About book Berlin Diary: The Journal Of A Foreign Correspondent 1934-41 (2002)
This large volume is the day to day account of William Shirer, an American news correspondent sent to Berlin Germany by the International News service to provide up to date news from a Europe that seemed headed for destruction. In this contemporaneous record, Shirer recorded the facts and his impressions of events as accurately as he could manage. Some of his notes were lost and some he burned, concerned that they would fall into the hands of the Gestapo. Some details he dared not write at the time and so recorded them at a later date. However he was able to smuggle out most of his notes and he has been able to keep records of all his broadcasts. So from the beginning he does say that some of what he has written was recorded after the fact, although the majority of the work was recorded at the time it occurred.He began his diary in the late 1930s, just after a vacation with his wife Tess in Spain. As Shirer arrived in Berlin, he was met by the secret police and found a very different Germany than the carefree one he knew in the past. He was struck by the constant clicking of boot heels and the ring of “Heil Hitler”s, as the brown shirted storm troopers or SS guards marched in the street. He also heard rumours of Jews being tortured. At this point, Hitler had already appointed himself President and Chancellor of Germany and had the army swear an oath of unconditional allegiance to him.So begins this incredible detailed account of the years up to December of 1940 before the Japanese bombs hit Pearl Harbour when Shirer lived in this cauldron of activity as Europe slipped steadily towards destruction. Although we know through written history the events as they unfolded, the advantage here is that we have the account of a trained observer who was actually on the ground in Berlin, attended Nazi rallies and party meetings, met with German officers of the High Command and talked to people and soldiers in the street, cafes, restaurants and on the battlefield. He was privileged to attend some events the German people did not know about or to which they were denied access and the fact that the United States was not in the war when it came, allowed Shirer access to some of the inner workings of the German government. From this unique viewpoint, Shirer describes Hitler’s actions as he proceeded brutally with clear goals: to rearm and unify Germany, to annex its neighbours and to make the Third Reich the master of the continent with its conquered and unhappy peoples as German slaves. Shirer thus provides an interesting glimpse into the psych of both the German leadership and the German people.He describes Hitler as he spoke, a great actor who used his hands to accentuate his speech, sputtering, spitting and hysterically calling out to the people who watched him in apt amazement as if he was a Messiah, their faces transformed into something positively inhuman. At times, Hitler seemed moody and sullen and at other times he was wide eyed as he yelled and screamed. Sometimes, he seemed to completely lose control of himself and collapsed in his chair after his long speeches. Shirer shares with us the grand pageantry of the settings where masses of German flags flew everywhere, bands played and factories and stores were closed so the people could attend the military parades and rallies. Every word from Hitler was received and accepted by the people as truth itself and every German’s ability to think clearly and critically seemed completely swept away in this madness. Shirer is amazed at their tendency to completely “cow tow” to authority and says you actually had to have been there to understand Hitler’s hold on his people, to feel the dynamic in the movement he unleashedAs Hitler openly flaunted the Versailles Treaty, country after country fell to him. The Germans liked the way Hitler thumbed his nose at a Treaty they resented and welcomed the rebirth of a conscripted army. In the surrounding neutral countries, many an individual remembered the last World War, and no one wanted to fight or have that hell repeated so they did whatever they could to avoid it. Some countries did not resist Hitler at all and simply submitted to his every wish as he continued to steamroll his way through Europe, gathering countries like a small boy collecting marbles in a large brown sack. Country after country capitulated, trying to save themselves from destruction, but despite their efforts many areas and towns were destroyed even after they surrendered. Not one country was ready to try and stop him. They wanted peace at any price.Hitler had complete control of communications so the German people did not hear anything he did not want them to hear. The truth, when and if it was given out, was not only twisted but outright lies were published. He shared little with them, and much that was shared was only done after the fact. He forbade the publication of casualty lists and relatives were forbidden to put death notices in the newspapers if their relative was killed in the war. The wounded were often unloaded from trains at night so the public would not see the numbers. Prison sentences were meted out to any German trying to get the real news by listening to a foreign news broadcast. The ongoing theme in all Hitler’s communication was that he was justified in doing whatever he was doing and that he was a man of peace, never the aggressor. He declared that he had made Germany a proud nation, able to stand erect among nations as a sovereign state and free to negotiate