The classic account of the final offensive against Hitler's Third Reich.The Battle for Berlin was the culminating struggle of World War II in the European theater; the last offensive against Hitler's Third Reich; which devastated one of Europe's historic capitals and marked the final defeat of Nazi Germany. It was also one of the war's bloodiest and most pivotal battles; whose outcome would shape international politics for decades to come. The Last Battle is Cornelius Ryan's compelling account of this final battle; a story of brutal extremes; of stunning military triumph alongside the stark conditions that the civilians of Berlin experienced in the face of the Allied assault. As always; Ryan delves beneath the military and political forces that were dictating events to explore the more immediate imperatives of survival; where; as the author describes it; “to eat had become more important than to love; to burrow more dignified than to fight; to exist more militarily correct than to win.†The Last Battle is the story of ordinary people; both soldiers and civilians; caught up in the despair; frustration; and terror of defeat. It is history at its best; a masterful illumination of the effects of war on the lives of individuals; and one of the enduring works on World War II.
#215212 in Books Dawidoff; Nicholas 1995-05-30 1995-05-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.98 x .91 x 5.12l; 1.03 #File Name: 0679762892453 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. He Was a Most Peculiar ManBy Clifford D. ConnerAs a historian of science; I was drawn to this book because of a very interesting connection between the physicist Werner Heisenberg and Moe Berg; a major league baseball player. Casey Stengel called Moe Berg "the strangest man ever to play baseball;" and Casey was pretty strange himself. Moe Berg was a catcher for the Brooklyn Robins (which later became the Dodgers); the Chicago White Sox; and the Boston Red Sox; among other teams. But during World War II he became a high-level spy for the United States. The story goes that Berg was sent to Switzerland to make contact with Heisenberg and then to kill him! (The United States believed Heisenberg was the key to Hitler developing an atomic bomb.) Moe Berg attended an event at which Heisenberg appeared and afterward walked through quiet streets with him. Berg had a gun in his pocket that he intended to use to shoot Heisenberg. However; after talking to Heisenberg at length; he concluded that the Germans had no intention of trying to create an atomic bomb; so he decided not to kill him after all. If you want to learn more about this unique fellow; read this book.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Exceptionally well researched biographyBy PburtBefore I opened this book; I thought I knew who Moe Berg was; a major league catcher in 20's and 30's who had some role in the OSS. But that isn't even close to the enigma that Dawidoff introduced me to. Berg's incredible intelligence (including a photographic memory); his linguistic capabilities and his reading habits (compulsions?) gave him an opportunity to excell as a student (Princeton; 1923) who then went to law school while simultaneously playing professional baseball. As his athletic career was winding down; he joined the OSS and specialized in investigating Germany's attempts to obtain an atom bomb. This undisciplined loner was an ideal spy for the undisciplined OSS; even though it was that trait that ultimately doomed his career with the more beaurecratic CIA. But it is the last 25 years of Berg's life that is even more fascinating because he lived by his wits even though often seemingly penniless. Imagine someone who could and did converse with Babe Ruth; Wild Bill Donovan; Albert Einstein and Clifton Fadiman. I thank the author for his diigence in researching and writing this incisive work.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating biography of a most unusual manBy CustomerFascinating insight into the life of a most unusual man -- baseball player; spy; linguist; lawyer; raconteur and more. Dawidoff's research is impressive in its depth and scope; although there were times when I thought TMI! -- too much information. On the whole; the book is well written;engaging and most of all; revealing as it follows Berg's most unconventional life; from childhood in an immigrant Jewish family in Newark; NJ; to Princeton University; to professional baseball in the 1920's; 30's; and 40's; to the OSS during WW II; and finally to his post-war life as a wanderer living on the kindness of others. In the end; Dawidoff traces many of Berg's idiosyncrasies to a strained relationship with his father; who could never accept Berg's love of baseball and refused to see his son play. In sum; an excellent read.
