The End of War: A Novel of the Race for Berlin

by David L. Robbins

Book Overview

Berlin, January 1945. The war draws to a close, but the fight for a vanquished city -- and for history -- is just beginning. In the final months of the war in Europe, the last act of a five-year... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553581384
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Bantam
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.7" x 1.1" x 4.1"

Customer Reviews

Great Work!

Mr. Robbins has once again written a great novel that while fictional is built around a core of History. I commented on historical fiction and its thresholds for accuracy when I posted my thoughts on his book, "War Of The Rats", so I will not repeat it all here. As I have read a number of books on each of, "The Big Three", I know this book portrays the primary historical characters with absolute dead on accuracy. The Author knows the type of cigarettes Stalin dismantled to smoke in his Dunhill Pipe, and even more noteworthy he knows the nickname that Churchill's Family had given to the pocket watch he carried. The latter detail I have only come across when reading Sir Martin Gilbert's Official Biography Of Sir Winston Spencer Churchill.The, "Big Three", and Mr. Truman have to appear in any book about the closing events of World War II, however what I very much enjoyed were the people that did not replace the familiar leaders as much as they at times reflected their ideas in well conceived ways. The people, through whom we experience the final stages of World War II, range from a photographer for Life magazine who understands the importance of Berlin better than both General Eisenhower and a terminally ill Roosevelt. The President who's arrogance prevented him from including Truman, when he was as ill as he was, thus leaving Truman with virtually no knowledge handed down, or experience to equip him to deal with Stalin.A Russian Soldier who leads us from Stalingrad to Berlin. He has been stripped of rank and is serving in a penal company, however he embodies the perfect infantryman that Stalin would have made divisions of had he the chance. When this same soldier reaches Berlin his Humanity is regained like his rank has risen, and were Stalin to know he would remove him from the living with the infamous checkmark.A young German Woman, a classical musician enjoys the privileges her talents secure for her, and that keep some distance between her and the reality of Berlin. As the War comes to a close her world deteriorates until she is forced to live with her Mother, a woman who takes the most dangerous risk for reasons that are hers, and is rewarded with her Daughter's condemnation. Her cello ensures her a better albeit temporary security. For when Berlin falls she is there to be victimized at will. She fights to reconcile the opportunities her position presents for her, and the obligations she feels toward her Mother, as well as what the Nazis' have ingrained in her versus the reality of their crimes.This is the second work by a very talented writer who to date has brought stories involving the Second World War. It will be interesting to see whether he continues with this genre, or directs a deftly held pen toward other events in History.Reading time very well spent, recommended without condition.

A great story; a clever, grippng novel.

Robbins has taken the story of the closing days of WWII in Europe, which is fascinating on its own, and fleshed it out with characters caught up in the struggle so that we see and feel the personal costs of being on the wrong side of history. He takes us inside the minds of Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill as they cold-bloodedly make political decisions about the fate of Berlin and Europe, then shows how those decisions play out in ordinary peoples' lives. An American photographer is caught up with US troops hoping not to be last ones killed but charging for Berlin; two Russian soldiers, also hoping to survive, are part of the last great offensive of the European war. The battle scenes are vivid and dramatic, harking back to Robbins earlier book, War of the Rats. Finally, we see the impact of the three leaders' decisions on a young German woman who litterally faces her own personal Gotterdammerung, the end of her world, in the form of Allied bombs, Russian artillery, die-hard Nazis and the approach of the Russian Army with the associated stories of rape and mayhem. A great story of people caught in a dying city, well told.

Very well researched, eloquently written.

This is the second book by Mr. Robbins that I've read. The End of War is an extremely well-researched, eloquently written, gripping story describing the lives of several different characters toward the end of WWII. The author does a splendid job of describing the brutality of the war (on both the Eastern and Western fronts) and its effect on disparate characters while both staying within the bounds of historical fact as well as keeping the reader highly engrossed. Fans of either Mr. Robbins previous novel, War of the Rats, or of the war genre in general will find this a fascinating read.

The End of War: A Novel of the Race for Berlin

Once again, David L. Robins has produced a work that is not only riveting, but is packed with gems of historical fact that opened this readers eyes to the politics of World War II. This tale is more than the stories of heroic struggles of fighting men on various fronts, it reveals the behind the scenes intrigue between the world leaders of the time and how their personlities and private agendas have formed the world we live in today. With this knowledge comes the unfortunate revelation that we, as Americans, through our leadership of the time, allowed the dark and bloody hand of communism free reign. This however, I believe is not the intent of the author. Mr. Robins is careful to leave the reader with hope. This hope stems from knowldege, which is power. As we all have heard, "those who do not know history are bound to repeat it" This book is a "must read" for all, even if your not a "history buff." Putting the seriousness of the subject matter aside for a moment, this book is very entertaining and moving. Mr. Robins charactors are truely alive and three dimensional. As with all great writers, the reader becomes a part of the book. Transported to the time and place and becoming a charactor themselves, if you will. I found the ending to be, not only surprizing, but a masterful twist from the genius of the author, which was both compelling and very moving.

A Gripping Novel

The novel gets you hooked the moment you finish reading the first few pages. I have seen a lot of World War-II movies but none that talks about the end of war in this detail and presents so many different view-points. I think its an excellent read.