Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful History Of Germany's Foremost Arms Maker
Review: "The Arms Of Krupp" is the incredible biography of a powerful and incredibly rich and powerful family that was central in the advent and progress of European history for the more than four hundred years they presided as an almost imperial force within the boundaries of what is present-ay Germany. Certainly no other non-royal dynasty engenders such controversy and hotly expressed differences in opinion than does the multiple generations of this critically based family so critical to the development and technological capabilities of the German war machine. Of course, no one could do a better job at providing a definitive historical biography of the Krupp family than William Manchester. This is truly a magnificent book, a spellbinding story splendidly told by a master of English prose, rendered in a flawless, comprehensive, and objective treatment of this fascinating, often outrageous, and sometime imperious string of Krupp family member who ignited the wars raging in Europe in terms of their ability to provide the motherland with such complex, ingenious, and technically superior weapons of war. This is, in fact, considered a masterwork of history, an eminently readable and elegantly stylish work by Manchester, a master of the trade. Manchester, a retired history professor at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, is widely regarded as one of this country's preeminent biographers and historian. The Krupp dynasty was extinguished in 1967, when the last surviving family member passed away. With his death the legacy of a four hundred year span of contribution to the European armaments industry came to an end, and so brought to a conclusion a tradition spanning wars and quite profoundly influencing outcomes of European history for centuries. The Krupp Arms conglomerate was technologically innovative, devising new weapons such as a superior cannon to an anti-air vehicle weapon designed to counter the reconnaissance capabilities of aerial observation balloons to exotic and much more capable submarines, which they then built for over four decades. In so doing, they became fabulously rich, and rose to become extremely influential and exceedingly conservative voices within the realm of German political circles. No German leader could hope to marshal the resources or the weapons of war necessary to mount a military campaign without first gaining the trust, confidence and support of the Krupp family, which then cleverly and cynically manipulated this influence to vastly enrich themselves. During World War One, their cannons helped to flatten the French city of Verdun, and at one point succeeded in lobbing projectiles into Paris from as distant a location as some eighty miles away, an unheard-of innovation at the time. Aiding the Third Reich in its secret rearmament effort after the end of the First Word War, they provided a much advanced tank design that eventuated in the Panzer tank, used subsequently so successfully in Hitler's blitzkrieg through France in the summer of 1940. They were quite influential within the German society as well, having armed the forces of Kaiser Wilhelm for battle before World War One, and then surreptitiously backed Hitler financially in the so-called terror-campaign" of 1933. Incredibly, the Krupps participated in the war crimes of the Third Reich, even controlling and operating more than 130 concentration camps during the war. Afterwards, they help to rebuild Europe in the eventual development of the European Common Market. This is a truly fascinating book written with all of the usual style and substance one come s to expect of William Manchester, and it is certainly a book I can highly recommend to anyone with an interest in European history. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful History Of Germany's Foremost Arms Maker
Review: "The Arms Of Krupp" is the incredible biography of a powerful and incredibly rich and powerful family that was central in the advent and progress of European history for the more than four hundred years they presided as an almost imperial force within the boundaries of what is present-ay Germany. Certainly no other non-royal dynasty engenders such controversy and hotly expressed differences in opinion than does the multiple generations of this critically based family so critical to the development and technological capabilities of the German war machine. Of course, no one could do a better job at providing a definitive historical biography of the Krupp family than William Manchester. This is truly a magnificent book, a spellbinding story splendidly told by a master of English prose, rendered in a flawless, comprehensive, and objective treatment of this fascinating, often outrageous, and sometime imperious string of Krupp family member who ignited the wars raging in Europe in terms of their ability to provide the motherland with such complex, ingenious, and technically superior weapons of war. This is, in fact, considered a masterwork of history, an eminently readable and elegantly stylish work by Manchester, a master of the trade. Manchester, a retired history professor at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, is widely regarded as one of this country's preeminent biographers