"Galeazzo Ciano was Foreign Minister in the Italian Fascist government of Benito Mussolini from June 10, 1936 to February 8, 1943. He was also the Duce's son-in-law, having married the dictator's eldest daughter, Edda. After being an ardent promoter of the alliance with Hitler's Germany, Ciano began having serious second thoughts in 1939. By 1941 he had clearly become persona non grata to the Nazi leadership, and especially to Adolf Hitler and his Foreign Minister, Joachim von Ribbentrop.".

"On July 25, 1943, Ciano voted against Mussolini during the fateful meeting of the Fascist Grand Council. Arrested by the Nazis, he was tried for treason by a Fascist court in Verona, condemned to death by firing squad, and executed on January 11, 1944, with other Fascist leaders who had also voted against Mussolini.".

"Ciano's diary was considered a major source of embarrassment for the Nazis. It gives an unflattering but realistic picture of the Nazi leadership bent on war, murder and destruction. The Nazis made every effort to recover the Diary, which was smuggled out of Italy by Ciano's wife. She took portions containing the years 1939-1943.

The years 1937-1938 remained in Italy and were stolen by the Gestapo, then retrieved and published separately until they were restored to their original form and published in the Italian edition."--BOOK JACKET.