churches
.Outof300illiterateemployees
inonefactory,allbut30learnedtoreadin
theseeveningschools .Therewerelectures
attheLowellInstitutewheregreatmen,
includingRalphW .Emerson,spoke .G irls
formedclubstostudylanguages,literature,
andmusic .Oneofthese" Improvement
Circles" publishedamagazinecalled" The
LowellOffering" inwhichstories,poems,
44 5
andarticleswrittenbythemillgirlswere
printed .Someofthebeststorieswere
publishedinabook, MindAmongstThe
Spindles . Theeditorsofthismagazine
favoredlawsforaten-hourday .They
suggestedthattheemployeessavetobuy
stockinthecompanieswheretheyworked .
Thehoursoflabordrewthemostcriticism
fromvisitors .Therunningtimeofthemills
throughouttheyearaveragedtwelvehours
andtenminutes,withtimeoutformeals.
Theoverseersandofficialsweremen
withfamiliesforwhomthemanufacturing
companiesprovidedhousesatreasonable
rentalsiftheydidnotowntheirown
homes . To thispermanent butsmall
populationwereaddedtheimmigrantswho
livedwiththeirfamiliesandnotinthe
boardinghouses .Adischargebookofone
ofthefactoriescontainsareportofa
typicalimmigrantgirlworkinginthe
cottonmillsofLowellandotherNew
Englandtowns :
Oct .1 4,1 844 - Mary -, workednineyears,
dischargedtogoonLowellCorporation .Sheand
hersister,wholeftashorttimesincetobe
married,hadworkedforusovertenyears
.They
areIrish.Theirfatherdiedaboutnineyearsago
.
Theyhavesinceentirelysupportedtheirmother,
havingbuiltherahousecosting$600,inwhich
theyhavekepthousetogether .Theyownapew
whichcostthem$1 25,andtheyhavefrom$1 00
to$200eachatinterest .
InthiswaythemilltownsofNew
England became centers
of foreign
populationsandthewayoflifechanged
.In
Lowellthemansionofonemanufacturer
wasconvertedintoahospitalwheresick
employeesreceivedmedicalcareattheir
company' sex pense,iftheycouldnotpay
thefees
.Onecorporationdonatedtheland
andothersthehall,wheretheMiddlesex
MechanicsAssociationmetanddiscussed
4 4 6
theproblemsofthemillhands
.The
ex periment at Lowell,
based on the
W altham
system,wasapreviewofa
dawning
industrial society with its
problemsinhours,wages,health,housing,
and
employment . W ith freedom of
opportunitygainedthroughapolitical
rebellion,thenationmetthechallengeof
anindustrialrevolution
.
COALBECOMES
ACOMMERCIALPRODUCT
AFTERTHE RevolutionaryW armore
deposits of glassy anthracite were
discoveredin easternPennsylvania . In
1 7 9 1 ,ahunteraccidentallyfoundarich
bedofcoalnearMauchChunk(Bear
Mountain)intheLehighV alley.Hetells
thestory
:
Oneday,afterapoorseason,whenwewere
onshortallowance,Ihadunusuallybadluckand
wasonmywayhome,empty-handedand
disheartened,tiredandwetwiththerain - when
Istruckmyfootagainstastone .Itwasnearly
dusk,butlightenoughremainedtoshowmethat
itwasblackandshiny . - W henIsawtheblack
rockIknewitmustbestonecoal .Onlooking
round,Idiscoveredblackdirtandagreatmany
piecesofstonecoalundertherootsofatree
thathadbeenblowndown .Itookpiecesofthis
coalhomewithme,andthenex tdaycarried
themtoColonelJacobW eissatFortAllen .
Shortly afterwards,theLehighCoal
MineCompanywasformed.Diggingbegan
inanopen-cutmineonthetopofSummit
Hill,nearthespotwherethehunterhad
stumbledoverthechunkofanthracite .
EasternPennsylvaniawasrichincoal,but
howcoulditreachthemarkets?Theonly
transportationwasontheSusquehanna,
Lehigh,andSchuylkillRiverswhenthe
streams were swollen
withrainsand
navigableformanymiles .W howouldbuy
thecoal?Anthracitehadahardtime
winningthefavorofapublicthathad
beenusingbituminouscoalinbothhomes
andfactories .
Anailmanufacturerex perimentedwith
anthraciteinhisfactoryandinhishome .
Forhisfireplacehefashionedagrate
fromhickorywoodandhadablacksmith
copyitiniron .W ithproperdraftshe
succeededinburninganthraciteinthis
grateinhisfireplace .W henheinvitedhis
neighborstowitnessthefeat,onlyafew
came .Theycouldnotbelieveit .Those
whobaskedinthewarmthofhisgrate
fireonthatcoldnightinFebruary,1 808,
spreadthenewsthat" stonecoal" was
betterforheatingthanwood .
Fourmonthsbefore,twobrothershad
gonedowntheSusquehannaRiverasfaras
Columbia .Noonewouldbuytheblack
rockssotheydumpedtheirload.After
seeing" stonecoal" burninginagrate,the
brotherstriedagainthefollowingspring.
Thistimetheytookalonganirongrateto
provetocustomersthattheshinyblack
stoneswouldheattheirhomes .Todaythe
mainuseofanthraciteistofurnishfuel
.
W hentheW arof1 81 2brokeout,
delayingshipmentsofbituminouscoal
fromtheJamesRiverfieldsinV irginia,an
enterprising mineownerin Pottsville,
Pennsylvania,startedforPhiladelphiawith
ninewagonloadsofanthracite .Ontheway
hesoldoneloadtotheproprietorsofa
rollingmill .Theforemancomplainedthat
thestoneswouldnotburninthefurnace .
Theminingmanpersuadedoneofthe
millowners,whowasamechanic,togo
withhimearlythenex tmorningtofirea
furnacebeforetheworkmenarrived .The
twomenkindledafirewithwoodand
piledtheblackstonesontop .Anthracite
burnsslowly
; sowhenthefirewasstarted,
theminingmanclosedthefurnacedoors
andsuggestedtohispartnerthattheyleave
toeatbreakfast .W hentheyreturned,the
furnace glowed with awhite heat .
W orkmenputinironore,watcheditheat
morequicklythanusual,andpassthrough
the rollswith greaterease .Allwere
convinced .
Onhearingofthissuccess,awireandnail
manufacturerboughtawagonloadandtried
itinhisfurnace .TheminerfromPottsville
madenoprofits,havingsoldthecoalforthe
costoftransportation .Hopingforbetter
luck,hewentontoPhiladelphiawiththe
sevenremainingloads .Hereandtherehe
soldafewbushelstoblacksmiths,butgave
awaymostofhiscoaltopersonswhosaid
theywouldtryit .Notonlywashisbusiness
venturealmostatotalloss,butawritwas
securedforhisarrestasaswindler,selling
blackstonesforcoal .
DuringtheW arof1 81 2moreandmore
manufacturerstried" stonecoal" becauseit
wasnearathand.Thedemandgrewforthe
product .Thebigproblemwastransporta-
tion .Totransportthecoaltocustomerson
schedule,riversweredredgedandanetwork
ofcanalswasbuiltallovereasternPennsyl-
vaniaandnorthintothestateofNewYork .
Oneofthefirstnavigationcompanieswas
organizedbyJosiahW hite,thewireandnail
manufactureratthefallsoftheSchuylkill
whohadpurchasedawagonloadofcoal
fromthePottsvilleminer.Thiscompany
undertooktomaketheLehighRivernavi-
gableforbargesofcoalfromMauchChunk
totheDelaware .Intheearlydaysofindus-
try
theproprietorswereoftenskilled
mechanics,themselves,anddidhardlabor
bythesideofthementheyemployed .W hite
directedtheworkinthedifficultspotatthe
SchuylkillFalls .Hewroteinhismemoirs :
44 7
Asourworkwasgenerallyinthewatersevenor
eightmonthsintheyear,andmyportionofit
beingtolayoutthewallsandchannelsintheriver,
pilestonesasmarks,etc
.,Idressedinclothes
suitable - aredflannelshirt,roundaboutcoat,
cap,strongshoeswithholescutinthetoestolet
outthewater ; ourclothingbeingmadeofacoarse
clothandbuckskintannedinoiltoturnthewater .
Inthesummer,duringthedayIwasasmuchin
thewaterasoutofit,forthreeseasons,allowing
theclothingtodryonmyback, - sleepingat
nightinoneofourboatsinabunk,inthesame
mannerastheworkmen .
W iththisimprovednavigation365tons
ofanthracitecamedowntheLehighRiver
in1 820 .Thecoalbusinessbeganinearnest .
Twenty yearslateramillion tonsof
anthracitewenttomarketoveranetwork
ofcanalsandrivers,largeandsmall .Long
afterrailroads werebuilt,coalbarges
slipped quietly through thismaze of
waterways, supplying fuelforhomes,
factoriesandmills .However, thegreat
bituminousdepositsoftheAppalachian
Mountains,andnotthebedsofanthracite
ineasternPennsylvania,putthecrownon
" OleKingCoal
." Anthracitewasscarcebut
theUnitedStateshadenoughbituminous
coaltolast3000years .Themarketforcoal
increasedassteamenginesfurnishedthe
powerforoperatingmachinery,especially
inthefieldoftransportation .Thenthe
fur-trading posts, locatedonnavigable
riversinthecoalland,soonbegantofeel
thethrobofindustry .
HOW COALCHANG ED
LIFEINPENNSYLV ANIA
DURING THE Revolutionary W ar
JonathanandRuthSlocum,withtheir
sevensonsandthreedaughters,movedwest
fromRhodeIslandtotheW yomingV alley
4 4 8
innortheasternPennsylvania .Shortlyafter
thefamilysettledonlandwherethecityof
W ilkes-Barrenowstands,thefatherwas
killedinanIndianraid,knownasthe
W yomingV alleyMassacre .Later,twoof
the Slocum brothers, Ebeneezer and
Benjamin,settledinabowl-shapedvalleya
littlenorthofW ilkes-Barrewherethey
builtaforge,agristmill,andasawmillto
supplynewsettlerswithiron,grain,and
lumber .Afteranearly,coldwinterwhen
cropshadfrozen,aDutchblacksmith
employedattheforgenamedthelittle
settlementSlocum' sHollow,becausehe
said,onlyaSlocumwouldhavethecourage
toseekalivinginsuchapoorplace .
Slocum' sHollow isnowpartofthe
industrialcityofScranton
.Thenameof
SlocumHollowwaschangedtohonor
G eorgeW
.Scrantonwhomovedthere
fromNewJerseyin1 840anderectednew
furnacestoburnanthracitecoal
.However,
bituminouscoalratherthananthracite
promotedthegreatironandsteelindustry
oftheAppalachianregion
.Theriseof
manufacturing
made coal a valuable
product
.Asfactoriesboughtmoreand
more coal
to operate the increasing
numberofsteam-drivenmachines,mining
grewintoabigindustry .
PITTSBURG HPROFITS
FROMASTRATEG ICLOCATION
SETTLEMENT AND
INDUSTRIAL
growthintheUnitedStatesdependedupon
transportationtocarrypioneerstowestern
landsand tohaul theirproducts to
market
.However,bothoccupation and
businessbeganinthedaysofpackhorses,
wagonfreight,andriverflatboats .The
traderwentfirstandsettlersfollowed
FROM FARMING
0 MINING
IN THE
W YOMING V ALLEY OF PENNSi' L\ \NI\I-
FIRST
CLEARING IN THE W ILDERNESS
In
1 7 62, about 200 sturdy New Englanders,
mostlyfromConnecticut,settledintheW yoming
V alleyofnortheasternPennsylvania .Mothersand
littlechildrenrodeinox cartswith
chicken
cratesandfarmtools .Fathersandoldersons
droveafewcattle,sheep,andhogstoprovide
milk,wool,andmeat
.Ontheway,someofthe
animalsweredevouredbywolves
.
Inthesketchabove,thechimneyofthelog
cabinisaholeintheroof; thedoorisahideor
two ; andthewindowmaynotbeglass
.Thebarn
isacrudelogshelterwithabrushroof .Although
snowcoversthegroundandthebrookisfrozen
over,thepioneerisbusychoppingdowntrees,
enlargingtheclearingforthespringplanting .
THESAMEPLACE
- AFEW YEARSLATER
Theclearingislarger
.Corn,potatoes,andpump-
kinsaregrowingamongthetreestumps
.Thelone
settlernowhasneighborswhoarehelpinghimto
pilelogsforfutureuse .Thelogcabin hasa chimney
plasteredwithmud,aplankdoorwithwooden
hinges,andawindowwithfourpanesofglass .V ines
shadethedoorway,a" worm" fenceprotectsthe
houseandgarden,andalogbridgespansthecreek .
W yomingV alleywasalandoftreeswhichthe
pioneerhadtochopdownbeforehecouldplanta
crop .Thelogswereusedforhouses,
barns,
bridges,fences,furniture,andforcookingand
heatinginfireplaces
.Onthefrontier,neighbors
helpedoneanotherinthehardlaborofsettlement
inawilderness .
THESAMECLEARING AG ENERATIONLATER
Thesettler' sson,nowtheowner,haulsaload
ofhaytothebarn .Hisdaughterdipsabucketof
waterfromthewellintheorchard.Hisson
walksdownthelanecarryingabucketineachhand.
Theoriginallogcabinisnowawingofthe
newhousebuiltofsquaredlogsshapedinthe
farmer' ssawmillalittledistanceupstream.Panel-
ingonthefrontdoor,shinglesontheroof,boards
inthebarn,lumberinthestraightfence,and
planksonthebridgeareproductsofthesawmill .
Morelandhasbeencleared,andmorecropsare
growing,andagardenflourishesinthesideyard .
Beyondagroveoftreesstandstheone-room
schoolhousewherechildrenlivingonfarmsstudy
thethreeR' s
- " readin' ,' ritin' ,' rithmetic ."
THEOLDHOMESTEAD
Atthedawnoftheindustrialera,abighouse
standsonthespotwherethefirstsettlerbuilthis
logcabininawilderness .Afewtreesonthe
hilltopsareallthatremainafterfarmershad
clearedthelandforplanting.Thelandscapeisa
networkoffieldsandorchards,withavillage
wherethefarmersselltheirproduceandbuythe
thingstheyneed.G onearethe" worm" fences,
theewoodenbridge,andthetreestumps .
Smokestreamingfromthefunnelofarailroad
engineisanomenofthefuturewhenthequiet
countrysidewillhumwithindustry.Coalwill
taketheplaceofcornasshinybedsofanthracite
luremoreandmoreminersintotherivervalleys
ofeasternPennsylvania .
close behind
. The
triangle
formed by the
junctionofthe Allegheny and
Monongahela RiverstoformtheOhiowas
a strategiclocation forasettlement .
Pittsburghbeganasafrontierpostforthe
Indiantradeandgrewuptobealarge
industrialcenter,thecelebratedcityof
steel
.
InDecember, 1 7 58,amerchantin
Philadelphiahadwagonsloadedwithlead,
shot, powder, knives,hatchets, cloth,
saddles,kettles,pipes,andtobacco .Hewas
enroutetoPitt' sBoroughwherehehopedto
tradethearticlesforvaluablefursbroughtin
bytheIndians .AtCumberlandthemerchan-
disewastransferredfromwagonstopack
horses - 34inall - forthejourneyover
Braddock' sRoadtothefrontierpost .W hen
icystreamsweretoodeepforfording,the
bundleswereferriedacrossincanoeswhile
thehorsesswamtotheoppositeshore .The
leaderofthepacktrainwasaQuaker .Inhis
diaryhetellsofthehardshipsofthis
mid-winterjourneyacrossthemountains :
My horse lame & ye snow balling his feet
made
his passing something doubtful, but I lead him
along & got safe across, but in swimming ye creek
ye water got into my boots & saddle-bags . I
emptied ye bags & walked until I was warm. - It
being late, and about four or five miles further (to
a farmer' s house), I began to look for a lodging
place, which I found under ye side of a great
mountain in a hollow stump . After I cleared ye
snow
out
&
made
a
floor of bark
&
a great
fire at
ye door, I lodged with more comfort than I
ex pected & slept some .
Atnight,wolveschewedthehidetongs
thattiedhisbundlesofgoods ; akegof
knivesfellintoastreamandtheleaderhad
toscourofftherustandoilthem ; dried
applesandhardbiscuitweresoakedwith
water ; rollsofwetblanketswerespreadout
todry ; horsesstrayedatnight,werelostor
stolen,andsomediedontheway
.Onthe
lastdayofAprilafteratriplastingfive
months,the merchandise reached
Pittsburgh.DuringthesummerIndians
wanderedintothesettlementwithpeltsto
tradeforthesearticles
.FindingColonel
Mercerand280meninthefortdisturbed
theIndians .Theyfearedthesoldierswould
betheadvanceguardofwhitesettlerswho
wouldoccupytheirlands .
Thesettlersfollowedupontheheelsof
the traders . On the way back to
Philadelphiaintheearlyautumnwith9 000
poundsofvaluablefurs,thetradermet
othersgoingwest,asrelatedinhisdiary
:
Sept .1 4,1 7 59
YeSouthBranchofPottomockpeoplearein
drovesalongyeroad,goingtoPittsburgh,some
withflowerandsomewithcorn,oats,butter,
cheese,etc .ThedayIovertookyewagons,Imet
Col .BurdofPennsylvania&apartywithwagons
andpackhorsesgoingtoyemouthofRedstone
Creektobuildsomestorehouses,inordertohave
yecarriageonthisroadtogofromthencedown
yeMonongahelatoPittsburgh.
EARLYPITTSBURG H
AFRONTIERSETTLEMENT
Thissmallvillageatthejunctionofthe
AlleghenyandMonongahelaRiversbecamethe
supplycenterforsettlerstravelingdownthe
OhioRivertosettleintheNorthwestTerritory
.
W ith coal,
iron,
and
watertransportation,
Pittsburghbecamethe" CityofSteel
."
ChamberofCommerceofPittsburgh
The early storekeepers of Pittsburgh
livedinconstantfearofIndianraids .They
werekeptbusymovingtheirgoodsinand
outoftheprotectedenclosureofFortPitt .
In1 7 63Pontiac,thebrilliantchiefofthe
Ottawas,organizedtheIndiantribesfrom
LakeSuperiortotheG ulfofMex icoinan
all-outattempttopreventtheBritishfrom
settlingthecountryintheOhioV alley .
AfterayearofsavagewarPontiac' s
conspiracyfailed.W hitemencrossedthe
mountainbarriertobuildtheircabinsand
planttheircorninthewesterncountry.
Thefirstwrittendescriptionofthevillage
ofPittsburghappearedinthejournalkept
byW ashingtonofhistripdowntheOhioto
theKanawhaRiver
.W ashingtonwrotein
1 7 7 0 :
W elodgedinwhatiscalledthetown,distant
aboutthreehundredyardsfromthefort
.The
houses,whicharebuiltoflogs,andrangedin
streets,areontheMonongahela,andIsupposed
maybeabouttwentyinnumberandinhabitedby
Indiantraders .
DuringtheRevolutionaryW arsoldiers
hadbeenstationedatFortPitt .Carpenters
andsawyershadbeensenttheretobuild
six boats,eachonecarryingacannon,to
aidthegarrisonindefendingtheplace .The
soldiersweresometimeshungryandcold
becausethehuntersandwoodchoppers
wereeasy targets for Indians and
Frenchmenwholurkedinthewoods .W hen
thegarrisoncomplainedoffreezing,with
tonsofcoalonlyhalfamileaway,the
commanderofthewesterndistrictordered
that" thecoalpitbeoccupiedbyturnsday
andnight," whilesomekeptguard .
AftertheW arforIndependenceended,
theUnitedStatesgainedterritorytothe
MississippiRiver .Thefrontiervillageatthe
headwatersoftheOhiobegantogrow .
4 5 2
W hentheOrdinanceof1 7 87 openedup
theNorthwestTerritoryforsettlement,
Pittsburghbecamethesupplycenterfor
westernemigrantsgoingdowntheOhio
RivertosettleinKentucky,Tennessee,
Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois . Itwasa
dangerousroute .Slow-movingkeeland
flatboatswereeasytargetsforattackby
Indiansstilltryingtoholdthecountry
againsttheinroadsofsettlers .
G eneralRufusPutnam,whohadserved
inboththeFrenchandIndianW arandthe
W arforIndependence,tookoutthefirst
emigrantsoftheOhioCompanytofound
the first permanentsettlementinthe
NorthwestTerritory .Aftercrossingthe
mountains in winter, when it was
sometimes necessary to haul their
belongings on sledsbecausethesnowwas
toodeepforwagons,Putnam' spartyof
NewEnglandersreachedtheYoughiogheny
River.AtSimrall' sFerry,aboutthirty
milesabovePittsburgh,theemigrantsbuilt
the Mayflower, agalley45feetlongand1 2
feetwide,witharoofoverpartofthe
deck .Tocarryallthebaggageoftheparty,
itwasnecessarytobuildaflatboatand
threecanoes,also .Onaspringdaythelittle
flotillapushedoutintotheYoughiogheny,
dodgingsandbarsandshallowwater .It
thendrifteddownthewideranddeeper
MonongahelatoPittsburgh
.
Thefrontiertownofloghousesandabout
400to500inhabitantslookedlikeacityto
theNewEnglanderswhohadspentweeksin
awilderness .Theyenjoyedshoppinginthe
storesforclothingandtoolstotaketotheir
newhomes
.OnApril7 ,1 7 88,Putnam' s
party arrived at the mouth of the
MuskingumRiver,unloadedtheboards
theyhadbroughtalong,andbegantoerect
thefirstcrudehutsinalittletownthey
namedMarietta,aftertheQueenofFrance .
A month later Colonel May from
Boston, another Revolutionary officer,
arrivedinPittsburghwherehewasdelayed
seventeendayswaitingforaboatdownthe
OhiotothecolonyontheMuskingum
River .He,too,didsomeshoppingin
Pittsburgh.Inalettertohiswife,dated
May1 ,1 7 88,hewrote :
IdinedtodayonbaconthatwasgoodwhichI
boughtbythequantity.- Ihavelaidinfour
barrelsofex cellentflour
.
DuringhisstayinPittsburgh,Colonel
May purchased many useful items,
includingagrindstone,ax es,hoes,and
tools .Tohisfoodsupplyheaddedabushel
ofsalt andtwobushelsofpotatoes .
EnroutedowntheOhiowithtwenty-seven
menonboard,twocows,twocalves,seven
hogs,ninedogs,andeighttonsofbaggage,
heboughtmoresuppliesfromfarmers
livingalongtheshore
.May' spurchases
included300poundsofsmokedhams,
moreseedcorn,potatoes,butter,abarrel
ofpickledpork,youngplantsandtrees,
andasmanycowswithcalvesashecould
crowdonboardtheboat .
RevolutionaryofficersoftheSocietyof
Cincinnatiandsoldiersfromtheranks
settledinBelpre,Cincinnati,andother
placeswherestreamsfloweddownthrough
fertilevalleystoemptyintotheOhio
River .Fortshadbeenerectedtoprotect
them.FortHarmarwasatthemouthofthe
MuskingumRiverandFortW ashingtonwas
neartheMiamiinOhio,oppositethe
LickingRiverinKentucky.However,the
areaprotectedbythesefortswassmall
becausetheIndiansfoughtdesperatelyto
hold their farms and theirhunting
grounds .Boatloadsofimmigrantswere
captured,scalped,andcarriedawayinto
captivity; farmerswereshotfromambush
while plowingintheirfields ; frontier
cabinswereburnedtothegroundandthe
torchwasappliedtocropsofcorn .After
G eneralSt
.Clair,thefirstgovernorofthe
NorthwestTerritory,hadbeendefeatedin
Indianwarfare,MajorG eneralAnthony
MARIETTA,OHIOIN1 7 9 2
Marietta,oldesttowninOhio,wasfoundedin1 7 88atpointwherethe
MuskingumRiverflowsintotheOhio .
W ayne,knownas" MadAnthony," took
overthecampaignagainsttheIndians .
AftertheIndiansweredefeatedinthe
Battle of Fallen Timbers, near Fort
Miami,in1 7 9 4,theirpowerwasbroken .
Instraggling bands, dispossessed and
disheartened,thetribesoftheNorthwest
Territory beganthewestwardtrekto
prairie lands
beyond the Mississippi .
AmongthemwereShawneesandother
tribeswhohadlivedneartheAtlantic
seaboardbeforethewhitemancameto
NorthAmerica .
FreedfrombigIndianraids,thesettlers
came in ever-increasingnumbers
.W ith
themcameindustry,boatbuilding,forges,
furnaces, saw mills, grist mills,
and
factories to make the many articles
neededbyemigrantsinanewcountry.
Coal,plentifulinandaroundPittsburgh,
wasdeliveredtothedoorsofhomesand
factoriesforfiveandsix centsabushel
.
In1 807 about200,000bushelsofcoal
wereburnedinPittsburgh.Travelerscalled
itthe" SmokyCity."
W hentheuseofsteammaderiver
travelsafe
and profitable, Pittsburgh
becameaninlandport .Sinceearlyindustrial
growthinthiscountrydependedlargely
uponwatertransportationtocarrythe
goodstomarket,inventorsbegantoex peri-
mentwithsteamenginestopropelboats
.
RobertFultonvisionedafuturewithsteam-
boatshaulingtheproductsoffarmsand
factoriesonthewesternriversand,hewas
willingtoinvestmoneyinasteamboaton
theMississippiRiver
.In1 809 twoyearsafter
the Clermont steameduptheHudsonto
Albany,NicholasJ .Rooseveltandhisbride
journeyedoverlandtoPittsburghtoinvesti-
gatethepossibilitiesofsteamboatnavigation
onthewesternrivers .Theyweretoreportto
FultonandLivingstoninNewYork .
4 5 4
UponarrivalinPittsburgh,Roosevelt
hadaflat-bottomboatbuiltwithtwo
smallhousesontop,likebox es,onefor
himselfandhiswife,andtheother,for
thecrew,whichincludedthecookwho
preparedthemealswiththeaidofa
fireplace .Thisflatboatwashomeforsix
monthswhileRoosevelttestedthecurrent
andmeasuredthedepthoftheOhioand
MississippiRiversfromPittsburghtothe
G ulfofMex ico .FromNewOrleansthe
Rooseveltstookashiphome,arrivingin
New York after an absence ofnine
months .FultonandLivingstonwereso
pleasedwithRoosevelt' sreportthatthey
agreedtofurnishthemoneyforhimto
buildasteamboatatPittsburghandtestit
onarivertrip .
On a Septemberday
in
1 81 1
the
residentsofPittsburghlinedthebanksof
the
Monongahela River and shouted
farewellsasthefirststeamboatchugged
downthestreamonitsepoch-making
voyage .Onboardthe New Orleans were
thebuilderandhiswife,acaptain,apilot,
anengineer,six hiredhands,twowomen
servants,awaiter,acook,andabig
Newfoundlanddog,namedTiger .Ata
speedofabouttenmilesanhour,the
steamboat reached Cincinnati on the
secondday.Thewholetownturnedoutto
seeit .Thehardyrivermenwhohadpoled
theflatboatsandthekeelboatsdownthe
Ohioshooktheirheadsindoubt
.The
steamerwouldnevergetbackagainstthe
currentoftheMississippiRiver .
AttheFallsoftheOhio,opposite
Louisville,Kentucky,the NewOrleans had
towaitfortherivertoriseenoughtocarry
theboatacrosstherockybarrier .Onthe
waydownintheflatboat,Roosevelthad
takentimetoex plorealongthebanks,
searchingforcoallands .Hehadfound
somedepositsonthelowerOhio
.Hehad
coaldugandpiledonthebankoftheriver
toburnin
casehe returnedinthe
steamboat
.Thisfuelcameinhandy.W hen
allheloadedhadbeenused,thesteamboat
wasforcedtotieupalongthebankonce
everydaywhilethecrewcutwoodtofire
theboiler
.Ataboutthattimetherehad
beenanearthquakewhichshooktheregion
wheretheOhioRiveremptiesintothe
Mississippi .ManyIndianswereafraidofthe
" firecanoe," andthoughtthepaddles
stirringthewaterhadcausedtheearthto
trembleundertheirfeet .W ellmightthe
Indiansfearthe" firecanoe" asitwasto
bringbothsettlersandindustrywestward
todrivethemfromtheirhuntinggrounds
alongtheinlandwaterways .
The New Orleans reachedNatchezin
safetywhereitservedforyearscarrying
passengersandfreightbackandforth
betweenthattownandNewOrleans .It
costabout$38,000tobuild .Theboatwas
designed,built,anddeliveredbyNicholas
Roosevelt,thegrand-uncleofafuture
President, Theodore Roosevelt, and a
distant relative of a laterPresident,
FranklinD.Roosevelt .Thusbeganthat
colorfulandromanticperiodofAmerican
history,knownastheSteamboatEra,
which
developed
the river ports of
Pittsburgh,Cincinnati,Louisville,St .Louis,
Memphis,V icksburg,Natchez,andNew
Orleans into centers of trade and
manufacture .
In 1 824,afamousdecisionbythe
SupremeCourtpromotedsteamboattraffic
ontheriversalloverthecountry .The
legislatureoftheStateofNewYorkhad
grantedRobertR.LivingstonandRobert
R.Fultonspecialrightsofnavigationon
theHudsonRiver .JohnMarshall,Chief
Justice, statedthatnavigationonthe
HudsonRiverinvolvedinterstatecommerce
thatonlyCongresshadthepowerto
regulate,accordingtotheConstitution .
Thisdecisionmadeallriversfreetoall
boatownerswhoobeyedthelawspassed
fornavigation .
TheSouth Americans, too, were
interestedinsteamboatnavigationfortheir
rivers . In thelate 1 820' saG erman
immigranttriedtoestablishasteamship
lineontheMagdalenaRiver,thehighway
of
commerce in
Colombia . The
Magdalena,
windingthroughatropical
country,wasatreacherousriverwitha
strongcurrent,shiftingchannels,anddeep
andshallowwateraccordingtoseasons .
AlthoughSimonBolivarrodeononeof
theG erman' ssteamboats,andencouraged
the project, it was not a success .
Revolutionsthatupsetthegovernmentand
nativeswhorefusedtocutwoodhindered
theoperationoftheline .Nativeswhowere
employed to paddle canoes in the
MagdalenaRiver,somecarryingasmuchas
eighteentonsoffreight,werenotanx ious
tocutdowntreestofuelasteamengine
thatwouldtakeawaytheirjobs .
Soonaftersteamshipsweretriedon
rivers,thecommanderofthe
Clermont
tookthefirststeamshipoutintotheocean
onavoyagefromNewYorktothe
DelawareRiver .Laterhewascaptainofthe
Savannah, thefirststeamboattoventure
acrosstheAtlanticOcean,butnotwithout
theaidofsails .OnMay22,1 81 9 ,this
vesselsteamedoutoftheportofSavannah,
G eorgia,arrivinginLiverpooltwenty-six
dayslater,butmuchofthevoyagewas
undersail .Thefirstvesseltocrossthe
Atlanticundersteampoweronlywasthe
RoyalW illiam, builtinCanadain1 833 .
Thissteamshipmadethevoyagefrom
QuebectotheIsleofW ightinnineteenand
4 5 5
ahalfdays," withsevenpassengers,abox
ofstuffedbirds,somehouseholdfurniture,
254chaldronsofcoal(achaldronbeingat
thattime3456pounds),andacrewof36
men ." InLondonthe RoyalW illiam was
charteredtothePortugueseG overnment
foratransport .LateritwassoldtoSpain
forawarvessel, asitwasthefirst
steamshipfromwhichahostilegunwas
fired.Pittsburgh,Cincinnati,andLouisville
becamethebuildingcentersforsteamboats
navigatingthewestern rivers,andNew
York,
Philadelphia, and
Baltimorefor
ocean-goingsteamers.
Someocean-goingvesselswerebuiltin
Pittsburghandloadedwith
cargoesfor
foreigncountries .Thetownboasted of
beingaworld port . IntheHouseof
Representatives,HenryClayofKentucky
toldanamusinganecdote .W henaboat
from Pittsburgh arrived
at Leghorn
(Livorno),Italy,thecaptainpresentedhis
paperstothecustomhouseofficer,who
refusedtoacceptthem.
" Sir,yourpapersareforged," theItalian
said." ThereisnosuchplaceasPittsburgh
in the world! Your vessel
must be
confiscated ."
ThecaptainlaidamapoftheUnited
Statesbeforethecustomsofficer . Begin-
ningattheG ulfofMex ico,hetracedwith
hisfingertheMississippiRivertotheOhio,
andthenceupthatstreamtoPittsburgh.
" There,Sir,istheportwhencemyvessel
clearedout," thecaptain claimedwith
pride .
Pittsburghsoonacquiredtworivalsfor
the Ohio River trade,
the towns of
Louisville,Kentucky,andCincinnati,Ohio .
In1 81 5Cincinnatiwasmanufacturing
thesamearticlesasPittsburgh,ex ceptsome
madeofiron .Thetownearlyacquireda
largenumberofskilledcraftsmen who
4 5 6
madeclocks,jewelry,pottery, carriages,
andfinefurniture .Hidesbroughtupthe
MississippiandOhioonboatsweretanned
andmanufacturedintosaddles,boots,and
shoes . Leadwas imported from the
MissouriTerritoryandCincinnatibecame
well-knownforwhiteleadproducts .From
surroundingfarms,grainsand fruitsfor
whichtherewasnotamarket,weremade
intoliquorsthatwereshippedinbarrelsto
NewOrleans .However,flourwasthechief
articleofex portfromtheMiamicountry .
Abook,publishedinCincinnatiin1 81 5,
liststheex portsofthisriverport :
Afterflourfollowpork,bacon, andlard;
whiskey,peachbrandy,beerandporter ; potand
pearlash,cheese,soap,andcandles
; hempand
spunyarn
; walnut,cherry,andblueashboards ;
cabinetfurnitureandchairs ; towhichmightbe
advantageouslyadded,kilndriedIndianmealfor
theW estIndies .
Fiveyearslaterwhensteamboatswere
plyingtheinlandwaterways,amerchant
fromCubawrotealettertotheeditorof
TheCincinnatiDirectory, suggestingthat
thepeopleoftheOhiocountryshiptheir
producetohiscountry,direct," receiving
inreturnthe coffee, sugarandother
articlescommontotheIslandofCuba ."
Atthistimerevoltswerebrewinginthe
Spanishcolonies, seeking
their
in-
dependencefromSpain .Thewesterners,
whosemarketwasNewOrleans,wanted
thetradeoftheLatinAmericancountries .
Rifles,cannon,shotandshell,made in
thelittleironfurnacesandleadfactories
oftheOhioV alley,wereshippeddown
the Mississippiand smuggled intothe
southerncountries to aid the revo-
lutionaries .Thefriendshipbetween
the
westernersandtheinsurgentsinSpanish
Americaresultedintradegainswhenthe
colonies
became independent nations,
according toa dispatch in a Pittsburgh
newspaperin 1 845 :
Four
Mex icangentlemen arrived in ourcity
yesterday,bytheSteamer Bertrand.
They
broughtwiththemover$40,000,thegreater
portionofwhichtheywillleaveinourcity,for
articlesofPittsburghManufacture .Thevalueof
ourtradewithMex icoisveryconsiderable .Every
springandfall,largeordersarefurnishedtoour
mechanicsandManufacturersforIronandG lass
W ares,Harness,Saddlery,W agons,Ploughs,etc .
ThesearticlesaremostlytakenbytheSantaFe
route,fromwhencetheyaredistributedoverthe
NorthernProvincesofMex ico .
Steamboatscarriedmerchandisetothe
Missourifrontier,whereitwasloadedinto
covered-wagonfreightersandwasstrapped
ontopacksaddlesforthetrekoverthe
prairietoSantaFe,thetradecenterof
northern Mex ico . As
markets
were
ex tendedwestward,townsontheinland
waterwaysbegantogrowinsizeand
importance,withthecombinedaidof
coal,iron,andsteam .
Before thesteamenginecameinto
generaluse,factorieswereerectednear
streamswherefallsandrapidsfurnished
waterpowertooperatethemachinery .
Thenthemanufacturerswereforcedto
layoutatownandtobuildhousesfor
their employees,aswasthe casein
Lowell,Massachusetts
.Realestateagents
sellingbusinesssitesinPittsburghproudly
advertised the advantages
offered to
manufacturers
in the town where
mechanicshad settled and workmen
providedtheirownlivingquarters
.W here
coalwassoplentiful,steampowerwas
cheap,andonecouldstartalittlefactory
withasmallamountofmoney .Markets
wereassuredbecausePittsburghwasthe
supply center
for western emigrants .
Steamboatspliedtheinlandwaterwaysof
C &a
. 0EV AN
Plow ManufacturersandMillers,
StoneSteamMill,W aterStreet,
2squares (vest ofMarketst .
PITTSBURG H,
RespectfullyinformtheirfriendsandCorrespondent# ,that
havingre-builttheirFoundryandW orks,arenowprepar-
edtofillorderstoanyex tentfor
CranePloughs,-(:ottonPleugho_W ood' sPloughs.--Prai-
riePloughs,largeandheavyploughsex presslymade
for
breakingup
prairies,newclearings,roads, 4-e.--Hll-rids
Ploughs,forploughingonsidesofhills,throwingthefianrow
alloneway,TrtOAmericanPloughs,HalfPatentPlougtu,
Peacock' sPloughs,-Eagle Ploughs,-Miller' s
Ploughs,_
ShovelPloughs,andCuluvators
; andTrucksforStores
andSteamBoats
.
Theirmuchapproved
Farmers' ilfll, forgrindingG rain,
CornintheCob,Plaster,&c
.propelledbythemostmodem
andsimplyconstructedhorsepowerinuse,whichcan also
beappliedtoThreshing,StrawCuttingMachines,&e .
CornShellers,Threshin7 andStrawCuttingmachines,
MillIrons,W agonBox esandCastiePsofallkinds
.
Theyarealsostakingarrangementsformanufacturing
,Stoves
; thepatternsseleetedwillbeofthenewestandmost
approvedkind .
Theyalso
hate just received AP followingEasternMa-
nufacturedarticles,soietdispensaftetoFarmers :
Handmills,forgrindin_aG rain,Coffee,Spices,&c
. ; Hay
Knivesofdifferentdescriptions ; tornCutters,fortaking
stalksfromgrainfields ; manureforks,madefromplatesteel,
andotherkinds ; andG rainSilo} els
.-Also,thefollowing
PruningImplements :Pruners,IlandledSlide; G entlemen' s
Pruning Knives andSawCases
; HeavyBillHooks,Fancy
SlidePruners,&e.
; EdgingKnives,&c .&c .
kj ' .lesh Favtily louralwayson hand.(
HenryE.HuntingtonLibrary
ADV ERTISEMENTFROMHARRIS'
PITTSBURG HDIRECTORYFOR1 837
theOhioRiveranditstributaries,carrying
theproductsmadeinPittsburghtoriver
townsallthewaytoNewOrleans,and
thencetoforeignports .
W ith the coming ofrailroads the
steamboatgainedarivalinthesteam
locomotive .Inlessthantwenty-fiveyears
afterthefirstboatswerepropelledby
steam,thefirststeamlocomotiveinthe
W esternHemisphereactuallyranoverthree
milesoftrackatHonesdale,Pennsylvania .
4 5 7
FIRST STONE OF BALTIMORE AND
OHIO RAILROAD
TorestorewesterntradetakenfromBaltimorebycanalsandtollroads,agroup
of
businessmendecidedtoinvestmoneyinarailroad
.OnJuly4, 1 828,inBaltimore,
CharlesCarrollofCarrollton,lastlivingsignerofthe DeclarationofIndependence,
tookpartinlayingthecornerstoneofthefirstrailroadtotheOhio
River .
The engine was
called the " Stourbridge
Lion" because
it had been
built in
Stourbridge,England,andhadtheheadofa
lionpaintedinredonthefrontofthe
boiler
.Therailshadbeenlaidandthe
engineimportedbytheDelawareand
HudsonCanalCompanytohaulanthracite
45
8
coalsix teenandahalfmilesfromtheir
minesatCarbondaletotheheadoftheir
canalatHonesdale
.Thesamemanwhohad
gonetoEnglandtobuytheenginewasthe
passenger,theengineer,thebrakeman,the
fireman,andtheconductorwhenthelittle
enginechuggedaroundacurveonarickety
trestle crossing Lackawax an
Creek and
disappearedinthewoodsbeyond
.Onthe
eighthdayofAugustin1 828,thisbriefrun
ofthe" StourbridgeLion" openedthe
railroadera
.InAugustofthefollowing
year,thefirstAmerican-madesteamloco-
motive, the " Tom
Thumb," hauled
thirty-six passengersinacoachadistance
ofthirteenmilesontheBaltimoreand
OhioRailroad
.Althoughtheenginebroke
downonthereturntripinaracewitha
horse,andthegraysteedwon,thetrialof
TomThumbwasasuccess .
Railroadscouldpenetrateregionsof
richcoalandfarmlandsinthehilly
countrywherecanalscouldnotbedug,
andoperateinwinterwhenthecanals
werefrozenlanesofice .Thedirectorsof
theBaltimoreandOhioRailroadoffereda
prizeof$4000forthebestcoal-burning
locomotivedeliveredtothembyJune1 ,
1 831
.AmanfromNewYorkwonthe
money
.Althoughwoodwaslongburned
inlocomotiveshaulingcarsofcoalfrom
mines to markets, coal
became the
railroad
fuel .Inbothsteamboatsand
locomotives,bituminouscoalcouldbe
usedinenginesmadetoburnwood
.Special
engineshadtobebuiltforanthracite
.
Littlecountryvillagesdreamedofa
future withfactories, population,
and
payrollswhenaraillinepassedthrough
.No
longerweretherivertownstheonly
locationsforindustrialplantswhenrails
streaked
across the country hauling
products to
market . The railroadera
increased " the grand results"
ofthe
" mightyageofsteam ."
4 5 9
Chapter 24
InlandW aterwaysSpreadIndustry
INDUSTRY W ENT
W EST
W ITH THE PIONEERS
THE
W ESTW ARD MARCHto
the
inland
waterways really
began when
G eorge W ashington
stood for the first
time on the
triangle of land where the
Allegheny
andMonongahelaRiversjointo
formtheOhio
.Thisperilousjourneyto
deliverG overnorDinwiddie' smessageto
the French
commander marked the
beginningofW ashington' sadventuresin
thiswesternwildernesswhereacounty
wasnamedforhim
.Furtradersentered
thecountryfirst,aheadoftheland
pioneers who
pushed their clearings
westwardoverthemountainstotheOhio
V alley
.Ironmasterssoonfollowed .
AftertheW arforIndependencethe
ironindustryalongtheseaboardwent
intoadecline .TheprewarBritishmarket
wasgoneandmoneywasscarce
.Forges
andfurnaceswereinneedofrepair
.New
inventionslikethesteamengineandthe
nail-cutting machinerenderedtheold
equipment scarcely worth
replacing.
IronmastersfromNewJerseyandnail
makersfromNewEnglandjoinedthe
returnedsoldiersinthewestwardtrekto
theNorthwestTerritoryandKentucky
4 6 0
andTennessee
.Theirsimplemethodsof
smelting ore and
cutting nailswere
welcomed
by settlersopeningup a
wilderness
.
Beforethetenthanniversaryofthe
surrender of Yorktown,
aG erman
immigrant was erectingthe
Bourbon
FurnaceonSlateCreek,abranchofthe
LickingRiverthatflowedthroughhis
landinBathCounty,Kentucky.Armed
guardskeptwatchtowardoffIndian
attackswhileworkmendugorefrom
surfacemines,hauledittothefurnace,
cutdowntrees,burnedcharcoal,and
hammeredattheforge
.Earlysettlersin
Kentucky
were suppliedwithkettles,
warmingpans,bakeovens,stoves,and
flatironsfromthisironworks .Cannonballs
andgrapeshotmadeintheBourbon
FurnacewentbyflatboatdowntheLicking
totheOhio,andondowntheMississippi
.
TheywereusedagainsttheBritishregulars
byG eneralJackson' sfrontiersmenand
piraterecruitsintheBattleofNewOrleans .
Inthe1 7 9 0' sfurnacesmokecurled
above the treetops in the mountain
wildernessofeasternTennesseewhere
Daniel Boone had
huntedasalad.
Customerswerethesettlersgoingwest,
followingthevalleysoftheW autaga,
UnitedStatesSteelCorporation
APIONEERFURNACEINTHEW ILDERNESS
Sincecharcoalwasusedforfueltosmeltthe
ironore,pioneerfurnaceswerelocatedwhere
treeswereplentiful.Inthissketch,acharcoal
burnertendsaturf-coveredpitinwhichcordsof
woodarebeingslowlyburnedintosticksof
carbontofirethefurnace .Airisforcedintothe
furnacewithafoot-operatedbellows .
Holston,
Clinch,Powell,andTennessee
Rivers
.Traderswentdownthesestreams
inflatboatsandcanoes,peddlingtheir
ironwaresinfrontiersettlements
.Some
traderswentallthewaytoNewOrleans
.
W ithstreamsforwaterpower,treesfor
charcoal, and ore for furnaces, the
industrialpioneersunderprimitivemethods
madeoneortwotonsofironperday.This
supplied the neighborhoodblacksmiths
whoturneditintohorseshoes,wagonrims,
andharrowteethforthesoilpioneers .Bar
ironwasthesameasmoneyforpaying
tax esandbuyingsalt,sugar,coffee,calico,
andshoesatthecountrystore
.
IntheHangingRockDistrictironores
werediscoveredonbothsidesoftheOhio
RivernearthepresenttownsofAshland,
Kentucky, and Ironton, Ohio . Early
settlersinMichiganweresuppliedwith
potashkettlesandstovesbyforgesand
furnacesinnortheasternOhionearthe
shore of Lake Erie . Ironmastersand
plowmenwalkedsidebyside,pushingthe
frontierwestwardtotheG reatLakesand
theMississippiRiver
.Thelittlecharcoal
forgesandfurnacesoftheironpioneers
weretheadvanceguardoftheconquering
legionsofmillsandfactoriesthatfollowed
themwhenindustrymarchedwestwardto
theinlandwaterwaysunderthetriple
bannerofcoal,steam,andsteel .
THEG REATLAKESBASIN
FORMS A NATURAL
SETTING FORINDUSTRY
INDUSTRY DEPENDS upon trans-
portation
. Thefarmerandthemanu-
facturerwithouteasyaccesstomarkets
actually
havelittletosell .Fromthe
beginning,industryintheG reatLakes
regionwasharnessedtothewaterways .
Thefirstknownwhitementoenterthis
country were French ex plorers and
" BOUNDDOW NTHERIV ER"
InearlyAmerica,inlandwaterwayswere
highwaysofcommerce .FarmersintheOhio
V alleywentdowntheMississippiRiverin
flatboatswithbundlesoffurs,bushelsofgrain,
andhickory-smokedhamstosellinNewOrleans .
Steamboatsplyingtheriversaddedtoolsand
utensilsmadeinfrontierfurnacestocargoesof
farmproducts .Familiesmovingwestneeded
cookingpots,fryingpans,hoes,rakes,shovels,
hatchets
and
plows
.
Plantationowners in
Louisiananeededbigboilingkettlestomakea
salableproductfromtheirsugarcane .Steamboats
movedbothpassengersandmerchandisewestward
ontherivers,andindustryfollowedclosebehind.
Currier&Ives
missionaries who traveled
mainly by
water . Close on
their heels followed the
trapper and the
furtradingbusiness .The
villagesofIndiansandhalf-breeds,witha
sprinklingofFrenchmen,thatclustered
aroundthemissioncenters werelittle
more than wayside camps for the
swaggeringvoyageurs,comingandgoing
onfurhuntingex peditions .
Theactualsettlement oftheG reat
Lakesregiondidnotgetunderwayuntil
plowmencametoturnthesodaftermost
oftheterritorywascededtotheUnited
StatesbytheTreatyofParisin1 7 83 .After
theW arforIndependencepioneerspaddled
downtheOhioRivertosettlein the
NorthwestTerritory.Otherscamelater,
filteringintothebackcountryalongthe
tributariesoftheOhio .Theyreachedthe
shoresofLakeErieandfarthernorthto
theprairiestripofsouthernMichigan .
DuringtheW arof1 81 2supplieswere
furnishedtosoldiersandsailorsfromfarms
alongtheErieshore .InAugust,1 81 3six
farmerboysrentedanoldFrenchboat,
loadeditwithmelons,beans,cucumbers,
corn,butter,andotherproducefromtheir
farms .HearingthatPerry' sfleetwasnear
Sandusky,theysetoutintheunseaworthy
vesseltofindit .Notknowingtherewere
any settlements nearby,Perry was
astonishedwhentheboatloadoffreshfood
arrived
.Theboyswantedtogivethefood
tothecrews,butPerryinsistedonpaying
forit,askedformore,andgavetheboysa
betterboat .Theirboatwasleaking .
Aftertheyreturned,oneoftheladsrode
horsebackfromfarmtofarm,collecting
potatoes,vegetables,smokedmeat, and
homemadepicklesforPerry' ssailors .The
dayafterthevictoriousbattleonLake
Erie,thefarmerboyhastilygathereda
crewfromtheneighborhoodandleftthe
46 2
shorewithaboatloadofpotatoes
.Rowing
throughthefloatinglitterofbrokenspars
andtornrigging,hecamealongsidePerry' s
flagship,the Lawrence .
Inthebeginningofsettlementthebasin
oftheG reat Lakesshowed signsof
becomingthegreatfood-producingcenter
thatitistoday.Asearlyas1 7 9 6aship
captain, whohad oncebeenG eneral
W ashington' s gardener, delivered toa
farmerinW indsor,Canada,ashipmentof
appletreespurchasedinMontreal.The
captain,askillfulgrafter,tookspecimens
fromthesetreesacrosstheborderto
improvethefruitgrowinginanorchard
thatthenstoodonlandnowcoveredwith
buildingsindowntownDetroit .Atraveler,
goingwestbyboat,wagon,andhorseback,
describedthecountryalongtheRaisin
RiverinsouthernMichigan :
MonroeMichigan
Dec .3,1 833
Itwoulddelightaneasternfarmertoseethe
magnificentpeartreeswhich,tallasthetreesof
theforest,ex tendthroughorchardsformilesalong
thestream.Here,too,areappletreesthatwere
broughtbytheFrenchin1 7 31 .Thegrapevines,
also,fromwhichtheriver takesitsname
constituteabeautiful featureinthe level
landscape,astheyhanginrichfestoonsalongthe
banksofthestream,andclimbwhereveritis
woodedtothetopsoftheloftiestelms .
Inthatsameyearof1 833,twopioneers
boughtfruit trees, berry bushes,and
floweringshrubsinRochester,NewYork,
shippedthembywayoftheErieCanal,
acrossthelake,andoverlandbywagonto
stocktheirnurserynearYpsilanti
.Today
Michiganisafruitraisingstate,andfamous
forcherriesgrowingalongtheshoresof
TraverseBay.Themillerandthesawyer
trailedclosebehindtheplowmaninanew
country
.Theycametogrindthefarmer' s
wheatintoflourforhisbreadandto
sawthelumberforhishouseandhisbarn .
Sinceboatswereneededtocarrysettlers
andproductsovertheinlandwaterways,
theship-buildingindustrybegantogrow.
ThefirststeamboatuponLakeEriewas
W alk-in-the-W ater.W hencompleted,the
vessellackedenoughpowertopushits
wayagainstthecurrentoftheNiagara
Riverwhereitwasbuilt .Ittooksix teen
yokeofox entopullitoutofthestream
andlaunchitinthelake .W henthe
steamerenteredtheDetroitRiver,Indians
swarmedalongthebanksandgazedin
wonder
.W hatpaddledit?W hentheboiler
blewoffsteam,thenativesranfrightened
intothewoods .W alk-in-the-W ater
launchedsteamnavigationthatplayedso
largeapartinbuildinganindustrial
empirealongtheshoresoftheG reat
W ALK-IN-THE-W ATERINHARBOROFDETROIT
ThefirststeamboatontheG reatLakeswasnamedW ALK-IN-THE-W ATERforthe
chiefoftheW yandotIndianswhosenamewasMier,meaningturtle .Histribelivedon
thebankoftheDetroitRiverinMichigan.Thechief' stotemorsignaturewasthe
figureofaturtlewalkinginthewater .
W ALK-IN-THE-W ATER,builtintheNiagaraRiveratBlackRockhadtobetowed
toLakeErieforlaunching,May28,1 81 8 .BoatsanchoredintheNiagaraRiverand
werepulledthroughtherapidsbyox enuntilBuffalodevelopedaharbor.Thesailors
jokinglycalledthistowingprocess,the" hornbreeze
."
In1 820,andagainin1 821 ,thisboattransportedUnitedStatesArmysoldiersto
fortsdefendingfrontiersettlements .Amongthenotablepassengerswasayoungofficer
wholatergainedfameasG eneralW infieldScottintheMex icanW ar .
W ALK-IN-THE-W ATERmetanuntimelyendinagaleonLakeErieonthefirst
nightoutfromBuffalo,boundforDetroit,October31 ,1 821
.Throughhighwaves,
strongwinds,andheavyrain,thecaptainsteeredthebattered,leakingboattothe
shorenotfarfromthelighthouseintheharbor
.Hewreckedtheboat,butsavedthe
livesofthepassengers .
BuffaloandErieCountyHistoricalSociety
LIG HTHOUSE, STEAMSHIP
" BUFFALO," AND HARBOR AT
BUFFALO
Afteropeningaharborin1 820,Buffalo,NewYorkbecame aportcityintimeto
servethepeoplegoingwestby
wayoftheErieCanal,completedin 1 825 .New
EnglanderstraveledbystagetoAlbany,ErieCanaltoBuffalo, andboattoDetroitand
settlementsalongtheshoresoftheG reatLakes .
Atonetime,thesteamshipBUFFALOwasthefastestboaton theG reatLakes .
Lakes . Passengervesselsdidathriving
businessduringtheyearsofthewestward
migration .InJulyof1 835thefollowing
newsitemwasprintedinthe ErieG azette .
Noonewhodoesnotwitnessit,canhaveanyjust
ideaoftheimmensethrongofpeoplewhoare
wendingtheirway,bytherouteofLakeErie,to
theW est .Thesteamboatsandtheschooners
plyingbetweenthevariousportsonthelakes,
areconstantlycrowded .Morethan200,000
settlerswillgowestduringthepresentseason,
andtake up theirabidingplacesonthefertile
landswhichborderontheG reatLakesandtheir
tributarystreams
.
ThewharvesatBuffalowerepiledwith
barrels,box es,andbundlesforshipmentto
Cleveland,Detroit,andafrontiervillage,
calledChicago,whosepopulationgrew
from54in1 832to4000in1 835 .Somany
NewEnglandersweregoingwestbywayof
theErieCanalin1 837 ,thatoneeditor
declared: " the fever for emigration
pervadedthewholeregionfromRhode
46 4
BuffaloandErieCountyHistoricalSociety
IslandtoV ermont ." Popularsongsofthe
dayadvertisedthestatesborderingonthe
G reatLakes,withverseslikethefollowing:
W eherehavesoilsofvariouskinds
Tosuitmenwhohavedifferentminds,
Prairies,openings,timberedland
Andburroakplains,inMichigan .
Youwhowouldwishtohuntandfish
Canfindallkindsofgameyouwish ;
Ourdeerandturkeytheyaregrand
OurfisharegoodinMichigan .
By1 840Buffalo,westernterminalof
theErieCanal,wasaportofcallformost
ofthefifty-threesteamboatsonLakeErie .
InJulyofthatyearthesteamboat Erie
madearecordrunof1 200milesfrom
ChicagotoBuffaloinfourdays," carrying
alargenumberofpassengersand300
barrelsofflourandpork ." Oneofthese
steamersconsumed,onanaverage,three
cordsofwoodperhour .Toprovidethis
fuel,woodchopperswentintotheforests,
and lumbering beganin a small way.
Another industry was then added to the
G reat Lakes region and a new kind of
ship appeared on the inland
seas
-
the
lumberschooner.
LUMBERMENINV ADE
THEW HITEPINEFORESTS
THERAPIDSETTLEMENT oftherich
farmlandsinthebasinoftheG reatLakes
andtheprairiebeyondopenedupa
greedymarketfortimber .Polesformasts,
lumberforhulls,pilingsfordocks,tiesfor
railroads,boardsforbox carsandsiding
forhousesintownandcountrywerein
constantdemand.
Treesgrowingneartheriversandlakes
werethefirstvictimsofthewoodsman' sax
becausewatertransportationwashandy
.
Thepilotswhoguidedthelograftsdown
theMississippiRiverwereviewedwithawe
andwonder - sogreatwastheirskill! One
slighterrormightcauseabreak-upthat
wouldcrushanddrowndozensofraftsmen
maneuveringafloatoflogsarounda
treacherousbendintheriver .Thesedaring
pilots,dressedinredflannelshirts,flowing
blackties,andwideslouchhatsearned
$500amonthandmoreduringthebusy
raftingseason .Thissumwasafabulous
salaryinthosedays
.Thereignofthe
raftingpilotwascolorful,butbrief .The
steamboattookoverhisjob.
