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Munich Playground: The Nazi Leadership at Rest and Play
As senior correspondent for Reuters in Munich from 1936-1941, American Ernest Pope saw the cruel and outrageous behavior of Nazis in their native habitat. In Munich they ran wild, let their hair down, and indulged in every fantasy money and power could avail them. Pope has all the gossip...and the confirmed stories. "I have seen the leading actors in the Nazi tragedy, playing their parts on the Bavarian stage. Long before the climax-the outbreak of the war-I knew what the denouement in Hitler's theater would be." Pope knew, saw or interviewed all the top Nazis and dozens of lower-level officials, including some of Hitler's security. He saw the Nazis for what they were: a corrupt, debauched, all-too-human menace. Once back in the US, Pope let loose his frustration and ire at what he'd seen-but couldn't write about when he was reporting from Germany. With great humor and fast-paced prose, he writes of encounters with Hitler, Hess, Streicher, and many more. Pope turns his savage wit and erudition on his former hosts. Fluent in Bavarian German dialect, Pope made many friends in Munich with citizens and officials alike. He heard jokes from Munichers that could get them thrown in a concentration camp and he poked fun at Nazis whenever he dared.
- GenresHistoryWorld War II
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 7, 2016
Tabloid copy about the Nazis
It's like reading the National Enquirer if it was reporting pre-World War II about bigshot Nazis. The author was a respected reporter from the period, stationed in Munich. These are his outtakes, the stuff he couldn't put into his regular articles.
It's like reading the National Enquirer if it was reporting pre-World War II about bigshot Nazis. The author was a respected reporter from the period, stationed in Munich. These are his outtakes, the stuff he couldn't put into his regular articles.
August 7, 2020
One of the best accounts of life in Nazi Germany I've read. Pope was a journalist in Munich during the 1930s and got the chance to interact with major Nazis on a professional and personal levels. His witty, almost satirical, account of their pretensions, bombast, and casual evil, gets at the heart of the malignant ridiculousness of their project, and their pathetic mediocrity as human beings. Brilliantly funny at times, but never flippantly disregarding of their crimes, Pope's account benefits from being written before the full horror of their hatred became known, when it was possible to still laugh at their pomposity and hypocrisy. A must read for any student of the period.
December 23, 2019
A well documented story of the National Socialists earlier years.
This book, written while WWII was still in progress, gives a reader insight into Hitler's beginning in Munich, up to the first year and a half of the war. It describes his love of the city, but ultimately his corruption of and betrayal of the city from which his rise to power began. I have been to Germany, to Munich, and I've been to the Hofbrauhaus. After having read this book I would like to return to see if the bier hall I so enjoyed is the original. I enjoyed this book.
This book, written while WWII was still in progress, gives a reader insight into Hitler's beginning in Munich, up to the first year and a half of the war. It describes his love of the city, but ultimately his corruption of and betrayal of the city from which his rise to power began. I have been to Germany, to Munich, and I've been to the Hofbrauhaus. After having read this book I would like to return to see if the bier hall I so enjoyed is the original. I enjoyed this book.
February 19, 2020
Very Interesting Eye Opening Tale
This was a good book in that it gives a lot of information of how events started that led up to WWII. I had no idea that was Hitker was teetotaler or that he was smart enough not to take the beer from his people. But I was a little surprised at the 'erotic' propaganda in trying to stimulate population growth. This is a good book for anyone who is a history buff.
This was a good book in that it gives a lot of information of how events started that led up to WWII. I had no idea that was Hitker was teetotaler or that he was smart enough not to take the beer from his people. But I was a little surprised at the 'erotic' propaganda in trying to stimulate population growth. This is a good book for anyone who is a history buff.
February 27, 2020
Munich under the rule of Nazi
Written by a professional journalist who lived in Munich under the Nazi leadership. Pope was a writer for Reuters in the day. This book fills in the History books gaps. This was one of the best books on the era that I have read. Does contain a lot of sexual content and mature material. Not for the easily offended. Otherwise highly recommended for history buffs.
