Hitler's Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World's Most Notorious Dictator

The Last Days Series #4

by Bill O'Reilly

By early 1945, the destruction of the German Nazi State seems certain. The Allied forces, led by American generals George S. Patton and Dwight D. Eisenhower, are gaining control of Europe, leaving German leaders scrambling. Facing defeat, Adolf Hitler flees to a secret bunker with his new wife, Eva Braun, and his beloved dog, Blondi. It is there that all three would meet their end, thus ending the Third Reich, World War II, and one of the darkest chapters of history.

Hitler's Last Days by Bill O'Reilly is a gripping account of the death of one of the most reviled villains of the 20th century―a man whose regime of murder and terror haunts the world even today. Adapted from Bill O'Reilly's historical thriller Killing Patton , this book will have young readers―and grown-ups, too―hooked.

This thoroughly-researched and thrilling historical account is standout middle-grade nonfiction that can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Biography, Audiobook, Historical

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2015

About the author

Bill O'Reilly's success in broadcasting and publishing is unmatched. The iconic anchor of The O'Reilly Factor led the program to the status of the highest rated cable news broadcast in the nation for sixteen consecutive years. His website BillOReilly.com is followed by millions all over the world.

In addition, he has authored an astonishing 12 number one ranked non-fiction books including the historical "Killing" series. Mr. O'Reilly currently has 17 million books in print.

Bill O'Reilly has been a broadcaster for 42 years. He has been awarded three Emmys and a number of other journalism accolades. He was a national correspondent for CBS News and ABC News as well as a reporter-anchor for WCBS-TV in New York City, among other high-profile jobs.

Mr. O'Reilly received two other Emmy nominations for the movies "Killing Kennedy" and "Killing Jesus."

He holds a history degree from Marist College, a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University, and another master’s degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Bill O'Reilly lives on Long Island where he was raised. His philanthropic enterprises have raised tens of millions for people in need and wounded American veterans.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/billor...

Reviews

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. O'Reilly needed a quick pay day and decided to write this book. I, very recently, read his book Killing Patton. He used a lot of material from that book in this book. The things that saves this book from a one star are the interesting photos used throughout. Don't bother unless you want to see the photos.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book at a Salvation Army thrift store. It was a great find! As is typical of a Bill O'Reilly book, not only was it an easy read but also very informative. Having read quite a few books concerning the subject of World War II, I was very familiar with a lot of the content; however, I really enjoyed O'Reilly's details concerning the key players, especially on the German side. Of course I highly recommend reading this book.

[Jim Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summary of World War II

If you didn't know about World War II this is a good summary and is more about the war than then the death of Hitler . I wish the author but I had a paragraph on the Soviet claim that they had Hitler's skull

[Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought It was great and it went through real events!

[Hewitt Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coffee table book. Good summary with lots of pictures. 290 pages, but quick read (read it in a day)..

[John (Just bought an Oculus 2 VR, so less time to read these days!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done

Hard reading at times, but very well done. I would recommend this to anyone who would what a quick read regarding this topic.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice review of the end of WWII in Europe. I have read a lot about WWII, but never have I concentrated on this part of the war. I was a bit disappointed in some spots. O'Reilly would say that the Russians were out for revenge when they got to Berlin, but then there is no follow up on that. There were several statements like this, which left me wondering what actually happened. Also, he said that the British and Americans held back so Russia could reach Berlin first. Either I missed it or he never said why. Again I was curious. It was an easy read with lots of pictures.

[Jack Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill O'Reilly's compliment to Killing Patton for younger readers, Hitler's Last Days, reads as interesting and enlightening as all of his books. This historical account is full of pictures adding to the vigilance when investigating the facts about Adolf Hitler's life and the significant people who shape this era of war. Hitler's Last Days incorporates the people closest to him and their loyalty, or lack thereof, when Germany falls ending World War II. Hitler's health mimics the Fatherland in its decline and utter destruction during these last days.