DuringtheW arBetweentheStatesthe
firststeamboatraftertowedashipmentof
timber
from theChippewa River in
W isconsintoasawmillinSt
.Louis,
Missouri .Thelargestraftevertowed
downtheMississippiRiverbyasteamboat
wasonethirdofamilelong,27 0feet
wide,andcontained9 ,000,000feetof
lumber .Morelogscouldbehandledata
timebyasmallsteamboatcrewthanby
pilots
andtheirgangs .Thedaredevil
raftsmen,withtheirfiddlersandcooks,
fadedoutofthelumberingscene .Assoon
astheicebegantothawintheriversof
W isconsinandMinnesota,captainsofthe
steamboatraftersheadednorthinthe
annualrace
.Eachwantedtobethefirst
tonoseintothecurrentoftheMississippi
withafloatoflogs .
Sawmillsintownsandvillagesalongthe
Mississippianditstributarieswerebusy
slicinglogsintoboardstobuildhousesfor
the western immigrants .
The huge
migrationtotheprairiestateofIowain
1 854canbetracedinthelocalnewspapers
.
TheKeokukDispatch : Noonecantravelupand
downtheMississippiwithoutbeingastonishedat
theimmigrationpouringintoIowafromallparts
ofthecountry,especiallyfromIndianaandOhio .
Ateveryferryontheriver,crowdsarewaitingto
cross
.Thelandofficesalloverthestateareunable
tomeetthedemandsuponthembythosewhoare
eagertoenterlands
.
TheBurlingtonTelegraph
:20,000
immigrants
havepassedthroughthecitywithinthelastthirty
days,andtheyarestillcrossingattherateof600
to7 00aday.W ehavethesefactsfromtheferry
folks .Aboutoneteaminahundredislabelled
" Nebraska ." Alltherestaremarked" Iowa ."
Therewasplentyofgovernmentland
sellingat$1 .25anacre .Townlotswere
oftendonatedtomenwillingtoimprove
them.Forabout$2 .50peracrethesettler
couldhireamanto" breaktheprairie"
withaheavyplow,pulledbyfiveyokeof
ox en .Thisplow,whichwastenfeetlong
andturnedafurrowtwofeetwide,wasable
tocutthroughthestringyrootsofthe
nativegrassesonthebuffaloplains .
Eachnewsettlerwasanewcustomerfor
lumber
.By1 854thetownofDavenport,
Iowa,wasbecomingalumberdepot,with
4
6 5
six sawmillscuttingabout20,000,000feet
oflumberayeartosupplytheneedsof
settlersinthesurroundingterritory
.A
spaciouseddyintherivermadeiteasyfor
raftersfromthenorthernpineriestohaltat
Davenport .Theloggersbarteredwiththe
sawmillownersforthesaleoftheirlogs .
The cost ofraftingtimberfromthe
ChippewaRivertoDavenportortoRock
Islandontheoppositebankoftheriver
amountedtoonlyadollarpertonforthe
lumbersawedfromthelogs .Inall,about
50,000,000,000 feetoflumber,rafted
downtheMississippifromthenorthern
pineries,wasusedinbuildingfarmhouses
andcitydwellingsintheMiddleW est .This
riveroutputwasonlyapartofthelumber
industry.Anotherstoryofadventureand
productionwaswritteninthewoodsof
Michiganandonthetimberschooners
plyingthewatersoftheG reatLakes
.
Theracefortimberlandonsalebythe
G overnmentluredmanyafortunehunter
intoforestswherenowhitemanhadbeen
LASTSTANDOFW HITEPINESOUTHOF
G RAYLING ,MICHIG AN.ABOUTHALF
THETREESINTHIS
PHOTOG RAPHARENORW AYPINE.
MichiganHistoricalCommission
before
.Intheearly1 87 0' stwofishermen
leftahamletonthenorthernshoreof
LakeMichigantosearchforunclaimed
timberlandontheupperpeninsulawhich
waswildcountrysouthofLakeSuperior .
Itwasmidwinter
.W ithpacksontheir
backs,snowshoesontheirfeet,anda
compass in one man' spocket, they
plungedintothewilderness .Eachnight
theychoppeddownagreenmapletree,cut
itintologs,anderectedashelterfortheir
campfire .Rolledinblankets,theyslepton
abedofbalsamboughsinfrontofthefire .
Thebittercoldofthenorthernnight
settleddownaroundthem
.
Thefishermenlocatedaforestofwhite
pinewellworththegovernmentpriceof
$5to$1 0anacre .Thefirstmantofilea
claimonaspecificsectionoflandina
certaintownshipbecametheownerof
boththelandandthetimberonit .He
musthavethelocationcorrectlymeasured
toholdhisclaim
.Insurveyingwiththe
aidofacompassthefishermenstumbled
uponsomesnowshoe footprintsina
swampyclearing.Thetracksinthesnow
raninastraightline .Onlyatimber
cruiserwalkedlike
that and hewas
steppingoffaclaim
.Theyfollowedthe
footprints until
they turned toward
MarquetteonLakeSuperior .Theland
officewasthere
.Thesefishermenstepped
offtheirclaimasifnoonehadbeen
therebefore
.Theirrivalwasatleastaday
ahead of themand
they could not
overtakehimonland
.Hemighttravel
slowly,stoppingtohuntalongtheway,
sincehehadseennotracksinthesnow.It
wasmoonlight
.Intwenty-fourhoursthe
fishermenwalkedforty-fivemilesonsnow-
shoestoreachtheshoreofLakeSuperior,
wheretheycouldtravelfasteronicethan
onland
.Heretheyparted.Onemanturned
towardhome .Theotherracedovertheice,
reachingMarquetteaheadofhisrival .The
winner' sfeetwerecoveredwithpainful
blistersandbleedingcutsfromwalkingon
thejaggedicealongthefrozenshore .
Thekeymaninthelumberindustrywas
thetimbercruiser .W ithonlyacompassfor
aguide,hetrailedthroughtheprimeval
forests,steppingoffthesectionsofland
andcountingthenumberofwhitepine
giantson everysingleacreofit .In
followinghiscompassinastraightline,the
cruiserhackedhiswaythroughbriarsand
brushandwadedthroughswampsand
streams .Sokeenwashisjudgment,he
couldglanceatatalltreeandmeasurewith
hiseyethenumberofboardfeetoflumber
init
.Hewrotedowntheamountina
pocketnotebook
.Thesuccessfultimber
cruiser was
an uncanny mix ture of
surveyor,woodsman,andmathematician-
strong,fearless,andefficient
.Uponthe
reportsofthetimbercruisersthelumber
companiesbasedtheirloggingoperations.
By 1 850 lumberjacksweretrudging
westward from the loggingcampsof
Maine,tochopwhitepineinMichigan' s
upperpeninsula,alongwiththeFrench
Canadians .Immigrants
arrived from
Europe -IrishandG ermans,andlater,
Finns,Swedes,andNorwegians
.Inthe
heydayoflumbering1 40,000menwere
employed during the winter months
cuttingdowntheforestsofMichigan,
W isconsin,andMinnesota .
Thelogger' sworkdaywasfromdaylight
todusk .Hishomewasabunkhouse,a
ramblingshackoflogswithasloping
roof.Hisbedwasastraw-filledbunknailed
totherough,unplasteredwall .Inthe
centeroftheshelterwasanopenfireplace,
apavementofstoneandsandinawooden
box abouteightfeetsquareandafoot
MichiganHistoricalCommission
W HITEPINETREESINMICHIG AN
Astudentofforestryusescaliperstomeasure
awhitepinetree,fourfeetindiameter,asthe
timbercruisersdidduringthegreatlumbering
daysinthestate .Thelaststandoforiginalwhite
pinetreeswascutinthesummerof1 9 1 0 .
high.Therewasafunnelofslabsfora
chimneystickingthroughaholeinthe
roof.Thesmokyairreekedwiththe
woolysmellofsocksandshirtsdryingon
hooksandwireclotheslinesstrungaround
thefire .Buriedinthehearthunderglowing
emberswastheeverlastingbeanpot,day
andnight,aroundtheclock .
Thelonelymen,maroonedinafrozen
wilderness,hungeredforamusement .An
unwritten law of the lumber camps
providedtheonlyentertainmentbetween
paydays .Anewlogger,atimbercruiser,a
mining prospector,
and
any passing
strangerfoundaheartywelcomeinany
bunkhouseofalumbercamp .Hemust
payforhisbeans,bread,molasses,and
coffeewithasongorastory
.Hewho
couldneitherchantaballadnorspina
46 7
yarnwastossedinablanket .Thuscame
intobeingtheshanty-songsofthelumber
camps
and the fanciful talesofthe
Finnish
comic, Big Matt, and the
superman,
PaulBunyan .Manylegends
reflectedthesuperstitionsofthemento
whomdangerwasmerelyahabit,like
eatingandsleeping
.W howouldcutdowna
poplartree,changehisbunk,orhisplaceat
thetable?W hatteamsterwouldchangehis
horses?Badluck! Atreemightcrashinthe
wrongdirection,anax fallfromapartner' s
hand,orlogsjamontheriverdrive .The
everydaylifeofthelumberjackcreptinto
theloreofthenorthernwoods
.
TimberfromthewoodsofMichiganand
W isconsinwentintohomesandfactoriesof
theindustrialcitiesrisingontheshoresof
theG reatLakes,wherelumberwasking
.
Some of
the square timberused
in
Chicago' sfirstbreakwaterwascutina
forestthatoncestoodonthestreetsof
Escanaba
.Special vessels had
to be
constructedtodelivertheheavypilingon
A FIELD OF
STUMPS
IN NORTHERN MICHIG AN
Liketombstonesinagraveyard,stumpsmark
thespotswheretreeswerefelledinaforestthat
coveredthelandbeforethelumberjackarrived .
Haines
Chicago' swaterfront,wherewintergales
dashed wavesupon the doorstepsof
housesatthefootofLakeStreet
.Timber
fromthesamewoodswentintoshipsthat
carried lumberandotherproductsto
portsonthelakes,andintotiesforthe
railroadsthattransportedgrainsandmeats
fromthewesternprairietotheshipping
centers.
W henthetreesweregone,thewayof
lifechangedinthenortherncountry .The
lumberjacksburnedoutthedeadstumps,
plowed the
land, and planted beans,
potatoes,oats,barley,andfruits .Manyof
theScandinavianloggersbecamefarmers
andstayedinMichigan,W isconsin,and
Minnesota
.Othersmovedonfartherwest
tofresh,uncutforestsinthePacificstates
ofW ashingtonandOregon
.Theprospector
fororeandthecruiserfortimbertrailed
throughthesameforestsatthesametime
.
Longbeforelumberingbegantowane,
miningsteppedintotakeitsplaceasthe
backboneofindustryintheG reatLakes
region .
Then came steel, like
magic,
creatingnewindustries,newcities,andnew
patternsoflivingalongthewaterways,
wherethetrapperandthetraderonce
paddledtheircanoeswiththemurmerof
theforestseverringingintheirears .
STEELENTERSTHEMARKET
DURING THE
Revolutionary W ar,
prizes were offered
to increase the
productionofsteelneededforarmaments
.
Thisencouragementcontinuedafterthe
peacetreatythatendedthewar
.InApril
of
1 7 83 the
state legislature of
Pennsylvanialentamanufacturerabout
$1 300forthreeyears,toaidhiminmaking
steel from
bar iron,
" asgoodasin
England.
The steel industry of this
countrygrewoutofex perimentsbyAmeri-
canstomakefromnativeiron" asgood"
steelastheBritishmadefromSwedishiron .
Sinceitwaseasierandcheaperto
manufacturearticlesfromironthanfrom
steel, the iron industrycontinued to
prosperforhalfacenturyfollowingthe
warbeforesteelloomedonthehorizonasa
strongrivalforbusiness .In1 832nearthe
closeofPresidentJackson' sfirsttermof
office,twoEnglishemigrants,brothers,
madecruciblesteelinCincinnati,Ohio .
Oneofthebrothers,W illiamG arrard,wasa
bricklayer,
not an ironmaster, which
ex plainswhyhesucceededinbeinga
steelmaker
.InW estV irginiahefoundclay
likethefamousStourbridgevarietyusedby
theBritishsteelmakers
.Fromthisclayhe
mademoldsintowhichhepouredapoorer
gradeofsteel,firstconvertedintothe
metalfromironoreinhisownfurnaces
.
Theclaypurifiedthesteel .Theprocessof
makingsteelinclaymolds,orcrucibles,
wasprobablyinventedbysomeunknown
Hinduinancienttimes,longbeforethe
Christian era .
The famous swords of
Damascuswereforgedfromcruciblesteel
madeinPersiaandIndia .
In
the Cincinnati
SteelW orks the
G arrardBrothersmadeatoolsteelfrom
MissouriandTennesseecharcoaliron .Manu-
facturersdeclaredthatthissteelwas" as
goodasinEngland" forsaws,springs,
choppingax es,filesandtoolsofallkinds .
W ithbladesshapedfromG arrardsteel,
CyrusHallMcCormick,theyounginventor
ofthereaper,cutgrainonhisfather' sfarmin
RockbridgeCounty,V irginia .ThePanicof
1 837 ,followingJackson' ssecondterm,put
theG arrardBrothersoutofthecrucible
steelbusinessandleftMcCormickwith
onlythepatentforhisreaper .
Adecade later, farther
west than
Cincinnati,anewdaydawnedforsteelin
avillageneartheCumberlandRiverinthe
western part of Kentucky. In
1 846
W illiamKellymadeatripthroughOhio,
Indiana,Kentucky,andTennessee,selling
drygoodsforawholesalefirminPitts-
burgh in which his
brotherhad an
interest
.LateinthatsameyearW illiam
Kellypersuadedhisbrothertoquitthe
dry goods business and become his
partnerin anironworksinEddyville,
Kentucky.Theypurchasedanoldfurnace
and1 4,000acresoforeandtimberland .
Fromchunksoforepickedupontopof
theground,theKellyBrothersmanu-
facturedkettlesforboilingsugarandiron-
waretosupplytheneedsoftheirneigh-
bors .Thebusinessprospered.Soonit
becamenecessarytodigorefromunder-
groundwhereitwasplentiful .However,
thisburiedorewasdifferentandcaused
troubleinthefurnace .
Kellybegantoex periment,hopingto
findacheaperandlesstroublesomewayto
refinepigironthantheprocessusedby
ironmastersofthetime .Onedayhe
noticedthatasmallspotinhisironbrew
waswhitewithheat,althoughtherewasno
fuelnearit .Thenhediscoveredthatadraft
ofcoldairwasblowingonthespot .He
concludedthatox ygenintheairwas
burningoutthecarbon,causingtheintense
heat
.Kellyreasonedthatifhecouldburn
outnearlyallthecarbon,hecouldmake
steeloutofthisverysamebrew.Aftera
numberofex perimentsheconstructeda
crudeconverter,somethinglikeaniron
barrelwithperforatedholesinthebottom
.
Kelly invited
the
ironmastersofthe
CumberlandRiverV alleytobeinEddyville
onacertaindaytoseehisnewprocessin
action
.Outofcuriosityacrowdgathered.
46 9
First, workmen
filled the bulging
barrel
withmolteniron
.W henabellowspumped
coldairintothesizzlingbrew,therecamea
roarlikeamuffledthunder
.Theconverter,
spoutingfireandsmoke,splatteredhot
ironlikehailstonesovertwoacresof
ground.Noonewashurt
.Theironmasters
hadcometolaughat" CrazyKelly" but
wentawaywonderinghowhisex periments
wouldaffecttheirfuture .
Kelly' sproduct,however,wasreally
more a soft,carbon-freeironthana
finished steel, but
itcouldeasilybe
poundedintoshape
.Seldomisagreat
THE KELLY CONV ERTER
Kelly' sconverterwastestedforthefirsttime
inalargeironworksinJohnstown,Pennsylvania,
andfoundtobeasusuableinalargeplantasin
asmall
one . Thissame converterhasbeen
preserved.Thewordsidentifyitasfollows :
KELLY
STEELCONV ERTER
usedat
CAMBRIAIRONW ORKS
1 861 -1 862
The
PIONEERCONV ERTER
ofAmerica
UnitedStatesSteelCorporation
4 7 0
inventiontheworkofonlyoneman .Like
thesteamengine,perfectedbyanumber
ofinventorsandmechanics,theprocessof
makingsteelbyblowingdraftsofcoldair
through moltenironwasachievedby
combiningthediscoveriesofseveralmen .
In1 856Kellywasbusycontinuinghis
ex periments at an
ironworks in
Johnstown,Pennsylvania,whenhereadin
anewspaperthatHenryBessemerhad
arrivedintheUnitedStatesfromEngland
topatenthisdiscoveryofasteelprocess .
TheformulawasthesameasKelly' s -
hotironandcoldair .SinceKellyhad
failed togetapatent,herushedto
W ashingtonandprovedthathisdiscovery
hadprecededBessemer' s .AlthoughKelly
receivedapriorpatentin1 857 ,lawsuits
lingeredinthecourtsforsometime
.Asa
matteroffactbothmenfollowedthe
sameformulabutBessemerhadinvented
thebettermachineryformakingit
.At
aboutthesametimeanotherEnglishman,
RobertMushet,discoveredanalloyto
purify iron brewinginto
steel . Since
Kelly' sprocesswasnotsuccessfulwithout
Bessemer' s machinery
andneitherone
could make commercialsteel
without
Mushe is -alloy, the patents
were
consolidated
. Steel men named the
combinationtheBessemerprocess,and
theconverter,Bessie
.
InW yandotte,Michigan,duringthefall
of 1 864 occurred the
first blow of
BessemersteelintheUnitedStates
.In
Mayofthefollowingyear,shortlyafter
thedeathofLincoln,thefirststeelrails
producedintheW esternHemispherewere
rolledinaChicagomillfromBessemer
steelblownatW yandotte
.Therailroad
boomthatbegantodevelopfollowingthe
W arBetweentheStatescreatedthefirst
bigmarketforsteel
.W iththeBessemer
process
came mass production
ofsteel,
whichloweredthepriceofthemetal .
Likethetouchofamagicwand,new
marketsarosefromnewdiscoveriesand
newinventionsuntiltheraceforsteel
becameasdramaticasaplayuponthe
stage
.Infactthesteelindustryofthe
UnitedStatesowesmuchofitssuccesstoa
mistakeingeographyandtoBenjamin
Franklinwhoshrewdlytookadvantageofit
.
W ONBYAMAP
W HEN THE
RevolutionaryW arended,
BenjaminFranklinhadbeenoneofthe
commissionerssenttoParistoarrangea
treatywithG reatBritain
.Franklinhad
advocatedtakingpossessionofCanada
duringtheFrenchandIndianW ar .Hehad
madethejourneytoCanadaurgingthe
peopletheretojoininthefightfor
independence
.ThenhewenttoParis,
determinedtogetalltheterritoryhecould
forthenewUnitedStates .BoththeBritish
andAmericancommissionersagreedtoa
waterboundarybywayoftheG reatLakes
asfaraspossible
.Thisruleworkedwell
untilthelinereachedLakeSuperior .
In1 7 83mapsoftheLakeSuperior
regionwerefewandfaulty .TheBritishand
Americancommissionersagreedtoaccept,
asthebestavailable,amapsketchedbya
V irginian,JohnMitchell,whohadnever
seenLakeSuperior .JohnAdamswasmost
concernedwiththeMaineboundaryand
JohnJaywiththeMississippiRiver
.This
leftBenjaminFranklintobarterforthe
mineralwealthinthewesternwilderness
.
Beingaprinterandpublisher,Franklinwas
fondofbooksandreadwidelyinboth
FrenchandEnglish.Nodoubt,hewas
familiar with the writingsofFrench
missionarieswhotoldoffindinggreat
depositsofironoreandcopperinthe
regionofLakeSuperior .
BesideFranklinatthepeacetablein
Parissatarough-and-readyfurtraderfrom
Milford,
Connecticut .
The traderhad
trampedthroughthenorthernwoodsand
paddledacanoealongtheshoreofLake
Superior
.Althoughhecouldnotdrawa
mapoftheregion,heknewtheresources
ofthecountry
.TheBritishalsoknewthere
weremineraldepositsnearLakeSuperior
.
W hentheymetatthepeacetable,the
British
commissionerswantedtheline
drawnthroughthemiddleofLakeSuperior
tothemouthoftheSt
.LouisRiver,the
presentsiteofDuluth
.Thisplanwould
havegiventoG reatBritaintherichiron
ranges
that latersupportedthe
steel
industryoftheUnitedStatesinsupplying
armamentsfortwoworldwars .
Sincetrappersandtraderspaddledtheir
canoesonacurvinglinenorthofIsleRoyal
andIslesPhilippeaux toG randPortage,fur
center of
the Northwest,Franklin
suggestedthatLakeSuperiorbedividedon
thisfamiliarroute
.Also,LongLake,as
shownonMitchell' smap,affordedabetter
waterroutethantheSt .LouisRiver .The
TreatyofParis,signedin1 7 83,definedthe
westernboundary," thencethroughLake
SuperiornorthwardoftheIsleRoyaland
IslesPhilippeaux toLongLake,thence
throughthemiddleofsaidLongLake,and
thewatercommunicationbetweenitand
theLakeoftheW oodstothesaidLakeof
theW oods
." Hereinoccurredtheerrorthat
gavetotheUnitedStatesthefabulous
wealthofironoredepositsinnorthern
Minnesota .Therewasnosuchbodyof
waterasLongLakeandthePigeonRiver
ex tendedinlandonlyashortdistance .The
IslesPhilippeaux ,mythicalhomeofthe
4
7 1
aan
.d
A-A, 0-
' Feb, /3/7 55
Aa o ./,A,
IV O,eTH
AMERICA
r M Ite
.eoadj Os
/antes l1 -/f and f .tn/
of/he
Hoab/yLncndrdIa
1 Ae
QI Nwo '
7 4
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Aahlaw
o
.dteo/heeA/HonaouV Ak
/7 Ae Lav7
CpAm/fr/anepr/a-TraderZAV eMa/,aes
ByMe-Loedrh; os
nros/abh>ed
and
ere, Hamb' eJe^rnn/
,/dry
M/che//
TareCopy
.Pa., fAwrp~ wt p~ ,
/Al-by
eeebfy 1 /1 1 1 nMa
T-1
Copyorlee
of woe
co4,/j
01 A,abovedoledMoo
Oaredthevsar
h C
.Rnv' fo Ale Bawdar
Co
.~ a.fuooLr7 A.W hre
1" 1 04.
ofG ha.+ /
G reatSpirit,ex istedonlyinIndianlegend
.
The shadowy
islandsdisappearedlike
magic,thenativesdeclared,whenthey
paddledtheircanoesinthatdirection
.
Disputessoonaroseoverthisboundary
line .Britishtrappersandtraderscom-
plainedbitterlybecauseG randPortage,
thefurcenter,wasinAmericanterritory
andnolongerfreetothem.Hopingto
rollbackthisline,theBritishG overnment
didnotsurrenderpostsinthisnorthern
country .ThomasJefferson,Secretaryof
StateinW ashington' sCabinet,triedto
settletheboundarydispute .Hewroteto
4 7 2
THE
MITCHELLMAP
HadtheborderbetweentheUnitedStatesandCanadabeendrawnwestwardfrom
themouthoftheSt
.LouisRiver,wherethecityofDuluthnowstands,theUnited
StateswouldhavelosttherichironrangesofnorthernMinnesota .
TheBritishagentsinParisin1 7 83selectedLongLakefortheborderonLake
Superior,andthisbodyofwaterwasanerrorintheMitchellmap
.Inalatersurvey,
thePigeonRiverbecamepartoftheborderbetweenthetwocountries
.
BenjaminFranklintoverifywhatmap
hadbeenusedatthepeacetableinParis
.
Franklin,then84yearsold,repliedina
letterfromPhiladelphia,datedApril8,
1 7 9 0 :
Iamperfectlyclearintheremembrancethat
themapweusedintracingtheboundarywas
broughttothetreatybytheCommissionersfrom
England,andthatitwasthesamethatwas
publishedbyMitchell
.
Notuntil1 842wastheboundaryline
betweenCanadaandtheUnitedStates
definitelysettledbyDanielW ebster,
Secretary
ofState in President
Tyler' s
Cabinet,and
LordAshburton,
Com-
missionerfromG reatBritain
.Today,the
northernborderofMinnesotafollowsthe
same
line that Franklintraced
on
Mitchell' smapinParis .
MINERALSONTHESHORES
OFTHEG REATLAKES
A JESUIT
MISSIONARY totheHuron
Indianswroteinhisreportfortheyear,
1 653 :
Theearthcontainsironores,andcertainrocks
whichmeltlikemetal,withanappearanceof
havingsomeveinofsilver
.Thereisacopperore,
whichisverypure,andwhichhasnoneedof
passingthroughthefire .
IntherecordsoftheDetroitmissionis
the copy of a
contractbetweena
blacksmithandthedirectorofthemission :
Onthe1 6thofJuly,1 7 33,FatherLaRichardie
andJean Cecile entered intothefollowing
covenant :thesaidCecile,toolmaker
andarmorer,
bindshimselftoworkatthe forgeofthesaid
ReverendFatheratDetroit,intheHuron
V illage,
foralltheneedsoftheFrenchandofthe
natives,
inallmattersconnectedwiththistrade .
Thesaid
ReverendFatherwillgive theassistanceofhis
servant,whenhehasone,tothe saidCecilefor
choppingwoodandbuildinghischarcoal furnaces
.
Theprofitsderivedfromtheforgewere
dividedbetweenthemissionandthe
blacksmith
.Althoughthiscontractwas
forsix years,withpermissionforCecile
toleaveatwill,afterduenotice,the
blacksmith
remained a longer time,
ex pandinghisironworks
.
OneFrenchmissionary,skirtingthe
shoreofLakeSuperiorinacanoe,wrote
aboutseeingalargemassofcopperfrom
whichthenativescutchunksofthemetal
weighingfromtentotwentypounds
.
However,longbeforeIndiansinhabited
thisregion,moundbuilderstoiledin
copperminesalongtheshoreofthis
inlandsea
.Tencartloadsoftheirstone
hammers,oneweighingnearlyforty
pounds,havebeenfoundinminepits
theyhadabandonedcenturiesago .
Commercialcopperminingdidnot
beginuntilafterMichiganwasadmittedto
theUnion
.TowinstatehoodCongress
demandedthatMichigancedeastripof
territoryalongthesouthernboundaryto
Ohio, in ex change
for the upper
peninsula
.Averseofapopularsongtold
thefeelingsoftheiratecitizens
:
Butnowthesongtheysingtous
Is -
tradeawaythatland,
Forthatpoor,frozencountry,
BeyondLakeMichigan .
Astategeologist,DouglasHoughton,
wasoneofthefirstappointmentsmade
bythefirstlegislatureofMichiganwhich
convenedin1 837 .Thediscoveryof
JACKSON PIT IRON MINE
NEG AUNEE,MICHIG AN- 1 860
IronorefoundalongLakeSuperiorwasfirst
minedwithpickandshovel .Intwo-wheelcarts
drawnbyhorses,theorewasdumpedintorailcars .
MichinHisoricalCommission
valuable
ores in
" thehowlingwilderness
ontheshoresofLakeSuperior" might
soothethewoundedfeelingsofthepeople
overthelossofToledoandsurrounding
territory
.Houghton' sreportofcopper
depositsonthetipoftheupperpeninsula
startedaminingboomthereintheearly
1 840' s
. In frailcanoes
and sturdy
mackinaw boatsthe
copper hunters
searchedthebaysandinletsofLake
Superior.
CopperHarboronthefarnortherntip
ofthepeninsulawasthemeetingplaceof
theseeageradventurersinflannelshirts
andslouchhats
.Thenoiseofblasting
powderand clanginghammersechoed
throughthewoodswhereminingwas
pushingasidetheold-timequietindustries
ofhuntingandfishing
.Townsbeganto
risealongtheEagleandOntonoganRivers
and on the
shore ofPortageLake .
Canadianvoyageurssangastheyrowed
theirboats,loadedwithfortunehunters,
over the waterways of the copper
country.TheCliffMine,discoverednear
theEagleRiverin1 844,wasthefirstinthe
UnitedStatestotapaveinofpurecopper .
However,itwasiron,morethancopper,
thatturnedthe" poorfrozencountry" of
theupperpeninsulaintoamintofwealth
for the state ofMichigan
.Sincethe
nativeswhousedcopperneverlearnedto
smeltiron,thismetalwasnotmentioned
inIndianlegend .AlthoughtheFrench
missionariesmadesomeuseofironore
foundneartheirsettlements,therich
deposits ofthe northern rangeswere
unknownuntil1 844 .InSeptemberof
that yearasurveyorfortheFederal
G overnmentnoticed that his solar
compass,hisowninvention,wasbehaving
inastrangemanner
.Thequeeranticsof
theneedledenotedthepresenceofiron
47 4
nearby
.Heshowedthecompasstothe
sevenmeninhisparty,twoofwhom
wereIndians .
