Voices From The Third Reich: An Oral History [Paperback]

Johannes Steinhoff (Author), Peter Pechel (Author), Dennis Showalter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 1994

A major historical document, this book contains interviews with more than 150 Germans who witnessed, participated in, or resisted the rise of Adolph Hitler. The testimony comes from well-known figures like Manfred Rommel and Helmut Kohl; former soldiers and ordinary civilians; and victims of the criminal policies of the Nazi regime. Haunting and extraordinary tales of horror, courage, grim determination, and moral confusion fill these pages. Voices from the Third Reich takes the material of epic history and presents it in the form of the individual human experiences of men, women, and children subjected to the pressures of total war in a fascist state.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The result of a collaborative editorial effort by two German veterans of WW II and an American college professor, these recollections from more than 150 Germans cover a wide range of experience, civilian and military, during the Nazi era. Many of those interviewed, who were children or teenagers when Hitler came to power, speak frankly about the allure of National Socialism and of the "adaptations" forced on them, internally and externally, during the war. As the editors point out, heroism and self-sacrifice are evident in many of the statements, but so are egoism and self- deception. The book challenges certain assumptions common among non-Germans: that most citizens of the Third Reich were fully aware of the crimes perpetrated by the regime; that the survivors of that generation are conscious of a burden of guilt; and finally that older Germans are happy to forget the war. The men and women included here recall their attitudes and behavior in compelling and painful detail.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

A thoroughly fascinating and occasionally depressing series of excerpts from hundreds of interviews of West German and Austrian survivors of the Nazi years. In 16 thematic chapters the authors have collated brief statements on topics such as the war, genocide, resistance, women, children, simple survival, and daily affairs. The contributors come from a wide variety of backgrounds and persuasion. The result is an intriguing and troubling picture of those who made the Third Reich. Two perhaps unavoidable shortcomings mar this otherwise excellent project. First, the excerpts are very brief portions of rather lengthy interviews; the reader wishes for a more representative and cohesive sense of each respondent. Second, no East Germans are included. It would have been fascinating to see how that very different postwar political culture might have colored recollections of the Third Reich. Highly recommended.
- James B. Street, Santa Cruz P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 22, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306805944
• ISBN-13: 978-0306805943
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,015,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Critical to understanding the Germans in World War II., October 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Voices From The Third Reich: An Oral History (Paperback)

This was perhaps the best of Johannes Steinhoff's books, since it does not deal with his own stellar yet tragic WW II and post war career. The insights of the average person living in Germany are of great importance to both social and military historians alike. Steinhoff offered this collective testament as a warning to all of us regarding war and the rise of a dictator. As Johannes said in an interview, "It is always the civilians who suffer the most, yet are remembered the least."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book especially for World War II buffs, August 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Voices from the Third Reich: An Oral History (Hardcover)

This book is an excellent work that shows the German side of World War II. Through many accounts, the tome reveals slices of German life from the rise of Hitler to the toppling of the Reich. It shows that the German people, even during the monstrous horrors of the Holocaust, were still just people trying to survive. It is a fine work and is worthy to be included in any library.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the German perspective in WW II, August 12, 2000

By 

Shawn Smith (Cumberland Gap, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Voices From The Third Reich: An Oral History (Paperback)

The book allows us to witness World War II through the experiences of German soldiers and civilians. These first hand accounts are remarkable and somewhat chilling at the same time. For example, there are accounts that talk about the success of the German military in Europe, and accounts that describe the Russian front in great detail. I found the accounts on about the Russian front to be very disturbing. The soldiers suffered through many ordeals that its amazing they survived at all. Overall, this novel would be a welcome addition to anyone's library.