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Review
A remarkable feat of historical scholarship and intelligent analysis (Jonathan Sumption Spectator )
Masterly ... Kershaw's gripping and boldly intelligent work of scholarship ... will surely become the standard popularly accessible account of the Nazi system's terrible final phase (Financial Times )
Gripping yet scholarly ... the best attempt by far to answer the complex question of why Nazi Germany carried on fighting to total self-destruction. Kershaw, the author of the best biography of Hitler, is the finest sort of academic, for he combines impeccable scholarship with an admirable clarity of thought and prose (Antony Beevor Telegraph )
Brilliant ... nuanced and sophisticated ... undoubtedly a masterpiece (Mail on Sunday )
Well-written, penetrating ... and ground-breaking (Andrew Roberts Evening Standard )
Magisterial ... distinguished (Daily Mail, Book of the Week )
Kershaw is a sure-footed guide through the Hades of the final dark months of the war in Europe ... his is a thoughtful and thought-provoking account, which admirably combines analysis, historiography and commentary within a very readable narrative (Independent on Sunday )
No one is better qualified to tell this grim story than Kershaw ... A master of both the vast scholarly literature on Nazism and the extraordinary range of its published and unpublished record, Kershaw combines vivid accounts of particular human experiences with wise reflections on big interpretive and moral issues ... No one has written a better account of the human dimensions of Nazi Germany's end (New York Times Book Review )
A compelling account of the bloody and deluded last days of the Third Reich ... this is far from being of mere academic interest ... The greatest strength of Kershaw's narrative is that he gives us much more than the view from the top ... Interwoven are insights into German life and death at all levels of society (The Times )
Kershaw says that his book is not a military history. Nevertheless he offers an admirably clear, coherent discussion of the military situation and insightful portraits of the leading figures in the German armed forces ... The End is sober, judicious, clearly written and superbly well researched - a definitive history of the last months of the Third Reich (Richard Bessel History Today )
Kershaw ... understands as well as any man alive the complex power structure that existed in Nazi Germany ... gripping ... arguably the most convincing portrait of Germany's Götterdämmerung we have seen so far (Wall Street Journal )
Britain's most feted and prolific historian of the Third Reich (Sunday Times )
Author of a magisterial biography of Hitler, [Kershaw] is among the foremost western scholars of Nazi Germany. Although this book pursues a narrative of events between June 1944 and May 1945, its real business is to explore the psychology of the German people (Max Hastings Sunday Times )
An insightful study of how the Führer held his grip over the German people for so long (Telegraph )
Comprehensive ... it generates real power (Observer )
Masterly ... Kershaw's gripping and boldly intelligent work of scholarship ... will surely become the standard popularly accessible account of the Nazi system's terrible final phase (Financial Times )
Gripping yet scholarly ... the best attempt by far to answer the complex question of why Nazi Germany carried on fighting to total self-destruction. Kershaw, the author of the best biography of Hitler, is the finest sort of academic, for he combines impeccable scholarship with an admirable clarity of thought and prose (Antony Beevor Telegraph )
Brilliant ... nuanced and sophisticated ... undoubtedly a masterpiece (Mail on Sunday )
Well-written, penetrating ... and ground-breaking (Andrew Roberts Evening Standard )
Magisterial ... distinguished (Daily Mail, Book of the Week )
Kershaw is a sure-footed guide through the Hades of the final dark months of the war in Europe ... his is a thoughtful and thought-provoking account, which admirably combines analysis, historiography and commentary within a very readable narrative (Independent on Sunday )
No one is better qualified to tell this grim story than Kershaw ... A master of both the vast scholarly literature on Nazism and the extraordinary range of its published and unpublished record, Kershaw combines vivid accounts of particular human experiences with wise reflections on big interpretive and moral issues ... No one has written a better account of the human dimensions of Nazi Germany's end (New York Times Book Review )
A compelling account of the bloody and deluded last days of the Third Reich ... this is far from being of mere academic interest ... The greatest strength of Kershaw's narrative is that he gives us much more than the view from the top ... Interwoven are insights into German life and death at all levels of society (The Times )
Kershaw says that his book is not a military history. Nevertheless he offers an admirably clear, coherent discussion of the military situation and insightful portraits of the leading figures in the German armed forces ... The End is sober, judicious, clearly written and superbly well researched - a definitive history of the last months of the Third Reich (Richard Bessel History Today )
Kershaw ... understands as well as any man alive the complex power structure that existed in Nazi Germany ... gripping ... arguably the most convincing portrait of Germany's Götterdämmerung we have seen so far (Wall Street Journal )
Britain's most feted and prolific historian of the Third Reich (Sunday Times )
Author of a magisterial biography of Hitler, [Kershaw] is among the foremost western scholars of Nazi Germany. Although this book pursues a narrative of events between June 1944 and May 1945, its real business is to explore the psychology of the German people (Max Hastings Sunday Times )
An insightful study of how the Führer held his grip over the German people for so long (Telegraph )
Comprehensive ... it generates real power (Observer )
Product Description
SUNDAY TIMES, TLS, SPECTATOR, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, DAILY MAIL and SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY BOOKS OF THE YEAR
The last months of the Second World War were a nightmarish time to be alive. Unimaginable levels of violence destroyed entire cities. Millions died or were dispossessed. By all kinds of criteria it was the end: the end of the Third Reich and its terrible empire but also, increasingly, it seemed to be the end of European civilization itself.
