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This is a very interesting piece of history
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Berlin: The Downfall 1945
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The Red Army had much to avenge when it finally reached the frontiers of the Reich in January 1945. Political instructors rammed home the message of Wehrmacht and SS brutality. The result was the most terrifying example of fire and sword ever known, with tanks crushing refugee columns under their tracks, mass rape, pillage and destruction. Hundreds of thousands of women and children froze to death or were massacred because Nazi Party chiefs, refusing to face defeat, had forbidden the evacuation of civilians. Over seven million fled westwards from the terror of the Red Army.
Antony Beevor reconstructs the experiences of those millions caught up in the nightmare of the Third Reich's final collapse, telling a terrible story of pride, stupidity, fanatacism, revenge and savagery, but also one of astonishing endurance, self-sacrifice and survival against all odds.
Antony Beevor reconstructs the experiences of those millions caught up in the nightmare of the Third Reich's final collapse, telling a terrible story of pride, stupidity, fanatacism, revenge and savagery, but also one of astonishing endurance, self-sacrifice and survival against all odds.
528 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13,2002
This edition
- Format
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528 pages, Hardcover
- Published
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January 1, 2002 by Penguin Uk
- ISBN
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9780670886951
- ASIN
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0670886955
- Language
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English
About the author
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Sir Antony James Beevor is a British military historian. He has published several popular historical works, mainly on the Second World War, the Spanish Civil War, and most recently the Russian Revolution and Civil War.
Educated at Abberley Hall School, Winchester College, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Beevor commanded a troop of tanks in the 11th Hussars in Germany before deciding in 1970 to leave the army and become a writer. He was a visiting professor at Birkbeck, University of London, and the University of Kent. His best-selling books, Stalingrad (1998) and Berlin: The Downfall 1945 (2002), have been acclaimed for their detailed coverage of the battles between the Soviet Union and Germany, and their focus on the experiences of ordinary people. Berlin proved very controversial in Russia because of the information it contained from former Soviet archives about the mass rapes carried out by the Red Army in 1945.
Beevor's works have been translated into many languages and have sold millions of copies. He has lectured at numerous military headquarters, staff colleges and establishments in Britain, the US, Europe, and Australia. He has also written for many major newspapers.
Educated at Abberley Hall School, Winchester College, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Beevor commanded a troop of tanks in the 11th Hussars in Germany before deciding in 1970 to leave the army and become a writer. He was a visiting professor at Birkbeck, University of London, and the University of Kent. His best-selling books, Stalingrad (1998) and Berlin: The Downfall 1945 (2002), have been acclaimed for their detailed coverage of the battles between the Soviet Union and Germany, and their focus on the experiences of ordinary people. Berlin proved very controversial in Russia because of the information it contained from former Soviet archives about the mass rapes carried out by the Red Army in 1945.
Beevor's works have been translated into many languages and have sold millions of copies. He has lectured at numerous military headquarters, staff colleges and establishments in Britain, the US, Europe, and Australia. He has also written for many major newspapers.
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Beevor brings the stalingrad and d-day treatment to the fall of berlin in the last days of the third reich. As usual the treatment is incredibly thorough and I learnt a lot on as subject I knew well already and Beevor manages to bring the full horror home. Must read for anyone interested in this era in history.
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آنتونی بیور در سقوط برلن ، با استادی هر چه تمام جهنمی را که یک دیکتاتور احمق برای ملت خود ساخته را به تصویر می کشد . در حقیقت بیور که در کتاب استالینگراد ، مقاومت و جان فشانی نیروهای شوروی و ساکنان شهر را ترسیم ساخته ، در سقوط برلن هم جنگ داخلی دیگری را بررسی می کند : این بار در برلن ، پایتخت نازی ها و با ساکنانی که دیگر طاقت و حوصله جنگ را ندارند .
چه دلیلی باید باعث شود که یک شهر در هم شکسته از بمباران های هوایی ، با اکثریت ساکنان که خانه ، غذا ، آب آشامیدنی ندارند در برابر 7 میلیون سرباز ارتش سرخ در شرق و 4.5 میلیون سرباز آمریکایی و انگلیسی و کانادایی در غرب دفاع کند ؟
هیچ دلیلی یا هیچ معجزه ای قابل دفاع از برلن نیست ، اما هیتلر که به وضوح دیوانه و توهم زده شده دستور دفاع از شهر را می دهد و از بچه های 12 ساله تا پیرمردان 65 ساله را به جنگ می فرستد ، جنگی که پایانش بر همه آشکار است .
