The Holstein Papers
The Memoirs, Diaries and Correspondence of Friedrich von Holstein 1837–1909

The first volume of Friedrich von Holstein's work containing his memoirs and political observations including Bismarck and the Franco-Prussian war.

Friedrich von Holstein (Author), Norman Rich (Edited by), M. H. Fisher (Edited by)

9780521179614, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 17 February 2011

250 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.37 kg

Friedrich von Holstein (1837–1909) was Bismarck's subordinate at the German Foreign Office. Since his death historians have combined to make him a monster of sinister and self-seeking policy. At various times von Holstein kept diaries, began memoirs, and wrote and received letters, and many of these survive. A selection of this Nachlass, which was first published in volume form between 1955 and 1963, is presented here. The original effect of this publication prompted an entire re-judgement of Bismarck, of German foreign policy at that time and since, and naturally of Holstein himself. The memoirs in this first volume were written in 1883, 1898 and 1906–1909. They include accounts of von Holstein's own career, essays on political subjects and personal impressions. There are fascinating sections on Bismarck, the Franco-Prussian war, and particularly the deterioration of German–British relations. These memoirs were his most formal compositions of this kind.

Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgements
1. St Petersburg, 1861–2
2. The war against Denmark, 1864
3. Preliminaries and outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, 1867–70
4. The conclusion of peace, 1871
5. Radowitz
6. The Franco–German rapprochement
7. Bismarck's Russian policy
8. Bismarck and Wilhelm II
9. The background of Anglo–German hostility. Germany's Bosnian policy
10. Wilhelm II and Foreign Policy
11. The Kaiser's relations to politics and to the chancellor
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: History [HB]