" Boys," hesaid," lookaroundandsee
whatyoucanfind
."
W ithinamileofTealLake,withevery
turn
ofthe
sodtheex plorersfound
outcroppingsofironore
.Thepartywent
onitswaysurveyingthecountry,making
noattempttorealizeanypersonalgains
from
thegreatdiscovery
.Amongthe
natives,towhomthesurveyorsspoke
freelyoffindingore,wereahalf-breed
livingatSaultSte
.Marie,andaChippewa
chiefwhosewigwamstoodatthemouthof
theCarpRiver
.Thefollowingspringan
adventurerfromJackson,Michigan,arrived
atSaultSte .Marie,lookingforcopperand
silverintheupperpeninsula .Hechancedto
meetthehalf-breedwhotoldhimabout
theIndiandwellingnearthemouthofthe
CarpRiverwhereironhadbeenfound .
TheIndianguidedthestrangerandhis
partytotwohillsofironore,latercalled
JacksonMountainandClevelandMountain .
Returninghomewithsamplesofore,the
adventurerorganizedtheJacksonMining
Company
.InFebruaryof1 848inaforge
onCarpRiver,thiscompanyproduced
thefirstironmadeontheupperpeninsula
fromLakeSuperiorore .Thisironwas
soldtoamanufacturerwhouseditto
makeaship' sbeam
.
W ithcabinsofminers,wood-choppers,
andcharcoalburners,atownsprouted
aroundtheJacksonmineandfurnace
.The
peopledecidedtogivetheircampanIndian
name,Negaunee,meaninginOjibwa," I
takethelead ." Thesettlementaroundthe
Clevelandmineperchedonthedividefrom
whichonecouldseetheCarpRiverflowing
towardLakeSuperiorandtheEscanaba
headingforLakeMichigan .Itwasnamed
Ishpeming,
the Ojibwaword for a high
elevation .TheearlyFrenchex plorerswere
wellrememberedinnamingthetownson
theironranges .Alittlenestoflogcabins
andIndianhutswaschristenedMarquette,
aftertheMissionarywhohadex ploredthe
MississippiRiver .
In1 852ittookfourvesselstomovea
bigshipmentofironore,1 52tonsinall,
fromMarquettetoSaultSte .Marie
.Here,
itwasunloaded,hauledovertheportage
atthefalls,andreloadedonotherships
forthevoyagetoErie,Pennsylvania .The
orewaspurchasedbyanironworksin
Sharon,Pennsylvania,whereitwasmade
intobariron,spikes,andnailsofgood
quality
.Thefreightcostwassohighthat
itwasalmostprohibitive .
TogettheLakeSuperiororetothe
furnacesinOhioandPennsylvania,acanal
wasneededtobypasstherapidsintheSt .
acresoflandinthestateofMichiganto
anycompanywillingtobuildthiscanal
1 00feetwideand1 2feetdeep
.Since
landsoldforaslittleas25centsanacre,
bidswouldhavebeenfewwithoutthe
privilegeofselectingtheallottedacres
fromanygovernmentlandsofferedfor
sale .ThebidmadebytheSt .Mary' sFalls
ShipCanalCompanywasaccepted.On
thefirstdayofJunein1 853,ayoung
manonlytwenty-fouryearsofagearrived
at Sault Ste . Marie on a chartered
steamer,the Illinois whichwasloaded
withhorses,lumber,tools,andsupplies .
HisnamewasCharlesT.Harvey,theman
inchargeofconstructionontheproposed
canal .Threedayslaterworkgangsmarched
withtheirpicksandshovelstothesite
.
Harveyshoveledthefirstbarrowofdirt,
wheeleditaside,anddumpedit
.The
Soocanalhadbecomeareality.
Laborwasscarceinthewildunsettled
country.Thecanalcompanydispatched
agentstoNewYorkandotherAtlantic
portstohireimmigrantsassoonasthey
landed,tobuyrailroadandsteamshiptickets
forthem,andtoescortthelaborersingangs
toSaultSte .Marie .Sometimesasmanyas
2000menwerediggingandhaulingdirt
withinthespaceofasinglemile .Ittook
lessthantwoyearstohollowoutaditch
57 00feetlongand1 3feetdeep .OnApril
1 9 , 1 855, when Harvey opened the
northern gate, the waters of Lake
SuperiorgushedintotheSaultSte .Marie
Canal . The brig Columbia, leaving
MarquetteonAugust1 4,passedthrough
thisman-madewaterwaywiththefirst
shipmentofLakeSuperiorore .Thecargo
wasdeliveredtoafirminClevelandata
carryingchargeof$2 .7 5perton .
W ithcheapwatertransportationdirect
fromtheminestothefurnacesalongthe
southernshoresofLakeErieandLake
Michigan,itprovedtobemoreprofitable
toshiptheorethantosmeltitintoiron
ontheupperpeninsula .Theironandsteel
worksoftheG reatLakesregionandthe
OhioV alleywerenearthecoalfieldsof
Pennsylvania,V irginia,andKentucky .
Soonanetworkofrailroadswasbuilt
to
transportore to dockson
Lake
LOCKSINTHESOOCANAL,BUILTIN1 855
MichiganHistoricalCommission
Mary' s River and to connect Lake
Superior withLake Huron . In 1 852
Congress passedanactgranting7 50,000
MaternaStudio
AHIG HSCHOOLBANDSERENADES
AW INNERATSAULTSTE
.MARIE
Sincethe" Soo" Canalwasopenedin1 855,
captainsoforeboats,fromtimetotime,have
viedforthehonorofbeingthefirstskipperto
navigatehisshipthroughtheCanalintotheicy
watersofW hitefishBayinthespringoftheyear
.
CrossingLakeSuperiorandloadingthefirst
cargoofironorewasacovetedtitle
.Thecaptain
oftheJohnT.Hutchinson,1 4,000tonore
carrier,wontheracein1 9 49 .
DuringW orldW arII,1 6,000soldierswere
senttoguardthe" Soo" Canalthroughwhich
passedmostoftheironoreconsumedbythe
steelindustrymanufacturingthetoolsofwar .
SuperiorandfromdocksonLakeErieand
LakeMichiganinalldirectionstomillsin
Pennsylvania,Ohio,andneighboringstates .
AsindustrymovedwestwardintotheG reat
Lakesregion,thedemandgrewformoreiron
tomakemoresteel
.Thencamethegreatest
discoveryofall,theimmenseironore
depositsinupperMinnesota .Thedeposits
werenorthoftheSt .LouisRiverinterritory
thathadbeenwonbyBenjaminFranklin
withthestrokeofapencil .
DULLREDDIRT
ANDSHINYBLUESTEEL
LUMBERING PAV EDTHEW AY for
miningintheG reatLakesregion .The
4 7 6
timbercruiserknewironwhenhesawit
andwasusuallyabletofishaspecimenof
orefromhispocketatanytime
.Someof
therichestmineraldepositswerefound
accidentallybylumbermen
.
Duringtheseverewinterof1 851 ,along
theEscanabaRiverintheupperMichigan
peninsula,aloggerstruckslateorewhen
shovelingdirttocoatanicyroad
.W here
thereisslate,thereisprobablyironnotfar
away
.Later,onlyamilefromthisspot,the
Princetonminewaslocatedonabedofore
lyingnearthesurfaceoftheground .
InthelushforestsalongtheMenominee
River,separatingMichiganfromW isconsin,
aproductiveironrangewasdiscoveredby
chance .Ithappenedinthe1 880' s .Three
prospectors,shoulderingknapsackswith
blankets and food, plunged into the
wildernessonesummertosearchforore .In
crossingadensecedarswamponeman
becameseparatedfromhiscompanionsand
losthisway
.Emergingfinallyfromthe
spongybog,heclimbedahillandhalloed
loudly
.W hilewaitingforhiscomradesto
overtakehim,hesatdownontheknolland
begantoprobetheleafmoldwithasmall
ex ploringpick .Thepointcameouttipped
withredhematite .Eagerlyscrapingaway
theleaves,heuncoveredaveinofironore
.
Thuswasdiscoveredtherichdepositsof
the
Menominee range in Michigan,
ex tendingacrosstheborderintoW isconsin .
Onboardthefirstvesselpassingthrough
theSooCanalin1 855wasasawyerfrom
Chautauqua,NewYork,enroutetothe
headofLakeSuperiortoerectamill .His
namewasLewisH.Merritt
.Hesettledwith
hislargefamilyofboysonahomestead
neartheplacewherethevillageofDuluth
wassoontoappear
.Shortlyafterhisarrival
thesawyermadeatripintothewoodsto
locatechoicetimberforhismill
.Uponhis
return he told hissonsthathebelieved
there was ironontheMesabiRange
becausehiscompassactedsostrangely
whenhewalkedovertheground.During
the summermonthstheMerrittboys
sawedlumberintheirfather' smill .W hen
snowcoveredtheground,theycruisedthe
northern woods fortimber, following
theirfather' sadvicetokeeponeeyeon
theground .
InthesameyearthatPresidentLincoln
wasassassinated,theelderMerrittjoined
thegoldrushtoLakeV ermilioninthe
ArrowheaddistrictofnorthernMinnesota .
Overroughtrailshundredsofminersand
prospectorscarrieddrillsandsupplieson
their backs, only to learn that
the
yellowishmineralwas" fool' sgold
." They
had been deceived by
pyrites, a
compoundofsulphurandironorethat
glitterslikethepreciousmetal
.Thuswas
discoveredanothersupplyofironore,the
V ermilionrangedepositneartheborder
ofCanada .Fromthisfoolhardygoldrush
Merrittreturnedwithonlyapackageof
dullreddirtthathekeptinhislogcabin
formanyyears .Everyonceinawhilehe
wouldopenthebox andsifttheheavy
grains of
dirt through his fingers,
wonderingifthesoilhadironinit
.Not
beingageologist,Merrittreasonedthat
ironmighthavebeenwashedintothesoil
agesagobecausetheregionhadoncebeen
underwater
.Hisboysrememberedwhat
hehadtoldthem.
Tenyearsaftertheirfather' sdeath,
fourofthesonsandthreenephewsbegan
prospectingfororeinthequeer,rocky
hillsthattheIndianscalledMesabi
.In
thrustingashovelonlyonelengthinto
theground,theystrucksofthematite,
dullredincolor,withonlyamatofpine
needleshidingitfromview.Confident
thattheyhadmadeagreatdiscovery,the
MerrittBrothers,astheywerecalled,set
outtoraisecapitaltominetheoreandto
ATRAINOFLOADEDORECARSATOPTHEDOCKSATDULUTH,MINNESOTA
Atthemines,ironorewasloadedintocarswithhugeshovelsand
thenhauledby
traintothedocksinDuluth,aportonLakeSuperior
. There,thesandyorewas
dumpedfromthecarsintoloadingspoutstofillwaitingcarriers,
longboatsbuiltfor
thistradeontheG reatLakes .
OliverIronMiningCompany
transportittomillsinPennsylvania,Ohio,
Indiana,andIllinois .Thepublicwasslow
toinvestmoneyinorethatwasscarcely
morethandust .Minersandgeologists,
senttoinvestigatethesite,didnotmake
favorable reports . Theex perts were
lookingfororethatwashardandfirm,
not soft and loose . They
solemnly
declaredthattheMesabiorewasquite
ordinary
and
at the time theywere
walkingovermillionsoftonsofsix ty-six
percentore,almostaspureanironashas
everbeenfound.
In1 89 0withlittleoutsidehelp,the
MerrittsopenedthefirstMesabimine .
Twoyearslater,overtheirownrailroad,
thefirstshipmentwashauledtodockson
LakeSuperiorandshippedfortrialin
steelmills .W henthereddish-browndust
turnedouttobesuperiorBessemerore,
steelmenrushedintothenortherncountry
tohomesteadandbuysectionsofland.The
MesabiRange,onehundredandtenmiles
longandonetothreemileswide,has
producedthreetimesasmuchoreasthe
Marquette, Menominee,
G ogebic,
V ermilion,andCayunarangesputtogether
.
TheplacewaswellnamedbytheIndians,
Mesabi,theChippewawordforgiant,
whencecamethedullreddirtthatmade
theshinybluesteelforindustriesestab-
lishedinthebasinoftheG reatLakes .
SUPPLIESAND
MARKETSFORSTEEL
W ITH
RANG ES nearLakeSuperior
supplyingironore,thesouthernshoresof
LakeMichiganbecameanaturalsettingfor
thesteelindustryandformanufacturers
usingthemetalintheirproducts .Steel
becamethemainsupportofnavigationon
4 7 8
theG reatLakes .Duringthefreeseason,a
speckloomingonthehorizonmightbean
ore carrier boundforsteel millsin
northern Indianaand Illinois . In the
distance, these long boats with
smokestacksintherearresembleIndian
canoeswithstovepipes
.
Otheringredientsneededtomakesteel
werealsofoundnearby.Limestonecame
fromnortheasternMichiganwherecliffs
ofDundeelimestonehuggedtheshoreof
LakeHuron,fromKelly' sIslandinLake
ErienearthesiteofPerry' svictory,and
fromMarblehead on theOhioshore .
W atertransportationfromminetomill
encouragedlocationof steel plantsinthe
regionoftheG reatLakes .Coal,another
necessity,wasabundantinPennsylvania,
KentuckyandW estV irginia,butmuchof
itwasshippedbyrailtothemills .
W ater played a large part in the
developingindustry .Steel worksneed
plentyofwaterandacresofground .A
desolatewasteofsanddunesandstagnant
poolsalongthesouthwesternshoreofLake
Michigan was redeemed by the steel
producers .Swampsweredrained,canals
weredug,lakefrontwasfilledin,harbors
weredredged,andtheCalumetRiverwas
deepenedfornavigationofthehugelake
freightersandorecarriers
.
Thelaborsupply,too,favoredthis
locationneartherapidlygrowingcityof
Chicago .Assteelemployeeswantedtolive
withinareasonabledistanceandnotspend
toomuchtimegoingtoandfromtheir
work,townsgrewintocitiesaroundthe
mills.Inlessthantwentyyears,thecityof
G ary,Indianarosefromthedunesand
marshesalongtheMichiganshore .The
suburbs of Chicago crept ' steadily
southward.
Locatedintheheartofthecontinent,
theChicagoareaattractedmanufacturers
ofsteelproductswantingtolocatenear
sourcesofsupplies .Marketswereeasyto
reachfromChicago,andthiswasanadded
inducementtomanufacturers .Thefirst
steelplantintheareawasbuilttosupply
railsforlinesleadingoutofChicagoinall
directions .Beingatransportationcenter
forboatsandtrains,thecitywasanatural
placetomakelocomotives,coaches,freight
cars,wheelsandallkindsofrailroadequip-
ment .TradeontheG reatLakeswasre-
sponsibleforthegrowthoftheshipbuild-
ingindustryinChicago .Settlementofthe
richprairielandscreatedademandfor
plows,reapers,cultivatorsandeverykind
offarmimplementfromahoetoahar-
vester .Hogs,cattle,andsheepfrommid-
western farms suppliedthedeveloping
meat-packingindustryincentrallylocated
Chicago .Thecanningindustryboughtland
forpackingmeats,fruitsandvegetables
.
Beforelong,structuralsteelwasneeded
for
skyscrapers
rising along Michigan
Boulevard,andforthefactoriesbeing
startedinsmallertownsintheMiddle
W est .Thencameanentirelynewindustry
topatronizethesteelindustry.Itwasa
newinventiondestinedtorevolutionize
transportation - theautomobile .Thenew
businesscenteredinDetroitandvicinity,
nearsteelplantsinPittsburghandonthe
shoresofLakeMichigan .
BenjaminFranklinhadpredictedthat
the time would come when future
generationsofAmericanswouldfeelthat
his greatest patriotic service to the
countrywasrenderedatthepeacetablein
Parisin1 7 83,wherethenew-bornnation
gainedtherichirondepositsinnorthern
Minnesota .LakeSuperiorminesfurnished
mostoftheironorethatmadethesteelfor
armamentsintwoworldwars .From1 9 40
to1 9 45steelplantsintheUnitedStates
consumed482,000,000grosstonsofiron
orefromthisnorthernminingarea
.Much
ofitcamefromthefabulousMesabiRange,
wonthroughanerrorintheMitchellmap
.
Thenation' stwoworldwarswithin
twenty-five years cutdeeplyintothe
supplyofhigh-gradeironoreleftinthe
LakeSuperiorregion .W hilenewprocesses
werebeingdevelopedtouselower-grade
ore,steelcompaniesweresearchingforiron
depositselsewhere .
IRONDEPOSITSAREDISCOV ERED
INTHEW ESTERNHEMISPHERE
STEEL COMPANIES begantoex plore
in other countries of the W estern
Hemispherefornewirondeposits .Ironof
goodqualityex istsinLabrador,where
open-pitminingispossibleforonlyabout
six monthsoutoftheyear
.W intersare
CERROBOLIV AR - MOUNTAIN
OFIRONOREINV ENEZUELA
Thisdomeofrichironorewaslocated1 50miles
eastofthemouthoftheOrinocoRiver
." Bolivar' s
Hill" isaroundeddomeofreddishearth,six miles
long,rising1 800feetabovegrasslandsinsparsely
settledcountry
.Itisoneoftherichestdeposits
ofhigh-gradeironoreeverfound
.
UnitedStatesSteelCorporation
480
OrinocoMiningCompany
OPEN-PITMINING OFCERROBOLIV AR
Hugeelectricshovelstakebigbitesofironore
fromman-madecliffstofilltrainsofcarsonthe
railroadtrackswindingaroundthemountainon
man-madeledges .
long and severe in
this far northern
country.However,sincetheopeningofthe
St .LawrenceSeaway,moreironorefrom
easternCanadaisbeingusedinsteelplants
intheregionoftheG reatLakes .Muchof
thisorestillentersthroughAtlanticports .
MensearchingfororeturnedtoSouth
America .In1 9 39 arubbertreehunter
discoveredironoressix milesfromthe
OrinocoRiver,neartheplacewherethe
streambranchestoflowthroughitswide
delta to theAtlantic Ocean . Mining
engineersandgeologistshackedtheirway
throughcountryalongtheOrinoconever
visitedbeforeex ceptbynativeIndiansand
rubberhunters .Thesearchinthegrasslands
withscatteredtreeswasmadebyair .
Picturesweretakenwithaerialcamerasof
anareaofabout1 1 ,000squaremilesin
V enezuela .Thesephotographsweredivided
intosectionsandenlargedforstudyofthe
rockformationsandtherollinghills .
Engineersand scientistsporingover
thesepicturesofthelandscapenoticeda
darkroundedhillwhichlookedasifit
mighthaveirondeposits .Travelingina
jeepandonfootoverruggedground,two
orehuntersreachedthehillandclimbedit
onApril4,1 9 47 .Theyfoundhugeout-
cropsofironalloverthehill .W henthey
reportedtheirrichfind,drillsweremoved
inasfastasroadscouldbeblastedoutof
theoredeposits
.Deepdrillingprovedthat
theroundeddomewasmadeofiron,more
thanhalfabilliontonsofhighgrade
open-pitore .
Afterarrangementshadbeenmadeto
acquirethenecessaryamountofterritory,
andtopaytax estothegovernmentof
V enezuela,workbegan .Toshipthisoreto
steelmillsintheUnitedStates,itwas
necessary to dredge channels forore
carriers,spanriverswithbridges,laytracks
ofrailsforhaulingoreandsupplies,con-
structgoodroadsfortrucksandtractors,
andbuildanairfieldforlandingbigplanes
.
PermissionwasgrantedbytheV enezuelan
governmenttorenamethedome-shaped
mountain," CerroBolivar" (Bolivar' sHill),
inhonorofthegreatliberatorborninthat
country.Hisarmieshadcampedinthisarea
preparingforthedaringmarchacrossthe
AndestoBogota,Colombia .In1 9 51 ,
constructionbeganonasteelmillalongthe
bankoftheDelawareRivernearTrenton,
NewJersey.
Today,hugeorecarriers
unloadthetreasureofCerroBolivaronthe
docksofthissteelplant,locatedforwater
transportationfromminetomill .
STEELAFFECTS
THEPATTERNOFINDUSTRY
IRON W AS LITTLEBUSINESS
. In
placeswheretreesprovidedcharcoalfor
fuelandorelayburiednearthesurfaceof
theground,ittookonlyasmallamount
ofcapitaltoengageintheironbusiness .
A new steel age arrived with the
convertersdevelopedbybothKellyand
Bessemerataboutthesametime,onein
the United States and the otherin
England
.W hatdidtheironmastersdo?
Ownersoflargeironworkseitherfinanced
theirownsteelmakingplants,ormerged
withothercompaniestoraiseenough
capitaltoenterthesteelbusiness .The
littlemankepthisfurnacegoingaslong
ashecouldsellhiswares,andthenput
outthefire,leavinghisworkstorustin
thesunandrain
.
Steelwasbigbusiness .Newinventions
formakingsteelandnewproductstouse
themetalsometimesrenderedaplant
obsoleteinashorttime .Changescameso
fastthatsteelbecamearaceof" the
survivalofthefittest
." Bytheyear1 9 00,
six ty-fivepercentofthe1 0,000,000tons
ofsteelwasproducedbytheBessemer
process,andthirtypercentofthisamount
wasrolledintorails .Thirty-sevenyears
later,whentheoutputwas54,000,000
tons,onlyfivepercentwaspurchasedby
therailroads .EventheBessemerprocess
has beenlargely replaced by newer
methodsofmakingsteel .Customerswanta
certainkindofthemetalforacertain
product .Topleasethem,ingredientsof
steelare measured as carefully as a
housewifemix esacake .Newinventions
createnewproductsthatdevelopnew
industriesthatbringnewcustomerstothe
steelmills .Factoryordersmayinclude
anythingfromatoytoatruck
.Industryin
theUnitedStatesisconstantlyrenewed
andex pandedbynewinventions .
48 1
PARTTEN
TheNationMoves
TowardIndustrialization
Chapter 25 : Inventions
Contribute to National
G rowth
Chapter 26 : A Century
of Moving
Chapter 27 :
Adjusting to Industrial
Change
Chapter
28: Mass
ProductionPromotes Abundance
UnitedStatesImmigrationandNaturalizationService
ALIENS
ENTERING ELLIS ISLANDSTATION - 1 9 00
MILLIONS OF EUROPEANS SOUG HT OPPORTUNITYINTHEUNITEDSTATES
ScandinavianfarmerssettledinthenorthernstatesoftheCentralPlains,andintheregionofthe
G reatLakes .Others,includingFinns,wentfartherwesttocuttimberintheforestsofW ashington
andOregon,andtoenterthefishingindustryofthePacificCoast .ManyfamiliesfromSweden,
NorwayandDenmarksettledinChicago,Minneapolis,andSeattle .
AlargenumberofimmigrantsfromRussia,Poland,Hungaryandothercountriesofeastern
EuropewereJews .Beingatownpeople,theyremainedinthelargecities,especiallyNewYork .Many
Poles,Hungarians,andBohemianssoughtjobsinmillsandmines .Someofthefarmersamongthem
madetheirnewhomesontheprairielandswestoftheMississippiRiver .
ManyimmigrantsfromtheMediterraneancountries -
Italy,France,Portugal,G reeceandSpain -
settledinthemanufacturingstatesoftheNorthAtlanticCoast .Somefoundtheirwaytoregionsin
theUnitedStateswheretheycouldfollowthesameoccupationstheyhadintheoldcountry .French
andItaliansplantedvineyardsinthewine-producingstates .Portuguesefishermenfoundemployment
inthegrowingfish-canningindustryoftheG ulfregionandthePacificCoast .G reekssettledlargelyin
citieslikeNewYork,Chicago,andCleveland.Spaniardstendedtoseekplaceswheretheirnative
languagewasspoken .
ChinesejunkscrossedthePacificOceantoNorthAmericabeforeColumbuscame,accordingto
historians,andalloftheChinesesailorsdidnotreturntotheirhomeland .AftertheEuropeans
arrivedandclaimedthecountry,notmanyOrientalswerewelcomedtosettleamongthem .Asiatic
peopleswhocamefirstaslaborerstoworkthemines,buildtherailroads,andplantthecrops,
remainedinthenewland
.Today,theirdescendantsarecitizensoftheUnitedStates,livingmainlyin
thePacificregion .
Chapter25
InventionsContributetoNationalG rowth
MESSAG ESBYW IRE
UNDER A FORM of government
granting
freedom
of opportunity, men
were able todream,toex periment,and
toproduce
.Men' sdreamsandworkmade
thisnationalandofinvention .According
torecordsinthepatentoffice,inventors
werenumerousbutonlyafewfound
fameandfortune .Amongthemwerethe
inventorsincommunication .
SamuelF .B .Morsewasbornin1 7 9 1 ,
inahouseatthefootofBreed' sHill
(wherethebattleofBunkerHillactually
tookplace) .Thoughhiscuriosityabout
electricitywasarousedwhenheentered
collegeattheageoffourteen,ayearlater
histalentandinterestinartledhimto
decoratearoominhisfather' shouse,
withapictureofthefamily.Samuelliked
besttopainthistoricalscenes,butnoone
wouldbuythem
.W hilevisitinginthe
countrytownsofNewHampshireand
V ermontheturnedtopaintingportraits,
andthesehedidsellfor$1 5apiece
.Before
longthedemandforSamuel' sportraitswas
sogreatthathecouldchargeasmuchas
$60forapicture
.In1 825theauthorities
ofNewYorkCitycommissionedMorseto
paintafull-lengthportraitofLafayette
484
whowasmakingatriumphaltourofthe
UnitedStatesinthatyear .
W hile painting and teaching,Morse
spenthissparetimetinkeringwitha
machinetosendelectriccurrentalonga
wireandwithaninstrumenttointerruptthe
currentandmakea-spark .Inthiswaysigns
could
bemadeintoanalphabetand
messagescouldbetransmitted.Infact
Morse spent so much time withhis
inventionthathisartsufferedandhe
becamepoor .Itwasagreatdisappoint-
ment,however,thatturnedhimawayfrom
hisprofessionandmadehimaninventor .
CommissionswereofferedtoAmerican
artiststopaintpicturesforpanelsinthe
capitolatW ashington .Beingpresidentof
theNationalAcademyofDesign,Morse
feltheshouldbeengagedasoneofthe
artiststodecoratethecapitol .Hewasnot
amongthoseselected
.
Fromanoldcanvasframe,thewheelsof
aclock,threewoodendrums,apencil,
somepaper,carpetbinding,awooden
crank,anelectro-magnet,andafewmore
items,Morseputtogetherhisfirsttelegraph
instrument .Heworkedinaroomofthe
UniversityoftheCityofNewYorkwhere
hewasaprofessorindesign .
Notuntiloneofhisstudents,Alfred
V ail, managed
to
obtain forMorsesome
money in ex change
fora one-fourth
interestintheproject,wasMorseableto
buildaninstrumenttoplaceonex hibitand
trytoproveitsworth.Finally,hewasable
topresenthisplaninCongress .Heasked
foranappropriationtobuildthefirst
telegraphlinebetweenW ashingtonand
Baltimore .Atfirstthelegislatorswere
skepticalandinsisteduponproofthat
messagescouldbesentoverawire .Onthe
lastdayofthesessiononMarch3,1 842,
fiveminutesbeforeCongressadjourned,
theSenatevoted$30,000tobuildthefirst
telegraphline
.Morse,wearyfromwaiting
allday,hadgonehomeattwilight,thinking
thatallhopewasgone .Ashecamedown
to
breakfast the nex t morning, the
daughteroftheCommissionerofPatents
arrivedtotellhimthatherfatherhad
stayeduntilCongressclosed,andthatthe
telegraphbillwasthelastonepassed .
Morsepromisedtheyoungladythatshe
wouldhavethehonorofsendingthefirst
messagewhenthelinewasopenedofficially .
Morsetookadvantageofthepopularin-
terestintheconventionoftheW higParty
meetinginBaltimoretoprovetheworthof
thetelegraph.Inalettertohisbrother,
Sidney,datedMay7 ,1 844hewrote :
" Youwillseebythepapersthatthe
Telegraphisinsuccessfuloperationfor
twenty-twomiles,tothejunctionofthe
AnnapolisroadwiththeBaltimoreand
W ashingtonroad.ThenominationofMr .
Frelinghuysen as V ice President was
written, sent on, andthe
receipt
acknowledgedbackintwominutesandone
second,adistanceofforty-fourmiles .The
newswasspreadalloverW ashingtonone
hourandfourminutesbeforethecars
containingthenewsbyex pressarrived ."
Later,whenthekeyclickedthechoice
oftheW higPartyforPresident,theman
wasHenryClaywhoseportraitMorsehad
painted.AlthoughHenryClaywasthefirst
manwhosenominationforPresidentcame
overawire,hisDemocraticopponent,
JamesK.Polk,wontheelection .
Onthetwenty-fourthofMayin1 844,
friendsofMorseassembledinthechamber
oftheSupremeCourtinW ashingtonto
witness the official test ofthe
new
telegraph. Miss Ellsworth, daughterof
Morse' sfriend,wastherewiththefirst
message, suggested by hermother
-
W HATHATHG ODW ROUG HT! Atthe
stationinBaltimoretenmenandoneboy
satsilentlyandtensely,awaitingasignal .
W hentheinstrumentclicked,theoperator,
AlfredV ail,touchedhislipswithhis
fingersandthewatchersscarcelybreathed .
ThemessagecameinandV ailtouchedthe
key,sendingitbacktoW ashington .Asthe
useofthetelegraphspreadtoforeign
countries,honorswerepoureduponMorse,
asabenefactorofallmankind.
About two years before the first
telegraphlinewascompletedonland,
Morsebegantoex perimentwithacable
tocarrymessagesunderwater .Ona
moonlit night,
October 1 8, 1 842,he
unreeled nearly two miles of wire,
insulatedwithhempcoatedwithpitch,
tar,andrubber,fromlowerNewYork
Citytoasmallisland.Thenex tmorninga
noticeappearedinaNewYorkpaperthat
Morse wouldex hibithistelegraphby
sendingmessagesunderwatertoastation
onG overnor' sIsland
.Theinventorarrived
earlytopreparefortheeventandfound
sevenvesselslyingalongthelineofhis
submergedcable .Intestingthewirehe
wasabletosendasignalortwo,butthe
messages
suddenlyended.Oneofthe
shipsinpullingupitsanchorcaughtthe
4 8 5
cable . Notknowingwhatthestrangeline
was,sailorspulledinabout200feetofit
andthencutitoff,carryingitawaywith
them.Theex hibitfailedandthecrowd
jeered .Thisfirstattempt,however,stirred
the idea ofbringingEuropeandthe
W esternHemisphereclosertogetherwith
telegraphservice .
ThelayingofanAtlanticcablewas
undertaken by a wealthy New York
businessman,CyrusW .Field,whowas
neither ascientistnor
an inventor
.
4 8 6
TheW esternUnionTelegraphCompany
SAMUELF .B .MORSESENDSFIRSTPUBLICTELEG RAM
Theinventoraskedafewfriendstowitnessthesendingofthefirstpublictelegram
fromtheSupremeCourtChamberinW ashingtontoAlfredV ail,fortymilesawayin
Baltimore .
ThegirlisAnnieEllsworthtowhomwasgiventhehonorofselectingthefirst
officialmessage .W ithdotsanddashes,Morsetickedthewordsshechose
-
W HAT
HATHG ODW ROUG HT.ThispracticaluseofelectricitywasmadeonMay
24,1 844.
Althoughhewasnotthefirstmanto
dreamoflayinganunderwatercablefrom
onehemispheretoanother,hewasthefirst
onetomakeuphismindtodoit
.In1 856
the Atlantic Telegraph Company
was
organized" tocontinuetheex istinglineof
theNewYork,Newfoundland,andLondon
TelegraphCompanytoIreland,bymaking
orcausingtobemadeasubmarinecable
fortheAtlantic
." Field,himself,subscribed
$500,000ofthe$1 ,7 50,000thathadtobe
raisedbeforeworkcouldbeginonlayinga
cablefromTrinityBayinNewfoundlandto
V alentiainIreland.Theplanwasoutlined
byField,tohaulthecableontwoships,
tomeetinmidoceanwheretheywould
splicethecableandthentogoinopposite
directions . After
many breaks and
disappointments,the Agamemnon
headed
west toward
Newfoundland and the
Niagara startedeasttowardIreland
.There
wasgreatex citementwhenthecableswere
pulledashoreatbothendsinAugustof
1 858 .Itwasafleetingtriumph.Inafew
weeksthecablestoppedworkingandall
waslost .
Beforeanothereffortwasprepared,war
brokeoutbetweentheNorthandthe
South .However,duringtheconflict,Field
wasbusywithplanstotryagainwhenhe
couldgetenoughsupport .InJanuary,
1 863Fieldwroteinalettertoafriend:
SomedaysIhaveworkedfrombeforeeightin
themorninguntilaftertenatnighttoobtain
subscriptionstotheAtlanticTelegraphCompany .
Bythetimethewarendedinthe
spring of 1 865,
cable had been
manufactured and the G reat Eastern
wascharteredtolayitacrosstheAtlantic
.
TheEnglishwereasenthusiasticaboutthe
projectofatelegraphlineacrossthe
oceanasweretheAmericans .Anews
reportfromV alentiaIslandoffthecoast
ofIrelandwasprintedwiththedateline
ofJuly24th.Itreadasfollows :
Beforethisreachesthepublic,the G reat
Eastern, ifallgoeswell,willalreadyhavelaid
some300milesoftheAtlanticcable
.
The
crew published The Atlantic
Telegraph onboardthecableshipbutthe
paperdidnotlongsurvive .Onthesecond
ofAugustwhileFieldwasonwatch,the
cable
broke . Pale but composed,he
announced to his
working partners,
" The cable has
parted and gone
overboard."
Severaldayslater,hewrotetohis
familyex plainingthedisaster :
Spentninedaysingrappling; usedupallwire,
rope ; nothingleft,soobligedtoreturnto
England .Threetimescablewascaughtand
hauledupformorethanthree-quartersofamile
frombedofocean .
In London anothercompany was
formedbytenmenwhosatarounda
tablediscussinghelpforField .W hen
eachoneputdown1 0,000pounds,the
Anglo American Telegraph Company
took over the task of layingthe
cable .
Although the newcompany was
formedonlyonMarch1 ,1 866,the
messageswerespeedingfromcontinent
to continent over the underwater
telegraphaboutfivemonthslater .On
thetwenty-seventhofJuly,thewestern
endofthecablewaslandedontheshore
ofTrinityBayinNewfoundlandandthe
eastern end ontheIrishcoast .The
national rejoicing at the successful
completionofthefirstoceancableis
ex pressedinapoembyJohnG reenleaf
W hittier .Thelaststanzaex pressedthe
hopethatnewmeansofrapidcommuni-
cationwouldbringthepeopleofthe
worldtogethertoliveinpeace :
Andoneinheart,asoneinblood,
Shallallherpeoplesbe ;
Thehandsofhumanbrotherhood
Areclaspedbeneaththesea
.
Both Morse and Field persevered
throughhardshipsanddisappointments
becausetheybelievedtheirworkwould
benefitmankind .
4 87
TALKING OV ER
THE W IRE
ANOTHER MEANS
ofwirecommuni-
cationdevelopedfromtheex perimentsof
Alex anderG rahamBellwhotaughtdeaf
childrenwitha method
of" invisible
speech" evolvedbyhisfather .Before
migratingtotheUnitedStatestheBell
familyofEdinburgh,Scotlandhadbeen
knownaselocutionists(publicspeakers) .
Alex ander,likehisfatherandgrandfather,
studiedthehumanvoiceandtaughtthe
deaftospeak .Twowell-to-domen,onea
leathermerchantandtheotheralawyer,
weresoimpressedwithBell' slectures,
sponsoredbytheboardofeducationin
Boston, that they engaged him asa
privatetutorfortheirdeafchildren,agirl
andaboy.W iththeirencouragementBell
openedaschoolforthedeafinthatcity .
W hennotoccupiedwithteaching,Bell
was busy ex perimenting
with sound,
hopingtodiscovernewwaysofhelping
deafchildrentotalkandtounderstand
speech.Thefathersofhistwoprivate
pupils
tookaninterestintheyoung
teacher' sex perimentsandprovidedhim
withneededsuppliesforhisprojects
.The
grandmotherofthesmallboyinvitedBell
toliveinherroomyhouseinSalem .Here
hecouldteachtheladintheeveningafter
returningonthetrainfromhisschoolin
Boston .SinceBellcouldnotbesatisfied
awayfromhisex periments,shekindly
offeredthebasementofherhouseforhis
useasalaboratory .
AsaboyBellhadplayedthepianoand
hehadwantedtobeamusician
.Hefirst
ex perimentedwithtransmittingthetones
ofthescaleoverawire - amusical
telegraph
.Thenitoccurredtohimthat
thespokenwordmightbesentoveran
electrical wire . Since Bell knewlittle
4 8
8
aboutelectricity,histwopatronshireda
youngmechanicforninedollarsaweek
toassisthimandmovedhislaboratoryto
theatticoftheelectricalshopwherethe
electricianwasemployed
.HereThomasA.
W atson,theassistant,spenthisevenings
andsometimesmostofthenightwiththe
inventor .
Asthe ex perimentsprogressed,Bell
quitteachingandgaveallhistimetothis
endeavor .Herentedtworoomsinanattic
for living quarters and laboratory
combined,wherehecouldworkprivately.
Inthesestuffyupstairsroomsonahot
Junedayin1 87 5,afaintsoundpassed
overthewirewhileW atsonwassendingin
oneroomandBellwasreceivinginthe
other .Thoughonlyafeeblewail,thiswas
thebirthofthetelephone .Afterforty
weeksspentinimprovingtheinvention,
Bellspokeoverawiretohishelperinthe
nex troomontheeveningofMarch1 0,
1 87 6 .
" Mr .W atson,comehere .Iwantyou! "
hesaid .
Bell' svoicewasclearandnatural,but
therewassuchanoteofalarminitthat
theassistantrushedintotheroom .He
discoveredthatBellhadspilledsomeacid
onhisclothesandwasactuallycallingfor
help
.Thedamagewassoonforgotten,
however,inthejoythemenex perienced
talkingoverthewire .
ItwastheyearwhentheUnitedStates
was celebrating the one hundredth
anniversary
ofindependence withthe
Centennial Ex position in
Philadelphia .
Needingmoneyforfoodandrent,Bell
hadreturnedtoteachingdeafchildrenin
Boston .W henhedecidedtoshowhis
" toy," itwastoolatetofindspaceinthe
electricalbuilding
.Finally,thetelephone
wasplacedonatableunderastairway
among the
school ex hibits from Massa-
chusetts .Hubbard, the lawyer, whose
daughter was Bell' s pupiland later his
wife,secured a patent fortheinventor,
barelyintimetosavehistelephone .W hile
attheex positionHubbardsentBella
telegramnotifyinghimthatthejudgeswere
scheduledtoreachhisex hibitonJune25 .
AtthelastminuteBelldecidedtogoto
Philadelphiaalthoughschoolex aminations
were at hand. He realized that his
telephonewouldreceivescantattentionif
hewerenottheretodemonstrateit .
ItwasSundaywhenthegateswere
closed to the general public, but
distinguishedvisitorswereadmitted
.On
thisdayDomPedroII,EmperorofBrazil,
hisEmpress,andtheirretinueweretouring
thebuildingsandgroundsoftheCentennial
Ex position .Theroyalguestsex aminedthe
products and inventionsaseagerlyas
childrenandshowedtheirenthusiasmto
thejudges .Lateonthehot,humidSunday,
nearclosingtime,thejudgesarrivedatthe
ex hibitnex ttoBell' s .Theyannouncedthat
onewouldbethelastforthatday.Asthe
judgesturnedtoleave,DomPedrospied
theteacher,whoseschoolforthedeafhe
hadvisitedinBoston
.G reetingBellwitha
heartyhandshake, thegenial emperor
inquiredwhyhewasthere .Theinventor
showedhisinstrument,ex plainingthathe
couldtalkwithHisMajestyoverawire,if
hewished
.SinceDomPedroshowedmuch
interestintheapparatus,thejudgeswere
obligedtodolikewiseasamatterof
courtesytotheirroyalguest .Aleckhurried
tothetransmitter,fivehundredfeetaway .
W hilethemembersofthepartypassedthe
receiverfromeartoear,Bellturned
elocutionistandrecitedHamlet' sfamous
soliloquy," Tobeornottobe ."
DomPedrolistenedwithastonishment .
" Ittalks! " heex claimed
.
" ItisthemostmarvelousthingIhave
seen in America," remarkedaBritish
scientist .
The" talkingwire" becameasensation
.
Althoughmanyinventionsarecombinedin
moderntelephoneequipment,theoriginal
ideaofAlex anderG rahamBellisstilla
basicprincipleintransmittingsoundover
wires .Likethetelegraphwhichsentsignals
underwater,thetelephonecrossedthe
oceanstomakepossibleconversationbe-
tweenpersonsinremotecornersofthe
globe .
SIG NALSTHROUG HTHEAIR
FEW ACHIEV EMENTS OF SCIENCE
thrillpeoplemorethananewmeansof
communication . Soon after the first
messagewassentoverawirebyMorse,ex -
perimentorsbegantosendmessageswith-
outwires .Althoughseveralinventorsmade
progress,Marconiwasthemanwhomade
wirelesstelegraphyoperatesuccessfully .
UnlikemostinventorsG uglielmoMarconi
wasbornrich,thesonofanItalianfather
andanIrishmother .Asaboy,G uglielmo
didnotgotoschoolswithotherchildren .
Hewasinstructedbyaprivatetutor,
whetherhisfamilywasathomeon' the
countryestateatPontecchioorinthe
townhouseatBologna,Italy
.
ItwasattheV illaG riffoneinthe
country, thatMarconi carried on his
ex perimentstosendsignalsthroughthe
air .W hileheworked,thedoorofhisshop
onthethirdfloorwaslockedtoall
ex cepthismother,towhomheex plained
hisex periments .Evenwhenshedidnot
knowwhathewastalkingabout,she
listenedandencouragedhiminhisefforts .
489
Sometimesthesonsofpeasantfarmers
livingonhisfather' sestatewereseen
buryingcopperplatesintheground,climb-
ingtreeswithstrangeapparatus,anderecting
polesinoddplaces .Histwobrothersoften
helpedhimtostringwiresthroughthe
terracedgarden,acrossthespaciouslawn,
anddownintothechestnutgrove
.The
elderMarconiwasabitperplex edbecause
hisyoungestsonspentsomuchtimeinthe
atticandsolittleinthefamilycircle
.
" W hatIShedoing?" hisfatherasked
hismotheroneevening .
" Hisidea," sheansweredproudly," isto
sendsignals,evenvoices,throughtheair ."
Oneautumndayin1 89 4,whenMarconi
wastwentyyearsofage,heinvitedhis
parentstohisatticworkshoptoshowthem
the progress he had made on his
ex periments .Hepressedabuttonand
rangabellonthefirstfloorofthehouse
withouttheaidofconnectingwires .As
furtherproofthefatheraskedhissonto
remainintheatticandsendtheMorse
signalfortheletter" S" tothereceiveron
thelawn,adistancefromthehouse .
W henthemachineoutdoorstappedthree
dots,hewasconvincedthatG uglielmo' s
ex periments
had resulted in wireless
telegraphy.
OnthetwelfthofDecemberin1 9 01
Marconiandhisassistantswerehuddledin
astationonSignalHill,St .John' s,Nova
Scotia .Outsidethewindwasblowinga
galeandamanwasscarcelyabletostand
upright
.Insidetheanx iouswatcherscould
barelyhearoneanotherspeakwiththe
rattleoficyrainonthesheetironroof .
Themastsstoodagainstthestormanda
kiteremainedalofttocatchthesignal
fromtheCornishcoastofEngland - ifit
camethatway.Theletter" S" waschosen
becauseitiseasytotransmit .Marconisat
4 9 0
tenselywithanearphoneclaspedonhis
headforalongtimepastthehoursetfor
thetestofwirelessacrosstheocean .
Finally,heheardthreedots - andagain .
W henhewassure,hepassedtheearphone
tohisassistants .Althoughthesignalsdied
outfromtimetotime,theywereheard
quiteoftenonthatdayandthenex t,
across1 7 00milesofwater
.Lateritwas
agreedamongnationsthatthewireless
distresssignalforshipsatseawouldbe
SOS - threedots,threedashes,three
dots .
W ireless telegraphywasoneofthe
marvelsattheW orld' sFairinSt .Louisin
1 9 04
.Itcreatedasmuchex citementas
thetelephonewhenthatinventionhad
beenex hibitedinPhiladelphiain1 87 6
.In
Juneof1 9 1 0,theUnitedStatesRadio
Actwaspassed,makingitunlawfulfor
anyshipcarryingmorethanfiftypersons
toleaveportwithoutwirelessequipment
andatrainedoperator,ifthevesselwas
boundforaharbortwohundredmiles
away.Althoughwirelesshadbeencredited
withsavinglivesatseabeforethe
Titanic
struckanicebergintheNorthAtlanticin
April,1 9 1 2,thedramaticrescueof7 00
personsonthatsinkingvesselprovedthe
valueofMarconi' sinventiontotheentire
world .
By 1 9 1 4theleadingmaritime
nationshadlawsrequiringevencargo
vesselstocarrywirelessapparatusanda
licensedoperatorforthesafetyofthe
crew
.Theoutbreakofwarin1 9 1 4was
flashedaroundtheworldbywire
.
Inthatsameyearafewmonthsbefore
warbegan,twoofficersonseparatevessels
forty-fivemilesapartheldaconversation
byradio-telephone
.Marconipredictedat
thetimethatthedaywasnearwhenthe
humanvoicewouldcrosstheAtlanticon
theairwaves .
INV ENTIONS LIG HTENLABOR
INTHESAMEYEARthatSamuelF
.B .
Morsesenthisfamousmessageoverthe
firsttelegraphline,EliasHowecompleted
aworkingmodelofasewingmachine
.
Beingoneofeightchildreninthefamily
ofafarmerandmiller,Eliasbeganatthe
ageofsix tohelpwithchores
.Hewould
stickwireteeththroughleatherstraps
usedforcardingcottons
.W henhewas
elevenyearsold,hetriedfarmworkbut
failedbecausehewaslameandnotstrong .
Hereturnedtohisfather' smillwherehe
tookaninterestinmachinery,whenhewas
notbusygrindingflour
.Afriendwhohad
visitedLowell,Massachusetts,thefirstreal
industrialcityinthenation,toldElias
aboutthewonderfulmachineryhehad
seeninthemillsthere .EliaswenttoLowell
when he was six teen and found
employmentinthemillswheremachines
weredoingtheworkofhands .W henthe
Panicof1 837 struck,themillswere
forced tocutdownproduction .Elias
foundnewemploymentinamachine
shopinCambridge,Massachusetts .
SinceHowe' searningsweresmall,and
therewerethreesmallchildrentosupport,
hiswifedidsewingtoaddalittlecashto
thefamilyincome
.Becausethislaborwas
poorlypaidandhiswifesewedlateat
night,Howebegantoworkonamachine
whichshecouldusetolightenherburden .
Althoughhecompletedaworkingmodelin
Octoberof1 844,helackedthemoneyto
buy
the metalstomakethekindof
machinewhichhecouldex hibittoprove
theworthofhisinvention .Acoaland
wooddealerinCambridge,whohadalittle
moneysaved,offeredtogiveHowe' sfamily
boardandroomandadvance$500for
materialstoconstructasewingmachine .In
ex change
the dealerwould
havehalf
ownershipinthepatentifHowesucceeded
inprocuringone .BythemiddleofMayin
thefollowingyear,1 845,themachinewas
completed
.Beforetheendoftheyear
Howesecuredhisfirstpatentandwas
readytoshowhisinventiontothepublic .
Thenfollowedyearsofdisappointment .
Tailors refused
to buy the sewing
machine
.Itwouldruintheirtrade,they
said
.ThemoreHoweimproveditandthe
betteritsewed,themoretailorsresisted
it .Fewpersonswerewillingtoinvest
moneytomanufactureit
.Hispartner
becamediscouragedandwithdrew,leaving
Howetoreturnwithhisfamilytohis
father' shouse .Hemovedwithhisfamily
toEngland,wherehethoughthecould
interestsomeoneinhelpinghimtomarket
hisinvention .Hesoonsenthisfamily
backhomewhilehestayedonhopingto
gainfinancialhelp .Failinginthishe
arrivedinBostontolearnthathiswife
wasdyingfromtuberculosis .Thiswas
Howe' sdarkhour .
Afterhismachinehadbeencopiedand
manufacturedbyEnglishmenanditsvalue
wasestablished,Howefoundmenwilling
toadvancemoneytodefendhispatent
andforcethemanufacturerstopayhim
royalties . The demand forhissewing
machinegrewsorapidly,forbothhome
andfactory,thathisroyaltiesgrewinsix
years from $300 to$200,000 .Howe
welcomedtheinventionsofothermento
improvehismachineandevenhelped
someofthemtoobtaintheirpatents .The
inventionofthesewingmachinemade
possiblethemakingofwearingapparelin
factories .Itgaverisetothegarment
industrywhichinturnprovidedemploy-
mentforthousandsofmenandwomen .
W hilethesewingmachinewasfinding
4 9 1
its way into
farmer' s homes, other
labor-savingmachineswerebeinginvented
tolightentheburdenoftoilinthefield.
Thewestwardmigrationcreatedademand
for improved farm tools . In a new
countrywheretherewasmuchworkto
bedoneandnotenoughworkmentodo
it,peoplewereeagerforanymachinery
that saved labor
and speeded the
productionoffood
.IntheNewEngland
stateshundredsoffamilieswereleavingthe
countrytoworkforwagesinthemill
towns .Theriseofmanufacturinginthe
Eastincreasedthedemandforflour,corn
meal,pork,cheese,andallkindsoffarm
produce .Thesimpletoolsthatweregood
enoughonthesmall,sandyfarmsofNew
HampshireandV ermontbecamedwarfed
andpunyimplementsonthevastprairiesof
theMiddleW est .
In
1 836
thelureoftheW estbroughtto
thisregionablacksmith,skilledinmaking
shovels, hoes, and pitchforks, and
in
repairingallkindsofirontools .Hewas
John Deere .HecamefromV ermont,
havingtraveledthelengthoftheErieCanal
onapacketboatpulledbymuleswalking
thetowpathonthebankofthebigditch
.
AtBuffaloheboardedalakesteamerfor
thevoyagetoChicago .Theblacksmithdid
notlingerlonginthemarshysettlement
withabout 400 housesand 7 5 storeswhich
soldclothes,food,anddrinktotravelers
headingwest .Deerecontinuedhisjourney
tosettleamongV ermontersinthefrontier
villageofG randDetourontheRockRiver
innorthwesternIllinois .Inhispockethe
had $7 3 .7 3 withwhichtogointobusiness.
Hebuiltaforgefromstonespickedup
alongtheriver,usingclayformortar .He
filledhisfirstorder,therepairofabroken
shaftinasawmillnearby
.W iththenearest
blacksmithfortymilesaway,Deere,from
4
9
2
thefirst,hadalltheworkhecouldhandle
.
Nex tdoortohisshophebuiltafive-room
framehouseandsentforhiswifeandfive
children
.JohnDeeremighthavebeenany
oneofthethousandsofunknownsettlers
who went
west, had he remained a
blacksmithandnotbecomeaninventor .
W hile shoeing ox en and mending
chains,Deereoverheardthefarmerstalk
abouttheirdifficultiesinplowingthrough
thestickysoiloftheprairie
.Theearth
clungto the plow like
balledsnow,
forcingthefarmertospendmoretime
cleaning off the muck thanturning
furrowsinhisfield .Fortheprairiethey
needed a plow that scoured. The
blacksmithfromV ermontbegantofashion
suchaplowfromabrokencircularsawhe
foundonthefloorofaneighbor' ssawmill .
ItwasmadeofSheffieldsteel .Thismetal
washardtoobtainonthefrontier
.From
thisscrapofsteelheshapedandreshaped
theplowsharetocutthroughtheblack
earthandslicethefurrowswithoutmuck
clingingtotheblade .
Thedaycametomakethetestinafield
whileunbelievingfarmerstrudgedbehind
theinventor .W hilethefarmer,inwhose
fieldthetrialwasmade,guidedthehorse
pullingthesteelplow,soilcurledfromthe
moldboardinasmoothfurrow.Onefurrow
wasnotenoughtoconvincethewatchers .
Turningthehorse,Deereguidedhisplow
downanotherfurrow,justasneatasthe
firstone,provingthathehadinvented" a
plowthatscours
." Thenhegavetheplow
tothefarmerwhohadfurnishedtheland
andthehorseforthetest
.Othershadtaken
aturnandfelttheplowsharebitingdeep
intothegummysoil
.Inthefollowingyear,
1 838, the blacksmith from V ermont
fashionedthreesteelplowsinhisspare
time .In 1 842 hesoldnearlyahundred
JOHN
DEERE
TESTING HISPLOW
JohnDeere,ablacksmith,testedhisplowinafield
.Heprovedthathehadshaped
asteelplowsharethatcouldcutacleanfurrowthroughthestickysoiloftheprairie
.
implementsbyallowingsettlerstotakethe
plowstotheirfarmstotrythemoutbefore
buying.Theinventorofthefirststeelplow
moved to Moline,
Illinois,
to take
advantageofthesteamboattrafficand
started a factory. Plowmen followed,
turningthebuffalorangeonthewestern
prairieintofieldsofgrain
.
Inventionscomewhenaneedarisesfor
them.Fromanotherblacksmithshop,this
timeitwasinV irginia,camethereaperto
cutthegrainontheboundlessprairie .In
1 831 Cyrus Hall McCormick, then
DeereandCompany
twenty-twoyearsofage,completeda
workingmodelofamechanicalreaperin
theblacksmithshoponhisfather' sfarm,
W alnutG roveinwesternV irginia .Ona
hotJulydayyoungMcCormickinvited
his neighbors toW alnutG rovefora
demonstration of his wheat-cutting
machine,destinedtofreelaborersinthe
harvestfromthesickleandthescythe .
Althoughthegrainfellinwavesashorses
pulledthereaper,theinventorsawthe
needforimprovementsbeforeaskingfora
patent .LikeJohnDeere,whomadea
4 9 3
plow and set it outside his shop for
passersby to
see, McCormick built one
reaperatatimeandsoldittoaneighbor .
Healsobelievedinfieldtrialstoprove
theworthofhisinvention .He,too,went
totheMiddleW est .
Thereaperwasnotwellsuitedtothe
rollinglandscapeofwesternV irginiabut
themachine performedsuccessfully on
thelevellandsofthewesternprairie .For
afactorysite McCormickselectedthe
fast-growingvillageofChicagowhichhad
less than one hundred inhabitants in
1 832 . It grew from three to four
thousandonlythreeyearslater .Anews
itemofMay1 6,1 835,stated :
ChicagohasoneofthefinestharborsonLake
Michigan,20to25feetofwaterinfrontofthe
town .Thetownwillcommandthetradeofthe
IllinoisRiverandtheMississippibymeansofthe
canal,andthewestandeastbythenavigationof
thelakes .ItisdestinedtobetheNewOrleansof
thewest .
W henMcCormickmovedtoChicagoin
1 847 ,thepopulationofthetownwas
1 7 ,000 .Theplacewasuninviting .Broken
plankroadsthreadedthroughtheswampy
townsite,fewstreetswerepaved,andthe
housesweresmall .Thecanalwasaboutto
beopened
.Immigrantswereflockinginto
thevillage,arrivingbythehundredsonthe
lakesteamersfromBuffalo .Chicagowasa
placeofopportunity,locatedintheheart
offertilelandsawaitingthereaperfor
development .Inasmallbrickfactorya
newindustry wasestablishedin 1 848.
Thirty-threemenwereemployedandten
ofthesewereblacksmiths
.Theoutputwas
7 7 8reapers,buttwiceasmanywerebuilt
in1 849 ,theyearoftheCaliforniagold
rush.W henpeoplewereleavingtheirfarms
to trytheir luck in mining gold,
McCormick
advertisedhisreaperasa
49
4
labor-savingmachinethatwouldsavethe
harvestofgrainthatmightbelostfor
lackofmentoswingthescythes
.The
mechanicalreaperhad alargesharein
makingthecentralpart oftheUnited
Statesoneofthegreatwheatregionsofthe
world.Thisinvention
wasmerely the
beginningoflabor-savingmachinesforuse
onthefarm.
RUBBERPUTTHE
NATIONONW HEELS
W HILEJOHNDEERE wasforgingsteel
plowsandCyrusMcCormickwasbuilding
reapers,CharlesG oodyearwasseekinga
wayto" cure" Indiarubber .Intime,
G oodyear' sex perimentsputtractorsinthe
fieldstopulldiscplowsandharvester-
thresherswhichdevelopedfromtheearly
inventions of Deere and McCormick.
Todaythetreadsofrubbertirestracea
geometricpatternalongthemoist,black
furrowsonmanyfarms .
