Volker Ullrich's Eight Days in May: The Final Descent of the Third Reich

Marshall W Green: Very good book on German war and political aims as the war ended. Very good analysis of German attempts first to continue the war against Russia and then to try to avoid capture by the Russians of as many people as possible. The author is a very fine historian.

United States on Oct 25, 2023

Armando oliveira campos: Gostei de tudo.
Um livro digno de um grande escritor, rico em pesquisas e detalhes.
Adorei.

Brazil on Sep 27, 2023

James S. Mclean: Well researched and well-written. Honest reporting of the confusing, tumultuous times immediately after Germany's official surrender in WW II. Recommended.

Canada on Sep 12, 2023

JEDrury: Volker Ullrich's informative history shows that the World War 2 did not end with Hitler's suicide at the end of April, 1945 but continued for 8 eventful days until the two unconditional surrenders were signed in Reims and Berlin. Ullich proceeds day by day, using each day to describe Germany's decapitated governance under Admiral Doenitz and as a historical launch pad for his telling eye witness accounts of "finis Germaniae." The description of the arrest and incarceration of its leaders at a high end hotel in Luxembourg (Mondorf les Bains) is worthy of a play or movie, given the security arrangements and his suggestion of blame shifting and infighting among the repulsive Nazi leaders. His cameo of Ike rebuffing Doenitz by demanding unconditional surrender is superb. His epilogue is highly informative and a compelling end to a fine history. The book contains top quality photographs.

United States on Aug 25, 2023

Ian Parker: Excellent expose of the last days of the Third Reich

Canada on Mar 30, 2023

no name: Well researched and detailed history. Those wanting more of an overview may feel bogged down in all the information, as I was. But those looking for a thorough insightful rendering of the last days of the third reich will find this very useful

United States on Jan 18, 2023

Edimilson Mario: Como o próprio nome indica, este livro aborda os 8 dias finais da Alemanha nazista. Livro muito bem escrito, com uma narrativa dinâmica e cativante. O autor descreve com precisão a destruição do país imposta pela loucura nazista e é notável observar a velocidade de reconstrução do país no pós-guerra.

Brazil on Aug 28, 2022

Rogerio de Oliveira Souza: Comprei e li o livro. Muito atual. Vale a leitura. O livro é dividido em um prólogo, em capítulos para cada dia de 1 a 8 de maio e um fechamento. O autor é alemão e nos relata os fatos sob a perspectiva alemã, de quem estava lá, do outro lado da trincheira. Cada dia mostra uma experiência terrível, não apenas para os soldados (que a maioria dos livros enfoca), mas também para os civis que permaneciam nas linhas de frente. Temos a origem da expressão "cortina de ferro", utilizada por um general alemão em uma reunião para avaliar os termos da capitulação. A preocupação do Comando Alemão sempre foi retardar ao máximo o avanço russo pelo leste enquanto facilitava o avanço das forças russas, americanas e francesas pela frente ocidental. A ideia era salvar o maior número de soldados e de civis alemãs, fugindo do avanço dos russos. O que restou do Governo Alemão temia as represálias que o Exército Russo faria cair sobre os soldados e os civis que forem pegos em suas linhas de avanço. O autor faz um relato minucioso, tomando os depoimentos das testemunhas, dos arranjos feitos por Hitler para o próprio suicídio. E a força de Hitler, mesmo depois de morto,...

Brazil on Mar 06, 2022

Sotto voce: I picked up on this title from a WSJ book review.

First, this narrative is not for the unfamiliar or first-time reader of 3rd Reich history. Volker Ullrich's 'Eight Days in May' is best consumed within the greater studied context of 3rd Reich history and the peculiarities of the major players. Familiarity is essential to grasp the narrative.

This is the penultimate tragedy after Hitler exits. It's the climax of the War in Europe apocalypse. The crescendo of Götterdämmerung is squarely framed in these 8 days. The story is multi-dimensional by necessity to scale the extent of the catastrophe. 'Eight days' is translated from the German first edition. It becomes quite clear why only a German and a German perspective nearly 80 years removed could have written this history. History of course, is written by the victors.

Histories are resplendent in perspectives up to a few hours after Hitler's self-murder. Histories tend to fast forward to Nuremberg a year later to pick up an end. The story of these eight days of limbo tells of the events after Hitler's death and the arrest or suicide of war crimes perpetrating interim leadership. These 8 days have been a rather...

United States on Jan 22, 2022

Christian Schlect: A German historian looks back with a clear eye on the final chaotic days of World War II as experienced by the Germans. This fairly short book is mainly a social and political history, rather than a detailed military overview.

The author sometimes strays from the strict timetable of eight days in May and covers other events either before or after, for example, about many future East and West German political figures such as Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt, and Erich Honecker. He also goes afield when relating the somewhat interesting , but not too relevant tale, of the actress Marlene Dietrich and her Nazi-tainted sister.

Most American readers will appreciate the detailed factual descriptions of several underreported atrocities at war's end and, also, how the main Nazis, including Hitler, ended their nefarious careers either by the rope, suicide, or by quietly blending back into society.

(As an aside, this book is another useful reminder that, within a democratic society, loosely tossing terms around such as "Fascist" against those with whom you merely disagree with on policy matters is wildly inappropriate.)

United States on Oct 04, 2021