ABSTRACT

The New York Times said of Józef Hieronim Retinger that he was on intimate terms with most leading statesmen of the Western World, including presidents of the United States. He has been repeatedly acknowledged as one of the principle architects of the movement for European unity after the World War II, and one of the outstanding creative political influences of the post war period. He has also been credited with being the dark master behind the so-called "Bilderberg Group," described variously as an organization of idealistic internationalists, and a malevolent global conspiracy.

Before that, Retinger involved himself in intelligence activities during World War II and, given the covert and semi-covert nature of many of his activities, it is little wonder that no biography has appeared about him. This book draws on a broad range of international archives to rectify that.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|11 pages

The formative years, 1888–1914

chapter 2|43 pages

World War I, 1914–1918

chapter 3|33 pages

From Europe to Mexico

chapter 4|21 pages

“I got religion”

chapter 5|22 pages

The war begins

chapter 6|14 pages

First steps towards federation

The Czech frustration

chapter |13 pages

7 A wider federation

chapter 8|18 pages

Retinger and Polish–Soviet relations

chapter 10|30 pages

Retinger’s most controversial episode

The mission to Poland, 1944

chapter 11|11 pages

“In twenty years Europe will be united, together with Poland” 1

Retinger and the federal movement in European history

chapter 12|17 pages

Retinger and the building of a united Europe

chapter 13|24 pages

The Congress of Europe, 1948

chapter 14|19 pages

The Bilderbergs

chapter 15|3 pages

Conclusions