The Holstein Papers: The Memoirs, Diaries and Correspondence of Friedrich von Holstein 1837–1909

Friedrich von Holstein (1837-1909) was Bismarck's subordinate at the German Foreign Office. Since his death historians have combined to make him a monster of sinister and self-seeking policy. At various times von Holstein kept diaries, began memoirs, and wrote and received letters, and many of these survive. A selection of this Nachlass, which was first published in volume form between 1955 and 1963, is presented here. The original effect of this publication prompted an entire re-judgement of Bismarck, German foreign policy, and of Holstein himself. Volume 3 is the first of two large volumes of correspondence from and to Holstein. These two volumes are an unusually rich source of primary material on German foreign policy of the period. This volume begins with letters written to him at the very beginning of his diplomatic career by his father, and continues to the end of 1896.