The Nazis: A Warning from History |
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Laurence Rees
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Pages: 400 (Paperback)
ISBN: 056349333X
Pub: BBC Books
Pub date: 2006-03-02
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 17226
Reader Reviews:
A must for anyone with interest in WW2 (0/0 people found this helpful)
I cannot agree with a previous reviewer who says the author is firing cheap shots with the benefit of hindsight.
Rees tries to explain the rationale behind people's actions but nevertheless at times is at a loss to understand the dreadful atrocities that were committed.
It is fascinating to see how the Nazi's rose to power and Rees gives a great insight into how easily this could happen in the prevailing circumstances.
The chapters on the Eastern Front are quite chilling and hearing what many of the Russian civilians went through (being attacked by their own people as well as the Germans) makes you realise how lucky we are to live in a peaceful time.
All in all, a fantastic read and although I have always been very interested in WW2, this book enlightened me on new facts considerably.
Fantastic book (18/18 people found this helpful)
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the Subject having watched the documentary that the book accompanies it has alot of information on the role that the Nazis played in the Second World War and it also shows the ideologies of Hitler and his men.
It is written in a such a way that it is accessible to anyone, whether you are a historian or just interested in the subject
excellent, well-worth reading (3/4 people found this helpful)
This is an excellent book in every respect. I thoroughly enjoyed it and learnt a great deal and I know others have too. We need more of this sort of thing!
An insightful read (5/6 people found this helpful)
I couldn't disagree more strongly with the previous reviewer. It's only by challenging the interviewees that Rees gains the insights this book is full of. The series this book is based on won a BAFTA - and that gives an idea of the quality of the research. I really enjoyed it.
A mediocre title in a crowded field (6/13 people found this helpful)
There are a lot of superb books about the Second World War - this isn't one of them although it is ok. It is partly redeamed by some stunning photographs throughout, some modern, some archive. The photograph on the cover is simply superb.
The text is factual and informative and presented in a reasonably interesting manner. Where this book really falls down though is in the interviews several of which are incuded in transcripted format. The tone adopted in the interviews is accusatory and he quickly annoys his subjects who then refuse to take any further part. This is a tragedy as he is denying history several important witnesses.
Throughout the book the author presents the facts and condems his subjects. This becomes very annoying as if the facts are presented clearly one can easily draw ones own conclusions. It is unnesersary to repeatedly describe the Nazis as monsters and murderers (however accuratly) if there deeds are documented properly.
It is easy to present the facts 50 years after the event and accuse people. It would be much harder to try to understand war torn Europe wear life and death come very cheap. It is a shame that the author has not chosen the latter route as it might have made more interesting reading.
Still - nice pictures.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> History -> General