Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • 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
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,717 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
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
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £29.99

Buy Now for £29.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire cover art
The Nuremberg Interviews cover art
End of a Berlin Diary cover art
The Nazi Menace cover art
Warlords cover art
The Collapse of the Third Republic cover art
The Third Reich at War cover art
The Third Reich in Power cover art
The Nazis cover art
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World cover art
The Wages of Destruction cover art
The Weimar Years cover art
American Prometheus cover art
Meat Grinder cover art
The Coming of the Third Reich cover art
War by Timetable cover art

Editor reviews

Beautifully crafted prose and an astounding degree of research have been put into one of the leading Nazi Germany audiobooks written to date - The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by well-known and respected American journalist, war correspondent and historian, William L. Shirer. Shirer’s deeply informative and absorbing writing is narrated by prominent American audio performer Grover Gardiner. Listeners are given a thoroughly researched and hugely informative look at the factors that contributed to the rise of Hitler’s Third Reich, of the resulting atrocities and the events that caused its ultimate downfall. Available now from Audible.

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
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,213
  • 4 Stars
    381
  • 3 Stars
    79
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    29
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,779
  • 4 Stars
    237
  • 3 Stars
    63
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    10
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,791
  • 4 Stars
    222
  • 3 Stars
    51
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    14

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

Long But Stick With It

Didn't realise just how long this book was when I purchased but do not regret it. Fantastic from beginning to end.

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

Incredible! Took me forever but worth every minute.

An absolute must have in your library for ww2 history. Worth every penny! Thanks for putting this on audiobook, I don't think I would have got through this if reading it.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

a brilliant detailed history of a dark time

Nazi Germany's deepest secrets laid bare. the horror and madness of a nations pursuit of immortality and glory

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Hard work

lot of unknown facts but not easy finding 28 hours to hear all the facts.

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

Wonderful book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich to be better than the print version?

Don't think I would have got round to reading this book as it's so thick, which would have been such a loss as what a great book. I drive a lot with work and put it on and it's been like a constant companion. Having listened to Stephen kings the stand read by Grover I knew he was a brilliant narrator as unfortunately there are a few naff ones out there.

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
  • SD
  • 12-07-16

Amazing

Never before has a book to moved me. Definitely a keeper to relisten to again - very large, very detailed, great narritive - same narrator as the Laws of Success I believe.

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

Best World War Two book I've read so far

Where does The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Its up there with the best, this book tells you everything from before 1933 to 1945 and beyond, you learn about the in-fighting the political moves within germany, you learn the sociological aspects of the third reich (many people mistakenly believe the Nazi party to be socialist when this actually was used as a way of gaining power)

What did you like best about this story?

I think it is most comprehensive look at germany and the Reich during the period of time, it goes into great depth from someone who was there for a long period of the time

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

the narrator is ok, if you have Stephen King's the stand or many other audiobooks then you have heard his voice, hes a big name in the industry and does a good job here, his speech is clear and his mannerisms suit the book

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

this is not a book which will move you but will give you the facts you need. im pretty sure i could go into a history exam at any level on the period and give a half decent attempt at passing

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Exceptionally good

For a history book, the narrative is remarkably accessible and entertaining to listen to. The narrator does an excellent job.

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

Truly facinating!

This is a most fascinating account of the third reich. I afterward read Shires 'Berlin Diaries' and the two are truly fascinating together!

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

An epic and fascinating history of WW2

This is one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

The reader is pleasant to listen to and words are enunciated well.

The author offers a different perspective of the Third Reich , ( he doesn't shy away from the horrors of the war and policies of the Nazi's but also doesn't allow them to detract from giving the history of the Reich).

The book answers a lot of the why and how of Hitler's rise to power. (Questions I've never had properly explained until this book).

All of the known historical figure are covered along with the other generally unknown names.

This is a 2010 production of a book originally copyrighted in 1959. It's an astounding piece of work.

The production is excellent.

If you have any interest in WW2 you will be educated buy this book.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!