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myrto229's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I've read some reviews that suggested that the Berlin wall itself wasn't enough to merit a whole book. Having read the book, though, I disagree. This was a really engaging discussion of the events before, during, and after the Berlin wall's presence in the center of Berlin.
The book starts with a long discussion of the history of Germany, which gets a little dry, but it's all very interesting. The book is full of stories about the people who ordered the wall built (party officials), people who actually built the wall, and the people whose lives were affected by the wall's construction. I also appreciated the perspective of officials in Western Europe and the US, who at least initially, were not opposed to the division of Germany (and by extension, Berlin) into two parts.
There are some disturbing stories and photographs in the book; stories of people who were willing to risk their lives to escape East Berlin didn't always have a happy ending.
I finished this book several weeks ago, so I can't go into more detail (had to return it to the library), but I thought this was definitely worth reading, and maybe worth reading again.
The book starts with a long discussion of the history of Germany, which gets a little dry, but it's all very interesting. The book is full of stories about the people who ordered the wall built (party officials), people who actually built the wall, and the people whose lives were affected by the wall's construction. I also appreciated the perspective of officials in Western Europe and the US, who at least initially, were not opposed to the division of Germany (and by extension, Berlin) into two parts.
There are some disturbing stories and photographs in the book; stories of people who were willing to risk their lives to escape East Berlin didn't always have a happy ending.
I finished this book several weeks ago, so I can't go into more detail (had to return it to the library), but I thought this was definitely worth reading, and maybe worth reading again.
mariasmusings's review against another edition
3.0
'The Berlin Wall: 13 August 1961 - 9 November 1989' is an updated version of the original book by Frederick Taylor, with some new material added to the introduction and postscript to reflect the current society that we live in. With 2019, being the anniversary of the fall of the infamous Berlin Wall, I found myself becoming curious about the events leading up to the building of the wall and what life must have been life for those living in 'East Berlin'. Having looked through the catalogue in my local library, I discovered that the selection of books available online was rather limited, but thankfully, Taylor's book has come to the rescue.
Expertly researched, Taylor provides not just the historical details but also the human dimension to the tale – an aspect that is often overlooked or treated as a secondary consideration in history texts.
Absolutely worth a read.
Expertly researched, Taylor provides not just the historical details but also the human dimension to the tale – an aspect that is often overlooked or treated as a secondary consideration in history texts.
Absolutely worth a read.
cpwood's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating account of a divided Germany and thoroughly recommended!
I do wonder whether the first quarter of the book could have been edited a little more closely, though. Despite the dates in the book's title, it actually discusses Germany's history for the preceding centuries too. It's all relevant in order to set a context, but maybe a little overly lengthy.
I do wonder whether the first quarter of the book could have been edited a little more closely, though. Despite the dates in the book's title, it actually discusses Germany's history for the preceding centuries too. It's all relevant in order to set a context, but maybe a little overly lengthy.
mothwing's review against another edition
4.0
As a German born in the eighties practically nothing will make me admit to feelings of patriotism but the German reunification is one of the few events that will do that. Since it's reunification day today I thought this would be fitting for the occasion, and this was a very entertaining history of one of the largest monstrosities of the recent German past with eye-witness-accounts from various vantage points.
maria_s's review
dark
informative
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Gun violence
lauraellis's review
4.0
Mr. Taylor takes a Noah and the Flood approach to his subject, which is to say he examines the beginning of Germany, the effects of Bismarck, the Emperors Wilhelm, and the aftermath of WWI, before glossing over the rise of Hitler and most of WWII and diving in for a fascinating examination of the foundation of East Germany and the relationship between the leaders of East Germany and the Soviet Union. Particularly vivid and meaningful for me is his recounting of the months leading up to the fall of the Wall, which I remember following in the news (in those pre-Internet days).
aerdna's review
3.0
FINALLY finished this beast. Such mixed feelings. The subject matter at hand is basically the plot of every spy novel ever except reallife, so it can't possibly be THAT boring. But the author made some interesting decisions. Like the entire first chapter, which was mostly a surface level skim of ALL of German history. There's a lot of it. I remember nothing except that the Prussians are scary dudes.
