The Hitler Years - Disaster 1940-1945

The Hitler Years, Book 2

By: Frank McDonough

Narrated by: Paul McGann

Length: 22 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

The second volume in a new, immensely listenable narrative of the rise and catastrophic fall of the Nazi regime by a respected expert on the Third Reich.

At the beginning of 1940 Germany was at the pinnacle of its power. By May 1945 Hitler was dead and Germany had suffered a disastrous defeat.

Hitler had failed to achieve his aim of making Germany a super power and had left its people to cope with the endless shame of the Holocaust.

In The Hitler Years - Disaster 1940-1945, Professor Frank McDonough charts the dramatic change of fortune for the Third Reich and challenges long-held accounts of the Holocaust and Germany's ultimate defeat.

Despite Hitler's grand ambitions and the successful early stages of the Third Reich's advances into Europe, Frank McDonough argues that Germany was only ever a middle-ranking power and never truly stood a chance against the combined forces of the Allies.

©2020 Frank McDonough (P)2020 W F Howes

A fresh look

Too bad this book is decades too late. Almost all of the fiends escaped justice. The book shows how Germany remained essentially a Nazi country until the 90s.

A treat of narrative history.

I borrowed the title of my review from HistoryToday. They also said about McDonough's book: "...a splendid work of synthesis and, as such, it is as readable as it is authoritative." When I read these words, I knew I had to check it out but hesitated.

I mean, what can someone say about Hitler & the Nazis that haven't been said before? Yes, the story is familiar but the writing and the narration by Paul McGann is superb. I also liked that McDonough organized his materials (both of his books) in such a way that it did not bog down in too many details and yet, I learned a lot of new facts that I had never heard before.

Kudos to both McDonough & McGann for their work. I loved both of the audiobooks.

Excellent!

If you like history, definitely listen to this 2 part series. it is well written and meticulously researched.

Excellent

Not only content but narration. Would highly recommend for anyone interested in this period of history

Some odd inconsistencies

This is a very good book in many ways, if you are looking for a book that follows the chronology of the Second World War, but there are some odd inconsistencies or mistakes that don’t necessarily diminish the book as make one wonder if the version given to the narrator was properly edited. Referring to 617 sqn. as ‘the famous 717 sqn.’ Is really not a big deal but one of a number of small but seemingly silly errors that I heard that just sat wrong for this kind of book. Anyway, it’s probable that for most people these problems would be inconsequential, I just noticed them and they stood out.

History Well done

I found the narrator extremely good The book was well written
I found information that I had not known in the past even though I have Read numerous books For this time.

Narrative history at its best.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the era. The Third Reich has been needing an accessible chronological history, which shows the triumphs and horrors, and this is it. Paul McGann is particularly good, and is easy to follow.

Superb if you are of fan of WW2

One of the best books on the Hitler years I’ve come across. Well narrated and just enough detail. Not over-academic and so not bogged down with troop movements on the Eastern front that some books are guilty of. Very enjoyable and informative.

absolutely fascinating

really loved it..its not your average Hitler's life story. it goes too deep and it's definitely worth listening to.

Amazing book.

Easily one of, not only the best historical book I've listened to but book in general. So much detail.

Top Class

Most enjoyable and easy listen. Level of detail could not be better or more interesting. Narration best ever of any audio book.

Thomas Alexander.

excellent books , extremely well researched and written. superb narration. sometimes i found it harrowing to listen to but always compelling.

Superb, simple, powerful... dark

Powerful story told chronologically... narrated expertly by Paul McGann...the sense of impending doom for the innocent victims of a demented leadership ; and the conveying of how it would reap the whirlwind it had sowed is compelling. This is an admirable follow-up to the first half of this incredible dark story.

Hitler

an incredibley well-researched book very well done an very harrowing subject matter would recommend everyone should read about this part of history

Narrator not great, story good

Narrator randomly inserted numerous pauses causing some confusion. At risk of being ‘scousist’ I’d say Mr McGann wasn’t an A star scholar of the English language. The content was detailed and informative so the overall experience was good.

Absolutely Brilliant

I thoroughly enjoyed this incredible chronology of Hitlers/Nazisms ascendency and eventual decline.

The book provides amazing insight on the decisions that lead to significant events of WW2 and profiles the people who made them.

A must read for all fans of history.