ARMS OF KRUPP, THE

Rating:
Summary: One of the Finest Histories of Recent Times
Review: William Manchester is by far one of the finest historians of his generation and this work, along with Death of a President and American Caesar have rightly made him famous. The Arms of Krupps joins this pantheon of great works by doing what few historical works of the post war generation even attempt: provide judgement. Too often modern historians confuse moral and intellectual ambiguity with objectivity. Part of any good work of history is the author saying what he thinks, given what he has presented, about the men, women and events covered in the work. This does not mean hiding or distorting facts but presenting all the relevant information, making a case for a particular point, and letting the reader make up his, or her, own mind. Manchester does this, to cite one example, by demonstrating that contrary to popular opinion Alfried Krupp was indeed responsible for war crimes committed at Krupp works throught out Germany, and the occupied territories, during WWII. What is equally impressive is the sheer volume of facts the author summons to defend his positions, the Nuremberg Trial of Alfried Krupp alone comprises some 100 pages of this nearly thousand page work. Yet despite the sheer volume of information presented The Arms of Krupp is never boring. Manchester possess an almost magical ability to make even the dullest events seem interesting all the while weaving together people, events and anectdotes to give the reader a remarable perspective. In one memorable, and ironical incident, a concentration camp survivor finds herself working as a concierge at the occupied Krupp mansion in late 1945 and early 1946.