STAY ALIVE: BERLIN 1939 – 1945
Stay Alive is authored by Ian Buruma. His reason for writing this book was to describe the conditions in Berlin during World War II The source of some of the information came from his father who was living there at the time.
The events and the lives described in the book deal with circumstances some would choose to forget, especially Germans. But it is important that what is reported in this book is never forgotten.
Life in Berlin was extremely difficult during this time. Not only for Jews, which is well documented, but for all the residents. Stray out of line and the punishment could be brutal no matter what your nationality, up to and including death.
This time in Berlin and the conditions under which the people were forced to live were the result of a small group being given too much power and this group included some who were totally incompetent.
The destruction caused by the war approached Berlin gradually. Even after England declared war on Germany, Berlin was spared being bombed. But that would drastically change especially after America joined the conflict.
This book is worth reading even if you are not a history buff for it brings to light the depth to which society can be led by those who have no right to be leading.
August 26, 2026 at 12:01 pm
I just completed reading In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. He is a superb writer of creative nonfiction. His books are fact made to read as novels resulting in a page-turner of history.
This work covers the rise of Nazi Germany with Hitler and his henchmen gaining control of the government. The events are viewed through the eyes of William E. Dodd, in 1933, the newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Germany stationed in Berlin.
The story is a chilling recounting of the slow increase in terror and insanity of the Nazis toward the German population and especially the Jews. Reflected is how the horror slowly escalates until it is impossible to halt progress towards world conflict.
December 19, 2013 at 12:49 am
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