THE FRANCHISE: NEW YORK RANGERS, A CURATED HISTORY OF THE BLUESHIRTS by Rick Carpiniello

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023szfreiberger Sports, Uncategorized Leave a comment

NCAA HOCKEY: JAN 11 Rivalry on Ice - Yale v Harvard

In the spring of 1994 Howie Rose’s call of Stephane Matteau’s game winning goal against the New Jersey Devils sent the New York Rangers to the finals for the Stanley Cup. This would end the Blueshirts 54 year drought and was music to every tortured Ranger fan’s ears. The season and playoff run were magical, but it would lead to another drought now reaching three decades. For Ranger fans who lost the finals to the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, it has been a rough go, but the history of the organization has improved over the last few seasons, and many believe or hope that this could be the year that the Rangers hoist the Cup once again.

Rick Carpiniello, a sports reporter for THE JOURNAL and THE ATHLETIC from 1978 to 2021 new book THE FRANCHISE: NEW YORK RANGERS. A CURATED HISTORY OF THE BLUESHIRTS brings hockey to the forefront through a series of wonderfully reported essays about the organization’s championship close calls throughout the 1970s, finally winning the Cup in 1994, and its decline until the emergence of Henrik Lundqvist as the team’s goalie in 2012, Carpiniello’s monograph is based on intimate knowledge of the franchise forged through extensive relations with the players, coaches, and other members of the organization.

Captain Mark Messier receives the Stanley Cup after the Rang

(1993-94 season the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup)

Perhaps the most interesting aspects of Carpiniello’s book are his character studies ranging from Rangers General Manager and Coach Fred Shero, flamboyant winger, Ron Duguay to current players like Norris Trophy Winger Adam Fox and Chris Kreider. In each instance Carpiniello reaches for entertaining quotes, player opinions of different teams and players, team bonding, and the outrageous actions of different personalities.

Carpiniello begins with the famous 1978-9 season tease when it appeared the Rangers might finally break the curse that dated to 1940. They had defeated the dreaded New York Islanders in a series that created the chant Ranger fans employ to this day of “Potvin sucks.” However, despite defeating the Montreal Canadiens in the first game of the Stanley Cup finals, they went on to lose four straight providing Les Canadiens their fourth consecutive finals victory.

The author is right on as he describes the “disorganization of the organization” in the 1980s. Ownership had opportunities to trade for Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier much earlier than they finally did and refused. They hired a series of general managers and coaches who either did not fit the profile of their jobs and made decisions which in many cases are hard to fathom. Herb Brooks, the 1980 Olympic coach was a failure, Ted Sator was in over his head, Michel Bergeron was a bust, and Hall of Famer Phil Esposito, also known as “trader Phil,” made a series of poor trades and his record as a coach was not much better. The key person was Craig Patrick who was a GM and coach but was gone by the late 1980s but drafted the likes of Brian Leetch and Mike Richter. The savior of the 1980s was John Vanbiesbrouck, an excellent goalie who was in large part responsible for the few Ranger successes during the decade.

(Ranger defenseman Brian Leetch)

Carpiniello has a knack in developing stories about some interesting/flamboyant characters in his narrative. Names like Tie Domi, Joey Kocur, Ulf Samuelsson, perhaps the dirtiest player in hockey at the time, and Jeff Beukeboom come to mind. All were fighters, who had talented upside. Other key personalities that the author weaves in and out of this monograph are Neil Smith, the GM who traded for Mark Messier and signed free agent Sadam Graves. Smith would put together the team that finally won the cup under Mike Kennan’s leadership. Kennan became head coach, when then coach Roger Neilson, another interesting personality could not get along with Messier and was fired.

Adam Graves New York Rangers Autographed Game Action 8x10 Photo

(Ranger wing Adam Graves)

Carpiniello brings back many forgotten memories. A few that stand out include the switch in approach under Craig Patrick in the early 1980s from a mean fighting mentality to a skilled group of young players who were not large in stature nicknamed “the Smurfs.” Another important individual was Mike Kennan, a hard ass, controversial coach who upon arriving at MSG felt the Rangers were a soft team. Kennan immediately pushed to trade certain “soft” players who would go on to have tremendous careers with other teams. Names like Mike Gartner, Tony Almonte, Darren Turcotte, and James Patrick come to mind. No matter how much talent Kennan forced Smith to get rid of for second line players, in the end he molded the team by blending their talent and finally ending the “1940 chorus.” Despite his success, Kennan was seen as a “bastard” held beyond contempt by many in the Ranger organization. But, one must keep in mind it was Kennan who pushed Smith to acquire grinders like Matteau, Brian Noonan, and a bunch of Edmonton Oiler Stanley Cup champions.

(Ranger goalie”King” Henrik Lundquist)

The book recounts the magical playoff run that culminated in winning the cup with wonderful anecdotes and player stories. I remember exactly where I was the night they won and as many others have said “I can now die in peace!” However, it was a short dynasty as a new curse and/or drought began the next season which carries on to this day. To Carpiniello’s credit is description of the players, their talent and foibles for the next three decades is remarkable, and all I can say is god bless his memory!

The post-Cup period saw the arrival of Wayne Gretzky, but at the same time they let Messier go. Carpiniello is correct in describing the Ranger’s biggest problem as management as MSG president Dave Checketts who was in charge of the Knicks and Rangers knew nothing about hockey and it showed in his decision making.

Carpiniello digs deep into the second drought and the role of Glen Sather as GM and coach. Sather who built the Edmonton Oilers would eventually be successful with the Rangers, but not until he finally made the correct draft and trade decisions, particularly a 7^th round pick named Henrik Lundqvist who would backstop the team in goal for well over a decade beginning in the 2004-05 season. During this period fascinating new characters came on the scene, particularly emblematic is Carpiniello’s description of John Tortorella, which is priceless. The turnaround for the Rangers came in 2010-11 and from then on they were a sound playoff team which flirted with a cup run in 2013-14.

Chris Kreider Cam Talbot NY Rangers Wallpaper

(Ranger wing Chris Kreider)

At times, the author becomes emotional about certain players and events. Perhaps the most poignant coverage deals with 9/11 and the reaction of the players and how they interacted with first responders and New Yorkers in general. This aspect of the book reflects the wonderful working relationship that the author had with Ranger players.

