Berlin cover art

Berlin

The Downfall 1945: The authoritative history book uncovering the final days of the Nazi Third Reich

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Berlin

By: Antony Beevor
Narrated by: Peter Noble
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £10.88

Buy Now for £10.88

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Berlin by Antony Beevor, read by Peter Noble.


Berlin: The Downfall 1945 is Antony Beevor's brilliant account of the fall of the Third Reich.

The Red Army had much to avenge when it finally reached the frontiers of the Reich in January 1945. Political instructors rammed home the message of Wehrmacht and SS brutality. The result was the most terrifying example of fire and sword ever known, with tanks crushing refugee columns under their tracks, mass rape, pillage and destruction. Hundreds of thousands of women and children froze to death or were massacred because Nazi Party chiefs, refusing to face defeat, had forbidden the evacuation of civilians. Over seven million fled westwards from the terror of the Red Army.

Antony Beevor reconstructs the experiences of those millions caught up in the nightmare of the Third Reich's final collapse, telling a terrible story of pride, stupidity, fanatacism, revenge and savagery, but also one of astonishing endurance, self-sacrifice and survival against all odds.

 Europe Germany Military Russia Western Europe Revenge Imperialism War Survival Scary Holocaust Suspenseful Thought-Provoking Soviet Union Red Army
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

Fascinating, extraordinary, gripping
A masterpiece of modern historical writing (Michael Burleigh)
This brilliant storyteller makes us feel the chaos and the fear as if every drop of blood was our own. It is much more than just a humane account; it is compellingly readable, deeply researched, and beautifully written (Simon Sebag Montefiore)
All stars
Most relevant
Wonderful insight into the mindset of all those involved. Eternally grateful that the sheer evil of National Socialism and it's hatred of other races was defeated.

Thought provoking.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
beevor at his best well read and the detail takes you right there as it happens

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Anthony Beevor writes clearly and describes the whole political military and social situation that is Berlin as WW2 draws to a close. This tragic human mess is analysed so one gains some
understanding of the civilian and military situation as civilians fought to preserve life, some Germans army officers to avoid a senseless slaughter and the Nazis wishing to increase it. The Russian Arms brutalised by its treatment fought desperately to win but sadly their war crimes, including the rape of thousands of women was to go unpunished - no justice for these women. Read this book if you wish to understand the dying days of WW2 Berlin. Beevor is stupendous - as usual.

Berlin

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
By allowing the Red Army getting yo Berlin first, the Americans and the British have blood on their hands, allowing the brutality the Red Russian soldiers carried out In Berlin. Their behaviour are simply inhumane and should be held for crime against humanity, no different to how the Germans were hold responsible for their brutality against the Jews.
It saddened me to hear about such behaviour and wondering whether that is what human being are capable of, especially men against female. Some of us humans, if we cannot control our desires and acts on them without moral boundaries, we are just an animal, the cruellest types of animals!

A very good record on a horrible part of the Victory over Germany

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well researched, well narrated and very well paced. Excited to read my next Antony Beevor.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews