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on August 5, 2013
In this book you will find the story of the last major European battle of WWII that culminated with the occupation of Berlin by the Soviet troops in April 1945. The author succeeds brilliantly in presenting many viewpoints of this quickly changing time period, ranging from the Supreme Commanders of all sides to the regular civilian enduring the siege of the city. If you saw "The Downfall" you will recognize many chapters, but make no mistake, this book is much broader in scope and goes into much more detail than just the last days at the Führerbunker. The deep and long research that the author performed is readily apparent and actually represents a refreshing read when compared to the many personal accounts that lately have flooded the libraries - not a small feat for a book that was written basically 50 years ago!
If anything I would have expected a final chapter to bring some better closure to the story, dealing with the final week of the III Reich and maybe the first weeks of the official occupation by the Allies.
This is a true classic that still should be regarded as the benchmark history book for the final battle around Berlin that simply cannot be missed - highly recommended.
If anything I would have expected a final chapter to bring some better closure to the story, dealing with the final week of the III Reich and maybe the first weeks of the official occupation by the Allies.
This is a true classic that still should be regarded as the benchmark history book for the final battle around Berlin that simply cannot be missed - highly recommended.
on March 28, 2013
I rated this better than "A Bridge Too Far" (ABTF), which might be because I am more familiar with ABTF and Operation Marketgarden than I am with the last battles to end WWII in Europe as described by this book. This book describes the last days of the Third Reich (ironically named "the Thousand Year Reich") after the Americans and Brits turned back the Germans' Ardenne Offensive in the West and the relentless march of the Soviets in the East from 4 perspectives: Western Allied soldiers, Soviet soldiers, the civilians in Berlin, and the German military defending Berlin. I learned quite a few things after reading this book: Eisenhower threatened to hand in his resignation if Montgomery doesn't stop his self promoting statements to the press, AND that the Soviet soldiers weren't exactly pleased to learn that even the lowliest Polish peasant they encountered as they fought their way west to Berlin through Poland had much higher living standard than they generally did. They discovered that their Communist leaders had lied to them all these years about how prosperous they were in the Soviet Union, and how bad the average folk had in the decadent capitalist countries. Of course none of them had enough courage to do something about the lies by starting another Russian revolution. The other interesting thing I learned is that there really was a difference between the way the western Allies treated the civilian population as they fought their way through Germany and the way the Soviets treated civilians on the Eastern Front. There was very little pillaging, plundering, raping and looting in the west, but quite a bit of all 4 in by the Soviets in the east (interestingly, not by the professional soldiers who led the way, but by the 2nd, 3rd, etc. waves of draftees who cleaned up resistance after the professionals went through.
Would love to see this book in a movie, something similar to what was done with ABTF.
Would love to see this book in a movie, something similar to what was done with ABTF.
on October 27, 2014
I bought this used, and so it does not have a book jacket. However, this was a wonderful buy! The pages have very little wear, and is more of just the pages slowly turning off-white.
The content itself is superb, as can be expected from Cornelius Ryan. The pictures where an added bonus for me, as I had no idea there were any inside! They helped tremendously to put faces to the names, buildings and places.
Anyone interested in reading about the Battle of Berlin, I HIGHLY recommend this book. Easy to read, straight and linear timeline, and plenty of time spent showing the build-up to the battle. The reasons that the Allies stopped at the Elbe river, and did not press on to Berlin, and a short time spent on the after effects of the battle. All through out the book, it is told from soldiers on all sides, Generals, and the growing terror for civilians in Berlin.
While titled "The Last Battle" this will not be the last Cornelius Ryan book I buy.
The content itself is superb, as can be expected from Cornelius Ryan. The pictures where an added bonus for me, as I had no idea there were any inside! They helped tremendously to put faces to the names, buildings and places.
Anyone interested in reading about the Battle of Berlin, I HIGHLY recommend this book. Easy to read, straight and linear timeline, and plenty of time spent showing the build-up to the battle. The reasons that the Allies stopped at the Elbe river, and did not press on to Berlin, and a short time spent on the after effects of the battle. All through out the book, it is told from soldiers on all sides, Generals, and the growing terror for civilians in Berlin.
While titled "The Last Battle" this will not be the last Cornelius Ryan book I buy.
on July 27, 2017
A well written book about decision-making and events surrounding the fall of Berlin, mainly from the perspective of the Western Allies. A good complement to Antony Beever's "The Fall of Berlin 1945."
on March 20, 2013
Good American/English journalism. Gets every perspective. Written just a decade or so after the war, so seething a bit with anti-nazism. Relationship with Heinrici, the field marshal in charge of the Oder Defense, is the highlight of the book.
The stories are really the meat of the book. The author interviewed various people and then wrote short stories about their experience. This seems a little foreign for someone searching for a "nothing but the facts" perspective (i.e. see "Siege of Budapest"), but it's effective.
Overall, the highlights are the description on the lead-up to the battle and Heinrici's nearly successful defense of the Oder. The description of surrounding deployments leading up to the siege, Wenck's 12th army and his rescue of 9th army, Mantueffel 5th Panzer Core falling back into the city with tanks for the final defense, army group Steiner and his remnants from the Courland pocket, who were unable to attack the flanks of the Russian siege, the flight of "the Golden Pheasants"- all these movements are explained in terms of the general disintegration of Germany. It is a surprise that any units fought at all. An interesting deference is give to the brutality of the SS in Berlin, with an interesting story of a red-haired SS man who ran around killing mutineers, defending against the Russians, and dying painfully in a hospital from multiple bullet wounds to the stomach. Finally, good mention of the Berlin Flak-towers, which is actually how google introduced me to this book.
The book becomes a bit too rushed as the Soviets "closed the noose." I also felt there was a bit too much time spent on the American drive through Germany. Even though this played an important role, I didn't find it as interesting.
Overall, a must read for anyone interested in the battle. I struggled between "4 stars" and "5 stars", ultimately I gave it benefit, since I am surprised how much I retained from the book (must be the story-telling).
The stories are really the meat of the book. The author interviewed various people and then wrote short stories about their experience. This seems a little foreign for someone searching for a "nothing but the facts" perspective (i.e. see "Siege of Budapest"), but it's effective.
Overall, the highlights are the description on the lead-up to the battle and Heinrici's nearly successful defense of the Oder. The description of surrounding deployments leading up to the siege, Wenck's 12th army and his rescue of 9th army, Mantueffel 5th Panzer Core falling back into the city with tanks for the final defense, army group Steiner and his remnants from the Courland pocket, who were unable to attack the flanks of the Russian siege, the flight of "the Golden Pheasants"- all these movements are explained in terms of the general disintegration of Germany. It is a surprise that any units fought at all. An interesting deference is give to the brutality of the SS in Berlin, with an interesting story of a red-haired SS man who ran around killing mutineers, defending against the Russians, and dying painfully in a hospital from multiple bullet wounds to the stomach. Finally, good mention of the Berlin Flak-towers, which is actually how google introduced me to this book.
The book becomes a bit too rushed as the Soviets "closed the noose." I also felt there was a bit too much time spent on the American drive through Germany. Even though this played an important role, I didn't find it as interesting.
Overall, a must read for anyone interested in the battle. I struggled between "4 stars" and "5 stars", ultimately I gave it benefit, since I am surprised how much I retained from the book (must be the story-telling).
on August 26, 2017
a must read for any history review of WWII. Fascinating information revealed by interviews with then living survivors from the different factions in the war. A classic not to be missed.
on July 19, 2017
Great book that gives you the back stories on the main event. I have attended numerous historical walks in this area as part of leadership labs for the Army and this book is always referenced during those trips. Please enjoy.
on May 23, 2017
An excellent book. His source material was from actual interviews with participants who had first hand knowledge of events and of the decision making processes. This made the reading more alive and more interesting than the traditional accounting of facts.
on November 21, 2011
If you are interested in the history of the fall of Berlin this is the one book you should buy.
Three plus years of interviews and an exhaustive amount of research are reflected in this concise narrative.
I could not put it down, read it cover to cover in one sitting.
Do you want to know why Eisenhower did not invade Berlin?
Do you want to know the day to day disposition of the German,Anglo-American, and Russian forces.
Do you want to know details of conversations in Hitlers war cabinet? Or with Stalin at the Kremlin?
Interestingly enough the book I believe was written in the 1960's and the details of Hitlers war cabinet as recalled by his generals matches exactly the notes translated in the book Hitler and His Generals: Military Conferences 1942-1945 published in 2002.
A word of warning Mr. Ryan does not spare us the gory details of rape, murder, suicide, starvation, and societal collapse that accompanied the capitulation of the Reich.
Three plus years of interviews and an exhaustive amount of research are reflected in this concise narrative.
I could not put it down, read it cover to cover in one sitting.
Do you want to know why Eisenhower did not invade Berlin?
Do you want to know the day to day disposition of the German,Anglo-American, and Russian forces.
Do you want to know details of conversations in Hitlers war cabinet? Or with Stalin at the Kremlin?
Interestingly enough the book I believe was written in the 1960's and the details of Hitlers war cabinet as recalled by his generals matches exactly the notes translated in the book Hitler and His Generals: Military Conferences 1942-1945 published in 2002.
A word of warning Mr. Ryan does not spare us the gory details of rape, murder, suicide, starvation, and societal collapse that accompanied the capitulation of the Reich.