and work with other nations to organize for peace. Meanwhile Germany grew stronger than anyone realized and continued its concentrated effort to build and maintain a massive military machine to back up its aggressive spirit. The German people saw that their country was going places and were happy because they felt if Germany was going places, they would go too. They were confident that the honour of their nation was being restored and peace was assured. Meanwhile Hitler ramped up for more war, choosing to share only his victories. He ran a strict enterprise and never forgave anyone who crossed him. He simply had his enemies shot or they “disappeared” in some action. Anyone could be executed for perceived “acts of treason” or “aggression” at any time or any where. Shirer shares his dismay at how the news that he and his colleagues send out is received by the outside world. At the beginning, much of what they wrote was not printed and they were concerned about the error America was making in being too optimistic about events in Europe. The correspondents were incredulous at the bumbling and naïve diplomatic attempts by other countries and their baffled and bemused concern about where Hitler would turn next. After the fall of France, they became even more disillusioned as everyone in the “outside world” seemed oblivious to the horrible events they tried to share with the world. No one seemed to realize the evil the world would soon be facing. Shirer details many atrocities: executions that are announced only after they have been carried out; the “disposal” of the mentally ill considered unfit because they depleted resources; the unbelievable devastation heaped on the conquered countries; the wandering hordes of starving refugees and the treatment of the Jews who were rounded up in ghettos or sent to other eastern countries to die. At this time Shirer knew that Jewish shops and homes had been plundered and heard reports of Jews publically committing suicide, but he was unaware of the Holocaust. He was also unaware of Kristallnacht, the “Night of Broken Glass” in November of 1938 when Nazi thugs ravaged Jewish businesses, homes and synagogues. In addition to his new anti-aircraft machinery, armaments and guns, Shirer shares Hitler's new approaches to war: how the military used camouflage to hide airplane hangars, planes and airfields that could not be seen from the air; parachutists who were dropped surreptitiously behind enemy lines; the misuse of Red Cross vehicles whose trucks were commandeered to transport personnel, armaments, oil and gasoline and the new enforced camaraderie that existed between the soldiers and their officers who now fraternized easily discarding the recognition of a superior rank.As Hitler’s crusades continue through the months and years, Shirer begins to sense the reluctance of some of the German generals who appear apprehensive about a future under such a fanatical leader. He also hears some of the German soldiers are getting sick of the unnecessary destruction and the killing of women and children. Shirer records the disbelief of the German people after Berlin was attacked by air and identifies that as the time when they really began to question whether Hitler had been feeding them lies.This memoir also covers the author's partnership with CBS’s Edward R Murrow after Shirer was dropped by INS. The challenges of broadcasting in wartime with strict Nazi censorship, the trials and tribulations of providing communication with transmitters, cable lines and what we would now consider primitive technology, is all told in great detail. He also shares with us the revolutionary way they began to broadcast in a forum they called “The European Roundup”, a 30 minute broadcast featuring live reporting from the field coming from five European capitals. This established a formula that is still used in broadcast journalism today. As Britain entered the war, censorship became tighter and Shirer was unable to communicate anything that was not in an official German statement. He sparred with and tried to outwit the censors but they eventually caught on to some of the nuances in his reporting and refused to let him broadcast any content that talked about the progress of the war or to include comments that were detrimental to the Germans. Reduced to simply rebroadcasting official German communiques, he felt he could not accurately do his job, and so he prepared to leave and return home. His absolute relief at getting free of all the madness is almost palpable in his writing. Shirer used this as one of the source documents for his well known book, “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”. At the conclusion of this volume, which ends just before America enters the war, Shirer’s shares his thoughts on how and why all these events occurred. He identifies the key men around Hitler, how they got to be in power and their relationships with each other. His details on the hostile relationship between Goering and Goebbels is interesting. This narrative has some interesting parallels to our present world. Hitler always maintained that he invaded countries to protect them. Do world countries continue that practice today? It is something to be thoughtfully examined.Agreed, this is a grim narrative detailing Nazi sadism, persecution, regimentation, terror, brutality and militarism. It is riveting account of a psychopath whose own people thought he was infallible and who the world grossly underestimated. Let it be a lesson to us all.An interesting, thought provoking and often difficult read.
