Making Friends with Hitler: Lord Londonderry and Britain's Road to War

Making Friends with Hitler chronicles the political career of Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart, the 7th Marquess of Londonderry, during the crucial period between World War I and World War II. The book focuses on Londonderry's attempts to foster Anglo-German relations and his interactions with Nazi leadership in the 1930s. The narrative traces Londonderry's transformation from a respected Conservative politician and former Air Minister to a marginalized figure due to his pro-German stance. His meetings with Hitler, Göring, and other Nazi officials form the core of this political biography, set against the backdrop of Britain's shifting foreign policy. This examination of Lord Londonderry provides insight into the British aristocracy's response to the rise of Nazi Germany and the complex dynamics of 1930s European diplomacy. His story serves as a lens through which to understand the broader political currents of appeasement and rearmament in pre-war Britain. The book raises questions about the nature of political judgment and the consequences of misreading historical moments. Through Londonderry's experiences, Kershaw explores themes of class, power, and the limitations of traditional diplomacy in the face of totalitarian regimes.

Readers found this book offered a unique perspective on 1930s British appeasement through the lens of Lord Londonderry, though many felt it could be dry and overly detailed at times. Likes: - Deep archival research and documentation - Fresh angle on a well-covered historical period - Clear explanation of British upper class attitudes toward Nazi Germany - Effective portrayal of Londonderry's political naivety Dislikes: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Too much focus on minor political meetings - Repetitive coverage of Londonderry's social calendar - Some readers felt Kershaw was too sympathetic to Londonderry Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (114 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) "The title is misleading - this is more a study of appeasement than Londonderry's relationship with Hitler," noted one Amazon reviewer. Multiple Goodreads reviews mentioned the book works better as a specialized academic text than a general interest read.

Munich, 1938 by David Faber This account of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's negotiations with Hitler reveals the complex web of diplomacy and appeasement in pre-war Britain.

The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip Zaleski, Carol Zaleski The story tracks how British intellectuals like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis processed and responded to the rise of Nazi Germany through their writings and discussions.

The Holy Fox: A Biography of Lord Halifax by Andrew Roberts This biography examines another key British aristocrat who, like Londonderry, attempted to find diplomatic solutions with Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Citizens of London by Lynne Olson The book chronicles three Americans in London who worked to strengthen Anglo-American relations while Britain faced the Nazi threat in isolation.

The Glamour Boys by Chris Bryant This history uncovers how a group of young, gay British MPs fought against appeasement and warned Parliament about Hitler's true intentions.

🔹 Author Ian Kershaw is considered one of the world's leading experts on Hitler and Nazi Germany, having written a definitive two-volume biography of Hitler (Hubris and Nemesis) that took him over a decade to complete. 🔹 Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry, was Winston Churchill's cousin by marriage and served as Secretary of State for Air during a crucial period of British rearmament in the 1930s. 🔹 Lord Londonderry made multiple visits to Nazi Germany between 1936-1938, meeting personally with Hitler, Göring, and other top Nazi officials in an attempt to prevent war through appeasement—earning him the derogatory nickname "The Londonderry Herr." 🔹 Despite being originally sympathetic to Nazi Germany, Londonderry later admitted his grave error in judgment and spent his final years writing memoirs that attempted to explain and justify his pre-war position. 🔹 The book reveals how many members of the British aristocracy were initially drawn to Hitler's Germany, viewing it as a bulwark against communism, before eventually realizing the true nature of the Nazi regime.