A hero of the Imperial German Army (by his own account), an architect of the rise of two dictatorships, a co-creator of a mystical neo-pagan religion, and an author, General Erich Ludendorff was a force to be reckoned with. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Jay Lockenour to the virtual studio to discuss his most recent look at the persona of Ludendorff as one of the most prominent Germans of the 21st century. Jay joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to talk about Ludendorff’s relationship with Hindenburg, Hitler, his wife Mathilde and his behavior in the Interwar Years.
He tried to disavow any involvement, really, in the planning of the putsch, and he just happened to be going by, basically, was his excuse, and anyway, I love my country.
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Jay Lockenour is an historian at Temple University, specializing in the social and military history of Germany and Europe. His most recent book is Dragonslayer, the Legend of Erich Ludendorff in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich. He is currently studying the transnational history of the military and sports.
Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE.
The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.
Photo Description: Defendants in the 1924 “Beer Hall Putsch” Trial, Munich, from left to right: Heinz Pernet, Friedrich Weber, Wilhelm Frick, Hermann Kriebel, Erich Ludendorff, Adolf Hitler, Wilhelm Brückner, Ernst Röhm, Robert Wagner
Photo Credit: Heinrich Hoffman courtesy of the German Federal Archive via Wikimedia Conmmons