I’ve done some reading up on World War II, but have never really spent much time studying the years leading up to the great war. After reading Shirer’s account, it seems unbelievable to me that Hitler got so far. In Berlin Diary you can see that it was painfully clear to Shirer what Germany was doing, and what it was all leading up to, and, in what Shirer describes as a “comedy of non-intervention”, the whole world just stood by and let it happen.Shirer’s frustration shows as he reports on the increasing tensions in Germany, and all over Europe. Even as Germany begins to act in direct violation to the Treaty of Versailles, and send troops into the Rhineland, a neutral territory between Germany and France, Great Britain and France still don’t act. Shirer laments, ”Has my perception become altered after two years in this hysterical Nazi-land?”In all fairness, I am looking at the whole thing with the perfect clarity of hindsight. Shirer does talk about the way the Nazi party suppressed the information coming into, and going out of, Germany. And they were very good at controlling information, as also documented by Shirer. While it was perfectly clear to Shirer and his associates on the scene, his correspondents in other places seemed ignorant of what was happening and incredulous when he tried to tell them.At any rate, this eye-witness account of the major events leading up to World War II is a fascinating read and a must for history buffs. As an interesting side note, Shirer mentions that he saw the Hindenburg zeppelin flying over Berlin, dropping propaganda leaflets over the city. Some time after that the Hindenburg crashed on the tail end of its voyage from Frankfurt to New Jersey, on May 6, 1937. After the disaster, Shirer notes with some wonder that he had been invited to take the trip but wasn’t able to get away from his work. Days later, the same officials called him up to invite his wife, but for reasons he didn’t fully understand, Shirer declined on her behalf without even mentioning it to her.Tom Weiner is not my favorite narrator, he reads without much emotion. However, for a memoir such as Berlin Diary, that style of reading kind of fits. It is basically a piece of journalistic reporting and any embellishment would not really be appropriate.Steven Brandt @ Audiobook-Heaven
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This was one of the most fascinating books that I have ever read, which was totally unexpected. I have a slightly more than passing interest in the World War II time period, probably because of the sheer boredom I experienced in high school history. Imagine the wrong-headedness of forcing 16-year-old numbskulls to memorize battle dates and where the Beer Hall Putsch occurred. Of course I hated World War II history! That being said, as an adult I have tried to wrap my head around how the German people allowed this all to happen in their nation. I'm of German descent...I'm a branch off the same tree....How? How?Reading this gives a bit of insight into this. Of course in the post-WWI world, many Germans eagerly embraced Hitler and his party, but things quickly spun out of control. Rationing in Germany began in 1939, not just food, but clothing, gas, coal. Battle casualties were unloaded in the middle of the night, so civilians wouldn't see them. When soldiers were killed in battle, their families were not permitted to publish death notices. All of the newspapers were transformed into propaganda devices. This book is full of information like this, with a constant thread of the author's frustration at the Allies' (mis)steps.Lastly, read this book for nuggets like this: "To record a few of the jokes which the Germans are telling these days: The chief of the Air-Raid Protection in Berlin recently advised the people to go to bed early and try to snatch two or three hours of sleep before the bombings start. Some take the advice, most do not. The Berliners say that those who take the advice arrive in the cellar after an alarm and greet their neighbors with a "Good Morning." This means they have been to sleep. Others arrive and say: "Good evening!" This means they haven't yet been to sleep. A few arrive and say "Heil, Hitler!" This means they have always been asleep." Heartily recommended. I entreat you, anonymous reader, to read this book.
—Lisasuej
As a European correspondent(first for a wire service, and later for CBS) stationed in Berlin from 34-40, Shirer was uniquely placed to comment on every major event of the early stages of WWII as they unfolded. Luckily for us, he kept a diary. In addition to reporting on war news he also provides keen insights into the psyche of both the Nazi leadership, and the regular German citizen.Reading this book felt a little like watching WWII on CNN with Breaking News every other page. this book had a much more intimate and visceral feel than Shirer's best known work, Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.
—Mahlon
What an interesting life William Shirer must have lived. He was right in the thick of things when Hitler was developing his war machine and planning the total domination of Europe. Shirer had access to many of the top Nazi officials and got to know some of them quite well.This book covers the period from 1934 until the end of 1940. Since America was not yet in the war Shirer, as an American reporter, was given significant access to the inner workings of the German government. Shirer had to be totally impartial when reporting on the war and all of his reporting had to be approved by Nazi censors. Shirer took significant risk in keeping a personal diary as to what was really going on compared to what the German propaganda machine was reporting. This is the best book on the prelude to America entering the War that I have ever read.Along with the story of the Nazi's, it was quite interesting to read about Shirer's personal life and trials during this time. He had married an Austrian girl and had a daughter during this time. Keeping both of them save and eventually getting them to America was a challenge. Shirer was hired by Edwin R Morrow for CBS and the two of them developed a strong friendship. The friendship between Shirer and Murrow ended in 1947, culminating in Shirer's leaving CBS in one of the great confrontations of American broadcast journalism. This part of Shirer's life is not covered in the book and it is still unclear as to what actually caused the split. I would think that a book on this part of Shirer's life would make for a great book.In reading about Shirer I always questioned how a marriage could survive his work schedule, constant travel and exposure to some of the most beautiful and powerful women in the world. Alas , it couldn't and in 1970 Shirer divorced his wife and remarried. Shirer died in Boston in 1993 at the age of 89
—Gerry Claes
