Himmler's Hostages: The Untold Story of Himmler's Special Prisoners & the End of WWII

by Tom Wall

Overview

The notorious Nazi leader’s attempt to take war prisoners hostage at the end of WWII is revealed in this lively and expertly researched history.

During the final weeks of the Second World War, Heinrich Himmler assembled the most famous and noteworthy SS prisoners be taken hostage. Himmler’s plan was to use these individuals as bargaining chips to save the Reich—or, failing that, himself. Known as the Prominenten, this group included European politicians and former heads of state, five British survivors of the ‘Great Escape,’ two MI5 agents, and Irish born POWs.

This meticulously researched study sheds new light on how the British prisoners came to be integrated with a multinational group of VIPs in Dachau concentration camp, including German family groups of men, women and children; relatives of those implicated in plot to kill Hitler.

The lively narrative describes kidnapping, escape attempts, interpersonal conflict, betrayal and comradeship. It also reveals intrigues and love affairs among the prisoners, culminating in their dramatic attempt to free themselves from the SS.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526785862
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	04/01/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	269
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Tom Wall is a retired senior official of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. After retirement, he completed a Master’s Degree at University College Dublin based on a thesis comparing neo-corporatist governance arrangements within Europe with Irish Social Partnership. He is a regular contributor of articles with historical themes to the Dublin Review of Books. He is married with two adult children and lives in Dublin.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements ix

Introduction xi

The Cast xiv

Part I Special Prisoners

1 Kidnapped at Venlo 3

2 The Irish Camp 12

3 The Death of Stalin's Son 24

4 Traitors 34

5 Breakout 47

6 Gates of Hell 57

Part II The Prominenten

7 The Bunker Prisoners 72

8 The Brothel Prisoners 84

9 Old Foes Meet 90

10 Hostages for Fortune 100

Part III Alpine Odyssey

11 Evacuation 110

12 Cook's Musical Tour 121

13 A Troubled Redoubt 130

14 Niederdorf 139

15 Cuckoos in the Nest 148

16 High Noon 153

Part IV Freedom

17 A Death in Shangri-La 162

18 Rescue 171

19 Sequels 177

Addenda Supplementary Tales

I Alexander von Stauffenberg and Fey von Hassell: A Love Story 192

II Müller, Bonhoeffer and Niemöller: Ecumenical Plotters 203

III The Strange Tale of Friedrich Engelke 211

IV Colonel Davide Ferrero and his Patriot Battalion 216

V Colonel John McGrath OBE: Truth and Invention 222

Appendix: List of Prominenten in Hotel Pragser Wildsee 225

Endnotes 228

Index 249