Books Set in Europe: Germany

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin, by Erik Larson (2011)

In the Garden of Beasts takes the reader to Berlin, as Hitler, then Chancellor of Germany, began to consolidate his power. The title of the book, which is oddly apt for this dark period of German history, comes from the name of Berlin’s main park, which is called Tiergarten, which literally means the Garden of Beasts.

The book follows William Dodd, the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Germany, and his promiscuous 25-year-old daughter, Martha, during the course of their stay in Berlin.

When the German ambassadorship became vacant, no one the top tier, experienced diplomats in the political circles wanted the position. Seasoned diplomats could sense trouble was brewing in Germany. Dodd was approaching retirement as a history professor from the University of Chicago. It was his dream to complete a scholarly book, and he felt that being in German might afford him time to work on this project. Furthermore, he had studied in Germany as a young man and decided that this opportunity would be good for his entire family, which included his wife and two grown children.

The Dodds arrive in Germany before the world sees Hitler as the beast he will become. Many prominent Americans and Europeans admired him at this time. Others were more fearful, but couldn’t imagine that Hitler and his cronies could remain in power.

Dodd was unsuited for the ambassadorship. He tried to perform his duties while knowing that his scholarship was being brushed aside. In addition, the pay was relatively low and the expense account was almost non-existent. Most diplomats had their own source of income to support the lavish parties they were expected to throw. Dodd, however, was of modest means, and attempted to stay within the meager expense granted to him by the US government.

Martha Dodd, however, was enchanted by Germany. She was a free-spirit divorcée with several affairs behind her, including one with the American poet, Carl Sandburg. She quickly fell in line with young men belonging to the Nazi party. As the ambassador’s daughter, doors were opened to her and she quickly entered into the inner circle of the Nazi party. She partied with top Nazi officials, including Himmler and Goebbels. She also became intimate with the original commander of the Gestapo, the married Rudolf Diehls. She was casual about the politics that was surrounding her.

She found it amusing when her father allowed a Jewish family to live, hidden on the top floor of their Berlin residence. Finally, at the Night of the Long Knives, when Hitler arrested and murdered his rivals as well as some of his moderate supporters, the Dodds could no longer look away. Even Martha realized that the Germany scene she had so much enjoyed, had an evil core.

Larson scoured many sources for the writing of this book, including the diaries of William and Martha Dodd. It is a fascinating and horrifying slice of history.

Read: August 8, 2011