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Rush Loving
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Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman: Göring, Ribbentrop, and the Nazi Invasion of Poland Kindle Edition

by Rush Loving (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
5.0 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman offers a compelling behind-the-scenes exploration of the road to World War II and the invasion of Poland by the Hitler's Third Reich. Focusing on the personal power plays within Hitler's inner circle, author Rush Loving details the struggle for Hitler's approval, long before the battle for Poland had begun.
 
The rivalry was between "Fat Boy," the moniker given to Hermann Göring by his fellow Nazi generals, and "the Champagne Salesman," Joachim von Ribbentrop, nicknamed for his previous career, and it was at the heart of Germany's plans for the expansion of the Reich into Poland. Göring, founder of the Lüftwaffe and the man who oversaw the armaments industry, was convinced that any invasion of Poland would lead to war with England and France, who were committed to its defense. Von Ribbentrop, Hitler's foreign minister, argued that the Allies would stand down and continue their policy of appeasement. Only one would be proved correct.
 
An engrossing and dramatic tale, Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman shows Göring and Ribbentrop playing a tug-of-war with Hitler's will. Loving's vivid narrative of the struggle between the two advisers lends a new understanding of the events leading to the opening days of World War II.

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  1. Print length
    167 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Indiana University Press
  4. Publication date
    June 28, 2022
  5. Reading age
    18 years and up
  6. File size
    6.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"With a reporter's time-honed instinct for unearthing a great story, and a raconteur's sense of description and timing, Loving gives us this scene-by-scene portrayal of Hitler compelling his high command – using his voice and his insanity as his sole resources – to arrive at the only counsel he would accept: blitzkrieg against Poland. The "fog of war" would come later. First, there was utter chaos as Hitler started the biggest one ever."―Walter Wells, former executive editor of the International Herald-Tribune

"Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman is a wonderfully researched, written, and fast-paced book about the inevitable march toward World War II, and the personalities who made it a reality."―Fred Rasmussen, The Baltimore Sun

"In his book Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman, Loving, a former journalist, focuses on the rivalry between Ribbentrop, the "champagne salesman," a nickname based on his previous career, and Hermann Göring, the "fat boy" who was president of the Reichstag and head of the Luftwaffe as Hitler planned his attack on Poland. This is a fascinating, meticulously researched account of the infighting at the top of the Nazi hierarchy during the run-up to the opening act of World War II."―Andrew Nagorski, Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs

Review

Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman is a wonderfully researched, written, and fast-paced book about the inevitable march toward World War II, and the personalities who made it a reality.

-- Fred Rasmussen, The Baltimore Sun

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0972H6LJ3
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Indiana University Press (June 28, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 28, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 167 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    5.0 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

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Rush Loving

Rush Loving

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Customer reviews

5 out of 5 stars
12 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Douglas T Raymond
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, unique account of the fateful week leading to invasion and war
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Loving has collected memoirs of Hitler's inner circle spanning over 40 years and from them constructed a continuous dialog that builds with great suspense up to the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1940.
    Servants, interpreter, staff, diplomats, army officers and especially Goering give their first hand accounts and this book blends them into a coherent, gripping story. The final week is hour-by-hour, sometimes minute-by-minute as the actors come and go. Goering and most diplomats are desperately trying to make Hitler realize the English are serious about defending Poland, while von Ribbentrop insists it is an English bluff. Everything seems to fall apart as September 1 approaches, yet Hitler is fixed on invasion. Almost all the conversations are foot-noted.
    One person found this helpful
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  • David F. Zoll
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well paced, well written, exciting
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Loving , a very talented writer whose craft was honed in a journalism career, knows words and pace, especially shown here as well as in his previous books. Lucky for us he has newly available material.

    This is like a movie script- Hitler swaggering to meetings down halls beneath massive German architecture, plagued by conflicting advice, and manically miscalculating a war he decides to temporarily abort.
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  • SP mom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating glimpse of a crucial moment in history.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2023
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    Short but very powerful book.
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  • John J Adams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and readable account.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2022
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    Well written detailed account of Hitler trying to have his invasion of Poland while avoiding war with England and France.
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  • Mary Kathryn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, Informative and Entertaining!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2023
    Rush Loving does it again! A rare few authors can take a nuanced historical event and parse it into an account that the layperson can understand; even fewer can weave that account into a story that is fun to read--Rush Loving consistently does both.

    As a 29 year old female, I am admittedly ignorant when it comes to the details leading up to Germany's invasion of Poland that sparked WWII; throughout school, history classes focused on the big picture: Neville Chamberlain's failed attempt at peace, the Sudentenland crisis and Hitler's eventual invasion. What Rush Loving does in "Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman" is peel back the curtain to give the reader a look behind closed doors at German strategy, confidence, disorganized communication and thirst for European domination.

    Far from being dense, the story that unfolds highlights the nuance behind an otherwise black and white period of history and the events leading thereto. It also emphasizes another lesson that is important to all leaders, political or otherwise: surrounding oneself with competent advisors (as opposed to just "yes men") and actually listening to those who offer advice.

    I cannot recommend this, and Rush Loving's other books, highly enough. If you are at all interested in WWII history or have previously found approaching the subject intimidating, this book is worth your time. A fantastic read that edifies and entertains!
    One person found this helpful
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