Germany Books

Leonard Baker's Pulitzer Prize winning biography is an compilation of the life of one of history's greatest unknowns. In addition to taking the reader through the life of the "seelsorger" known as Leo Baeck, Baker shows the changes in Germany from the beginning of the twentieth century through the horrors of the Second World War. One can see first hand how the bitterness losing in World War I evolved into the greatest and most frightening regimes to ever take power. This book is perfect for those interested in German history, the Holocaust, and anyone who loves biographies. By the end of this book, you will answer Patrick Dolan's question of, "Who the Hell is Leo Baeck?"

I was impressed by this book and am not surprised that it won the Pultizer Prize. It was a well written telling of the struggles of the German Jews.

I had heard about Rabbi Baeck several years ago but had never read about his life. He was a brilliant scholar and very influential in Reformed Judaism. I'd have liked to know more about his wife. She was an essential companion in his life.

He refused to go to the Gestapo office on his Holy days even when commanded. He remained a great source of courage to the Jewish community and refused to leave them even when offered safe emigration.

He is a great example of a man of peace. I once read in a magazine his moving and controversial prayer for the forgiveness of the Nazis. This is an excellent and readable book.

very thought provoking and well written

Prof. Schweller deserves all the compliments that he might get. "Deadly Imbalances" is a real masterpiece, poisedly merging theoretical discussion with an accurate applied analysis on an empirical case (World War II). The author's modeling departs from Waltz's neorealism, but the structural perspective is soon amended, with the inclusion of one variable that is strictly on the unit level (the state's interest). This modification approximates his scheme to classical realism, with great gains to ad hoc analysis, like the one he does. Important to say that the historical research is very good too, remarkable in a study done by a political scientist. This book should be considered a good and commendable example of case study in the International Relations area.

Tremendous group of personal recollections of various soldiers fighting for Germay at the end of WWII. A braod range of perspectives are presented from that of 15 yo flak crew relatively removed from the front lines to seasoned SS non-coms fighting their way out of a russian pocket to a staff officer involved in the surrender of Berlin.

The way the SS maintained discipline even after they knew all was lost was gripping, and really provided a different view of this organization.

Likewise the loyality of young flak soldiers to theie units also provided another example of batlles being won and lost to people who are first loyal to thier comrades over thier general officier or country.

The book is well footnoted, but probably could have used a few more clarifications.

The postscripts regarding what hapened to each person was good, but a larger postscript on treatment after capture would have also been good. (I.e., some soldiers were quickly released, while others, specifically the SS, were held for some time, and the Russians released many captives only to later arrest them, and held some prisoners for 10 years. Some explaination of this would have been good.)

However these are nits and do not take away from the strength of this book.

Author Tony Le Tissier's "With Our Backs to Berlin" was an outstanding collection of personal histories of German soldiers (and one Russian) fighting in and around Berlin at the end of World War II.

The same author's "Death Was Our Companion" is a similar excellent, although somewhat broader based, compilation of the personal recollections of German soldiers in a variety of rearguard actions toward the end of the Second World War, primarily around Berlin.

Also included is an enlightening recollection by a German Army Colonel who was directly involved in the surrender negotiations with the Russians. This alone, depicting the state of events at the very end in Berlin, immediately after Hitler's death, is of immense historical value and worth the price of the book by itself. For example, on one occasion when the Colonel is trying to get through his own lines to the Soviets to conduct negotiations, he is met with catcalls that "Germans never surrender" and he was a "traitor". Earlier, he invokes an order from Martin Bormann to obtain an escort to Goebbels to discuss the status of the negotiations but is told "only SS orders" apply here.

These recollections (over a dozen in all) are written in the same engaging first-hand writing style the author used in "Our Backs to Berlin" that draws the reader into the action.

There are a few minor drawbacks: (1) a couple of the recollections here (and several of the two dozen or so photos) are also included in the author's "Slaughter at Halbe", however, the recollections in "Slaughter at Halbe" were presented in a disjointed and piecemeal manner but here they are told in full and the result is a more complete account from their perspective; (2) several maps are included but they are not always that easy to decipher, however, this may be the result of the printing process (i.e., paper and ink used) and not the maps themselves; (3) the index contains several mistakes, listing names correctly but the pagination is wrong.

The book also includes excellent footnotes by the author explaining many facets (places, persons, events) of each story. (One exception is the author claims in a footnote that Martin Bormann committed suicide while attempting a break-out from the Reichs Chancellery the night of May 1-2, 1945. This was news to me as I had always thought his whereabouts after the war, much less his death, were never confirmed; although I am aware that a claim was made in 1972 that his body was found, I do not believe that was ever verified to everyone's satisfaction (i.e., countries outside of West Germany) as there were claims the West German government was engaged in a cover-up.)

Overall, this is a very absorbing account of many facets of the end of the Third Reich. Essential reading for students of World War II and Nazi Germany.

his book is an essential book in the holocaust library and in a general history of WWII library. It is a story of a middle-class Berlin Jewish family that chose to defy relocation to the ghettos of East and survived the war and Hitler's own war on the Jewish people, all the while living and working in Berlin. The author was hiding and fleeing two enemies: the allied bombing and the Nazies. There are details in the book of events inside the Third Reich that I have never read before. Henry Lebrecht's book is well written, suspenseful, and filled with personal and historical anecdotes. The descriptions of the allied bombings of Berlin and of the author's encounters with the Gestapo are nothing but gripping. This book is a monument to the human spirit of survival, and that also includes the Berliners who had to endure daily bombing for months on end. This is a must read for students of WWII.

One last note: The publisher of this book is XLibris, a POD, a publish on demand company. This large and momumental work by Mr. Lebrecht is a sure indication that in the book buisness POD, like indy music in the recording buisness, has come of age and that reviewers, book distributors and book stores had better pay attention; their world is changing.

Defiance: A Life behind Enemy Lines
By Henry Lebrecht

I had the honor of reading the Manuscript of over 1000 pages of this incredible story. The day by day happenings of Henry and his brother as they struggled in the city of Berlin trying to survive in hiding from the Nazi's. I know that my brother in law Henry Lebrecht had a strong desire to get his story on paper, for the world to see how truly evil Hitler was and the misery he caused. Though not everyone had the courage to hide as he did and was lucky enough to survive. This book is one that all students should read in all countries and in all languages. He shows a defiance,and courage of a few people who refused to be defeated. My deep regret is that Henry Lebrecht died in February 2005 and never had the joy of seeing his book published. This is a book that everyone should read.

Anne Lebrecht. Author.

Also recommended: 'Memories of a Forgotten Past' 'Discoveries of a Hidden Past'

When you mention Michael Frayn's name in theatre circles, you'll likely conjure up images of his classic metatheatrical farce "Noises Off." But his recent dramatic works, including this, his current, have the potential to be more powerful, more influential and more epoch-making in the world of comtemporary theatre.

Based on the rise of Germany's first left-of-center coalition government since the Weimar Republic, headed by the legendary, painfully conflicted Willy Brandt, and his collapse in the wake of a Societ-bloc spy scandal, this play lays bare the fragility of international relations at the height of the Cold War. Structurally, it's a memory play from the point of view of the East German spy, Gunter Guillaume, with scenes shifting as his personal narrative demands. No specified set, few props, and only a handful of required light and sound cues make this a fairly easy staging.

Unless you count the actors and the director.

The director and the ten-member, all-male cast needs to research the history of divided Germany, the personalities of highly esoteric public figures, and even at one point the Norwegian language. Thankfully large portions of the information necessary to savvy the background for the play are found in a lengthy and detailed afterword, saving a great deal of headache in the creative process. But that doesn't take care of everything; these figures loom large in the history of the Twentieth Century, and recreating them on stage is work.

But the play is accessible, discussing technical aspects of German history without getting bogged down in dull repetitive detail. The characters are engaging and humanely rounded. The events happened nearly forty years ago, but they feel like they're happening right now.

This play is not for general audiences; its slow, contemplative pace and its interest in a political figure most Americans have never heard of will put of casual theatre-goers. But for dedicated fans of history, politics, and theatre, this articulate and thoughtful play will leave you with plenty to chew on long after the final curtain has wrung down.

A riveting play about the nature of representative democracies, human relationships and the cold war. Michael Frayn's best play.

For anyone out there who also worships Kaethe Kollwitz and her extraordinary work, this book is a must-read. Edited by the son that lived--Hans--"The Diary and Letters of Kaethe Kollwitz" provides an intimate portrait of the woman who lived behind the drawings in her own words. This book breathed life and personality into somebody who has been one of my greatest artistic influences. I found it exceptionally moving to be able to share her emotions, thoughts and tragedies in this way.

Kaethe Kollwitz created some of the most moving drawings and lithos I have ever seen. Many are dark and sorrowful. Even so, many have an indestructible kernel of hope in them kept alive through sheer personal will.

Now that I've read these extracts from her diaries and correspondence, I can understand better the woman who made that art. Above all, she was a woman founded on her emotions. I don't means twittering sentimentality. I mean the kind of love that kept her one marriage strong for 49 years, until she was widowed. I mean the kind of devotion that kept her at work for fifteen years on the memorial to her son, fallen in the first World War. I mean the kind of dedication that led her to teach master classes, even though she grew up when women were almost forbidden to attend advanced schooling.

