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32nd out of 130 books
—
64 voters
Berlin Diaries, 1940-1945
The secret diaries of a twenty-three-year-old White Russian princess who worked in the German Foreign Office from 1940 to 1944 and then as a nurse, these pages give us a unique picture of wartime life in that sector of German society from which the 20th of July Plot -- the conspiracy to kill Hitler -- was born.
Paperback, 324 pages
Published
June 12th 1988
by Vintage
(first published 1987)
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Final review: i remember why I loved this book. Her ability to communicate the excitement, anxiety and fear during these war years is absolutely unparalleled. And the inside story on the plot to kill Hitler... And she does it all through unselfconscious diary entries and letters. Loved this book.
I'm about halfway through at this point, and just loving it. I read this book when I was in college and remembered that I had really enjoyed it. Now I remember why. I'm not a huge non-fiction reader so t...more
I'm about halfway through at this point, and just loving it. I read this book when I was in college and remembered that I had really enjoyed it. Now I remember why. I'm not a huge non-fiction reader so t...more
I thought I had made a mistake when I started reading this diary: date, three or four sentence entry; next date, another short entry; another date, another short entry, etc., etc.
This is definitely not a literary work, as such. It's just a record of what happened every day. What sets it apart from most other works of its kind is that the author ("Missy") a young exiled White Russian aristocrat more or less exiled in Nazi Germany has to make a living and deal with events as the war becomes ever m...more
This is definitely not a literary work, as such. It's just a record of what happened every day. What sets it apart from most other works of its kind is that the author ("Missy") a young exiled White Russian aristocrat more or less exiled in Nazi Germany has to make a living and deal with events as the war becomes ever m...more
In my research for my novel, An Honorable German, this was an indipensible book. The reason: the rich detail Missie recorded about her daily life in Berlin including what it was like to live in the city during the years it was constantly being bombed. This is one of the few contemporaneous diaries from that time. She was a beautiful White Russian Royal Princess, as she reminds us several times, and kept up her active social life amisdst the slow collapse of Berlin. In doing so, she recorded deta...more
Wow! I read this in two days, simply couldn't put it down. The details Maria manages to include in this volume are invaluable. She gives a picture of life in Berlin that you just can't imagine. While she is far from an average citizen of the Reich--an exiled White Russian, she works for the Foreign Office and has friends in high places--she deals with many issues that all Germans must have faced: lack of food and common commodities, difficulty communicating with family in other places, the intri...more
I hadn't heard anything about this book before I bought it, and I picked it up mostly because I thought it might provide an interesting preamble to another striking diary I'd read some time ago, A WOMAN IN BERLIN, set in the city in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion. It did that--I learned that Berlin and its residents were pretty much destroyed long before the Russians got there--but I found it fascinating in its own right because it focuses mainly on a section of society, the Eur...more
This is an interesting diary to read, in big part because of the author's social position. Marie's writing is witty and flows easily. This book is best read in connection with another less-known book on the same subject, Diary of a Nightmare by Ursula von Kardorff.
Although Marie and Ursula did not mention each other in their diaries, they very likely ran into each other because of their overlapping social circles. They had mutual friends, some of whom were involved in the 20 July plot. It was in...more
Although Marie and Ursula did not mention each other in their diaries, they very likely ran into each other because of their overlapping social circles. They had mutual friends, some of whom were involved in the 20 July plot. It was in...more
I found this book fascinating. It is not to be confused with Berlin Diary (Shire covering years 1934 to 1941). The Shire book is a great account of some of the same time and place, but it is politically focused. Although the political landscape (3rd Reich Germany) is an unavoidable part of the story, this book, by Marie Vassilthikov, is more personal, and covers the years 1940 to 1945.
The author is a refugee who ends up in Berlin in 1940. She is not my idea of a refugee, though. She is displace...more
The author is a refugee who ends up in Berlin in 1940. She is not my idea of a refugee, though. She is displace...more
It is a little ironic that I finished this book on May 8, 68 years to the day after WWII ended. It wasn't my intenstion at all, I didn't even think about the significance of month of May when I started reading "Berlin Diaries".
