The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

A History of Nazi Germany

By: William L. Shirer

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 57 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Since its publication in 1960, William L. Shirer’s monumental study of Hitler’s German empire has been widely acclaimed as the definitive record of the twentieth century’s blackest hours. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has attained the status of a vital and enduring classic.

Now, years after the end of World War II, it may seem incredible that our most valued institutions, and way of life, were threatened by the menace that Hitler and the Third Reich represented. Shirer’s description of events and the cast of characters who played such pivotal roles in defining the course Europe was to take is unforgettable.

Benefiting from his many years as a reporter, and thus a personal observer of the rise of Nazi Germany, and availing himself of some of the 485 tons of documents from the German Foreign Office, as well as countless other diaries, phone transcriptions, and other written records meticulously kept at every level by the Germans, Shirer has put together a brutally objective account of how Hitler wrested political control of Germany, and planned and executed his six-year quest to dominate the world, only to see Germany go down in flames.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is a vast, richly rewarding experience for anyone who wants to come to grips with the mysterious question of how this menace to civilization ever came into being, much less was sustained for as long as it was. The answer, unfortunately, is that most of Germany, for a whole host of reasons, embraced Nazism and the fanaticism that Hitler engendered.

©1990 William L. Shirer (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“One of the most important works of history of our time.” ( The New York Times)

”A splendid work of scholarship, objective in method, sound in judgment, inescapable in its conclusions.” ( The New York Times Book Review)

50+ hours and enthralled the entire time!

This historical analysis about how Germany and Hitler rose to power, began the conquest of Europe, and ultimate demise is easily one of the most (if not the most) spell-binding listens I have come across. When I first got the book, I felt daunted by how long it is (57hrs), but once I started, I could not stop. The author provides incredible insight into the events that led up to Hitler's rise to power, and the responses to Germany's growing strength by the many countries of Europe.

This is a must-listen for any history buff.

Worth every hour spent listening to it.

Even knowing a lot about WWII, this book gives such a great background of the NAZI machine. It did a great job of explaining the how, why and when of Hitler. I feel like I almost lived it after finishing it. A great audio book.

A must read for World War Two buffs

What did you love best about The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich?

One was it's attention detail and tireless work to find the right information. Second was that the author gave it a personal touch by subtly giving his own thoughts and observations. It wasn't just a presentation of facts and documents. He was able to do this because he was there at the time and observed many of the ongoing events in person.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich?

The most moving part was the stories of the Nazi atrocities that took place. I had no doubt that they occurred but wasn't aware of the extent and barbarity of the many of the actions.

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I have listened to Grover Gardner before in "The Civil War" by Shelby Foote, yes all three editions. So when I saw he narrated this story I knew it would be good. He read it in such a way that I felt he was the author that wrote it.

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

If it wasn't 50 plus hours I might have. I listen to books on my commute to work and I always looked forward to listening to this each day. Even though I thought I knew the basics of this time period I certainly learned much more after listening to this.

Any additional comments?

Anyone seeking to understand Adolph Hitler, the Third Reich and World War II should read this.

Insightful history listen. Amazingly non-boring!

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

able to listen to it whilst driving. It is quite a heavy book and not having to read every word was a blessing.

One of the GREAT BOOKS out there...

What did you love best about The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich?

It seems like an extremely long book when you first start, but it flies by like a good movie. I found this book enthralling.

What did you like best about this story?

This question is clearly meant for works of fiction. This is a book of history, not fiction. However, I think the author did manage to tell this important history in a very narrative and exciting way.

Have you listened to any of Grover Gardner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

History happens in the span of a minute.

Any additional comments?

Don't go through the whole book in one sitting. Split it up over a month or two, peppered with other works about WWII.

A comprehensive account

For someone having a not so great knowledge on the Third Reich, this book was riveting. With the vast flow of information, makes the reader gain a great view point of the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. I had to purchase my own physical copy to make it part of my bookshelf collection.

One of the most important books about the events leading up to WWII

I first read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich 40 years ago. The book's importance has not diminished in the intervening decades, and this wonderful audiobook captures Shirer's account from beginning to end. Given the political extremism of the 2016 Republican Party primaries and the rise of right-wing factions in other western democracies, everyone should listen to this remarkable first hand account of Hitler's rise in 1930s Germany. Chilling but fascinating, Shirer based his account on his own experiences in 1939s Germany as well as the troves of Nazi documents captured at the end of WWII in 1945. A must listen book for anyone who does not want demagogues and tyrants ruining our world.

Not the worst but surely not the best

Would you listen to The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich again? Why?

no but only because of the length, much could have been left out

What did you like best about this story?

the story itself

Would you listen to another book narrated by Grover Gardner?

yes

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

nope

Any additional comments?

sometimes more is less

Long but enthralling

Where does The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It has taken me forever to finally listen to this book. I'd being putting it off for many months always preferring something smaller and less complicated to cater to my ADHD mind. However I finally took the plunge and wish I had earlier. This is a marvelously written book and Grover Gardner is a fantastic narrator, one of my favorites.No doubt those with a finer appreciation of some of the historical points will find some or other factual error or incorrect interpretation, but this is an audio book well worth investing the time to listen too. The story flows naturally and without boring the reader or becoming slow and ponderous. The author clearly knew how to keep ones attention and you will get much pleasure from listening to this audio title.

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

Impossible I think for a book of this length although if I could I surely would!

A story that must be told.

Understanding such history is essential to understanding the present, and considering the future.

Hatred, and fury is flaring up around the world once more, and unfit men finding their way to the heads of some of the world's most powerful countries (if the weren't already there).

At this moment in history, as we move towards either extinction or a new era, we must reflect on what's happened on Earth in the past 100 years and make a clear and intentional decision about what comes next.

Hopefully we choose to make peace for All.