To VE Day Through German Eyes: The Final Defeat of Nazi Germany

by Jonathan Trigg

'If Germany stays united and marches to the rhythm of its revolutionary socialist outlook, it will be unbeatable. Our indestructible will to life, and the driving force of the F�hrer's personality guarantee this.' (Joseph Goebbels, 4 June 1943.) It wasn't and it didn't. After the collapse of the German Army in the West in August 1944, the western Allies raced towards the borders of the Reich itself, and in the East the victorious Red Army was doing the same - everyone believed the war would be over by Christmas. But it wasn't. Somehow, Nazi Germany managed to stave off final defeat until May the following year. In the end the agony was brought to a close with the hammer and sickle flying over the ruins of Berlin. The much-vaunted 'Thousand Year Reich' had lasted just a dozen years, but in that time it had wrought havoc across the globe. With defeat came the wholesale surrender of the once-proud Wehrmacht; hosts of men suddenly found themselves miles from home in territories ravaged by war. Amongst their ranks were thousands of non-Germans from all over Europe, men - mostly ex-Waffen-SS - who had thrown in their lot with the Germans; they were now 'collaborators' and 'traitors' and would return home to face the justice of the victors. Most histories focus on the fate of Adolf Hitler and German High Command on the road to the bunker beneath the rubble of Berlin, but on the German side in particular, as defeat loomed this was a battle that would be fought by junior officers and other ranks as the Wehrmacht fell apart. Following on from his successful D-Day Through German Eyes: How the Wehrmacht Lost France, Jonathan Trigg seeks with this second volume to tell the story of Nazi Germany's final defeat through the voices of the men - and women - who witnessed it first-hand. This narrative is written from the 'other side' and told as much as possible through the words of the combatants and civilian witnesses.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sobering reminder that if Hitler had let his generals do their jobs and/or the Allies messed up a few more times, WW2 may have turned out very differently.

What's especially good about this account is that the strategic account is complemented by extracts from participants' diaries and official records.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through this one which is not surprising given that the book consists of the familiar narrative about the defeat of Germany in WW2 but I got new understanding about the plight of the German soldier and civilians towards the end of the war. Highly recommended for readers who want to try and understand the war experience from the Axis perspective. Featuring first hand accounts drawn from numerous sources the author Trigg manages to provide new insights into the performance of the 3rd Reich when it was being pounded by the combined might of the Allied war effort. My takeaway was that the German army and civilians were victims of Hitler’s madness too. There are no winners in war.

[Sven Zimmermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A balanced overview of the last few years of WW2 from the German side. I appreciated the thorough research and the interviews held with the various veterans from the German side. It is always good to see it from the other side so to speak. At times quite harrowing but at the same time inspiring that so much courage was shown during such a terrible ending.

[Cormac Niland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly illustrates the pointlessness of the final years of the war. At certain points it becomes an overwhelmingly depressing read, which reflects well on the author's ability to convey human stories and the stupidity of those final months. I would be very interested in an edition focused on the Eastern front.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relentless story of the end of Nazi Germany and its grip finally broken. The perspective from Germany Eyes is one of a interesting perspective.