The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany (Part 3 of 3)

by William L. Shirer, Grover Gardner (Read by)

Considered by many to be the definitive history of National Socialism in Germany, this monumental bestseller examines how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. The complete, definitive history of Nazi Germany, from the birth of the Nazi Party and the youth of Adolf Hitler to the disintegration of the Nazi empire amid the rubble of Berlin. Confidential archives yield testimony of Nazi leaders, records of concentration camp procedures and inmates, private diaries of numerous officials, transcripts of secret conferences, and even transcripts of telephone conversations of the Nazi leaders. Together, these vast records provide an almost hour-by-hour record of the horrific empire Hitler built. This edition includes Shirer's Afterword, written for the book's 13th anniversary. "A monumental work..." -- Theodore H. White. "One of the most important works of history if our time." -- The New York Times.

Genres: History

11 pages, Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

William Lawrence Shirer was an American journalist and historian. He became known for his broadcasts on CBS from the German capital of Berlin through the first year of World War II.

Shirer first became famous through his account of those years in his Berlin Diary (published in 1941), but his greatest achievement was his 1960 book, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, originally published by Simon & Schuster. This book of well over 1000 pages is still in print, and is a detailed examination of the Third Reich filled with historical information from German archives captured at the end of the war, along with impressions Shirer gained during his days as a correspondent in Berlin. Later, in 1969, his work The Collapse of the Third Republic drew on his experience spent living and working in France from 1925 to 1933. This work is filled with historical information about the Battle of France from the secret orders and reports of the French High Command and of the commanding generals of the field. Shirer also used the memoirs, journals, and diaries of the prominent British, Italian, Spanish, and French figures in government, Parliament, the Army, and diplomacy.

Reviews

[Thomas Connelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was absolutely thrilling hearing (audiobook) history unfold in real time. Shirer is a master storyteller with a front row seat to the rise and fall of the Third Reich (which is the title of his best-known work). His impressions are fresh and real, revealing the emotion often lost in works written after all the 'facts' are in.

[Anna Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit terrifying to read currently, but I could not put it down.

[Mac Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this twice. I don't know how I overlooked it. It is one of the most comprehensive historical accounts of Nazi rule. Definitive, well written, of course compelling and sensitive, not sentimental. It would be a book I would assign to college students, part of required curriculum.

[peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

卷三的時間線約是從1939年二戰開始到1943年初德國走下坡之時。
二戰開始時，德國勢如破竹，運用了慣用的欺騙、威脅手法，拿下了波蘭、丹麥、挪威、荷蘭、比利時，這些國家或直接同意讓德國「保護國家的中立」、或經過英勇的抵抗，全都終歸德國手下，接著法國的淪陷更是讓希特勒覺得自己如日中天、德國前景一片美好，腦中全是如何輕易的再拿下英國、蘇聯。
進攻英失利後，希特勒把目標轉向蘇聯，最初自信滿滿、誇下海口的他，也終於不得不面對失敗的事實。
此卷將二戰整個經過處理的很好，分析希特勒失敗的原因，闡述各國之間的利益糾葛（看人家將勝利趕緊來分一杯羹）、爾虞我詐（就算白紙黑字的條約也不能信啊），讀畢後覺得：當一個人獨攬所有大權、不聽他人意見一意孤行時，終將迎來失敗的吧。

[Zorka Zamfirova · Rating 5 out of 5]

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