Martin J. Hillenbrand Oral History Collection

Martin J. Hillenbrand Oral History Collection

Descriptive Summary

Title: Martin J. Hillenbrand Oral History Collection
Creator: Hillenbrand, Martin Joseph, 1915-2005.
Inclusive Dates: 2004
Language(s): English
Extent: 49 item(s)
Collection Number: RBRL154MJHOH
Repository: Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Abstract: Collection consists of 18 interviews conducted by John Stark, Gary Bertsch, and Mary McKay with Dr. Martin J. Hillenbrand, for Stark's internship with the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) in 2004. The Russell Library hired Stark, in May 2004, to transcribe the interviews, and he continued to conduct interviews with Dr. Hillenbrand through July of that year. The last interview Stark did with Hillenbrand was video recorded, with Gary Bertsch acting as co-interviewer. In September 2004 Mary McKay of the Russell Library interviewed Dr. Hillenbrand regarding his collection of photographs. Topics include the Berlin Crisis, European Union and its future, Hillenbrand's experience in Burma and India, origins of the Center for East-West Trade Policy (currently the CITS), meeting and marrying his wife, Hillenbrand's monograph Power and Morals, and international economics post-World War II.

Collection Description

Biographical Note

John Stark:

At the time of these interviews, John Stark was a senior at the University of Georgia, majoring in German. He studied abroad in Germany, living in Rostock, Munich, and the northern Bavarian city of Erlangen. He graduated in 2004, after he completed his internship with the Center for International Trade and Security.

Gary Bertsch:

Co-founder and Director of the Center for International Trade and Security, Dr. Bertsch is the University Professor of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia.

Dr. Martin J. Hillenbrand:

Martin Joseph Hillenbrand was born, August 1, 1915, in Youngstown, Ohio, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor of Arts in 1937. He received a Doctorate in Philosophy in 1948 from Columbia University and completed postgraduate work at Harvard in 1950. He received honorary degrees from both the University of Dayton and the University of Maryland.

Ambassador Hillenbrand served thirty-five years as a professional United States Foreign Service Officer, including service in Burma, India, Mozambique, Hungary, France, and Germany. He entered the Foreign Service in 1939 as vice consul in Zurich and also served in Rangoon, Burma. Hillenbrand worked in Bremen, Washington and Paris, rising to Embassy First Secretary in 1952. In 1956, Hillenbrand served as an American political adviser in Berlin. Later he was appointed as the first U.S. Ambassador to Hungary (1967-1969) and Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (1969-1972). Hillenbrand concluded his diplomatic career serving as Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from 1972 until his retirement in 1976.

After retiring from diplomatic service, Hillenbrand worked from 1977 to 1982 as the Director General of the Atlantic Institute for International Affairs in Paris. In September 1982, he became the first Dean Rusk Professor of International Relations at The University of Georgia. He also served as the Director of the Center for Global Policy Studies and Co-Director of the Center for East-West Trade Policy (Center for International Trade and Security) at the University. In 1983, Hillenbrand received a Director General's Cup, an award which recognizes retired Foreign Service officers for distinction in service and continued interest in foreign affairs. Upon his retirement from The University of Georgia in 1997, Hillenbrand completed his memoirs, Fragments of Our Time: Memoirs of a Diplomat. He authored, co-authored and edited four books and more than twenty-five book chapters and articles including: Power and Morals (1949); Zwischen Politik und Ethik (1968); The Future of Berlin (1980); Global Insecurity: A Strategy for Energy and Economic Renewal (1982); Germany In An Era of Transition (1984). In 1997, the Robert Bosch Foundation created the Martin J. Hillenbrand Fellowship at The University of Georgia's Department of Political Science.

Hillenbrand was married to Faith Stuart (1917-2004). The couple had three children David, John and Ruth. The Hillenbrands resided in Athens, Georgia until Martin Hillenbrand's death on February 2, 2005, at the age of 89.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of 18 interviews conducted by John Stark, Gary Bertsch, and Mary McKay with Dr. Martin J. Hillenbrand, for Stark's internship with the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) in 2004. The Russell Library hired Stark, in May 2004, to transcribe the interviews, and he continued to conduct interviews with Dr. Hillenbrand through July of that year. The last interview Stark did with Hillenbrand was video recorded, with Gary Bertsch acting as co-interviewer. In September 2004 Mary McKay of the Russell Library interviewed Dr. Hillenbrand regarding his collection of photographs. Topics include the Berlin Crisis, European Union and its future, Hillenbrand's experience in Burma and India, origins of the Center for East-West Trade Policy (currently the CITS), meeting and marrying his wife, Hillenbrand's monograph Power and Morals, and international economics post-World War II.

