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"A rare accomplishment . . . will be of interest to generations to come." -- James A. Michener
Product Description
The classic account of the final offensive against Hitler's Third Reich-- newly in print for the 50th anniversary of VE Day.
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 brought the Nazi leviathan to its downfall. It was also one of the war's bloodiest and most pivotal moments, whose outcome would play a part in determining the complexion of international politics for decades to come.
"The Last Battle" is the 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 questions 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.
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First Sentence
IN THE NORTHERN LATITUDES the dawn comes early. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
IN THE NORTHERN LATITUDES the dawn comes early. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the definite account of the fall of Berlin. Dealing exclusively with the last three weeks of World War 2, Cornelius Ryan's gripping, 576 page masterpiece deals in huge detail with the Battle of Seelow Heights on the Oder, the rapid American and British advance from the west, the Soviet encirclement of Berlin, the life and death struggle of General Busse's trapped German Ninth Army in the Spreewald and its fighting westward advance (retreat?) through the rear of Marshall Koniev's First Ukrainian Front towards their rescuers of General Wenck's Twelfth Army near American lines on the Elbe; the madness of Hitler's bunker plus the street by street advance in Berlin itself of the Red Army towards the Reichstag, shooting and raping even Jews and German Communists along the way. There is the astonishing tale of General Karl Weidling, falsely condemned to death for allegedly abandoning his 56th Panzer Corps, only to be appointed the last Commandant of Berlin 24 hours later. Also eye-opening is the crucial role played by the little known Colonel General Gotthard Heinrici. This is a superb book. The finest war history I have ever read. Buy this book!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ryan's previous books, Longest Day and A Bridge
too Far, along with The Final Battle, put the
overwhelming and sweeping events of WWII in a
human perspective. Traces not only the generals
and leaders of each nation, but brings out the
life and death struggles of ordinary people with
unfailing humanity. Best book of a remarkably
overlooked period in the War.
too Far, along with The Final Battle, put the
overwhelming and sweeping events of WWII in a
human perspective. Traces not only the generals
and leaders of each nation, but brings out the
life and death struggles of ordinary people with
unfailing humanity. Best book of a remarkably
overlooked period in the War.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the definite account of the fall of Berlin. Dealing exclusively with the last three weeks of World War 2, Cornelius Ryan's gripping, 576 page masterpiece deals in huge detail with the Battle of Seelow Heights on the Oder 60 miles east of Berlin, the rapid American and British advance from the west, the Soviet encirclement of Berlin, the life and death struggle of General Busse's trapped German Ninth Army in the Spreewald southeast of the capital and its fighting westward advance (retreat?) through the rear of Marshall Koniev's First Ukrainian Front towards their rescuers of General Wenck's Twelfth Army near American lines on the Elbe; the madness of Hitler's bunker plus the street by street advance in Berlin itself of the Red Army towards the Reichstag. There is the astonishing tale of General Karl Weidling, falsely condemned to death for allegedly abandoning his 56th Panzer Corps, only to be appointed the last Commandant of Berlin 24 hours later. Also eye-opening is the crucial role played by the little known Colonel General Gotthard Heinrici. This is a superb read and, despite being written as far back as 1965, is distinctly better than the current book on the subject "Berlin: The Downfall 1945" by Anthony Beevor, which I have also reviewed. Cornelius Ryan's "The Last Battle" is the finest war history I have ever read. Buy this book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Exceptional breadth and depth, a superb account.
Ryan's journalistic approach, ensuring the facts are as accurate as he could get them, makes this book fascinating, compelling and at the same time very personal. Read more
Published 1 month ago by GJ_Reading
The Battle for Berlin: All the things that they didn't teach you in...
In my opinion, The Last Battle is the best of Ryan's books. This is Ryan's second installment of his books on World War II. Read more
Published 1 month ago by JH
Well Balanced
I had read a good few books on the battle of berlin 1945, but i have to say that Cornelius Ryan's Book is very balanced,detailed and is a book i will keep as a very well written... Read more
Published on 17 May 2009 by Univibe
Synopsis from back cover
A masterly account of those three weeks of the death throes of the Thousand Year Reich. It follows the fortunes of ordinary men and women, soldiers and civilians, victors and... Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2008 by Mary_10
Not bad, but miss something
I just got the book in Malaysia and believe, this kind of book are extremely rare to find because generally, Malaysians are not that interested into WW2 history. Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2002
An eye opening account of the last days of the Third Reich.
This book is amazing! The author has had extensive interviews with many survivors of World War II, and tells their stories in a way that is as unbiased and accurate as possible. Read more
Published on 15 May 2001
Not a serious book
If you are interested in a pseudo-historic account of the fall of Berlin, this is your book. But if you are more interested in the military aspects of the battle, forget it, as an... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2000
Superlative account of Berlin's fall
I'm more of a fan of historical war novels like The Triumph and the Glory, and rarely read non-fiction, but The Last Battle by Cornelius Ryan, which a fellow student recommended... Read more
Published on 23 July 1999
Another Great book about true history at the end of WW II
This book also has the true history of the final days of World War II as does the great book " Conquer : Story of the Ninth Army" that is not documented in videos or... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 1999
Amazing insight, fascinating stories, and it's all true!
I can't put this book down for long. It reads like a novel, but this really happened. His interviews and stories of civilians, soldiers, commanders and leaders, brings out a deep... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 1998
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