Written by a professional journalist who lived in Munich under the Nazi leadership. Pope was a writer for Reuters in the day. This book fills in the History books gaps. This was one of the best books on the era that I have read. Does contain a lot of sexual content and mature material. Not for the easily offended. Otherwise highly recommended for history buffs.
September 25, 2018
Debauchery and defiance
Anerican journalist describes the hypocritical hedonistic lifestyles of the Nazi leadership as only an observant outsider who has gained access to the parties and habits kept from the 'folk' can. Reminds one of current despots and their sychophantic echo chambers who surround them.
Anerican journalist describes the hypocritical hedonistic lifestyles of the Nazi leadership as only an observant outsider who has gained access to the parties and habits kept from the 'folk' can. Reminds one of current despots and their sychophantic echo chambers who surround them.
May 1, 2022
I have been on a WW2 kick for rhe last year or so. This was the first book I have read that asn't 'academic'. Pope enlightened me concerning things I had suspected but hadn't found in writing anywhere else...so far. This is a very entertaining book. It gives a different perspective. There is humor, but without being dismissive of the horrors of the third reich.
March 31, 2019
Fascinating contemporary account of life in Munich during the 1930s and early 40s by an American Corespondent for Reuters who saw it all up close and wrote about it after returning to the United States before the US entered the war.
November 23, 2024
Meandering, informative, fascinating
I enjoyed reading this book because it presented a very different and very likely more honest view of the Nazis top echelon. It seems they were a corrupt, hedonistic, and drunken bunch of rapists and pillagers.
I enjoyed reading this book because it presented a very different and very likely more honest view of the Nazis top echelon. It seems they were a corrupt, hedonistic, and drunken bunch of rapists and pillagers.
February 8, 2020
Interesting book
Munich Playground is an interesting book it tells it’s readers what Germany was like in the lead up to WWII .
Munich Playground is an interesting book it tells it’s readers what Germany was like in the lead up to WWII .
August 24, 2020
Calling Phillip Kerr
An interesting description of the thuggish nature of the nazi regime. I lost count of how many times I expected Bernie Gunther to make his appearance.
An interesting description of the thuggish nature of the nazi regime. I lost count of how many times I expected Bernie Gunther to make his appearance.
October 2, 2020
Great book
Either
Either really brings home what life in the 3rd Reich really was like enjoyed reading what Hitler really was like
Either
Either really brings home what life in the 3rd Reich really was like enjoyed reading what Hitler really was like
August 13, 2019
Munich Playgroud
Very interesting book. Most of the other books about the Nazis deal with Hitlers maniacal behavior and the holocaust. This book shows they are not only crazy and self absorbed but on occasion they used their positions to indulge in their sexual fantasies..
Very interesting book. Most of the other books about the Nazis deal with Hitlers maniacal behavior and the holocaust. This book shows they are not only crazy and self absorbed but on occasion they used their positions to indulge in their sexual fantasies..
April 27, 2013
I actually read the Kindle version of this book. In fact, I published the Kindle version, which has an updated introduction and footnotes.
Ernie Pope was an American correspondent working for Reuters in Munich in the years leading up to WWII. This book was published in 1941, at a time when Hitler and his hordes had conquered nearly all of Europe and seemed like "fanatical, ascetic supermen."
Pope saw them for what they were: corrupt, degenerate thugs.
Unlike most books of the period, Pope's book is decidedly irreverent and in places laugh-out-loud funny. But his frustration and ire at the Nazis comes through as well.
For anyone interested in the period of the rise of the Third Reich, this is a wonderful account by someone who was there.
http://www.amazon.com/Munich-Playgrou...
Ernie Pope was an American correspondent working for Reuters in Munich in the years leading up to WWII. This book was published in 1941, at a time when Hitler and his hordes had conquered nearly all of Europe and seemed like "fanatical, ascetic supermen."
Pope saw them for what they were: corrupt, degenerate thugs.
Unlike most books of the period, Pope's book is decidedly irreverent and in places laugh-out-loud funny. But his frustration and ire at the Nazis comes through as well.
For anyone interested in the period of the rise of the Third Reich, this is a wonderful account by someone who was there.
http://www.amazon.com/Munich-Playgrou...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews