4 comments about The Himmler Brothers: A German Family History.

1. Katrin has access to many family documents that were not published before, it is nice to see the family and their history, and have a look on how that typical German Family got so far in the ranks of the Nazi regime. I love studying about the Second War, and this was one of the best I've read. Loved it.



2. I'm interested in anything that sheds light on what happened in the thirties and forties to allow the Nazi party to come to power. This book gives excellent insight into the condition of the times and the background of a man whose name causes many to shiver with horror. This simple story is engaging and you won't forget easily forget it. Lots to think about...



3. This is an excellent book, a must read for anyone interested in Heinrich Himmler. I agree with David Cesarani of the Literary Review, who said this is "A courageous work"--Many thanks to Katrin Himmler for writing this.



4. I looked forward to reading this book immensely, and I was not disappointed. I also highly recommend to read the following "CENSORED" books:
   1) "THE HOAX OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY" by Arthur R. Butz.
   2) "NOT GUILTY AT NUREMBERG" by Carlos W. Porter.
   3) "FLASH POINT, Kristallnacht 1938. Instigators, victims and beneficiaries" by Ingrid Weckert.
   4) "ALBERT SPEER: The End of a Myth" by Matthias Schmidt.

5 comments about The Invisible Wall.

1. I bought Blumenthal's book because, like many people, I have long sought to understand the persistence of "antisemitism" over at least two millenia. His book and Nora Ephron's review of Lindeman's book "Esau's Tears: Modern Anti-Semitism and the Rise of the Jews" in the Boston Book Review (1998) have begun to pull together a few of the pieces. I very much liked the scope and even-handedness of Blumenthal's book and would recommend it to anyone interested in either antisemitism, in the history of the Jews in Germany, or in the factors that contributed to Hitler's takeover in Germany. One thing that I didn't realize, for instance, was that the US stock market collapse of 1929 may have been a significant factor in tilting Germany into Hitler's hands.

   Blumenthal is clear in recognizing some of the components of Jewish behavior that contributed to the situation in Germany - the tendency of the Jews to come out on top financially whenever they were given a chance to compete, their tendency to wedge themselves in between the aristocracy and the rest of the people in Germany (letting the people blame the Jews for problems that were often the fault of the leaders), the tendency of the orthodox Jews to separate from the host people in dress and language and give the impression that they had disdain for the host people, etc. When inflammatory religious differences were thrown into this mix, the result was an unstable explosive mixture, especially when early Christians started the practice of blaming the Jews as a whole for the death of Jesus Christ.




2. hi, i just would liek to say,that this book was pretty good,because i grew up in the ddr.i was 9 years old,when the wall came down but i was not there,because my dad and i escaped a coulpe of days before. i recommend a book about something like that to everybody and i think it is really important,to know what happenend,right? thanx,nora



3. As a native of Germany born immediately after WWII, I can truly say that this is the first book which explains the role of the German Jews through German History.Michael Blumenthal does a great job in balancing his book between actual historical events and the lives of his main characters. His extraordinary objectivity does not cast blame but tries to make sense of what happened to his people A book well worth reading. I hope that it will make my daugher better understand her mother's struggle with her German past.



4. After reading this fascinating account -- I loved the interweaving of biography with general history -- I feel I now understand why the Holocaust happened in Germany. Germany looked like a modern country, but was not really part of Western European culture -- it was dominated by a militarized aristocracy, had never developed true representative democracy, and had achieved a very late unification by rallying its people around racism -- the idealization of the German race, and the denigration of the Jews in their midst. The biography of their monarchs shows a line of really sick, sadistic, militarily obsessed rulers, suitable progenitors for Hitler. A veneer of high culture and a strong econmy made them look like a modern country, but underneath was a much more backward country, morally and politcally.



5. It's clear from the first page that researching and writing this book was a passion for W. Michael Blumenthal.
   
   Blumenthal does a masterful job of creating an objective and insightful narration of the centruries-long and ultimately tragic saga of the Jews in Germany, and an equally remarkable job of interweaving the lives of some of his own ancestors as exemplars of the conditions and opportunities for Jews in Germany through the centuries.
   
   The result is an accurate, insightful, and poignant exploration of a terrible, but vitally important part of Western history.
   
   It's a book that's worth reading with the same care and attention that the author so clearly put into it.
   
