A Special Mission Hitler's Secret Plot to Seize the Vatican and Kidnap Pope Pius XII

by Kurzman, Dan

• ISBN13: 9780306816178
• ISBN10: 0306816172
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-05-27
• Publisher: Da Capo Press

Summary

When Hitler learned in September 1943 that his ally and friend Mussolini had been toppled from power in Italy, he flew into a rage. He ordered German troops into Rome and outlined "a special mission" to SS General Karl Wolff, who had been Heinrich Himmler's chief aide. The mission: to seize the Vatican and kidnap Pope Pius XII.

Author Biography

Dan Kurzman, former foreign correspondent for the Washington Post, is the award-winning author of sixteen highly acclaimed books, including Fatal Voyage and Bravest Battle. He lives in New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Prologue	p. 1
Prelude to Madness	p. 5
Wolff in the Wolf's Lair	p. 11
The Plotters	p. 18
Flirting with Treason	p. 39
Fighting for Hitler's Ear	p. 48
The Only Way to Save Germany	p. 63
Closer to Himmler than to Himmel	p. 74
A Wandering Dog	p. 82
A Prisoner of Sorts	p. 89
Out of Fear of Men	p. 95
Living with God and the Devil	p. 105
A Blueprint for Massacre	p. 115
An Agonizing Dilemma	p. 120
The Art of Examining Walls	p. 135
A Question of Priority	p. 145
Eve of Desperation	p. 160
"But They Promised Me"	p. 177
A Bargain in Blood	p. 193
The Mathematics of Murder	p. 197
The Path to the Vatican	p. 211
The Odd Couple	p. 220
Meeting a New Conqueror	p. 224
Saved from the Noose	p. 232
Epilogue	p. 240
Notes	p. 249
Bibliography	p. 261
Index	p. 269
About the Author	p. 285
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.