The Last Battle

By: Cornelius Ryan

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 15 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The classic account of the final offensive against Hitler’s Third Reich.

The Battle for Berlin was the culminating struggle of World War II in the European theater. The last offensive against Hitler’s Third Reich, it devastated one of Europe’s historic capitals and marked the final defeat of Nazi Germany. It was also one of the war’s bloodiest and most pivotal battles, whose outcome would shape international politics for decades to come.

The Last Battle is Cornelius Ryan’s compelling account of this final battle, a story of brutal extremes, of stunning military triumph alongside the stark conditions that the civilians of Berlin experienced in the face of the Allied assault. As always, Ryan delves beneath the military and political forces that were dictating events to explore the more immediate imperatives of survival, where, as the author describes it, “to eat had become more important than to love, to burrow more dignified than to fight, to endure more militarily correct than to win.”

The Last Battle is the story of ordinary people, both soldiers and civilians, caught up in the despair, frustration, and terror of defeat. It is history at its best, a masterful illumination of the effects of war on the lives of individuals, and one of the enduring works on World War II.

©1966 Cornelius Ryan; 1994 by Victoria Ryan Bida and Geoffrey J. M. Ryan (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A rare accomplishment…Will be of interest to generations to come.” (James A. Michener, Pulitzer Prize–winning author)

Amazing book

The book is excellent with great detail. I tried the book based on an advertisement and have listened to it almost non stop since I started. The narration is excellent.

Overlooked classic

Ryan has more famous titles but this one is just as good. A great work.

Graphic!

A excellent narration detailing the role Russia played at the conclusion of WW II. Brutally graphic in its depiction of the Soviet Army treatment of the German people, particularly the German women of Berlin. Heartbreaking.

Outstanding History Telling

What made the experience of listening to The Last Battle the most enjoyable?

the Author clearly researched this book to the utmost degree. The attention to detail and the story as it grew of the main characters - left me with a profound sadness for both sides of the terrible final weeks of WWII.

By weaving the real history with lives of everyday Berliners of all walks of life made it a thoroughly compelling read.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

I must admit that the performance of Simon Vance really added something special to the experience of listening.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Had I been able to listen to the entire book in one sitting, I definitely would have.

Wow!

This book is mind blowing. There’s a scene near the end where Albert Speer instructs the Berlin symphony to play Goddamerung (sic?) from Wagner’s ring cycle, which depicts the end of the world. And for the Germans, this was the end.... I’ve never read of any people who underwent such destruction. This is the kind of book that calls for a long walk to digest when it’s over. The audio narration is also excellent.

Excellent

This one provides a thorough detailed look at what it was like for everyone involved leading up and during The Battle Of Berlin. Especially the civilians on the city from jews communists everyday people as well as German soldiers all the way up to Hitlers high command. As a voracious reader of military history this was a pleasent surprised and worth the coin.

Thanks to Dan Carlin of Hardcore History podcasts.

What an interesting perspective of this horrible war and the end of the Nazi war machine. Thanks to Dan for recommending it to his listeners!

A revelation

A wonderfully researched, written, and presented history of a chapter of the war that is less well known. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Amazing insight to an amazing time

Would you listen to The Last Battle again? Why?

Sure! It was a very interesting account of a fascinating time and the author covered all the different aspects, parties, and viewpoints involved.The stories included in the book were very interesting and written in a way that really allowed the reader to picture what life must have been like at the time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Last Battle?

There were many memorable moments of the book. The top ones for me were the description of the night of Hitler's suicide, the description of the zookeeper's interaction with the baboon, and the description of start of the Russian siege of Berlin.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

I didn't particularly feel like Simon Vance performed any characters per say. He is an excellent narrator though and the voices and accents he associated with the sides of the conflict were great.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book was definitely so intense at times, that it was good to take a break. But interest in the story definitely made me enthusiastic to continue reading.

Fight for Berlin

Good History on the last battle in World War II, the battle for Berlin. Recommend for all history buffs.