IndianslivingalongtheAmazonRiver
inSouthAmericatappedcertaintreesin
theforeststoobtainsapfromwhichthey
madebottlesandroughshoes.Hence,the
gummy substance came to be called
IndianrubberorIndiarubber
.In1 823a
Boston merchantboughtfivehundred
pairsofrubbershoes,madebythenatives
ofPara,andsoldthem.ThePortuguese
settlersinBrazil,forsometime,hadbeen
manufacturingwaterproof shoes, boots,
hats,andcloaksfromrubbertoafford
comfortduringtherainyseason .However,
therubbershoeswerenotpracticalina
climatewithex tremesofheatandcold .
Therubberhardenedinwinterandmelted
insummer .
Astruggle,lasting twenty-fiveyears,
beganin1 834whenahardwaremerchant
inPhiladelphia,outofcuriosity,boughta
life-preservermadeofthesubstance .The
storekeeperwasCharlesG oodyear,thenin
histhirty-fifthyearandinpoorhealth.
HemovedtoMassachusettstousethe
abandoned works ofan Indiarubber
companyinRox bury,wherehesucceeded
inmakingarticleswithsuchasmooth,
drysurfacethathesecuredanorderfrom
theG overnmentforahundredandfifty
rubbermailbags .Thehandlesbeganto
falloffbeforedeliveryascoloringmatter
hadcausedthegumtodecompose .
W hile G oodyearwas describing the
meritsofsulfur-curedIndiarubbertoa
fewrelativesandfriendsonawinter
evening,apieceaccidentallyfellfromhis
handontoaredhotstove .Itshrivelled
likeleatherbutdidnotdissolve
.Henailed
thesampleoutdoorsinthecold
.W henit
was still flex ible the
nex t morning,
G oodyearknew
thathehadmadea
discovery. Thishappened inW oburn,
Massachusetts, wheretheinventorhad
movedtouseanotherfactoryforhis
ex periments
.Fiveyearslater,in1 844,
G oodyear patented his process for
vulcanizingrubberandstartedafactoryin
Naugatuck,Connecticut .
Like many otherinventorshehad
difficultyholdinghispatentandwassued
inthecourts
.Six yearsafterpatentinghis
process, shoemanufacturersdepending
uponitpaidDanielW ebster,thefamous
lawyerandbrilliantorator,thesumof
$25,000todefendtherightsofG oodyear
to hispatent forvulcanizingrubber .
G oodyearwascheatedoutofthefortune
whichmighthavebeen wonby his
discovery .Hewasnotagoodbusiness
man .Duringhislifetimeheservedjail
sentencesfordebtandstilladebtor,he
diedinJulyof1 860,leavinghisgreat
discoveryformankind
.
Althoughfactoriessprangupinmany
townstomakegarments,lifepreservers,
andnumerousarticlesfromrubber,the
productdidnotbecomeabigfactorin
thebusinessworlduntilitwasusedinthe
fieldoftransportation .First,wheelsof
carriages,buggies,andbicycleswerefitted
withrubbertires,butitwastheauto-
mobilethatbuiltthebigrubberindustry .
W hile travelers werestilldepending
uponvehiclesdrawnbyanimals,inventors
were ex perimenting withthehorseless
carriage,propelledbysteam.Although
somesteamcarswerebuiltintheUnited
Statesandothercountries,therealauto-
mobilewaitedforgasoline,rubber,and
roads .
Shortly after G oodyear vulcanized
rubberin1 839 ,anEnglishmanpatentedthe
principleofthepneumatictire .G asolinewas
developedsoonaftertheDrakewellin
Titusville,Pennsylvania,beganpumpingoil
in1 859 .Ittooksomeyearstodiscoverits
useformotorfuel .Thefirstapplicationfora
patentonagasolinemotortopropelaroad
vehiclewasfiledin1 87 9 .However,tothe
bicyclegoesthecreditforroadimprovement
whichpreparedthewayforthehorseless
carriage .Thebicyclewasasocialvehicleand
everytownhaditscycleclub.OnSunday
afternoonspartiesofcyclistspedaledmiles
intothecountrytoenjoythegreatoutdoors .
Rubbertiresforbicyclesandcarriage
wheelsstartedthetireindustryinasmall
way,byestablishingplantsthatwerein
operationwhenthedemandarrivedfor
automobiletires .Cyclistswantedsmooth
tracksfortheirwheelsandworkedforthe
improvementofroads .Thebicyclemade
highwaysmoreimportanttomorepeople
thaneverbeforeandaroadmindedpublic
4 9 5
welcomedtheadventoftheautomobile .
Charles E. Duryea of Springfield,
Massachusettsiscreditedwithbuildingthe
firstAmerican-made gasoline carthat
actuallyran .Hewonthefirstautomobile
raceheldinthiscountryonThanksgiving
Day,1 89 5,inChicago .Manymechanics
weretinkeringwithhorselesscarriagesin
backyardshops .OneofthesewasHenry
Ford,whoawakenedhisneighborsona
rainyAprilnightin1 89 3ashedrovehis
noisy,chugginggasolinebuggythroughthe
desertedstreetsofDetroit .NotuntilFord
acquiredaspecialpermitfromthemayor
washeallowedtodrivefreelyaboutthe
city .Thehorseownersobjectedtothe
contraptionwhichfrightenedtheiranimals
andcausedaccidents
.Atthetime,Henry
Fordclaimed" thedistinctionofbeingthe
onlylicensedchauffeurinAmerica
."
ItwasMarchof1 89 8beforethefirst
automobilewassoldcommercially,whena
mechanicalengineerfromCarbon,Pennsyl-
vania,boughtacarfromtheW inton
MotorCarriageCompanyinCleveland
.At
that date onlyone automobile
was
completed,butthreemorecarswerein
production .Thesesmallbeginningsatthe
dawnofthetwentiethcenturymarked
theriseofthefastest-growingindustryyet
launched in the world. The rubber
industrythatfurnishedtireskeptpace
withtheoutputofcars
.Rubberputthe
nationonwheels,althoughrailsandships
continuedtosharetheresponsibilityof
transportation
.
INV ENTORSIMPROV E
RAILANDW ATERTRANSPORTATION
JOHN ERICSSON, though born in
Sweden,isusuallylistedamongAmerican
4 9 6
inventorsbecausehelivedinthiscountry
forsomanyyearsandrenderedsuch
outstanding services to the nation .
Althoughheinventedmanyimprovements
for railroads, he is bestknown for
screw-propellersonsteamboats .
CaptainEricsson' snameislinkedwith
the
sea andships .Atthetimethat
Ericssonwasworkingtoimprovewater
transportation, Abraham Lincoln was
tryinghishandatinventing.Heactually
securedapatentin1 849 foranapparatus
tofloatrivervesselsoversandbarsand
otherobstructions .Steamboatsonthe
inlandriverswereLincoln' sconcern,and
ocean-goingvesselswereEricsson' smajor
interest .
TheYankees,whoex celledinbuilding
woodenvessels,haddevelopedthefastest
sailingshipsafloat -thetall,slenderand
gracefulclippers .Thesespeedymerchant
vessels,theprideoftheseas,pulleddown
thecurtainonthegoldenageofthe
Americanmerchantmarine.Althoughthe
steamship was gaining
in
popularity,
ownersofshipping companiesinthe
UnitedStatesclungtothesturdysailing
shipsthathadmademoneyforthem.
Seamenhaveanaffectionforsailsandthe
challengeofwindandweatherthatisnot
easilytransferredtoasteamenginethat
turnsapropeller .However,itwasafterthe
W arBetweentheStates,andtheseabattle
between Ericsson' s Monitor and the
iron-plated Merrimac, thatthedeathbell
wassoundedforwoodenvesselsandyards
ofwind-filledcanvas.Shipbuildingbeganto
declinewhenmanufacturingturnedthe
nation' sinteresttorailroadingforinland
transportation .FollowingtheW arBetween
theStates,afteracenturyofcolorful
Yankeetraders,theUnitedStatesveered
awayfromthesea .Americancargoeswere
carried in foreign
shipsmoreandmore,
althoughthediminishingmerchantmarine
stillbravelycarriedtheStarsandStripes
intoportsallovertheworld .
Duringthecanalerainlandtransporta-
tionwasbywaterwhereverpossible,since
bargefreightwascheaperthanwagon
freight .Townsandcitiesgrewupalong
thenavigablerivers,lakes,andthecanals
betweenthem
.Notuntilthecomingof
therailroadsinthe1 830' sdidsettlements
growandprosperawayfromtherivers
.
Thefrontiermovedwestwardwiththe
railroads.Anycountry,thoughrichin
soil,timber,andminerals,ispractically
worthless
withouttransportation .Since
theopeningofnewterritorydepended
largelyuponrails,inventionstoimprove
railroadingwerewelcomed.Theycameas
theneedaroseforthem.
Asmoreandmorefreightwashauled
andtrainsgrewlonger,brakesbecame
moreimportant .W henalongtrainwas
suddenlyhalted,carsbumpedoneanother
so hard that, sometimes,
cattle were
knocked down
andtrampledandthe
shipmentwasruined
.Avitalimprovement
forrailroadshaditsorigininawreck .
G eorgeW estinghouse wasridingona
passengertrainenroutetoTroy,New
York,whenhistripwasdelayedbya
collisionahead.Onefreighthadrammed
anotherbecausetheengineerofthesecond
trainhadnotbeenabletostopquickly
G EORG EW ESTING HOUSE
-INV ENTOR
Attheageof1 5,G eorgeW estinghousewasex perimentingwithhisrotarysteam
engine.Forthisinvention,hereceivedhisfirstpatent .
enoughtoavoidanaccident .Intheearly
daysofrailroading,brakemenranfromcar
tocarontop,turninghandwheelstoset
the brakes . This
proceduretookcon-
siderabletime .V iewingthedamagedoneto
merchandise,scatteredandbrokenbythe
impact,W estinghouserealizedtheneedfor
abrakethatcouldbeoperatedreadilyby
theengineerinthecabofthelocomotive
.
Notlongafterwardsheinventedonewhich
workedbycompressedair .
Atfirstrailroadersshowedlittleinterest
in this
invention . Finally, an alert
superintendentofonelinepersuadedhis
directorstoequiponetrainwiththenew
airbrakeandtestit .W estinghouseand
CROW D AT BURLING TON
TRIALS - 1 887 - BURLING TON,IOW A
AlthoughW estinghousepatentedhisairbrake
in1 869 ,allrailroadsdidnotacceptit
.Somany
inventorswereworkingonbrakesfortrainsthat
railroadofficialsheldtestseveryfewyears
.These
raceswereex citing
.Peoplecameformilesto
checkthetimeittooktostopatrainathigh
speedafterthebrakewasapplied.
InthetrialsheldinBurlington,Iowatheair
brakewonagain .Thisinvention,withimprove-
mentsthroughtheyears,cameintogeneraluse
onrailroads
.
W estinghouseAirBrakeCompany
the railroad officials boarded the train
for
the trial run between Steubenville, Ohio,
and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania .
During the
trip the engineer decided to gain some
speed before he tested the brake . He
waited for a straight stretch of road.
Emerging from G rant' s Hill tunnel at
thirty miles an hour, he sighted a wagon
crossing the track not far ahead. As the
frightened driver lashed the team with a
whip to clear the track quickly, the horses
reared. W ith all his strength the engineer
applied
the brake
.
The train rolled to a
full stop within four feet of the driver
and a life was saved. Although the
officials had skinned knees from the
sudden bump, the air brake needed no
further testing than this incident . A few
months later, a group of far seeing
railroad men met in Pittsburgh and orga-
nized a company to manufacture the safety
device . They named the twenty-four year
old inventor president of the W estinghouse
Air Brake
Company
.
W estinghouse
patented
his
air brake in 1 869 .
Railroading has
traveled far since Peter
Cooper' s engine
ran a race with a horse in
1 830 and lost it .
The following year the
first mail was carried on
a railroad train
in
South Carolina
. In
1 858
the first sleeping
car, named Pullman after the inventor,
added comfort
to long journeys by rail .
The cars were elegant with red plush seats,
paneled
wood, gleaming mirrors, linen
damask, and silver-plated
cuspidors .
An item of news in a Denver paper,
dated June 1 8, 1 87 0,
mentions the
first
train to that city on the G reat Plains :
NearlyeverytallbuildinginDenverhad
someoneonitsroofyesterdaylookingatthe
inboundengine
.ItwasfirstseenonW ednesday
evening,June1 5,fromtheroofoftheFirst
NationalBankbuildingbysomeofficersofthe
road.ManyinDenverhaveneverseenanengine .
TheDieselengine,namedforitsG erman
inventor,wasdevelopedbyAlex ander
W inton,aScotchimmigrant,foruseon
ships .W intonfirstbecamefamousasa
builderofbicycles,thenofthefirst
automobile sold commercially.Later,
W intonbuiltDieselelectric-drivenpower
plantsfortheUnitedStatesNavy.The
nation' s first Diesel electric-powered
streamlined train went into service
betweenDenverandChicagoin1 9 34 .
Dieselengineshavealsobeendeveloped
fortruckshaulingfreight .Formountain
countrysomerailroadoperatorsprefer
electricengines .
Inashorttime,thecoal-burningsteam
locomotives,puffingsmokeandcinders,
lostoutincompetitionwiththepowerful
Diesels .Theoldworkhorsesofthe
railroaderaweredrivenfromthetracks
tothelonelypasturesofmuseumsas
relicsofthepast .
THOMASEDISON -
INV ENTIV EG ENIUS
THE NAME OF ThomasAlvaEdison,
withmorethanathousandpatentstohis
credit,islinkedinseparablywiththe
electro-industrialprogressofthepush
buttonage .W henEdisonwastwelve,he
wasanewsboyontheG randTrunk
RailwayrunningbetweenPortHuronand
Detroit . He becameinterestedin
telegraphyandsecuredhisfirstemploy-
mentasatelegraphoperatoratPort
Huronwhenhewasfifteenyearsold .He
wassoonex perimentingduringsparetime
in his office and inventedhisfirst
successfultelegraphinstrument
.Hewas
dischargedfromtheofficeinLouisville,
Kentucky,whenacidfromoneofhis
ex perimentsdrippedthroughthefloor
andruinedfinefurnitureintheprivate
officeofabankofficialonthefloor
below. Edisonlanded in NewYork,
penniless,in1 87 0 .Hewalkedthestreets
forthreeweeksbeforehefoundajobas
a telegraphoperatorbyrepairingan
instrumentthatnooneelsehadbeenable
toputinworkingorder .
FromNewYorkhewenttoMenlo
Park,NewJersey,whereheestablisheda
laboratoryandbeganworkonvaried
inventionsthatcameintohismind
.By
thistimemanymenhaddiscoveredhis
geniusandwerewillingtoofferfinancial
help .Edisonforetoldin1 87 8,themany
uses that would be made of
his
inventions,suchas :
Letterwritingandallkindsofdictation
withouttheaidofastenographer- Repro-
ductionofmusic -
Preservationoflanguageby
ex actreproductionofthemannerofpronuncia-
tion - Thefamilyrecord,aregistryofsayings .
Beinganex perttelegrapher,himself,he
inventeddevicestoimprovewirecom-
munications,includingthetelephone .In
Augustof 1 87 9 Edison attendeda
meetingoftheAmericanAssociationfor
theAdvancementofScienceinSaratoga,
New York .Thefollowingreportwas
published in the Popular Science
Monthly.
Anex hibitionofEdison' selectro-chemical
telephonicreceiverwasgivenbeforethe
AssociationintheTownHall
.Mr .Edisonwas
presentandheofferedanex planationofhis
newinstrument
.Apparentlyitissimplya
smallbox providedwithacrank,andlooking
like

coffee

mill . . . . The

instrument
ex hibitedwasonlyanex perimentalmodel ;
nevertheless,ittransmittedmessageswhichwere
heardbythewholeaudience,numbering1 500
persons .
4 9 9
HenryFordMuseum,EdisonInstitute
CELEBRATING FIFTY
YEARS
OFELECTRICLIG HTING
ThomasAlvaEdisonandhisassistantre-
peatedtheiroriginalex perimentinthesame
settingonthefiftiethanniversaryofthe
inventor' selectriclight .
At the time, Edison
was trying to
produce a steady
light with electricity,
and to do it so cheaplythatitcould
competewithgasforillumination .After
costlyex perimentsusingplatinumfora
filament,theinventorbeganthesearchfor
acheapermaterial .Hetriedalmostany-
thingathand,includingcottonsewing
thread
.Hesealedapieceofcarbonized
threadinaglassbulb,afterpumpingoutthe
air,andturnedonacurrentofelectricity
.A
steadylightglowedwithoutaflicker .How
longwoulditburn?Edisonandafewofhis
assistantskeptvigilforfortyhoursandthe
5 0 0
lampwasstillburning .Edisonincreased
thecurrenttoseewhatwouldhappen
.
The lightflared brighterand
then
suddenlyblinkedoutattwoo' clockon
October21 ,1 87 9 .
Twoweeks later
Edison filed
applicationforapatentonanelectric
lampwithapaperfilament,carbonized
pasteboardbaked
in an oven . The
scientistswereskeptical
.Thepublicwas
curious .AreporterfromaNewYorkpaper
wentdowntoMenloParktoseefor
himself.Theinventorwasalwaysnews
because readersex pectedalmostany
startlingdevicetofollowthephonograph,
thewonderoftheday
.Edisonpromptly
invitedthepublictoMenloParkonNew
Year' sEvetowatchtheoldyearoutinthe
glowofelectriclights .Theinvitationwasa
scoopforthereporterwhomadethemost
ofitbywhettingthecuriosityofhis
readers .OnDecember21 ,hewrote,
teasingly :
Edison' selectriclight,incredibleasitmay
appear,isproducedfromalittlepieceofpaper -a
tinystripofpaperthatabreathwouldblowaway .
Throughthislittlestripofpaperispassedan
electriccurrent .Theresultisabright,beautiful
light,likethemellowsunsetofanItalianautumn .
ThepublicdidnotwaituntilNewYear' s
Eve .Toaccommodatethecrowds,the
railroadranspecialtrainsfromNewYork
CitytoMenloPark,whereEdisonstageda
nightlydemonstrationofhislamps .On
December29 ,thereportercontinuedhis
story,describingthecrowds :
Allcamewithonepassion - theelectriclight
anditsmaker .Theyareofallclasses,these
visitors,ofdifferentdegreesofwealthand
importanceinthecommunityandvaryingdegrees
ofscientificignorance . . . . Intheofficethelights
wereallelectric
.Inthelibraryupstairsitwasthe
same
.Suchvolleysofquestionsaswerepouring
out! Thevisitorshavebeenaroundtoseethe
engine,thegenerators,theregulators
. . . .
Satisfiedabouttheelectriclight,theyhave
askedaboutthetax imeter,themicrophone,the
phonographandadozenotherthings,asthough
theywantedtoimproveeveryinstantbeforethe
trainstarts
.Atlasttheygointwosandthrees
downthehilltotherailroadtrack,anditisall
" wonderful! marvelous! wonderful! wonderful! "
amongthemtillthetraintakesthemawayand
MenloParkislefttoitself .
New
Year' sEvearrived
.Snowwas
gentlyfallingastrainspulledintothelittle
depot
.Eagerguestshurriedupthelighted
lanetoenterthebuildings
.Farmerscame
in
wagonsfromthecountrysideand
sightseeingpartiesarrivedincarriagesfrom
nearbytowns
.Manyguestswerewell-
dressed
.Edisonworehisworkingclothes
.
Theinventorwasbusyex plaininghowhe
regulatedthesupplyofcurrentatthe
centralstation,stoppingnowandthento
inspecttheapparatus
.Anelectricmotor
pumpedwaterandoperatedasewing
machinetothedelightofthevisitors
.
NEW YEAR' SEV EPARTY
ATMENLOPARK,NEW JERSEY
Togreetthenewyearof1 880,Edisoninvited
thepublictohislaboratoriesinMenloParkto
seeanex hibitionofelectriclighting .
HenryFordMuseum,EdisonInstitute
Edisontoldhisgueststhatelectricmotors
wouldchangethepatternoflivinginboth
thehomeandthemill
.Edisonhadakeen
senseofthevalueofpublicity
.Ina
dramaticwayhisNewYear' spartyfor
1 880announcedtothepublicthattheage
ofelectricpowerwasdawning
.People
cametoseeforthemselvesandwere
convincedbythe" W izardofMenloPark
."
Althoughwater,steam,andgasoline
operatedmachinery,electricenergywas
largelyresponsiblefortheageofpower
.
Electricityhelpedtotakethedrudgeryout
oflaborinthisindustrialnationand
gavemanmoretimetoimprovehis
education .
Newinventionsinprintingincreasedthe
number of books,
magazines, and
newspapers
.In1 825,attheageoffifteen,
RichardM
.Hoewenttoworkinhis
father' sprintingbusinessinNewYork
City.Printingwithaflat-bedmodelinthe
presswastooslowforhim
.Hesettypeon
arevolvingcylindertoprintwithgreater
speed
.Hoe' sinventiondevelopedintothe
rotaryor" lightningpress," patentedin
1 846
.Therotarypresshasmadepossible
theprintingofsomanysheetsofpaperina
shorttimethatthedailynewspaperhas
becomeanecessityinAmericanlife .
Books,also,couldbeprintedataprice
morepeoplecouldaffordtopay,andbook
shelvesinhomes,schools,andlibraries
addedvolumesforlearningandpleasure .
Newinventionscreatenewindustries
andnewmarkets .Asfactoriesgrewin
numberandproductionofgoodsand
servicesincreased,moremoneywasneeded
forinvestmentandmoreworkmenwere
neededtofilljobs
.Emigrantscamebythe
thousandsfromothercountriestofind
employmentandopportunityintheUnited
StatesandothernationsoftheAmericas
.
501
Chapter26
THEW ESTERNHEMISPHERE
SEEKSPOPULATION
MAG NIFICENTOCEAN! Icommitallmy
hopestothee! Ayoungfamily,inwhosehappiness
centersmyown,Itrusttothyfickle,thyvanishing
waves
.Maytheylivetoinheritthelandof
promise,thelandofhopeandliberty!
Lookingoutuponawateryworldas
thesunwentdown,anEnglishemigrant
wrotethisentryinhisdiary,May22,
1 81 8
.Forhourshehadbeenondeck,
silentlywatchinguntilthecoastofhis
nativelandfadedfromhissight .Hewas
oneofthemillionsofemigrantswho
crossedtheAtlantictotheAmericasin
thenineteenthcentury
.
Duringtheearly1 800' sthearmiesof
NapoleonsweptoverEurope,alltheway
from Paris toMoscow
.TheAmericas
needed population to develop the
resourcesofthetwocontinentsandthe
tax -burdened peoples of
war-weary
Europewelcomedaplacetogo
.Thusdid
thegreatmigrationtothewesternworld
getunderway
.ThenationsofbothNorth
andSouthAmericaenteredtheracefor
population .Theonewinningthelargest
numberofemigrantsintheshortesttime
coulddevelopitsnaturalresourcesthe
50 2
ACenturyofMoving
quickest
.Itcouldbecometherichestand
most powerful
nationintheW estern
Hemisphere
.Landwasthelure .Fromthe
NorthPoletotheSouthPolegovernments
offeredfreeandcheapfarmstosettlers
.
TheBritishencouragedmigrationto
Canada,Australia,NewZealand,andSouth
Africatopopulatethesepossessions
.The
BritishG overnmentevenagreedtopay
partofthepassageforfarmworkers,
generallaborers,anddomesticservants,as
wellasfortradesmenandtheirfamilies
whowantedtosettleinCanada
.Since
mostoftheBritishemigrantscamefrom
thebigmanufacturingtownsandhad
neverheldaplow,theywereadvisedto
acceptsmallwagesasfarmworkerswhile
theylearnedtoworkontheland .Ittook
timefortailors,shoemakers,andweavers
tobecomewoodchoppers,stockraisers,
andtillersofthesoil .
TypicaloftheBritishimmigrantsto
CanadawasthecannyScotsmanwho
cametolookthingsoverbeforehemoved
hisfamily
.Afterastormyvoyageofsix
weeksinasailingvessel,helandedat
Quebec
.Therehetalkedwithanagentof
theCanadaCompanywhoadvisedhimto
lookaroundabitbeforechoosingaplace
tosettle
.TravelingonaboattoMontreal,
hepassedthroughsettlementsofFrench
Canadians,with" thebonnywhitefarm
housesinthemiddleoftheirorchards"
and " the beautifulkirks,withtinned
steeples glancing in the sun ."
On a
sightseeingtourhecontinuedhiswayto
Toronto,thenceoverlandtoviewthe
famousNiagaraFalls .Hearingofafairin
London,Ontario,hewenttothetownto
seethecattleandsheeponex hibit
.He
ADV ERTISEMENTS IN A BRITISH EMIG RANT FOLDER
The British G overnment
encouraged Englishmen to settle in Canadaand develop
that British
possession .Emigrant folders notified farm laborers, tradesmen, and
domestic
servants thatjobsawaitedthemthere .Although jobsluredmanytoCanada
andtheUnitedStates,therealbaittocatchemigrantswasfreeland .Inthe countries
ofnorthernEurope,land meantmoretothepeople thanjobs .Asfarmers,they
wantedtoworkforthemselves.
=ZW
zt# Rg-r=OrT
DOMINIONLINE
OFPIRSTCLASSPOW ERFUL SCREW -STEAMERS
FROM
Live

America
~ V H]RYTHURSDAY,
CAT.LING AT BELFAST THE FOLLOW ING DAY,
FORW ARDING PASSENG ERSONEASYTERMS
TOALLPARTSOP
CANADAcQTHE
UNITED STATES.
TheDOMINION LINE has CheapInlandBoo
Pointsin the W ESTERNSTATES.
ASSISTED
PASSAG ES TOQUEBEC,
FROM 3.
PassengersdestinedforMANITOBAandtheNorth-W est
Territoryshould ohoosethe DOMINIONLINE.
OCEANFARES-
Saloon from1 0 .i0e. ;
Intermediate .66 .0e. ; Steerage,4 .4s
.
IntermediatePaseengereareprovidedwithallrequisitesfortheV o
Faso.InthisClass,FamilyandPartyRoomscanbearangedbygiving
CompanyoneW eek' sNotice.
ForTlaketsandany other information,appiytoanyDominionLineASt,
orb'
1 W IN, MAIN&MONTG OMERY,
Kdeyaa' SruPr, L
wantedtolearnmoreaboutthecrops
raisedinthatpartofthecountry .
Saunteringthroughthefairgroundshe
chancedtomeetanoldfriend,Tam,from
hishometowninScotland.Tamhad
cometoCanadatenyearsbeforewith
onlyenoughmoneytopayhispassage .
Nowheownedafinefarmwell-stocked
withsheepandcattle
.Headvisedthenew-
comertobuyanimprovedfarmnearhis,
HenryE
.HuntingtonLibraryandArtG allery
r
AG RICULTURE
IN ONTARIO,
+ lrIt yrntipalvrobznrt
ofQG anaba,
FERTILE SOIL,
HEALTHY.
CLIMATE,
EXCELLENT INSTITUTIONS,
Ann DwANT LITTLEMORSTHINA W =ax ' ,Jouuar
.
FREE
G RANTS
OFLAND
ACTUALSETTLERS
.
ImprovedFarms canbepurehasedoneasytermsofpayment.Ids[,
withdeasriptionsandprises,sentfree
.
FarmLabourers
areingreatdemand .W ages, .E80 to440perannum,
withboard,washing,andlodging.MarriedMen
gotfrom640to1 60,
withfreehouse,feel,keepfor a cow,endotherperquisites .
DomeatioServants arealsomuchwantedinevery townandY' Slagein
Ontario,atgoodwages .OnArrivalinOntario,DomeetioBernntaare
takencareofattheex penseoftheG overnment,tillsituationsarefound
forthem.
AssistedPassages,
atlowrates,aregrantedto
FarmLabou ers,
G eneralLabourers,andTradesmenandtheirfamilies,aswell
rto
FemaleDomeetioServants.
For furtherpartculars applytothe
ONTARIOG OV ERNMENTAG ENCY,
0,Sours CAJYLI
Braaar,Lnilsooa .
5 03
soontobeauctionedatasheriff' ssale
.The
ownerhadgonetotheUnitedStates
.The
Scotsman' sbidwasthehighest,lessthan
$500for1 00acresofland
.Therewerethirty
clearedacres,abarn,anorchard,andalog
housewithbrokenwindowsandaleaky
roof
.Thenheboughtayokeofox enfor
$60
.HearrangedtopayTam$2 .50aweek
forboardinghimselfandhisteam,whilehe
felledtrees,burnedbrush,andpreparedthe
groundforplantingwheat,oats,barley,
potatoes,andturnipsafterthesnowhad
melted.Earlyinthespringhesentforhis
wife andchildren
.Tohisbrother,a
mechanicinG lasgow,hewroteinaletter :
TellMaryI' llbesuretohavethehousesorted
forherandthebairns .Sheshouldcomeinoneof
theearliestships,gototheagentoftheCanada
CompanyinQuebec,gettotheheadofOntario,
thenthroughtheW ellandCanal,andI' llmeether .
