What do you think?
Rate this book
1945
1945 takes as its departure point from actual history the idea that the US did not fight against Germany after Pearl Harbour. The authors have created a whole new course of history, starting in 1945 with Nazi Germany controlling all Europe except Britain. The hero must foil a Nazi plan.
382 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1995
2 people are currently reading
451 people want to read
About the author
Newt Gingrich
114 books546 followersNewt Gingrich is well-known as the architect of the “Contract with America” that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in forty years. After he was elected Speaker, he disrupted the status quo by moving power out of Washington and back to the American people. Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, the first balanced budget in a generation, and the first tax cut in sixteen years. In addition, the Congress restored funding to strengthen defense and intelligence capabilities, an action later lauded by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission.
Today Newt Gingrich is a Fox News contributor. He is a Senior Advisor at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm with more than 6,500 lawyers in 50 countries and offices in more than 125 cities. He advises the firm’s world-class Public Policy and Regulation practice. He is also a Senior Scientist at Gallup.
From May 2011 to May 2012, Newt Gingrich was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, winning the South Carolina and the Georgia primaries. The campaign was especially notable for its innovative policy agenda, its effort to bring new coalitions into the Republican fold, and for Newt’s debate performances. His $2.50 a gallon energy plan set off a nationwide discussion about the use of America’s energy resources.
But there is a lot more to Newt Gingrich than these remarkable achievements. As an author, Newt has published twenty-nine books including 14 fiction and nonfiction New York Times best-sellers.
Non-fiction books include his latest, Breakout, in addition to A Nation Like No Other, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, To Save America, Rediscovering God in America, 5 Principles for a Successful Life, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less, Real Change, A Contract with the Earth, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America, To Renew America, Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Saving Lives & Saving Money, Window of Opportunity, and The Art of Transformation. He is also the author of a series of historical fiction books including, Gettysburg, Grant Comes East, Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant the Final Victory, 1945, Pearl Harbor, Days of Infamy, To Make Men Free, To Try Men’s Souls, Valley Forge, and Victory at Yorktown. These novels are active history studies in the lessons of warfare based on fictional accounts of historical wartime battles and their aftermaths. His latest novel, Treason, is the sequel to Duplicity and is a thriller of Washington intrigue and international terrorism.
Newt and his wife, Callista, host and produce historical and public policy documentaries. Recent films include The First American, Divine Mercy: The Canonization of John Paul II, A City Upon A Hill, America at Risk, Nine Days That Changed The World, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power.
In his post-Speaker role, Newt has become one of the most highly sought-after public speakers, accepting invitations to speak before prestigious organizations throughout the world. Because of his own unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Newt is able to share unique and unparalleled insights on a wide range of topics. His audiences find him to be not only educational but also inspirational. For more information about Newt’s speaking engagements, please visit the Worldwide Speakers Group.
Widely recognized for his commitment to a better system of health for all Americans, his leadership in the U.S. Congress helped save Medicare from bankruptcy, prompted FDA reform to help the seriously ill and initiated a new focus on research, prevention, and wellness. His contributions have been so great that the American Diabetes Association awarded him their highest non-medical award and the March of Dimes named him their 1995 Citizen of the Year.
To foster a modern health system that provide
Today Newt Gingrich is a Fox News contributor. He is a Senior Advisor at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm with more than 6,500 lawyers in 50 countries and offices in more than 125 cities. He advises the firm’s world-class Public Policy and Regulation practice. He is also a Senior Scientist at Gallup.
From May 2011 to May 2012, Newt Gingrich was a candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, winning the South Carolina and the Georgia primaries. The campaign was especially notable for its innovative policy agenda, its effort to bring new coalitions into the Republican fold, and for Newt’s debate performances. His $2.50 a gallon energy plan set off a nationwide discussion about the use of America’s energy resources.
But there is a lot more to Newt Gingrich than these remarkable achievements. As an author, Newt has published twenty-nine books including 14 fiction and nonfiction New York Times best-sellers.
Non-fiction books include his latest, Breakout, in addition to A Nation Like No Other, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, To Save America, Rediscovering God in America, 5 Principles for a Successful Life, Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less, Real Change, A Contract with the Earth, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract with America, To Renew America, Lessons Learned the Hard Way, Saving Lives & Saving Money, Window of Opportunity, and The Art of Transformation. He is also the author of a series of historical fiction books including, Gettysburg, Grant Comes East, Never Call Retreat: Lee and Grant the Final Victory, 1945, Pearl Harbor, Days of Infamy, To Make Men Free, To Try Men’s Souls, Valley Forge, and Victory at Yorktown. These novels are active history studies in the lessons of warfare based on fictional accounts of historical wartime battles and their aftermaths. His latest novel, Treason, is the sequel to Duplicity and is a thriller of Washington intrigue and international terrorism.
