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bagusayp's review against another edition
5.0
As I was turning to the last chapter of this book, with the anti-fascist cantata of Hanns Eisler providing the back sound for the last days of the Third Reich, it just dawned on me how parting with this book which I have been reading in the past two months would feel weird. It’s the kind of feeling that I only felt upon parting with someone who I have known well for a long time, only to realise that I haven’t known that friend really well.
My decision to pick up this monster book to read around two months ago does not seem to be the wrong choice. This book is really enlightening about the state of Europe during the Interwar period which gave opportunities to rise for Nazism and also why the Third Reich came to its downfall despite the many advantages that Nazi Germany had during the first two years of the war.
Adolf Hitler was the key person in this story, of how a former Austrian corporal who was uneducated and almost forgotten by history after his failure in the so-called Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 finally managed to rise to power by exploiting several misfortunes in 1920s Weimar Republic. Anti-semitism directed to the Jewry is the key feature in Nazism. From the author point of view, anti-semitism in Germany did not begin with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party. It has been in existence ever since the time Martin Luther placated his 95 theses which revolutionised the European Christendom in the 15th century.
That Hitler finally managed to exploit this hatred towards European Jewry for his own gains, it’s just an eventuality of history for the German people. Save that fact aside, and add that with the rough treatment of the Weimar Republic with the terms imposed by the Allies after the First World War in the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression which hit America and Europe in 1929. And we finally have the recipe to fuel the advent of Nazism.
During the pre-war Nazi Germany period, the author worked as a foreign correspondent in Berlin which makes this book a delicious account to read as he knew the big picture of what was going on in the first year of the Third Reich. Although the author has professed in his preface that most foreign correspondents that lived in Nazi Germany during that period did not even know what was really going on in the Third Reich, his experiences there as a correspondent in the pre-war period have really made this book highly readable. The captured Nazi documents and supplements of affidavits from the Nuremberg trials simply complimented the author’s already available knowledge of the regime.
As this book was first published in 1960, there must be some revisions that need to be included with more declassified data now after the turning of the century. And it could not be said as a perfect book chronicling that period since this book highly focused on the happenings in the Third Reich. Thus leaving some parts of World War II which were fought at the other side of the world outside the picture and does not even include some important meetings like for example, Yalta Conference and Tehran Conference between the Allies. However, this is a good book for a starter to get a big picture of what really happened in Nazi Germany and its occupied areas in Europe. The sign "over 1400 pages" at the cover did not discourage me to finish it. LOL. It’s highly readable and recommended!
My decision to pick up this monster book to read around two months ago does not seem to be the wrong choice. This book is really enlightening about the state of Europe during the Interwar period which gave opportunities to rise for Nazism and also why the Third Reich came to its downfall despite the many advantages that Nazi Germany had during the first two years of the war.
Adolf Hitler was the key person in this story, of how a former Austrian corporal who was uneducated and almost forgotten by history after his failure in the so-called Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 finally managed to rise to power by exploiting several misfortunes in 1920s Weimar Republic. Anti-semitism directed to the Jewry is the key feature in Nazism. From the author point of view, anti-semitism in Germany did not begin with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party. It has been in existence ever since the time Martin Luther placated his 95 theses which revolutionised the European Christendom in the 15th century.
That Hitler finally managed to exploit this hatred towards European Jewry for his own gains, it’s just an eventuality of history for the German people. Save that fact aside, and add that with the rough treatment of the Weimar Republic with the terms imposed by the Allies after the First World War in the Treaty of Versailles and the Great Depression which hit America and Europe in 1929. And we finally have the recipe to fuel the advent of Nazism.
During the pre-war Nazi Germany period, the author worked as a foreign correspondent in Berlin which makes this book a delicious account to read as he knew the big picture of what was going on in the first year of the Third Reich. Although the author has professed in his preface that most foreign correspondents that lived in Nazi Germany during that period did not even know what was really going on in the Third Reich, his experiences there as a correspondent in the pre-war period have really made this book highly readable. The captured Nazi documents and supplements of affidavits from the Nuremberg trials simply complimented the author’s already available knowledge of the regime.