BlythewillIbetoseeherandthebairnsonthe
banksofLakeErie,andtakethemtotheirown
homewiththewagonandox team .
ThecountriesofSouthAmericaalso
enteredtheraceforpopulation .Brazilbid
highforimmigrants,offeringlandforas
littleas44centsanacre,andtosomeof
theG ermanColonizationSocieties,only22
centsanacre .Europeanscomingtobuy
landandsettleonithadtheirgoods
importedfree,includingfarmtoolsand
machinery; freeboardandroomwhilethey
waitedtobetakentothegovernment
colonies ; free transportation for
themselves and their belongings ; free
lodgingandfoodforsix months,if
necessary,oruntiltheyweresettledona
farm
; andfreeseedfortheirfirstplanting .
Mostofthegovernmentcolonieswere
located in Santa Catarina and other
provincessouthofRiodeJaniero .Here
theclimatewasmorelikethatofEurope .
AcolonyofIrishsettledinRioG randede
5 0 4
Sul,thesouthernmostprovinceofBrazil
.
However,mostoftheimmigrantscame
fromG ermany,France,andPortugal .
DomPedroII,EmperorofBrazil,who
wasstronglyopposedtoslavery,used
immigrationtogetridofthesystem.His
governmentmadeiteasyforplantation
ownerstoimportallthehelpneededon
theirbigestates .Heprovedtothemthat
freelaborwasmoreprofitablethanslave
labor .ByencouragingimmigrationBrazil
wasabletoabolishslaverywithoutawar
.
ThefreedNegroeswerehiredbyformer
masterstoworkforwages,especiallyinthe
tropicalregionswheretheclimatewashard
onthewhiteimmigrants .Thenewcomers
found employment as managers and
overseersonthehugeplantations .
AlthoughthenationsalongtheRiodela
Plataweretornwithrevolutions,they
receivedtheirshareofimmigrantsbecause
theclimatewassomuchlikethatof
westernandsouthernEurope .W henBrazil
guaranteed the independence of her
southernneighbor,Uruguay,thatnation
offeredlandandprivilegestoforeign
settlers.BigcoloniesofG ermanfarmers
fromtheRhineV alleycameovertotillthe
landleftidlewhenslaverywasabolished
andtheownershadnolaborersfortheir
fields
.MontevideoandBuenosAiresgrew
uptobeforeigncities .Theregionofthe
RiodelaPlatabecamealittleEurope
whereBasqueswerevegetablegardeners,
Italians
were boatmen,G ermanswere
farmers,Englishweremerchants,French
wereshopowners,Portugueseweretavern
keepers,andIrishwereservants .
However,themassmigrationofthe
nineteenthcenturydescendeduponthe
UnitedStates
.AticketcostlesstoNew
YorkCitythantoRiodeJanieroandthis
nationoffered
greater freedom of
opportunity.
The United States had
industryaswellaslandtooffer .There
weremillsandfactorieswherepeople
couldworkforwagesiftheyhadneither
themeansnorthedesiretosettleona
farm.Thelandseeker,withalittlemoney
toinvest,couldgotoCanadaorBrazil
andgetalongwell .Thepoorjob-hunter,
withonlyaticketinhispocket,hadlittle
choice .HecametotheUnitedStates
.
Thiscommentwasprintedinthe
G lasgow
Chronicle in1 830 :
Themanufacturingandcommercialspecula-
tionswhicharefosteredandencouragedbythe
tarifflawsofAmerica,havehadtheeffectof
drainingourcountryofitsimprovements,and
manyofitsproductivepopulation .
AnEnglishmanwrotetoafriendinthis
country
:
ThoughsomeoftheHullandYarmouthships
areboundforQuebec,thepeoplearegoingto
theUnitedStates, - Threemillionsofgoldwill,
thisveryyear,gofromEnglandtotheUnited
States,bymeansofemigration .
Theeditorofthe MainzG azette,
printed
inthetownwhereG ermanswerecross-
ingtheRhineRivertoAtlanticports,
wroteinhispaperonApril25,1 840 :
AtnoperiodwasemigrationtoNorthAmerica
soconsiderableasatpresent .Theemigrants,in
general,arefamiliesineasycircumstances,some
evenrich,andwholecaravansaredailypassing
throughthistown .TheAmericans will be
delightedwiththeirnewcolonists - young,
activemenbetweentwentyandthirtyyearsof
age .
Thismassmigrationopenedupthe
westernlandsforsettlementandbuiltthe
transportationtocarrytheproductsto
market
.TheG ermansusuallysettledon
farms
.TheIrishdugthecanalsandlaid
therails
.Theimmigrantcreatedhisown
marketandindustrygrewtosupplyit
.
Threeeventsofthe1 840' spushedthe
UnitedStatesfaraheadintheracefor
population .Onehappenedineachof
threecountries .Thepotato,introduced
bySirW alterRaleighin1 61 0,becamethe
mainfoodoftheIrishpeople .W hena
blightcausedthefailureofthepotato
crop,faminespreadoverIreland,taking
thelivesofabout300,000personsina
shorttime .Toescapestarvation,theIrish
fledfromtheirnativeland .Mostofthem
cametotheUnitedStatestoseekjobsas
day laborers .Manyyoungmensold
themselvestoshipcaptains,whosold
themtoforemenofconstructiongangsto
workouttheirpassage .Onlyafewhad
moneyenoughtoreachintothewestern
countryandsettleontheland .TheIrish
settledlargelyinthecitiesoftheAtlantic
seaboardwheretheirlaborerectedthe
buildings,installedthewatersystems,and
pavedthestreets
.
In1 848arevolutioninG ermanydrove
thousandsofthatnation' sbestcitizensto
otherlands .Thesepeoplewantedmore
self-government,andnotobtainingit,
theylefttheirhomelandtoseekfreedoms
in the Americas . W ith them came
Bohemiansandothersescapingfromthe
politicalturmoilofcentralEurope .
Inthatsameyearof1 848goldwas
discoveredinCalifornia
.Thecry," there' s
goldontheSacramento," echoedaround
theworld,luringemigrantsfromnearly
everycountryonthefaceoftheearth.
By the middleof
the nineteenth
centurytheUnitedStateswasthirtyyears
aheadoftheotherAmericannationsin
theraceforpopulation .Althoughthe
risingtideofimmigrationalarmedsome
citizens,littlewasdonetocheckituntila
5 0 5
secret society was
formed in 1 853 . To
questionsthe
members replied, " I know
nothing," and
it was called the " Know
Nothing Party." Therewassomecausefor
alarm.
G overnments in Europewere
knowntopaypassageoftheirpaupers
andcriminalstotheUnitedStatesto
evadesupportingtheminalmshousesand
prisons .
AninvestigatorinNew York
discoveredthatonethirdofthesteerage
passengersontwovesselsbecameinmates
ofthecitypoorhouse .Personsunableto
supportthemselvesintheirhomelands
foundthetaskevenmoredifficultina
strangenewcountry
.Tostopthistraffic,
lawswerepassedforcingship
captains
whobroughtimmigrantsphysicallyunfit
orundesirabletotakethembackattheir
ownex pense .
Betweentheyearsof1 850and1 855
about2,500,000immigrantsenteredthe
UnitedStates
.G uidebooksprintedstories
ofthehazardsforemigrants
- smart
swindlers,shipfever,crowded steerage,
false advertisements,frontier hardships .
Therewasadvicerangingfromwhatto
weartowheretosettle .Theauthorof
" TheEmigrantPocketCompanion" stated
inhisguidebook :
Nomanisfitforbeinganindependent
emigrant,orevenex istingatall inanew
country,whoisnotbothableandwillingto
work .Hemusthavehealth,hemusthave
strength,hemusthaveperseverance, -
andbe
abletoturnhishandtomanythings .
Littleheedwaspaidtothesewarnings
by
theonrushinghorde, fleeingfrom
hungerandpoverty, warandmilitary
service,tax esandpoliticalpersecution
.
Americawasadream.G oinguptheSt .
LawrenceortheRiodelaPlata,they
pursuedthevisionoftheBritishemigrant
5 06
whosaileduptheDelawareRivertodock
atPhiladelphia .ItwasJune,1 81 8
.Onlya
monthbeforetheemigranthadstoodon
thedeckofthesameship,biddingasilent
farewelltohisnativeEngland
. G azing
overthegreencountrysideofPennsyl-
vania,hewroteinhisdiary :
Hail,landofliberty! Ilivetobeholdthy
hospitableshores,the
abodesofpeaceand
plenty,andthesurerefugeofthedestitute,the
persecuted,andtheoppressedofallnations .
IMMIG RANTSARRIV E
FROMSOUTHERN
ANDEASTERNEUROPE
FROM THE CLOSE oftheW arfor
Independencetotheyear 1 855,more
than 1 4,500,000 foreign-born persons
arrivedtoseeknewhomesintheUnited
StatesofAmerica
.Theseimmigrantscame
largelyfromIreland,G ermany,England,
andFrance .Smallernumberscamefrom
fortyothernations,includingislandslike
theAzoresandtheW estIndies .Mostof
these foreigners, Irish, G erman, and
English,hadthesamegeneralancestryas
thenative-borncitizenswhoseforefathers
hadcrossedtheAtlanticincolonialtimes
.
Onthewhole these newcomerswere
welcomed,whetherrichorpoor,ifthey
wereableandwillingtowork .
Theimmigrantscreatedamarketfor
food, clothing,
andmany articles of
manufacture,increasingcommercebothat
home andabroad.
Betweentheyears
1 840to 1 855,ex portsincreased
300
percent,
and imports increased
200
percent . Although
these immigrants
broughtinmillionsofdollarstoinvestin
theUnitedStates,theirlaborwasworth
moretothenationthantheirmoney .
Industry,ex pandingrapidlytosupplythe
needsoftheincreasedpopulation,was
abletoprovideemploymentformostof
thejob-huntingimmigrantsex ceptduring
hardtimes .Sometimes,thereweremore
jobsthanthereweremenandwomento
fillthem.
DuringtheW arBetweentheStates,the
AmericanEmigrantCompanywasorga-
nized" forthepurposeofprocuringand
assistingemigrantsfromforeigncountries
tosettleintheUnitedStates ." Advertise-
mentslikethefollowingoneappearedin
thenewspapers .Thisoneisfromthe
MissouriDemocrat,1 865 :
LABORERSOFEV ERYKINDSUPPLIED -
TheAmericanEmigrantCompanyisnow
preparedtosupplyminers,puddlers,machinists,
blacksmiths,moulders,andmechanicsofevery
kind; alsogardeners,railroadandfarmlaborers,
and femalehelpatshortnoticeandon
reasonableterms .
Agentsofthiscompanyandotherslike
it,stationedinforeigncountries,were
suppliedwithblocksofprepaidsteamship
tickets to transportlaborerstothis
country.Theimmigrantsignedacontract
agreeingtoworkforaspecifiedtimeat
fix ed wages and to repaythe sum
advancedforhispassageandex pensesin
regular monthly payments . Small
paymentsservedtoex tendthetimethat
theimmigrantworkedforthewages
specifiedinhiscontract .
SincewageswerehigherintheUnited
StatesthaninEurope,theseimmigrants
oftenagreedtoworkforlessthanwas
paidtonative-borncitizens .Thelabor
unions protested loudly
against the
importationofcheapcontractworkmen .
Congresspassedalawforbiddingthe
practice .However,societies,formedtoaid
immigrants, sent agents abroad with
prepaidticketstooffertolaborersdesiring
togototheUnitedStateswithoutalabor
contract
.Thenotheragentsinthiscountry
mettheseimmigrantsattheboatlandings
andfoundjobsforthem.Thisinsuredthe
paymentofthesumadvancedfortheir
steamshipticket .Theforeignagents,who
received a certain percent for each
immigrant,didaprofitablebusinessinthe
over-populatedandpoverty-strickencoun-
triesofsouthernandeasternEurope .
In
1 89 6 agovernmentofficialinRome
wroteinanItalianmagazine
:
ForItaly,emigrationisanecessity
.W eshould
desirethatsomehundredsofthousandsofour
peopleshouldfindannuallyanabidingplace
abroad.Iftwiceasmanyleftusasnowleavewe
shouldnotlamentthelossofthem,butrather
rejoicethattheyfindworkoutside .
InJanuaryof 1 9 49 thePresidentofthe
ItalianChamberofDeputiesinRome
madethisstatement :
Theproblemofemigrationis,forus,
fundamental,
- andthisisgenerallyknown
.W e
canneveremployinItalyallthemanpower
whichwehaveinoverabundance .
Aboutfortypercentofthelandsurface
ofItalyismountainous,swampy,and
worn-out .Ontheremaininglandenough
foodcannotberaisedtofeedthepeople .
AlthoughthePoV alleyinthenorthis
industrialized,thefactoriesinthebig
citiescannotemployallworkmenwho
apply.ManyItaliansformanyyearshave
beenforcedtoemigrateorstarve
.By
1 881 halfamillionpersonsfromItalyhad
settledinArgentina .Earlyinthatyearat
anex hibitioninBuenosAires,pianos,
organs,furniture,jewelry,carriages,farm
implements,steamengines,boilers,leather
goods,andmanyotherarticlesmadeby
Italianswereshownandadmired.Someof
5 0 7
thestatesofBrazilgaveprepaidsteamship
ticketstoItalianpeasantfamilieswho
werefarmers .In1 888Brazilacquired
1 04,000Italianimmigrants .Threeyears
laterthenumberincreasedto1 83,000
.
However,underthe" padroni" system,
moreItalianscametotheUnitedStates
thantoanyothercountryintheW estern
Hemisphere .ThepadroniwereItalian
agentswhospokeEnglish.Theymadea
businessoffindingjobsinmines,mills,
andonrailroadsandpublicworksfor
immigrantsfromtheirhomeland .These
immigrantswereobligatedtoworkunder
theordersoftheirpadroniuntiltheyhad
repaidthepriceoftheirsteamshiptickets
inmonthlypaymentsofaslittleas$2 .50 .
IMMIG RANTRUNNER
During the mass migration," immigrant
runners" didathrivingbusiness .W ithbundlesof
steamshipticketsstuffedintotheirpockets,they
arrivedinEuropeancountriesseekingemigrants
totheUnitedStates .Theyofferedworkmenfree
passageacrosstheAtlanticforthemselvesand
familiesiftheysignedawageagreementwiththe
" runner" whoagreedtogetjobsforthemin
returnforapartoftheirsalary
.
SincewagesweremuchhigherintheUnited
Statesthanintheirhomelands,theworkmen
acceptedamuchsmallerpartofthemoney,
receivedfortheirlabor,thanthe" runner," who
collectedtheirwages .Thedifferencewasthe
" runner' s" profit
.Somefactoryowners,needing
help, hired " runners" who worked on
a
commission .Othersoperatedindependently .
In a
strangecountrywithastrange
language,theseItalianworkmenwere
oftenex ploitedbytheseagentswho
becamerichattheex penseoftheirless
fortunatecountrymen . Laborunions
objected, declaring that
thissystem
differedlittlefromcontractlaborand
demandedaninvestigation
.Immigrants
were summonedtotestifybeforea
CongressionalcommitteeintheFiftieth
Congress .Amongthosequestionedwasan
ItalianlaborerfromavillagenearNaples
.
Congressman :" W hatwasyouroccupationin
Italy?'
Immigrant :" Farmer ."
Congressman :" W hatdidyoureceivefor
farming?"
Immigrant :" Tencentsandmeals ."
Congressman :" Mealsforyourself,oryourself
andfamily?"
Immigrant
:" No,sir,themealswereforme,and
thefamilyfedontencents
."
Congressman
:" W henyoulandedinthiscountry,
wereyouinpossessionofanymoney?"
Immigrant
:" Notacent ."
Congressman
:" Orpropertyofanykind?"
Immigrant
:" Nothing,sir,noproperty ."
AlthoughmanyofthepoorerItalian
immigrantscouldneitherreadnorwrite,
theyhadover2000yearsofcivilization
forabackground.Theyappreciatedthe
opportunitiesforeducationintheirnew
homelandandmadeloyalAmericancitizens .
SomanyhadsettledinNewYorkthatadis-
trictofthecitywascalled" LittleItaly ."
DuringtheMiddleAges,Jewishpeople
wereex pelledfromcountriesofwestern
Europe .TheysettledineasternEurope,
especiallyinPolandandprovincesof
westernRussia
.Theyhadlittlefreedomin
thesecountries .Forbiddenbylawtobe
farmersandownland,theywereforced
toliveintownsandearntheirlivingin
COOLING OFFINEASTHARLEMYEARSAG O
Onhotdays,cityfiremenfloodedstreetsincrowdedsectionsofNewYorkCity,
givingthechildrenacoolshower.ThesetenementswerethefirstAmericanhomesfor
immigrantsofmanynationalities .Manyofthehouseswererazedandreplacedwith
largeairierapartmentbuildingsbytheNewYorkCityHousingAuthority .
trade and money lending . In the early
1 880' s anti-Semitic riots broke out in
westernRussia
.
The Jewishpeoplewere
robbed,
beaten, and killed,andtheir
houses
were stolen, plundered, and
burned .Lawspassedin1 882madeit
almostimpossibleforthemtolivein
Russia .AJewishpersoncouldhaveno
shareinthegovernment,couldnothold
office, could
not assemble withouta
permit,couldnotdobusinessonSundays
andChristianholidays,andcouldnot
leavehis section ofa townwithout
permission . They were barred from
universitiesandthelearnedprofessions .
ThenthemassmigrationofJewishpeople
began
. Being
a
townspeople, few
emigratedtoSouthAmericawherecities
NewYorkCityHousingAuthority
werefewandfarapart .One-thirdofthe
JewishpeopleinRussiacamedirectlyto
theUnitedStates,beforelawswerepassed
establishingquotasforeachnation .Most
oftheseimmigrantsremainedwherethey
landedintheneighborhoodofNewYork,
makingthatcityanditssuburbsthe
largestJewishcommunityintheworld .
TheJewishimmigranthada" sweater,"
as the Italian hadapadroni .Agents
known
as sweaters, who couldspeak
English,Russian,andYiddish,contracted
with manufacturers to
have ready-cut
garmentsstitchedandfinished .Sweaters
werebusy carryingbundlesofpants,
vests, coats,skirts,dresses,andmany
articlesofclothingtodingyflatsandlittle
factorieswheremen,women,andchildren
5 0 9
workedon
them. Often,
thefactorywas
onlyoneroominadampbasementora
stuffyattic .Inthesedirty,crowded,and
poorly-ventilated " sweat
shops," new
immigrantstoiled long
hoursforlow
wages
.Earningsweresosmallthatseveral
familiessometimeslived
inaone-room
flat,sharingtherent
.
Thesweatingsystemwaspointedoutas
thegreatevilofunrestrictedimmigration
bythosecitizensbeseechingCongressto
limitthenumberofpersonswhocould
entertheUnitedStatesfromaforeign
countryinanyyear .In1 9 05theG arment
W orkersofAmericavoted infavorof
limitingimmigration to protect the
foreign-born who were already here .
Today,manyofthedescendantsofthese
RussianemigrantsstillliveinNewYork
City, Brooklyn, andnearby citiesand
towns, and earn their living in the
garmentindustry
.But,thesweatshops
havedisappearedfromthescene .
SinceNewYorkwasthemainportof
entryandthepoorestimmigrantsusually
stayedwheretheylanded,thatcitybore
theburdenofAmericanizingmostofthe
foreign-bornimmigrantswhoarrivedeach
year . Thesenew citizenswere
Ameri-
canizedlargelythroughtheirchildrenwho
learnedinschoolsthelanguageandways
oftheiradoptedcountry.Eveninglectures
foradultswereheldintheschoolswhere
stereopticonslideswereshownofNiagara
Falls, the
Adirondacks, theMississippi
V alley,
YellowstonePark, and other
placesintheUnitedStates .Courseson
howtousethesecretballotweregivenin
Yiddish, Italian,
Russian,Slovakian,
Polish,andmanylanguagestoaid new
citizensinlearningtovoteforthefirst
timeinaconstitutionalrepublic .Manyof
theseimmigrantshadnevervoteduntil
5 1 0
theybecamecitizensoftheUnitedStates
.
Large
industrialcities like
Pittsburgh,
Buffalo,andChicagopromotedAmeri-
canizationoftheirforeign-born
through
programsinschools,
churches,libraries,
lecturehalls,andunionmeetings
.
ACanadiandeclaredthattherightof
property
wasthestrongestmotive
for
Americanization :
Thepossessionofpermanentpropertycreates
atiebetweentheemigrantandhisadopted
country
.There(intheoldcountry)hewas
dependent,buthereindependent
; therehewasa
tenant,buthereheistheproprietor
- thelord
ofthesoil .
The government of Argentina con-
sideredita goodinvestment tobuy
steamshipticketsforfarmerswho were
willingtosettle onundevelopedlands
awayfrom theseacoast .Inoneyear,
1 888to 1 889 ,theex portofcornin
Argentinaincreasednearly350percent -
morelaborers,morecrops,moreex ports,
more business, moreprosperity. Other
nations in South America, especially
Brazil,helpedfarmerstosettleonland .
TheabolitionofslaveryinMayof1 889
inBrazilhadcosttheplantersone-third
oftheircoffeecrop
.Inthatsameyearthe
government
passed a bill to spend
$5,500,000toincreaseimmigrationand
securelaborfortheplantations .
In 1 889 fromthreeG erman ports,
recordsshowthat1 87 ,057 emigrantsfrom
G ermany, Russia, Hungary,Austria,
Bohemia,Denmark,Sweden,andsmaller
Europeannationsboardedvesselstoseek
new
homes in the following places :
1 7 9 ,1 42totheUnitedStates
; 2,522to
theArgentineRepublic ; 2,043toBrazil ;
81 6toAustralia ; 49 0toAfrica ; 426to
Asia
; 328tovariouscountriesin Latin
America ;
200 to Chile ; 1 07 to
the W est
Indies ; 53 to
Mex ico ; 39 to Peru .
The
G erman G overnment
became
alarmed
at the loss of many
citizens
leaving the fatherland for
theUnited
States and taking their
moneywiththem.
TheseG ermancitizensweregoingforthto
investtheirmoneyintheUnitedStates
andwith
theirlabor,todevelop the
resourcesofthatcountry
. Perhapsthe
UnitedStateswouldbecomearivalof
G ermany for world
trade andworld
power .
In1 880commissionersatG ermanports
requestedemigrantsboundfortheUnited
Statestotellwhytheypreferred that
countrytoothersthroughouttheworld.
From
the answers of over 1 00,000
emigrants,theG ermanCommissionerof
Emigrationmadethisstatementin1 880 .
TheemigrantschosetheUnited States
because :
There,anopportunityisaffordedeveryone,
bydiligentwork,inacomparativelyshorttime,
togainpossessionofahouseandlandofhis
own,andtobecomeindependentofothersand
well-to-do
.
ThusdidtheUnitedStateswintherace
forpopulation,developitsresourcesthe
fastest,andbecometherichestandmost
powerfulnationin
theW esternHemi-
sphere . Theachievementsofman
are
boundlesswhenhisspiritissetatliberty
.
Tothislandofthefreecamemillionsof
men,women,andchildrenfromplacesall
over the face
ofthe earth. These
immigrantspooledtheirtalentsandtheir
laborandhelpedtobuildthegreatest
industrialcivilizationtheworldhasever
known
.Indoingitmostofthepeople
earnedforthemselvesthatforwhichthey
hadcometotheNewW orld - amore
abundantlife .Sometimes,theirdayswere
ladenwithhardshipsbuttheirheartswere
filledwithhope
.Theywerefreemen,
carvingtheirowndestinyintheirown
way,andthiswaswhattheyasked .They
MADEhistory
.
Chapter 27
AdjustingtoIndustrialChange
EMPLOYERS
THE NATION owesitsrapidindustrial
growthtothefactthatthenineteenth
centurywasonelongmovingday
.Itwas
themassmigrationtotheUnitedStates
thatprovidedmechanicsformills,hired
hands
on farms, diggers of
canals,
lumberjacksinforests,andbuildersof
cities
.Asmoreandmorepeoplecameto
dependuponindustryforaliving,new
relationships between
employers and
employeesbegantoevolve .
W henindustrywasinthehome,the
samepersonwasowner,manager,and
workman
.Inahomefactory,asarule,
employer and
employeeswere father,
mother,children,andanyrelativesliving
withthem
.W henindustrybegantomove
fromthehometothefactory,owners,
managers, and
employees gradually
becamedividedintothreeseparategroups
.
Thechangecameslowlybecausemost
factoriesweresmallinthebeginning
.A
weaver,printer,shoemaker,tailor,orany
tradesmanwhohadsavedenoughmoney
togointobusinessforhimselfcouldstart
alittlefactory
.Hewasbothownerand
manager .Hisemployeeswerefewandhe
workedwiththem,ashewasaskilled
5 1 2
craftsmanhimself
.W orkingtogetherin
thesameroomtheowner-managerbecame
wellacquaintedwiththemenhehired .
Theycouldeasilytalkovertheircommon
interests
.
Themachineageforcedworkmento
usetoolssocostlythattheycouldnot
affordtoownthem.Inearlydays,acanal
diggerbroughthishandshoveltothejob .
Hepaidforit
.Theoperatorofapower-
drivenshovelcannotaffordtobuysucha
tool
.Therefore,othersmustfurnishthe
moneytobuyhisshovelbeforehecanget
ajobdiggingaditch
.Asmachinesbecame
moreandmorecostly,ittookthesavings
ofmoreandmorepeopletocreatejobs .
Theamountofmoneyinvestedtoinsure
onejobvarieswiththekindofindustry,
largesumsbeingnecessarywheretheriskis
greatandmachineryisex pensive
.Insome
industries the
cost is so great that
corporationshavemorestockholdersthan
jobholders . Thissystem
ofsharing a
businesswithinvestorswantingtoowna
partwasusedduringW ashington' sfirst
termasPresidentoftheUnitedStates .
In1 9 65,anestimateoftheamountof
moneyneededforinvestmenttoinsure
one
job was approx imately $25,000
.
Therefore, big
corporations employing
UNDER A
BUTTONW OOD TREE ON W ALL STREET, NEW
YORK CITY
OnMay1 7 ,1 7 9 2,twenty-fourmerchantsandauctioneerssignedanagreementto
meet
dailyunderabuttonwoodtreeonW allStreettobuyandsellsharesinbusiness
. Theyalso
handledthebuyingandsellingofgovernmentbondsissuedbyAlex anderHamilton,
the
firstSecretaryoftheTreasury,topaythedebtsoftheRevolutionaryW ar
.
Thefollowingyear,thisfirst" broker' soffice" movedindoorsfromthetableunder
the
buttonwoodtreetocozyquartersinthenewTontineCoffeeHousenearby
. Fromthis
humblebeginninggrewaworldcenteroffinance,theNewYorkStockEx change
.
thousands of
menand women need
thousands of
stockholders to operate
successfully .
Forex ample,approx imately
2,500,000 shareownersmaintain
the
telephoneandtelegraphcompaniesserving
millionsofpeople
.Alargeautomobile
manufacturerhasoveramillionowners,
andasteelcompanyhasmorethanhalfa
million .Howdoesabusinesswithso
manyownersoperate?
The
stockholderselect a board of
MuseumoftheCityofNewYork
directorsfromtheirgroup,votingeither
atameetingorbymail .Thesechosen
membersaccept the responsibility of
conductingthebusinessfortheowners.
The directors, asarule,hiretrained
managerstocarryonthebusinessfor
them,andthemanagers,inturn,hire
employeestomanufacturetheproductsof
the company, and sell them.The
employeesreporttothemanagerswho
hirethem,themanagerstotheboardof
51 3
directorswhohirethem,andtheboardof
directorstotheownerswhoelectedthem
.
Mostbigcorporationsprovidingpro-
ductsnowineverydayusebeganina
smallway .Newproductsandinventions
createnewindustries
.Forex ample,letus
ex aminetheprogressofacanopener
business :
1 .
A man invents a new can
opener .
2 . He secures a patent
on his invention from the
United States Patent
Office . Now no one can
A MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
The presidentoftheboardofdirectorsofan
electriccompanyreportstoagroupofshare-
holdersattendinganannualmeeting.Although
reportsaremailedtoeachone,somepart-owners
liketobepresentatameetingtoex presstheir
ownopinions .
Inthiscompany,1 50,000shareownershave
invested$221 ,000perjobtofurnishelectric
powerfor6,500,000people
.Ifanyshareholder
isnotpleasedwiththeprogressofthecompany,
hecansellhisstockandinvesthismoney
elsewhere .Itisafreemarket .
SouthernCaliforniaEdisonCompany
copyandmanufacturehiscanopenerwithout
hispermission .
