Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934-1941

Rating:
Summary: The One book to read about WWII
Review: There was a previous reader review of "Berlin Diary" on this site. It gave it a 3 on a scale of 10. I could not disagree more strongly. This is probably the most fasinating book I've ever read. I was sad when it ended. The previous reviewer criticized William Shirer as hardly being objective in the manner required of a journalist. Keep in mind you are reading a diary. A personal account of the beginning of our century's most horrific period. It was written by a man who was the right person in the right place at the right time. Berlin, Munich, Paris and Compiegne. It is the observations of someone witnessing peace slipping away because of driving tyranny (German) and bungling diplomacy (The Allies - where was the U.S.?) If I were teaching a class on WWII, "Berlin Diary" would be the text. Not only does it give us insights into a wide array of subplots to the war but it is the most readable bit of history ever written. I stand by that statement. Read the book.

Rating:
Summary: A Childish Work
Review: William L. Shirer is often praised for his works about Nazi Germany. I don't understand why. Shirer was never an unbiased reporter while in Germany. An unbiased report showing both sides of an issue is what we demand of our finest reporters. Shirer was very prejudiced and hostile towards the regime in Germany at the time. He was bullheaded and arrogant, making demands and walking around like a king on German soil. He writes about his boldness time and time again throughout his diary. Again, I must say that many reporters of the time were similar to Shirer when it came to a lack of knowledge and respect for other cultures. Shirer may have known some French and German, but it stopped there. He had no feeling for the German people and their situation. He was a total outsider and, therefore, could not give an honest report of the true situation. I gave this book a 3 on a scale from 1 to 10 due to the general observations made by Shirer; some were interesting bits of trivia, and could be appreciated. The book could have been written by anyone sent over to Europe; it did not exactly demand journalistic savoir-faire

Rating:
Summary: Incredible insight
Review: William Shirer's book, Berlin Diary, is an excellent insight into the rise of Naziism before the Second World War. He accurately predicts much of what was going to happen from the fall of western Europe; the Allies kowtowing to Hitler prior to the war; the machinations of the Nazi machine. The Allies should have used William Shirer as the next Nostradamus - he was that good. Nevertheless, I just read the 1940 1st edition of Berlin Diary and he certainly gives the reader a "you are there" feeling. I've read lots of WW2 German history and I was quite surprised to read how accurate his predictions were. Well worth reading.