Military

This is only the 2nd book Ive given 5 stars to. The author and narrator grab your attention from the opening paragraph and hold it to the very end. Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Truman literally come to life with each paragraph. You can almost see them as Bob Walter reads this brilliant work. You are transported back to 1945 and you are witnessing these giants of history formulate the next 50 years of anglo-russian relations. The cold war is born and you are there to witness it.

I have only 2 minor complaints. The first one is the humanization of Joseph Stalin. For a man that killed more people then Hitler, Stalin is not portrayed in this negative light. The book describes how Stalin sought German reparations to aid in the rebuilding of his country but fails to acknowledge how Stalin caused a lot of this suffering himself. I.E. the great hunger in Ukraine

Second is the SLIGHT drop in audio quality during the last hour.

These 2 reasons do nothing to detract from the overall appeal of this book.

Buy it

This is the most powerful and compelling book on WWII on a personal level that I have ever read / listen too second only to Diary of Anne Frank. The author Max Hastings does a tremendous job of interweaving the overall events of WWII and the lives of the people it touched. Both German and Japanese theaters are discussed. It is chilling how the author reads letters and diaries of people caught up in the events of day just to conclude that the character dies a couple days later. True stories of parents doing all they can to save their children tears emotionally at your heart.

The reader must understand that this book is about the human spirit, both good and evil, and is not another historical thesis on the war.

I had no problems listening to the narrator. He did a wonderful job
Buy this audiobook and a box of tissues

Reader beware. Most of this audiobook has nothing to do with the July plot to kill Hitler headed by Claus von Stauffenberg. This audio book deals mostly with biographies of German philosophers, poets, composers, authors, and artists for the last 350 years. The central character of the second half of this book is not Stauffenberg, but that of Stephan George, a 20th century poet / philosopher. It is from George that we learn of the meaning of "Secret Germany"

Additionally, this book is in serious need of editing. In the first 45 minutes of this book, the author has killed Hitler twice and is beginning to retell it again for the third time. Historical fact checking was obviously overlooked ( example: German invasion of Poland began on Sept 1st 1939 but the book incorrectly states the war as beginning Sept 4th.) Central characters to the July 1944 plot aren't even mentioned or glossed over with little information. ( examples Generals Erich Fellgiebel and Friedrich Olbricht and Field Marshall Erwinn Rommel)

Fleet Cooper did a decent job presenting this audio book.

I was disappointed with this listen. I would suggest bypassing this audiobook.