In the latter part of the book Carpiniello zeroes in on two of the most important and creative approaches taken by the Ranger front office that coincided with a decline in the career of Henrik Lundquist. After a successful run from the 2008-09 season to the 2013-14 Cup final season the team went through its famous rebuild underscored by “the letter” to fans explaining the course the organization was about to take. New leadership came aboard that included John Davidson as President, Jeff Gorton as GM, and David Quinn as coach. Through a series of trades, i.e., acquiring Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, Mika Zibanejad, and Adam Fox; signing free agents, i.e., Artemi Panarin; resigning Chris Kreider, and significant draft choices like K’Andre Miller and Igor Shesterkin the foundation was set for the current Ranger Roster. When the rebuild did not progress as fast as he wanted, the impulsive Ranger owner, Dolan fired the three men who was responsible for the rebuild in large part to the machinations and violence perpetrated by Washington Capitals Tom Wilson, and brought in an entire new leadership team.

(Ranger wing Artemi Panarin, “the breadman!”

Overall, the book is a wonderful stroll down memory lane for Ranger fans with Carpiniello integrating wonderful vignettes, personal insights and observations which reflect a sense of humor, vast hockey knowledge, and a writing style that is easy to read. If there is one negative in Carpiniello’s approach, at times his narrative comes across as somewhat disjointed as many of his stories and observations lack cohesiveness. However, despite this minor criticism, the book is a wonderful gift for all Ranger fans.

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

FRANCE ON TRIAL: THE CASE OF MARSHAL PETAIN by Julian Jackson

September 1, 2023szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

At the trial of Marshal Philippe P��tain (1856-1951) at Paris (France). In July 1945.

(August 1945 Trial of Marshal Petain)

In 1969, the two-part documentary film, “The Sorrow and the Pity” directed by Marcel Ophuls depicting collaboration between the French Vichy government and Nazi Germany during World War II was released. Controversial from the outset, the film explored the reasons behind the collaboration, including anti-Semitism, Anglophobia, fear of Bolshevism and Soviet invasion, and the desire to acquire and maintain power during the German occupation. By the end of the war, the entire Vichy experience fostered a deep fissures in French society and no one depicted this state of affairs more than Marshal Philippe Petain, the great World War One hero at the Battle of Verdun who led the Vichy government and after the war became the lightning rod dealing with French collective guilt and retribution.

Petain is the focal point in British historian Julian Jackson’s latest work dealing with France during World War II entitled, FRANCE ON TRIAL: THE CASE OF MARSHAL PETAIN. In his comprehensive monograph Jackson zeroes in on Petain’s three week trial after France was liberated examining the central crisis of French history in the 20^th century – the collapse of France within six weeks after the Nazi invasion in April 1940; the signing of an armistice with Germany; and Vichy’s policy of collaboration.

(Pierre Laval)

Jackson begins his narrative providing a photograph of a picture of Petain and German Chancellor Adolf Hitler shaking hands on October 24, 1940, and describes the symbolic importance of that act- a propagandas coup for the Nazis and a shock for the French public. The result of that meeting meant that France was no longer a combatant in the war and was now considered neutral, though the French public assumed that the hero of Verdun must be working behind the scenes with the British or the French resistance led by General Charles de Gaulle. As Petain’s trial would show, he was not working behind the scenes with anyone and was collaborating with the Nazis no matter what his defense attorneys would argue. The word “collaboration” became controversial when used in a speech on October 11, 1945, no matter how many times Petain denied that characterization of his government, it is part of the historical record.

Jackson describes the trial which opened in Paris on July 23 and ended on August 15, 1945, in minute detail. He offers unique portraits of the major characters ranging from Petain; his lawyers, Jacques Isorni and Fernard Payen who despised each other, the prosecution led by Public Prosecutor Andre Mornet and Pierre Bouchardon; to Charles de Gaulle, Pierre Laval, and numerous other personages which include collaborators, members of the wartime resistance, and the role of past and future politicians like Paul Reynaud, Leon Blum, and Francois Mitterand. Jackson relies on trial transcripts, archival research, and most importantly to convey the mood of France during the trial and after, contemporary journalistic accounts.

(Paul Reynaud)

One of the key themes of the book was to decide whether Petain was a hero or a traitor. Each side in the debate had its own agenda. Some wanted to protect their reputations as many served the Vichy government, others wanted to maintain Petain’s reputation as the epitome of a French hero who had given his life in service to the French people. Taking place after Liberation, the trial witnessed the return of many French persons returning from deportation and forced labor and the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. Many call this period as the “Epuration,” or purge of the French body politick as so many had worked with and for the Germans.

Jackson draws a number of important conclusions drawn from interrogations of Petain. First, his answers reflected “a mixture of evasiveness or forgetfulness, self-delusion, blame shifting or mendacity, and self-pity….,” with some believing what else could be expected from an eighty-eight year old man. Since he was quiet at the trial, witness interrogation offered a glimpse as to what his real views were. Third, Petain’s hatred for Charles de Gaulle is readily apparent, though their earlier careers saw them working together. Fourth, his lawyers were at a disadvantage as Petain provided little to create a more positive narrative for the events between 1940 and 1944. Defense attorney Isorni had to invent the Petain that he needed as he had little to work with. Fifth, rivalries among former Vich courtiers remained intense, and lastly, when evidence emerged against Petain, blame would be shifted to Pierre Laval.

The Acte d”accusation zeroed in on Petain’s responsibility for signing the armistice on June 22, 1940, and three constitutional acts promulgated on July 11, 1940, which went beyond the powers that he had previously been given which lent credence to the idea that he was involved in a plot against the Republic before the war. The second charge dealt with tracing Petain’s treason after July 1940; for example, contributing to the German war machine, allowing the Germans to use French airfields in Syria, and firing on allied troops in North Africa in November 1942. Lastly, he was charged with being fully behind the “abominable racial laws” and creation of a special section to enforce them. All in all, he was guilty of attacking the internal security of the state and colluding with the Nazis to favor his own ambition which correlated with those of the enemy.

(Charles de Gaulle)

Jackson describes Petain’s demeanor during the trial which mostly appeared to be one of indifference, impassivity, as if he were in another world, though there were a few short outbursts defending himself. Petain’s defense argued that by collaborating Petain “cunningly outwitted the Germans while allowing the subordinates to pursue a secret resistance .” Further it was argued that Petain did not join the allies in North Africa after November 1942 because he believed his mission was to stay with his people. Petain was therefore a “sacrificial martyr who supposedly had secret contact with the British and secretly supported the allied landing in North Africa in November 1942. Lastly, Petain was not a “free agent,” he was answerable to Laval. In the end this defense was not effective.

As far as the fate of the Jews is concerned, very little was mentioned at trial. But, it is clear from the work of American historian Robert Paxton proves that under Vichy Jews were excluded from the civil service and other professions, the internment of Jews in the Unoccupied Zone, and the French carried out the arrest of Jews at the behest of the Germans. Interestingly, Jackson points out as occurred in other countries when Jews returned to their homes after the war the atmosphere became poisonous as they tried to reclaim their property. In fact, the Vichy Commissioner for Jewish Affairs, Louis Darquier (who Petain referred to as “the torturer), and the head of the French police during occupation, Rene Bousquet had no regrets concerning their role in sending Jews to Auschwitz and other camps.

An area of controversy discussed involves the United States which hoped to woo Vichy away from the Germans. The US had diplomatic relations with Vichy and during the trial Washington was afraid that old wounds would be brought out, particularly French distrust for the United States. Historian William Langer tried to whitewash the American relationship with Vichy, but Jackson, Paxton and others reported the truth of American complicity with Vichy.

Apart from the trial itself, Jackson vividly portrays the anguish of retribution as those who had collaborated with the Nazis found themselves spit upon, physically attacked, had their heads shaved, and criminally charged for their actions. The period following the trial makes up a quarter of the book whereby the author describes how Petain’s supporters continued to fight to resurrect his reputation and place in history, even after he died and is buried on the French island of Il’ Yeu.

(Francois Mitterand)

After the trial ended and Petain was imprisoned on the island the physical trial may have ended for Petain, but not for France. Petainists and anti-Petainists continued the arguments presented at trial through various organizations, publications, and the personal agendas of many. One of the more interesting characters was Charles De Gaulle who seemed to want the support of both sides. Isorni continued the fight trying to exhume Petain’s body and have it moved to the national cemetery at Douaumont to be buried with other heroes of Verdun and petitioning for a new trial to overturn Petain’s conviction. Petain remained a “political football” for decades after his death forcing politicians to make decisions which remained problematic as many French persons refused to let his actions go undefended.

It is clear that what is referred to as France’s “darkest hours” according to Agnes Poirier in her The Guardian, review of June 11, 2023, was one of cowardice, bad faith, dishonor and moral ambivalence.” I agree with her further characterization that “what is chilling in Jackson’s beautifully researched and meticulous account of the trial is the hopeless mediocrity of almost all people involved in it: from judges and jurors (résistants and parliamentarians) to lawyers’ prosecutors and witnesses. Everybody seemed animated by petty or self-serving feelings; they were either out of their depth or spineless, but above all most were morally ambivalent. Before it began, De Gaulle had presciently talked of Pétain’s trial as a ‘lamentable but inevitable’ event.” If you have an interest in exploring France’s greatest moral downfall in its modern history then Jackson’s comprehensive efforts should satisfy.

“As Jackson explains: “De Gaulle knew he was on thin ice when claiming that Vichy was illegal. For that reason, he generally preferred to talk about legitimacy.” In the end, the difference between Petain and De Gaulle, between Vichy and the Free French, was their idea of honor. France’s duty had been to fight on whatever the risks, whatever the sacrifices. De Gaulle and his army of resistance saved France’s honor by the skin of their teeth. And as far as this French citizen is concerned, Petain and his clique can rot in hell for eternity.”

(August 1945 Trial of Marshal Petain)

Can Democracy be Saved? Comparing the 1917-1921 and 2017-2021 Periods

April 10, 2023April 10, 2023szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

I will be teaching a mini-course dealing with the above title. If anyone is interested I have posted this course description and brief bibliography.

Steven Z. Freiberger, Ph.D

www.docs-book.com

George Santayana has stated: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” it is as true today as it has been at any time in our history. Catastrophic warfare, plague, racism, anti-immigration, political divisions bordering on violence are all present today, but it is not an aberration in American history. The purpose of this class is to explore a unique comparison between our current situation and a similar one that existed roughly a century ago. Subjects such as World War I, the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, anti-immigration attitudes resulting in violence, lynchings, political repression involving over 1000 arrests, people accused of treason etc., sound familiar? All will be compared to our contemporary life and how America emerged from this cataclysm a hundred years ago, and hopefully how can be reengaged and overcome what we face today. While lecture-based, the course will rely on a great deal of class discussion.

Classes:

April 19, 2023 1917-1921: Woodrow Wilson’s administration, World War I and its Aftermath,

and the Rise of Intolerance in American Politics and Society.

April 26, 2023 2017-2021: Donald Trump’s administration, the Bifurcation of America, and its

Impact for the Future.

May 10, 2023 Psychological Profile of Donald Trump

BRIEF BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Abutaleb, Yasmeen; Paletta, Damian. NIGHMARE SCENARIO: INSIDE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC THAT CHANGED HISTORY

Akerman, Kenneth D. THE YOUNG J. EDGAR HOOVER, THE RED SCARE, AND THE ASSAULT ON CIVILIBERTIES

Alexander, Dan. WHITE HOUSE, INC.: HOW DONALD TRUMP TURNED THE PRESIDENCY INTO A BUSINESS

Avrich, Paul. SACCO AND VANZETTI: THE ANARCHIST BACKGROUND

Avrich, Paul and Karen. SASHA AND EMMA

Baker, Peter; Glasser, Susan. THE DIVIDER: TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE 2017-2021

Barnes, Harper. NEVER BEEN A TIME: THE 1917 RACE RIOT THAT SPARKED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

Berg, Scott. WILSON.

Brands, H.W. WOODROW WILSON

Coben, Stanley. A. MITCHELL PALMER: POLITICIAN

Cooper, John Milton, Jr. WOODROW WILSON

Davis, Julie Hirschfeld; Shear, Michael D. BANNED: INSIDE TRUMP’S ASSAULT ON IMMIGRATION

Draper, Robert. WEAONS OF MASS DELUSION: WHEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LOST ITS MIND

Fleming, Thomas. THE ILLUSION OF VICTORY: AMERICA IN WORLD WAR I

Ginger, Ray. THE BENDING CROSS: A BIOGRAPHY OF EUGENE VICTOR DEBS

Guerrero, Jean. HATEMONGER: STEPHEN MILLER, DONALD TRUMP AND THE WHITE NATIONALIST AGENDA

Haberman, Maggie. CONFIDENCE MAN: THE MAKING OF DONALD TRUMP AND THE BREAKING OF AMERICA.

Heckshear, August. WOODROW WILSON: A BIOGRAPHY

Hochschild, Adam. AMERICAN MIDNIGHT: THE GREAT WAR, A VIOLENT PEACE, AND DEMOCRACY’S FORGOTTEN CRISIS

House Judiciary Committee. THE JANUARY 6^TH REPORT

Isikoff, Michael; Corn, David. RUSSIAN ROULETTE: THE INSIDE STORY OF PUTIN’S WAR ON AMERICA AND THE ELECTION OF DONALD TRUMP

Johnston, David Cay. THE MAKING OF DONALD TRUMP

Krehbiel, Randy, TULSA 1921

Lee, Brandy, M.D. THE DANGEROUS CASE OF DONALD TRUMP

Lee, Phyllis Lee. EDITH AND WOODROW: THE WILSON WHOTE HOUSE

Lemire, Jonathan. THE BIG LIE: ELECTION CHAOS, POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM, AND THE STATE OF AMERICAN POLITICS AFTER 2020

Leonnig, Carol; Rucker. I ALONE CAN FIX IT: DONALD J. TRUMP’S CATASTROPHIC FINAL YEAR

Madigan, Tim. THE BURNING: MASSACRE, DESTRUCTION, AND THE TULSA RIOT OF 1921

MacMillan, Margaret. PARIS 1919: THE SIX MONTHS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

McAdams, Dan P. THE STRANGE CASE OF DONALD J. TRUMP: A PSYCHOLOGICAL RECKONING

McLaughlin, Malcom. POWER, COMMUNITY AND RACIAL KILLING IN EAST ST. LOUIS

Miller, Nathan. NEW WORLD COMING: THE 1920S AND THE MAKING OF MODERN AMERICA.

Murray, Robert K. THE RED SCARE: A STUDY IN NATIONAL HYSTERIA, 1919-1920

Okrent, Daniel. THE GUARDED GATE: BIGOTRY, EUGENICS AND THE LAW THAT KEPT TWO GENERATIONS OF JEWS, ITALIANS, AND OTHER EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS OUT OF AMERICA

O’Brien, Tim. TRUMP NATION: THE ART OF BEING THE DONALD

O’Toole, Patricia. WOODROW WILSON AND THE WORLD HE MADE.

Schier, Steven. THE TRUMP EFFECT: DISRUPTION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES FOR US POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Schmidt, Michael. DONALD TRUMP: THE UNITED STATES: INSIDE THE STRUGGLE TO STOP A PRESIDENT

Stelter, Brian. HOAX: FOX NEWS AND THE DANGEROUS DISTORTION OF TRUTH

Unger, Craig. THE HOUSE OF TRUMP THE HOUSE OF PUTIN

Washington Post. THE MUELLER REPORT

Weissmann, Andrew. WHERE LAW ENDS: INSIDE THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION

Woodward, Bob, Costa, Robert. PERIL

THE WAR IN UKRAINE: A PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY

April 18, 2022April 18, 2022szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

Building in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, have been severely damaged by Russian shelling. — (Mykolaiv, Ukraine)

This Fall I will be teaching a course for OLLIE, part of the University of New Hampshire extension program. The class will deal with the current war in Ukraine and will explore the Collapse of the Soviet Union; Vladimir Putin: A Profile; the Expansion of NATO; and the current war in Ukraine. I am preparing a bibliography and I am posting it in case anyone might be interested.

Applebaum, Anne RED FAMINE: STALIN’S WAR ON UKRAINE

Aron, Leon YELTSIN: A REVOLUTIONARY LIFE

Ben-Ghiat, Ruth STRONGMEN: MUSSOLINI TO THE PRESENT

Belton, Catherine PUTIN’S PEOPLE: HOW THE KGB TOOK BACK RUSSIA AND THEN TOOK ON THE WEST

Browder, Bill FREEZING ORDER: A TRUE STORY OF MONEY LAUNDERING, MURDER, AND SURVIVING VLADIMIR PUTIN’S WRATH

__________. RED NOTICE: A TRUE STORY OF HIGH FINANCE, MURDER AND ONE MAN’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

Burgis, Tom KLEPTOPIA

Colton, Timothy J. YELTSIN: A LIFE

Dawisha, Karen PUTIN’S KLEPTOCRACY

Clover, Charles BLACK WIND, WHITE SNOW: THE RISE OF RUSSIA’S NEW NATIONALSIM

D’ Anieri, Paul UKRAINE AND RUSSIA: FROM CIVILIZED DIVORCE TO UNCIVIL WAR

Feifer Gregory THE GREAT GAMBLE: THE SOVIET WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

Freeland, Chrystia THE SALE OF THE CENTURY: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Gessen, Masha THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE: THE UNLIKLEY RISE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN

____________. THE FUTURE IS HISTORY: HOW TOTALITARIANISM CLAIMED RUSSIA

____________. SURVIVING AUTOCRACY

Goldman, Marshall L. PETROSTATE: PUTIN, POWER, AND THE NEW RUSSIA

A woman attends military training for reservists — (Ukrainaian civilians fight)

Gorbachev, Mikhail MEMOIRS

Hill, Fiona THERE IS NOTHING FOR YOU HERE: FINDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE 21^ST CENTURY.

Hill, Fiona; Gaddy, Clifford G. MR. PUTIN: OPERATIVE IN THE KREMLIN

Judah, Ben FRAGILE EMPIRE: HOW RUSSIA FELL IN AND OUT OF LOVE WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN

Knight, Amy ORDERS TO KILL: THE PUTIN REGIME AND POLITICAL MURDER

Koffler, Rebekah PUTIN’S PLAYBOOK: RUSSIA’S SECRET PLAN TO DEFEAT AMERICA

Myers, Steven L. THE NEW TSAR: THE RISE AND REIGN OF VLADIMIR PUTIN

Plokhy, Serhii THE GATES OF EUROPE: A HISTORY OF THE UKRAINE

___________.THE LAST EMPIRE: THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SOVIET UNION

Pomerantsev, Peter NOTHING IS TRUE AND EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE

Sarotte, M. E. NOT ONE INCH: AMERICA, RUSSIA, AND THE MAKING OF THE POST-WAR STALEMATE

Service, Robert KREMLIN WINTER: RUSSIA AND THE SECOND COMING OF VLADIMIR PUTIN

Stent, Angela PUTIN’S WORLD: RUSSIA AGAINST THE WEST AND WITH THE REST

Short, Philip PUTIN* (to be published July 26, 2022)

Stent, Angela PUTIN

Snyder, Tim BLOODLANDS: EUROPE BETWEEN HITLER AND STALIN

____________. THE ROAD TO UNFREEDOM: RUSSIA, EUROPE, AMERICA

____________. ON TYRANNY

Taubman, William GORBACHEV: HIS LIFE AND TIMES

Yaffaf, Joshua BETWEEN TWO FIRES: TRUTH, AMBITION, AND COMPROMISE IN

PUTIN’S RUSSIA

Volkogonov, Dmitri AUTOPSY FOR AN EMPRE: THE SEVEN LEADERS WHO BUILT THE SOVIET REGIME

Vindman, Alexander HERE, RIGHT MATTERS: AN AMERICAN STORY

Yovanovitch, Marie LESSONS FROM THE EDGE: A MEMOIR

Zhadan, Serhiy MESOPOTAMIA

_____________. THE ORPHANAGE

Zubok, Vladisslav M. A FAILED EMPIRE: THE SOVIET UNION IN THE COLD WAR FROM STALIN TO GORBACHEV_____________. COLLAPSE: THE FALL OF THE

BIBLIOGRAPHY: NORMANDY TO COLD WAR: HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

February 4, 2022szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

Dr. Steven Z. Freiberger, www.docs-books.com. Please keep in mind this is a partial list and by no means is comprehensive for the topic. It does provide many choices that coincide with the course.

Acheson, Dean PRESENT AT CREATION

Ambrose, Stephen D-DAY: JUNE 6, 1944-THE CLIMACTIC BATTLE OF WORLD WAR II

_______________. BAND OF BROTHERS

Atkinson, Rick THE GUNS AT LAST LIGHT: THE WAR IN WESTERN EUROPE, 1944-1945

Beevor, Anthony D-DAY: THE BATTLE FOR NORMANDY

_____________. ARNHEM: THE BATTLE FOR THE BRIDGES, 1944

_____________. ARDENNES 1944: THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

_____________. THE FALL OF BERLIN 1945

Butler, Susan ROOSEVELT AND STALIN

Caddick-Adams, Peter SAND AND STEEL: THE D-DAY INVASION AND THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE

__________________. SNOW AND STEEL: THE BATTLE OF THEBULGE, 1944-1945

Castigliola, Frank ROOSEVELTS LOST ALLIANCES: HOW PERSONAL POLITICS HELPED CAUSE THE COLD WAR

D’Este, Carlos DECISION IN NORMANDY

Eisenhower, John THE BITTER WOODS: THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

Gaddis, John L. THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR 1941-1947

Gardner, Lloyd C. ARCHITECTS OF ILLUSION

______________. SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

Hamilton, Nigel FDR’S FINAL ODYSSEY: D-DAY TO YALTA 1943-1945

Harbutt, Fraser J. YALTA 1945: EUROPE AND AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS

______________. THE IRON CURTAIN: CHURCHILL, AMERICA AND THE ORIGINS OF THE COLD WAR

Hastings, Max OVERLORD: D DAY AND THE BATTLE FOR NORMANDY

___________. DAS REICH: THE MARCH OF THE 2^ND SS PANZER DIVISION THROUGH FRANCE IN JUNE 1944

___________. ARMAGEDDON: THE BATTLE FOR GERMANY, 1944-1945

Holland, James NORMANDY ’44: D-DAY AND THE EPIC BATTLE FOR FRANCE

Keegan, John SIX ARMIES IN NORMANDY

Kelly, John SAVING STALIN: ROOSEVELT, CHURCHILL, AND STALIN AND THE COST OF ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE

Kershaw, Alex THE FIRST WAVE: THE D-DAY WARRIORS WHO LED THE WAY TO VICTORY IN WORLD WAR II

___________. THE LONGEST WINTER: THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND THE EPIC STORY OF WORLD WAR II’S MOST DECORATED PLATOON

___________. THE BEDFORD BOYS: ONE AMERICAN TOWN’S ULTIMATE D-DAY SACRIFICE

Kershaw, Ian THE END: THE DEFIANCE AND DESTRUCTION OF HITLER’S GERMANY, 1944-1945

Kershaw, Robert LANDING ON THE EDGE OF ETERNITY: TWENTY-FOUR HOURS AT OMAHA BEACH

MacDonald, Charles B. A TIME FOR TRUMPETS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

Mastny, Vojtech THE COLD WAR AND SOVIET INSECURITY

McCullough, David TRUMAN

McManus, John C. THE DEAD AND THOSE ABOUT TO DIE: D-DAY, THE BIG RED ONE AT OMAHA BEACH

______________. THE AMERICANS AT D-DAY: THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AT THE NORMANDY INVASION

McMeekin, Sean STALIN’S WAR: A NEW HISTORY OF WORLD WAR II

Milton, Giles SOLDIER, SAILOR, FROGMAN, SPY, AIRMAN, GANSTER, KILL OR DIE

__________. CHECKMATE IN BERLIN

Miscamble, Wilson D. FROM ROOSEVELT TO TRUMAN: POTSDAM, HIROSHIMA AND THE COLD WAR

Plokhy, S. M. YALTA: THE PRICE OF PEACE

Preston, Diana EIGHT DAYS AT YALTA: HOW CHURCHILL, ROOSEVELT, AND STALIN SHAPED THE POST-WAR WORLD

Reynolds, David FROM WORLD WAR TO COLD WAR: CHURCHILL, ROOSEVELT END THE INTERNATIONAL HISTORY OF THE 1940s

Roberts, Geoffrey STALIN’S WARS

Ruane, Kevin CHURCHILL AND THE BOMB IN WAR AND COLD WAR

Ryan, Cornelius THE LONGEST DAY

_____________. THE LAST BATTLE

_____________. A BRIDGE TOO FAR

Scarborough, Joe SAVING FREEDOM: TRUMAN, THE COLD WAR, AND THE FIGHT FOR WESTERN CIVILIZATION

Schrijvers, Peter THOSE WHO HOLD BASTOGNE

Smyser, W. R. FROM YALTA TO BERLIN THE COLD WAR STRUGGLE OVER GERMANY

Steil, Benn THE MARSHALL PLAN: THE DAWN OF THE COLD WAR

Sterne, Gary THE COVERUP AT OMAHA BEACH: MAISY BATTERY AND US RANGERS

Symonds, Craig NEPTUNE: THE ALLIED INVASION OF EUROPE AND THE D-DAY LANDINGS

Wieviorka, Oliver NORMANDY: THE LANDINGS TO THE LIBERATION OF PARIS

August 13, 2021szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

“Walk With Eloise Freiberger” our wonderful granddaughter

Page Media

This letter may not seem appropriate for a website that focuses on books, but the cause is so very important I thought I would post it. If you are not interested please disregard since I do not personally know most of you. Thank you for your consideration.

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know, our wonderful granddaughter, Eloise, now three years old, was diagnosed with cancer two months before she turned two years of age. Her type of cancer is known as a Wilm’s tumor, a juvenile type of kidney cancer. She was admitted to Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York for three weeks and then another three weeks at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital where she underwent six radiation treatments and another six months of chemotherapy.
Eloise did not deserve cancer. Why her? Our families think about this often, but why anyone? No one deserves cancer. Yet so many of us have been impacted ourselves by family members and friends who have battled the disease. Unfortunately, one of Eloise’s “MSK Big Sisters” has just been readmitted to MSK to undergo further chemo and cell transplants as her cancer has returned.
So friends and family, help us give hope and better options to the kids and families that will be affected by pediatric cancer.

Pediatric cancer research is wildly underfunded, receiving just 4-5% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget. Most progress has been made through private funding of research such as the Kids Walk. We were surprised to learn that many of Eloise’s medications were developed in the 1970s and her treatment protocol in the 1980s. While we are eternally grateful for the unparalleled care Eloise received at MSK Kids, we want better options for young people everywhere. Every dollar raised through Kids Walk for MSK Kids goes directly to research.

In that spirit Ronni and I would like to support our children, Josh and Caryn and help raise money for MSK through the “Walk With Eloise” on September 25th where we will walk one mile along the Brooklyn waterfront in honor of the sacrifices made, by children and families before us, so that Eloise’s treatment would be possible.
If you are interested in contributing to this vital cause please click on http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/walkwitheloise to make a gift toward eradicating pediatric cancer.

Thank you for your consideration,
Ronni and Steve

AMAZON UNBOUND: JEFF BEZOS AND THE INVENTION OF A GLOBAL EMPIRE by Brad Stone

July 23, 2021July 23, 2021szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

Amazon headquarters located in Silicon Valley Jan 24, 2020 Sunnyvale / CA / USA - Amazon headquarters located in Silicon Valley, San Francisco bay area Amazon.com Stock Photo

Remember when Amazon first came online in 1995, they would discount books by 33-40%. This pricing lasted for a good 10-15 years then the discounts were reduced under the theory that once they conditioned you as a customer, they could slowly increase their profit margins. After a year of Covid-19 restrictions Amazon’s popularity and bottom line boomed as people were sequestered at home. Today the discount on books is usually 10-15%, and sometimes less, reflecting Amazon’s commitment to the bottom line. Only speaking of book pricing, but I have noticed similar trends with other products. The question is how we arrived at the present juncture, who is responsible, what are the historic trends when it comes to Amazon, and lastly what role has Jeff Bezos played in the process. These questions are answered in full along with a partial biographical portrait of Bezos and how he built Amazon into the most dominant consumer source in the world and a company worth $1.76 trillion today in Brad Stone’s new book, AMAZON UNBOUND: JEFF BEZOS AND THE INVENTION OF A GLOBAL EMPIRE.

Stone, the senior executive editor of global technology at Bloomberg News has written an in depth account of Amazon’s phenomenal growth from 2010 through 2021 focusing on the managerial style of Jeff Bezos and his incredible ability to support, develop, and implement projects that would be worth billions. Stone also digs deeply into the culture at Amazon and its mantra of putting the customer first, however, that “bumper sticker” is disingenuous as its record of employee safety, philanthropy, and demanding a certain belief system from executives and others reflects.

WIRED25 Summit: WIRED Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Tech Icons Of The Past & Future — (Jeff Bezos)

Bezos’ genius and overbearing personality are on full display in Stone’s account. According to the author the watershed year for Amazon’s overwhelming dominance in multiple markets with varied products is 2010. From its inception through 2010 Amazon was not a very profitable company, but the infrastructure groundwork for what Bezos was able to achieve was in place. Stone covers every facet of the Amazon experience and how it developed into the economic behemoth it is today. Stone delves into the development of Alexa, Kindle, Amazon Go, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon advertising, the creation of Fulfillment Centers, its success in India, development of third party sellers, and the purchase of Whole Foods and the Washington Post in detail.

Bezos was the driving force behind Amazon’s technology innovations harnessing artificial intelligence, robotics, and other ingenious developments. However, his management style pushed his engineers to the breaking point in many instances and his nasty commentary when not happy at meetings are legend. Bezos could be “remorseless with those that did not meet his exacting standards, but he seemed to have an unusual wellspring of patience for those who practiced the challenging act of invention.” Bezos gets a great deal of the credit for the Amazon experience and success, but he had tremendous executive talent and engineers to work with. Stone explores the work of people such as Dilip Kumar, Greg Hart, Andy Jassy, Dave Clark, Jeff Wilke, Stephanie Landry among many others. Bezos and his deputies believed that algorithms could do the job better and faster than people. In many ways it explains the insensitivity that exists at Amazon toward certain employees especially in Fulfillment centers.

Amazon's Newest Robotics Fulfillment Center Holds Grand Opening In Orlando : News Photo — (Amazon Fulfillment Center)

According to Stone the ultimate goal was turning Amazon’s retail business into a self-service technology platform that could generate cash with a minimum amount of human intervention. In accomplishing their mission, a number of negatives emerge. Stone’s research uncovers a male dominated culture at Amazon reflected in the lack of women in upper echelon positions. Women complained about the working environment and deals made with the likes of Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Tomba, and Ray Price all for naught. Female anger emerged at the same time the “Metoo” movement gathered momentum as sexual inuendo, jokes, touching etc. came to the fore. Casting a net around Amazon working conditions and treatment of employees also does not enhance the company’s reputation. The use of robotics at Fulfillment Centers created repetitive motion/health issues; pressure on workers to gather products quickly and package them; worker performance was monitored by tyrannical invisible robots, poor benefits and low pay, periodically firing people at the lowest level of the employee chain, in addition to the constant threat of termination, all take the luster off of Amazon’s workplace propaganda. Further, Bezos and company are very anti-union and went out of their way to expand in areas, i.e.; airplane procurement and location which were also anti-union. During the pandemic when Amazon’s work force passed one million and its annual earnings exceeded $380 billion as sales rose by 37%, the company pursued a virulently anti-union policy. A way to sum this up is that the monograph highlights genius, innovation, and greed.

Stone is not a stylist, but he has the ability to explain a great deal of technical jargon in a very easy manner. Whether explaining the role of artificial intelligence in the creation of Alexa or Amazon Go the reader can easily comprehend the arguments presented at executive conferences and meetings, particularly those of engineers. Stone explores numerous topics aside from the development of new products or strategies that in the end created billions in sales and profits. A key part of his discussion is not to reinforce the role of retail in Amazon’s success but focus on “Cloud Computing” which generated the revenue to fuel Amazon’s supercharged expansion. As Mark Levinson points out in his review in the Washington Post, “with cloud computing, an organization can rent computers, programmers and security experts from an external provider such as Amazon instead of maintaining its own data centers. Amazon pioneered cloud computing in the early 2000s, and by the 2010s it was easily the market leader. Bezos divined that finding new uses for Amazon’s burgeoning cloud infrastructure was the key to the company’s future.”

Bloomberg's Best Photos 2014 : News Photo — (Amazon workers)

Stone’s discussion of the location process for a second headquarters when difficulties developed in Seattle with the city government and the ability to expand facilities is eye opening reflecting Amazon’s insensitivity toward local government. In addition, the chapter on Amazon Web Services which became the most profitable component of the company is key as was the formation of their own advertising strategy and the creation of an airplane fleet and purchase of delivery vans to bring about next day delivery.

The Amazon story is one of amazement. How could one company become so powerful economically and culturally as most people seem to consult Amazon on a daily basis, even before the onset of Covid-19 which would allow Amazon to expand exponentially as people had few alternatives to acquire products they needed while they quarantined. By the end of 2020 “Amazon boasted a $1.6 trillion market cap and Jeff Bezos was worth more than $190 billion. His wealth had increased more than 70% during the pandemic…a breathtaking achievement.” Stone stresses that the key aspect of how this was achieved was Bezos’ management style as his underlings knew if the boss had an idea, it was their job to bring it to fruition which in most cases they did. To his credit Stone has laid out the Amazon success story for the general public, but also its warts. Though at times the narrative gets bogged down in details it is worth the read if you wonder when you “click” how did it come to that action by your finger for everything you need.

THE LOST BOYS OF MONTAUK: THE TRUE STORY OF THE WIND BLOWN, FOUR MEN WHO VANISHED AT SEA AND THE SURVIVORS THEY LEFT BEHIND by Amanda M. Fairbanks

July 2, 2021szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

Montauk Lighthouse and beach - Stock Photo - Images — (Montauk Light House, Montauk, Long Island)

Today Montauk, NY located on the eastern tip of Long Island finds itself in the middle of a major transition. First, it is a vacation/tourist spot with million dollar homes and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, Block Island Sound, and numerous freshwater ponds. Second, are the locals who try to maintain the quaintness and hope to prevent the “Hamptonization” of their town. It is a struggle as the commercial fishing boats still ply the waters that surround the area, but also it is exposed to more and more people who either settled in year round because of Covid-19 which allowed them to work virtually from anywhere, or others who used their second homes to escape the pandemic that overwhelmed New York City.

In her new book, THE LOST BOYS OF MONTAUK: THE TRUE STORY OF THE WIND BLOWN, FOUR MEN WHO VANISHED AT SEA, AND THE SURVIVORS THEY LEFT BEHIND, Amanda M. Fairbanks, a former reporter for the East Hampton Star and New York Times creates a history of the Montauk region as she presents the lives of Michael Stedman, David Connick, Michael Vigliant, and Scott Clarke who perished at sea on March 29, 1984, and the ramifications of those deaths for those left behind. Fairbanks examines the profound shift of Montauk from a working class village. “a drinking town, with a fishing problem,” to a playground for the wealthy. In addition, the author explores why a fishing accident forty years ago still resonates so strongly in the minds of locals.

MONTAUK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 13, 2013: Montauk Lost at Sea Memorial by the Montauk Point Lighthouse at the edge of Long Island, New York.

MONTAUK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 13, 2013: Montauk Lost at Sea Memorial by the Montauk Point Lighthouse at the edge of Stock Photo

The book is a heartwarming and judicious account of the accident, what led up to it, how the different personalities involved interacted, and the implications for the future for survivors. The motivating force in the story is Mike Stedman, a young man who was married to the water. Whether he was surfing, running a party boat, or becoming a commercial fisherman, Mike was an intense individual who seemed to know what he wanted and did not want anything to get in his way. His goal in life was to own his own boat and stop working for others, and in 1982 he purchased the “Wind Blown,” a commercial boat out of Freeport, TX. His wife Mary felt bad karma from the outset, and many believed that the boat which had three previous owners and suffered mechanical difficulties on the trip back from Texas, was not seaworthy enough to engage in commercial shipping in the North Atlantic.

The crew of the Wind Blown formed a brotherhood despite their varied backgrounds economically and socially. Michael V. and Scott C. were young deckhands from a hardscrabble background while Michael S., and Dave C. came from a privileged background. Mike and Dave bonded easily as they shared poor relationships with their straight laced fathers and just wanted to be part of the water which their parents could not accept. The four men worked as a team, many times to exhaustion as bringing in tilefish was very lucrative in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Fairbanks does a marvelous job explaining the rigorous life of commercial fishermen and its impact on their families.

On March 28, 1984, the National Hurricane Service in New York posted a gale warning, later it issued a winter storm warning as the Montauk Light House reported wind gusts of over 100 mph. The Wind Blown which had been out to sea for a few days headed back to Montauk and ran into a full blown nor’easter, the worst since 1962. In describing how the crisis transpired, the author relied on extensive research that included interviews with family members, friends, and local townspeople. What was clear is that the four young men were well liked and respected throughout the community. This was highlighted by many contributions that helped pay for the search and rescue operations performed by private groups once the Coast Guard had pronounced that the ship and men had vanished.

(Mary and Mike Stedman and their first child, Chris, in about 1974)

Fairbanks integrates a study of the socio-cultural nature of the region, even providing a history of the tilefish’s migratory patterns and the money it brought to commercial fisherman. She also focuses on the Maidstone Club and its history to highlight the economic dichotomy that existed as well as racism and anti-Semitism. It was a club the Connick’s belonged to and it was the epitome of “old money.” Fairbanks provides insights into many of the characters who spent most of their lives in Montauk and its environs. Most were fisherman, bar owners, surf shop owners and the like who formed a special bond who resented many of the interlopers that began to pour into Montauk. Throughout one must keep in mind that Montauk is the largest commercial harbor in New York State. Its home to the greatest sports fishing on the east coast – species such as shark, tuna, and marlin proliferate at certain times of the year which attracted many outsiders.

The issue of closure for survivors is an important theme that Fairbanks develops. It is a very complex situation emotionally when no bodies were located, though parts of the Wind Blown and its crews’ personal effects were found. The Coast Guard did conduct a full five day search that included the Air National Guard and the US Navy. Twenty fishing boats, five planes, and three helicopters scoured the 25,000 square miles of ocean between Block Island and the Delaware coast to no avail. Once completed the privately funded search continued for another ten days, but is that enough for closure? For many to this day the snuffing out of four promising young lives is still hard to accept.

To Fairbanks’ credit unlike other books on boating disasters she focuses more on the living than the dead. She also is able to seamlessly integrate the cultural upheavals of the 60s and 70s and the impact on the crew and their families, in addition to the rift between townies and the weekend set from New York. Fairbanks writes that she “wanted to understand how tragedies become imprinted in our memories, how trauma and grief wend their way through generations and become a kind of inheritance bequeathed to our descendants.” If this was her goal, she has accomplished it with a well written and poignant book that exhibits a great deal of love, but tremendous sorrow and grief.

Historic American Lighthouses - Montauk New York — (Montauk Light House, Montauk, Long Island)

HITLER’S JEWISH SOLDIERS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF NAZI RACIAL LAWS AND MEN OF JEWISH DESCENT IN THE GERMAN MILITARY by Bryan Mark Rigg

June 12, 2021June 12, 2021szfreiberger Uncategorized Leave a comment

r/Colorization - Werner Goldberg as 'Ideal German Soldier' (from Berliner Tageblatt, 1939) Mischling ancestry — (Werner Goldberg, a Mischlinge seen as the ideal Aryan soldier)

For years I taught Holocaust history and showed my students the film “Europa, Europa” based on the life of Slomo Perel, a story about a young Jewish boy who joins the Hitler Youth and winds up in the Wehrmacht as a means of avoiding persecution and death. I often wondered how many other young Jews did the same and fought for the Nazi regime. The answer to that question is clearly laid out in Bryan Mark Rigg’s study, HITLER’S JEWISH SOLDIERS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF NAZI RACIAL LAWS AND MEN OF JEWISH DESCENT IN THE GERMAN MILITARY.

Mischlinge is defined as “half caste, mongrel or hybrid,” the key term that permeates Rigg’s narrative and the vehicle used to categorize half and quarter Jews as designated by the Nazis after the Nuremberg Blood Laws of 1935. According to Rigg perhaps 150,000 Mischlinge served in the German military and Adolf Hitler played a central role in the process.

As Rigg develops his narrative a number of things become clear. The Nazi reaction to racial laws was not consistent and, in many cases, appeared hypocritical as many Nazis including Hermann Goring, Head of the Luftwaffe did not conform to racial laws. Many military officials believed that half and quarter Jews were experienced and excellent soldiers who they would need in combat and found Hitler’s anti-Semitism to be irrelevant to the Wehrmacht. The war was paramount and the use of Mischlinge at least up until the invasion of Russia in June 1941 was the primary concern of German generals. Following the summer of 1941 more and more Mischlinge would be thrown out of the Wehrmacht and deported to die in Hitler’s ovens as Martin Bormann, a rabid anti-Semite who opposed the concept of the Mischlinge serving in the German military would become Hitler’s secretary and right hand man.

wehrmacht soldier with grenade — (Wehrmacht soldier)

Riggs is determined to explain that the lack of uniformity on the part of Nazis toward Mischlinge was very confusing for these half and quarter Jews and created an Eriksonian identity crisis as they suffered from extreme role confusion. Many realized that the only way to survive was to enlist or be drafted into the Wehrmacht and prove themselves to be brave and outstanding soldiers. They believed that this could save their families in addition to themselves. Many tried to shed their Jewishness as soon as society allowed and others who fought for Austria and Germany in World War I believed that the assimilation they achieved through their service would assist them. In the end this approach did not save most from death, though a large number did survive some through luck, some through perseverance and playing the Nazi system ingeniously, and lastly, some received special exemptions from Hitler himself who was intimately involved in categorizing people reflecting his obsession over racial policy.

Riggs approach to his topic does not lead to a smoothly written monograph. In fact, it reads like a well cited dissertation as he relates countless examples of individuals within the Wehrmacht, the Nazi hierarchy, and Jewish citizens who were greatly affected by Nazi racial policy and the categorization of the Mischlinge. Riggs stresses the confusion felt by Nazi leadership as the Mischlinge were part German and could be a significant asset in the war. But Hitler despised most of them as he saw them as invisible and with the ability to infect the Aryan with their inferior blood.

For the Mischlinge themselves they would be deprived of citizenship, the rights to sleep with Aryans, university education, etc. The racial laws forced Mischlinge to dramatically alter their lifestyle “causing many to live without confidence.” The result was numerous divorces as people tried to protect themselves, children disowned, and many grandparents rejecting their grandchildren. In this instance Riggs needs to provide more than anecdotal evidence in discussing how families were destroyed and how individuals came to terms with their loss of identity.

For the Nazis it was very difficult to identify Mischlinge and further they did not have the necessary resources to accomplish the task. Riggs does provide a historical breakdown of the number of Jews that had fought in the Franco-Prussian War, World War I, and other conflicts to arrive at his 150,000 figure which seems accurate. For the Mischlinge most were unaware they were even Jewish until after 1933.

Riggs effort is well researched. He provided voluminous foot notes, a strong bibliography, in addition to interviewing over 400 Mischlinge and their relatives, and received access to many of their personal records, both in their possession and government archives.

Despite the valuable information that Riggs provides the title of the book is misleading as historian Richard J. Evans argues that the monograph is not about Jews as is commonly understood, but about Mischlinge or people that were categorized as half or quarter Jews, many of which were unaware that they were Jews in the first place. These people were neither Jewish by their own identity, religious law, or even Nazi law. The book’s title is a teaser because it appears to the uninformed that the book is about Jews in the Wehrmacht which is not accurate and many of these Mischlinge were anti-Semites themselves. Interestingly as historian Jeremy Noakes argues less than 10% of half Jews saw themselves as Jewish, and only 1.2% of quarter Jews considered themselves as Jewish. Riggs had an opportunity to explore the nature of Jewish identity beyond Nazi definitions, but he chooses to forgo that opportunity. Further, Riggs relates that with few exceptions, none of the men he interviewed had any idea of the abuse and massacres that occurred as the Nazis tried to exterminate German and European Jewry. Riggs concludes that “like most other Germans, many Mischlinge knew about deportation, but did not equate them with systematic murder.” Further, Mischling serving in the Wehrmacht did not understand what was happening to their loved ones. Most claimed they learned what happened to their relatives after the war.

Riggs is successful in digging up a great deal of fascinating detail, but he does not really add to the historiography of Nazi Germany except for Hitler’s obsession with minute points of racial doctrine and how that concern was translated and executed by Wehrmacht leadership and German soldiers in general. I agree with David J. Fine in his H-Net Review in the Humanities and Social Sciences of July 2004 that the book “will be of interest to students of the Wehrmacht and Nazi racial policy, [but] it falls short of exploring the bigger questions of the role of Jews in supporting the Nazi state or of German soldiers’ acknowledgement of their role as perpetrators in the Holocaust.”

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