The first time I read this book I was living in Germany where it all happened. I was 13 years old and had already experimented with hashish. The book is very real to teenagers in similar situations because there are no frills. Christiane F. tells the story of how easy it is to get sucked into the drug world with such realism. She was there, and she knows where the kids are coming from and where they are going. If you suspect your teenager is experimenting with drugs or if he has friends who may be doing drugs-give him this book. It may save your child, because it is very hard to ignore the story of Christiane F. I am one child Christiane F. saved and I hope she continues saving more. Angela Steven

The story of Christiane F. is the best, I ever read. The book teaches us so much about drugs and the life with them. I live usually in Germany, and so directly, where all this staff happened. And I am reading the book now for the third time. I am 17 years old, and after I read the book for the first time, I think I was about 13 years old, I sweared to myself that I will never use drugs. In my opinion this book should be read in all schools. Christiane didn't mind to tell really EVERYTHING what happened in this bad time, and she writes how she thinks. And I think, you hear so much about drugs today and that you never should take them, but nobody listen to this anymore, it is to common already. But when you read the report of a person, who really had big problems with drugs, then you listen to her. And maybe you will make the same decision as I of never taking drugs. This book is just awesome and I hope many other people will be able to get to read it, too. (don't worry about many mistakes, but I am just in Canada for 3 months, and my english is just improving)

I first read this book about 19 years ago, when I was the same age as Christiane was in the book. Reading that book gave me the most horrific insight into heroin addiction, that I avoided it as I grew older. Although set in the 1970's, it is just as, if not more, relevant today. I would love to find another copy. I loaned mine out to a friend, and never got it back. The irony is that she became a heroin addict herself, and died about 10 years ago. There will always be people on this planet who choose self-destruction, but this book would put most of us off ever living this kind of life. Two decades after reading this book (after seeing the film), I still have vivid memories of how I imagined the scenes described in this book, and I still get goosebumps. I wonder what ever became of Christiane & Detlef.

This book is an amazing, detailed, and comprehensive look at humanity's darkest event. Konnilyn Feig broke ground in the subject over twenty years before the buzz of the Holocaust that is happening today. If you're interested in the recent lawsuits or the investigations into the actions of the allied and nuetral governments during the Holocaust-this book is of great improtance. HITLER'S DEATH CAMPS tells what happened, who was involved, who aided the Holocaust, who profited, who experimented, and how over 4 million Jews were systematically rounded up, transported, and sluaghtered. The accounts of horrors are chilling. It is simply a must read for anyone who wants to know all the happenings of the most savage events in human history.

This book is perhaps the most comprehensive book on the concentration camp system. It offers insight into the make up each and every individual camp including the ghastly actions that took place inside the camps. Konnilyn Feig has done extensive research on this subject and should be regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on the holocaust and final solution. This book is a necessity for anyone trying to comprehend the madness that took place in Nazi Germany. It gives names, dates and places along with instructions on how to get to each of the camps. This book should be read before visiting any of the holocaust camps and/or museums. "Hitler's Death Camps" is currently in the National Holocaust museum. Anyone wanting to know anything about the holocaust and/or final solution needs to read this book.

Hitler's Death Camps by Konnilyn Feig is a remarkable analysis of the Concentration System. The first intense study of the systematic killing centers, offers clarity into an area of the past that we know very little about. More than a book about the camps, it allows us to put into perspective, indifference, human abuse, stugglers, oppression, killing, hatred, to know and denial. We must open our hearts and our minds to this book to truly understand the unspeakably cruelties that took place during the Holocaust so that we may never allow such an atrocity to take place again. Konnilyn Feig writes with a passion unlike anyone else. Hitler's Death Camps-Sanity of Madness should be read by all, for we all share a "common thread"-human decency.

Speer is an intriguing personage in the Nazi hierarchy: was he really the only "good Nazi", as he was called, or merely a master manipulator? I read his "Inside the Third Reich" many years ago and found him to be unafraid of his history in Hitler's cabinet. Although "Inside" was published before "Spandau", the diaries had to be written before he could write "Inside". Speer struggles mightily trying to comprehend his role in Hitler's agenda and subsequent responsibility for its actions. This alone is interest enough, however, Speer's anecdotes about life with his fellow inmates, first at Nuremburg, then at Spandau, give a different view of such historical figures as Goring and Donitz. Speer even manages to humanize the odd and remote Rudolph Hess. Alone of the men convicted at Nuremburg, Speer sought and accepted personal accountability. His writing provides a deeply introspective view of how ordinary men are caught up in extraordinary circumstances. That he sought to understand this in himself was his redemption. The casual reader will enjoy the book for its human insights, however, some passing familiarity with WWII, Hitler, and European politics will add depth to the reader's experience. Speer may have longed for an abiding fame as an architect, but I believe he has built something much more lasting and significant with this work than he could have imagined.

This is an excellent book which gives a brilliant account of the day to day life of the Nuremburg men at Spandau. While Albert Speer's thoughts on the 'Third Reich' are interesting, I much prefer his diary entries which incidentally cover his time spent at Nuremburg too. Some entries are only one or two lines long but they make a very sensitive and moving account of himself. I loved reading about the various dreams he had in Spandau (some of which were very vivid) the attitude to him of the other prisoners are interesting too. Referrences to Rudolf Hess make fascinating reading but for a full picture of Hess I suggest that reliable back up information of a sympathetic nature be read as well such as the book by one time Spandau Director Colonel Eugene Bird (The Lonliest Man In The World) now sadly out of print but worth seeking second hand through the internet. Albert Speer could not have known that Rudolf Hess was genuinely ill with an undetected stomach ulcer when he wrote how Hess complained so much of being in pain. The reality of Hess's very real illness was only discovered after Speer had been released from Spandau. The book also highlights the sometimes harsh treatment meted out to Rudolf Hess. The diary entries show a sensitive and intelligent man who wondered how he was going to get through his 20 year sentence. It is an extremely human and moving account and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the Third Reich and in particular anyone who is seeking to know what the men at Spandau were really like and who are willing to put any pre-conceived prejudices they may have or have heard about Nazi's aside.

A brilliant read!

Louise Brown

Albert Speer was for some strange reason a very extraordinary character.
First of all he was the Third Reich's Architect, and one of Hitler's closest friends and during the last years of WWII he was also Minister for arms and munitions. At the "Nuremberg Judgement" he was sentenced to 20 years in Prison.

In his "Secret Diaries", Speer tries to make clear, how a well educated intellectual like him could have been caught by such a totalitarian system and got mesmerized by it. His entries are primarily his way of coming to terms with his past.
Describing several key elements from his time in office, Speer tries to find out how much his character has been influenced and far he has been manipulated.
Speer gets sentimental from time to time, but he tries to remain objective and level-headed and never falls into self-pity or lachrymose and most important, Speer sees and accepts himself as the war criminal he was.

From a historical point of view, Speer's portraying of his fellow prisoners (Hess, Doenitz, Neurath, Raeder and von Schirach) are those of great significance and fascinating to read, and his portaying of Adolf Hitler is surely one of the most precise and immediate analyse of the dictator's nature.

Of course I'm not sure how much these diaries were subsequently altered and/or changed, and it's possible that they were ! One must always keep that in mind ! But in terms of history these diaries are very valuable and of great importance.

The notable German writer Carl Zuckmayer once said about Speer's diaries: "A great book in some respects: In the human attitude of the convict, in the firmness of his discipline and in the unusual way of his expression which is both thoughtful and sincere."

"The Secret Diaries" is a controversial but utterly important book and a must read for everyone who is interested in history, and in addition to that, Speer's book is also a gripping study in existentialism.

This novel is one of a series, and makes the presumption that you have read the earlier novels in the series, with references to previous action. It is written in a narative style. The main character is not fully identified by name until page 74 (part of the assumption that you have read the previous novels). Tony Whats-his-name from book one in the series reappears, along with other characters from previous books. There are numerous digressions, and a tendency to use foreign language terms.

The plot is a whodunit as various characters search for the lost Trojan gold that disappeared from Germany during the final days of World War II. In the chaos at the end of the war, many valuable items disappeared, apparently looted. Now a story has emerged that the Trojan gold (artifacts that had been in a German museum) was carried to safety and hidden. Many people have an interest, either for museums or for their own profit.

With two people murdered, and an assortment of people just happening to be on the scene, there are questions about some people's motives (other than the fact that several men are trying to seduce Vicky). Vicky finds her life in danger, as various people follow clues in attempts to track down the gold. There are indications that it had been hidden in a schrank (a type of wooden cabinet). The good guys prevail over the bad guys, but the story leaves things unfinished and the schrank disassembled.

This book was such a satisfaction to read and reread. I've grown so attached to Peabody and Vicky Bliss, not to mention their fellow characters, that waiting for Barbera Mertz to write more books about them is torture. I hope Ms. Mertz lives to an active old age for the selfish reason that I want her to keep pumping these books out as long as possible.

