The Hohenzollerns and the Nazis

The sudden fall of the Hohenzollern dynasty from power in Germany during November 1918, when the Kaiser sought refuge in the Netherlands, marked a dramatic shift from domination to near insignificance. Stephan Malinowski's acclaimed book offers a remarkable exploration of this transition. During the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich, the Hohenzollerns were often dismissed and scorned, yet their disdain for the Weimar government and their approval of Hitler had significant impacts on public opinion. Malinowski meticulously uncovers how the Hohenzollerns, rather than being irrelevant, played a central role in Germany's turbulent history. While they officially lost power, their influence persisted, prompting many conservative Germans to remain distant from the nascent republic. This ultimately contributed to the republic's downfall in 1933, as conservatives, wary of both Communism and Fascism, compromised their integrity alongside the former royals, who were swayed by Hitler. This book offers an insightful and alarming examination of a royal family ill-suited for its responsibilities, depicting their shortcomings with stark detail.