| Red Orchestra - The Story of the Berlin Underground and the Circle of Friends Who Resisted Hitler
(2009)
|
| Front Cover |
Book Details |
|
| Genre |
Non-Fiction |
| Subject |
Anti-Nazi movement--Germany--Berlin--History; Berlin (Germany) - History - 1918-1945; Espionage - Germany - Berlin - History - 20th century; World War, 1939-1945 - Underground movements |
| Publication Date |
4/7/2009 |
| Format |
Hardcover (9.4
x
6.4
mm)
|
| Publisher |
Random House |
| Language |
English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
|
| Description |
| The poignant story of a circle of ordinary Germans in Berlin who, through their contacts in film, theater, propaganda, academia, government, and the military, conspired to bring down the Nazis. |
| Personal Details |
| Store |
History Book Club |
| Purchase Price |
$13.24 |
| Acquire Date |
3/11/2010 |
| Condition |
As New |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
|
|
| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
DD256.4.B47 .N45 2009 |
| Dewey |
943.155086 |
| ISBN |
9781400060009 |
| Edition |
Book Club Edition |
| Cover Price |
$27.00 |
| No. of Pages |
416 |
| First Edition |
No |
| Rare |
No |
|
| Notes/Review |
$10.00 + $3.24 shipping
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This is the story of Rote Kapelle, Red Orchestra, the name the Gestapo gave a diverse group of anti-fascists in Berlin. It is an attempt to tell the whole story, from 1927 to well after the war. The struggle (for the survivors) didn't end with the war; they were caught between the Cold War powers who each wanted to twist the story to fit the propaganda needs of the post-war decades.
It is a fascinating story. These resistance fighters risked their lives every day for more than a decade, attempting to get intelligence to the Soviets, Americans, and British, only to have their hard won information ignored by all. On top of that, they were hampered by the incompetence of the professional spies of the Allies and Stalin's odd combination of paranoia and trust of Hitler prior to Barbarossa.
Repeatedly I found myself thinking of the incredible stress these people found themselves under. Many rose to positions of relative power in the Nazi regime while aiding Jews, gathering intelligence, publishing and distributing leaflets, and perpetrating minor sabotage. Some were Communist Party members, some were Social Democrats, some in theatre and film, some in the military. All were constantly at risk, and ultimately betrayed by the incredibly stupid actions of Soviet intelligence. |
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