Rush Loving, Jr.

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Fat Boy and the Champagne Salesman is a compelling, behind-the-scenes story of two of Adolf Hitler’s top aides battling one another, one — Reichmarshal Hermann Göring — trying to persuade Hitler to avoid starting World War II and the other — Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop — insisting he could do whatever he wanted, that there never would be a war. • • • 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. —Walter Wells , former executive editor, 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, Baltimore Sun REVIEWS FROM AMAZON 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 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. • • • John J Adams 5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and readable account. Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2022 Well written detailed account of Hitler trying to have his invasion of Poland while avoiding war with England and France.