Organization and Arrangement

Martin J. Hillenbrand Oral History Collection is arranged by interview.


Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Though the collection is open for research, reference copies of the audiovisual recordings are available upon request. Research requests will be filled as soon as possible and will be dependent upon the condition of the recordings.

Preferred Citation

Martin J. Hillenbrand Oral History Collection, Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies, University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Georgia, 30602-1641.

Copyright Information

It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission to reproduce material for publication. Persons wishing to reproduce materials in the Russell Library collections should consult the Director. Reproduction or quotation of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2011.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

Martin J. Hillenbrand Papers

William Tapley Bennett, Jr. Papers

Dean Rusk Research Collection

Dean Rusk Oral History Project

Richard B. Russell, Jr. Collection

Related Collections in Other Repositories

Records of the Foreign Service Posts of the Department of State (Record Group 84), 1788-1990, National Archives and Records Administration.


Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

Oral Histories

18 interview(s)
Collection consists of 18 interviews conducted by John Stark, Gary Bertsch, and Mary McKay with Dr. Martin J. Hillenbrand, for Stark's internship with the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) in 2004. The Russell Library hired Stark, in May 2004, to transcribe the interviews, and he continued to conduct interviews with Dr. Hillenbrand through July of that year. The last interview Stark did with Hillenbrand was video recorded, with Gary Bertsch acting as co-interviewer. In September 2004 Mary McKay of the Russell Library interviewed Dr. Hillenbrand regarding his collection of photographs. Topics include the Berlin Crisis, European Union and its future, Hillenbrand's experience in Burma and India, origins of the Center for East-West Trade Policy (currently the CITS), meeting and marrying his wife, Hillenbrand's monograph Power and Morals, and international economics post-World War II.



OH MJH 01 Interview with Martin J. Hillenbrand

( 1 sound_recording(s) 60 minutes ) Access Online
Dr. Martin Hillenbrand interviewed by John Stark. Hillenbrand discusses the European Union, the economic impacts of European colonialism, and post-World War II Europe. He talks about Winston Churchill, including his personality, his impact on Great Britain, and his speeches (including coining the term "iron curtain"). Hillenbrand discusses European leaders, including West Germany Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Hillenbrand discusses the progress towards European unity and how the fear of communism, and internal politics within European countries have affected the goal of acheiving unity. He also talks about the role of Slavic regions and the former Soviet Union in the new European Union.
Hillenbrand speaks extensively about the impact of the Cold War on European unity, suggesting that the Cold War absorbed the attention of both American and European leaders and caused more resources to be invested in NATO (than in forming a Europan union). Hillenbrand discusses attitudes towards Germany post-WWII, the German economic recovery and the Morgenthau Plan, the relationship between the American military and the German public post WWII, and the similarities between American and German culutre. He mentions the culture of the Soviet Union.Hillenbrand dicusses current world economies, including the "economic war" between Europe and the United States, the role of superpowers, and economic growth in developing countries like India and China.
OH MJH 01 Interview with Martin J. Hillenbrand Transcript, 2004 March 9



OH MJH 02 Interview with Martin J. Hillenbrand

( 1 sound_recording(s) 60 minutes )
Dr. Martin Hillenbrand interviewed by John Stark. Hillenbrand discusses the rebuilding of Germany, post-WWII, and the move towards German unification, including the differences between West German Chancellors Willy Brandt and Konrad Adenauer, the Berlin Crisis of 1962, and John Foster Dulles. He described the nuclears standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and the role of NATO.
Hillenbrand talks about the history of the foreign service in the U.S., including the Rogers Act and the career paths available to employees.Hillenbrand speaks extensively of the Berlin Wall, including its construction, the possibility that the Kennedy administration privately approved of the Berlin Wall, reasons why Americans might have a positive view of the Berlin Wall,He also talks about President Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis and the justification that would be required to go to war. Hillenbrand talks about defectors and refugees from East Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie, and methods of escaping from East Germany. He talks about the effects of Stalin's death and Lavrentiy Beria.
OH MJH 02 Interview with Martin J. Hillenbrand Transcript



OH MJH 03 Interview with Martin J. Hillenbrand

( 1 sound_recording(s) 60 minutes )
Dr. Martin J. Hillenbrand interviewed by John Stark. Hillenbrand discusses his involvement with the Center for East-West Trade at UGA, including the origins of the center and Hillenbrand and Bertsch's motivations for founding the center, the focus on the Soviet Union,
Hillenbrand discusses the post-WWII history of Germany, including the sovereignity of the GDR (German Democratic Republic, i.e. West Germany),the history of political divisions and moves toward unification in Europe, Wagner, and Nazi propaganda. He also talks about rebuilding the German economy, the Morgenthau plan, France's attitude towards German reunification and French independent sovereignty, Charles De Gaulle, the Berlin Crisis, and the European Defense Community.
OH MJH 03 Interview with Martin J. Hillenbrand Transcript



OH MJH 04

(60 minutes; Transcript, 20 pp.)
Imperial Russia, failed League of Nations; European Union Expansion (part 1)
Dr. Martin J. Hillenbrand interviewed by John Stark. Hillenbrand discusses Eastern Europe and Russia, and the influence of Russian culture on Eastern European countries, the transition from imperial Russia to Soviet Russia in the early twentieth century,German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II, the decline of the British empire, the effect of the massive casualties of World War I on European politics and society, the westernization of Russian culture, Woodrow Wilson's plans for post-World War I Europe, the reasons for the failure of the League of Nations (including the weakened economy in Europe, post WWI)the potential difficulties integrating eastern and western European countries into the European Union, the degree of American influence of European nations, the difficulty of predicting future policy and political outcomes,
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OH MJH 05

(60 minutes; Transcript, 20 pp.)
Sound recording. European Union Expansion (part 2)
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 06

(60 minutes; Transcript, 19 pp.)
Sound recording. April 6: Morals; background on Power and Morals April 17: (Tape 2) Morality in the modern world. Dr. H's experience with morality and power as a diplomat: Burma stay, running amuck, non-violence practitioners in India
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 07

(60 minutes; Transcript, 19 pp.)
Sound recording. Tape 1 of 2: Dr. Hillenbrand's childhood
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 08

(60 minutes; Transcript, 24 pp.)
Sound recording. April 13: Tape 2 of 2: Dr. Hillenbrand's childhood April 17: (Tape 1) Dr. Hillenbrand's childhood
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 09

(60 minutes; Transcript, 11 pp.)
Sound recording. Dr. Hillenbrand's experience in Burma; the courtship of his wife, Faith
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 10

(60 minutes; Transcript, 18 pp.)
Sound recording. Side A: May 4, 2004. Wedding in Rangoon, 1941; Faith's odyssey to reunite with Dr. H. in Mozambique Side B: May 18, 2004. Courtship of Faith, discussions between Faith and Dr. H. re her evacuation from Rangoon
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 11

(60 minutes; Transcript, 23 pp.)
Sound recording. Side A: Escape from Rangoon; living in Calcutta; maintaining liaison to the Burmese government while in exile Side B: Ph.D. research in India (non-violence philosophy); stay in Calcutta/Bombay; Indian desk assignment in D.C.
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 12

(60 minutes; Transcript, 22 pp.)
Sound recording. Side A: Return to U.S. after service in Asia; Indian desk assignment in D.C. Side B: Work in Mozambique, 1940s?
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 13

(60 minutes; Transcript, 27 pp.)
Sound recording. Path to Economic War: Side A: post WWII background of upcoming economic war, plans for Germany, competing interests among occupying powers, international law Side B: dynamics of Soviet leadership, relations between US and USSR, classical musicians, post-WWII policy formation
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 14

(60 minutes; Transcript, 22 pp.)
Sound recording. Trade war between U.S. and European Union
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 15

(60 minutes; Transcript, 31 pp.)
Sound recording. Side A (June 24): Impending Economic War between U.S. and Europe Side B (July 28): Switzerland (Zurich) post
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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OH MJH 16

(130 minutes; Transcript, 50 pp.)
Moving image.
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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UC 0130OH MJH 16 [User Copy 0130], 2004 July 29
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UC 0131OH MJH 16 [User Copy 0131], 2004 July 29
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UC 0248A Conversation with Martin J. Hillenbrand: A Diplomat's Perspective on Foreign Affairs, Past, Present, and Future, 2004 July 29



Hillenbrand Photograph Oral History

(60 minutes; Transcript, 22 pp.)
Sound recording.
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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Hillenbrand Photograph Oral History

(60 minutes; Transcript, 19 pp.)
Sound recording.
Resource may be used under the guidelines described by the U.S. Copyright Office in Section 107, Title 17, United States Code (Fair use). Parties interested in production or commercial use of the resources should contact the Russell Library for a fee schedule.
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University of Georgia
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