On the Road to the Wolf's Lair: German Resistance to Hitler

A lot has been written on this topic over the years; however, with Prof. Hamerow's name on the cover of this book, the reader is promised historical scholarship of the highest order, and a new take on the conspiracies between 1940-44. This treatise is indeed indispensable to a proper understanding of what went on in Germany and the German resistence. Additionally, it is written in a style which carries the reader forward, and makes it hard to put the book down. Highly recommended by this reader.

Contrary to popular understanding, the members of the German military, civil service, and church who opposed Hitler in 1944 had little allegiance to democratic principles, and had mostly welcomed National Socialism. Some quickly became disillusioned by Nazi barbarism. Others were inert until their beloved Germany seemed doomed to total destruction. Many, interestingly, were not opposed to the goals of National Socialism, but only to its policies or methods. In the end, as martyrs, they became symbols of a new, united, democratic Germany. Their complex and evolving history is well told in this thorough and highly readable account, which will be essential for students of the German resistance, and of interest to anyone concerned with the history of Nazi Germany. (The "score" rating is a fault of the format. This reviewer does not "score" books.)