Witness to History: The Life of John Wheeler-Bennett

Description

Historian Sir John Wheeler-Bennett (1902–1975) was one of the twentieth century's most extraordinary political operators. Through an ability to make important connections, he became an authority on Germany in the inter-war years and knew all the German hierarchy, including Hitler and Hindenburg. He also was one of the last people to interview Trotsky, writing an important analysis of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union in 1917. As King George VI’s official biographer, he met and interviewed all the major leaders in the post-war period, including Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, and members of the Royal Family; he also supervised young Jack Kennedy’s master’s thesis.   With the first biography of Wheeler-Bennett Victoria Schofield has written a book tha will fascinate anyone interested in twentieth-century European history.   Contents Illustrations and Maps Acknowledgements 1. The Undertow of History 2. Youthful Illusions 3. International Traveller 4. The Tragedy of Weimar 5. Twilight 6. The Perils of War 7. Political Warfare in America 8. The Horrors of Peace 9. High Honour 10. The Sixties 11. Memories Notes Select Bibliography Index