The Order of the Day, Eric Vuillard

 

The Order of the Day by Eric Vuilllard is a book that came up when I was looking into the beginnings of World War II.  This was translated by Mark Polizzotti.

Started: 1/2/2021
Completed: 1/2/2021
Recommendation: Mild Recommendation
Recommended By: Nobody

Words for which I sought help:

apothegm -- a concise saying or maxim; an aphorism

Review:

Vuillard is clear that he does not like the Nazis or anyone associated with them.  In the beginning of the book he describes a group of businessmen as lizards standing on their hind legs.  In this role, however, he is careful to use accurate names and to identify individuals who had the opportunity to stand up to Hitler and his crew early on.  In some cases, he leverages transcripts of the Nuremburg trials.  

I particularly like his observation that, "It is strange how the most dyed-in-the-wool tyrants still vaguely respect due process, as if they want to make it appear that they aren't abusing procedure, even while riding roughshod over every convention."

This book is a short walk through tipping points from the funding of the Nazi party to the advance into Austria.  At each tipping point, someone is found wanting.  Someone could have prevented the war is the underlying point, but did not have the character, the moxie, or the courage to stand up to the Nazi's in general and Hitler in particular.