آقای بیور با استادی روحیه و طرز فکر افراد غیرنظامی برلن ، ورماخت ( ارتش آلمان ) ، اس اس و وافن اس اس را نشان می دهد که تا لحظه آخر اس اس ها به دنبال اجرای اوامر هیتلر بودند و کسانی را که از جنگ فرار می کردند را با خونسردی دار می زدنند . از نزدیکان هیتلر که معمولا به علت استعمال الکل زیاد هوش و هواس نداشتند و خود پیشوا هم در آستانه مرگ به نظر می رسید . اما هم چنان با وقاحت تمام خود را ملت آلمان تلقی می کرد و می گفت که زندگی مردم آلمان بعد از او هیچ ارزشی نخواهد داشت !
آقای بیور سری هم به اردوگاه دیکتاتور روسیه ، استالین می زند ، این که چگونه بین ژنرال های عالی رتبه خود ، ژوکوف ، چویکوف و کنیوف اختلاف و رقابت انداخته تا آنها را برای اشغال هر چه سریعتر برلن جری تر کند . این که چگونه جان سربازها و اصولا هر موجود زنده ای برای او و ژنرال هایش بی ارزش است و این که سربازان روسیه به خاطر کمبود ودکا ، مواد شیمیایی و صنعتی می نوشیدند ، با این که می دانستند بعد از نوشیدن آن فقط سه روز زنده خواهند ماند .
و تجاوز، تجاوز سربازان سرخ به زنان برلینی یا آلمانی ، این که با افتخار می گویند دو میلیون آلمانی بعد از سال 1945 پدری روس دارند و چگونه آلمان ها باید این داغ را تحمل می کردند . کتاب پر است از انبوه جزئیات که آقای بیوربه خواننده می دهد ، از لرزش دست چپ هیتلر گرفته تا لباس اوا براون ، از غارت برلن تا تجاوز . تمام این جزیئات در فیلم دیدنی سقوط از اولیور هرشبیگل با بازی برونو گانتس در نقش هیتلر مجنون به تصویر کشیده شده اند ، شخصیت نفرت انگیز و چاپلوس دکتر گوبلز ، ماگدا گوبلز همسر متوهم و متفرعن گوبلز و لحظه دهشتناکی که مادر شش فرزند خود را توسط سیانور می کشد ، این که چگونه روسها مانند غلطک جلو می آیند و هر شهری در دستان آنها کامل تخریب می شود ، این که هیتلر مجنون همه را به دفاع
فرا می خواند اما خود مثله بزدل ها خود کشی می کند ، همه این جزییات به طور کامل در کتاب آمده است .
کتاب یک شخصیت دوست داشتنی هم دارد ، واسیلی گروسمان به عنوان خبرنگار جنگی مسیر طولانی از استالینگراد تا برلین را آمده و مشاهدات خود را از سقوط برلین می گوید ،برای من خواندن نوشته های گروسمان در این کتاب مانند دیدن چهره آشنایی در جمع بود
و در پایان ، باز یک دیکتاتور احمق یک کشور و چند نسل از زندگی مردم خود را نابود می کند . از لحاظ هیتلر گویی تمام موجودات برای خدمت کردن به او آفریده شده اند وفقط اوست که همه چیز را میداند . پایان او هم نزدیک است : هیتلر خودکشی می کند و جنازه اش سوزانده می شود ، اما روسها فکهای او را پیدا می کنند و با خود به مسکو می برند تا داستان دیکتاتور با نابودی خود و ملت خود به پایان برسد .
چه دلیلی باید باعث شود که یک شهر در هم شکسته از بمباران های هوایی ، با اکثریت ساکنان که خانه ، غذا ، آب آشامیدنی ندارند در برابر 7 میلیون سرباز ارتش سرخ در شرق و 4.5 میلیون سرباز آمریکایی و انگلیسی و کانادایی در غرب دفاع کند ؟
هیچ دلیلی یا هیچ معجزه ای قابل دفاع از برلن نیست ، اما هیتلر که به وضوح دیوانه و توهم زده شده دستور دفاع از شهر را می دهد و از بچه های 12 ساله تا پیرمردان 65 ساله را به جنگ می فرستد ، جنگی که پایانش بر همه آشکار است .
آقای بیور با استادی روحیه و طرز فکر افراد غیرنظامی برلن ، ورماخت ( ارتش آلمان ) ، اس اس و وافن اس اس را نشان می دهد که تا لحظه آخر اس اس ها به دنبال اجرای اوامر هیتلر بودند و کسانی را که از جنگ فرار می کردند را با خونسردی دار می زدنند . از نزدیکان هیتلر که معمولا به علت استعمال الکل زیاد هوش و هواس نداشتند و خود پیشوا هم در آستانه مرگ به نظر می رسید . اما هم چنان با وقاحت تمام خود را ملت آلمان تلقی می کرد و می گفت که زندگی مردم آلمان بعد از او هیچ ارزشی نخواهد داشت !
آقای بیور سری هم به اردوگاه دیکتاتور روسیه ، استالین می زند ، این که چگونه بین ژنرال های عالی رتبه خود ، ژوکوف ، چویکوف و کنیوف اختلاف و رقابت انداخته تا آنها را برای اشغال هر چه سریعتر برلن جری تر کند . این که چگونه جان سربازها و اصولا هر موجود زنده ای برای او و ژنرال هایش بی ارزش است و این که سربازان روسیه به خاطر کمبود ودکا ، مواد شیمیایی و صنعتی می نوشیدند ، با این که می دانستند بعد از نوشیدن آن فقط سه روز زنده خواهند ماند .
و تجاوز، تجاوز سربازان سرخ به زنان برلینی یا آلمانی ، این که با افتخار می گویند دو میلیون آلمانی بعد از سال 1945 پدری روس دارند و چگونه آلمان ها باید این داغ را تحمل می کردند . کتاب پر است از انبوه جزئیات که آقای بیوربه خواننده می دهد ، از لرزش دست چپ هیتلر گرفته تا لباس اوا براون ، از غارت برلن تا تجاوز . تمام این جزیئات در فیلم دیدنی سقوط از اولیور هرشبیگل با بازی برونو گانتس در نقش هیتلر مجنون به تصویر کشیده شده اند ، شخصیت نفرت انگیز و چاپلوس دکتر گوبلز ، ماگدا گوبلز همسر متوهم و متفرعن گوبلز و لحظه دهشتناکی که مادر شش فرزند خود را توسط سیانور می کشد ، این که چگونه روسها مانند غلطک جلو می آیند و هر شهری در دستان آنها کامل تخریب می شود ، این که هیتلر مجنون همه را به دفاع
فرا می خواند اما خود مثله بزدل ها خود کشی می کند ، همه این جزییات به طور کامل در کتاب آمده است .
کتاب یک شخصیت دوست داشتنی هم دارد ، واسیلی گروسمان به عنوان خبرنگار جنگی مسیر طولانی از استالینگراد تا برلین را آمده و مشاهدات خود را از سقوط برلین می گوید ،برای من خواندن نوشته های گروسمان در این کتاب مانند دیدن چهره آشنایی در جمع بود
و در پایان ، باز یک دیکتاتور احمق یک کشور و چند نسل از زندگی مردم خود را نابود می کند . از لحاظ هیتلر گویی تمام موجودات برای خدمت کردن به او آفریده شده اند وفقط اوست که همه چیز را میداند . پایان او هم نزدیک است : هیتلر خودکشی می کند و جنازه اش سوزانده می شود ، اما روسها فکهای او را پیدا می کنند و با خود به مسکو می برند تا داستان دیکتاتور با نابودی خود و ملت خود به پایان برسد .
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The story of the Fall of Berlin is one of terror and betrayal, destruction and bloodshed, rape and revenge, and is not one for the faint-hearted. Antony Beevor has examined every aspect of the events leading up to the cataclysmic destruction of Berlin in April 1945. The book is incredibly well-researched, and beautifully written, but is best for those who have already extensively studied the history of Germany in the Second World War, or those with a particular acute interest in warfare and battles - every manoeuvre, every push and retreat, is given space on this book's pages. Perfect for me, since I needed a day-by-day breakdown of the city's fall while writing my novel THE BEAST'S GARDEN!
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What a well-researched, well-written book! Despite it being quite lengthy, I read it only in four days because it was so compelling that I couldn’t put it down, and it’s not an easy feat for a historical source to be “compelling.” Another thing that I highly appreciate when it comes to my research sources is I like them to be written in an objective way. “The Fall of Berlin” passed this test with flying colors; Mr. Beevor clearly did his homework researching historical archival material from all sides of the conflict - German, Russian (or Soviet, should I say) as the main participants and the rest of the Axis and Allies archives. All of it created an unprejudiced, highly accurate narrative that doesn’t promote one side above the other but exposes all the pros and cons of each military mini-operation and each commander’s decision and lets the reader make their own conclusion. To me, it’s highly important.
