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zohal99's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
A big thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was an incredibly fascinating book. It really made me research more based on what I read. I believe it is well-researched and this is exactly the sort of history non-fiction book I was after.
World War II is one of the areas of modern history that fascinates me the most. I thought this book was unique in that it focused on the last five days of the war and was focused on the eyewitness accounts. I liked the parallels about where famous, or soon to be famous, individuals were when all of these events were occurring. It does not shy away from the horrific accounts of the war.
Probably the chapter on Hitler's death and the aftermath of it for his supporters, was the most compelling part of the book, due to how it was well-written. You do not usually get the German perspective of the end of the war, so that made this book unique in its take.
For history buffs like myself, I highly recommend!
A big thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was an incredibly fascinating book. It really made me research more based on what I read. I believe it is well-researched and this is exactly the sort of history non-fiction book I was after.
World War II is one of the areas of modern history that fascinates me the most. I thought this book was unique in that it focused on the last five days of the war and was focused on the eyewitness accounts. I liked the parallels about where famous, or soon to be famous, individuals were when all of these events were occurring. It does not shy away from the horrific accounts of the war.
Probably the chapter on Hitler's death and the aftermath of it for his supporters, was the most compelling part of the book, due to how it was well-written. You do not usually get the German perspective of the end of the war, so that made this book unique in its take.
For history buffs like myself, I highly recommend!
ravit's review against another edition
4.0
הספר מספר בפירוט את ההתרחשויות בחמישה ימים גורליים לקראת סיומה של מלחמת העולם השניה. זהו ספר עיון המבוסס על עדויות ומחקר היסטורי, אך הוא כתוב בידי עיתונאי-סופר ועל כן קריאתו קולחת ומהווה נקודת כניסה טובה למי שאינו מורגל בקריאת ספרי עיון. הספר חוטא במעט פופוליזם כשבוחר להביא דווקא סיפורים של אינדבידואלים שלימים הפכו מפורסמים באופנים שונים, אך זה אינו פוגע מאיכותו של הספר.
susani90's review against another edition
4.0
I obtained a free copy via Netgalley for a honest and true review.
Five Days that Shocked the World: Eyewitness Accounts from Europe at the end of World War II by Nicholas Best is a fantastic read and perfect for all the history buffs out there!
In the book we follow a young Walter Cronkite as he parachutes into Holland with a Canadian troop; photographer Lee Miller capturing the evidence of Nazi atrocities; the future Pope Benedict returning home and hoping not to be caught and shot after deserting his unit; Audrey Hepburn no longer having to fear conscription into a Wehrmacht brothel; and even an SS doctor's descriptions of a decadent sex orgy in Hitler's bunker.
A good history book is all about the writing of the author and Nicholas Best does not disappoint. There are hundreds and hundreds of books on WWII but this isn't a book that will fall lost in the scholarship of WWII.
Anyone who loves history but specifically World War II I would definitely recommend this book!
Five Days that Shocked the World: Eyewitness Accounts from Europe at the end of World War II by Nicholas Best is a fantastic read and perfect for all the history buffs out there!
In the book we follow a young Walter Cronkite as he parachutes into Holland with a Canadian troop; photographer Lee Miller capturing the evidence of Nazi atrocities; the future Pope Benedict returning home and hoping not to be caught and shot after deserting his unit; Audrey Hepburn no longer having to fear conscription into a Wehrmacht brothel; and even an SS doctor's descriptions of a decadent sex orgy in Hitler's bunker.
A good history book is all about the writing of the author and Nicholas Best does not disappoint. There are hundreds and hundreds of books on WWII but this isn't a book that will fall lost in the scholarship of WWII.
Anyone who loves history but specifically World War II I would definitely recommend this book!
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