Rudolf von Ribbentrop

In this memoir, the son of Nazi Germany’s foreign minister looks back on his life, examining their relationship and his father’s role in World War II.

On 16 October 1946, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Hitler’s wartime Foreign Minister, was executed at Nuremberg, convicted on four counts including deliberately planning a war of aggression and war crimes.

In this first English language edition of his memoirs, Rudolf von Ribbentrop candidly describes his relationship with his father when he was the German Ambassador in London and during the war years. Von Ribbentrop was an often-isolated figure among the Nazi elite. In his final report from London, von Ribbentrop informed Hitler that he was convinced Great Britain would fight for its position in the world. He went on to play a key role in forging the short-lived pact with Stalin’s Soviet Union.

Far from being uncritical, the author sets out to paint an objective picture of his father’s role. His unique position sheds light on the unfolding dramatic events leading up to, and then the execution of, the Second World war. While the author briefly describes his personal experiences including his war service with the SS, it is the insight this work provides into top-level decision-making at the heart of the Third Reich that will appeal most to both historians and laymen.