Germany Books

Very much enjoyed this book. Loaded with fascinating pictures and images. Stays out of political opinions or posturing. Highly recommended.

This book broadly covers the organization and History of Hitler's elite enforces providing the reader with great amounts of information on this subject. It hides nothing especially the attrocities.

A must read for those interested in this subject.

This book is an awesome collection of written material along with rare, powerful photos and diagrams. A standout feature, and my personal favorites, were the illustrations of particular uniforms, medlas,ceremonial decorations, propaganda posters, and weaponry that you don't find in alot of WWII references. Overall, this a great book and a must for WWII enthusiasts.

Comprehensive, profusely illustrated, reader-friendly, concise, nice size edition and clear in its exposition. In about 250 pages Mr. Williamson covers the whole history of these special troops, in all their aspects. Reviewing all its divisions, commanders, foreign nationalities that were incorporated into them, the weapons, the battles, their most talented fighters, etc and without losing the thread of his story: a most remarkable thing. Of course this is no eulogy of the SS, it tells of the barbarities committed as well as the acts of true heroism in battle by some of their soldiers. This is a great history. One can follow their main divisions from their inception long before the war, and how they grew in size and experience parallel to the national circumstances of Germany herself.

The role played by Himmler's crackpot ethnic theories were debunked by sheer necessity of man force: many of its finest soldiers were indeed non-Germans. One feels compelled to read more about this ignominiuos personage, Himmler, as he really was a weird (and evil) guy. On the positive side are outstanding acts of sheer valor and heroism of some soldiers who really deserve to remain in any military history of this war. Some passages of course overlap with the Wehrmacht, since they fought side by side many times, but both the detailed analysis and the wider scope of the SS role are present in this book. Nothing relevant is missing here. A great history book and an engrossing read.

Many good things can be said about this book. I sought out this book after reading the `Complete Idiot's Guide to Nazi Germany' and found that it had very little information on the SS. I was surprised at the number of photos and pictures in this book. That was the aspect I liked the most. The overall layout of the book was nice with detailed information on the formation of the SS, day to day tasks, subdivisions of the organization, equipment, atrocities on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, and the foreign legions. However, I feel the book could have used more information on the Gestapo, the SD, and the Einsatzgruppen. The Waffen-SS was given plenty of coverage in regards to its individual divisions and campaigns on the two fronts. I would have to say too much information considering that this was supposed to be a book about the entire SS. The sections on the Waffen SS were excellent, without a doubt. The book should have been given a different title which stresses this fact. Overall, the book was easy to read and flowed well with plenty of fascinating information. The author seemed a bit quick to defend the Waffen SS and some of the atrocities it is accused of, constantly stressing the fact that on the whole they were soldiers like those in the Wehrmacht. Though this may or may not have been true, opinions like this should have been kept to a minimum. The book would have been better if the information was just presented and then proceeded to let the reader decide for him or herself.

An excellent, well-written book that strays from the usual history of Nazi Germany by focusing not on Hitler but on his henchmen. Indeed, Hitler is almost a bit player for most of the first half of the book. Fascinating detail on the private lives and ambitions of Goering, Goebbels, Himmler, etc.
It is very well written and almost gripping, at times. He does have one little quirk, which is to occasionally throw in some very modern idiom, but it does not detract and is actually kind of fun.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to move beyond the basic histories of the Third Reich and find out about the strong-willed but self-serving and amoral men who worked out the revolting details of Hitler's regime.

This book is a MUST read for anyone truly wanting to know how it was possible for a man who had and was nothing (homeless, penniless and without friends) to become the most powerful and feared man in the world who controlled a vast empire and millions of people. The author does an EXCELLENT job of keeping the reader's attention and interest. It is difficult to put this book down. It read easily and smoothly. There are lots of details but that does not bog the reader down....it simply flows and stays interesting. The author gives equal time and details about many of Hitler's Inner Circle men, especially, Goebbels, Goring and Himmler. Without the work, talent, energy and loyalty of these men there is not doubt that Hitler would never have become who he was!

Here is an outstanding exhaustively researched account of all the key players in Hitler's Third Reich. Without the help of these men, Hitler would not have come to power, let alone been a politician worthy of mention. It is interesting to read how at least one among his entourage did not want war, and how his stubbornness and hubris changed the course of history. A must read not only for those who are interested in the tumultous events of the 20th Century, but those in leadership positions in politics and other fields, or those aspiring to be in that position.

