Hitler's boasts of The Third Reich enduring for a millennium were ultimately proven wrong, as it lasted merely a span of 12 years. However, within these 12 years unfolded some of the most disastrous events that Western civilization has ever witnessed.
No other dominant empire has left behind such extensive documentation about its inception and downfall as the Third Reich. Following the conclusion of the devastating war, and prior to the Nazis' attempt to obliterate their records, the Allied demand for unconditional surrender led to the compilation of an almost meticulous, hour-by-hour account of the nightmarish empire constructed by Adolf Hitler. This comprehensive archive encompassed the testimonies of Nazi leaders and concentration camp survivors, official diaries, clandestine conference transcripts, military directives, personal letters—a vast array of paperwork that illuminated the intricate mechanisms driving Hitler's quest for global domination.
William L. Shirer, the renowned foreign correspondent and historian, had been observing and reporting on the Nazis since 1925. Over a period of five and a half years, he meticulously analyzed this extensive trove of documentation. The outcome is an extensive study that has been widely praised as the authoritative chronicle of one of the most alarming epochs in human history.
This globally celebrated bestseller has gained recognition as the quintessential account of Nazi Germany, standing as a timeless work. The narrative delves into astonishing aspects such as the United States' involvement and Hitler's strategic use of Mussolini and Japan. Moreover, the book's coverage of the war, beginning with Germany's initial triumphs and culminating in its eventual defeat, is indispensable reading.
