What are the best books available - first person recollections about life in pre-war Germany and their experiences with living during the emergence of the National Socialist German Workers Party? I'm spending way too much money on books these days, and I would like recommendations for books that will help to portray life in Germany at that time, to help saving me from buying much of the crap that is out there. I am sure there are many.
What are the best books available - first person recollections about life in pre-war Germany and their experiences with living during the emergence of the National Socialist German Workers Party? You may want to try Johnson & Reuband's What We Knew: Terror, Mass Murder, and Everyday Life in Nazi Germany. Best, Alan
Certainly not a history book, but Thomas Mann's The Black Obelisk will tell you much about the atmosphere of the period you want.
Unfortunately not - sorry, I need to pay heed of the many nationalities on this forum. It's ok, I was just going to suggest you raid the German second-hand dealers online.
I am looking for recommendations, and I am trying to avoid buying crap. Unfortunately there is a lot of that out there, I have a bookshelf full of half read garbage purporting to be the definitive this or the definitive that! Once I know what is good, I am happy to go out at buy it. I live in a University City so there are some good bookshops, and always there is Amazon.
There are a couple of memoirs of German women translated into English one example is The Berlin Diaries 1940-45 by Marie Vissiltchikov The Berlin Diaries 1940-45: Amazon.co.uk: Marie Vassiltchikov: Books
Victor Klemperer's two diaries are the remarkable testament of a German of Jewish descent living in prewar and wartime Dresden. Best, Alan
I very much enjoyed 'Defying Hitler: A Memoir' by Sebastian Haffner. I think it is something like what you are looking for.
I very much enjoyed 'Defying Hitler: A Memoir' by Sebastian Haffner. I think it is something like what you are looking for. This is on Amazon.com for ten bucks and has good customer reviews. I may start with this one, thanks.
There are a couple of memoirs of German women translated into English one example is The Berlin Diaries 1940-45 by Marie Vissiltchikov The Berlin Diaries 1940-45: Amazon.co.uk: Marie Vassiltchikov: Books Amazon.com for $10 and highly rated....thanks Jedburgh. Are you from the town of Jedburgh? I drove through it many times, a very nice place indeed - seem to recall they started putting speed camera's there (up the 68/696) though - the route from Sunderland through to Edinburgh was fraught with penalty point dangers!
No not from Jedburgh - my main research interest is in the WWII Jedburgh Teams, I was born in a (now former) ship-building town on the Tyne called Hebburn but now split my time between Bloomsbury in London and Alnwick in Northumberland Steven
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A childrens book, but very good. The final one in the series I never finished reading as a child as the writing style shifted. Pretty depressing books in places but as they are semi-autobiographical the detail/emotions that come through in the writing are pretty strong. Only useful (for you) until they leave Germany for the UK.
'Trail Sinister' by Sefton Delmer is a good read on Germany between the wars. Delmer was the German correspondent of the 'Daily Express' newspaper and got to know several of the leading Nazis, especially Ernst Röhm. Delmer also accompanied Hitler on his last electioneering campaign, flying around Germany in a Ju.52. Lee
Again, another children's book but The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier is a good one, the story being based on a true story, the search by children from Warsaw searching for their parents, the father having escaped from Nazi prison and the mother having disappeared after being taken by the Nazis. I know its not about living in Germany as such, but still gives an interesting view point.
I recall the Silver Sword as a serial on BBC Children's TV in the late 50's or early 1960s According to Wikipedia it was made in 1957 at Lime Grove Studios
Any of Philip Kerr's "Bernie Gunther" series like "March Violets etc". Although written as fiction Kerr portrays the rise of nazi Germany from the perspective of a non-nazi private eye. But Kerr captures the feeling perfectly. The first three Gunther novels are available as a BIG book on amazon In the fact realm, Guy Walter's "Berlin Games" is an exceptionally well-researched tome on the 1936 Olympic Games and the nazi effort to hide the true regime from all the visitors . Can't recommend both highly enough
I would agree with Alieneyes on the Bernie Gunther series - he depicts the politics of the day to perfection as well as the duality in the NAZI system of government (ie the SS and SD as a state within a state)
