When Hitler rose to power in the late 1930s, few Americans understood the severity and full implications. One American war correspondent, however, did understand. His name was William L. Shirer.
Arguably one of America's most well-known journalists, Shirer was hired by CBS to cover World War II in Europe, where he was stationed in Berlin, the heart of the Nazis' Third Reich. As the situation in Germany deteriorated, Shirer aired broadcast after broadcast to Americans back home, warning them of the impending catastrophe that would unfold over the next several years with a sense of urgency unmatched by other media outlets at the time.
In 1941, Shirer published his diary entries from the years of the Nazi Party's ascent, before he was forced to flee Berlin. Berlin Diary would become the first of many of his accounts on what exactly happened on the frontlines in Europe before and during a war that many Americans, by nature of geography, were relatively removed from. His comprehensive history, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, was an international bestseller and has become one of the definitive works on WWII history.
For those who have yet to encounter this lauded war correspondent's work or those who already admire him, here are ten of the best books by William L. Shirer.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
One of Shirer's most renowned works, this National Book Award winner was deemed “one of the most important works of history of our time” by The New York Times.
In this exhaustive, one-of-a-kind account of Nazi Germany's rapid rise and demise, Shirer draws from the diaries, memos, and letters of party members, including the notorious Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda, to paint a vivid picture of one of the darkest periods in human history.
The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler
The Rise and Fall of Adolf Hitler takes the unmatched perspective and knowledge Shirer supplied in The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and narrows the lens to the man at the center of it all. Though commissioned for a young adult audience, this book is by no means over-simplified, offering elucidating insight into Hitler's rise from obscurity into infamy that readers of any age will appreciate.
The account draws upon Shirer's first-hand experience interviewing Hitler, watching his fervent speeches, and living in Nazi Germany, once again proving that when it comes to the politics of WWII, few people offer insight as powerful as Shirer's.
The Collapse of the Third Republic
Though Shirer's most notable work primarily focuses on the observation of Nazi Germany's rise and fall, he also spent part of his tenure as a WWII reporter in France. From there, he was able to witness the invasion and conquest of one of Europe's largest military powers, and the subsequent regime of terror and paranoia that ensued.
Drawing upon conversations with the leaders, diplomats, generals, and ordinary citizens who shaped and were shaped by the occupation, Shirer paints a vivid portrait of life in Nazi-occupied France, as well as the people who fought for its liberation.
"This Is Berlin"
Experience WWII like never before with this compilation of two and a half years' worth of Shirer's broadcasts from Nazi Germany. Witness firsthand the moment when Nazi forces invaded and annexed Austria, or when France and Germany reached an armistice in June of 1940.
Reporting via radio from all over Europe, Shirer brought the war to Americans with a greater sense of urgency than newspapers could convey. In This Is Berlin, modern readers, too, can experience that urgency.
Berlin Diary
As a reporter, Shirer witnessed firsthand Hitler's rise to and consolidation of power in the late 1930s. Before he was forced to leave Berlin in 1940, he kept a detailed daily diary of what he saw unfolding around him, from the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia to the invasion of Poland and France.
Berlin Diary reads like a memoir with all the raw historical detail of a primary source. The book was an instant success upon its publication in 1941, and it is still a fantastic resource for anyone looking for a new way to learn about both Shirer and early Nazi Germany.
End of a Berlin Diary
After he was forced to flee an increasingly volatile Berlin in 1941, Shirer returned to the European front in 1944 to cover the war's end. End of a Berlin Diary is Shirer's account of his time in Europe as the war drew to a close, documenting such momentous events as the Nuremberg trials through the eyes of the person who witnessed the convicted rise to power. This year-long account of Germany after Hitler is as illuminating as it is compelling.
The Start, 1904–1930
The first installation of a three-volume autobiographical series by Shirer, The Start introduces readers to the man behind some of the most astute and vivid commentary to come out of WWII. Shirer gives readers a glimpse into his early life: growing up in Cedar Rapids, serving as a new reporter in Paris, and befriending such notable names as Isadora Duncan, Ernest Hemingway, and Sinclair Lewis.
The Start is not only a heartfelt memoir of Shirer's early life, but a testament of existence in a world where WWII had not yet happened, making the subesquent books in this series all the more poignant.
The Nightmare Years, 1930–1940
In the second book of this series, Shirer does not feign objectivity in his account of WWII's onset as he witnessed it. With all the factual accuracy and attention to detail of a good journalist, Shirer nevertheless takes us on a personal journey through his time in Berlin and war-torn Europe. For those who ask themselves how someone like Hitler could rise to power, this account offers a poignant answer.
A Native's Return, 1945–1988
Perhaps his most personal work, A Native's Return, the third in a three-volume series, begins with Shirer as he returns to Berlin after the dust of war has settled. From there, Shirer takes us through his shocking departure from CBS News, his tumultuous marriage, his final visit to Paris in the 1980s, and more. It is a moving account of the final years of one of the greatest journalists to come out of the war, and a testament to what he sacrificed to do so as the world moves on.
The Sinking of the Bismarck
In this action-packed true account that reads like fiction, Shirer takes readers out of the heart of the Third Reich and into the waters where it waged its wars. The infamous Bismarck warship earned its fearsome reputation for a reason. Its guns were significantly stronger and more accurate than any others in its day, and it could sink Allied ships without even getting in range of their fire.
The Sinking of the Bismarck is the epic account of the Allied ship that sought to change that. With the weight of the world on their shoulders, Allied forces pursued the Bismarck across the treacherous North Atlantic, culminating in a thrilling sea battle that changed the course of WWII forever.
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