Hitler

Downfall: 1939-1945

By: Volker Ullrich, Jefferson Chase - translator

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

From the author of Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939 - a riveting account of the dictator's final years, when he got the war he wanted but his leadership led to catastrophe for his nation, the world, and himself

In the summer of 1939 Hitler was at the zenith of his power. The Nazis had consolidated political control in Germany, and a series of foreign-policy coups had restored Germany to the status of a major world power. He now embarked on realizing his lifelong ambition: to provide the German people with the resources they needed to flourish and to exterminate those who stood in the way. Yet despite a series of stunning initial triumphs, Hitler's decision to invade the Soviet Union in 1941 turned the tide for good.

Now, Volker Ullrich offers fascinating new insight into Hitler's character and personality, vividly portraying the insecurity, obsession with minutiae, and narcissistic penchant for gambling that led Hitler to overrule his subordinates and then blame them for his failures; and, ultimately, when he realized the war was not winnable, to embark on the annihilation of Germany itself in order to punish the people who he believed had failed to hand him victory. This is a masterful account of a spectacular downfall, and an essential addition to our understanding of Hitler and the Second World War.

©2018 Volker Ullrich and Jefferson Chase (P)2021 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Important

Germany in the time of Adolph Hitler should be comprehended by all Americans so as to understand the parallels to the contemporary situation in the (dis)United States; and thus to take warning!

Why did they change the narrator from the the first Volume?

A really great series. Thoroughly enjoyed the first volume. Now reading the second part and I must say it is quite disappointing that they chose this weak narrator.

Word Nazi

Once again a skilled narrator mispronounces Nazism. It is Naz-ism. not Nazi-ism. word word
word word wird

Excellent dive into the war years

The behind the scenes of Hitler’s war years has always been fascinating in that one will always what what drive his strategies, his hatred, his policies and his strong will to not surrender until the last moment. This book does an excellent job of taking us into his lairs and into his circle of associates to glean that information. Although a fairly long listen, the story did not drag and that’s due to both the writer and the narrator.

Hitler 2, Biography

As a continuation of Hitler, 1889-1939, this book is very interesting and very informative. This is a deep dive into his involvement in World War II. He was the catalyst of this war and his death was the beginning of the end of this Great War. His leadership in the war was brutality done in his name and this book does an amazing job of detailing that point.