Michael R. Beschloss

Finished, Michael Beschloss’ The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler’s Germany, 1941-1945. The book describes Franklin Roosevelt’s effort to win the war against Germany and the underlying theme of both punishing the Germans while at the same time preserving Germany and its heritage and the handoff of this mission to a largely unprepared Harry Truman.

A surprising aspect of the book was it’s continued focus on the role of Henry Morgenthau who was at one time one of President Roosevelt’s closest friends and Secretary of the Treasury. A secular Jew who embraced his race only as the true horror of Hitler’s Final Solution through the concentration camps became more and more apparent. Morgenthau’s famed plan to largely deindustrialize Germany and fashionista into a largely pastoral, farming society through his namesake Morgenthau Plan and the threat of the implementation of this to keep his Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Secretary of State Cordell Hull and later Edward Stettinus in line with his wishes for the future of Germany reconstruction.

An interesting perspective on the high level, loosely fashioned leadership style of Franklin Roosevelt a it’s diametrically opposed leadership style of Harry Truman.

A solid 4 star read.… (mais)