Rating: 
Summary: An epic achievment
Review: A wonderful, informative book. My only criticizm is that it is a bit dry. A wealth of information is contained within, should the reader want to discover it.
Rating: 
Summary: It's worth SIX stars!
Review: By far the most magnificent book I have ever read - something to pass on to our children. We must never forget.
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, it's a Must Read
Review: William Shirer was well qualified to write this all-to-necessary book. As a war correspondent, he lived in Nazi Germany, covering the darkest chapter in human history thoroughly and objectively as possible. This 50-year old classic is a story that tragically is not told very factually anymore. This book should be read to counterbalance all the misinformation that now envelops the Third Reich. While the politically correct spin often claims that Christianity is responsible for massacre of the Jews-the National Holocaust Museum in Washington DC is founded on such fatuity--this book details Hitler's hatred and oppression of Catholics and Protestants. He imprisoned thousands of priests, nuns, and ministers in Germany and warned that he would exterminate all clerics in Poland who failed to preach his message. Shortly after seizing power he ordered all churches to replace the crucifix with a swastika and to substitute Mein Kampf for the Bible-not exactly what the radical liberal left likes to teach about this evil dictator, who in reality despised Christianity as much as he abhorred Judaism. Pope Pius who today is regularly singled out as being insensitive to nazi atrocities is evidenced to have been one of the few vociferous voices who repeatedly denounced nazism from its earliest days. Another current myth debunked is the nazis' systematic annihilation of homosexuals. The book documents that many of the founders of nazism were in fact homosexuals themselves. When innocent homosexuals were brutally murdered it was during Hitler's purges of party members who had aroused his suspicions. Often these targeted gay advisers were caught in the company of innocent young men who were killed along with their nazi lovers. Even Hitler's questionable sexual preference is alluded to in this voluminous narrative. The most shocking aspect of the book is its portrayal of Hitler's incredible ability to manipulate. He did not gain his power by force or treachery-rather he was one of the most skillful politicians in history. When he gave a speech, he could feel the German people's pain. He promised a brighter future for the all the citizens, and skillfully avoided discussing his fanatical plans in his campaign stemwinders. As a politician he accomplished a great deal. He gave Germany a booming economy, low unemployment rates, and his approval ratings were high right up until the end. Obviously, he failed in providing moral leadership, but The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich does a remarkable job of detailing how the one of the most evil people in history was able to assume and maintain so much power for so long. It should serve as a warning for all generations to come. At 1500+ pages, it is an endeavor, but it's a story that must be told and more importantly it must be ACCURATELY told. Far too many innocent lives were wiped out by the depravity of nazism to let the story be doctored to suit the purposes of special interest groups. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is that rare work that truly dissects a historical period in a very readable fashion.
Rating:
Summary: Textbook Brilliance
Review: I use it as a textbook. There are are no cross references to this masterpiece. Deem it a classic!
Rating:
Summary: Great History
Review: Superb work by William L. Shirer. Although it is a long book, I have read it many times. WW2 is an immence subject. Shirer focuses on Hitler, his reich, his country, his policies, his evolution. This is first hand storytelling; Shirer was there. Altogether great history. Technically and by organization, it is well constructed, but goes far beyond mere expertise. The tale of human history and human nature is profound. One becomes a fly on the wall as witness to unbelievable extremes of human conduct on a monumental scale; cowardice, heroism, deception, stupidity, indifference, hatred, struggle, brutality, and more. The focal point is the contradictory and confounding evil genius of Hitler; simultaneously fascinating and repulsive.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading for those who despise dictatorships.
Review: Having read and re-read this book, I often wonder how it is possible that Germany was let off the hook so easily despite the incredible moral and physical damage which it inflicted upon human civilization. Shirer makes it abundantly clear to all that this sorry history should never, ever be forgotten, nor repeated. This book is about why so many Americans died in Europe at that time, and why Americans should feel the values behind our constitution, our democracy and our ideals of social justice.
Rating:
Summary: RISE AND FALL is a masterpiece
Review: William Schirer's exhaustive chronicle of Nazism rarely strays from the evil cabal of men who created, imposed and perished under it. Hitler, Goebells, Goering, Himmler, Papen, and countless others are described in great detail. Schirer relies on his personal recollections when he lived in Nazi Germany along with captured Nazi archives he sifted through after World War II to tell his story. His personal biases for democracy, individual freedom, and equality are clear throughout the book (especially when recounting the horrors of the Holocaust) and he does not apologize for them. RISE and FALL reminds us to stand guard against people who would take away democracy, individual freedom and equality if given the opportunity.
Rating:
Summary: The most wonderful and well written book I have ever read.
Review: Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is by far the best , as well as most informative book ever written on Russia and Germany during the Third Reich. Shirer is a genius. The book was long and sometimes the reading seemed tedious, but the knowledge that I GAINED was amazing. I was actually able to remember many facts that were present in the book, unlike in any of the other books that I have read. My favorite section in the book would have to have been THE NEW ORDER. Though it was on the gruesome topic of the concentration camps it was so flowing and descriptive that I felt the hurt. It wasn't presented as a bunch of facts on a page but was written out to tell the true horror. Mr. Shirer's research was so extensive and painstaking, but in the end his result was far more superior than any other book ever written. I would like to end my statements by saying that THE RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH will forever touch me, and Mr. Shirer's work shall never be forgotten.
Rating:
Summary: A fascinating in depth look at the horrors of Nazi Germany.
Review: This book provides a fascinating look at the terrible war of attrition waged by Hitler and his horrific Third Reich against the very core of Western civilization and culture. It is both historically precise and masterfully written, a true historical classic. As the saying goes, "Those who do not learn from the past are bound to repeat it." We should all remember and learn from this tragic period of human history so that we might not have to pay the teriible price that was charged to our progenitors. Shirer's the Rise and Fall provides the perfect backdrop.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book.
Review: This is an informative and well-written history. There is an extensive index and meticulous source information -- making it invaluable to history majors -- but it is not overly pedantic or academic, so anyone can enjoy it. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting an informative overview of the history of Nazi Germany.
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