I have read over 100 books covering the Nazi period, including reading William Shirers book, Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,three times. During this last 10 years every book I read was compared with Shirers. This is book by Anthony Read is perhaps equal or better than Shirers because its both a history book and a concise biography of the main "devil's disciples". This book at 900 pages provides more understanding of events than Shirer achieved in his 1600 pages although Shirer delivered a masterpiece. The reason for this is may be that Shirer in writing in 1958-60 did not have access to some of the detailed later sources as Anthony Read has. What makes this book so great is that Read spends great effort to explain the "Why & How" in addition to the "Who, What, Where, When" covered by most historians. This book provides insight into the squable that Goebbels had with Gregor Strasser that made it easier for Hitler to drive a wedge between Strasser and Goebbels who were very thick in the beginning and might have eventually split the Nazi's Berlin northern group from the Nazi's Munich "mafia" group.
This book gives a greater understanding of Gorings love and devotion to his first wife, Carin, than I got from reading a well researched biography of Hermann Goring by another author. Carin's death has been explained in other sources as: TB, epilepsy, heart failure. AR explains how they were all connected. Hermanns love for her explains why her son, Thomas, from her first marriage was so devoted to Goring.
The book also explains how crafty Hitler was in engaging many of the other political parties before backing out of any commitment at the 11th hour after the other parties were forced to disclose that most of them needed Hitler's Nazi Reichstag delegates more than the Nazis needed them. This book contains many more facts that help the reader understand the personal motives behind most of the intrigues of the main characters.
Goebbels, the proverbial womanizer, should never gotten married but with the death of Goring's wide Carin, it appears Goebbels saw an opportunity to help himself to the spotlight by marrying the beautiful and rich divorcee, Magda, so he could take over the entertainment of Hitler on his trips up to Berlin.
The book deserves 6 stars and is like drinking from a firehouse to cover more in 900 pages than 1600. I'll gladly read this again.

Anthony Read manages to give an extremely accurate account of the leaders of Nazi Germany. He also gives detail to Nazism in general and World War 2, making this book very well rounded. Mr. Read's ability to keep his work interesting throughout is the icing on the cake.

This was an interesting, well-written book; it's obvious that Mr. Crivellone and his family love Bavaria/Oberammergau, and it was fun to read about their adventures there. The book is also a helpful guide for anyone planning a trip to this region of Germany.

A great book that has prompted me to make Oberammergau a must stop on my next visit to Europe.

I loved reading this book so much that I didn't want to put it down! It was very exciting to learn about this family's experiences in this quaint German village. I really felt as though I was in Oberammergau with them because the experiences and descriptions of this charming town are so real and so honest. Oberammergau is definitely on my list of places to visit the next time I travel to Europe!

We were about to take our first foreign trip to Germany with our young children. We knew we wanted and needed a "home base" but had no idea where! Then we read this --- we ended up booking two weeks in an Apartment in Oberammergau from someone Don mentioned in the book. We found that reading this before we went gave us a different perspective on living, even temporarily, in a foreign country --- from the "Barvarian Pudding" produced by the town's cows to the friendly people of Oberammergau, this book helped make our vacation into an unforgettable adventure. It really helped to make us feel like Oberammergau was our home. We can't wait to return. Thank you for helping us discover this special place!

A wonderful sharing of life in the Village of Oberammergau!

This is very much like a walk through a family's "secret garden", where their experiences and relationships have been grown and nurtured ...

By the last page, I feel that I had grown too!

As though I, also, had traveled the distance of time and places with the Crivellone family ... learning more about the many that have succeeded in keeping their rich history & culture vibrant and alive for all that live in or visit the Village of Oberammergau.

Thank You! ... for sharing a bit of your lives! In doing so, I have learned much, especially about those that shared their lives with you and your family!

Readers know from the outset Corrie Ten Boom survived to help write the book but it's such an intriguing journey to get there. The authors include numerous jewels along the way, stories that stick with the reader long after the book is back on the shelf: the train ticket held by her father until the perfect time, the test of faith by not lying about family hiding under the kitchen table, the fleas having a purpose, the heartbreak of the love of her life marrying someone else, rebuilding the radio while in prison, the astounding respect and love for her father and sister while incarcerated.

Each chapter utilizes powerful imagery to flesh out an application of Eternal Truth ready for internalizing.