In Trojan Gold she really delivers the good stuff. John and Shmidt's personalities get a good filling out, reading it is like eating Godiva chocolates, only better. Words can't say enough. In her previous Bliss mystery, Sihloette in Scarlet, the plot seemed weak, but the follow up made up for it. Apologies for misspellings.

I must admit that, as much as I loved Street of 5 Moons and Night Train to Memphis, this is the best of the series. The humour is wonderful: I had to put the book down several times due to hysterical laughter. However, this is not the only reason to read this exceptional Book! The mystery is compelling, the setting is beautiful, and the characters gain much more dimension. After being dissapointed by Silouhette in Scarlet, this book more than reaffirmed my faith in Elizabeth Peters. And for those of you who are also in love with John, he's back in top form here with very few traces of the obnoxious twit he was in Silouhette. He's absolutely charming and romantic. How lucky Vicky is!

I read this book in 1980 not long after it was first published in 1979 and I found it to be a very easy to read account of Hitler and the German Army during the early period of World War Two. As mentioned in the earlier review, the author offers a general overview of this period but covers such things as Hitler and his relationship with the German Army and its commanders, Hitlers 'style' of warfare, the concept of 'Blitzkrieg' and the weapons & tactics involved and finally the camapign in France. The book is well researched and is very easy to read with 20 maps, 59 B&W photos and a number of line drawings and charts to assist the reader. I do not think that the book or any of its ideas has aged since it was first published in 1979 and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to understand how the German Army conquered all before it in 1940.

In this book Deighton looks at the political social, and econmic factors, as well as German military history in the 1930's to show how this led to development of the panzer division, and Blitzkrieg. Much of this book is spent decribing Hitler's rise to power, terms of the 1918 treaty, and the political games that were played out in the 1930's giving Germany it's new empire. This is important, because it had such a large effect on how Germany proceeded for the rest of the war. The book then goes into the development of tank warfare, how the tatic evolved from the shock troops at the end of WWI, how Germany's leaders had found new better ways to fight, and why the allies were still so backward in their thinking.

Dieghton points out that in May 1940 the only real difference between the German and allied armies was their leadership and tatics. Deighton gives a clear and easy to understand analysis tank warfare, as well as giving very good backgroung into the sorounding political and social situations that many WWII history books lack.

This is a well researched, heavily illustrated and easy to read book on the subject of Blitzkrieg or 'Lightning War'. The specific area of interest is it's application by the Germans in their invasion of Holland, Belgium and France in the summer of 1940. The meat of the book is in the middle. Part 3 (Blitzkrieg: Weapons & Methods) looks at the development of the Blitzkrieg concept, originating, Deighton says with Prussian military doctrines. Ideas by English Tank experts such as J.F.C. Fuller and B.H. Liddel Hart were added later. This section of the book naturally spends a fair amount of time on the emergence of the Tank and it's use as one of the principal weapons of Blitzkrieg.

Blitzkrieg is defined as 'a swift, sudden military offensive, usually by combined air and land forces'. Deighton adds - 'and as evolved by Heinz Guderian and used by his forces', giving credit to the man who perfected the concept. Indeed, the German breakthrough at Sedan in May 1940 (see Part 4 'The Battle of The Meuse') and the subsequent routing of the French army is a spectacular example of the use of Blitzkrieg. Offcourse any discussion about battles in France in 1940 must conclude with the Germans surrounding and trapping over 250,000 men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the French coast near Dunkerque.

It is to do with Dunkerque that the most startling supposition emerges from the book. The introduction was written by Gen. Walther Nehring, who in 1940 was Guderians' Chief of Staff and was with him at Sedan. Nehring writes with conviction, and Deighton's arguments seem to support the view, that if not for a precipitous Halt Order by Hitler, the German forces could have captured the entire BEF. It is argued that the prospect of a 'Disaster at Dunkerque', rather than the miracle that we have come to know of, would have been too much for the British to stomach. The opportunity for sueing for peace and of obtaining an end to the war by May 1940, would have been a real possibility in such circumstances.

The question here is which book to you read first the prequel - "Stones from the River" or "Floating in My Mother's Palm"? I read SFTR first and found this a little less in depth, while at the same time continuing on the lives of the characters introduced one generation earlier as viewed from the post WWII generation. This book answers several questions I had regarding the seemingly meandering ending for SFTR, and now helps it all make sense. I suppose if I had read this, I would have given "Stones" 5 stars instead of 4 stars. Some of the stories are ordinary while others are extremely touching. All loosely connect to each other.

Any way you do it, don't read one of these two books without reading the other.

