In The Garden Of Beasts - Part 21
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Part 21

23 "The consul," Phillips replied: Phillips to Proskauer, Aug. 5, 1933, vol. 17, p. 40, "The consul," Phillips replied: Phillips to Proskauer, Aug. 5, 1933, vol. 17, p. 40, Archives of the Holocaust Archives of the Holocaust.

The exchange of letters between Phillips and Proskauer, pages 3246, makes compelling reading, for both what is said and what is not said. On the one side, deploying statistics and dispa.s.sionate prose, is Phillips, who, as we have seen, disliked Jews. On the other was Proskauer, a judge, whose careful prose seems clearly to be masking a scream of anguish.

24 One result, according to Proskauer: Dippel, 114; Proskauer to Phillips, July 18, 1933, vol. 17, p. 36, One result, according to Proskauer: Dippel, 114; Proskauer to Phillips, July 18, 1933, vol. 17, p. 36, Archives of the Holocaust Archives of the Holocaust.

Proskauer tells Phillips, "The well-known fact that only a negligible number of U.S. quota visas have been issued in recent years, and are believed to be likely to be issued, other than to relatives of U.S. citizens, has prevented applications being made by German Jews, believed in advance to be futile...."

25 It was an argument: Breitman and Kraut, 14. It was an argument: Breitman and Kraut, 14.

26 "The German authorities": Dodd, "The German authorities": Dodd, Diary Diary, 5.

27 Dodd insisted: Ibid. Dodd insisted: Ibid.

28 "You are quite right": Ibid. "You are quite right": Ibid.

29 Here at the State Department: Dallek, 191; Stiller, 33, 3637; Kershaw, Here at the State Department: Dallek, 191; Stiller, 33, 3637; Kershaw, Hubris Hubris, 47374.

30 "Forty-Page George": Stiller, 5. "Forty-Page George": Stiller, 5.

Jay Pierrepont Moffat, Western European affairs chief, left the following entry in his diary for Oct. 6 and 7, 1934: "Sat.u.r.day afternoon being cold and rainy, I was sitting home reading through Messersmith's four last personal letters (that does not sound like an afternoon's job but it took nearly two hours)...."

31 "has probably ever existed": Messersmith to Hull, May 12, 1933, Messersmith Papers. "has probably ever existed": Messersmith to Hull, May 12, 1933, Messersmith Papers.

32 "Responsibility has already changed": Ibid., 15. See also Messersmith to Hull, June 19, 1933, Messersmith Papers. "Responsibility has already changed": Ibid., 15. See also Messersmith to Hull, June 19, 1933, Messersmith Papers.

In his June 19 dispatch, Messersmith wrote, "The primary leaders have under the sobering influence of responsibility become steadily more moderate in practically all of their views and have in many ways endeavored to translate this moderation into action."

33 "I have tried to point out": Messersmith to Phillips, June 26, 1933, Messersmith Papers. "I have tried to point out": Messersmith to Phillips, June 26, 1933, Messersmith Papers.

34 "Pleasing, interesting person": Diary, June 15, 1933, Carr Papers. "Pleasing, interesting person": Diary, June 15, 1933, Carr Papers.

35 distaste for Jews: Weil, 41. distaste for Jews: Weil, 41.

36 "He is extremely sure of his opinion": Moffat, Diary, June 15, 1933. "He is extremely sure of his opinion": Moffat, Diary, June 15, 1933.

37 Undersecretary Phillips grew up: Phillips, "Reminiscences," 3, 50, 65, 66, 99; Phillips, Undersecretary Phillips grew up: Phillips, "Reminiscences," 3, 50, 65, 66, 99; Phillips, Ventures Ventures, 4, 5, 183.

In "Reminiscences," the transcription of an oral history interview, Phillips (on pages 23) stated, "The Boston that I grew up in was limited to friends who lived on the Hill and in the Back Bay district. The community was self-centered-we lived surrounded by cousins, uncles and aunts and there was no incentive to discuss national or world affairs.... I must say it was a very pleasant place in which to grow up, but it was a very easy and indulgent life. We saw no signs of poverty.... We were in fact on a sort of island of well-being...."

38 "They have all felt that they belonged": Weil, 47. "They have all felt that they belonged": Weil, 47.

39 "I am sorry": Dodd to John D. Dodd, June 12, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers. "I am sorry": Dodd to John D. Dodd, June 12, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers.

40 "this great honor from D.C.": John D. Dodd to Dodd, June 15, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers. "this great honor from D.C.": John D. Dodd to Dodd, June 15, 1933, Box 2, Martha Dodd Papers.

41 "A rather sorrowful day": Dodd, "A rather sorrowful day": Dodd, Diary Diary, 8.

42 Dodd feared: Dallek, 194; Floyd Blair to Jay Pierrepont Moffat, June 28, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. Dodd feared: Dallek, 194; Floyd Blair to Jay Pierrepont Moffat, June 28, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers.