After Hitler's suicide with his new bride, Eva Braun, O'Reilly advances the postwar stories of the victors and the losers: Patton's death, Stalin's Communism, Churchill's long life, Eisenhower's presidency, Gen. Omar Bradley's promotion to four-star general , the Nuremberg Trials, and more. Most importantly, O'Reilly paints a picture of the atrocious behavior the Nazis perform on the humans they deem subhuman. The Holocaust is the name given to those atrocities that the select Nazi groups in Hitler's circles commit. Those exempt from those crimes against humanity are the German National Army who adhere to the rules of war and the general population of Germany. This book demonstrates that evil, no matter how brutal and powerful it seems, loses in the end and suffers as much harm as it inflicts.

[Madelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beginning this book, I had mixed expectations because as far as historical non-fiction texts are concerned, Bill O'Reilly is a overall known name with mixed reviews. However, the book wasn't at all what I expected. I expected a more sophisticated and academic source than what the book actually turned out to be. Instead, I felt as though I was reading a text meant for fifth graders. The writing quality was not great, and the organization of the information seemed somewhat juvenile. That being said, I most certainly did learn new information about World War II and Hitler's life in his last days. I didn't know much about all that to begin with, so that's not any particularly impressive achievement. It felt a bit like a Wikipedia page; Its a decent source for a general overview and a few interesting facts, but in the end the listed sources in the back of the book would make for a more in-depth and detailed account of the events. Overall, it was interesting enough to keep me from abandoning it, but it wasn't exactly satisfying either.

[Jillian Tourangeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in one day. I am a sucker for WWII books, so I am a little biased. I thought this book was fantastic and gave a great very high level overview of the last six months of WWII. The book was mainly about Germany, but the U.S. was also a huge part of it. Was less about the atrocities of WWII and more about the actual war itself and strategies. Really enjoyed.

[Jon Koebrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is an interesting coffee table light history book. A good quick read but not an in depth history book. Recommended if you want a survey course on the end of WWII.

[Adam Chittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hitler’s Last Days is an account of the end of World War II, and the death of one of the most notorious historical figures ever. It also describes how the Nazi regime comes to an end. It is a very good book because it provides very specific details about the end of the war, and there are many interesting pictures throughout the book. It is a very gripping story and it kept me turning the pages. The reason that it doesn’t get five stars is because the focus of the book shifts a lot, and that makes it a little hard to follow. The title of this book can be deceiving, it is actually more about the end of the war rather than about the death of Adolf Hitler. Overall it was a good book, and a quick read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about World War II, or to anyone who loves history. I would also recommend this to older readers because it may seem a little boring to a younger audience.

[Carter J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last month, I read "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly, and I liked it so much that I asked my English teacher if she had any more books by the same author. So when she pulled out this book about the world's most evil and infamous man, I couldn't resist reading it.

Hitler's Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World's Most Notorious Dictator" by Bill O'Reilly is a third-person historical narrative about the final months of the war leading to the suicide of Adolf Hitler and the fall of the Nazi Party. The book wiggles it's way through the complicated web of political strategies, military tactics, and the personal life of Hitler in the final months of WWII. It shows the detailed collapse of the Axis Powers, starting with the D-Day landing of 1944 on the western front. Also portrayed is the Soviet Army's push into Germany on the Eastern Front. These two invasions led to the destruction of Berlin, the city where Hitler was hiding in his bunker. The book ends with the suicide of Hitler and goes into a little informative section on all of the aspects of the Nazi Party in World War II, including its origins and beliefs. This section also dives into what happened after the war and how it ended in the Pacific Theater. With the United States one island at a time approach to Japan and the atomic bombs, it also covers the Nuremberg trials.

One thing this book does very well is give the reader a great understanding of the man behind the Holocaust. By diving into Hitler's personal life, we get to see what he was really like. O'Reilly covers everything, from his wife Eva Braun and his dog Blondi to his Parkinson's disease and bodily issues. He also uses real pictures from this time to really illustrate the atrocities as well as the pivotal moments in the war. He uses pictures from the concentration camps, the planning rooms, the bunker, and even the large salt mine the Nazis used to store their stolen art and gold. These factors greatly contribute to the overall understanding of this time and the amount of interest the book draws.

