Despina Stratigakos

While this book is not quite up to the standard of Stratigakos' book on the German plans to assimilate Norway in World War II, it's still pretty good. Besides being a study of how Hitler reinvented himself as being "safe" to hold high political office, and the PR effort that went along with that endeavor, this book also examines the life of Gerdy Troost, a woman who became part of Hitler's extended court due to her ability as an interior designer and contractor. As for the last portion of the book, dealing with the wisdom of historic preservation in the case of localities were great evil was done, that's six of one and half dozen of the other.… (més)

Perhaps I esteem this book just a little too much but, at this stage of my reading career, It's hard for anyone to tell me something new about the Hitlerian regime from basically any angle, but Prof. Stratigakos did so. The particular stroke of imagination here is how Stratigakos manages to illuminate the Nazi mindset and policy through the building types that were particular to their endeavor. These range from the outfitting of the "Lebensborn" natalist centers, through official buildings, to the concepts for the rebuilding of Norway's damaged cities, up to what would have been the crowning effort of the German colonization (there is no other appropriate word), the construction of a whole new German city to go with the planned naval base to be located at Trondheim.

The author also deals with the flip side of the coin, in examining what the experience of occupation meant for Norway, such as the various flavors of collaboration, what Himmler's coveting of Norway's precious genetic heritage meant in practice, the post-war acts of retribution, and the continuing influence of the occupation on Norway's towns and infrastructure.

I can't recommend this book enough, though it is probably not the first book you want to start with relating to Nazi occupation and social policy.… (més)