„A Fierce Battle for Democracy“ Botschafter William Edward Dodd und die US-amerikanische Deutschlandpolitik 1933-1938

Description

Berlin, 1933. A dinner invitation, international guests, and the host: Adolf Hitler. How could and should the Democratic representative of the United States of America personally react to the National Socialist Chancellor of Germany without producing a major international scandal – whilst knowing about daily attacks against both German and American citizens by radical groups in the streets of a new Germany. William Edward Dodd, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany sent by the newly elected Democratic government in Washington, faced many challenges right from the beginning of his assignment in 1933. Both as witness and key actor he lived through one of the most exceptional chapters of the German-American Relations during the 20th century. From 1933 to 1938, Dodd reported all events and developments of the National Socialist domestic and foreign politics back to his capital, and he never refrained from criticism both against the German regime and the soft reactions of the Roosevelt Administration towards the violent trends in Germany. As Ambassador, politician and publisher, Dodd tried to draw attention of the American public and his government towards the brutal regime of the National Socialists, with no lesser aim than preventing the final destruction of Europe and the world. But also the America of the Great Depression era was divided, both politically and socially. This book indirectly reveals the similarities of our times with the 1930s: The clashes within democratic societies in perceived times of crisis; revolutions and reforms; the clashes of new political solutions and ideologies; regional spheres of interest; and conflict and war. Dodd´s insights show a world searching for democratic-liberal and peaceful solutions to the great questions and challenges of their time and to the radical answers of two of the most destructive ideologies of all times.