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fredthompson1200's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
It's hard to conceive of a more thought provoking, enlightening and moving account of the end of the war in Europe than this book.
The excerpts from diaries and anecdotes from everyday people really put you there and are gut wrenchingly sad. A remarkable amount of clarity is provided to the sheer chaos of the Russian advance of Berlin, although you definitely need the maps in the front of the book to help make sense of it all. Overall it's very readable and accessible.
This is a terrifying insight into the darkest days in human history that should not be forgotten in the present state of world affairs. Everyone should read this book.
The excerpts from diaries and anecdotes from everyday people really put you there and are gut wrenchingly sad. A remarkable amount of clarity is provided to the sheer chaos of the Russian advance of Berlin, although you definitely need the maps in the front of the book to help make sense of it all. Overall it's very readable and accessible.
This is a terrifying insight into the darkest days in human history that should not be forgotten in the present state of world affairs. Everyone should read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Xenophobia
cuddlygryphon's review against another edition
dark
informative
slow-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Genocide, Suicide, Child death, Death, Rape, Hate crime, and Violence
Moderate: Abortion, Antisemitism, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Suicide, Torture, Violence, War, Animal death, Grief, Hate crime, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Medical content and Medical trauma
greybeard49's review against another edition
5.0
Rereading this and as good as first time around. Beevor is a master and drags you along through what is a fairly harrowing tale viewed from all sides. He tells it masterfully.
ilovestory's review against another edition
3.0
If you are already somewhat familiar with the major players in the Soviet and German armies in 1945, then you will love this book. For me, it was hard to keep straight which name or unit name was associated with the Soviets and which with the Germans and, obviously, that made it hard to keep up. Last week I read the "anonymous" diary of a German woman in Berlin during that time period and her book was much more interesting to me. This spends most of its time talking about troop movements. It gives lots of detail about the positioning of both armies during the last stages of the war. The most interesting part to me was to see how Stalin was lying to the Americans ... just as Putin is lying to our president-elect today, unfortunately.
markhartshorn's review against another edition
5.0
Outstanding book. Not only did it describe the events of the Battle for Berlin as they unfolded, but Beevor's reporting actually made me feel pity for the average German caught in the throws of the battle. His access to Russian archives have brought a wealth of information to the surface. And his scholarship has helped to prove some of the long told horror stories.
krism's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent! Probably the best book I've read this year. First, the author interlaces facts with excerpts from diaries, letters, and legal depositions. I learned and FELT what was happening. No wonder his books have won so many awards. Second, I've not read as much about the war on the eastern front. The book takes you into Hitler's bunker and covers the lasts days of all those were there. While the book focuses on Berlin, there's a lot about the battles leading up to it, the desperation felt on all sides, and why the Germans and Russians despise one another. I learned a lot about Stalin and the millions of his own people he starved, killed, imprisoned, and silenced. I thought about Putin and can see many parallels. I learned more about Poland and Ukraine, both before and after the war, and how it impacts the present day tensions between those countries and Russia. I'll be reading more by Sir Anthony Beevor!