The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

Simon & Schuster

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The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany is an account by American journalist William L. Shirer that details the emergence and collapse of Nazi Germany from Adolf Hitler’s birth in 1889 through to the conclusion of World War II in Europe in 1945. Released in 1960 by Simon & Schuster, the book became a bestseller across both the United States and Europe, receiving significant praise internationally, particularly outside Germany where critical attention further enhanced its commercial success. It was honored with the National Book Award for non-fiction, although scholarly historians provided a range of opinions regarding its accuracy and interpretation.

Shirer’s narrative relies on a variety of sources including seized Nazi records, diaries penned by propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels, General Franz Halder, Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano, documentation from the Nuremberg trials, reports from the British Foreign Office, as well as Shirer’s own firsthand observations while reporting in Germany between 1934 and 1940 for newspapers, United Press International (UPI), and CBS Radio.

Content and themes

In The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Shirer offers his perspective on the Nazi period, proposing that German history naturally evolved from figures like Martin Luther to Adolf Hitler; he contends that Hitler’s ascent was more a reflection of inherent German national traits than part of a wider international shift toward totalitarian regimes. Shirer encapsulated this argument by describing a German tradition that esteemed "blind obedience to temporal rulers" as a paramount virtue. This concept, known as the Sonderweg (special path), was prevalent among American scholars during that era but continues to be debated within academic circles. The book also ventures into speculative territory, including hypotheses such as SS Chief Heinrich Müller potentially having joined the Soviet NKVD after World War II.

Development history

The editorial oversight was provided by Joseph Barnes, who served as foreign editor for the New York Herald Tribune and had previously worked as a speechwriter for Wendell Willkie; Barnes was also a long-standing friend of Shirer. The manuscript experienced delays exceeding five years, during which time Simon & Schuster repeatedly threatened to terminate the publishing agreement; each time Barnes successfully negotiated extensions. Shirer encountered financial difficulties before completing the work; however, the Overbrook Foundation, supported by Frank Altschul’s family, provided an initial $5,000 in 1958 along with a promise of an additional $5,000 six months later, allowing Shirer to finalize his manuscript. Shirer later acknowledged that this financial assistance was crucial to both his survival and the completion of his book.

Initially bearing the title Hitler's Nightmare Empire with The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich as its subtitle, the book’s title and cover design were revised after Robert Gottlieb opted to publish it as one volume. Nina Bourne decided to elevate the subtitle to primary title status, while art director Frank Metz created a black dust jacket featuring a swastika emblem. Although some bookstores initially objected to the cover symbol, it remained unchanged and was distributed alongside the publication.

Success and Recognition

Released in the United States on October 17, 1960, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich achieved sales exceeding one million hardcover copies—two-thirds of which were distributed through the Book of the Month Club—and surpassed one million in paperback sales. In 1961, Simon & Schuster sold the paperback rights to Fawcett Publications for $400,000, an amount equivalent to roughly $2 million today. The book earned the 1961 National Book Award for Nonfiction as well as the Carey–Thomas Award.

A 1962 serialization in Reader's Digest expanded its audience to approximately 12 million readers. Historian Hugh Trevor-Roper lauded it as "a splendid work of scholarship." The book also enjoyed strong international sales in countries including Britain, France, Italy, and West Germany, where editorial critiques further heightened its visibility.

Both Shirer and his publisher were taken aback by the book's popularity; their initial print run was a conservative 12,500 copies, reflecting an underestimation of post-war public interest in Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Criticism

Despite widespread acclaim among journalists, some academics voiced criticism, especially those who opposed the Sonderweg or "Luther to Hitler" interpretation. In West Germany, this perspective was largely dismissed in favor of understanding Nazism as one instance of totalitarianism comparable to other regimes. Historian Gavriel Rosenfeld observed that during the 1960s, German scholars condemned Rise and Fall for its potential to damage US–West Germany relations by possibly fueling anti-German sentiments within the United States.

Klaus Epstein highlighted "four major deficiencies": an overly simplistic understanding of German history, an imbalance marked by significant omissions, a lack of comprehension regarding modern totalitarian systems, and a disregard for contemporary Nazi research.

Elizabeth Wiskemann characterized the book as "insufficiently scholarly and inadequately written to meet academic standards," although she recognized its value as a practical guide.

Decades later, LGBT advocate Peter Tatchell criticized its portrayal of the persecution of homosexuals in Nazi Germany. Philosopher Jon Stewart included it among texts that perpetuate myths about Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel.

Historian Richard J. Evans, author of The Third Reich Trilogy, described it as an accessible general history whose success is understandable but noted that Shirer’s work falls outside academic consensus and lacks engagement with current scholarship.

Adaptations and Editions

In 1968, ABC broadcast a three-part television adaptation directed by Jack Kaufman, narrated by Richard Basehart, with a score composed by Lalo Schifrin. Produced by David L. Wolper Productions alongside MGM Television, the series aired over three consecutive evenings.

Since its initial publication in 1960, the book has undergone multiple reprints. The 1990 edition included an afterword in which Shirer reflected on the book’s early reception and Germany’s future prospects amid reunification. The 2011 edition features a new introduction by Ron Rosenbaum. Key editions include:

• Grupo Océano (1987, hardcover)
• Simon & Schuster (1990, US paperback)
• Arrow Books (1990, UK paperback)
• Folio Society (2004, hardcover)
• Simon & Schuster (2011, US hardcover and paperback)

An audiobook version narrated by Grover Gardner was issued by Blackstone Audio in 2010.

Comparable or connected publications

• The Second World War authored by Antony Beevor (2012)
• Inferno: The World at War, 1939-1945 written by Max Hastings (2011)
• The Storm of War by historian Andrew Roberts (2009)

Related topics

• Berlin Diary
• List of books by or about Adolf Hitler
• The Collapse of the Third Republic, another work by Shirer

References

Notes

Source citations

Works cited

• Epstein, Klaus. The Review of Politics, Vol. 23, No. 2 (April 1961). "Shirer's History of Nazi Germany."
• Evans, Richard J. The Coming of the Third Reich (2004) Penguin Press HC.
• Johnson, Lonnie Rf. Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbors and Friends (2001) Oxford University Press, USA.
• Rosenfeld, Gavriel D. "The Reception of William L. Shirer's the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in the United States and West Germany, 1960–62," Journal of Contemporary History, 1995, Vol. 29, Issue 1, pp. 95–128.
• Shanahan, William O. The American Historical Review, Vol. 68, No. 1 (October 1962)
• Siemon Netto, Uwe. The Fabricated Luther: Refuting Nazi Connections and Other Modern Myths (2007) Concordia Publishing House.
• Wiskemann, Elizabeth. International Affairs, Vol. 37, No. 2 (April 1961)

External resources

• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (1960 Edition)
• Bryan Hiatt’s review of the book

Documentary