Heinrich Fraenkel
Heinrich Fraenkel was born on September 28th, 1897. Heinrich passed away May 1st, 1986 at 88 years old.
Heinrich Fraenkel was best known as a Hollywood screenwriter and author of books chronicling the life and times of Nazi war criminals.
In his young adulthood, he was taken prisoner during the First World War and held prisoner on the Isle of Man. It was while he was in prison that he learned English and became a passionate Chess player. His passion would later open doors for him when he became a columnist and writer.
Following the war, Heinrich Fraenkel became a screenwriter, writer, and journalist in Germany, making a name for himself in Hollywood and Europe. He worked on major productions at MGM and later wrote scripts and stories for several studios in England.
During the 1930s, Fraenkel’s life took a turn when he moved back to Germany and was informed that his name was on a Nazi blacklist. He managed to escape to England and remained active in filmmaking, even as he continued to write. Following his marriage to Gretel Levy-Ries in 1936, he left to go fight in the Spanish Civil War.
During his second imprisonment at the Isle of Man during the Second World War, Hinrich Fraenkel became a strong voice against Hitler and even launched a camp newspaper. During this time, he wrote popular anti Nazi works and also founded the
Free German Movement.
He became a correspondent in Germany following the war and attended most of the Nuremberg trials, which he used to gather stories about the people involved in some of the darkest moments in history.
Thereafter, Heinrich Fraenkel settled in London, where he wrote biographies of Nazi leaders based on extensive research and firsthand insight.
His first book was on the life of Joseph Goebbels and was titled
Doctor Goebbels.
Writing about one of the most dangerous and powerful men in Nazi Germany, the authors showcase his expert use of propaganda, as he built up the image of Hitler through clever culture, media, and speech.
From interviews with family and friends, as well as diaries no one had access to before, the work paints a full picture of Goebbels' wicked genius, rise to power, and personality.
It explains how he twisted ideas and art to keep the Nazi regime strong and to control people.
Not content with just one title on the Nazis, Heinrich Fraenkel published
Heinrich Himmler.
This is a title about the life and times of one of the most successful, clever, and sinister of all the Nazis. As commander of the feared SS, Himler was responsible for the killing of millions.
Fraenkel tells how an ordinary-seeming boy became a superstitious, obsessive man who turned to homeopathy, astrology, and herbalism.
Ultimately, he came to believe in the superiority of the Aryan race and the science of racial purity.
In 1973, Heinrich Fraenkel published
Hess, the biography of top Nazi leader Rudolf Hess, who once deputized Adolf Hitler.
The work explores Hess’s rise in power. It tells of his solo flight to Scotland in search of peace. When his mission failed, he was taken in and ultimately tried at the Nuremberg Trials.
The work examines his loyalty to Hitler, his bizarre personality, and how he spent his days incarcerated at Spandau.
Related Authors
Fans of Heinrich Fraenkel also enjoy these authors:
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
- Charles Dickens, author of: A Christmas Carol.
- Sue Grafton, author of the Kinsey Millhone Series.
- Daniel Silva, author of the Gabriel Allon Series.
Heinrich Fraenkel: F.A.Q
When was Heinrich Fraenkel Born?
Heinrich Fraenkel was born on September 28th, 1897.
When did Heinrich Fraenkel die?
Heinrich Fraenkel died on May 1st, 1986 at 88 years old.
What was the first book Heinrich Fraenkel wrote?
The first book written by Heinrich Fraenkel was Doctor Goebbels: His Life and Death, published in 1960.
What was the most recent book Heinrich Fraenkel wrote?
His most recently released work was Hundred Days to Hitler on January 2nd, 1974.
How many books has Heinrich Fraenkel written?
Heinrich Fraenkel has written 6 books. All of his books are Non-Fiction Books.