   Robert Adler, author of _Medical Firsts: From Hippocrates to the Human Genome; and Science Firsts: From the Creation of Science to the Science of Creation.

2 comments about Address Book for Germanic Genealogy 6th ed..

1. Now in an updated sixth edition, Address Book For Germanic Genealogy by genealogist Ernest Thode is an in-depth and superbly organized collection of informative and helpful documentation for aspiring genealogists seeking a greater knowledge or understanding of the resources available to them in researching their Germanic ancestry. Covering every imaginable location and available contact with the particular facilities listed, Address Book For Germanic Genealogy is also inclusive of a list of helpful phrases and questions in German for greater ease in accomplishing or pursuing the desired information. Address Book For Germanic Genealogy is among leading resources for assistance in genealogical research with its expansive, exclusive, and informative documentation of everything one might need to trace their Germanic heritage, and is very strongly recommended to everybody seeking a complete genealogical understanding and recording of their Germanic ancestors.



2. I received the book in a timely manner.
   
   All was fine.
   
   Marlene

1 comments about Josef Heinrich Darchinger: Wirtschaftswunder (trilingual edition) (German Edition).

1. This photo-documentary proves that when a people are determined to rebuild their lives, they will roll up their sleeves and get to work. The example of the re-birth of West Germany from the ruins and rubble of the Second World War should be thrown in the face of those nations that whine and complain about Western, ie USA Imperialism. Unlike a lot of nations at present who have been receiving billions of dollars in American aid, yet still are backward due to their incessant "perpetual victim" state of mind, the Germans after 1945 realized they had the opportunity for a fresh start, and they "seized the moment". Unfortunately, history does not always repeat itself. There are far too many nations and people at present who blame their backward state on the West, yet are too inept and/or lazy to improve their lot. This book proves the Germans should be commended for what they have accomplished.

5 comments about A History of the Habsburg Empire, 1526-1918.

1. There is a reason why this book is out-of-print. It's as dry a book as I've ever read and is much more a critique on the Hapsburg Empire and less of a historical overview. The title implies that Kann will introduce the reader to the Central Europeon Power and detail much of the family's power over Europe but that's far from the case. Instead, Kann goes so in depth to pick apart the Hapsburg's, that impossible to keep track of where he's going. Although the chapters have a chronological order to them, Kann mentions events that happened during a five-hundred year span in the first three chapters and aimlessly wanders so much through the text, he should be arrested for reckless writing. Some writers can pull off writing like this and make it into a masterpiece (Son of the Morning Star by Evan S. Connell comes to mind), Kann simply makes it into a field of landmines in which the reader unexpectedly will step onto a trap and utter "Whaaat?" and have to skip back to try and figure out if Kann has a connection to the previous paragrapgh or if he's just writing instantaneous thoughts. Kann's rambling book reminds me of Paul Thomas Anderson movies - it's made purely to pleasure the writer while the rest of the world has its hands in the air wondering "What did I just read/ watch?"



2. This text is not a good history text. Any good text book will make the subject come alive, this book kills it. It is, however, extremely informative, if you can get through the introduction without dieing. NOT recommended for anyone who is not a post grad! (and even then, only if required for a class).



3. I am a history major at Indiana State University. In my spring term, I used the book (as one of my sources) for my research paper on the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. I will agree that this particular book is not the greatest reading in the world, but generally historians write books for historians. Also, I will agree with other reviewers that the book's title is misleading because it does not focus on the 16th century compared to others. The book was used in my research to help explain the rivilary between Charles V of Spain (the Holy Roman Emperor) and Francis I (King of France). The cause of the rivals were not because of the grudge with Charles V winning the election for the Holy Roman Emperor or Francis I imprisonment in 1525, but Francis saw the danger of the Habsburg Empire surrounding France.

   I will recommend this book for people needing information on the Habsburgs for research and to get it at your library or buy an used copy.




4. I was a History major in college. Though fascinated by the subject matter, I kept thinking that this was a complex topic made more difficult than need be. It makes one pine for the likes of B.Tuchmann or W. Bruce Lincoln or L.S. Stavrianos. If I can find a more readable work, I will buy it........otherwise, back to the slog!



5. a bit too , highly detailed , for someone with prior knowledge of the subject , with lots reading time. will read some day when I have lots of time .

