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The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Discussion in 'WWII Books & Publications' started by Gund1, Dec 29, 2009.

  1. Gund1

    Gund1 Member

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    Has anyone ever read the book "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William L. Shirer? I am thinking about purchasing this book and would like to know some basic info on it.

    Thanks,
    Dick
     
    Gund1, Dec 29, 2009
    #1
  2. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I first read it more than 45 years ago when I was 16 or so. It was, and is, a classic work on the inner workings of Germany under Hitler. It is, in my mind, a must have and must read for anyone hoping to understand the origins of WW2 in Europe and how a nation came under the thrall of a dictatorship unlike any the world has seen.

    Buy it and read it.
     
    LRusso216, Dec 29, 2009
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  3. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I read it when I was 14, 1965. Heavy going for a teen, but I still remember it as a very good book. Some of the information is out of date, but nothing, I think, that is really very important.
     
    OpanaPointer, Dec 29, 2009
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  4. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Whew, I read it about 25 years ago, when I was in college. Full of good information. Take the time to read it.

    You could also read his book, Berlin Diary. It is a good read and was published in 1941.
     
    Slipdigit, Dec 29, 2009
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  5. Greg Canellis

    Greg Canellis Member

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    The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich surely has withstood the test of time. I would agree that it is a classic, and should be on the bookshelf of any serious student of WWII. The beginning of the book is almost a mini-biography of Hitler, and Shirer quotes quite a bit from Hitler's Mein Kampf, but after that the book hits on much detail of the Third Reich. I've read it years ago, but still refer to it from time to time. Over the years, whenever some obscure fact about the Third Reich would surface, I would thumb through Shirer's index to see if he mentioned it. Sure enough, there is not much that got by him.

    Greg C.
     
    Greg Canellis, Dec 29, 2009
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  6. R. Evans

    R. Evans Member

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    Yes, buy and read it. It is a very good book. Well worth the time to invest. And when you're done with that, get his The Collapse Of The Third Republic. It's about France leading up to WW2 and goes right until the Germans conquer France and Vichy is established. Well written and a good companion piece to The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich.
     
    R. Evans, Dec 30, 2009
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  7. Gund1

    Gund1 Member

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    Ok I'll be sure to get it.
    Thanks all.
     
    Gund1, Dec 30, 2009
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