The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945

Finished, Michael Beschloss’ The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler’s Germany, 1941-1945. The book describes Franklin Roosevelt’s effort to win the war against Germany and the underlying theme of both punishing the Germans while at the same time preserving Germany and its heritage and the handoff of this mission to a largely unprepared Harry Truman.

A surprising aspect of the book was it’s continued focus on the role of Henry Morgenthau who was at one time one of President Roosevelt’s closest friends and Secretary of the Treasury. A secular Jew who embraced his race only as the true horror of Hitler’s Final Solution through the concentration camps became more and more apparent. Morgenthau’s famed show more plan to largely deindustrialize Germany and fashionista into a largely pastoral, farming society through his namesake Morgenthau Plan and the threat of the implementation of this to keep his Secretary of War Henry Stimson and Secretary of State Cordell Hull and later Edward Stettinus in line with his wishes for the future of Germany reconstruction.

An interesting perspective on the high level, loosely fashioned leadership style of Franklin Roosevelt a it’s diametrically opposed leadership style of Harry Truman.

A solid 4 star read. show less

I seriously loved this book! It is about the end of World War II from inside the White House and the goings on there. It was very well written and hugely informative! (And as there is references to almost everything I do believe that it is truthful as there is evidence to back up what the author states and he tells you where you can find the information!)

What I found most fascinating was seeing how FDR ran his White House and the thinking of his administration -- It looked a lot like our current administration in dealing with Iraq/Muslim countries! (That is no way a compliment!) I don't think Germany would have turned out the way it did if FDR hadn't been replaced -- It was unbelievable his thinking and way of running things! This man show more was elected four times?! show less

More about Morgenthau (SecTreas) than FDR or Truman, it is still interesting and well written.

3856. The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945, by Michael Beschloss (read 9 Feb 2004) Since I so enjoyed the author's The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev 1960-1963 when I read it on 25 Oct 2000 I could not resist reading this book. I found this a super-interesting read. It is "popular" history but very readable. I was amazed to find that the way Beschloss paints the picture one came to feel that it was fortunate that FDR died when he did, since he was so sick in the final weeks of his presidency--surely a contrast to my feelings when I lived thru that time.

informative, though tough sledding

"Vigorously written...This is history as it was spoken at the time,and there is not a dull page." The New York TImes Book Review."Editors Choice. Ours too.

Roosevelt and Truman's treatment of Germany after WWII