In his gripping, revelatory new book Ian Kershaw describes these final months, from the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler in July 1944 to the German surrender in May 1945. The major question that Kershaw attempts to answer is: what made Germany keep on fighting? In almost every major war there has come a point where defeat has loomed for one side and its rulers have cut a deal with the victors, if only in an attempt to save their own skins. In Hitler's Germany, nothing of this kind happened: in the end the regime had to be stamped out town by town with a level of brutality almost without precedent.
Both a highly original piece of research and a gripping narrative, The End makes vivid an era which still deeply scars Europe. It raises the most profound questions about the nature of the Second World War, about the Third Reich and about how ordinary people behave in extreme circumstances.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have read much of Ian Kershaw,s previous work- he is always good - but some parts of his earlier books can be ,in my opinion, a little dry.
However, in this book Kershaw hits top form.The book is a page-turner- none of it can be skimmed.
Kershaw covers the last 10 months of the war and tries to answer the question -why did the Germans fight to the very end when the outcome was so obvious?
The answer seems to be the evil, demonic charisma of Adolf Hitler himself ,butressed by Goebbels propaganda(which kept the charismatic image of Hitler alive long after Hitler himself was a broken man -with no charisma left), and a fear of the Russians advancing from the East.
The book does not just cover high strategy but also gives revealing little glimpses of Hitler worrying about calling up postmen as he wants to keep an air of normality by maintaining postal deliveries or refusing to cut production of sweets and beer to keep up morale.We also see Hitler refusing Goebbels permission to shut down magazines ,which the Fuhrer liked.
There is also the chilling tale of the Nazi Mayor of Ansbach , in the very last days of the war having a student summarily executed for trying to persuade the town to surrender.Then ,when American tanks appeat outside the town ,4 hours later- the mayor steals a bicycle and flees.
The narrative of this book is gripping and the analysis is first rate-a masterpiece- highly recommended.!
However, in this book Kershaw hits top form.The book is a page-turner- none of it can be skimmed.
Kershaw covers the last 10 months of the war and tries to answer the question -why did the Germans fight to the very end when the outcome was so obvious?
The answer seems to be the evil, demonic charisma of Adolf Hitler himself ,butressed by Goebbels propaganda(which kept the charismatic image of Hitler alive long after Hitler himself was a broken man -with no charisma left), and a fear of the Russians advancing from the East.
The book does not just cover high strategy but also gives revealing little glimpses of Hitler worrying about calling up postmen as he wants to keep an air of normality by maintaining postal deliveries or refusing to cut production of sweets and beer to keep up morale.We also see Hitler refusing Goebbels permission to shut down magazines ,which the Fuhrer liked.
There is also the chilling tale of the Nazi Mayor of Ansbach , in the very last days of the war having a student summarily executed for trying to persuade the town to surrender.Then ,when American tanks appeat outside the town ,4 hours later- the mayor steals a bicycle and flees.
The narrative of this book is gripping and the analysis is first rate-a masterpiece- highly recommended.!
62 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There are countless books on the final months of Third Reich, but this isn't quite like any other that I've read on the subject (and I possess upwards of 300...).
The End is not narrative history - if you're after a Beevor or Hastings approach to the final ten months of the Nazi regime, look elsewhere. The End is a serious study of why Germany fought to the end - and the consequences for the nation in doing so, based on a lot of heavy research: there are pages and pages of references and source notes - the author's spent a lot of time in archives scattered around Germany.
