I consider this book merely an appetizer to precede learning about an unappetizing period of history. It left me wanting to read more, not about Nazi atrocities (which I've already read a lot about), but about the politics and power-shifts within the regime. About how the German people were made to swallow the Nazi party line.

It's the story of how William Dodd, an historian, goes to Berlin in 1933 as FDR's ambassador to Germany. Dodd brings with him his wife Mattie and two adult children, Bill Jr. and Martha. William and Martha are the primary POV characters here, presumably because they left behind the most writing about the period.

Dodd is a bit naive, and has a tinge of the casual antisemitism that was prevalent at the time, even among Americans, but at the same time he cares about their plight. He's also a square peg in a round hole, since most people in the foreign service, "the Pretty Good Club", are expected to be men of means and to throw their own money around quite a bit in entertaining foreign dignitaries. Dodd is not a member of this monied class, and the Depression period of austerity limits his salary and budget. Dodd comes off at first a little naive, but gradually you come to admire his Atticus Finch-like belief in American principles.

Martha is a sexually liberated young woman who, although married to a banker back home, plays the field of available men, which includes Rudolf Diels, the head of the Gestapo (not a bad guy, it turns out, but an earlier moderating influence in the party, who was later purged). At one point she was even "pimped out" as a potential date for Hitler himself. She falls hard for Boris Winogradov, a Soviet who turns out to be an agent of the NKVD (precursor to the KGB). Their romance provides much of the suspenseful impetus that keeps you turning the pages of this book. Martha's antisemitism, at least early in the story, is more blatant than that of her father, and she starts out sympathizing with Nazi ideals. Even though conscience hits her later, I had a hard time totally sympathizing with her, although I found her compelling.

Through the eyes of Dodd, Martha, and others, we see the rise of Hitler, who, as Chancellor, had not yet seized total power. It was only after a spree of murdering his rivals (the Night of Long Knives) that he succeeded in achieving sole power. Anywhere from 200 to 1000 people died that night. The Night of Long Knives provides an answer to the question I asked above: why did the German people go along with the program (and the pogrom)? They knew they could have been murdered if they'd spoken out against it. The first major massacre was directed primarily at non-Jews who opposed Hitler, or who were perceived to oppose him. Americans, imagine if we had a leader who demanded total allegiance. We'd be angry, sure. But then if a cadre of thugs arrived in every county in the country and dragged the ten most vocal opponents of the regime into the woods and shot them, what then? What if the leader than announced he was the supreme judge of the American people? What then? Folks, be on your guard. It can happen here.

Eerie parallels to today.

Engaging and lively and kept me reading till the end, which is saying something for someone who is simply not a fan of WWII history (can we please talk about something else?). I think for the most part Larson does a good job at portraying complex human beings, rather than hero worshipping the white men of history, but I think by the end he went overboard on lauding Dodd for seeing the writing on the wall. In reality, my opinion is he did very little to warn the US of what was happening in Germany. He used his position as more of a soapbox to complain about diplomatic frivolity — a valid complaint, but in light of the impending Holocaust, not exactly of utmost importance. Larson’s conclusion that Dodd was a “lone beacon of American freedom and hope in a land of gathering darkness” rings hollow to me.

Larson does it again! For a super simplistic overview: Larson delves into the WWII, offering an interesting and disturbing look into the rise of Hitler, from the eyes of an American ambassador and his family.

I must admit, I love Erik Larson. One of my most treasured purchases is a signed copy of Dead Wake. It is just so rare for a non-fiction book to read like a novel. I've found that, oftentimes, historical nonfiction that qualifies as an 'easy-read' is not well-researched and/or totally and completely biased. Not so with Larson. He crafts what feels and reads like a story, but is in fact, the truth (or, as close to the truth as one can get). Each Larson book is engrossing and thoroughly researched.

For anyone who loves history, loves non-fiction, and/or loves WWII...you won't be disappointed.