Last Train from Berlin Hardcover – January 1, 1942

There are things humanity must not ever forget, and the spirit of the world while the war was actually going on is one of them. Given that so much was written after the fact and upon reflection, reading the voices speaking directly from that time is important. There are surprising viewpoints, a certain resonance to present day, and as you read, a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach because you know what's really going on; the elderly Jewish neighbor lady was not dragged out of her bed at 4 am to be sent to colonize conquered Russian lands.

I remember Howard k. Smith well. He was a respected journalist and one of the pioneers of T.V. Journalism. It was obvious after reading his Account of the first couple of years of WW ll, which he spent at the center of Nazi and Axis power, Berlin, and Germany, hobnobbing with the likes of Hitler, whom he interviewed, and Most all of the Nazi elite, whom he disliked and, as he said so often in the book, disdained and disrespected, that Mr. Smith's professionalism and deep knowledge of the politicians and dictators whom he commented on during his broadcasts and later commentaries was honed. I enjoyed his insightful description of life in Germany at the very beginning of the war, how cocky the Nazi elite were, when they were mighty and won each and every confrontation. Life for the German people as they began their battle of domination was great during those days of endless success on the battlefield. A cornucopia of raw material purloined from the vanquished French, Beligians, Etc., sustained their armies and provided an endless bounty of food, and delicacies which sustained them and buoyed the spirits of the ordinary Germans during the sale days of war , between 1939 and 1941. Then on the very day that the U.S. After Peral Harbor, declared War on Germany, Mr. Smith was asked to leave Germany and took that " Last Train from Berlin". That's where the narrative ends. H.K.S. Took that train to Switzerland, where he continued to report on the war, and eventually as the War turned against Germany, he became a war correspondent and witnessed the once glorious germany victories morph into disastrous defeats, dragging the German citizens into a nightmare from which they still have not completly awakened.It is interesting to note that, Mr. Smith, had an almost adoring and false view of Russia and it's Government. He was taken in by the The View of the benevolence of the The Leadership, not at all noting the murderous policies introduced by Stalin, which caused the dislocation of many millions of his political enemies, and indeed the outright murder of tens of millions of Farmers who did not want to give up their farms and join collectives. Even an intelligent, hones, and otherwise virtuous person, such as H.K.S., was duped by propaganda , mostly because he wanted to be. I would say that, in his over zealous embracing of the Russia which he assumed existed, he was perhaps one of the first journalists , who at least when it had to do with 'all things Russian', in the '30s and '40s, could be called Politicaly Correct.Sal Lorenzini

Exciting and personal memoir of CBS reporter Howard K. Smith takes you to the Germany of the early Third Reich era. Enjoyable and historical reading.

I read this book, here in Brazil.This book shows, how bad was the life, in Berlin, during the two first years of World War II.In fact, the author himself compares Berlin of 1939-1941 to a cadaver:grey and ugly.Some failures of this book:1-At the beggining of this book, the author claims, that Hitler never gave nothing good to germans.I'm not a nazist, but until the war, Hitler gave full employement and national pride to the germans.Hitler didn't dominated Germany just with Gestapo, but with economic growing.In fact, in 1938 , nazi Germany was the world number one producer of aluminium and number two(after USA) of steel.2-Being published in 1942, this claims that nazi war production was in decline since 1941.In fact, only after summer of 1944 german war production fell.3-This book "forgets" that former Soviet Union was behind the money to nazi party.Even with these (and others) defects, this book remains usefull.The main lesson of this book is that nazism was terrible, even for the germans. Seeing how bad was life in Berlin in these times, I become scare , even to think how terrible was life in places such as Poland, at that times.

I'm about to reread this book. When I read it many years ago, I was intrigued by the inside view Mr. Smith gave. The Arrogance & cruelty of the Nazis did not surprise me. But my eyes were opened for the first time concerning the extreme suffering of the average German citizen! The male children were lured away from their parents to the youth group Hitler had in place to groom future Nazi elite & soldiers. Turning their parents in when they helped the opposition was encouraged. The biggest shock was having the citizens nutrition removed in order to keep the elite Nazis & troops well fed. Fats,sugars & many fruits & vegetables were Not available! They came up with fake substitutes that were termed "Erzats food"! They really suffered! A very informative book.

I picked up this book ,just a few days ago.I always have had great respect for Howard K. Smith,so reading this book was truly a voyage through history. one has to keep in mind that the book was written before anyone knew the WWII outcome, hence it reinforce the excellent and accurate analysis of the writer,and his prophecies. I am sorry ,he did make it more personal,but that was his call. My mother, a swiss neutral, who traveled through Germany and Berlin at the time, still living today, feels that Berlin was a bit different from the rest of Germany, in the sense,that anti nazi feelings ,although a very very small minority ,were kept to oneself,and was more preponderant in Berlin. No one would dare speak his mind ,but to a well trusted foreigner. Your life was on the line. HKS did reconfirm these facts.A must read to historical buff of this era.Very good book ,indeed.

Little known but very interesting book made better with the benefit of historical hindsight; well written viewpoint by an American journalist of daily life inside Hitler's Germany before the USA entered the war. Well with a thumb through.Book arrived very quickly and the condition was as described.Would recommend this seller and will use again.

wartime book in fine condition - punchy and wonderfully descriptive and prophetic writing of Nazi Berlin in the early stages of the war.

This is an eye-opening read. Maybe it was a famous book in its day, but it should remain so today as salutary reminder of the horrors of total war

Fully satisfied

Great book.