Scan barcode
A review by brandonpytel
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William L. Shirer
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.