Newt and his wife, Callista, host and produce historical and public policy documentaries. Recent films include The First American, Divine Mercy: The Canonization of John Paul II, A City Upon A Hill, America at Risk, Nine Days That Changed The World, Ronald Reagan: Rendezvous with Destiny, Rediscovering God in America, Rediscovering God in America II: Our Heritage, and We Have the Power.
In his post-Speaker role, Newt has become one of the most highly sought-after public speakers, accepting invitations to speak before prestigious organizations throughout the world. Because of his own unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Newt is able to share unique and unparalleled insights on a wide range of topics. His audiences find him to be not only educational but also inspirational. For more information about Newt’s speaking engagements, please visit the Worldwide Speakers Group.
Widely recognized for his commitment to a better system of health for all Americans, his leadership in the U.S. Congress helped save Medicare from bankruptcy, prompted FDA reform to help the seriously ill and initiated a new focus on research, prevention, and wellness. His contributions have been so great that the American Diabetes Association awarded him their highest non-medical award and the March of Dimes named him their 1995 Citizen of the Year.
To foster a modern health system that provide
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 24, 2016
Really good take on a historical what if...kind of disappointed they didn't finish the series.
But there was one part of the book which literally made me laugh out loud, when the Germans were looking at their invasion plans and said "but don't all Americans own guns? Won't that be a problem?", and the other German goes, "no! Get this, they outlawed firearms in oak ridge, we should be able to walk right in because they can't defend themselves!" Hilarious! What a shameless pro-gun plug...you think newt lobbied a bit to make sure that line made the final cut?
But there was one part of the book which literally made me laugh out loud, when the Germans were looking at their invasion plans and said "but don't all Americans own guns? Won't that be a problem?", and the other German goes, "no! Get this, they outlawed firearms in oak ridge, we should be able to walk right in because they can't defend themselves!" Hilarious! What a shameless pro-gun plug...you think newt lobbied a bit to make sure that line made the final cut?
March 5, 2011
OK, its an interesting story. But once your hooked it ends with a "To be continued". As it was written in 95, Id say its safe to wager it will not be continued ! Perhaps the publisher will think twice before publishing work from a politician again ! If he runs HE WILL NOT HAVE MY VOTE! Cool it, I'm very much a CONSERVITAVE. Alternative history ? How about four more years of the hope and change jerk now because Newt lied about a book ? I honestly feel riped off.
July 16, 2020
What I liked about this book, and Forstchen does this so well, is describing military tactics and their execution. Compare the other books by Forstchen the characters are not as well written and we don't see enough all the viewpoint of the Germans, Forstchen usually does a good job of giving us the war from both points of view. It is sad that this book was written in 1995 and it leaves you with a cliffhanger for the 2nd book which is not been written.
April 13, 2008
I would rate the book higher, but it is the first book in an intended series and Newt has pretty much admitted that the sequels will never be written.
An alternative history. What if the US had never entered the conflict against Germany. The year is 1945. The US were the vistors in the Pacific. The Germans defeated the European allies. Now what?
An alternative history. What if the US had never entered the conflict against Germany. The year is 1945. The US were the vistors in the Pacific. The Germans defeated the European allies. Now what?
May 23, 2021
An exciting read with all one could ask for in an alternative history thriller. The scene is a post WWII world in which the U. S. had fought only Japan after Pearl Harbor while Western Europe and Russia fought to a stalemate with a greatly expanded Germany. Hitler yearns for further expansion, learns that American progress toward an atomic bomb is ahead of Germany's effort, and plans a massive attack to curtail America's lead. Enemy characters include WWII German warriors, suck as special operations master, Otto Skorzeny, General Erwin Rommel, Luftwaffe fighter pilot ace Adolph Galland, and others. An ace American naval aviator, Lt. Commander James Martel, injured in a carrier landing crash is serving as an military intelligence officer in Berlin. He emerges as the book's hero as the intel he gathers and his strategic thinking provide the key to discerning the planned German sabotage attempt by Skorzeny in the U. S. The American cast of big names includes 'Wild Bill" Donovan, head of the OSS, organizational rival J. Edgar Hoover, General Marshall, chief wartime planner, Alvin York, the WWI hero, Winston Churchill, and a few others.