Despite her losses in the two World Wars, her life had much in it to bolster her strength. Her family supported her childhood interest in art, and her father was willing to get her what training he could. She married young, and somewhat against her parents' wishes. Her husband, however, supported her art, and she remained close to her parents. She fully accepted motherhood; her sons and later her grandchildren were bulwarks of her adult life. She engendered lifelong affection in her friends and her family. Her surviving son compiled this tribute to her life, and her grand-daughter added a few pages about Kaethe's last days.

There are a few dozen samples of her drawings, sculpture, lithos and woodcut at the end of this book. (Given her tendency towards transfer lithos, the distinction between litho and drawing isn't always clear.) The reproductions aren't great, just enough to indicate the structure and feeling of each piece. The set is nicely bracketed, however, by an early self-portait and her last one. The face is the same handsome woman in both, but the later Kaethe is wizened and wisened by her years.

This is a wonderful book. I am truly glad to know more about this woman. If you want just reproductions of her art, this is likely to disappoint. If you want her herself, you've found it.

//wiredweird

Die Farben Berlins was a pleasure to use while touring Berlin. A simple idea, you would think more cities would design such a guide. It led me to another very interesting book "Feeling Berlin" By Prestel Books. I used both books and a huge map of Berlin to explore one of Europe's most vibrant cities!

This book/concept works on so many levels. Having spent a lot of time in Berlin, I found this book to be a real treasure. Berlin is about design, and color, and exploring, which is what you get here. There is a photo, and 2 big color chips based on the photo. Not your typical tourist photos, but photos which make Berlin memorable. On the back of each card, is a quote about the scene, and a map showing where the photo was taken. Each card is in English and German which will help those trying to pick up some German. My only surprise was not seeing the Ampelmann, (former East Berlin walk/don't walk traffic signal), with the obvious green and red color. Just surprised, but by no means disappointed. Now.....if they would just do my favorite city of Hamburg......

Buxtehude's music remains one of the great pleasures of classical music - thoughtful and rich in melody, filled to overflowing with new ideas and freshness. For several years Kerala Snyder's book has been out of print, and unscrupulous book dealers have demanded exhorbitant prices for used copies. Now reissued it is possible to once again obtain a personal copy.
Although the price is high do not let that hold you back - this is an excellent achievement, and will probably remain the only major book in English on one of the greatest German composers. Highest recommendation.

Bach's 250-mile journey on foot in 1705 from Arnstadt to Lubeck to visit Buxehude is one of the great tales in the history of music. If you've listened to some of Buxtehude's music (see my "Listmania!" list of Buxtehude's vocal music) and would like to learn more about the composer, his life, and his works, this is the one and only place to go. This second edition (published 20 years after the first) commemorates the 300th anniversary of the composer's death. It's reasonably accessible and readable for someone (like myself) who loves music but is not a professional musician. Among other things, it contains a very useful list of all of Buxtehude's compositions.

Paul N. Van de Water

the book is almost of the same caliber Rommel was. Do not waste your time, get it now .Entertaining, exciting, it flows so fast. Buy this book now and have an wonderful time!

Charles Marshall has done an excellent job in preparing a literary work that is, in my studied opinion, a complete overview of Rommel...as a man and military genius. Marshall's detailed account of Rommel's life is reinforced by information received during interviews with Rommel's widow as well as the letters Rommel sent her during the African campaigns. Further, Marshall, as a former Army Intelligence Officer during WWII, relies heavily on his own detailed diary enteries of interviews with German/Nazi officals in captivity prior to the end of the war. Marshall's work details Rommel's life from pre WWI through his untimely death, forced by Adolf Hitler, before the end of WWII. If there is only one true account of Rommel's life, "Discovering the Rommel Murder" is it.

Ella writes what she remembers about her childhood and gives us a chance to understand what life was like for a girl dealing with World War II and the aftermath. The details of everyday life help you understand what it took to survive. She writes with honesty and gratitude for those who helped her. It is an inspiring story. God is good - all the time!

I think this was a great book. It answers alot of unasked and unanswered questions. It also talks about the effects of war. We met the author at a time share and she gave a talk about the book. She was very interesting to listen to. My Dad read this book too. He agrees with me that she didn't leave anything out. I did wonder why I couldn't get a straight answer from distant relatives where our relatives were from. When a country or state boundary line has moved other places people write on there family tree death or birth record that when the people were born they live in X which is call Y in 2006. I never thought they were not telling the truth because they were afraid the communists would find them.

If you want to read an interesting book about Russia and Germany about WWII this is the book for you. The section about life in America was vivid about living with her parents but when she was more integrated into American life and not living with her parents the information was slimmer. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to live on a cotton plantation in the South.