Exposing the Third Reich: Colonel Truman Smith in Hitler's Germany (American Warriors Series)

“A fascinating book about a virtually unknown officer who played a major role in the development of US military planning before and during World War II” (Bowling Green Daily News). A vital source of American intelligence on Hitler’s rise to power and military ambitions, Colonel Truman Smith was one of the most compelling and controversial figures of the Second World War. In Exposing the Third Reich, Henry G. Gole tells this soldier's story for the first time. An American aristocrat from a prominent New England family, Smith became an expert on Germany when he was first assigned there during the Allied occupation of 1919. As a military attaché in 1935, he arranged for his good friend Charles Lindbergh to inspect the Luftwaffe. The Germans were starstruck by the famous aviator, enabling Smith to gather key intelligence about their air capability. His deep access and knowledge made him invaluable to General George C. Marshall; however, the colonel's friendliness with Germany also aroused suspicion that he was a Nazi sympathizer. Gole demonstrates that, far from condoning Hitler, Smith was among the first to raise the alarm: he predicted many of the Nazis' moves years in advance and feared that the international community would not act quickly enough. Featuring many firsthand observations of the critical changes in Germany between the world wars, this biography presents an indispensable look both at a fascinating figure and at the nuances of the interwar years. "As World War II recedes from living memory, there remain untold stories of important behind-the-scenes operatives who provided vital support to the leaders celebrated in historical accounts. Colonel Truman Smith is one of the most compelling figures from this period, but there has never been a biography of this important and controversial man. In Exposing the Third Reich, Henry G. Gole tells this soldier's story for the first time. An American aristocrat from a prominent New England family, Smith was first assigned to Germany in 1919 during the Allied occupation and soon became known as a regional expert. During his second assignment in the country as a military attaché in 1935, he arranged for his good friend Charles Lindbergh to inspect the Luftwaffe. The Germans were delighted to have the famous aviator view their planes, enabling Smith to gather key intelligence about their air capability. His savvy cultivation of relationships rendered him invaluable throughout his service, particularly as an aide to General George C. Marshall; however, the colonel's friendliness with Germany also aroused suspicion that he was a Nazi sympathizer. Gole demonstrates that, far from condoning Hitler, Smith was among the first to raise the alarm: he predicted many of the Nazis' moves years in advance and feared that the international community would not act quickly enough. Featuring many firsthand observations of the critical changes in Germany between the world wars, this biography presents an indispensable look both at a fascinating figure and at the nuances of the interwar years."--Publisher's website. Contents 7 Foreword 9 Preface and Acknowledgments 11 1. Patrician Heritage 15 2. Over There 31 3. Deutschland and Yearning 46 4. Civil Affairs and Romance on the Rhine 57 5. Berlin, Munich, and Hitler in Weimar Germany 72 6. Years of Preparation 91 7. Marshall’s Men 101 8. Army War College and Command 117 9. Hitler Takes Power 136 10. Hitler’s Germany 144 11. Kay, Germany, and Ambassador Dodd 157 12. Hitler Arms, Smith Reports 179 13. Smith’s Trojan Horse 196 14. The Lindbergh-Smith Friendship 216 15. Hitler Is Ready 230 16. Welcome Home 245 17. Smith as “Strategicus” 262 18. Wartime Washington 282 19. The Road to German Rearmament 300 20. Politics, Travel, and Writing 316 21. Retrospective and a Graceful Exit 327 Appendix A. Losses in Smith’s 4th Infantry, October 1918 343 Appendix B. Smith to His Sister on the Death of His Daughter, 1923 344 Appendix C. Marshall on Smith’s Berlin Reporting and Dignity 345 Appendix D. The German-British Bombing Pause, Christmas 1940 346 Appendix E. Marshall on Smith’s Assessment of the Balkans, 1943 348 Appendix F. Smith on the Situation in Europe, May 1944 351 Appendix G. Marshall Saves a German General 353 Appendix H. Smith on the German Army, 1963 355 Appendix I. Smith’s Letter to Brigitta von Schell, 1967 362 Appendix J. Smith to Marshall on Smith’s Retirement 365 Appendix K. Obituary, Katharine Alling Hollister Smith 367 A Note on Sources 369 Notes 373 Selected Bibliography 395 Index 409 An American aristocrat from a prominent New England family, Truman Smith was first assigned to Germany in 1919 and soon became known as a regional expert. During his second spell in the country as a military attaché in 1935, he arranged for his friend Charles Lindbergh to inspect the Luftwaffe, enabling Smith to gather key intelligence about the German air capability. His savvy cultivation of relationships rendered him invaluable throughout his service, but his friendliness with Germany also aroused suspicion that he was a Nazi sympathizer. Gole demonstrates that in fact Smith predicted many of the Nazis' moves years in advance **"A fascinating book about a virtually unknown officer who played a major role in the development of US military planning before and during World War II" (__Bowling Green Daily News__).**__Exposing the Third Reich__