This is an extract from the Historical Background section of Lebensborn, the second book in the series, The Addlestone Chronicles.
Joachim von Ribbentrop is mentioned on several occasions in Addlestone and Lebensborn. He was a sycophantic supporter of Hitler, who advised him on foreign affairs. His only credential for his job as diplomat, apart from his outspoken and total loyalty to Hitler, was that he had travelled abroad as a wine exporter in the 1920s. Joseph Göbbels said in his diary, “Von Ribbentrop bought his name, he married his money, and he swindled his way into office.” In August 1936, he was appointed Ambassador to the British Court of St James with instructions to negotiate an Anglo-German Alliance. In February 1938, he became German Foreign Minister, a post he retained until the end of the war. In June 1945 he was arrested and charged with being instrumental in starting WWII and enabling the Holocaust. He was found guilty at the Nuremberg trials and on October 16th 1946, became the trial’s first defendant to be hanged.
Adolf Hitler and the former US president seem to believe cronyism and fealty rather than expertise and experience is the proper way to make political and judicial appointments.
Joachim von Ribbentrop is mentioned on several occasions in Addlestone and Lebensborn. He was a sycophantic supporter of Hitler, who advised him on foreign affairs. His only credential for his job as diplomat, apart from his outspoken and total loyalty to Hitler, was that he had travelled abroad as a wine exporter in the 1920s. Joseph Göbbels said in his diary, “Von Ribbentrop bought his name, he married his money, and he swindled his way into office.” In August 1936, he was appointed Ambassador to the British Court of St James with instructions to negotiate an Anglo-German Alliance. In February 1938, he became German Foreign Minister, a post he retained until the end of the war. In June 1945 he was arrested and charged with being instrumental in starting WWII and enabling the Holocaust. He was found guilty at the Nuremberg trials and on October 16th 1946, became the trial’s first defendant to be hanged.
Adolf Hitler and the former US president seem to believe cronyism and fealty rather than expertise and experience is the proper way to make political and judicial appointments.
