Hitler and His Secret Partners: Contributions, Loot and Reward, 1933-1945 [Hardcover]

James Pool (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

Here, for the first time, is the full story of the financial calculation, exploitation, and greed at the core of the Third Reich, and of an amassed legacy that continues to make headlines with the recent emergence of Nazi accounts in Swiss banks. Discover the explosive truth about the men and women who provided Hitler with money and moral support - and what they received in return. Hitler and His Secret Partners reveals that the greatest tragedy of the twentieth century was driven in large part by economics - by the desire to board wealth as well as power. Those who reaped the rewards - whether peasant, prince or politician - share equally in the criminal consequences of Nazism. Meticulously researched and thoroughly documented, this remarkable and monumental volume is sure to provoke controversy and have a substantial impact for decades to come.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

James Pool's Hitler and His Secret Partners exposes Nazi financial machinations dating from Hitler's seizure of power in 1933 to the end of his dictatorship in 1945. In this sequel to his acclaimed Who Financed Hitler, Pool contends that "looting and plundering were the primary motives" of the Nazi elite, arguing that these men waged war and effected genocide in order to line their pockets.

While there have been dozens of explanations of the motives behind the murderous actions of the Third Reich, Hitler and His Secret Partners stands out for its focus on the sheer greediness of the Nazi regime and its collaborators. Pool thoroughly explores how German industrialists reaped immense profits from slave labor and conquest, arguing that Hitler's status among these powerful men was transformed from pampered front man to ruthless master. The most interesting contribution of this book is the story of how Hitler's financial partners spared German industry from the Führer's desperate plans for destruction and sealed his fate in the last days of the war.

Pool has furthered the argument of his previous book that lust for money must be counted among anti-Semitism and totalitarianism as the primary elements within Nazi ideology. Although readers will find a more comprehensive treatment of Nazi beliefs and Hitler's place within the Third Reich in Ian Kershaw's Hitler 1889-1933: Hubris, Hitler and His Secret Partners nevertheless demonstrates the importance of economic considerations within the Nazi state. --James Highfill --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

Orlando Sentinel Pool re-examine[s] the entire operation of the Third Reich -- including the Holocaust -- in economic terms....A persuasive argument that money, and not necessarily fanaticism and anti-Semitism, was at the heart of German ideology....

Associated Press An excellent book.

Anderson Independent-Mail (SC) For a concise, highly readable version of how World War II happened, it's hard to beat James Pool's Hitler and His Secret Partners....an excellent account of the road to war, the battles won and lost, and the fall of Nazi Germany....Pool...convey[s] these facts in a seamless narrative. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Atria; First edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671760815
• ISBN-13: 978-0671760816
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #923,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A concise examination of Hitler's motives and policies., February 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hitler and His Secret Partners: Contributions, Loot and Reward, 1933-1945 (Hardcover)

James Pool provides an alternative viewpoint to the history of the Nazi Regime by focusing on Hitler's economic motivations and policies. He illuminates many grey areas of the war by examing them from a perspective that pure military or political histories neglect. His writing style is a pleasure to read, probably to his detriment, as the simplistic style may convey the idea that this book is not well researched. However, those who are well-versed in the history of the Third Reich will recognize that a great deal of research has been condensed into a straightforward account of Hitler and his partner's actions. A must-read for modern history buffs.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hobo Philosopher, September 2, 2007

By 

Richard E. Noble (Florida Panhandle) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hitler and His Secret Partners (Paperback)

I have no doubt that most Americans will not believe much of what Mr. Pool outlines with regards to the allied support of Adolf Hitler. I have been doing considerable research on this subject and the more I dig, the worse it gets. And the damnable information comes from numerous varied and different sources. Most Americans have no idea. I am finding out that this book and Mr. Pool's first book on this subject contain more fact than fiction. Which is very, very sad and unfortunate for those of us who harbor any reasonable amount of patriotic fervor. All veterans of any war should read these two accounts by Mr. Pool.

Richard Edward Noble - The Hobo Philosopher - Author of:

America On Strike - A survey of Labor strikes in America

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Money interest and the Bottom Line!, November 20, 2000

By 

American_History_Rocks (Southeastern Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hitler and His Secret Partners (Paperback)

I've read both of Pool books, and I've found them both very insightful on the American, England and German "money" interest in the Nazi's rise to power. Without their backing, Germany would have fallen into a communist state in the early 1930s. Certainly, the high-powered money interest of Europe preferred the Nazi Party to the communist. This is why the "money" interest supported the Nazi party. Understanding this truth is key to understanding the Nazis rise to power.

We all know what Hitler's views were, but we haven't until Pool research, addressed what powerful forces were instrumental in his rise to power. As a history major, Pool represents what the craft of history is all about. A high recommended reading for anyone.