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

At first I lamented Grover Gardner was not the reader, having found Mr Gardner's reading of 'The Rise and Fall...' excellent. And initially Tom Weiner's pace was too fast for my idea of a 'Journal' reading, my ear adjusted and the content became dominant. OK I am not an historian and I did not study modern history at school. As I listen now, I am having to adjust my understanding of so much that was going on in Europe prior to the official start of WW11. Being a journal the immediacy of events as they unfolded is giving me a whole new picture. I have seen the movies, read the fiction and seen some of the propaganda films released by The Allies, Take on that this is a journal, written as events were being played out and the reflections of William L. Shirer are truly an eye and heart opener. One feels the frustrations and disbelief that leaders at the time behaved as they did.
I am still listening, and so impressed by this 'Berlin Diary" that I can only highly recommend this to any with an interest in World War11, to learn how so important our Journalists are, when free of censorship from government and employer.

This diary of William Shirer, published in 1941, provides an unfolding of Europe's plunge into war from 1934-1941 by an American reporter who recorded these events as they happened while he was there during this period. Shirer proved insightful as to what the Nazi's were up to as France and Britain failed to stand up to Hitler's string of demands for more of Europe's land. The narration is excellent as he reads Shirer's diary entries and you feel like you are back there in time listening to the events unfold as Shirer describes them.

the book gives the reader the opportunity to see events unfold as per the generation that lived through the second world war. It offers a time travellers view of history as it unfolds

Possibly on a par with :Downfall but has more impact in its revealing of the key Nazi protagonists

Well read and presented

I tried to listen in one sitting but the reader need to spread it over a few sittings to appreciate the content

The book has chilling impact in the light of hindsight

Berlin diary presented a firsthand experiential account of the rise and conquests of Nazi Germany by Shirer, who was actually there (in Berlin and various other relevant locations) at the time. Presented in diary form, the story unfolded as events happened and became known to Shirer, rather than a narrative by one who already "knew how it would end".

The "voice" of Shirer, the personable way he wrote, the little extras of almost irrelevant diary writings.

Fast. American. Warm.

No. The diary form made it approachable over a period of a couple of weeks.

I am a post-graduate history student and a World War II fanatic. This is in my top 5 audiobooks.

It is a first-hand account of living under the Nazis.

Tom Weiner is fabulous, although he pronounces "short-lived" as if it rhymes with "short-dived".

A fabulous audiobook.

Yes, In order to keep reminding myself of what can happen to a nation of sheep.

Author's understanding of what was going on on in Germany.

It shows what can happen in a country when the people of a nation become mesmerized by a leader who demonizes a group in society in order to assume complete power. In Germany it was Jews who were blamed, Here it is "the rich".

So I am on my second go around of this audio book. I loved it, very detailed, interesting, and greatly narrated. I recommend it for anyone who might be interested in a little behind the scenes action of 20th century Europe.

A fascinating first hand story of the history of Germany during the rise of Hitler. The life of a foreign correspondent during incredible times is wonderful.

I was spellbound by his books