and historian. The Krupp dynasty was extinguished in 1967, when the last surviving family member passed away. With his death the legacy of a four hundred year span of contribution to the European armaments industry came to an end, and so brought to a conclusion a tradition spanning wars and quite profoundly influencing outcomes of European history for centuries. The Krupp Arms conglomerate was technologically innovative, devising new weapons such as a superior cannon to an anti-air vehicle weapon designed to counter the reconnaissance capabilities of aerial observation balloons to exotic and much more capable submarines, which they then built for over four decades. In so doing, they became fabulously rich, and rose to become extremely influential and exceedingly conservative voices within the realm of German political circles. No German leader could hope to marshal the resources or the weapons of war necessary to mount a military campaign without first gaining the trust, confidence and support of the Krupp family, which then cleverly and cynically manipulated this influence to vastly enrich themselves. During World War One, their cannons helped to flatten the French city of Verdun, and at one point succeeded in lobbing projectiles into Paris from as distant a location as some eighty miles away, an unheard-of innovation at the time. Aiding the Third Reich in its secret rearmament effort after the end of the First Word War, they provided a much advanced tank design that eventuated in the Panzer tank, used subsequently so successfully in Hitler's blitzkrieg through France in the summer of 1940. They were quite influential within the German society as well, having armed the forces of Kaiser Wilhelm for battle before World War One, and then surreptitiously backed Hitler financially in the so-called terror-campaign" of 1933. Incredibly, the Krupps participated in the war crimes of the Third Reich, even controlling and operating more than 130 concentration camps during the war. Afterwards, they help to rebuild Europe in the eventual development of the European Common Market. This is a truly fascinating book written with all of the usual style and substance one come s to expect of William Manchester, and it is certainly a book I can highly recommend to anyone with an interest in European history. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Cannon Kings
Review: As business histories go, "Arms of Krupp," an 800 page indictment of the Krupp steelworks dynasty (and the regimes that supported it), is a bizarre saga. After a brisk prologue that takes us from 1587 through to the beginning of the nineteenth century, we first meet Alfried Krupp, "Cannon King" and warmonger, a man who believed fresh horse manure was good for the lungs and whose radical cannon designs laid the basis for Prussia's victories in the Austrian and French wars. Next we meet Gustav Krupp, suspected pederast, whose likely suicide only barely saved him from tabloid disgrace. Then to Gustav von Bohlen und Halbach, an "adoptive" Krupp, chosen by the Kaiser to marry the surviving female heir, Bertha (who gave her name to the "Big Bertha" 410 mm cannon of World War One). Finally -- and this is the book's real focus -- we turn to Alfried Krupp, the last Krupp to run the Essen steelworks. Manchester gives over about 1/3 of the book to detailing Alfried's involvement in the Nazi slavery racket and his subsequent conviction for war crimes. As Manchester shows, the Krupp crimes were at least as serious, if not worse, than those of I.G. Farben, and it is nothing short of extraordinary that Alfried von Krupp was pardoned by the American military governor. Krupp went on to refloat the Krupp works, only to see it collapse under a mountain of debt in 1968. This is a book that takes us from the giddy heights of nineteenth century robber baron-ism to the full unmitigated horrors of the Nazi war complex, and manages to mix humour (for much of the early Krupp saga is frankly hilarious) with deep compassion and sensitivity to the victims of the war. A tour de force.
Rating:
Summary: Publisher - Shame on You!
Review: Now in the twilight of his years Manchester has revealed he lacks the mental focus necessary to complete his trilogy on the life of Winston Churchill (while heroically fending off his publisher's suggestion that he graft on a co-author to complete it). In its zeal to conjure some way to make more money off the Manchester name, is it perhaps time for this publisher to ponder why one of the greatest biographers and historians in memory can only be read by combing the bins of used bookstalls or grasping the dog-eared library tome? The Arms of Krupp (out of print), and many others of the canon are seminal works with a devoted readership. Perhaps the right marketing opportunity simply has yet to strike. Making a movie (and a bad one at that) about Pearl Harbor popped even the questionable Gordon Prange back into prominence. Clearly, in these days when book publishers are conveniently tied into the entertainment world as a matter of corporate domain, the lonely vigil of the Manchester devotee must await the serendipity of Hollywood. Until then, Mr. Manchester I laud you with the words of one still in print: "To me fair friend you can never be old,
For as you were when first your eye I eyed,
Such seems your beauty still."
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant history
Review: Ralph Nader never took on a big corporation even remotely as evil as the Krupp company was during World War Two. Germany's leading arms manufacturer used slave labor to keep the nation's armies supplied, and didn't particularly care whether the slaves lived or died. The conditions were atrocious. If a worker died on the factory floor, the body was carried out and another slave put in its place. They were starved, beaten and ultimately had no hope of survival short of Germany's defeat. The most surprising thing is that Alfred Krupp, the President of the company during this period, was not only released a mere three years after his conviction at Nuremburg, but given his fortune and company back! This has to rate as one of the worst miscarriages of justice that occurred because of the Cold War. Manchester's book is lengthy, but very readble. Overall, it shows the profit motive at its most reprehensible.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Seeing what this book was about, I thought it had no chance of holding my interest. However, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Manchester really makes this history read like a first class novel.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: Seeing what this book was about, I thought it had no chance of holding my interest. However, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Manchester really makes this history read like a first class novel.
Rating:
Summary: Sweeping
Review: This book is a must read for anyone interested in a history of Germany. Not only does Manfield give an impressive story of the Krupp dynasty, but he also provides a broad history of the events that led to the unification of the German states, German international affairs, the interlocking relationship of German industry and government, a good history on the iron industry. The writing style is smooth and easy to read - Manfield also provides the translation of German words into English which is very important to readers not fluent in such a language - it seems that most other writers assume the reader to be fluent in French, Italian, German, Russian, etc. Don't be mistaken in thinking that this book is only about the history of Krupp - it is much more - it is an impressive work on the rise of the German Empire.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Finest Histories of Recent Times
Review: This is an excellent and erudite study of the Krupp family from the first Krupp in the 16th century to the last in the 1960s. A brilliantly researched and marvelously told story of a family whose fortunes mirrored the rise and fall of Germany from 1850 onwards. Krupp armaments played an important role in the defeat of France under Napoleon III and in the arming of the Second Reich leading to World War One. Their role in the Third Reich is examined minutely and it is quite clear that the company was vitally important in rearming Germany after Versailles and by supporting Hitler from an early stage played an odious part in the Wermacht's wars of conquest. There is great deal of detail of the company's disgusting role in the maintenance of its own concentration camps and the firm's use of slave labor and its consequent appalling brutality. Despite being convicted at Nuremberg, Alfried Krupp spent only a few years in prison (when others who were arguably guilty of less heinous crimes were hanged) but was released soon after imprisonment to help provide steel to and to bolster the economy of Western Europe in response to the Communist threat. From there he regained his empire only to loose it when the company went bust. Manchester is very good at showing how many Germans and others in the West chose to whiten Alfried's guilt by ignoring the Nuremberg record and by feeding misinformation. My only complaints about the book are, firstly, that it is inordinately long. I think the book could have been at least 100-200 pp shorter. I really did wonder whether I was ever going to get through it. There are many occasions when he spends a great deal of time comparing, say Alfried's actions to those of his great grandfather Alfred - I found this a little wearing, especially since we can do that ourselves by looking back in the book. On the other hand the scholarly accumulation of fact by Manchester is very impressive and part of the power of the book. Secondly, having just said this about the excessive length, I really did feel that I missed having more technical information about the products that Krupp made. For example, Manchester talks about the howitzers that bombarded Paris in 1870, but the information about them is very hazy and the picture in the book of the 1918 Paris gun is not of the Paris gun at all (more a large railcar mounted naval weapon). Big Bertha's are covered, but I for one wanted to know more about them. The picture again is very uninformative (in fact it may not be one of them at all). There is talk of 88's, Panzers and Panthers, but we never see them or really get to grips with what was so feared about them. I think it is immediately obvious from reading the book that Manchester, although an exceptional historian, journalist and writer, is not an engineer and this is a shame bearing in mind the legendary nature of many of Krupp's products. An appendix of Krupp's most famous products would have been useful. Basically though I would recommend this book to all who have a more than a casual interest in European history, but just be warned this is not something undertaken too lightly.
Rating:
Summary: How the manufacturing family influenced the shape of Germany
Review: This is an excellent book about a family struggle. It looks lengthy however; I am waiting for a sequel. One of the things I like to do is to read books that become movies and movies that are novelized. You are right this would have to be a mini-series. Ha, I will bet you did not notice that in the book William Manchester mentions that the movie "Major Barbara"; the only play actually written by George Bernard Shaw was modeled on the Krupp family.
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