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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Antisemitism, War
Moderate: Police brutality
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Maybe the most important book about the rise and fall of nazi Germany ever published. Its importance being re-realized in our current world stage as well. Many would compare our current administration to Germany's at the time of the book but the differences are numerous but still maybe not numerous enough to be distressing. While this book is incredibly informative it is a time consuming endeavor but finishing it does leave you with a sense of horror and also accomplishment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Murder, War
This is essential reading about the rise and fall of Nazi Germany from the birth of Adolf Hitler to the end of WW2, as seen by the American journalist William L. Shirer, who reported from inside Germany from 1934 to 1940.
It's a very long book, but well-written and I flew through it, particularly the sections regarding how Hitler came to power on the wings of populism, the invasion of Poland, his immense cruelty to the Jewish and Slavic people (particularly those of Poland, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia), and the response of the Western democracies (first the mistake of appeasement, then the fight back).
The section showing how he came to power is the most chilling and is the blueprint for totalitarian rule. He came to power legally by winning in Parliament. Shirer writes that there were too many political parties in Germany, too absorbed in looking after special economic and social interests and so they weren't able to bury their differences and form a majority in the Reichstag that could defeat the Nazi National Socialists. The far left wanted to destroy the Social Democrats and middle-class democratic forces believing erroneously that even though it would lead to a Nazi regime, it would be temporary and would bring the collapse of capitalism, after which the Communists could take over. German industrialists supported Hitler for the destruction of the trade unions, yet floundered as you need a stable civil society for a healthy economy. Germany's most powerful institutions obeyed in advance and surrendered and passed quietly out of existence.
Another chilling section was the absolute cruelty of the Nazi regime. They planned to kill and starve millions of Russians by making them work to the bone in slave camps for the sole purpose of feeding Germans. They had a "Final Solution" for the Jewish people, planning to kill all 11 million Jews in Europe. It was very hard to read about how millions of Jews met their deaths in Nazi gas chambers or in the execution pits of Einsatz squads.
The USA was on the right side of history in WW2. As of April 2025, I don't think we are anymore and I cannot believe that this country, which fought valiantly against the Nazis, could now be following that same path of the Third Reich.
It's a very long book, but well-written and I flew through it, particularly the sections regarding how Hitler came to power on the wings of populism, the invasion of Poland, his immense cruelty to the Jewish and Slavic people (particularly those of Poland, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia), and the response of the Western democracies (first the mistake of appeasement, then the fight back).
The section showing how he came to power is the most chilling and is the blueprint for totalitarian rule. He came to power legally by winning in Parliament. Shirer writes that there were too many political parties in Germany, too absorbed in looking after special economic and social interests and so they weren't able to bury their differences and form a majority in the Reichstag that could defeat the Nazi National Socialists. The far left wanted to destroy the Social Democrats and middle-class democratic forces believing erroneously that even though it would lead to a Nazi regime, it would be temporary and would bring the collapse of capitalism, after which the Communists could take over. German industrialists supported Hitler for the destruction of the trade unions, yet floundered as you need a stable civil society for a healthy economy. Germany's most powerful institutions obeyed in advance and surrendered and passed quietly out of existence.
Another chilling section was the absolute cruelty of the Nazi regime. They planned to kill and starve millions of Russians by making them work to the bone in slave camps for the sole purpose of feeding Germans. They had a "Final Solution" for the Jewish people, planning to kill all 11 million Jews in Europe. It was very hard to read about how millions of Jews met their deaths in Nazi gas chambers or in the execution pits of Einsatz squads.
The USA was on the right side of history in WW2. As of April 2025, I don't think we are anymore and I cannot believe that this country, which fought valiantly against the Nazis, could now be following that same path of the Third Reich.
A few notes: I think that while this is an excellent, introspective view of the nazi party, I think that the language is largely dated at this point. The author is purely focused on the government and not the human victims of the Nazi regime. The Holocaust is reserved for scarce mentions and the author himself is incredibly homophobic.
An abridged version would likely be an excellent read for high school, I might even recommend it then.
An abridged version would likely be an excellent read for high school, I might even recommend it then.
Not really sure what can be said about this book or about this topic after 1,200 pages. You probably knew most of this--the book is 65 years old!--or at least have heard much of this, but it's still a fascinating account. Having it all in one place, in a single massive volume, is incredibly useful.
Exhaustive to the point of exhaustion, but that's how I like my nonfiction.
Exhaustive to the point of exhaustion, but that's how I like my nonfiction.
I've been reading this book for months and its quite interesting, but it is also quite long and quite dense, and I don't have the attention span to concentrate on a book like this without reading anything a bit easier at the same time. I'll have a real review of it when I finish it, hopefully by the end of next year. :-/
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Horrifying
informative
slow-paced