War. Mankind's Greatest Endeavor. If you're interested in understanding how the most devastating, horrendous war in history came about, Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich is an excellent place to start.

Overview.
Originally published in 1959, Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich (RAF) was one of the first major historical works on the Nazis and World War II. Written by William L. Shirer, RAF chronicles the darkest chapter in Germany's (and, arguably, the world's) history: the Nazi era. A European correspondent during the period, Shirer focuses on the life of Adolf Hitler, the demonic pebble in the center, and the ripples he caused in the Nazi Party, Germany, Europe and the world. No small task.

RAF weighs in at over 1200 pages. The book details the historical milestones of the era, of course, but also documents the early life of Hitler; his rapid rise through the ranks of the fledgling Nazi Party; the political struggle for control of Germany; the establishment and consolidation of Nazi power; the preparation for war; the last-minute diplomatic maneuverings and the war itself -- the early victories, turning points, staggering defeats and, finally, Hitler's bitter endgame in the Chancellery. Along the way, Shirer provides glimpses into the life of the average German in the period as well as the tragic fate of the victims of the Holocaust. As noted at the time, RAF is indeed a monumental work.

The Thanks Of A Grateful World.
Along with Winston Churchill, Shirer must surely have led one of the most remarkable lives of the twentieth century. "Being in the right place at the right time" is a shopworn phrase. Nevertheless, from the early Thirties until the end of 1940, Shirer repeatedly displayed an uncanny ability to turn up in the critical European capital at the key moment. Whether it was Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Paris or London, Shirer was there.

Everything You Wanted To Know About Nazis.
Throughout the exhaustively documented work, Shirer provides a comprehensive look at Hitler, the Party and life in Germany. Some of the more interesting sections of the book include:

-Hitler's early life (some aspects of which were later covered up by the Nazis). Shirer takes a stab (not entirely convincing) at the causes of Hitler's megalomania and overarching hatred of the Jews.

-Hitler's entry into a moribund Nazi Party and subsequent rise to uncontested leadership. The narrative includes the abortive Beerhall Putsch, Hitler's imprisonment and his writing of Mein Kampf (My Struggle). For those who insist no one could have known what was coming, Mein Kampf detailed Hitler's grand plans and became a very popular book in Germany.

-The Nazis' rise to power in Germany. Shirer also devotes a good deal of attention to the internal workings of the Party and its effect on Germans. Many people today still do not understand that Hitler came to power legally.

-Hitler's brilliant maneuvering against the timid Western allies. Almost incomprehensible today, their appeasement policy ensured not just a war but a terrible war on nearly impossible terms. As Churchill said, they were facing a "...bleak choice between War and Shame. My feeling is that we shall choose Shame, and then have War thrown in a little later..."

The Perils Of Going First.
RAF suffers from two flaws, only one of which was under Shirer's control. Due to the release of classified archives (such as the Ultra files) and other important discoveries, we now know that a few of Shirer's analyses and conclusions are incorrect. Shirer simply had no access to certain records, classified or otherwise. Historians must start somewhere.

RAF also imparts, at times, a naive, moralistic tone. Before you alert some Federal agency, hear us out. Of course, the Nazis were monsters. That's the point. Given the passage of time, we can now look back with greater understanding of the horrific evil of the Nazis. We know what they were. Shirer didn't. Thus, he is outraged when they commit some shabby deception for the fifth time. And the narrative suffers a bit for it. Still, it's eminently understandable for the period. Shirer lived in a simpler time and was, therefore, less immune to the moral outrage. Having had fifty-five years to absorb it, we are still outraged, we're just more circumspect about it.

Today The World, Tomorrow Germany.
When first published, RAF was easily a five-star work. Now, burdened by a few inaccuracies, we think RAF merits four stars. Not bad for a historical work from the '50's. While not quite as valuable as it once was, RAF is still an essential narrative on the horror of the Nazis.

Notes: If you're interested in a more personal journal of the period from this remarkable author, take a look at Berlin Diary. And, before Dr. Feelgood exits the building, the correct pronunciation is "Nah-zee", not "Not-zee". Listen to Churchill's speeches. He knew.


Recommended: Yes