As this book was first published in 1960, there must be some revisions that need to be included with more declassified data now after the turning of the century. And it could not be said as a perfect book chronicling that period since this book highly focused on the happenings in the Third Reich. Thus leaving some parts of World War II which were fought at the other side of the world outside the picture and does not even include some important meetings like for example, Yalta Conference and Tehran Conference between the Allies. However, this is a good book for a starter to get a big picture of what really happened in Nazi Germany and its occupied areas in Europe. The sign "over 1400 pages" at the cover did not discourage me to finish it. LOL. It’s highly readable and recommended!
dataphyte's review against another edition
4.0
I read this in college. It added substantial depth to my understanding of the Nazi phenomenon, helping me to identify and compare causal factors then and now.
testinmd's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
A reasonable summary of both the history of Nazi Germany and of my undergraduate education. Insert my essay on the Battle of Stalingrad somewhere near the middle.
brandonpytel's review against another edition
5.0
A comprehensive account of one of history’s darkest times. Written by a journalist who saw much of the rise of the Third Reich firsthand, Rise and Fall transports us to the Weimar Germany, its struggles and its peoples’ mindsets, giving us necessary historical and cultural background to make sense of the wave of Nazism that spanned across Germany in the 1930s.
Less of a historian and more of a journalist, Shirer uses exclusively firsthand sources, while also interjecting his own personal tone and voice into the piece, giving the book a human feel, rather than a collection of notes. He weaves together all these interconnecting voices and events seamlessly, keeping you grounded in the narrative.
This is a book of tragedy or caution taking a distant historical event and making it relevant through its universal themes and narrative connections. It is less of an A led to B story as it is the slow rise and movement toward Nazi Germany, and how once the water came rushing in, there was little stopping it, until it crashed down across the entire European continent.
It’s also a close look at Hitler and of his monomaniacal hatred, his mad genius, his pathetic behavior and how is ascent to absolute power also absolutely corrupted him — narrowing his focus, ignoring his council and ultimately sealing his and his nation’s fate.
Though from a 10,000 foot view, the rise of barbaric Nazism seems improbable, Shirer focuses the lens and shows us all the events and mindsets that made such a disastrous state of affairs possible, offering us a comprehensive account of not just Nazi Germany but also the rise of one man’s obsessive ambition and the disastrous effects it can have on millions of people. It’s also very much a war book — though not diving terribly deep into each battle, Rise and Fall gives enough details to understand the wins and setbacks of Axis and Allied powers, framing the war in an accessible way for the curious reader.
Less of a historian and more of a journalist, Shirer uses exclusively firsthand sources, while also interjecting his own personal tone and voice into the piece, giving the book a human feel, rather than a collection of notes. He weaves together all these interconnecting voices and events seamlessly, keeping you grounded in the narrative.
This is a book of tragedy or caution taking a distant historical event and making it relevant through its universal themes and narrative connections. It is less of an A led to B story as it is the slow rise and movement toward Nazi Germany, and how once the water came rushing in, there was little stopping it, until it crashed down across the entire European continent.
It’s also a close look at Hitler and of his monomaniacal hatred, his mad genius, his pathetic behavior and how is ascent to absolute power also absolutely corrupted him — narrowing his focus, ignoring his council and ultimately sealing his and his nation’s fate.
Though from a 10,000 foot view, the rise of barbaric Nazism seems improbable, Shirer focuses the lens and shows us all the events and mindsets that made such a disastrous state of affairs possible, offering us a comprehensive account of not just Nazi Germany but also the rise of one man’s obsessive ambition and the disastrous effects it can have on millions of people. It’s also very much a war book — though not diving terribly deep into each battle, Rise and Fall gives enough details to understand the wins and setbacks of Axis and Allied powers, framing the war in an accessible way for the curious reader.
askorbinka's review against another edition
5.0
Дуже детальна книга і досить суха. Але між описами, хто кому подзвонив, куди поїхав, що записав в щоденнику міністр закордоних справ Італії, є багато цікавого. Майже нема емоційних суджень та оцінок, це такий собі нотатник дуже раціонального журналіста-аналітика.