3 .Hestartsmakingcanopeners,perhapsinashed
inhisbackyard,andsellsthemtohisneighbors .
4
.Theneighborslikehiscanopener .Soonhe
receivesmoreordersthanhecanfill .Fromhis
localbankerheborrowsmoneytoenlargehis
plantandtobuyanewmachinetomakecan
openersfaster .Hesellsmore,andhiresasalesman .
5 .Moreandmoreorderscomeinasdistribution
spreads .Theinventorneedsalittlefactory
.
Insteadofborrowingagainfromhislocalbanker,
hegoestoaninvestmentbankerwhohascus-
tomerswithmoneytoinvestinanygrowing
business .Theinventoragreestosharehisbusiness
withothersbysellingstocktogetenoughmoney
tobuildafactory,buynewmachinery,andhire
morehelp .Theinvestmentbankersellssharesin
thecanopenerfactoryforafee .
6 .W iththenewfactory,businessgrowsrapidly .
Moresalesmenarehired.Theinventor,whois
probablythepresidentofthecompanyandowns
sharesofstock,decidestoincorporateundera
charterfromthestate
.Tobegrantedthischarter
hiscompanymustcomplywithlawsthatprotect
peopledoingbusinesswithhim.Hisincorporated
business,underthischarter,becomesacorpora-
tionandoperatesaccordingly
.
7 .Thecorporationprospers
.Additionalmoneyis
neededtoenlargethefactoryandtobuynewer
machinestoturnoutmorecanopenersinless
time .Byincreasingproductionpricescanbecutto
meetcompetition
.Atthispoint,thebusiness
maybelargeenoughtoseekalistingonthe
stockex change .Theinventorappliestoastock
ex change
.Again,hehascertainrequirementsto
meet,onebeingproofthathiscompanyhasmany
individualstockholdersandthatitisnotowned
byafewmenwhocontrolnearlyalltheshares
.
8
.Ifaccepted,sharesinhiscompanywillbelisted
indailynewspapers
.Morepeoplewillbuythem
ifthecompanyissuccessful,continuestogrow,
andpaysafairprofittoitsstockholders,who
reallyownthefactorymakingcanopeners
.Thus
littlebusinessgrowsintobigbusiness .
In our highly
industrializedsociety,
businessiscarriedonthroughasystem
ofrepresentation .Asindustriesgrow
largerandlarger,bothemployersand
TheNewYorkStockEx change
TRADING ON THE OLD NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANG E
Astock ex change is a marketplacewherebondsandstocks are boughtandsold.
Bondsandsharesarenotthesame .Apersonwholoansmoneytoacorporation,at
interest,thesumtoberepaidatacertaindate,isabondholder .Astockholderbuysa
shareinabusinessandrunstheriskoflosinghismoneyormakingaprofitonhis
investment .Abondholderisnotapart-ownerasistheshare-owner .
Asindustrygrew,themarketplacethatstartedunderthebuttonwoodtreehadto
beenlargedtokeeppacewithdemand .Aftermovingmanytimes,ahallwasbuiltand
seatsweresoldtobrokers .Aseatgaveitsownertherighttobuyandsellthere .
Needinglargerquarters,thepresentEx changewasbuiltin1 9 03toaccommodatemore
brokers,butnochairswereprovidedforthem .However," seats" arestillsoldatprices
thatvary,sincea" seat" meanstheprivilegeoftradinginthemarketplace .Brokers
withorderswalkamongthetradingpostsseekingthebestpricesfortheircustomers
.
TheStockEx changedoesnotbuy,sell,orsetprices .Itisonlythemarketplacefor
buyingandsellingbybrokeragefirmswho,own" seats ."
employees seek ways to speak to
one EMPLOYEES
another in acollective voice . Per-
sonal contacts are impossiblebecause
DURING THE TERMS ofourfirsttwo
so
many
people are
involved in so
Presidents,G eorgeW ashington
andJohn
manyways .

Adams, carpenters and shoemakers in

5 1 5
Philadelphia,tailors
in Baltimore,
and
printers in New
York were seeking the
kinship of
trade . In their meetings, they
discussed conditions in their work
. How
many
apprentices should a
shopaccept?
Shouldtheownerofashophiretraveling
journeymen?W hatshouldbethequalifi-
cationsofajourneyman?(Anapprentice
whocanprovehehasmasteredtheskills
ofhis tradecanbe" graduated" to
journeyman .)W agesandhourswerealso
debated.W hencraftsmenbecamewage
earnersproducingforothersinshopsand
millsinsteadofworkingforthemselvesin
theirownhomefactories,theyfeltthe
needtotalkamongthemselves .
Aslittlebusinessgrewintobigbusiness
andbothownersandemployeeswere
numberedinthousands,bothgroupswere
contactedthroughrepresentatives .Labor
organizations,generallycalled unions,
began to growinnumberandsize .
ADV ERTISEMENTIN
CINCINNATI,OHIONEW SPAPER
Inearlydaysitwasthecustomforparents
tobindtheirchildrenwhenquiteyoungas
apprenticestolearnatrade .Thisadvertisement
offersarewardforthereturnofarunaway
apprenticewhohadnotservedhisfulltime .
Theapprenticesystemisstillusedbuttheboys
areassignedunderunionlaws,asarule .Most
lawsmakesix teentheageofabeginner,but
manyareolder .
SIXCENTSREW ARD
.
R
ANawayfromthesubscriber,onthe5th
instant,anapprentice
totheBarber' sbusi-
nessnamedG EORG EKYLES,aged1 3years
.
Altpersonsareforbidharboringortrustinghind
onmyaccount,asIwill
paynodebtsofhis
contracting,andwiltnotbeinanywayresponsi
.
bleforhisconduct
.Theabovereward,but
nocharges,willbepaid toanypersonwhore-
turnshimtothesubscriber.
EDW ARDKING
.
Cincinnati,April1 2,1 525.

37 9
5 1 6
Membersoftheseunionselectedtheir
officialswhoactedastheirrepresentatives
andmetwithmanagerswhorepresented
the
owners to discuss theirworking
conditions .Theymetforthepurposeof
enteringintomutuallysatisfactorycon-
tractsbindinguponbothparties .
Thesecontractsestablishwages,hours
ofwork,paidholidays,paidvacations,
safety,sanitation,andgeneralworkrules .
G radually,morepersonalservicespaidfor
byownersinwholeorinpart,havebeen
addedtounioncontracts .Amongthese
benefitsaremedicalcareofemployees
andtheirfamilieswhichincludeshospital
bills,doctors' fees,medicines,sickleave,
dentalcare,andsometimes,psychiatric
care .Manycorporations,largeandsmall,
supportpensionplansfortheiremployees
atretirementage .
Asthispatterndevelopedinbusiness
and industry, men in
varioustrades
formedunionsoftheirowncrafts
.The
nex tstepwastounitethesecraftunions
.
In1 886atalaborconferenceheldin
Columbus,Ohio,theAmericanFederation
ofLaborwasorganized.SamuelG ompers,
animmigrantcigarmaker,waselectedthe
firstpresident .Asindustrialismadvanced,
moreandmoreunskilledworkmenwere
employed
. In the early 1 9 30' s the
AmericanFederationofLaborsetupa
committeetoorganizetheseemployees
intounionsforemployees,nomatterwhat
theirjobswere,accordingtoindustries
insteadofcrafts
.AtameetinginPittsburgh
in1 9 37 theseindustrialunionswithdrew
fromtheAmericanFederationofLaborto
formaneworganization,theCongressof
IndustrialOrganizations,knownasthe
C.I .O.JohnL.Lewis,presidentofthe
UnitedMineW orkersofAmerica,was
electedthefirstpresidentoftheC.I .O.
AMEETING OFRETAILCLERKSUNION - LOCAL7 7 0
AffiliatedW ithRetailClerksInternationalAssociation,AFL-CIO
Thepeopleattendingthismeetingareclerksinfoodmarkets,drugstores,and
discountcenters .Suchmeetingsareheldtopresentnewcontractsforapprovalby
membersoftheunion .Theseagreementsdefineworkingconditions,wages,paidholidays
andvacations,apprentice-ships,medicalandhospitalbenefits,andotheritemsof
commoninterest
.Meetingsarecalledbythesecretaryoftheunionwhentheneedarises .
After being
separatedfor about twenty
years,thetwojoinedtoformasinglegroup
again
.
Asourindustrialpatternbecomesmore
complex ,moreemphasisisbeingplaced
onthehumanside .Jobholdersarepeople
.
Managers are people .Stockholdersare
people .Allthreegroupscooperateforthe
benefitofallconcerned
.Noonegroup
cansucceedifonegroupfails .Industrial
relationsarehumanrelations .
Thebighumanproblemofthemachine
ageistorestorepridetoworkmenwho
cannolongerprovidetheirowntools,
make their own productsnormarket
themfortheirownpersonalprofit
.W hat
canbedonetogetaworkmanonan
assembly line to feel thathehasa
personalstakeinthefactorywhereheis
employed?Managersgivemuchtimeand
thoughttothisquestion,andstudythe
manyfactorstobeconsidered .
5
1
7
W hatshouldbethebasicwageforthe
averageproductionofeachworkman?How
cananemployeeberewardedforbetter
conduct,workmanship,andoutput?How
cananefficientemployeebeencouragedto
stayonhisjob?Sincetheindustrialpattern
isbaseduponmassproduction,themen
andwomenwhomakeproductsmustbe
abletobuythem,andtoshareintheser-
vicestheyprovideforothers
.Therefore,
basicwagesneedtobescaledtomakecon-
sumersoutofjobholders .Iftheworkmen
onanassemblylineinanautomobile
factorywerenotabletodrivetheircarsto
andfromtheirjobs,howex tensivewould
theautomobilebusinessbe?Jobholders
represent the mass ofconsumers .
Therefore, big mills and big markets
demandproductsandservicesthatmost
jobholderscanafford
.Smallbusinessalso
prospersbycateringtobuyerswhocan
affordtopaymoremoneyfortheirpro-
ducts and services . Customers create
businessthroughtheirchoiceofproducts
.
ThisfactaccountsfortheAmericanbusiness
slogan," Thecustomerisalwaysright
."
Employershavedevelopedavarietyof
ways, generally calledincentiveplans,
throughwhichtheiremployeesmayshare
intheprofitsearnedfromincreasedeffort
ontheirpart
.Theemployerwantsto
producemoregoods .Theemployeewants
toincreasehisincome
.Thisresultmaybe
achievedindifferentwaysindifferent
companies . There are many incentive
plansoperatinginvariousindustriesin
thiscountry
.Allaimtoencouragepride
inworkmanshipandapersonalinterest
amongemployeestoaidproductivity .
Insomecompaniesemployeesinthe
variousdepartments shareinabonus
awardforincreasedproduction
.Atthe
endofaweek,amonth,orayear,they
5
1
8
receiveex trapay
.Somefactoriesoperate
onapieceplan
.Aseamstressinagarment
factorymayprefertobepaidbythepiece
sinceitwouldbeasimplematterto
measureherworkattheendofaday .
However,thepieceplanwouldnotbe
practicalinalargesteelmillwheremen
workwithcokeovens,blastfurnaces,and
cauldronsofmoltenmetal.Employeesin
heavyindustryandinlargeplantswith
thousandsofmenandwomenusually
preferhourlywageswithmedicalandother
servicesprovided byownersinunion
contracts .
Inrecentyearstheprofit-sharingplanhas
gainedinpopularity,butitisnotanew
idea .Insomecorporations,profitsare
sharedbygivingemployeesstockonwhich
theyreceivedividendsthesameasany
shareholderwhoboughthisstockfroma
broker .Ownersofsomebigretailstores
includetheemployeeswhoautomatically
becomepartnersinthebusinesswhenthey
haveworkedtheresatisfactorilyforaspeci-
fiedtime .Somecorporationscontributea
percentofprofitstopensionfundsto
whichemployeesalsocontributefromtheir
wages,andsoprovidealargerincomefor
retirement .Seldomareanytwoprofit-
sharingplansex actlyalikeaseachoneis
adaptedtoacertainsituation
.Thevaried
incentiveplans,asarule,arebenefitsin
additiontothecustomarywageagreements
.
Thecooperativecorporationhasbeen
particularly successful in agriculture .
Farmersformcooperativesbothforbuying
andselling
.Incontrasttotheordinary
corporation,thecooperativeservesonlyas
anagentforitsmembers .Themembers
serveonlythemselves
.Afarmerdelivershis
milktothecooperativecreamerywhich
sellsanddistributesitforhim.Attheend
ofeachmonth,usually,thefarmerispaid
forthemilkthecreamerysoldforhim,
minustheoperatingex penses .
V ariety is thekeynote of " The
AmericanW ay" fordoingbusiness .Inthis
countryduringtheriseofindustry,there
wasnosetpatternwhichcouldnotbe
modifiedorchangedforthegreatestgood
of the greatest
number
.
Only in a
constitutional republicliketheUnited
Statescantherebesuchhealthydisagree-
mentandrespectfortherightsofothers .
LAW SINFLUENCE
INDUSTRIALRELATIONS
W ITH THE RAPID G ROW TH Of
industrycameproblemsofadjustment
whichtheFederalG overnmentsoughtto
solvebylaw
.Interstatecommercedrew
the
attention ofCongressduring the
railroadera .FollowingtheW arBetween
theStatessomanyrailroadswerebuilt
thatcompetitionforbusinessresultedin
ratewarsandunfairchargesforpassengers
andfreight .Manylinestraversednew
country where the settlerswere too
scatteredtosupportthem.Sometimestwo
railroadsservedthesameterritoryand
eachtriedtotakebusinessfromtheother
byloweringtherates .W henthesesame
companieshadamonopoly,andfarmers
wereforcedtoshiptheirproductsonthe
singlerailroad,freightrateswereunrea-
sonably high to make up
forlosses
sufferedunderkeencompetition
.Inthe
late1 860' sfreightratesbetweenChicago
andNewYorkvariedfrom25centsto
$2 .1 5perhundredpounds
.Afewyears
latercattlecouldbehauledfromChicago
toNewYorkfor$5acarload.
In1 867 theNationalG rangeofthe
PatronsofHusbandry,anorganizationto
improvethelotoffarmers,wasformedin
W ashington,D.C.TheG rangemadeadeter-
minedfightforlawsregulatingrailroad
ratesandcheaptransportationforfarm
productstomarkets .AlthoughmanySena-
torsandRepresentativesintroducedbillsin
Congresstoregulaterailroadsandstopthe
ratewarswhichwereharmfultothepublic,
ittooktwentyyearsfortheoriginalActto
RegulateCommercetowinamajorityof
votesinCongress .Themeasurewassigned
onFebruary4,1 887 byPresidentG rover
Cleveland.Thisactestablishedacommission
toregulatecommercebetweenthestates
.
Fromthissmallbeginninggrewthe
powerfulInterstateCommerceCommission
which controls transportation between
statesonrailroads,inlandwaterways,and
highways .
The original act hasbeen
amendedmanytimestofitnewsituations,
andnowincludestruckandbustravel
betweenstates .Inthepublicinterestthe
InterstateCommerceCommissionmakes
rulesofsafetyforbothemployeesand
passengers ; fix esratesonfreighthandled
byanycarrier ; andrequiresinsuranceasa
protectionagainstlossoflifeorproperty .
Passageof the Act to Regulate
Commercehasbeengenerallyinterpreted
asgivingtheFederalG overnmentpowerto
superviseindustry .Later,Congresspassed
theShermanAnti-trustAct,grantingthe
Federal G overnment the authority to
prevent industrial
monopoly. President
BenjaminHarrisonsignedthisbillintolaw
onJuly2,1 89 0 .Thefirstsectionstated :
Everycontract,combinationintheformof
trustorotherwise,orconspiracy,inrestraintof
tradeorcommerceamongtheseveralstates,or
withforeignnations, is herebydeclaredtobe
illegal .
Accordingtothislaw,whatisatrust?
Thewordwasinterpretedtomeanaperson
5 1 9
orcorporation,orcombinationowningor
controlling enough industrialplants
producinganycertainarticletobeableto
fix theprice .Peopleweredisturbedabout
thewaysmallcompaniesrefiningoil,
manufacturingsugar,tobacco,shoema-
chinery,steelproducts,farmingimple-
ments,andotheressentialswerebeing
absorbed into large corporations . The
passageoftheShermanAnti-trustActset
offlongandbitterlyfoughtcasesinthe
courtsoverwhatkindofcombination
constitutesatrustdangeroustothepublic
interest . Both
the
Republican and
Democraticpartiesfavoredanti-trustlaws .
On
September 5, 1 9 01 , President
McKinleywasshotwhileattendingthe
PanAmericanEx positionatBuffalo,New
York
.
The V ice President, Theodore
Roosevelt,wasswornintosucceedhimin
theoffice .ThenewPresidentenforced
theShermanActsovigorouslythathe
gainedthenicknameof" trustbuster ."
Duringthesevenandonehalfyearsof
Theodore Roosevelt' s administration,
forty-fourcaseswerelaunchedunderthe
ShermanAct
.In1 9 09 W illiamHoward
Taft, another Republican,
followed
RooseveltinthePresidency
.Taft' srecord
forasingletermoffouryearseclipsedthat
oftheformerPresidentwithatotalof
ninetyanti-trustproceedings .Duringthe
first term ofW oodrow
W ilson, who
followedTaftintotheW hiteHouse,thirty-
fouranti-trustindictmentswerefiled.In
factcourtdocketsseldomareclearedof
casestoquestionanymonopolyleadingto
pricefix ingnotinthepublicinterest
.
AlthoughtheoriginalShermanActhas
beenamendedanumberoftimeswiththe
passage of new laws,
courts find it
difficulttodecidewhenamergerof
companiesbecomesatrustex ercisinga
5
2
0
dangerousmonopoly.TheUnitedStates
holds
the lead in scientific progress
becauselargeindustrialorganizationshave
beenwillingtoinvestcapitalinlong,
detailed,oftenunsuccessfulex periments .
Beforeayardofclothisofferedforsale,
$23,000,000maybespenttoresearchand
developthefabric
.Ifthefabricisenthusi-
asticallyacceptedbythepublic,employ-
mentisprovidedforthousands - in
garmentfactories,departmentstores,small
owner-operatedshops,defenseplantsand
numerousindustries .Thequestionthen
askedis :Iftheclothcanbepurchasedby
anyoneatareasonableprice,doesthe
corporationowningthepatentonthisnew
fabricconstituteaharmfultrust?
Peoplegenerallydonotbecomecon-
cernedaboutthesizeofanycorporation
unlessitbecomespowerfulenoughtoset
priceswhichtheyconsiderunfair
.From
thebeginning,theaveragecitizenofthis
countryhasharboredaninnatefearof
anykindofmonopolythatwouldrob
himofpersonalliberty,beitinbusiness
orgovernment .
Asindustriesgrowinsizeandnumber,
industriallawsarepassedbylocal,state,
andfederalgovernments .Businessfirms
hireattorneystokeepofficialsinformedon
theselaws,changingfromtimetotime
.
Onemayregulatetheamountofsmoke
fromafactorychimney,andanother,
safetydevicesonmachinery
.Childlabor
lawsaregeneral .AlawinV ermontstates
:
Nominorunder1 4maybeemployedinor
aboutanymill,cannery,workshop,factoryor
manufacturingestablishment,orinanyother
gainfuloccupationex ceptduringvacationand
beforeandafterschool .
TheminimumwagelawofCalifor-
nia
contains this clause concerning
hours :
Nowomanorminorshallbeemployedmore
thaneight(8)hoursduringanyonedayof
twenty-four(24)hours,ormorethanforty-eight
(48)hoursinanyoneweek .
Insomestatesafundisraisedbyatax
upon
bothemployers andemployees,
toprovideaweeklyallowanceformenand
womenwhohavelosttheirjobs . The
amountoftax takenfromthewagesof
employeesandtheoperatingex penseof
theiremployersdependsuponthenumber
ofpeoplewhoapplyforunemployment
compensation .Industriallawsdifferfrom
statetostate,andlegislaturesaddmoreas
needed.
The United States Departmentof
Labor, directedbyamemberofthe
President' s Cabinet,wasestablished
to
servebothemployersandemployeesin
adjustingtotheever-changingpatternof
ourcomplex industrialsociety.
5 2
1
Chapter28
MassProductionPromotesAbundance
EDUCATIONG REW
W ITHTHECOUNTRY
EDUCATION HAS BEEN considered
importantsincecolonialdays .In1 636,
justsix teenyearsafterthelandingofthe
Pilgrims,HarvardCollegewasestablished
intheBritishcolonies .Thestoryofits
foundingwaswritteninaletterfrom
Boston,datedSeptember26,1 642 :
AfterG odhadcarriedussafeto
NewEngland,
andwehadbuildedourhouses,provided
necessariesforourlivelihood,rear' dconvenient
placesforG od' sworship,andsettedtheCivill
G overnment :Oneofthenex tthingswelonged
for,andlookedafterwastoadvance Learn-
ing,
. . .
dreadingtoleaveanilliterateMinistery
totheChurches,whenourpresentMinistershall
lieintheDust .Andasweewerethinkingand
consultinghowtoeffectthisgreatW ork ; it
pleasedG odtostir up theheartofoneMr .
Harvard . . .
togiveonehalfeofhisEstate
towardstheerectingofaCollege,andallhis
Library.
(LatinAmerica' sUniversityofSanMarcos
inLima,Peru,andtheUniversityof
Mex icoinMex icoCity,areonrecordas
beingtheoldestuniversitiesintheW est-
ernHemisphere .Bothwerefoundedin
1 551 byorderofCharlesV ,Kingof
Spain .)
522
IntheOrdinanceof1 7 87 forgoverning
theNorthwestTerritory,Article3ex -
pressedthefeelingofmostcitizensthen
andnow :
Religion,morality,andknowledgebeing
necessarytogoodgovernmentandthehappiness
ofmankind,schoolsandthemeansofeducation
shallforeverbeencouraged .
Inearlydays,schoolingforchildrenwas
providedbyparentsinthehome,church,
andprivateschool.Childrenonthelarge
southernplantationshadtutorswholived
withthefamilies .Notuntilalittleover
thirtyyearsaftertheendoftheW arfor
Independencewasthefirstsystemof
schoolsstartedforeverychildatpublic
ex pense .Thereformsofthe1 840' sim-
provedthepublicschools
.However,the
patternofthepresentpublicschoolsystem
wasbarelytakingshapewhenwarbroke
outbetweenthestatesin1 861 .
OnJuly2,1 862,Congresspassedthe
MorrillAct," anActdonatingPublicLands
totheseveralStatesandTerritorieswhich
mayprovideCollegesfortheBenefitof
AgricultureandtheMechanicArts ."
Bythislaw,publiclandwastobe
dividedtoeachstate -
30,000acresfor
eachsenatorandrepresentativethestate
hadinCongress,underthecensusof1 860,
ex ceptminerallands .ThisActstated:
Thatallmoneysderivedfromthesaleofthese
lands . . . shallbeinvestedinstocksoftheUnited
States,orofthestates,orsomeothersafestocks
yieldingnotlessthanfivepercentumuponthepar
valueofsaidstocks
; andthatthemoneysso
investedshallconstituteaperpetualfund,the
capitalshallremainforeverundiminishedandthe
interestofwhichshallbeinviolablyappro-
priated . . .totheendowment,support,and
maintenanceofatleastonecollegewherethe
leadingobjectshallbe . . . toteachsuchbranches
oflearningasarerelatedtoagricultureand
mechanicarts
. . . .
In1 862,duringthewar,Lincolnsigned
threebillspassedbyCongresstopromote
settlementoftheW est :theHomestead
Act,theRailroadAct,andtheMorrill
Act .
W henasettlerinthefrontierregion
hadbuiltalogcabinorasodhouse,and
plantedacrop,heandhisneighbors
gatheredtotalkoverwaystoerecta
schoolhouse,achurch,andacourthouse,
toprovideforeducation,religion,and
law
.Sometimesasinglelogcabinserved
allthreeuntilseparatebuildingscouldbe
afforded.Havingnofactories,ruralschools
receivedtax esfromlandonlyandsooften
suffered from poor housing,lackof
tex tbooks, and untrained teachers .A
backwoodsmanwhocouldneitherread
norwriteownedacountrystoreanda
boatataferrywherethetrailcrossedthe
CacheRiverinArkansas .W henhewanted
togofishingforafewdaysheaskedthe
countryschoolmastertowriteanoticeto
travelersthathetackedonthedoorofhis
logcabintradingpost :
Efarmyboddycumsheartogitacrossthe
RivvertheykinjustblowthishereHorne,when
mywifebetseyupattheHouseheerstheHorne
abloinshe' llcumdownandsetacrossthe
Rivver,i' magwinfishin .
Educationwassomuchappreciatedin
newsettlementsthataschoolcould
actuallystartatown .Thefirstschoolin
Denver,Coloradowasopenedonthethird
ofOctoberin1 859
.Itwasonlyaloghut
withastripofwagoncoverforadoor
andaholeinthegableendforawindow.
The teacherwasagraduateofthe
UniversityofDublin,anewspaperman
whohadcometotheW esttowriteabout
thegoldrushintheRockyMountainsof
Colorado .W henacoveredwagontrain
wassightedapproachingontheplain,
scoutsrodeouttomeetit,tellingthe
families,notaboutgoldinCherryCreek,
butabouttheschoolinW estDenverwitha
collegegraduateforateacher .W ith
attendancebetweentwelveandsix teenper
dayandtuitiononly$3permonthforeach
pupil,theteachercouldnothavesurvived
hadhenotreceived$20aweekforarticles
printedineasternpapersontheColorado
goldrush.Livingex penseswerehigh
.Flour
cost$20abarrelandtallowcandlessold
for$1 apiece .
Asaruleschoolsimprovedfasterin
industrialtownswherefactorieshelpedpay
thetax esthatsupportedthem .SinceNew
England had themostindustry,this
sectionforalongtimehadthebest
schools,bothpublicandprivate .Public
schoolsforthechildrenofallthepeople,
weregraduallyestablishedthroughoutthe
country,whereverindustrylocatedtoshare
theburdenofthecost
.Today,eveninrural
districts,splendidgradedschoolsoffer
instructioninmanysubjectstoprepare
childrenforabundantlivinginourcomplex
industrialsociety.Educationhastraveled
farfromtheone-roomschoolwiththe
threeR' s - " readin' ,ritin' ,rithmetic ."
5 2 3
Education is a costly item in the
budgetsoftown,city,county,state,and
federal governments
.
Tax payers
are
assessedtoprovideeducationfromthe
nurseryschooltotheuniversity .Inmany
communitiesschoolsaremaintainedatthe
tax payers' ex penseforadults,especially
eveningschools .Althoughacitizenno
longerattendsclasses,hemaycontinue
hiseducationbyreadingbooks,maga-
zines,andnewspapersandlisteningto
lecturesinhallsandovertheair .There
are day schools,eveningschools,and
correspondenceschools ; publicschools,
private schoolsand church schools ;
countryschools,cityschools,andstate
universities .AcitizenoftheUnitedStates
hasawidechoiceineducation .
FOUNDATIONSTO
PROMOTELEARNING
FROMEARLYDAYS, leadersinthe
nation
encouraged learning.In 1 7 32,
BenjaminFranklinestablishedthefirst
circulatinglibraryinPhiladelphia
.W ishing
tocontinuehissupporttoeducationafter
hisdeath,hesetupthefirstfoundationfor
trainingyoungmenincrafts .Duringhis
lifetime,hehadhelpedmanyskilled
craftsmen from Europe to settle in
Pennsylvania .Franklinstatedinhiswill :
IhaveconsideredthatamongArtisansgood
ApprenticesaremostlikelytomakegoodCitizens,
andhavingmyselfbeenbredtoamanualArt
Printing,inmynativeTown . . . Iwishtobeuseful
evenaftermyDeath,ifpossible,informingand
advancingotheryoungmenthattheymaybe
serviceabletotheircountry . . . . TothisendI
devoteTwothousandpoundsSterling,whichI
give,onethousandthereoftotheInhabitantsof
theTownofBoston . . . andtheotherthousandto
theInhabitantsoftheCityofPhiladelphia . . . .
W iththisfund,Franklindesiredtohelp
youngmarriedmentakecareoftheir
familieswhilelearningatradeandstarting
abusiness .Hiswillreads
:
ThesaidsumofOnethousandPounds
Sterling,ifacceptedbytheInhabitantsofthe
TownofBoston,shallbemanagedunderthe
directionoftheSelectMen,unitedwiththe
FIRST CIRCULATING LIBRARY IN PHILADELPHIA
BenjaminFranklinwelcomedreadersatthefirstcirculatinglibraryinPhiladelphiain
1 7 32 .HisideahelpedtoestablishfreelibrariesintheUnitedStates
.
FranklinInstituteofBoston

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