The lessons may be applied to every day life since these were not merely `characters' but most obviously real people, with extreme trials to maneuver in life and in death. Ordinary becomes extraordinary, utilizing compelling subject matter with a page turning writing style exhibiting firm faith in the Lord. It's one of those classics that affords readers immediate application to their own circumstances since they can identify with her and her family on so many levels.

Finally a work like this inspires and uplifts. I found myself continually discovering the answer (Grace) on almost every page to such questions as "Why did God let this happen?" and "How did she do it?". The Hiding Place is a classic I enjoy re-reading every few years. I'm amazed at the fresh perspective I have each time. It's timeless.

One of my favorite poetic verses from Corrie Ten Boom, who quoted it often (it was by Grant Colfax Tullar), is the following:
"My life is but a weaving betwixt my God and me;
I do not choose the colors He worketh steadily.
Oft times He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unfold the pattern and explain the reason why.
For the dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned."

This is a wonderful story and it begs the question: Could I have been that brave and compassionate? A story of true Christians.

Great, great book. Inspiring, heart wrenching. Great message about God's faithfulness, but should in no way be boxed in as Christian literature. A great historical book no matter what your faith. Loved it.

This is an absolutely extraordinary book. Never have I read a book in which the spiritual beauty of the author so resonated throughout the story. The purity of heart that manifests itself in this inspiring saga of a heroic, Dutch family in Nazi occupied Holland during World War II is stunningly beautiful.

This is the true story of the Ten Boom family who, during the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands, upon seeing what was happening to their Jewish neighbors and friends, asked themselves this age old question "If not us,...who; if not now,...when?" They answered it, ultimately at great cost.

The Ten Booms were devoutly Christian and lived a simple life. The patriarch of the family ran a watch shop that had been in his family for a century. Some of the family members, the author among them, worked there, selling and repairing clocks and watches. They also lived in the house in which the shop was located.

When the Nazis occupied their country, the reality of what it meant slowly dawned upon them, as they saw the treatment given to their fellow Dutch citizens of the Jewish faith. Moved by their plight, the author at the age of fifty, together with other members of her family, including their father who was nearly eighty, became active in the Dutch underground.

When it became clear to the Ten Booms that Jews were being targeted for deportation and death, they had a false wall constructed in the author's bedroom, thereby creating a secret room. There, they would hide the terrified Jews who were staying with them, in the event of a Nazi raid upon their home.

Eventually denounced by someone to the Nazis, the Ten Booms were arrested and their home raided and torn apart by the Gestapo, in their search for the Jews they believed to be hiding there. At the time of the raid, the Ten Boom home was filled to capacity with Jews in hiding. So well concealed was the hidden room that had been created by the erection of the false wall, that these poor, terrified Jews managed to escape detection.

The Ten Boom family did not fare so well. It was upon their arrest that they learned first hand of man's inhumanity to man, and their faith was put to a test that they had never dreamt possible. It was faith, however, that sustained the author in what was to be her darkest hour of deepest despair. To find out what happened to the Ten Booms, read this book. It is the story of an incredible family, who had the courage to put their convictions to the test.

This book is a masterpiece. The reader is sure to be captivated by the goodness and spiritual beauty contained within its pages.

The Hiding Place is the moving true-life account of Corrie ten Boom and her family who sheltered persecuted Jews in Nazi-oocupied Holland during World War Two. They did this at great personal risk, but they did it because of their unwavering faith in God, and because it was the right thing to do.

Unfortunately, they are arrested and deported to the camps for their acts of resistance against the Nazis. It is a testament to their faith and nobility that they retain their belief in God despite all the travails that await them in the camps.

"No pit is so deep that He is not deeper still" - as Corrie ten Boom believes despite all the horrors that she has endured. A testament to the power of belief in God, and to the courage of ordinary people in extraordinary and horrific times.

I have the honor of being one of Dr Feig's students studying Eastern European History. I have read many things she has written, this book, like everything else , is amazing. I highly recommend it to everyone.

I have had the honor, and pleasure, of being Dr. Konnilyn Feig's student at Foothill College, CA. I have read this book, and I think I can say that it reflects the personality of the author. Dr. Feig is a Teacher, first and foremost. She is one of the few, rare, great Academics, a scholar of enormous skill and learning. This is shown in every page of her book, her intelligence, her strong, vibrant personality, and her critical, clear eye of a Historian. This book is possibly one of the best histories of Hitler's death camps that could ever be written, because it is written by an intelligent person who strives to keep this horrifying part of our shared past from being forgotten. She writes with strength, with passion, and with the vitality of a woman who has devoted her life to teaching, to one of the most noble professions of this world. Not only is this book an unsurpassed history of a terrifying time, but it is a monument to the vital, burning mind of a woman who can best be designated by a single word, a word that speaks of intelligence, nobility, and necessity-a Teacher. For the author alone, the book is more than worth reading, for Academics such as this are not often found.

I read this book when I was 16, after FINALLY watching a copy of "Schindler's List". From the moment I began the movie, I was entranced by the Holocaust and immediately wanted to read as much as I could about this dark time in Our History. As I expected, there isn't that much available to a 16 year old (I am 19 now), but this book was enough and then some! It is amazing how the author goes through EACH individual camp (major camp) and illuminates the reader as to what occured and what fate awaited not only the comandants, but the female SS officers. From this book, it is so easy to FEEL what the victims of the Holocaust felt and SEE the horror they witnessed. This is one of my most favorite books!

I'll be brief. A deeply disturbing account of Nazi concentration camps and the activities that took place at such locales. It is truly hard to imagine the abhorrent behavior and actions that were used against Jews, mainly Jews, and other non-sanctioned races designated by the National Socialist Worker's Party in the years before and throughout WWII. Feig guides the reader along a nightmarish tour of grisly death and, what many inhabitants of these camps must of felt, psychological hopelessness.

This book does an admirable job of detailing the horrors inflicted on those victims of the Nazi camps. From Chelmno to Bergen-Belsen, all the major camps are described in unflinching language. The only drawback to the book is some of the critcisms the author levels at the Allies during World War II and before the war. Some examples of this unfair treatment: 1) She berates them for not attacking railroads leading to the camps or bombing the crematoriums. However, she herself admitted that the Germans would have quickly repaired the tracks and the crematoriums. Thus it would have taken multiple raids made against these targets, effectively denying the bombers from use against the Nazi war machine. If there were multiple raids made, it could very well have led to defeat of Allied forces on key fronts. It is doubtful that even if these multiple raids had been made that the Germans would have given up on killing their victims. The author herself stated that the Nazis, beyond any reason, was fervently trying to kill as many concentration camp inmates as possible before Allied troops arrived. Thus it would be unlikely that the Nazi effort to kill Jews would have been dissuaded. 2) She berates the US and Britain for not allowing widespread immigration during the Depression. She ignores the fact that both US and Britain were in the grips of (surprise!) the biggest Depression the world had seen and thus didn't need more people competing with American and British workers for scarce jobs. 3) She attacks Britain for not allowing widespread Jewish immigration into Palestine just before World War II and during it. She obviously doesn't understand that if that thing she wished for was allowed, the Arabs might have revolted against the British (as she even mentioned in the book) and may have sided with Germany. If that had happened, the Suez Canal would have been cut and Britain would have lost a vital source of supplies. Being deprived of that, Great Britain might have actually fallen to Nazi juggernaut and Hitler essentially won the war in Europe. If THAT had happened, I guarantee many more inmates would have died.

After a careful reading of several weeks I am just so impressed with Forde's piece on Luther. In fact, I think this thesis is at the heart of much of the current post-modern me-centric theology that sees everything from my emerging church to my purpose driven life as more important than theologia crucis. A little latin does us good in Forde's book. If people were to take one thing from Forde's piece it is found in the tail end of the book where he says, "God is not, as in the theology of glory, one who waits to approve those who have improved themselves, made themselves acceptable, or merited approval, but one who bestows good on the bad and needy." Indeed much of the current evangelical pablum is all part of a huge "preparation for God's Grace" which surreptitiously arrests the power of the cross and makes our own righteousness more important than our sinfulness. How have we erred so in our churches! The Lutheran message of this volume rocks the theological house. I'm recommending all my theological friends read this book today.

I just got done reading "On Being a Theologian of the Cross" by Gerhard Forde, and can't stop talking about it! It's one of the best books I've ever read, and presents solid Lutheran doctrine through Scripture and Luther's Heidelberg Disputation of 1518. It solidly presents the Biblical views on works, "free" will, the cross, suffering, and God's grace! At only 115 pages of reading, it gets right to the point; and the reading flows very smoothly. This definitely isn't a "stuffy" book on doctrine - the doctrine comes alive!

Gerhard Forde, a conservative German Lutheran theologian, has done the church and Christian academia a serious favour by writing this book on Luther's theology of the cross. It is a reflection on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation of 1518. Basically, Luther makes four points regarding the way of the cross: 1) the problem of good works as a way of righteousness, 2) the problem of human will due to sin, 3) the problem of the theology of glory in regards to assurance, and 4) that true saving righteousness only comes by believing in Jesus Christ. Forde discusses these in his own words in turn.

These are discussed in contrast to the "theology of glory" that was prevalent during Luther's time (basically, the works-righteousness theology of the Medieval Scholastics). Forde does an excellent job discussing, expositing, and summarizing Luther's discussion of these four points. You can even call this book an introduction to standard Lutheran thought. One will especially find the last chapter on faith righteousness very helpful and enlightening - this is my favourite chapter of the book. (One will also find that, contrary to popular opinion, that Luther never disparaged good works in the lives of Christians. In fact, he utterly encouraged the doing of good works that only arises out of faith and a new heart.)

Considering that there are so many different types of "theologies of glory" these days - whether the secular man-centered gospel of liberal Protestantism or the Theonomic Dominionist theology found in various Reformed circles who deny justification by faith alone (another form of crass materialistic and pleasure-loving theology) - this book (and Luther's original Heidelberg Disputation) should be read by all Christians concerned about the compromising of the true gospel that is happening in today. Pick it up and read it. One will find that the true gospel is indeed based on the theology of the cross (which is also found in Scripture).

What can I say? If I have ever read a book that has impacted my life more than this little one, I cannot remember it. As with Forde's Justification, a Matter of Death and Life, I cannot read this book without tears in my eyes. I am exposed as an inverterate theologian of glory and simultaneously overwhelmed with the limitless grace of God to cover my sin! Forde has a way of shining light into dark corners of my life that have never been exposed before and somehow in the process causing joy to flow out.

This is a book of deep theology that is extremely understandable as Forde masterfully comments on both the bold theses of Luther's Heidelberg Disputation and his commentary on those propositions. The ideas in this book, though profoundly theological, are easily accessible by anyone who is ready to look at the wickedness in his own heart, but will not be appreciated by those who are still convinced they have something good to offer to God. Reading 10 minutes a day in this book is a wonderful way to preach the gospel to yourself and renew your mind.

"The Love of God does not first discover but creates what is pleasing to it." Thesis 28.

My dog-eared copy of this book got that way through reading it during my daily commutes on the train through Heidelberg, Germany, where Luther delivered his Disputation in front of his Augustinian Order. As an Army Chaplain, and familiar with much suffering, I've found deep solace in knowing that suffering is God's "alien" work in me. He humbles me and brings me to the cross, the place of Christ's suffering, where I can do nothing but throw myself on His mercy. The Cross changes EVERYTHING, and this book has thrown that truth into sharp focus, both theologically and practically, in my living and my preaching.

Through suffering God creates us for His love. "God simply refuses to be known in any other way." The cross alone is our theology, and this book has been indispensable, to me, in coming to that conviction.

Chaplain Mark Nordstrom, US Army

William Manchester's "The Arms of Krupp" is an epic look at the company, personalities, dynasty, and the nation that formed one of the world's most infamous armaments manufacturers.

From the earliest records of a Krupp in the late 16th century, the Krupp family profited off the suffering an misery of others when Arndt Krupp bought land in Essen for a bargain following an outbreak of bubonic plague. It was a pattern that played out again and again up to the Second World War; but the later tragedies the family profited off was human conflict rather than disease.

Throughout the narrative, the reader is introduced to a long list of eccentric and sometimes brutal 'Cannon Kings': from manure-loving Alfred whose genius launched die Firma into its infamous glory, the scandalous Fritz, the robotic Gustav, to the WWII-era slaveholder Alfried. At times, readers will envy the early Krupps for their dedication to die Firma, while in other instances the audience will be appalled by the Krupps' cold-blooded arms dealings that led to the deaths of so many of their own countrymen.

Manchester is keen on casting the house of Krupp as a symbol of modern Germany; as their trials and boons both seemed to coincide in recent history. Furthermore, "The Arms of Krupp" is an excellent source for insight on the pre-WWI arms race and the post-Versailles rearmament that other histories of the period overlook. Over all, it is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in the history of Germany and the barons of modern warfare.

This book is excellent for all the reasons mentioned in the other reviews. What I found REALLY annoying was the author's use of German quotes. He provides quotes, in German, usually somewhat abbreviated as shown by the use of ellipses, and then provides the translation of the entire quote in English. Since most of his readers can't read German, and the entire quote is NOT in the German version, why include them? More frustrating are the German phrases that he quotes and doesn't translate, leaving us to guess at their meanings.

The ultimate story of the KanonenKonig. I highly recommend this book to anyone intersted in the industrial history of the Ruhr. The best work on the rise of Germany available.

It covers a lengthy span of time in Krupp saga. Its 900 pages have space for all kinds of detail, from the purely familiar and personal to the more general of German customs and idiosyncrasies, and finally -to me the most relevant and interesting- the historical. The historical from the ground perspective, is what I mean, not the ideological or political.

There's a lot of merit in this author to keep the interest along so many pages. Some of these pages are of great style, elsewhere the interest plummets a little, which is totally understandable.

One paradox in the book that can summarize the story of Krupp is the difference between the way the greatest Krupp (Alfred) treated a poor and foreign woman appealing for help, and the way his great-grandson, would treat people like her in his not-known-well-enough private concentration camps. For Alfred it was: "Necessity knows no law", a fitting motto. Exactly the opposite would be during the Nazi times. Here's a sample of great writing: "Yet there was a time when Alfred's great-grandson not only abandoned helpless women from abroad, but exploited them, and then left them to a doom far more unspeakable than the turbid gray waters of the Rhine. The bonfire of the Third Reich was rapidly being reduced to embers. No sources of manpower were left and so, necessity knowing no law, Krupp turned to girls, to mothers, and, in the end, to the construction of a private concentration camp for children."

A must read, for the fine style in which it describes important historical subjects that must be known, the day-to-day lives of the people who lived those turbulent -to say something- times. Let's not forget those horrors. And don't try to understand them, just beware how low the human race can fall.

William Manchester squeezes yet another masterpiece into just under a thousand pages (not counting index!) For four centuries one name was associated with the armaments that were utilized in four major wars, creating the richest family in Europe; Krupp. Each leader of the dynasty had peculiar quirks that Manchester delights over, some were involved in sex scandals, and another ran his day to the second with pure Prussian obsessive-compulsion. Krupp innovations included the steel cannon and railroad wheel; they designed the notorious 88mm of WW II, and the descendant of that gun, the 120mm hypervelocity cannon, may be seen on U.S. tanks to this day. The driving force behind the industrialization of the Ruhr, it would be legitimate to ask if Germany were responsible for the rise of Krupp, or Krupp responsible for the rise of Germany. Like so many others, Alfried Krupp fell under Hitler's spell, spurring him to run private concentration camps in order to produce more weapons. Intrafirm Krupp memoranda from this period begin to use terms such as Sklavenarbeiter (slave labor), Sklavenmarkt (the slave market), Sklavenhalter (the slave-holder, Alfried Krupps), and Judenmaterial (Jewish livestock.) The Nuremberg Trials follow, and Krupp walks away almost unscathed, to continue in business until the company foundered in the 1960s. German history and the Krupp lineage is inextricable, and there is no better writer to bring such a unique saga to life.

The book is a 'must have' for those beer lovers visiting Munich.

I would like the author to include in the next edition, a map of Munich with suggestions on where to drink in the city center. The map could be used as a travel guide to Munich, and listing the beer gardens on the map would make them easier to find (especially if it starts to rain and one must seek shelter).

The guide is accurate and fun to read, but the walking distances are slightly optimistic, especially if you have short legs!

I know Larry Hawthorne as a comptetitive ballplayer who hits a lot better than your average pitcher. Knowing him this way, and being a writer myself, I recommend his book because I know he is honest, a clean player, and would not steer you wrong. Not a good enough reason to buy the book?
I could say, as the old joke goes about politicians, that he has never done a mean, rotten thing that he hasn't been sorry for, but I haven't known Larry long enough to know if he has ever done a mean, rotten thing. I know he is generous with baseball tips and has the best cooler on the sidelines. If you met him on the street he would greet you with a smile. In fact, if I asked him, he would autograph your book for you. That's how nice a guy he is. What more do you want from a book about beer in Munich? Check the excerpt and other reviews and see for yourself. If he is reading this right now, he is slapping his head with his hand and saying, "The next time Steve comes up to bat I'm pitching him a slow fat one right across the plate so he can hit it out of the park for the first time in his life!" That's how nice a guy he is.
I met him in the high deserts of south california, out where Jesus lost his boots, where right field is littered with gopher holes, where the 'Swingin' Steves' try to give him fits by getting line drives, and I'm glad I got the chance to get to know him. He made my first year as a softball player a lot more enjoyable, which was real special to me because I hadn't played since high school and needed all the help I could get. If you are still reading this then you are a serious beer drinker and if you are planning on going anywhere near Munich you need Larry by your side. From the other reviews you can see he is a great guide and knows his stuff (and his hops, he's always talking about the hops) so I will tell you the one flaw I found in Larry. He swings at everything. But he has a respectable batting average so I'm not going to knock what works for him. I'm a little shorter than him so maybe that makes me want to wait for the best pitch because I dont have the strength he does to drive the ball into the gaps. Well, I was kidding about Larry giving me a big fat pitch for this rambling review, in fact he might just hunker down and feed me low inside pitches because he can and he wants his team to win as much as I do. Like I said, a great competitor and if I still drank beer (diabetes) and had an urge to visit my great-great-grandparents homeland (apparently one of us was a king in Denmark around 1000 ad) I would still buy the cheapest version of this book I could find (that's just me, I'm cheap) but I would read it cover to cover because I trust this guy to give me the real deal. Hoist one for Larry, beer and book fans, and just for your information I wrote this cold sober. Honest. Why would I lie? And if any reporters for the National Enquirer or da Globe, etc. want the real inside dope on Larry I would be willing to supply even more colorful anecdotes to prove it.

This book is suprisingly good and gives extended information about various interesting locales in Munich. The beer locales are a kick. One could spend the whole trip visiting these occasionally quite interesting and cozy dispensers of comustibles and brews.

This book more than pays for itself with the coupons for free beer in the back! Great book too. Has directions to a lot of amazing beirgartens!

I went to Munich for Oktoberfest this year -- got there on a Thursday night and left the following Wednesday. Monday was spent at Oktoberfest. That meant Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday we needed to find beer gardens! This book was the perfect guide -- you can find them by S or U-Bahn stop, even! The 2-for-one certificates were a special bonus. I logged all the beers I drank on the inside cover -- 35 beers in 5 days. Nine of those were the masse size. Burp. Highly recommended.

Historical Realism. Middle elementary.

Summary
This picture book is story of Rose Blanche, who lives in Nazi Germany. After she sees a boy trying to escape, she wants to know where the little boy went. When Rose discovered a death camp and the starving people, she started taking them food without telling her mother. "Rose Blance was getting thinner. In town, only the mayor was staying fat." The Russian soldiers come and the camp disappears. Flowers grow where the camp was.

Illustrations
The colors are primarily brown, with detailed and interesting pictures. Each page has a little color, which stands out and reinforces the words (e.g., red dress of Rose, gold Jewish star).

I'm in 7th grade and my teacher read this book to the class when we were learning about World War II. This book has stuck with me for a long time!!! After she read this book I could not stop thinking about it. If you read this book, make sure you have a box of tissues nearby.

Congratulations! You have successfully located the best translation of the book "Rose Blanche" available on the market today. While the British and German translations may change significant portions of this tale around and about, the American version (all thanks to hard work of excellent translators Martha Coventry and Richard Graglia) is true to authors Gallaz and Innocenti's original plot and vision. So well done you! Give yourself a pat on the back and a hanky. You'll need it after you finish reading the book.

It's Germany during World War II. As we watch, our little heroine, Rose Blanche, describes the early days of the war. The soldiers are being packed up and shipped away and everyone is cheering them on. Swastikas are plentiful. One day, Rose sees a small boy escape from a van in the middle of the street. The boy is quickly caught and placed within the cramped van once again. Curious, Rose Blanche follows the van to the edge of town and into the forest. There she comes face to face with the children of a concentration camp. After offering them some of her food, the first person narrative abruptly begins to be told in the third person instead. We are told that Rose Blanche continued to bring food to the hungry children. Finally, the citizens of the town flee, wounded soldiers amongst them. Rather than escaping, Rose Blanche makes one last trip to the camp, only to find it empty. A single shot rings out and we see the Communist soldiers filling the now abandoned town. The book ends with, "Rose Blanche's mother waited a long time for her little girl". Flowers bloom, but the single purple bloom the girl placed on the barbed wire has wilted.

Tragedy in the key of E. The text is rather well written, giving no specific person or persons blame, but rather suggesting a collective guilt. Admittedly, I was a little taken aback by the sudden switch in narrative. One minute you know exactly what Rose Blanche is thinking and the next you can only interpret her emotions through descriptions and visual images. A review of this book in the March 2004 issue of "Children's Literature in Education" suggested that this is done so that the reader is given a bit of distance when the girl is shot. Admittedly, I don't expect my heroines to die in the picture books I read but I think we can chalk that up to naivete on my part more than anything else. This is, after all, an incredibly realistic work of fiction. The character of Rose Blanche even attains a kind of religious piousness at the end of the tale. In her final picture, she stands in the position of a saint. Her eyes are downcast, one hand lightly touching her heart, and the other placing a small purple flower on the broken fence.

Which brings us to the illustrations. Innocenti's pictures deftly tell a story within the actual text. In the first few pictures, Rose appears in happy crowd scenes. Then, as she discovers more about the world in which she lives, she is placed farther and farther away from other people. Rose is continually set apart from the others by her clothing as well. Where everyone else is resigned to grays and browns, Rose sports a pink dress with a bright red bow on her head. The illustrations are strikingly realistic, never becoming cartoony or visually inconsistent. Innocenti is deft at the millions of different ways in which light changes a scene. And to top it all off, he's done some of the most brilliant fog I've ever seen put down on paper.

This is a book about seeing what other people won't. The name "Rose Blanche" is explained by the author on the book flap. The Rose Blanche was a group of young Germans that protested the war. Like the heroine of this tale, they were unduly executed for the crime of thinking differently. The best use of this book is to utilize it in such a way that we can never forget how important it is to question authority at all times and to always fight for the truth. It seems that message is more important today than ever. A tip of the hat to the Rose Blanches of the world.

I have never heard of this book I picked it up because the pictures are so lovely. I began to read and was struck by it's simplicity and power at the same time.

I became confused at the end I did not know what happened because the author switched from first person to third person.

This book explains so much in such a simple, soft spoken way in the eyes of a small child.

Nothing could be more profound

The time period is World War II. The main character is a small girl, named Rose Blanche. This is her story.

Rose is walking about one day through a forest when she comes to a tall barbed wire fence. Inside the fence is a concentration camp, where many people are being held. Rose goes to this place everyday, bringing food to the children.

Then, one day, when she reaches the small clearing where the children are, she finds it gone. Bits of wire and wood are lying littered on the ground, and she holds a small purple flower above the scattered wood.

The flower is a single ray of hope, shining brightly through the darkness. It is a hope that the war will end and hope that the lives of people across the world will return to normal. This book is a symbolism of what one little girl did to make the world a better place. Rose Blanche is truly an interesting, and touching read.
~~**Jessica**~~

This book will bolster your faith. Father Goldmann is persecuted not only by the Nazis for being Catholic but also by the French for being German. In an environment and a time when the utmost is at stake, namely the potential death of both the body and the soul among soldiers and citizens, there is extraordinary opportunity for faith to manifest itself in grave matters. A humble servant, ruthless soldiers, amazing faith of dying soldiers, miraculous faith of a nun, and the hand of God in all things from war to building a Japanese church... you won't be able to put this book down.

Fr. Goldmann's desire to become a priest is a story of love - a great love that overcomes the evils of man as he fulfills his destiny to serve God. He gave all he had to others throughout the story and by acting as an example of God's love, brought others to communion with the Holy One by conversion, baptism, Communion and deep faith in others where none existed before. I applaud this man for all his wonderful effords for humanity and service to our Lord.

I just started to read this book and it is hard to put down. It has a lot of pictues of the priest's life and very well written. Anyone who likes biographys I think would love this book or would like to know more about the WWII.

This book will take the reader on a journey with Father Goldman who as a young man entered the Seminary to study for the priesthood.His studies are interrupted by World War 2 when he is drafted into the Waffen SS.He faces persecution because of his religous beliefs but he does not give up his faith in God.
He later serves in the Heer (German Army) as a medic and saves many of his fellow soldiers at a great risk to his own life.I would reccomend this book to not only military historians but also to those going into religous studies.

Have you ever read a book that you wanted to tell all your friends about? A book that you thought everyone should read? This is it!

This is a most amazing story that will convince you of the great power of prayer. I recommend this book to all who pray, not just Catholics.

If you enjoy this book, you will also enjoy reading "The Grunt Padre" by Fr. Daniel Mode. Fr. Vincent Capodanno died while serving in Vietnam. The cause for Beatification and Canonization for Fr.Capondanno was initiated in 2006.