The action--and tension--is well plotted, the stakes are high, and the writing engaging. Recommended as a rewarding entertainment read. A disappointment was the book's conclusion, "To be continued." The story of the Skorzeny raid is wrapped up, but the ensuing reaction against Germany is left for another book. Wikipedia informs that the second portion has still not been published after 25+ years. Still, what is here is good reading.
The action--and tension--is well plotted, the stakes are high, and the writing engaging. Recommended as a rewarding entertainment read. A disappointment was the book's conclusion, "To be continued." The story of the Skorzeny raid is wrapped up, but the ensuing reaction against Germany is left for another book. Wikipedia informs that the second portion has still not been published after 25+ years. Still, what is here is good reading.
December 21, 2025
this book cares about troop movements and military logistics in a way that makes the book a slog to read
July 23, 2016
I read this book at a time in my life when I was devouring everything WWII (roughly late middle-school to early high school). I similarly devoured 1945 and immensely enjoyed it. What if Germany and the U.S. never ended up going to war after Pearl Harbor? I thought the conclusions Newt and Forstchen drew were actually pretty reasonable: Germany gets its act together and pacifies most of the Western Soviet Union, America cleans Japan's clock and then pushes on to prop up the Chinese Nationalists, Great Britain is in a tense armistice with Nazi Europe, and the Manhattan Project progress is slowed down.
Given these circumstances it makes a lot of sense that a somewhat paranoid Germany would want to deliver a crushing blow to America's atomic bomb efforts before going for all the proverbial marbles.
From what I can recall (it has been more than a few years) the plot was nicely paced, there was a good bit of action, and very little overt political messages (save, perhaps, for extolling the virtues a privately held firearms and citizen militias). I thought the ending did a great job closing out the book and setting up for the inevitable clash between America and Nazi Europe...
...but that never happened. Seriously, this book came out in the mid-1990's and as far as I can tell there will never be a sequel. We will never find out who would win in a fight between Rommel and Patton in the English Countryside, if the makeshift improvements the Americans can make to their weapons can overcome or blunt Germany's technological advantage, if Stalin will end up stabbing Hitler in the back at the least convenient time. It is not like Newt is doing much these days (though how much he contributed to these endeavor is unclear).
At the end of the day the potential of this book is squashed by the lack of any follow through making it, in retrospect, a somewhat empty experience and waste of a great "what if" story.
Given these circumstances it makes a lot of sense that a somewhat paranoid Germany would want to deliver a crushing blow to America's atomic bomb efforts before going for all the proverbial marbles.
From what I can recall (it has been more than a few years) the plot was nicely paced, there was a good bit of action, and very little overt political messages (save, perhaps, for extolling the virtues a privately held firearms and citizen militias). I thought the ending did a great job closing out the book and setting up for the inevitable clash between America and Nazi Europe...
...but that never happened. Seriously, this book came out in the mid-1990's and as far as I can tell there will never be a sequel. We will never find out who would win in a fight between Rommel and Patton in the English Countryside, if the makeshift improvements the Americans can make to their weapons can overcome or blunt Germany's technological advantage, if Stalin will end up stabbing Hitler in the back at the least convenient time. It is not like Newt is doing much these days (though how much he contributed to these endeavor is unclear).
At the end of the day the potential of this book is squashed by the lack of any follow through making it, in retrospect, a somewhat empty experience and waste of a great "what if" story.
January 1, 2024
I’m exploring this alternative history genre, and it’s fascinating fantasy for me. In this book WWII ends with Germany winning in Europe, because the U.S. remained focused on defeating Japan after Pearl Harbor. In this book Hitler never declared war and never provoked the U.S. Until 1945, when a very strong German military machine decides to pounce on the U.S. atomic development assets and simultaneously invading Britain more forcibly than it did in 1940. The plot is interesting, which is why I picked it. And I wanted to see how the writers devolved the details and how they twisted history from there. All in all It was a quick read. I liked the writers style, if you accept the far-out fantasy of the whole thing. I’ll likely explore some other authors like this. 1945 is an OK read.
December 2, 2010
Sobering account of what could have been if Nazi Germany were to continue its ascent through 1945. While entirely fiction, is is not too far fetched. The German sout team arrives to South Carolina by boat; walks right up the shore and gets in a truck for Tenessee. All the while Police and civilians thinking all the strange activity is not really a big deal. The novel causes me to re-examine if the US is focused on the right things when it comes to national security.