The End focuses almost exclusively on what happened within the ever-diminishing domain of the Third Reich, as seen through the eyes of ordinary Germans and high ranking politicians and generals. There's an insightful look at Albert Speer's rather schizophrenic actions in 1944-45 and Sir Ian is critical of the Officer Corps for repeatedly failing to stand up to Hitler to bring the war to an end.
The End closes with Germany's surrender - unlike some recent studies of the country's fall which go on to look at the first few months of Germany under Allied rule. If you read this book alongside Bessel Germany 1945: From War to Peace and Noble Nazi Rule and the Soviet Offensive in Eastern Germany, 1944-1945: The Darkest Hour then you'll have as complete an overview of the demise of the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath as you could ask for.
The End is not narrative history - if you're after a Beevor or Hastings approach to the final ten months of the Nazi regime, look elsewhere. The End is a serious study of why Germany fought to the end - and the consequences for the nation in doing so, based on a lot of heavy research: there are pages and pages of references and source notes - the author's spent a lot of time in archives scattered around Germany.
The End focuses almost exclusively on what happened within the ever-diminishing domain of the Third Reich, as seen through the eyes of ordinary Germans and high ranking politicians and generals. There's an insightful look at Albert Speer's rather schizophrenic actions in 1944-45 and Sir Ian is critical of the Officer Corps for repeatedly failing to stand up to Hitler to bring the war to an end.
The End closes with Germany's surrender - unlike some recent studies of the country's fall which go on to look at the first few months of Germany under Allied rule. If you read this book alongside Bessel Germany 1945: From War to Peace and Noble Nazi Rule and the Soviet Offensive in Eastern Germany, 1944-1945: The Darkest Hour then you'll have as complete an overview of the demise of the Third Reich and the immediate aftermath as you could ask for.
43 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This excellent book looks not only at the end of the war, but why the war dragged on so long when it was obvious to everybody but the most deluded that Germany had lost. Why did Germany refuse to contemplate capitulation before May 1945? Ian Kershaw points out that their refusal to do so was self-destructive, as a country defeated in war almost always seeks terms at some point. Yet, Germany fought to the last, ending in almost total devastation and complete enemy occupation.
The book begins with von Stauffenberg's failed attempt on Hitler's life. Hitler's charisma had weakened, but his popularity was revived by the attempt on his life. The failed uprising brought changes which ended up lengthening the war. Hitler's paranoia reached new depths and he explained any military failure on "cowards" trying to find a political way to escape. The uprising led to the power quadrumvirate of Speer, Goebbels, Himmler and Bormann. All those in high positions of power were aware that their fates were linked to that of Hitler. Hitler himself had said long before that the war would end with victory or his suicide, and he felt the German people had failed in some way and were not worth saving. Although Hitler's popularity never entirely died - perhaps the people felt they had invested too much in him - much of the population were war weary and saw defeat as the only outcome.
As the Ardennes - the last great German offensive - failed by Christmas 1944, it was almost all over. Yet, despite teetering, the regime survived. Kershaw looks at the way the leaders allowed the war effort to stagger on and how they strived to ensure there was no slackening of the war effort. The Nazi elite gave no hint that the war was unwinnable, maintaining a complete grip on the population, despite the devastating bombing raids and fear of falling into the hands of the Red Army. Using letters from soldiers and giving a great insight into the bizarre way government kept on issuing directives (ordering replacement fire buckets with the enemy virtually at the door) despite pleas from the struggling postal service for only urgent letters to be sent. Time and again, when everything seemed to be all over, Speer managed to find a way to make more armaments, Goebbels to raise workers to dig fortifications and the war machine found a way to fight on a little longer.
When Hitler committed suicide, many people did not even hear for days. Germany was in chaos, with many having no access to radio or newspapers. There was an epidemic of suicides as the war came, literally, to the civilian populations doorstep. However, the war still carried on, until Keitel finally signed the capitulation. Even after the capitulation, the Donitz administration was allowed to continue for a further fifteen days. It was as though the surreal regime was unable to end. In the ten months between July 1944 and May 1945 more civilians died than in all the previous years of the war. If only the attempt to kill Hitler and end the war had been successful, so many people would have been saved. Yet, to the bitter end, the Nazi war machine ground on - the concentration camps speeded up their killing, civilians suffered and soldiers on all sides died. This book helps explain the how and why those terrible events dragged on and is a riveting and compelling read.
