Has anyone else read that book by William L. Shirer? I read it for fun ( eek: yes I read it on my free time cause I like history a lot) and I found it amazing and extremely enlightening. I find its perspective and detailed account on Hitler's rise to power and Hitler's Germany very accurate (to the extent of what I know. I mean, how can you argue with someone who lived in Germany during these times?) Anyways, I just want to see how many people read this book, how they felt about, and if they felt it accurate or not.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
- Thread starter andvruss
- Start date
Quasar1011
King of Sylvania
I read it about 30 years ago. Very good book.
Case
The horror, the horror
Yeah, it definetly deserves it's status as a classic. Even after all these years it's still the definitive book on the Nazis. The only thing that's really dated is Shirer's homophobia. The chapters on the Holocurst and medical experiments retain their power to shock, as do the descriptions of the the extent of the Nazi repression of ordinary Germans.
These are my favourite books on Hitler/Nazism.
THE THIRD REICH AT WAR- MICHAEL VERMANOV
HITLER 1936-45 NEMESIS- IAN KERSHAW
HITLER- JOHN TOLAND
The best is Hitler 1936-45. Anyone who's interested in the Third Reich should read those books- brilliant.
THE THIRD REICH AT WAR- MICHAEL VERMANOV
HITLER 1936-45 NEMESIS- IAN KERSHAW
HITLER- JOHN TOLAND
The best is Hitler 1936-45. Anyone who's interested in the Third Reich should read those books- brilliant.
Have you read the Rise and Fall on the Thrid Reich though? The first book is about Hitler and his rise to power, along with the National SocialistGermans' Woker Party rise to power. The second book is about the Weimar Republic and its last days, and also the Nazification of Germany. The third book is about Hitler's bloodless conquests (eg. Austris, Czechoslovakia, etc.) and the road to war. The fourth book is actually about world war 2, great turning points, and tactical errors made by Hitler. The fifth book is about the new order (gruesome and disturbing details about extermination plants, Hitler's plans for the Jews and Slavs, etc.) and the fall of Mussolini, along with the Allied invasion of Europe. The last book is entitled The Fall Of The Third Reich, which speaks for itself. This enormous quantity of material is actually very interesting and never dull, which makes this 1250 page book so readable.
It basically would condense all the books you named above into one (I think).
Nixnutz
Warlord
Kershaw's "Nemesis" is actually about Hitler's conduct of the war. The first volume, "Hubris", is about his background and how he took power.
I've read "Rise and Fall" as well as Shirer's "This is Berlin", "Berlin Diary" and "End of a Berlin Diary".
All good stuff.
Shirer had a different perspective. He watched it happen.
He was a CBS radio correspondent (hired by Edward R. Murrow) in Berlin from 1934 to 1940.
I've read "Rise and Fall" as well as Shirer's "This is Berlin", "Berlin Diary" and "End of a Berlin Diary".
All good stuff.
Shirer had a different perspective. He watched it happen.
He was a CBS radio correspondent (hired by Edward R. Murrow) in Berlin from 1934 to 1940.
I've read it... a definitive work indeed, but one must read it with the understanding that a lot has happened in history research since its publishing, especially considering that the collapse of the Soviet bloc brought to light a lot of new material on the Third Reich. The Russians were, after all, first in Berlin from where they shipped trainloads of documents off to Moscow, where they stayed for 50 years.
Also modern historians have disputed some of Shirer's conclusions... I can't pull any examples out of my head, though.
Also modern historians have disputed some of Shirer's conclusions... I can't pull any examples out of my head, though.
Benderino
Loyal American Democrat
I plan to, it's been sitting on my shelf for years.
Archer 007
Rebirth
Yep, its the next book on my list to check out from the library.
wildWolverine
L'Etat, c'est moi
I read it, "enjoyed" (enjoy = learned, not enjoyed the subject matter) it very much. I also have the Toland book, but haven't read it yet.
I haven't seen hubris though i might buy it if it's any good? I don't find the background to Hitler very interesting. I enjoyed learning about his rise to power after he became chancellor but have little interest before then. Am currently reading Stalin in Power so will be reading that for a while. It's quite good and i'd recommend it.
I will do it sounds good. The thing is every book you read on Hitler and the Nazis you learn one or two new facts or opinions. I find it interesting reading the same topics but with different opinions. Which should i read first or which should i miss out cos i doubt i'll read all five.
Case
The horror, the horror
No doubt they have, and no doubt they're often correct - as the writer of one of the earliest serious books on the topic Shirer didn't have acess to most of the research findings and documents which are available to modern historians. Still, IMO the mark of Shirer's greatness is that when modern historians disagree with him, they have to go to great lengths to support their new argument.
He did have access to most Nurmemburg documents, and having been at the trials there he has a great advntage, where as modern historians may not have been able to get there hands on Nurmerburg documents, and very likely there were not at the trials themselves.
thestonesfan
A Client of Ron Kuby
I read it in high school. Very good stuff. I plan to again.
rilnator
Emperor
I have read it several times. When ever I am out of reading material and late for the train I grab it. I can open it to any page and immediately become engrossed in what I'm reading. The definitive book on Hitler. If you have that book in your library you needn't read any other on the subject.
Mr Shirer gives first hand accounts of the man and details seeing him in person, with other heads of state and events like the French surrender at Compiegne (a highlight of the book). This to me puts the author in better standing than another who interviews eyewitnesses and gets his information from other books on the subject. I think we can grant Shirer's authenticity due to the massive amount of research he put into the book. The fact that it was not finished till the 50s is testament to that.
I think William L Shirer subconciously admired Hitler, that is the vibe I got from reading it. He is also a homophobe.
Mr Shirer gives first hand accounts of the man and details seeing him in person, with other heads of state and events like the French surrender at Compiegne (a highlight of the book). This to me puts the author in better standing than another who interviews eyewitnesses and gets his information from other books on the subject. I think we can grant Shirer's authenticity due to the massive amount of research he put into the book. The fact that it was not finished till the 50s is testament to that.
I think William L Shirer subconciously admired Hitler, that is the vibe I got from reading it. He is also a homophobe.
Kamilian
Deity
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2002
- Messages
- 3,473
well i havent read the book - i saw the 2-part movie that was directly based from the book, though. i kno its not the same and i have been trying to find the book but i cant. the movie is also really good and it also shows the bad sh*t that Hitler was doing.
the subject matter is very disturbing, though...
the subject matter is very disturbing, though...
Similar threads
