The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Rating:
Summary: The erection of the Berlin Wall and its fall.
Review: Although I don't subscribe to Buckley's conservative ethics, this was a good read for such a short book. It took me all of one day to go through this book. What I liked best is the first chapters talking about the loss of population in East Germany due to the easiness of walking into West Berlin and emigrating to West Germany. The erection of the wall prevented this exodus in 1962. It simply stopped the flow and erected the barrier to the population shift. What I dispute is Buckley's view that the East Germans would have stopped the building if a few American tanks rolled over the barbed wire barricades to assert their rights of the four powers in Berlin. This might have started a Third World War. Perhaps Buckley has seen some documentation that I don't know about. The later part of the book I witnessed in person in Eastern Europe, so this is something I was very familiar with.
Buckley throws in a few complicated words in this book, so I had to consult my dictionary. I did not know there was a word for throwing someone out of a building, but apparently Buckley found one. I have already decided not to add this word to my vocabulary. Other than that, this is a nice little read for someone interested in the Cold War and Eastern Europe.

Rating:
Summary: The denouement of the Cold War...
Review: Before reading this surprisingly succinct work by William F.Buckley, it would have been hard for me to imagine a comprehensive Cold War history consolidated into 192 pages of text. But under the amazingly capable pen of Buckley, the reader learns all the highlights (lowlights?) of this seminal period in International history.

Starting with the Four-Power agreement in post WWII Germany, we see the numerous policy offenses initiated by the USSR as they grasp for power by forming the Eastern Bloc of socialist countries. Nowhere is this skewed outlook more evident than in war-torn and politically seperated Germany...specifically, it's capital in Berlin. We see immediately, the subversion encountered by the citizens of East Berlin and their realization that life would be best lived outside this repressive regime. The outpouring of the population to the West is, of course, the reason that the Wall is erected...thus symbolically subjugating Eastern Europe to over 30 years of repressive treatment. Communist/Socialist leaders from Walter Ulbricht to Erich Honecker are analyzed and dismissed as their policies reflect the repressive attitude that Communism endows on it's subjects...while at the same time it's leaders live in comparative luxury. Buckley provides these insights with a wit and writing style that makes it easy to understand this subversion and frustration that all in the East must have felt during this period. Documenting the many attrocities enacted by the East Germans as the Wall is erected and further enhanced throughout the 60's, Buckley takes the reader along for the many inside dealings that the East tried to legitimize and enhance it's regime on the International stage.

Major Cold War events such as the Hungarian uprising in 1956, the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the "Prague Spring" in 1968 are connected with Buckley's wry commentary that also ties in the human component to these major events. We see American General Lucious Clay stare down the Soviets at Checkpoint Charlie and see how this strength of character was unfortunately a rareity in American policy towards the Soviet Union...rare until that confleunce of major Cold War revisionists Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev enacted several initiatives that ultimately lead not only to the destruction of the Wall, but the end of Communism and, more specifically, the Soviet Union itself. Buckley covers all this in an amazingly comprehensive manner and closes out the book with the enacting of the Democratic government that exists in a unified Germany today.

If a short, to-the-point comprehensive history of the Cold War and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall is what you're looking for, than this is the book for you. Beautifully written and covering all the major seminal periods of the Cold War, Buckley enhances his reputation as a political writer and serves the public well with "The Fall of the Berling Wall". This is a work that I'd recommend highly.

Rating:
Summary: The Germans should have better manners!!!
Review: I imagine the person from Berlin who wrote the negative review of this book, is either not truly a Berliner, or is to young to have any sense at all.
Mr Buckley tells a lot of truths in this book. And as usual it's tough for any one whose not a citizen of the most powerful (and benevolent) countries in history.
This Berliner needs to look a little farther back in history then his hero Gorbachev.
Maybe back to his relatives who started the worst war in history. That led to half his father land being enslaved. And cost the allies and the US hundreds of billions to salvage as much of the father land from the political system that managed East Germany so well.
You've read his reveiw and now you've read mine. Read this book and judge for yourself. And I'm sure Mr Buckley would tell you, to believe 105 of what you hear, 20% of what you read, and only 50% of what you see. Never stop asking questions, and use common sence
A stong democracy will never enslave a country like Germany, Japan, Russia, China and others have.
Mr Buckley's take on these events seems much closed to the truth then the bilge spouted by the America hating, socialist from Berlin.

Rating:
Summary: Ring Wing Pro-US Garbage
Review: I was in Germany during the fall of the wall. Nothing could be further from the truth that this book of self-serving US tripe. First, East Germany was unable to hold onto its intelligencia. They might have had their bodies, but their souls were in the west. Second, the Lutheran Church was no longer willing to compliant to the division. Third, the Pope's work in Poland did not go unnoticed. The East German wing of Solidarity organized much of the resistance throughout 1988 -- 1989. Their banners were part of the scenery right above check-point Charlie. East Germany's reunification must be seen within a German complex of dissatisfaction of the apartchnik and bureaucracy with their own fortunes in the system. Simply put, geopolitical elements, including anything from the US were secondary or tertiary at best. Tertiary certainly behind the "green lights" that were given when Gorbachev refused to enter Poland to put down Solidarity. Do not forget history, or allow right wing pundits to pollute it with pro-US fables.

Rating:
Summary: The Spirit of '89
Review: Obviously, the Cold War is so multifaceted and complex that it would take about 20 times this thin volume to fully explain its many dimensions and manifestations. Even if one concentrates on the Cold War in Europe, a reader would still be faced with a lengthy reading assignment. While Buckley does not deliver any kind of amazing historical work in this book, the brilliant scion of the conservative movement gives a crisp description of the spirit of the Cold War. By spirit I refer to the very human emotions and motivations that drove the two superpowers to loggerheads for over 40 years. After reading this wonderful little gem of a book, a reader should better understand just what was at stake for all those seemingly distant decades, and perhaps appreciate more dearly the joyous way in which the longest of wars came to an end in the streets of Berlin.