The best part was the political stuff. I wish Taylor were a better character writer because hot damn there were a lot of big egos floating around the political world at that time (not gonna mention the current political egos, this stuff is less depressing when gawking at it decades after the fact). I mean, the early 60s was all about political brinkmanship, with a constant frisson of nuclear warfare. I wish I could say more about the other decades of the wall, but another curious authorial decision involved spending about 5 oodles of time talking about the early 60s and then basically being like ehhh the 70s were boring. Let's skip to the 80s.
Maybe this is true? It seemed like the 60s were standoff time, with lots of JFK proving his mettle with questionable speeches in German (Ich bin ein Berliner and all that) and Soviet bluster that was real scurry. The 70s were ho hum business as usual, or more like business going downhill for the GDR but hiding it with cheap oil imports from the USSR and huge loans from West Germany. Eighties were hell in a handbasket time. He says that Reagan and his outspoken anti-communism had an effect on the fall of the wall, but doesn't really make it clear how. My biggest beef: there were like 3 pages about the actual fall of the wall!! I want to hear about David Hasselhoff and the people dancing on top of the wall and some personal stories from people who were there! More human interest, less Helmut Kohl was stuck in Poland at the time. Who cares...the fall of the wall is the story of the people who actually effected the change, not the useless leaders at banquet halls in Poland.
My climbing partner is German and grew up in the GDR and was telling me that his dad was part of this religious group, I'm forgetting the name, that counted the votes and called out the SED for fixing the vote. Cool to hear about people that are everyday heroes like that. After watching so many of my copatriates get thrown into interrogation with the Stasi for much less, would I have had the courage? Hopefully I won't have to find out.
Overall, A- for the part about the erection of the wall and cool stuff like tunneling and leaping and dramatic escapes. D+ for the rest of it.
The best part was the political stuff. I wish Taylor were a better character writer because hot damn there were a lot of big egos floating around the political world at that time (not gonna mention the current political egos, this stuff is less depressing when gawking at it decades after the fact). I mean, the early 60s was all about political brinkmanship, with a constant frisson of nuclear warfare. I wish I could say more about the other decades of the wall, but another curious authorial decision involved spending about 5 oodles of time talking about the early 60s and then basically being like ehhh the 70s were boring. Let's skip to the 80s.
Maybe this is true? It seemed like the 60s were standoff time, with lots of JFK proving his mettle with questionable speeches in German (Ich bin ein Berliner and all that) and Soviet bluster that was real scurry. The 70s were ho hum business as usual, or more like business going downhill for the GDR but hiding it with cheap oil imports from the USSR and huge loans from West Germany. Eighties were hell in a handbasket time. He says that Reagan and his outspoken anti-communism had an effect on the fall of the wall, but doesn't really make it clear how. My biggest beef: there were like 3 pages about the actual fall of the wall!! I want to hear about David Hasselhoff and the people dancing on top of the wall and some personal stories from people who were there! More human interest, less Helmut Kohl was stuck in Poland at the time. Who cares...the fall of the wall is the story of the people who actually effected the change, not the useless leaders at banquet halls in Poland.
My climbing partner is German and grew up in the GDR and was telling me that his dad was part of this religious group, I'm forgetting the name, that counted the votes and called out the SED for fixing the vote. Cool to hear about people that are everyday heroes like that. After watching so many of my copatriates get thrown into interrogation with the Stasi for much less, would I have had the courage? Hopefully I won't have to find out.
Overall, A- for the part about the erection of the wall and cool stuff like tunneling and leaping and dramatic escapes. D+ for the rest of it.
bearforester's review
Some parts exciting, a few parts somewhat dry, but the entire thing is full of information on this interesting period in history.