The Last Battle

By Cornelius Ryan,

Book cover of The Last Battle

Book description

The Battle for Berlin was the final struggle of World War II in the European theatre, the last offensive against Hitler's Third Reich, which devastated one of Europe's historic capitals and brought an end to the Nazi regime. It lasted more than two weeks across April -- May 1945, and…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Last Battle as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Other, newer books on the Battle of Berlin are available. And Ryan’s other books, The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far, are more famous. But The Last Battle is the book whose style and mood I most try to emulate in my own writings.

Ryan interviewed many of the participants, collected reams of documents from both sides—at a time when the Cold War was at its height—and the result is a wonderful book. You can smell the cigarette and gunsmoke, picture the military and political leaders talking, laugh or cry at some of the vignettes.

Beevor’s book on…

From Richard's list on page-turning narrative history.

Want books like The Last Battle?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Last Battle.

Browse books like The Last Battle

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Nazi Germany, the Cold War, and presidential biography?

Nazi Germany 158 books
The Cold War 256 books