Each chapter is very detailed and transports you right in the middle of the action, so to say - let it be Zhukov’s headquarters or Hitler’s bunker or a simple soldier’s trench near the Seelow Heights. Through witnesses’ accounts (regular soldiers, war correspondents, regular citizens, etc) Mr. Beevor truly makes one see the situation from each side: how the Berliners, crammed inside the air shelters, felt about the entire affair, how Wehrmacht soldiers began revolting against the SS and their Feldgendarmerie, how Soviet soldiers saw their opponents and regular civilians, and how their high commanders competed against each other in taking over the main “prize” - Berlin and the Reichstag.
The battle scenes are wonderfully written, and particularly the beginning of the offensive under the Seelow Heights with their searchlights and unparalleled artillery strike. As a granddaughter of an officer who fought right there, it actually gave me the chills to read about something that my grandfather told me about in his own words. I really can’t recommend this book highly enough! If you’re interested in WW2 history, this one is a must-read.
Each chapter is very detailed and transports you right in the middle of the action, so to say - let it be Zhukov’s headquarters or Hitler’s bunker or a simple soldier’s trench near the Seelow Heights. Through witnesses’ accounts (regular soldiers, war correspondents, regular citizens, etc) Mr. Beevor truly makes one see the situation from each side: how the Berliners, crammed inside the air shelters, felt about the entire affair, how Wehrmacht soldiers began revolting against the SS and their Feldgendarmerie, how Soviet soldiers saw their opponents and regular civilians, and how their high commanders competed against each other in taking over the main “prize” - Berlin and the Reichstag.
The battle scenes are wonderfully written, and particularly the beginning of the offensive under the Seelow Heights with their searchlights and unparalleled artillery strike. As a granddaughter of an officer who fought right there, it actually gave me the chills to read about something that my grandfather told me about in his own words. I really can’t recommend this book highly enough! If you’re interested in WW2 history, this one is a must-read.
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The scale of human suffering and loss of life is hard to comprehend, but I learned a lot from this book, maybe more than I actually wanted to know.
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What could I possibly say that I hadn't already alluded to within my previous updates. I read "Stalingrad" in the snow outside on purpose in January of 2009, I read Beevor's "D-Day" in April of 2010 and believe that Stephen Ambrose still holds my attention best on that topic, "Paris After the Liberation" I read in November of 2011 and here on 14 January, 2013 I completed "The Fall of Berlin 1945". I believe that "Stalingrad" was brilliant, but this work on "The Fall of Berlin 1945" was even more brilliant than the work I thought could not be topped.
We all know how the Second World War ends in both the ETO and PTO. However, what we often miss in the modern era are the real life difficulties that everyday people had to confront as their Fascist Government that could have ended the war earlier chose not to do so. In so keeping the battle lines had to be continuously re-drawn - the worst of course were for the many civilians of women, children, and the Volkstuurm comprised of older men who most had fought during the First World War.
This book is certainly not for the faint of heart or for good people that could become emotional when reading of the many attrocities to innocent people. I find the Germans of that particular time, those who managed to survive who questioned why their cities were bombed as they were, why the loss of life had to continue, and those that believed Germany should never have faced such an ending to the war are the same people of that time frame who failed to realize that it was them that coined the term "Blitzkrieg" and it was them who managed to do the same and worse forms of perpetration upon the Polish and the Russians.
Today as we know the Germany nation and that of Japan are among the most hard working and peace loving the world over - they are a far cry from their previous existence.
If you read "Stalingrad" and liked it - then you will find this book as I did even better.
We all know how the Second World War ends in both the ETO and PTO. However, what we often miss in the modern era are the real life difficulties that everyday people had to confront as their Fascist Government that could have ended the war earlier chose not to do so. In so keeping the battle lines had to be continuously re-drawn - the worst of course were for the many civilians of women, children, and the Volkstuurm comprised of older men who most had fought during the First World War.
This book is certainly not for the faint of heart or for good people that could become emotional when reading of the many attrocities to innocent people. I find the Germans of that particular time, those who managed to survive who questioned why their cities were bombed as they were, why the loss of life had to continue, and those that believed Germany should never have faced such an ending to the war are the same people of that time frame who failed to realize that it was them that coined the term "Blitzkrieg" and it was them who managed to do the same and worse forms of perpetration upon the Polish and the Russians.
Today as we know the Germany nation and that of Japan are among the most hard working and peace loving the world over - they are a far cry from their previous existence.
If you read "Stalingrad" and liked it - then you will find this book as I did even better.
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Its nearly ten years since I read this book - I thought it marvelous at the time - I thought it good enough to warrant rereading and when I hardback copy appeared in a local charity shop I grabbed it immediately.
I will reread it again and having done so may give a fuller review.
I will reread it again and having done so may give a fuller review.
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