The book begins with von Stauffenberg's failed attempt on Hitler's life. Hitler's charisma had weakened, but his popularity was revived by the attempt on his life. The failed uprising brought changes which ended up lengthening the war. Hitler's paranoia reached new depths and he explained any military failure on "cowards" trying to find a political way to escape. The uprising led to the power quadrumvirate of Speer, Goebbels, Himmler and Bormann. All those in high positions of power were aware that their fates were linked to that of Hitler. Hitler himself had said long before that the war would end with victory or his suicide, and he felt the German people had failed in some way and were not worth saving. Although Hitler's popularity never entirely died - perhaps the people felt they had invested too much in him - much of the population were war weary and saw defeat as the only outcome.
As the Ardennes - the last great German offensive - failed by Christmas 1944, it was almost all over. Yet, despite teetering, the regime survived. Kershaw looks at the way the leaders allowed the war effort to stagger on and how they strived to ensure there was no slackening of the war effort. The Nazi elite gave no hint that the war was unwinnable, maintaining a complete grip on the population, despite the devastating bombing raids and fear of falling into the hands of the Red Army. Using letters from soldiers and giving a great insight into the bizarre way government kept on issuing directives (ordering replacement fire buckets with the enemy virtually at the door) despite pleas from the struggling postal service for only urgent letters to be sent. Time and again, when everything seemed to be all over, Speer managed to find a way to make more armaments, Goebbels to raise workers to dig fortifications and the war machine found a way to fight on a little longer.
When Hitler committed suicide, many people did not even hear for days. Germany was in chaos, with many having no access to radio or newspapers. There was an epidemic of suicides as the war came, literally, to the civilian populations doorstep. However, the war still carried on, until Keitel finally signed the capitulation. Even after the capitulation, the Donitz administration was allowed to continue for a further fifteen days. It was as though the surreal regime was unable to end. In the ten months between July 1944 and May 1945 more civilians died than in all the previous years of the war. If only the attempt to kill Hitler and end the war had been successful, so many people would have been saved. Yet, to the bitter end, the Nazi war machine ground on - the concentration camps speeded up their killing, civilians suffered and soldiers on all sides died. This book helps explain the how and why those terrible events dragged on and is a riveting and compelling read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
a very worthy book
Before buying The End through Amazon I read carefully the reviews posted by others who have read Kershaw's work before me. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Ariadne
The End: Hitler's Germany, by Ian Kershaw
Although the story of the Third Reich's downfall has been told many times, this version introduces a number of new angles. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Otten Ford
Dissapointing for Ian Kershaw
Informative but so repetative that I could not finish this book. The book could have been halfed and more enjoyable
Published 1 month ago by chriz1428
Admirable on the Western Front, Lacking in Depth on the East
The premise for Kershaw's book "The End" is indeed one of the most overdue in the long heavy shelves of literature on National Socialist Germany. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Justinian von Karajan
To the very end we go!
The End is another fine book from Ian Kershaw. Ever since the author wrote the definitive biography on Adolf Hitler the author has investigated various periods of the Nazi regime. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Thomas Koetzsch
Excellent
Bought this for my father for christmas. My father is big on history and factual books. He loved this, said it was true to history and very interesting. Read more
Published 3 months ago by clinkyclonk
The 'iron grip' of the regime does not explain all.
The following is of course undeniable:- the regime ruled by fear (woe betide an enemy of the state in the 3rd Reich), there was a great fear (justified for most ordianry Germans -... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nautilus
eighteen pounds!!
does this book really cost eighteen pounds?
sounds very expensive for a kindle ebook.
I can't believe its that good.
sounds very expensive for a kindle ebook.
I can't believe its that good.
Published 5 months ago by Christopher J. Whitehead
A fine portrayal of a terrible era
THE END answers many questions about the final days of hitlers reign of terror,
Why people still fought bitterly whilst logic said otherwise. Read more
Why people still fought bitterly whilst logic said otherwise. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mark Taylor
A comprehensive answer to a historical question
This is Sir Ian Kershaw's last book on Nazi Germany, therefore the title is doubly appropriate.
This is because it is about the last phase of the Third Reich, from the... Read more
This is because it is about the last phase of the Third Reich, from the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Paul T Horgan
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