Buckley manages to weave the majesty of the 40 years of intense diplomatic and international history into a very quick and enjoyable reading experience. The famed conservative scribe was motivated to write this book because of his own experience with the Berlin Wall. Like many others, Buckley was stunned by the sheer historical weight of the granite, and the deep political divisions it represented. The early days of East Germany are detailed, as German communists and their Soviet overlords tried desperately to compete with increasingly powerful western sector. This task was obviously impossible, as the decrepit realities of communist economics suddenly made themselves very evident. As the best and the brightest of the communist East began to flow over the border, the authorities had to construct a block. While few believed this block would be so starkly medieval in its presence, the communists had little choice. Buckley makes a very interesting assertion that if America had made a substantial show of force in Berlin, the Soviets were very willing to back down. However, President Kennedy at the time was fairly chaste in handling the Soviets, believing that since the world was on such a razors edge, it was not wise to enter the dangerous game at that juncture. The wall went up, higher and higher, and escape soon became impossible. The Iron Curtain was now real, for all the world to see.

The years of separation are really amazing ones when one thinks about the mind boggling dimensions of it. A modern city, physically torn apart. Buckley pushes this stunning idea, so foreign to younger readers such as myself. The wall became the symbol for everything evil in the world, of man?s domination of its fellow man. Buckley reveals himself, at least to me, as a very prolific political writer. His understanding of western European politics and the inner meanings of it are really gripping. Various German governments sought new ways to approach the wall, none of which were very successful. It was only when Reagan put a spotlight on the wall did the first cracks appear. The best part of the book is the fairly rapid dissolution of the communist block, a breakdown with many different parents. When the wall finally did collapse under its own tyrannical weight, the pent up feelings of millions of oppressed Germans were finally heard, for all the world to hear, at last.

No one can write this tale better than Buckley, as he was a major player in the ideological battle that dominated American politics at the time. Of course he will lend his own color to the fight, but that is fine by me and is not as pronounced as expected. If you are looking for a flowing and condensed version of political history, this is the book to turn to. Just a joy to read and very education as well.

Rating:
Summary: The Spirit of '89
Review: Obviously, the Cold War is so multifaceted and complex that it would take about 20 times this thin volume to fully explain its many dimensions and manifestations. Even if one concentrates on the Cold War in Europe, a reader would still be faced with a lengthy reading assignment. While Buckley does not deliver any kind of amazing historical work in this book, the brilliant scion of the conservative movement gives a crisp description of the spirit of the Cold War. By spirit I refer to the very human emotions and motivations that drove the two superpowers to loggerheads for over 40 years. After reading this wonderful little gem of a book, a reader should better understand just what was at stake for all those seemingly distant decades, and perhaps appreciate more dearly the joyous way in which the longest of wars came to an end in the streets of Berlin.

Buckley manages to weave the majesty of the 40 years of intense diplomatic and international history into a very quick and enjoyable reading experience. The famed conservative scribe was motivated to write this book because of his own experience with the Berlin Wall. Like many others, Buckley was stunned by the sheer historical weight of the granite, and the deep political divisions it represented. The early days of East Germany are detailed, as German communists and their Soviet overlords tried desperately to compete with increasingly powerful western sector. This task was obviously impossible, as the decrepit realities of communist economics suddenly made themselves very evident. As the best and the brightest of the communist East began to flow over the border, the authorities had to construct a block. While few believed this block would be so starkly medieval in its presence, the communists had little choice. Buckley makes a very interesting assertion that if America had made a substantial show of force in Berlin, the Soviets were very willing to back down. However, President Kennedy at the time was fairly chaste in handling the Soviets, believing that since the world was on such a razors edge, it was not wise to enter the dangerous game at that juncture. The wall went up, higher and higher, and escape soon became impossible. The Iron Curtain was now real, for all the world to see.

The years of separation are really amazing ones when one thinks about the mind boggling dimensions of it. A modern city, physically torn apart. Buckley pushes this stunning idea, so foreign to younger readers such as myself. The wall became the symbol for everything evil in the world, of man?s domination of its fellow man. Buckley reveals himself, at least to me, as a very prolific political writer. His understanding of western European politics and the inner meanings of it are really gripping. Various German governments sought new ways to approach the wall, none of which were very successful. It was only when Reagan put a spotlight on the wall did the first cracks appear. The best part of the book is the fairly rapid dissolution of the communist block, a breakdown with many different parents. When the wall finally did collapse under its own tyrannical weight, the pent up feelings of millions of oppressed Germans were finally heard, for all the world to hear, at last.

No one can write this tale better than Buckley, as he was a major player in the ideological battle that dominated American politics at the time. Of course he will lend his own color to the fight, but that is fine by me and is not as pronounced as expected. If you are looking for a flowing and condensed version of political history, this is the book to turn to. Just a joy to read and very education as well.

Rating:
Summary: The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Review: This book is really fascinating. William F. Buckley Jr. writes with amazing detail about the symbolism of the Berlin Wall, both its rise and ultimately, the meaning of its fall. I really found the personal stories included, of people trying to escape to West Germany, to be so powerful. Anybody who is interested in the Cold War history should read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Most Germans do have better manners! ! :)
Review: Yikes!...Easyyy!...This must be a book that I'll HAVE to read. Just because of the last 2 reviews....then I'll tell you my 50 cents worth of opinion about the book. :)