The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is a 1960 non-fiction book by William L. Shirer chronicling the general history of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. The book is based upon captured Third Reich documents, the available diaries of propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, General Franz Halder, and of the Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano, evidence and testimony from the Nuremberg trials, British Foreign Office reports, and the author’s recollections of six years’ of Third Reich reportage, for newspapers, the United Press International (UPI), and CBS Radio, ended by Nazi Party censorship in 1940. ((Credit of synopsis goes to Wikipedia))-----------
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is a slow read, and factual. At some points you just have to set it down because of how much is learned. I thoroughly enjoy history, so this so far has been a pleasing read. I wish too finish the book at some point. ((I'm not that far into the book, and I personally cannot say much more than this.))
It sounds like a good learning book but not the kind of book for me. I dont think i would like it very much but if i was learning about the nazis i would read this.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it takes a lot of self discipline to read really factual books, even if they're about something I'm interested in. I like to get lost in the language of a book, and informational texts are often not crafted of language that's easy to get lost in, rather it full of language you have to reflect on constantly to make sure you're understanding everything. For this, I applaud you.
ReplyDeleteYou also bring up a good point, in our personal reading we can read more than one book at a time and pick up and put down books as we choose.
When you set the book down do you reflect on what you've read? Do you pursue something else and then come back to it? If so, do you find yourself drawn back to the book because you want to know more? Do you feel accomplished after you've read part of it (I would!)? Is the writing accessible, easily understood by the average person, or more complex?
Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to hearing more!
[[ Sorry that this is late! ]] I've crawled a little further with the book. It's started discussing the very early stages of the Third Reich, as Adolf was trying to get to go through, as he wanted the Chancellorship to go to him. Even when told no, he continued to be persistent. Joseph Goebbels remarked how financially they were drowning, and things were looking rough. The Propaganda Minister also remarked how Hitler paced back and forth, repeating the word Treason over and over.
ReplyDeleteI've skipped around a little, and have just read various pages. It's just the same redundant thing, honestly. It takes certain time and place, and explains it; including the people present.
ReplyDeleteSkipping around some more, I've come across the Gestapo. The secret police unit of Nazi Germany. Though in a documentary I heard that it was more so to protect the Reich from the people than the people from the Reich. In charge of this operation originally was Hermann Goering who appointed Heinrich Himmler head of it. One step below Himmler was Reinhard Heydrich, who established the Security within the Gestapo and a network of spies to keep tabs on rumors and Political people/threats that opposed the Reich.
ReplyDeleteMinister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels. The doctor had control over raido, newspapers, magazines and anything that the public eye viewed. He completely persuaded the people into following the Reich.
ReplyDeleteHeinrich Himmler was head of the Waffen SS. Originally the Waffen was started in Prussia, and in Hermann Goering control. In 1926, the sadistic chicken farmer was appointed head of it.
ReplyDeleteJosef Mengele was a genetics doctor for the Polish camp, Auschwitz. He experimented on many, as many twins and blue eyed people fell victim. By inmates he was dubbed "The Angel of Death".
ReplyDeleteAlbert Speer was Adolf Hitler's chief architect before assuming ministerial office. He was important for the design of Reich buildings, hence his title and role. At the Nuremberg Trials, he was only sentenced the years 1947 through 1966. When he was released, it was a worldwide media event.
ReplyDeleteLatvia was gratly involved during ww2. There was a volunteer Latvian SS which rounded up Jews and moved them into ghettos. Later, they moved the them to laboring camps. And over time they were systematically killed.
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