At first it was difficult to read this book because it consists of diary entries, there are tons of names mentioned and as a reader it was almost impossible to remember who is who and what is what. Eventually reading became easier. Written by a "White Russian" refugee who...more
At first it was difficult to read this book because it consists of diary entries, there are tons of names mentioned and as a reader it was almost impossible to remember who is who and what is what. Eventually reading became easier. Written by a "White Russian" refugee who...more
I was hesitant to choose this book. I was worried that I would be put off by snobby views and the luxurious lifestyle I was expecting of the main protagonist - a Russian princess. Wouldn’t I find the abundance of privileges in comparison to how others were living unpalatable? The author was not snobbish! Yes, they did sometimes eat oysters and caviar and drink champagne, but she was intelligent and well-educated and perceptive of others. Her friends and acquaintances were interesting people to l...more
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Berlin Diaries, 1940-1945, is an amazing WWII diary of an émigré Russian princess who was secretary to Adam von Trott, mastermind of the unsuccessful 20th of July plot to assassinate Hitler. Missie Vassiltchikov’s account of Berlin in the furious days of Hitler’s retribution is unique. While she was not part of the plot, she knew many of the principals. Her familiarity with many of the plotters no doubt gives this book great historical importance, and it is also an excellent source for understan...more
The diary of a Russian exiled young woman who lived in Berlin during WWII. Extraordinary and mesmerizing. Witness History through the eyes of a young girl who slowly discovers the reality of the world around her, and survives the horrors of war (while losing many of her closest friends). it's a true diary, and day by day, year by year, it takes the reader on an intense journey through the darkest time of Germany's history. The apocalyptic ending is breathtaking. Nicole Kidman bought the rights o...more
A gripping and unusual view of World War II from the perspective of a civilian in Germany. Vassiltchikov's family left Russia after the revolution, and it's fascinating to watch her diaries transition from social events as a Russian princess spending evenings at parties with ambassadors and actors, to her time working for the AA (German archives) where she becomes enmeshed in the plot to kill Hitler, to just trying to survive in the bombed out remains of Berlin and Vienna at war's end.
A must-rea...more
A must-rea...more
I read this in the late 80's. It was common person's perceptions of what was going on all around her. A mix of slice of life and historical witness. It gave me an idea of what it was like to live in a city that was constantly being bombed. While she did not support Germany she did have German friends.
Riveting account of the 1944 plot to assassinate Hitler - the author was friends with many of the people involved in the plot. Also a very thorough and horrifying description of the bombing of Berlin by the Allies over the course of the war.
I read this as research for a book that I am writing. It is a memoir, some of it the words of Marie herself, some added by her sister. It is a fascinating account of the life of the privileged in Germany during the war.
A day to day account of an exiled RUssian princess during WWII in the middle of the hell Berlin was 1940-45. Also is such an interesting perspective because she was attending royal functions and rubbing elbows with lots of dukes and duchesses while starving and working as a secretary. She also was involved in the anti-fascist scene, friends with those who tried to kill Hitler in 1943. Typical day: work for the SS office as secretary, walk home through burning Berlin, find an invitation to some r...more
A fascinating document combining a detailed eyewitness account of life in Berlin during World War II and the 20th July plot and its aftermath with additional background information. All in all a highly interesting book that paints a vivid picture of the period.
A beautiful Russian princess from Lithuania survives a privileged life in WWII Germany without much complaint. Interesting, but one wonders how she ever went without lunch.
A true story about living in Berlin during WWII and right after. It was a truly awful life.
Excellent first-hand account of Berlin during WW2 written by a young 'White Russian.'
Amazing firsthand account from a brave and interesting woman. Needs editing, though.
Very interesting diary so far [about 1/4 done]. She is obviously not a Nazi--and is working a dept of the Nazi govt with lots of anti-Nazis. Very interesting so far.
Just got this.....I usually enjoy diaries so I hope this one is interesting.
Just got this.....I usually enjoy diaries so I hope this one is interesting.
history world war II--memoirs,
This is an amazing book.
Pretty damn boring.
The secret diaries of a twenty-three-year-old White Russian princess who worked in the German Foreign Office from 1940 to 1944 and then as a nurse, these pages give us a unique picture of wartime life in that sector of German society from which the 20th of July Plot -- the conspiracy to kill Hitler -- was born.
This is a very interesting book (and a true diary) of a young aristocrat who esacaped from the Communists in Russia only to live under Hitler during WWII. You really get a feeling how horrible it was to live in Berlin during the war.The story drags a little now and then, but it is worth it because the story is so interesting.
I read this in two days, simply couldn't put it down.I found this book fascinating, The diary of a Russian exiled young woman who lived in Berlin during WWII. Extraordinary and mesmerizing. Witness History through the eyes of a young girl who survives the horrors of war. excellant book a must read.
Fascinating recount of life in Berlin and vienna of a White Russian princess from 1940-45. There was much about the bombing of Berlin and the small nazi resistance movement I did not know from traditional wwII accounts. A portrait of resilience as well.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Around the World ...: Anne Recommends Berlin Diaries: 1940-1945 | 4 | 13 | Dec 04, 2011 09:59pm |
Jun 10, 2012 05:24am
Jun 10, 2012 06:36am