Although there are many good things about this book, there is one flaw for me. With myself included, some people enjoy a real storyline and easy-to-follow events, and this book kind of lacks in those areas. It jumps around from major event to major event but sometimes doesn't explain how it got there. Also, there really isn't any use of the Fratag Pyramid in this story, I guess you could say the climax was Hitler committing suicide but it just wasn't there for me.

Overall, It was an amazing read and really educated me on the subject. If you are a History person like me, I definitley recommend reading it. I give it 4 stars.

[James Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill O'reilly is my favorite author ever. His books are interesting, exiting, and full of information for young adults like me. I enjoy reading his books a lot. My grandma gave me "Hitler's Last Days" as a birthday gift a few years ago. I thought it would be a " grown up book," but it turned out to be just the perfect balance. This book tells about the hardships the allies and the axis powers in world war two
went through. It has famous generals and famous battles. The Nazis are failing. There country is being bombed left and right, and there morale is very low. Hitler is on drugs, and does not know what he is doing. It is only a matter of time before his " War Machine" dies. So what does he do when the Americans, British, and Canadians (and many more) are to his west, and the powerful Soviets are to the east? He flees to his bunker in central Berlin, where he will die. In total, I think" Hitler's Last Days " by Bill O'reilly deserves a 5/5. I would highly recommend grabbing this book, and his other one, "Killing the Rising Sun." I am reading that one also. Bill O'reilly is a great man, who is a author and a host for the number one cable tv show called, the O'reilly Factor. So go check his show and his books out, and have a nice day!

[Kaitlin Jundt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not always into military history but this kept my interest throughout. There were times it felt like facts thrown all over the place and not organized as much as you'd expect but it was still interesting!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books I have read so far from Bill O'Reilly. They are always so well-researched, and the photographs and maps are fabulous complements to the plethora of information. This was a terrific look at the final days of WW2. I appreciated the additional information provided at the end of the book as well.

[Mike M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, I was looking for a nice memoir to read for my Sophomore English course. Being crunched for time, I browsed the shelves of my classroom and chose Hitler's Last Days: The Death of the Nazi Regime and the World's Most Notorious Dictator by Bill O’Reilly. Was it what I was looking for? No. It wasn’t. It was, however, adequate enough for me to keep reading, especially due to my severe laziness which prohibited me from putting this book back and finding another one to read in its place. My intentions weren’t to read an in depth look into Adolf Hitler’s final days, but I ended up doing so regardless. It was alright.

Considering that this is a non-fiction book, it will be everything you expect it to be, from dealing with Hitler’s actions in the days leading up to his death to the actions of his adversaries, like Patton and Eisenhower. While there is little use in delving into the “plot” of this book, it is worth noting that it is very thorough, and is told like a fictional narrative, even including dialogue at times.

For what this book is, it’s good. Is it informative? Yes. Is it accurate? Yes. It even has some wonderful images to accompany the text to help further convey information, which can really hammer a point home if need be, or aid in explaining a topic in a way that words simply cannot. I don’t intend for this to downplay the importance or quality of writing in this, which is perfectly fine on its own, but the images just had an extra level of depth. Honestly, I did learn a lot from this novel, some of which was about the broader history of World War II, and some of which was about Hitler’s personal life (R.I.P. Blondi, you didn’t deserve it).

While this novel is highly educational and well structured, it did have its flaws. Firstly, it was incredibly bland, which one could try to attribute to its non fictional nature, but bear in mind, there are millions of entertaining non fiction novels out there. This one was just lackluster, at points. There were, of course, many genuinely enthralling moments in the book, but they weren’t necessarily the vast majority of the book. In addition, the writing felt rather simple. Also, the aforementioned dialogue sections felt incredibly strange, since they were obviously fake, and O'Reilly clearly lacks an aptitude for writing dialogue. Another flaw was that any time where the novel focused on a figure who wasn’t Hitler, it was incredibly uninteresting. With all of these things established, I’d say that this is a book for those expressly interested in the events surrounding Adolf Hitler, not for the average reader.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly just war facts, not a ton about Hitler. A very fast and easy read.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast book to read through. It covers several different aspects of the end of the war in summaries / short chapters. I enjoyed reading the parts on General George S. Patton.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read with plenty of interesting details and photos for history buffs, like myself.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book , but nothing really new here

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book that tells the story of Hitler's last days. Much of what is contained in the book I had previously learned from movies, newspapers, and talking with friends and family. The following are some of the things that I remember. I was a young boy during WW II and the war effort was the most dominant activity for everyone. Nobody lived in those days without those events shaping their lives. Everybody lived through those days consumed with winning the war. Anything that was needed for the war effort was rationed. Things like rubber, nylons, and stainless steel were non existent in the civilian world. Everybody knew how to turn the lights out at night and pull dark shades over the windows to prepare for possible air raids. The aerospace industry expanded rapidly under effort contracted with now illegal terms such as cost plus percentage of cost. Meaning the fee was not fixed or predetermined but was a percentage of actual costs expended. Young men were enlisting before their legal age out of an abundance of patriotism. Everybody knew a family that had lost loved ones in the war. Front windows of homes contained stars showing loved ones at war or lost in the fighting. Rationing was enforced with stamps required for the purchase of essential goods. I remember all of this. That is why I wanted to read this book. To learn more about the leader of the enemy that caused all of this to happen. This book was written for everybody of any age. Hopefully the world will learn from this war and the atrocities committed but I bet those mistakes will be made again somewhere sometime. I could not put this book down. It is a must read especially for those who lived through those events.

[Andrew Deutser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hitler’s Last Days, by Bill O’Reilly, goes in depth about the Nazi Regime leader, Adolf Hitler, during the war. The book also goes into the minds of American leaders George Patton, Dwight Eisenhower, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the beginning of the book, it illustrates Hitler’s last Hail Mary attempt to defeat the Allied Forces. In this attempt, he has one of his commanders take his troops into a dense forest to catch the Allied Forces off guard. Even when the Americans could’ve lost the war, in all the meetings with Allied Forces Generals, Patton always kept calm and upbeat. Where Hitler strategically put his new troops is the Ardennes in Belgium. The Americans sent troops there for practice. Towards the latter portion of the book, O’Reilly goes into major detail about how Hitler thought the Jews were to blame for all of Germany’s issues.
I would recommend this book to people who like reading about World War II or who want a good read or who want to learn more about Hitler. Even if the information is repetitive, it still ends up giving good information. The pictures every so often give a good visual of what it was like during the war. If you have read O’Reilly’s other books in this series such as Killing Reagan, Killing Patton, or Killing Lincoln, you would like the story. Even though there was less information on Hitler than Reagan, for example, Hitler's Last Days was still a quality read.

[Carolina Casas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was wary of starting this book because I do not agree with the guy's politics -and I still don't- but I have to give it to him, that he wrote a good book that introduces young adults into the last days of the WWII from the European front. It is very informative and if you are not very knowledgeable about this period, then this book is a good place to start. I give it three stars though because I felt the last bits which were a background check on the characters should have been put before. Like for example a quick bio on Hitler should have gone at the beginning after the prologue. And I would have liked more detail, but I understand this was written for teens so it had to be a summary. Nonetheless a good book to start and a good refresher into the European front, and one thing that I liked is that it shows how far Hitler went into his selection process of picking some of the most sadist people he could think of to get his missions done, as well as the atrocities done to all sides, to the Russians (do not read ahead and if you are a history buff, you know what I am talking about), the Americans, and other Allied Forces, as well as the people who were rounded up and went to the concentration or extermination camps (Jews, Homosexuals, Political enemies, Gypsies, etc).