Just one disclosusre: I don't see much of a point in reading past page 320 or so in this book. The last 60+ pages are setting up for a sequel or full series of subsequent novels. We haven't seen any in 15 years so I'm confident it will never happen...no need to read into the ramp up of nothing.
Just one disclosusre: I don't see much of a point in reading past page 320 or so in this book. The last 60+ pages are setting up for a sequel or full series of subsequent novels. We haven't seen any in 15 years so I'm confident it will never happen...no need to read into the ramp up of nothing.
June 11, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. After I got past my version of World war 2 and allowed myself to enter this alternate world I found the story compelling, the characters engaging and it really built into a suspense story. It begs for a sequel but having been written in 1995 I don't think its going to happen. I would love to see where this story goes.
April 20, 2011
The worst book ever written....really. Just horrible. This is to literature what one of those flus that leave you with both explosive diarrehea and vomiting are to a "good time". Forstchen's "lost Regiment" is a well written, fun read. This is so bad, that even though I borrowed this book for free, I demanded my money back when I returned it.
May 24, 2019
Basis is what would have happened if Germany had not declared war on the United States in 1941. From there the authors take a trail through what did occur with the twist of a US - Japan war alone arriving in 1945 with a Germany still in control of Europe. The last third of the book was compelling.
November 24, 2011
I found the book very compelling. I could not put it down. As a life long student of history the characters were like meeting old friends. I recommend this to anyone who likes history and a good yarn.
April 15, 2015
I found the book to be lacking in substance and prose. I read this book while resting with a cold and I think it took me all of a couple hours to speed read the entire book and still understand the plot.
For alternate history I would recommend skipping this one.
For alternate history I would recommend skipping this one.
November 6, 2020
I read this as a recommend by a close friend. It is a decent alternate history novel whose story kept me involved and entertained. Not sure if I believe Newt Gingrich conceived and wrote it all but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. P.Moscarella/Machinia.ca
October 11, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. I wish they had chosen to continue the story. I plan to read the newer WWII novels out.
December 26, 2010
The end sets you up for a sequel that will probably never be written.
March 25, 2012
I gave this book 3 stars but BE WARNED.
There is no sequel to this, the story will leave you hanging so Caveat lector.
There is no sequel to this, the story will leave you hanging so Caveat lector.
January 24, 2016
A page turner but a light read. A nice break for the serious history buffs. It ponders what would have happened if Hitler had won World War II and if the US had stayed out of the war in Europe.
January 7, 2017
I suppose that, two decades later, a sequel is too much to ask for.
Read
January 24, 2017Couldn't get into it, may revisit sometime in the future but I didn't realize it was meant to be part of a series that never happened so... probably not.
November 18, 2017
I thought the book was a fast paced, fast read. I was disappointed that there isn't a sequel even though it is to be continued.
August 21, 2019
Nice alternate history of WW2, but.... It's first book in planed series, and sequels are never written. And never will be. Disappointing. Very.
October 7, 2020
Yet another, Hitler victorious, sci-fi novel.
A tired plot that has been done to death.
And done better elsewhere, than this novel.
A tired plot that has been done to death.
And done better elsewhere, than this novel.
March 3, 2020
read it in three days back in the day. Too bad liberal bigots and intolerants didn't see past the politics and let someone write a decent book. There is a line in the book where the germans talk about invading the USA and being wary because all Americans owned guns. Some said it was a plug for pro gun rights, but IN REALITY BOTH the Japs and Germans were concerned about invading CONUS for EXACTLY this reason. While they were pretty sure they could win, the real issue was that the number of guns and groups owning guns, especially illegal automatic weapons ( which remember the mob wars were only over a few years and owning a thompson was only illegal less than 10) could cause a large number of casualties among any invading force. Additionally the Germans had a healthy dose of respect for the rural American's skills which in the 1940's weren't far removed from settler days.....
November 19, 2018
Very good story that held my interest all the way to the end.
Then it said "TO BE CONTINUED".
I can't find the sequel.
Then it said "TO BE CONTINUED".
I can't find the sequel.
December 20, 2018
Not a bad read, however it needs a conclusion!!
April 13, 2024
an alternate reality, certain real characters and fictional characters, wanted this to be dnf, but, i 'soldiered on'.
January 9, 2025
Prima čtení z alternativních historie. Dal bych i 5* ale chybí konec příběhu.
July 21, 2025
Spectacular addition to the whatif historical genre, Forstchen and Gingrich deliver another masterpiece. I want a sequel!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews