The Fall of Berlin 1945
The apocalyptic final battle of the European war, from the Soviet advance to Hitler's bunker.
The Verdict
The definitive account of the war's apocalyptic final battle. Antony Beevor reconstructs the Soviet assault on Berlin in 1945 with the same archival depth and narrative force he brought to Stalingrad — the two-and-a-half million Soviet troops, the fanatical last defence, the catastrophe that engulfed the city's civilians, and the mass rapes that accompanied the conquest. Harrowing and authoritative, it is the standard work on how the war in Europe ended.
Who Should Read It
Read it if you want
- The definitive account of the fall of Berlin
- Readers who want the Eastern Front's climax
- An unflinching treatment of the civilian catastrophe
- Fans of Beevor's Stalingrad
Look elsewhere if you want
- A gentle read — it is grim
- The Western Allies' war
- Readers wanting strategy over narrative
Why We Rated It 4.6
Historical Context
The Battle of Berlin (April–May 1945) saw massive Soviet forces capture the German capital. Hitler killed himself on 30 April; the city surrendered on 2 May. Beevor's 2002 account drew on Soviet and German archives and brought the mass rape of Berlin's women to wide attention.
Events Covered
Editions & Reading Notes
Read It Alongside
Collector's Corner
Where to Buy
ISBN: 978-0142002803
Other Books About the Same Events
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does The Fall of Berlin 1945 cover?
- The Soviet offensive that captured Berlin in the final weeks of the European war, including the fighting, Hitler's death, and the catastrophe that befell the city's civilians.
- What should I read alongside it?
- A Woman in Berlin gives the civilian view from inside the city; Cornelius Ryan's The Last Battle is the classic earlier account.