Condition: Very Good in Very Good Dustcover "The Battle for Berlin, the last offensive against Hitler's Third Reich began at 4 AM, Monday April 16, 1945, or A-Day, as it was called by the Western Allies. At that moment, less than thirty-eight miles east of te Capital, red flares burst in the night skies above the swollen river Oder, triggering a stupefying artillery barrage and the opening of the Russian assault on the city. At about the same time, elements of the US 9th Army were turning away from Berlin.what follows is the story of that last battle, the last st three weeks in which the city of Berlin, gutted, smoldering, terrorized, was the focal point of millions of lives; the last obstacle of triumphant allies; last defense for the Germans; the last refuge for the Fuhrer. Contains estraordinary suspense and drama of a sweeping record of what people saw, felt, and thought in those three climactic weeks. The Last Battle is still highly relevant and still a very fascinating read. Even in the light of more recent histories (notably Anthony Beevor's Berlin 1945 and Ian Kershaw's The End), this book still has much to offer. Ryan's focus is actually quite broad, covering the internal dilemmas of the Nazi leadership, the western Allies, and the Soviets, as well as the experiences of Berliners themselves. Much of the anecdotes and accounts are riveting and stunning glimpses into just how this last battle was fought. German commanders like Guderian and Heinrici were bluntly subordinate to Hitler's delusional commands during the final months. Eisenhower was cryptic about his own strategic plans, often frustrating his own generals like Montgomery and Bradley. Stalin manipulated his own marshals Zhukov and Konev to encourage the rapid fall of Berlin.\n\nThe civilians themselves offer a telling glimpse of the horrors experienced by the Berlin population. Many became desensitized to death in the final weeks as their own infants, their neighbors, and others died around them. The desperate fear of the Soviets is palpable and made real with the occupation of Red Army soldiers who rape, pillage, and plunder. The book is a great narrative history, using personal stories and experiences to tell the larger story. Even with more recent scholarship on the topic, this is still a necessary and pleasant read. Unlike the works of Beevor, Kershaw, Hastings, and others, this book is much more approachable for the average reader. Even with little familiarity of WWII or the fall of Berlin, this is a good read for anyone with an interest in the topic. Highly recommended.
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