Try free for 30 days

  • The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

  • A History of Nazi Germany
  • By: William L. Shirer
  • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
  • Length: 57 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (814 ratings)

A 30-day trial plus your first audiobook free.
1 credit/month after trial—to buy any title you like, yours to keep.
Listen all you want to a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich cover art

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

By: William L. Shirer
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $44.99

Buy Now for $44.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Since its publication in 1960, William L. Shirer’s monumental study of Hitler’s German empire has been widely acclaimed as the definitive record of the twentieth century’s blackest hours. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has attained the status of a vital and enduring classic.

Now, years after the end of World War II, it may seem incredible that our most valued institutions, and way of life, were threatened by the menace that Hitler and the Third Reich represented. Shirer’s description of events and the cast of characters who played such pivotal roles in defining the course Europe was to take is unforgettable.

Benefiting from his many years as a reporter, and thus a personal observer of the rise of Nazi Germany, and availing himself of some of the 485 tons of documents from the German Foreign Office, as well as countless other diaries, phone transcriptions, and other written records meticulously kept at every level by the Germans, Shirer has put together a brutally objective account of how Hitler wrested political control of Germany, and planned and executed his six-year quest to dominate the world, only to see Germany go down in flames. 

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is a vast, richly rewarding experience for anyone who wants to come to grips with the mysterious question of how this menace to civilization ever came into being, much less was sustained for as long as it was. The answer, unfortunately, is that most of Germany, for a whole host of reasons, embraced Nazism and the fanaticism that Hitler engendered.

©1990 William L. Shirer (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

“One of the most important works of history of our time.” ( The New York Times)
”A splendid work of scholarship, objective in method, sound in judgment, inescapable in its conclusions.” ( The New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    725
  • 4 Stars
    76
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    653
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    648
  • 4 Stars
    62
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

tremendous volume

unparalleled in it's exhaustive detail. The great effort put into explaining the historical background of Germany from the HRE to The Great War was a highlight for me

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

I thought I knew a lot about NAZI Germany but I was wrong. This book has been so successful because of the writer's objective telling of the facts.

The number of referenced documents and eye witness accounts really is the difference between this book and similar books.

The length of the book is a non-issue in the audiobook format, I found myself looking for opportunities to sit down and continue listening.

To William L. Shirer The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich has changed my life. There have not been many books that I can say have moved me to such a point, so from the bottom of my heart thank you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A brilliant study of humankind's darkest regime.

William L Shirer not only had remarkable access to the documents and diaries of Hitler's Nazi regime but actually experienced first hand as well. This personal insight makes this much more than an academic dissertation on this horrendous period in human history. In Shirer's narrative you can really feel the exasperation and despair of those watching on as the 20th century's worst megalomaniac tore the world apart and ultimately brought himself and his people to ruin.

The fall of Hitler's Third Reich is a favourite subject of so many movies and documentaries but what was particularly interesting was Shirer's insight into how Hitler managed to get to the place where he could wreak the havoc that was WW II. His brutal indictment of the actions, and mostly inactions, of the nations that would eventually become allied against Hitler, that could have and should have stopped Hitler in his tracks long before millions and millions of innocent people lost their lives, was a real eye-opener.

Very well read by Grover Gardner who maintains this strong but very long narrative with great tone and inflection.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

In depth recount of the rise and fall

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a long book, I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the Third Reich from their perspective. He uses the Germans captured documents to give a recount of what happened on the inside of the government.
William also lived in Germany at the time as a reporter so he has a first hand perspective on the situation as well.

What about Grover Gardner’s performance did you like?

Grover Gardner has a fantastic voice and he was very easy to listen to, 5 stars for the performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Even if you wanted to you cant its 56 hours. Its very good though and I listened to it start to finish without listening to anything else in between.

Any additional comments?

The amount of detail in this book is amazing. This book uses the German's captured archived documents and personal diaries of major players as the majority of sources. It was very interesting to get first hand recounts of what happened, you will get an insight into the depth of the treachery and deceit they played on other people, entire countries and governments as well as themselves all the way to their fall.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Informative and well written

A great well written book with good flow and chapter structure. Books of this length can sometimes drag on or have bad flow but the author managed to keep me interested and following through to the end.

I enjoyed the authors experiences and opinions throughout the book.

This book is of course primarily focused on Germany but I would have liked some more references towards Japan and their relations with Germany and the actions during the war. The chapter on this is smaller and may be because of less reference material and the author not having personal experiences with this.

Great performance also!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Rex
  • 07-04-2017

A message to future generations

This was a captivating book. The authoritative sources added to the book's immense value.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

surprisingly excellent

I went from fantasy epics to this book. I had it in my library for months before I started listening.

there was so much specific information that I wasn't sure if be able to continue. however, the reader was absolutely excellent and we'll spoken. soon it was normal to listen for 8+ hours daily at work.

I've learned a lot, and I remember more than I was expecting. however, I do struggle with the amount of names. I remember each guy as what they do as that feels easier.

I strongly recommend this to all. especially those who push bigger governments and the removal of free speech.

5/5 all around.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Absolutely fascinating, enthralling & captivating. A brilliant example of research, writing & oration.
Highly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen

It was difficult putting the book down. It was a compelling listen and beautifully structured and presented. I didn't find it hard going in the least even though it is a a very long listen.
The whole story seems to be there and its sources are cited. It is a compelling insight to what the Nazis were all about.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So comprehensive!

If you are looking for a comprehensive overview of the rise and fall of both Hitler and the Third Reich, this could be for you! Beware, it is super long !!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.