3 comments about The Coburg Conspiracy: Royal Plots and Manoeuvres.

1. The Coburg Conspiracy
   
   The title is indeed well chosen for the book is written dossier style, much as an MI6 file might read. It is quite amazing that Alexandrine Victoria, Queen Victoria, would have been allowed to marry an impoverished obscure German first cousin, a second son at that, from her Mother's side of the family unless there were some very powerful hands at play. I read this short book in one sitting for it held my interest throughout until the very last page. A review should not give away the story so all I will say is that I enjoyed it tremendously and the premise upon which the book is based is very believable. One thing is for sure, the Coburgs were a very money and position hungry lot. This is a very good book to read for anyone interested in English History.



2. The book is well-researched and yet presents its information in a storylike format. The first four chapters are tougher to get through as the author presents numerous names - similar to a film opening showing you glimpses of all the characters involved. But after Chapter 4 the story takes off and its remarkable to think how this one family truly conquered Europe by connecting (often marrying into) to the royal lines across multiple nations. A fascinating read and one that you enjoy learning from as its well-written, easy to pick up and get into.



3. The other reviewers aren't exaggerating - this is a five starrer.
   
   The term "Coburg conspiracy" refers to two different things. Firstly, the Coburg dynasty's attempt - orchestrated by Leopold of Belgium and his mother - to turn itself from a minor German ducal family into one of the most powerful dynasties in Europe. Suffice to say, they succeeded.
   
   The second "conspiracy" surrounds Prince Albert's paternity. (Warning: I'm about to give away some of the story, so if you want it to all be a suprise, please stop reading now!)
   
   I'd always thought the stories of Prince Albert's illegitimacy were bunkum, because of the strong resemblance he bore to his Belgian cousins - the descendants of his Uncle Leopold (whom he resembled even more than he did his father and brother). In particular, I'd seen pictures of Leopold's grandson Albert of Belgium in middle age, where he looked the image of the prematurely-aged Prince Albert in his last few years. I had also seen a picture of Albert of Belgium as a young man, where with his serious, thoughtful, melancholic expression, he looked the spitting image of the stiff, formal, humourless young Prince Albert. If Prince Albert bore such a strong resemblance to a Coburg cousin who was only his first cousin once removed, why would anyone suggest he wasn't a Coburg at all?
   
   Everything, however, falls into place if Sotnick's theory - that Albert was illegitimate, but that his father was probably his `uncle' Leopold - is correct (which would make the two Alberts uncle and nephew). According to Sotnick, Albert's parents' marriage didn't break down when his mother fell in love with another man when Albert was five, but broke down while she was pregnant with him. Sotnick also says that a year-and-a-half after Albert's birth, his father humiliatingly "returned" his wife to her father - a strange thing to do to the mother of his two sons. He conveniently waited until both her father and uncle were dead and she had inherited the duchy of Gotha and great wealth until he divorced her, and pretty much kept the lot (including her children, whom she never saw again). Sotnick finds it strange that Louise submitted to such a bad deal without a fight - unless, of course, she felt she'd done something to deserve it.
   
   Funnily enough, he seems to be unaware that David Duff put forward the exact same theory in his 1972 work `Albert and Victoria'. Certainly, he makes no mention of it - and though one of Duff's other books is listed in the bibliography, this one is not.
   
   Duff quotes a historian, Gerald Hamilton, as having written that when he was in Coburg in 1932, he was taken to view the ducal archives, and saw documents about Albert's parents' separation that left him "in no doubt" that Louise had an affair, and that Baron von Meyern, sometimes put forward as a candidate, was Albert's father. Duff, however, puts forward Leopold as more likely, writing, "It seems scarcely credible that, with Prince Leopold a guest in her house, Duchess Louise could have been taking Baron von Meyern as her lover. That would have been hard to hide from a man as astute as Leopold and he certainly had too many plans for the Coburgs to have countenanced it. So what, then, was the answer to the rumour that [Lord] Melbourne only agreed to the marriage of Victoria and Albert when he learned that Albert was not the son of Duke Ernest? Melbourne may have turned to Leopold for enlightenment. Leopold may have told half of the truth and used the name of the Chamberlain as a necessary convenience. Meyern was known to be fond of the ladies."
   
   Duff also writes that all Queen Victoria's letters to Leopold are preserved, except for those in 1862, the year after Albert's death - perhaps suggesting that she found out after Albert's death that Leopold had been his father. He also notes that in his official biography of Prince Albert, Sir Theodore Martin wrote that Leopold was not in Coburg at the time of Albert's conception, but stayed in England after his first wife's death (1817) and didn't leave until 1820. As Duff points out, "Both Sir Theodore, and Queen Victoria who worked in close concert with him, knew better than that."
   
   Of course, none of this proves anything. But if another historian independently reached the same conclusion as Sotnick, this gives it extra credibility.
   
   As is unfortunately often the case, the book as quite a few typos. There are also two minor factual errors: Sotnick writes that "Alfred's daughter Marie married Ferdinand, King of Romania, whose son Carol became King of Yugoslavia" - actually, their eldest son Carol became King of Romania, and it was their daughter Marie (Mignon) who became Queen of Yugoslavia. He also writes that this same Alfred inherited the duchy of Coburg, and that when he died without an heir (his only son died in 1899, the year before he did) the claim passed to his brother Leopold: "But before he could collect his prize, Leopold died, and in 1905 the duchy passed to his son Carl Edward." Leopold had actually died back in 1884, while his wife was pregnant with this son, Carl, who inherited Coburg when Alfred died in 1900.
   
   It doesn't, however, seem worth lopping off a star for this - maybe half a star, if that were possible - so I'm still giving it five stars. It really does deserve them.

5 comments about The Swan King: Ludwig II of Bavaria.

1. I was really disappointed in this book. I really want to read about this topic, but the typeset is so small in this book that it makes it really uncomfortable to read. A few days after I put the book down, I think that it can't have been that bad, and I pick up the book again -- but only for a few minutes.



2. As the other reviewers have said, the print is regrettably small... which is a shame, because this is a very detailed, well-researched biography of a truly fascinating man.
   
   I would heartily recommend this as a starting place for research on Ludwig. It evenly covers both his personal and private life with much detail-- perhaps a bit too much for a true beginner. Still, the writing style is easy to read, and each chapter breaks down a particular time or incident in Ludwig's life very well and covers it thoroughly.
   
   Again, I would definitely recommend this for the casual reader interested in Ludwig. While it is very detailed, it is also written in a very readable style, without coming off like a textbook.
   
   The author views Ludwig sympathetically, but relatively objectively and with a good knowledge of the time period. He perhaps glosses over the question of Ludwig's sexuality, but also explains why he does so.
   
   All in all, a very-well reasearched and well-written book that is very readable on an intriguing man.



3. I had read previous reviews that this was one of the best biographies on Ludwig II. While the information is quite thorough and it gives some good insight to Ludwig's character (such as why a grown man would have commissioned such beautiful, fairy-tale like castles complete with pictures from such stories), it was a bit dry to read. I think the subject matter and research is very complete, I just wished it was presented in a more fluid style.



4. I've been a tour guide to Neuschwanstein for several years now and explained Ludwig II's life to hundreds of tourists each year. This is the book that I have found most useful in my tours. If you only read one book on King Ludwig II of Bavaria, this is it.
   
   I've read many books on the subject (as explaining Ludwig II's life is my job), and this is the only one I recommend.



5. McIntosh does an excellent job of providing an easily readable beginning spot to anyone interested in the life of the "Swan King." The book provides insight into his family life, motives, and gives personal details that help one understand his actions and story a little bit better. The book is not so introductory, however, that readers with knowledge about his life will find it boring or tedious. The author did an excellent job with his investigation, and even provides information about monetary values. The bibliography is comprehensive and the book, overall, is well researched.

3 comments about Finding Your German Ancestors : A Beginner's Guide.

1. I am just beginning to trace my ancestors to the French-German border area. I found the background history in this book to be helpful in giving me insight into why my ancestors may have left their homes to come to America. The contacts and sources suggested later in the book likewise provide me a good starting point for dealing with foreign leads.



2. It IS inexpensive, so that's a good thing. However, the book was about 50% history from the Roman Empire to the formation of the German state. None of this historical information would be of use to a beginner since it does self-identify as a "beginners guide". One thing that would be of obvious benefit would be for the book to include comprehensive examples of common german language documents such as birth, death, baptismal, etc, records. Nope. No such things. As someone who is doing family research with German documents, there are about 10 documents that are similar and are used over and over again throughout the German world. How about a translation of said documents?? How about explaining why, in some instances, the maiden name is omitted for the mother in birth documents? The book does have a bunch of contact information that anyone could amass in an afternoon on the internet. However, it was written in 1999, so who knows how valid the information is at this point. If I had to choose again, I'd go to the library and read it in about an hour. After that, I would photocopy the pages with contact information for a dollar and then be done with it. Don't buy it, but if you do, understand what you are getting and know that it isn't a reference book in any meaningful way. It really made me think that I could write a much better guide over the summer that would truly be useful for the beginner. Hmmmm...



3. This book truly lives up to its name. It is full of useful information and and addresses. It also shows samples of some of the records you may come across in your search.

5 comments about InSearch of Your German Roots. Fourth Edition, Updated (In Search of Your German Roots).

1. This is a great place to start for German genealogy. Mr. Baxter gives a brief history of Germany (including the Soviet breakup) and locations of record repositories. As in all of his other book, he tells you how to start your research (talk to Grandma before it's too late!), an overview of the LDS organization and tips and guides to doing research in Germany. He also gives you information on the languages of the area and what types of records you might expect to find. Do not despair of finding people in Germany-Mr. Baxter can help. You'll never regret buying this book.



2. The sub-title of "A complete guide to tracing your ancestors in the Germanic areas of Europe" is rather misleading. It is not "complete" by any stretch of the imagination.

   This is a very brief introduction (103 pages of text) to a very large topic. Some aspects of German research are treated in only the most cursory manner - the Lutheran church covered in a chapter of a single page while the Germans in Canada are dealt with in only 3 pages.

   The section on German record types leaves the reader wishing for more information. Which is the feeling the entire book gives "I wish there was more here".

   While this book has been updated to reflect the reunification of Germany, this is not Angus Baxter's best book. His "In Search of Your British & Irish Roots" and "In Search of Your Canadian Roots" are much more comprehensive in their scope. Because this book compares poorly with his other works, I have given it only two stars.




3. If you're researching German ancestors who emigrated to the U.S. or Canada, then this book is a good place to start.
   Baxter provides a brief history of Germany and describes German migrations over the centuries to specific areas of central Europe such as Silesia, the Banat, parts of Slovakia, the Ukraine, and southern Russia. Baxter also traces migration patterns into North America where many Germans settled in Pennsylvania, the mid-West, and the Kitchener area of Canada.
   He describes the different groups that settled in specific areas, including their place of origin, religious background, and dates of migration.
   There is also a lot of useful naming information, which includes the changing of names' spellings, the system of patronymics used in some areas of northern Germany, the use of 'von' or 'Von' in one's surname, and the use of diminutives in first names.



4. Terrible waste of money. The first third of the book is a history of Germany, which anyone could find on Wikipedia. Do not buy this book.



5. Now in an updated fourth edition, In Search of Your German Roots is a guide created to help readers track their German ancestry, regardless of their personal familiarity with the craft of genealogy. Chapters walk one through conducting research via correspondence and e-mail; working at home on an ordinary personal computer with internet access; and tapping into the resources of libraries, archives, and church and state records. Filled with useful websites and e-mail addresses as well as the newest facilities and records available, In Search of Your German Roots is a solid, easy-to-use, plain-terms manual, highly recommended especially for anyone just starting a research project.

5 comments about The Habsburgs.

1. Agree with reviews that the book is challenging in the way it's organized: around the figures rather than a chronological series of events. This can be confusing, and the family tree is very helpful in sorting out all the Rudolfs, Ferdinands, and Francis'. But I've always found history more interesting this way. Wheatcroft more or less achieves an overall character of the house of Hapsburg, a family that has lasted for the good part of the last millenium, never wavering in the assurance that its members are ordained by God to rule and to serve the people with their best interests. it is the blend of divine right and self-sacrifice that lends the Hapburgs their unique character. The opening of the book reads almost like historical fiction, but this narrative technique never reappears. And because of the scope of the subject, opportunities to delve into any one figure, no matter how important, are rare. But I found the portrayal of the family as a whole satisfactory, and the book can be read as an introduction to any figure interesting enough to warrant further research, such as the ill-fated Don Carlos.



2. I wanted to read this book as i am getting ready to visit Vienna in April. The book by Mr Wheatcroft is good because his account touches on several things that were really interesting.For example, the author explains the different personalities of the Holy Roman Emperors and Emperors of Austria.He also does a good job in explaining the times in which this emperors reigned which gives you a very good view of the circunstamces at that time. I also enjoyed the motivation behind important buildings for the Habsburgs like El Escorial in Spain and the Catacombs in St Stephen Church in Vienna.For someone who wants an introduction to the Habsburgs is a good books altough it has several flaws. One is that the author " jumps" from one event to another or from one emperor to the other.For example,he'll be talking about Charles V and all of the sudden he starts talking about his sons or future emperors without letting you know about it.I found myself going back several paragraphs to understand why he was doing that.Second, he doesnt really explain how the Holy Roman Empire gets started.He just mentions Charlemagne several times and the reader has to imagine the rest.His account sometimes is fast and sometimes is detailed which forced me to use other books with genealogies to help me understand which emperor is which and where does he come from.The other problem with this book is that it looks like the author thinks that the reader knows a lot of things so he doesnt describe or gives definition to events,people and places that i didnt know.For example, Metternich is mentioned really fast and just by his last name, so if you dont knoe who Metternich is, you'll have to look for him in another book to know who he is.Besides it's flaws, is a good book to get you started.



3. Those who are seeking an magisterial overview of how one dynasty came to control both Spain and parts of German-speaking Europe will be sadly disappointed. There is little analysis that adds any fresh insights.
   
   The writing style does not achieve the easy grace of Alison Weir, Diane Preston or David McCullough. Indeed, the sentence structured is tortured. Look up the genesis of the First World War, and this is what you get: "Although the line of succession had been assured, first to his nephew Franz Ferdinand (although that was to be overturned by the archduke's murder in Sarajevo) and then to his great-nephew, Karl, and eventually Karl's son Otto, Franz Joseph had come to see himself as standing at the end of the line."
   
   This is an unreadable book that should be avoided.



4. This book gives a reasonably coherent overview of a dynasty that was eminent and influential in European politics from the 13th to the early 20th centuries. The author maintains a more or less chronological order of who followed whom and presents a concise history of the events that occurred during their reign. He also presents some insights and facts about the personal characteristics and traits of the more noteworthy Hapsburg (or Habsburg, if you like) rulers. At appropriate places in the text he inserts applicabnle commentary and quotes by contemporary observers. The book also includes numerous paintings as figures throughout the book.
   
   The book is not as bad as some reviewers would lead you to believe. What I liked about it is that (to me, at least) it didn't get bogged down in tedious detail of each Hapsburg generation but gave the major facts and figures in an informative manner. Given that the Hapsburgs wielded power in Spain and Austria at the same time, I thought his treatment was informative without being boring. It would be nice if the author had inserted the applicable figure number for a view of the subject as he presented him (or her) but this is a personal preference.



5. Unlike most histories of the Austian-Spanish-Burgundian-Low Country-Holy Roman Emporers, who were the Habsburgs, this is the story of how they saw themselves (as working for their people at the behest of a Catholic God). Much is made as to how they viewed themselves and how they wanted to be viewed by posterity. In many ways they continued to 'right write' their history in the same manner that the Soviet Union did. It's not always what you put in a story that's important, it's how you present the information in the story that remains.
   
   Beginning with the small castle in Switzerland, the Habsbierge (hawk's mountain), they ruled over parts of Austria (originally Styria) for over 700 years. In between the scrupulously married and made dynastic mergers that would place them on the thrones of Spain (and most of the Western Hemisphere, parts of Africa and India),Portugal,Burgundy (parts of Belgium and the Netherlands), the Palatinate, Tuscany, Venice, Two Sicilies, Austria, Hungary, Bohemia-Moravia, Slovakia,half of Rumania(Transylvania) and most of future-once-Yugoslavia. In addition they married into every royal family in Europe.
   
   In fact, until the Napoleonic Era they never even used a title that refered to Austria, and only began because of the rise of nationalism and the growth of ethnicity. They were always trained to be a caretaker and to present the most benevolent face to their people, 'Empire and Father' was the byword. In the end they were outdone by the multi-ethnic problems of their empire and the changes wrought by the 'Great War'.