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The Gestapo

The Myth and Reality of Hitler's Secret Police

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The Gestapo

By: Frank McDonough
Narrated by: Paul McGann
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About this listen

Name as a 2016 Book of the Year by the Spectator
A Daily Telegraph 'Book of the Week' (August 2015)
Longlisted for 2016 PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize
Ranked in 100 Best Books of 2015 in the Daily Telegraph

Professor Frank McDonough is one of the leading scholars and most popular writers on the history of Nazi Germany.

Frank McDonough's work has been described as, 'modern history writing at its very best...Ground-breaking, fascinating, occasionally deeply revisionist' by renowned historian Andrew Roberts.

Drawing on a detailed examination of previously unpublished Gestapo case files this book relates the fascinating, vivid and disturbing accounts of a cross-section of ordinary and extraordinary people who opposed the Nazi regime. It also tells the equally disturbing stories of their friends, neighbours, colleagues and even relatives who were often drawn into the Gestapo's web of intrigue. The book reveals, too, the cold-blooded and efficient methods of the Gestapo officers.

This book will also show that the Gestapo lacked the manpower and resources to spy on everyone as it was reliant on tip offs from the general public. Yet this did not mean the Gestapo was a weak or inefficient instrument of Nazi terror. On the contrary, it ruthlessly and efficiently targeted its officers against clearly defined political and racial 'enemies of the people'.

The Gestapo will provide a chilling new doorway into the everyday life of the Third Reich and give powerful testimony from the victims of Nazi terror and poignant life stories of those who opposed Hitler's regime while challenging popular myths about the Gestapo.

©2012 Frank McDonough (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
Military War
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Surprising insight inside Germany, enjoyed it immensely and would recommend to all to read ...

Learnt a lot

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The plodding narration made this a dull read. Plus the decision to say 'geshtapo' was an annoyance. This word is used a lot, so that's a lot of annoyance.

a bit of a drone

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A very detailed account of an organisation that was ruthless in its operations for the Nazi regime.

Excellent and very detailed account.

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A very well read book. Lots of fascinating information that I have never heard before and very interesting information on specific cases. The end of the book covers the war crimes era and that was a real eye opener to me.

Stuff I never knew!

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Think you know who the Gestapo were? If you want to know how they were formed, how they came to prominence and how they operated beyond the prescribed history this is the book for you. With nuance and surprises along the way it’s well worth a listen. The last chapter has to be heard to be believed but that bit is not so surprising.

Ignore the stereotypes

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