How the Beasts Took Over the Zoo

Well, this week I decided to stop reading the Laurie R. King book and start reading the latest book I have by Erik Larson, In the Garden of Beasts, about an American family's experiences in Berlin during 1933-34.  As ever, Mr. Larson does a great job making historical events seem alive to us today. I've read most of his other books, and they are all very well written.

In the Garden of Beasts is a very disturbing portrait of Germany, a country that was in the mid-1930s changing rapidly into the frightening world power that it became by the dawn of WWII. William E. Dodd was an American professor who became ambassador to Germany in 1933 because no one else wanted the job. He ended up spending seven years at his post, but the first year was during a crucial time in world history.  It is this year that Erik Larson chronicles.

What's most disturbing (and interesting) about the story is how easy it was for Hitler to convince the world to go along with him and his attacks on many of his own citizens.  Each escalation of violence and curtailment of human rights was a seemingly small step, the accumulation of which was gradual enough that people who were alarmed allowed themselves to be mollified by the excuses (some of them quite threadbare) offered by the regime.

The book really gets into detail about the principal players in government during this time, both German and American, and the discussions that were going on among the diplomatic corps over what to do about Germany's actions. What should have been seen as clear cut aggressive acts and build up for war were characterized by most officials of our government as necessary actions and Germany's business.

For some reason, we were afraid of making Germany mad at us.  Even when more and more Americans were being attacked by brown shirts and other Nazi zealots, we did not warn people not to travel to Germany because we feared tarnishing Germany's reputation in the world!

There were a few people in high office who saw the handwriting on the wall, but those who did were ignored or discredited, one by Mr. Dodd himself.

An interesting aspect of this book is the side story of Dodd's family, who accompanied him on his posting; in particular, Larson focuses on Dodd's grown daughter, Martha, who enjoyed partying with the Nazis.  She was especially averse to criticizing the Germans, and reading her words you want to just shake her and say, "Wake up!"

I'm about half way through the book and it's about to turn 1934.  Since I don't know much about this era in Germany, I'm in suspense about what will happen next.  The book is riveting.  I can't stop reading it, but it's the kind of fascination you have for a terrible auto accident or a horrific murder scene. You want to turn your head, but also to look, to see it all in its grisly detail.

I'll let you know how things are going for Germany and the Dodds next week. Stay tuned!