mbeavinuk's review against another edition
5.0
Very long but very good. Really looks at every awful part of the nazis
storyscribe's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent history and overview of the Third Reich that leaves you wanting to read more about some of the other players (Eisenhower, Stalin, Roosevelt etc). The book starts mainly with Adolf Hitler immediately after the end of World War 1 and ends In May 1945 with the official end of the war. The Nuremberg trials are mentioned frequently but often to give evidence to events as they are happening as part of the story. Very well researched relying mainly on first person accounts and details from captured Nazi documents. Shirer does his best to include context of what people outside of Germany are doing (France, England, Poland Etc). However, compared to the depth of the Nazi regime it occasionally leaves you wanting more information about these "side" characters. Shirer is clear when he is injecting is opinion versus stating fact.
It is very long but that doesn't mean it isn't readable, the exact opposite. It's easy to read for an hour or 2 and put it down and pick it back up. The history is presented in a way that constructs a grand narrative. At times feeling more like reading a tragedy or dark comedy (The Nazi leaders are not the brightest bulbs and make sometimes comically bad errors and deal with them in comically bad ways). When you finish the book you will certainly have learned some things you didn't know about the war and the third Reich.
You should be warned, that the chapter about the holocaust doesn't hold any punches. Excerpts from the Nuremberg trials, surviors, witnesses and the Nazi's own documents are frequently quoted. They describe events that will leave the reader deeply disturbed. There is no doubt the the average German know what was happening and that everyone from the ground up knew how morally repugnant their actions were. They somehow held contradictions of seeing Jews as less than people but acknowledged and tried to limit the emotional toll mass execution took on the executioners. Why would there be such a toll if they were not killing human beings?
Only removing a star for how long it was. It seemed like there were some events (the July 20th plot, some pre war events & German politics) that could have been condensed.
Would highly recommend to anyone with even a mild interest in World War 2.
It is very long but that doesn't mean it isn't readable, the exact opposite. It's easy to read for an hour or 2 and put it down and pick it back up. The history is presented in a way that constructs a grand narrative. At times feeling more like reading a tragedy or dark comedy (The Nazi leaders are not the brightest bulbs and make sometimes comically bad errors and deal with them in comically bad ways). When you finish the book you will certainly have learned some things you didn't know about the war and the third Reich.
You should be warned, that the chapter about the holocaust doesn't hold any punches. Excerpts from the Nuremberg trials, surviors, witnesses and the Nazi's own documents are frequently quoted. They describe events that will leave the reader deeply disturbed. There is no doubt the the average German know what was happening and that everyone from the ground up knew how morally repugnant their actions were. They somehow held contradictions of seeing Jews as less than people but acknowledged and tried to limit the emotional toll mass execution took on the executioners. Why would there be such a toll if they were not killing human beings?
Only removing a star for how long it was. It seemed like there were some events (the July 20th plot, some pre war events & German politics) that could have been condensed.
Would highly recommend to anyone with even a mild interest in World War 2.
sudeshnabora's review against another edition
5.0
This is my second venture into historical non fiction, the first being The Last Mughal.
I lived through each and every moment of the REICH.
Having pretty inferior knowledge about world politics, I would say it is not a good book to start reading about World War II as it completely focuses on THE THIRD REICH (as expected). However, it served my purpose of knowing Hitler. I won't say the writer is not unbiased , it is after all a victor's tale, but it has highlighted each and every aspect of Hitler.
5 stars for being such an engrossing and amazing read.
The writing style is beautiful, the writer always gives a gist of what is to be expected in the next chapter. It helped me form a beautiful timeline.
Reand and get mesmerized.
I lived through each and every moment of the REICH.
Having pretty inferior knowledge about world politics, I would say it is not a good book to start reading about World War II as it completely focuses on THE THIRD REICH (as expected). However, it served my purpose of knowing Hitler. I won't say the writer is not unbiased , it is after all a victor's tale, but it has highlighted each and every aspect of Hitler.
5 stars for being such an engrossing and amazing read.
The writing style is beautiful, the writer always gives a gist of what is to be expected in the next chapter. It helped me form a beautiful timeline.
Reand and get mesmerized.