Ian Garden

Author and Historian

About Ian

Ian garden portrait

Education and Banking

Ian Garden was born in Muir of Ord in the Highlands of Scotland. He attended secondary school in Edinburgh. In 1980, Ian graduated from the University of St Andrews with an honours degree in French and German . The following year, after post graduate studies at Napier University, he joined the Bank of Scotland (which subsequently became HBOS).

During his 27 years with the Bank, Ian served in a wide range of locations.  His roles ranged from heading up the Telecom and Power teams in Project Finance to opening the Bank’s first office in Germany in 1993.

Ian and the history of World War Two

It was during Ian’s 30 month posting to Frankfurt that Ian really had an opportunity to indulge his interest in the history of World War Two, and since leaving the Bank he has spent much of his time viewing and researching a whole range of feature films and documentaries produced during the Nazi era. Ian was assisted by the Frankfurt Film Museum and also the Imperial War Museum in London for whom he subsequently provided summary reviews of their lesser known Nazi films.

 Books by Ian

The results of his research are summarised in a book called The Third Reich’s Celluloid War,  published by The History Press in February, 2012.

More about The Third Reich’s Celluloid War

Ian’s  published his second book,  Battling with the Truth in July 2016. This book examines which side was more truthful in its press and newsreel coverage of key events during World War Two. The findings make fascinating reading.

More about Battling with the Truth

Talks and Lectures

Ian gives regular talks and lectures on various aspects of film and media propaganda in war time and also runs a series of related film classes at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh each spring.

Ian’s other interests include Robert Burns, travel, rugby, golf, football and local history. He has just completed the subtitling of the Nazis’ Irish film – The Fox of Glenarvon – and is currently working with International Historic Films in the United States to release the subtitled film as part of a major DVD package about the Nazis’ anti-British films.

More about Ian’s Talks, Film Classes and Burns Supper activities

 
 
 

© 2025 Ian Garden – All Rights Reserved     Privacy Notice