Berlin Diary

The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934–1941

By: William L. Shirer

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

By the acclaimed journalist and New York Times best-selling author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, this day-by-day eyewitness account of the momentous events leading up to World War II in Europe is the private, personal, utterly revealing journal of a great foreign correspondent.

CBS radio broadcaster William L. Shirer was virtually unknown in 1940 when he decided there might be a book in the diary he had kept in Europe during the 1930s—specifically those sections dealing with the collapse of the European democracies and the rise of Nazi Germany.

Shirer was the only Western correspondent in Vienna on March 11, 1938, when the German troops marched in and took over Austria, and he alone reported the surrender by France to Germany on June 22, 1940, even before the Germans reported it. The whole time, Shirer kept a record of events, many of which could not be publicly reported because of censorship by the Germans. In December 1940, Shirer learned that the Germans were building a case against him for espionage, an offense punishable by death. Fortunately, Shirer escaped and was able to take most of his diary with him.

Berlin Diary first appeared in 1941, and the timing was perfect. The energy, the passion, and the electricity in it were palpable. The book was an instant success, and it became the frame of reference against which thoughtful Americans judged the rush of events in Europe. It exactly matched journalist to event: the right reporter in the right place at the right time. It stood, and still stands, as so few books have ever done, a pure act of journalistic witness.

©1941 William L. Shirer (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The most complete news report yet to come out of wartime Germany.” ( Time)

Deja Vu 1940 to 2020

Shirer could as easily have been writing a diary of the US since 2016; some journalist probably doing so now, in fact. And 80 years from now (if there is still a “now” in 80 years, the warning will be the same. The veneer of civilization and democracy, as Shirer wrote, is paper thin and those who desire bread and circus—or even just bread—are ever at their mercy.

Truly Excellent

Shirer’s diary entries show a contemporary view of the growth of Nazism and the gradual realization of the true seriousness of Adolf Hitler. In an absolutely fascinating and detailed way, Shirer captures the feelings of the time and the real-time perspectives on Hitler and the War of foreign governments, correspondents, citizens of soon-to-be victimized nations, and average Germans. Truly unlike any account of Nazi Germany I’ve read/heard and definitely worth the listen for anyone with an interest in the period.

Spectacular... He had 20/20 vision for the future!

Would you consider the audio edition of Berlin Diary to be better than the print version?

I don't know have print version, but certainly the narrator was wonderful!

Who was your favorite character and why?

There are no "characters" here... This is all REAL historical figures. I guess the writer is my favorite guy, obviously, as he figures most heavily in the story...

What about Tom Weiner’s performance did you like?

He has such a wonderful narrator's voice - passionate, yet soft!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me sigh - sigh at the stupidity of European Continental policy before WWII... when so many signs pointed to war, they took the then seemingly "easy" way out... doing nothing.

Unique glimpse

Having finished William Shirer's epic 'Rise and Fall of the Third Reich', I found myself wanting to know more about the man who spent much of his life in Nazi ruled Berlin, and Nazi occupied territory. His unique writing style and first hand glimpse into the war provide a fascinating angle of WWII.

Everyone in the world should read this book

This book should be required reading for every single high school student in the United States and abroad.

And every adult should be given a free copy.

Enlightening yet terrifying account of life under Hitler

William Shirers narrative is brilliant.One has to ask why the rest of t he world stood idly by.Shirers condemnation of people like Chamberlain is so to the point.Towards the end of the Diary he succinctly gives his view of the German people,no doubt this would be considered controversial today but it surely explains how popular Hitler was.

Review of “Berlin Diary”

Excellent rendition of the landmark publication by William Shirer, one of the premier journalists of WW II. Written in real-time, by a man who experienced first-hand the nightmare that was the Third Reich, Shirer provides a unique insight onto the mindset of the Nazi Regime, from the pre-war American perspective. His analysis is thorough and intriguing, as much today ad it was in 1940. As superb to listen to, as to read the book. Well done!

Couldn't put it down....

Early days and successes of Nazi Germany, told by a Shirer who was there to see it all. Reads like a novel.

Great eye-witness account

William Shirer wrote the extremely detailed “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, which is an outstanding history of the Third Reich. “Berlin Diary” is his first hand account of the war up until 1941. Shirer was a news corespondent for the US throughout his time in Germany. His diary is full of his eye-witness account of many historically significant events throughout Nazi Germany. At times you can feel his biased throughout his writing, but that is where it is important to remember that this is a personal diary being kept.

The narrator does a great job articulating and performing, but does speak a bit fast. I found that turning the speed down to .9 significantly helped to slow the pace to a normal speed.

This is a must for anyone that finds interest in WW2 and Nazi Germany. You won’t find a more accurate account than that of a diary being recorded daily by an individual that actually lived it out!

Very interesting insight

This book was a great insight into the history of Germany before the American involvement in WW II. Tom Weiner gave an excellent reading and emphasized the author’s writing when necessary. I highly recommend this book.