[AJ Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1944, all is going good for the Nazis, it looks like they are going to win but who is the master mind behind all of this. A man named Adolf Hitler is running the show some may call him crazy, but others call him a genius. The only question is can they win this war?

This book was really good. Bill O'Rielly is a genius. All of his books have been good, especially this one. But why was it so good. Well I can tell you. First, it was the perfect length of 300 pages. Also I was not force to read it, which made it so much more enjoyable. Next, I love how the author really gets into how cruel and terrible the Nazis really were. I felt like you were really there and that you should look out. Another good feature was how it went into good detail about Hitlers personal life. I learned more stuff about the Nazis in this book, then any history book can teach me. Finally, I liked how the book really hot you into what it was like to be Hitler. Over I would give this book a perfect 5 out of 5 because of how rich and plentiful this book was. I would recommend it to 6 through 8th graders. Also you can read his other Abdul's book of this series. I truly do hope that you read this book

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adolph Hitler is a name that is notorious worldwide. Known as a man of great evil, who lead a regime that killed millions and lead to the death of millions more on the battle front, Hitler was a man of contradictions. While I've read quite a bit about World War II over the years, I've avoided reading much about Hitler himself, frankly, it makes me sick just thinking about the man. However, I found this book, looking at the last 190 days of Hitler's life, rather fascinating. Starting with Hitler's plans for a last all out assault that turned into the Battle of the Bulge and ending with his death and including a brief look at many aspects of the Nazi regime as well as the Allied leadership, O'Reilly and written a compelling account of an important time in the world's history and some of the key players. I'm fascinated by this glimpse into a part of world history that continues to carry ramifications today and how well O'Reilly tells it. If more history books were like this one, I think more young people would realize how important studying history is and how much we can learn from it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recounting the final 190 days of Hitler, this non fiction informational read includes descriptions of his living quarters, the efforts doctors made to keep him going despite palsy, and the people who worked closely with him. Also includes the story of the Battle of the Bulge, the American and British Generals and their effects on the war.

Based on the adult best seller Killing Patton, O’Reilly has pared this down to a YA appropriate content, length, and interest. Complete with photographs, this is an excellent source for information about the end of WWII in Europe, the contributions of leaders from both sides, and the downfall of Adolf Hitler. Includes an index, source notes, timeline, recommendations for further reading and a “cast of characters” to quickly identify the key players. Although concentration camps and battles are discussed, the blood and gore are not included. Some references to injuries and atrocities, yet still appropriate for a middle school reader.

Cross posted to http://kissthebook.blogspot.com CHECK IT OUT!

[Richard Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The man lost his mind toward the end, living in a bunker, kept going with methamphetamines and uppers under a doctor's care, it's a wonder he lived long enough to kill himself ... ! Bill O'Reilly's books are always interesting, and this one might have also been titled 'Germany's Last Days at the End of WWII'. Not only were Hitler's last days featured, but the German Army's as well, including the story of their effort to turn back the Allied Invasion with the failed Battle of the Bulge. Patton, Eisenhower, Montgomery and Bradley were also covered from the winning side. It's easy reading and educational; I'd recommend it to kids (and adults) who show an interest in history and wonder why we have troops over in Europe today. What a waste; if only Germany could have found a more constructive, productive and helpful way to recover after WWI... sure would have saved themselves a lot of killing.

[Alex Rivas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book, the research and the narrative is great but frankly, with the exception of the AFTERWORD and a few pictures, this book is just an excerpt of “Killing Patton” (which I gave 5 stars) and in my opinion it should have a disclaimer:

IF YOU READ “KILLING PATTON” from the same author THERE IS NO NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.

[Steven Howes · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have paid any attention to The History Channel broadcasts about the Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany and Adolph Hitler, there is likely nothing new for you here save for perhaps a few interesting photographs. In my opinion, this is a superficial treatment of a very complex subject. I think many who consider themselves World War II buffs will most likely be disappointed.