The Fall of Berlin [Hardcover]

Anthony Read (Author), David Fisher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2001

The dramatic and harrowing account of the last days of the capital of the Reich that was to have lasted 1,000 years. The authors make use of survivors' accounts, photographic archives and detailed documentary evidence.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Read and Fisher ( Kristallnacht ) present a vivid verbal panorama of conditions in the German capital from the staging of the 1936 Olympics early in the Hitler era to the Nazi surrender in 1945. Significant events such as the Reichstag fire and the Kristallnacht pogrom are examined in detail, but the focus remains largely on the resourceful, resilient Berliners themselves as they deal with increasing hardship and danger. In the background of the narrative, one can virtually hear the almost incessant--and alarmingly effective--propaganda broadcasts by the Nazi minister of information, Joseph Goebbels. The authors relate the unfolding events in Hitler's underground headquarters, where his lieutenants continued to jockey for position even as old men and boys were rounded up in the streets above for a last-ditch stand against the approaching Soviet army. Finally, Read and Fisher describe the orgy of rape that began when the Red Army breached the city's defenses, the scope of which is conveyed by the statistics: more than 90,000 women and girls sought medical treatment for rape in Berlin in 1945. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The British team of Read and Fisher ( Kristallnacht , LJ 10/15/88, and The Deadly Embrace , LJ 11/15/89) turn their attention to the bombing of Berlin by the British and Americans and how the Russian Army fought its way toward and through Berlin in 1945. The authors intend no startling new interpretations or profound analysis. Instead, they offer vignettes, often based on diaries, to describe life in Berlin late in the war. They also retell the story of fanatical Nazi leaders and of the Wehrmacht's desperate efforts to defend the city. The result is a highly readable and, at the same time, sophisticated and reliable narrative history. One objection: no good reason exists to call the Oder-Neisse "the ancient frontier of the German empire."-- Robert W. Frizzell, Hendrix Coll. Lib., Conway, Ark.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Konecky & Konecky (May 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568523335
• ISBN-13: 978-1568523330
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,465,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent look at wartime Berlin, April 15, 2002

By 

Lynn Robinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fall of Berlin (Hardcover)

This book's title can be a bit misleading as much of the book discusses Berlin from the 1936 Olympics to the fall of the city in 1945. Reed and Fisher have written a great book here, but it does have its flaws. First, if you are looking for something just on the Battle of Berlin than this is not your book. Second, Reed and Fisher don't dive too much into the reports of Russian barbarism towards citizens of Berlin or have much to say on the immediate effects of the battle and the war in Berlin. But, this is still an excellent look at the happenings in Berlin from 1936-1945. Reed and Fisher follow Nazi bigwigs like Hitler and Goebbels, Hitler Youth members, soldiers in Berlin, ordinary citizens, anti-Nazi groups and individuals, and discuss attitudes of Berliners towards the Nazis, Nazi politicians, and the war itself. The discussion of the political, economic, and military situation in Berlin during the war is very good. The writing on the battle is good, showing both German and Russian perspectives, but may not be as in-depth as some military buffs may want. The discussion of Hitler's final days in the bunker is good too, but I would recommend "The Bunker" by John P. O'Donnell or "The Last Days of Hitler" by Anton Joachimsthaler if you want to read an in-depth look at Hitler in the bunker. Overall, the book features good research, good writing, a highly readable text, and is one of the better looks at wartime Berlin.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fall of Berlin, January 27, 2003

By 

Dana Keish (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fall Of Berlin (Paperback)

Starting with the Olympics of 1936, authors Read and Fisher chronicle the history of Berlin during the years prior to World War II and ending with the Battle of Berlin. Focusing not only on the known historical players such as Hitler and Goebbels, but including excerpts from diaries of every day Berliners, the book reads almost like a novel with a cast of thousands. At first, Berliners are stunned that Hitler is able to conqueror most of continental Europe through sheer bravado alone. The general consensus seems to be that eventually the world will see Hitler and the Nazis for what they really are and sanity will once again prevail. But of course, we can now look back in hindsight and realize that the complacency of the general population and the other world leaders is precisely what led to Hitler wreaking havoc on the world.

Most of the chapters are very short, no more than 3-4 pages long. This help keeps the pace of the book from bogging down into too much detail. Much information is given on the daily life of Berliners, how ration cards worked, etc. In addition, the authors do an excellent job of describing how different groups, Jews, immigrants, forced laborers, Hitler Youth, etc. reacted to the changing world as eventually Berlin spiraled into chaos. The innumerable bombings, which nightly rocked the city, are described in detail and how the city reacted, as first stunned and then eventually immune to the terror. The first 200 pages of the book cover the years from 1936 until March, 1945 while the remaining 250 pages detail the Battle of Berlin. Through complicated political considerations, the Soviets are allowed to conquer the city while the British and American troops hold back. Because the Soviet Union suffered so much during the war, especially the siege of Stalingrad, it is deemed only fitting that they make the first attempt on the city. The first wave of soldiers were professionals while the second wave of soldiers-former prisoners of the Germans, took out their hatred in raping, looting and pillaging. In the first 8 weeks after the fall of Berlin, over 90,000 German women had seen doctors due being raped by the Soviet soldiers. How many never reported this crime cannot even be estimated.

I would highly recommend this book to any student of World War II history who wants a good grasp of the social and political effects of war on a major industrialized city. Well written and well documented, the book allows readers to relive one of the most horrific time periods in modern history. It also allows the reader to better understand how the Nazis maintained their power until the very end over an educated populace. Hopefully lessons such as these will not go unheeded for future generations.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Read, March 25, 2003

By 

Malleus - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fall Of Berlin (Paperback)

I think what I appreciate most about this book was that it didn't focus only on the battles of World War II or the major personalities, but it examines the lives of everyday Berliners and those who lived through the city's triumphs and tragedies. The book containes the narratives of Berliners from all walks of life; the factory workers, socialites, refugees, soldiers, Jews, etc. The book examines the War through the eyes of those who experienced it first hand, but whose voices have been muted in the presence of the big names in history. This certainly isn't an earth shattering revelation, but the book is a nice addition to anyone's historical knowledge.