However, given the scope of this book the 1945 advance on berlin is thought to be the largest battle in history, with two and a half million soviet troops attacking. Oct 04, 2007 the number one bestsellerrecounts, in harrowing detail and with formidable skill, the brutal deaththroes of hitlers reich at the hands of the rampaging red army boyd tonkin, independentmakes us feel the chaos and the fear as if every drop of blood was our own. Political instructors rammed home the message of wehrmacht and ss brutality. I am not a fan of battle books in general as i much prefer a broader context to my history and battle stories, although they usually come with some background introduction and an epilogue are usually unsatisfying in this respect. The battle for berlin had brought to an end the bloodiest conflict in european history. In february 1943, a red army officer taunted a group of german prisoners in the ruins of stalingrad. This is a powerful, diligently researched and beautifully written book, even. The downfall 1945 anthony beevor 2007 accomplished and immanently successful, anthony beevor turned his attention to the end of world war two in europe here, with a complete overview of the eastern front campaigns of 1945, culminating in the brutal battle for berlin and the final destruction of the third reich. On november 9, 1989, the berlin wall fell after nearly three decades as a barrier dividing the city. List of books and articles about berlin wall online. The red army had much to avenge when it finally reached the frontiers of the reich in january 1945.
Sep 08, 2002 the humour also reflected the grotesque, sometimes surreal, images of the time. Books on arnhem, crossing the rhine and the fall of berlin home military world war two germany 1945 military military index military az wwii europe european theatre blitzkrieg italy in wwii normandy and dday battle of the bulge germany 1945 french resistance women at war american army british army wehrmacht the holocaust stalin eastern. Fall of berlin, is a historical non fiction work by anthony beevor describing events of jan 1945 june 1945 as nazi germany and soviet red army fight out the battle of berlin. Published to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the start of world war ii, robert forczyk tells the story of case white, the.
Fall of berlin battle of berlin ww2 internet archive. The downfall 1945 also known as the fall of berlin 1945 in the us is a narrative history by antony beevor of the battle of berlin during world war ii. Panning shot of the brandenburg gate after the bombardment of berlin. The soviet army has conquered berlin, a city reduced to rubble, and now under martial law, imposed by the victorious communists. It was published by viking press in 2002, then later by penguin books in 2003. The largest air raid construction in berlin was the zoo bunker, a vast ferroconcrete fortress of the totalitarian. The fall of berlin 1945 by antony beevor, paperback barnes. Six years ago, while writing his account of stalingrad, antony beevor alighted. Soviet cinemas definitive stalinist recreation of world war 2 also serves as the crowning moment in stalins postwar deification. It is hard to define what makes antony beevor so good in his writings on the great second world war battles. Six years ago, while writing his account of stalingrad, antony beevor alighted upon the theme of his new book. Antony beevor is the author of a number of histories, including the spanish civil war and stalingrad, which has been published in twentythree languages and was awarded the first samuel johnson prize for nonfiction, the wolfson history prize, and the hawthornden prize for literature. Postwar germany hitlers successor, admiral karl doenitz, signed may 78, 1945 an unconditional surrender to the allies, whose military commanders assumed the functions of government in germany. The strength of the fall of berlin 1945 is an irresistibly compelling narrative, of events so terrible that they still have the power, more than half a century on, to provoke wonder and awe.
Frenzied by terrible memories of wehrmacht and ss brutality, the russians wreaked havoc, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians dead and millions more fleeing westward. Reporters and photographers of the associated press were there to witness the construction of the wall in august 1961 and its collapse some 28 years later. A companion volume to his bestselling armageddon, max hastings account of the battle for japan is a masterful military history. Beevor traces the downfall of berlin from the massive russian assault, planned since october 1944 and unleashed on 12 january 1945. Oct 04, 2007 the red army had much to avenge when it finally reached the frontiers of the reich in january 1945.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall. Ive now read several remarkable books about how and why it collapsed, steeping myself in the dark history before that miraculous. The book narrates how the red army defeated the german army and. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Theres no family in the soviet union, poland or germany where. Soldiers from america, great britain, and france will move into berlin a few months later. Joel sayres account was originally published in the new yorker magazine on july 28, 1945, republished in the new yorker book of war pieces 1947. Various shots of the russian soldiers touring the ruins. The fall of berlin 1945 by antony beevor goodreads. The number one bestsellerrecounts, in harrowing detail and with formidable skill, the brutal deaththroes of hitlers reich at the hands of the rampaging red army boyd tonkin, independentmakes us feel the chaos and the fear as if every drop of blood was our own.
From what i can tell from a cursory search on wikipedia, this book is wellreceived by the general public, but also has received some criticism from russians in particular. The red armys invasion of berlin in january 1945 was one of the most terrifying examples of fire and sword in history. As the final month of fighting in europe in 1945 dawned the allies embarked upon a series of mopping up operations, destroying the last centres of german resistance as the essentially defeated wehrmacht fought on in increasingly desperate conditions, driven on by the explicit no surrender order issued by hitler. The result was the most terrifying example of fire and sword ever known, with tanks crushing refugee columns under their tracks, mass rape, pillage and destruction. Berlins incredible, dramatic history is testament to the fractured and difficult narrative of the 20th century, the scars of which have formed a remarkable cityscape that inspired poets, writers and filmmakers. Berlin downfall, 1945 the naval officers club of australia. Oct 23, 2009 the 20th anniversary of the fall of the infamous berlin wall offers a chance to reflect on the german capitals long and often troubled past. Downfall battle of berlin 1945 world war ii epic battles. The 20th anniversary of the fall of the infamous berlin wall offers a chance to reflect on the german capitals long and often troubled past. Political instructors rammed home the message of wehrmach, isbn 9780141032399 buy the berlin. Apr 28, 2018 downfall battle of berlin 1945 world war ii epic battles. Spring 1945 marked the ignoble end of the thousand year reich and world war ii in europe. The humour also reflected the grotesque, sometimes surreal, images of the time.
The downfall 1945 is a narrative history by antony beevor of the battle of berlin during world war ii. In april 1945, just days before hitler crunched a capsule of cyanide in his berlin bunker, german women across the capital were feverishly comparing notes in the bread queues each morning. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. The largest air raid construction in berlin was the zoo bunker. Published april 29th 2003 by penguin books first published may th 2002. The book achieved both critical and commercial success. A blogpost from an exsocialist workers party uk member about the neglect of the topic. It has been a numberone best seller in seven countries apart from britain, and in the top five in another nine countries. Books similar to the fall of berlin 1945 goodreads. The restored soviet epic, directed by mikhail chiaureli is now available on dvd. The book revisits the events of the battle of berlin in 1945.
For this book is to all previous attempts what the first half hour of steven spielbergs saving private ryan was to all previous war movies. Foi publicado no brasil pela editora record em 2004 e em portugal pela bertrand editora em 2003. The first attacks were across the vistula river, south of warsaw, in conditions favoured by the red army. Berlin wall, 196189, a barrier first erected in aug. Mar 10, 2011 the battle for berlin in world war two. Buy berlin 1945 by georges bernage online at alibris. Together with beevors stalingrad, first published in 1998, they have sold nearly three million copies. The downfall 1945 aka the fall of berlin 1945 in the us is a narrative.
The downfall 1945 aka the fall of berlin 1945 in the us is a narrative history by antony beevor of the battle of berlin during world war ii. List of books and articles about postwar germany online. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The downfall 1945 paperback 2003 by antony beevor author. The downfall 1945 is antony beevors brilliant account of the fall of the third reich. Subtitled the fall of hitlers third reich, the handy history expertly outlines the nazi gotterdammerung. Beevor paints the broad picture of marshals zhukov and konev, competing for glory and stalins attention, as they race their armies. Berlin the downfall 1945 is a terrible story of pride, stupidity, fanaticism, revenge. Yet at the same time, the allied alliance was already on shaky ground, as. Over 40 byelorussian and 1st ukrainian army cameramen contributed footage of this remarkable documentary of the fall of berlin, including captured german footage. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.