43 A letter from a prominent Jewish relief activist: George Gordon Battle to Dodd, July 1, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. See also telegram, Battle to Dodd, July 1, 1933, Box 40. A letter from a prominent Jewish relief activist: George Gordon Battle to Dodd, July 1, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. See also telegram, Battle to Dodd, July 1, 1933, Box 40.

44 "There was much talk": Dodd, "There was much talk": Dodd, Diary Diary, 9.

45 "For an hour and a half": Ibid. "For an hour and a half": Ibid.

46 During this meeting: Chernow, 37475, 388. During this meeting: Chernow, 37475, 388.

47 "I insisted that the government": Dodd, "I insisted that the government": Dodd, Diary Diary, 9.

48 The news was humbling.: Ibid., 10. The news was humbling.: Ibid., 10.

49 "the Jews should not be allowed to dominate": Ibid., 10. "the Jews should not be allowed to dominate": Ibid., 10.

50 "The Jews, after winning the war": Crane to Dodd, June 14, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. "The Jews, after winning the war": Crane to Dodd, June 14, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers.

51 Dodd partly embraced Crane's notion: Dodd to Crane, Sept. 16, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers. Dodd partly embraced Crane's notion: Dodd to Crane, Sept. 16, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers.

52 "Let Hitler have his way.": Dodd, "Let Hitler have his way.": Dodd, Diary Diary, 11.

53 A dozen or so reporters: Ibid., 11. A dozen or so reporters: Ibid., 11.

54 By this point he had begun: Ibid., 7. By this point he had begun: Ibid., 7.

55 "a disproportionate amount of sadness": Dodd, "a disproportionate amount of sadness": Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 17.

Chapter 5: First Night.

1 Martha continued to cry: Dodd, Martha continued to cry: Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 1718.

2 She saw Hitler as "a clown": Ibid., 10. She saw Hitler as "a clown": Ibid., 10.

3 As a student at the University of Chicago: Ibid., 5. As a student at the University of Chicago: Ibid., 5.

4 "I was slightly anti-Semitic": Ibid., 5. "I was slightly anti-Semitic": Ibid., 5.

5 One poll found: Breitman and Kraut, 88. One poll found: Breitman and Kraut, 88.

6 A poll taken decades in the future: Anti-Defamation League, 2009, ADL.org. A poll taken decades in the future: Anti-Defamation League, 2009, ADL.org.

7 "an enchantress": Vanden Heuvel, 225. "an enchantress": Vanden Heuvel, 225.

8 "The personality is all there": Sandburg, Box 63, W. E. Dodd Papers. "The personality is all there": Sandburg, Box 63, W. E. Dodd Papers.

9 "give way to every beckoning": Ibid. "give way to every beckoning": Ibid.

10 "find out what this man Hitler": Dodd, "find out what this man Hitler": Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 1617.

11 Thornton Wilder also offered: Wilder to Martha, n.d., Box 63, W. E. Dodd Papers. Thornton Wilder also offered: Wilder to Martha, n.d., Box 63, W. E. Dodd Papers.

In one letter, dated Sept. 15, 1933, Wilder wrote, "I can see the plane rides"-here an apparent reference to the airborne courtship of her by Ernst Udet, World War I flying ace and aerial adventurer-"and the tea dances and the movie-stars; and the brisk (soon autumnal) stroll in the most autumnal of all great parks. But I cannot see what you're like when you're alone-or alone just with the family-or alone with the typewriter. Your letters are so vivacious that they deafen my mind's eye to all this other."

He opens his letters to her, variously, with "Dear Marthy," "Dear Handsome," "Dear Marthy-la-Belle."

"We're cusses," he wrote in April 1935, "both of us, preposterous exasperating cusses and were meant to be friends."

12 Martha kept a picture: Brysac, 142. Martha kept a picture: Brysac, 142.

13 "half a dozen or more": Wise, "half a dozen or more": Wise, Servant Servant, 19192.

14 "He was most friendly": Ibid. "He was most friendly": Ibid.

15 "One cannot write the whole truth": Ibid. "One cannot write the whole truth": Ibid.

16 "unfair at many points": Dodd, "unfair at many points": Dodd, Diary Diary, 241.

17 His daughter, Martha: Dodd, His daughter, Martha: Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 12.

18 He told a friend: Bailey, 150. He told a friend: Bailey, 150.

19 Dodd had a.s.sumed: Dodd, Dodd had a.s.sumed: Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 20.

20 Meanwhile, Dodd fielded questions: Ibid., 20; Dodd, Meanwhile, Dodd fielded questions: Ibid., 20; Dodd, Diary Diary, 12.

21 He was stiff and arrogant: Dodd, He was stiff and arrogant: Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 2021.

22 "very choleric temperament": Messersmith, "Some Observations on the appointment of Dr. William Dodd, as Amba.s.sador to Berlin," unpublished memoir, 8, Messersmith Papers. "very choleric temperament": Messersmith, "Some Observations on the appointment of Dr. William Dodd, as Amba.s.sador to Berlin," unpublished memoir, 8, Messersmith Papers.

23 "clipped, polite, and definitely condescending": Dodd, "clipped, polite, and definitely condescending": Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 20.

24 "the like of which": Ibid., 21. "the like of which": Ibid., 21.

25 Mrs. Dodd-Mattie: Ibid., 21. Mrs. Dodd-Mattie: Ibid., 21.

26 "a dry, drawling, peppery man": Breitman and Kraut, 40. "a dry, drawling, peppery man": Breitman and Kraut, 40.

27 "I liked Dodd": Messersmith, "Some Observations on the appointment of Dr. William Dodd, as Amba.s.sador to Berlin," unpublished memoir, 3, Messersmith Papers. "I liked Dodd": Messersmith, "Some Observations on the appointment of Dr. William Dodd, as Amba.s.sador to Berlin," unpublished memoir, 3, Messersmith Papers.

28 "a perfect example": Fromm, 121. "a perfect example": Fromm, 121.

29 "looks like a scholar": Ibid., 120. "looks like a scholar": Ibid., 120.

30 "is clear and capable": Brysac, 141. "is clear and capable": Brysac, 141.

31 "a woman who is seriously interested": Ibid. "a woman who is seriously interested": Ibid.

32 "I was drawn to her immediately": Unpublished memoir, 3, Box 13, Martha Dodd Papers. "I was drawn to her immediately": Unpublished memoir, 3, Box 13, Martha Dodd Papers.

33 She found long, straight boulevards: While I ought to footnote every little nugget in this rather long paragraph, frankly the effort would be too tedious and of limited value. So allow me to refer the reader to a couple of sources that provided me with a vivid sense of old Berlin: Ladd, She found long, straight boulevards: While I ought to footnote every little nugget in this rather long paragraph, frankly the effort would be too tedious and of limited value. So allow me to refer the reader to a couple of sources that provided me with a vivid sense of old Berlin: Ladd, The Ghosts of Berlin; The Ghosts of Berlin; Friedrich, Friedrich, Before the Deluge; Before the Deluge; Richie, Richie, Faust's Metropolis; Faust's Metropolis; Gill, Gill, A Dance Between Flames A Dance Between Flames. For a quirky look at Berlin's night life, see Gordon, Voluptuous Panic Voluptuous Panic. Also I urge anyone with a yearning for still more knowledge of Berlin to visit YouTube.com and search for "Symphony of a Great City." You'll be delighted.

34 "The bells on the streetcars": Kaes et al., 56062. "The bells on the streetcars": Kaes et al., 56062.

35 "Oh, I thought it was burned down!": Dodd, "Oh, I thought it was burned down!": Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 22.

36 "Sssh! Young lady": Ibid., 22. "Sssh! Young lady": Ibid., 22.

37 Greta Garbo once was a guest: Kreuder, 26. Greta Garbo once was a guest: Kreuder, 26.

Kreuder's "cultural history" of the Hotel Esplanade includes a number of photographs of the hotel before and immediately after World War II, and in its current incarnation as an artifact sequestered behind a wall of gla.s.s. For more on this, please read my source essay (pp. 36775).

38 the Imperial Suite: Dodd, the Imperial Suite: Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 22; for specific room numbers, see letter, Hotel Esplanade to George Gordon, July 6, 1933, Box 40, W. E. Dodd Papers.

39 "that there was scarcely s.p.a.ce": Dodd, "that there was scarcely s.p.a.ce": Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 22.

40 "modest quarters": Messersmith, "Some Observations on the appointment of Dr. William Dodd, as Amba.s.sador to Berlin," unpublished memoir, 2, Messersmith Papers. "modest quarters": Messersmith, "Some Observations on the appointment of Dr. William Dodd, as Amba.s.sador to Berlin," unpublished memoir, 2, Messersmith Papers.

41 The family settled in: Dodd, The family settled in: Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 2223.

42 Later that evening: Ibid., 2324. Later that evening: Ibid., 2324.

43 "In the Tiergarten": Kaes et al., 425. "In the Tiergarten": Kaes et al., 425.

44 "I am sure this was": Dodd, "I am sure this was": Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 23.

45 "I felt the press had badly maligned": Ibid., 24. "I felt the press had badly maligned": Ibid., 24.

PART II: HOUSE HUNTING IN THE THIRD REICH.

Chapter 6: Seduction.

1 "A little pudgy": Dodd, "A little pudgy": Dodd, Emba.s.sy Eyes Emba.s.sy Eyes, 24.

2 "the dragon from Chicago": Schultz, "Dragon," 113. "the dragon from Chicago": Schultz, "Dragon," 113.

3 The opening of one such camp: Stackelberg and Winkle, 145. Regarding "wild" camps, KZs, and such, see Krausnick et al., 400, 410, 419; The opening of one such camp: Stackelberg and Winkle, 145. Regarding "wild" camps, KZs, and such, see Krausnick et al., 400, 410, 419; Richie, 412; Fritzsche, 43; Fest, 11516; Kershaw, Hubris Hubris, 462, 464; Deschner, 79. As of July 31, 1933, some 26,789 people were held in protective custody, according to Krausnick et al., 410.