RECOLLECTION OF A YOUNG LIFE BEFORE THE DEATH OF HER MOTHER. The book is aptly named. Floating in my Mother's palm is a girl's (Hanna) recollection of different bits and pieces of her life before her other-than-conventional mother (Jutta) died in a small town (Burgdorf) in post WWII Germany. Through out the stories, Hanna recollects, you can see the guiding post of her mother at each important point.

FLOATING.. IS THE FIRST OF TWO BOOKS, BUT IS SET LATER IN TIME. The second book is Stones from the River, which chronicles the life of Trudi Montag; a young dwarf woman that is one of the key characters in young Hanna's life. I would recommend reading "Stones from the River" prior to this book as it sets the stage for many of the characters in this book. However, these are differently constructed books. I found myself trying to link the facts (they were consistent) and found, I might be missing the point of the story. It's not the details but the interweaving of events that fashion a life. Stones from the River uses the details of a very different life to weave the story of Trudi Montag. Floating uses broader strokes to paint Hanna's tale.

HANNA LIKE TRUDI, LEARNS FROM THE OUTSIDERS VIEWPOINT Hanna's unconventional mother Jutta is a painter and is close to her daughter in an different sense. She passes on to her daughter her "unclouded" view of people and society and with this Hanna experiences many different sides of the small town she grows up in. Trudi Montag, the town grape vine, also adds to this unique view as she is only too happy to provide Hanna with the knowledge of the town's darker side.

A short book in comparison with Stones from the River, but one very complete in its own sense.

These stories were really wonderful vignettes of characters developed in "Stones From the River" (though the latter book was published later, I believe). I selected this book after reading "Stones" and "Salt Dancers", and liked this one the best of all. Hegi's writing is tight, sparse, and clean in this "novel" and Hanna, the teller of the tales, (and the baby to whom Trudi from "Stones" was so attached), is a fine observer of the both the strengths and weaknesses of her fellow townspeople - yet she is sympathetic in her recounting of some personal and pivotal time in each person's life. I've wondered whether my enjoyment of this book stems from having met some of these characters from "Stones" - but I actually enjoyed this book more. "Stones" provided the broad narrative for several decades of history in their little German town while "Floating in my Mother's Palm" sheds light on the more personal stories of these characters. Strongly recommend this book

This book is an excellent introduction to the history of the various SS organizations, with special emphasis on the units of the Waffen-SS. The chapter entitled "Hitler's Foreign Legions" is especially intertesting. It contains brief histories of all of the foreign volunteer units of the Waffen-SS, as well as other units, such as the 5th Waffen-SS Panzer Division "Viking", which contained large numbers of non-German volunteers. Some of these formations were truly elite ("Viking", "Nordland", Wallonien"), and some were useless ("Skanderbeg", which was made up of Albanian Moslems largely from Kosovo). Those interested in the foreign volunteer units of the Waffen-SS may want to read the following: "European Volunteers" by Strassner, "The Last Knight of Flanders" by Brandt, "Campaign in Russia" by Degrelle, "Charlemagne's Legionnaires" by Landwehr, "Latvian Legion" by Silgailis, "Galicia Division" by Logusz, "The Patriotic Traitors" by Littlejohn.

The book includes a good selection of photographs, maps, and some color cutaways of weapons. There are also some of the usual photos of "brutal" SS men executing communist "partisans" (the Geneva Convention did not give POW status to "partisans"; Stalin did not even bother to sign it until 1948!).

I did note a few errors in the picture captions. On page 197, a photograph of a vehicle with the insignia of the "Nordland" division is incorrectly identified in the caption as belonging to the "Viking" division. "Viking" had an insignia similar to "Nordland", however this photo has been correctly captioned elsewhere (see "SS Armor" by Stern, for example). Also, on page 195 there is a photo of three Panzer III Ausf J tanks (built only in 1941), one of which is clearly marked with the insignia of the 14th Panzer Division. The caption incorrectly identifies the tanks as belonging to the Dutch "Nederland" division, in 1945!

This is a spectacular book on the introduction of waffen-SS army! It reviews the success of the Waffen-SS troops from the beginning to the end of the war where Waffen-SS divisions fought bravely not just in the Western front but the Russians in the Eastern front from the seize of Leningrad to the huge tank battles fought in The Battle of Kursk! Although Waffen-SS divisions did not reach combat strength from 1943 to 1945, these crack troops fought bravely to delay the Allies from the strength of 19,000 per division to less than 1000 or total anhilation! Hitler's looked at his WAffen-SS divisions as a savior to the military situation but they were not man made of steel. Unlike the Allies troops, they were not fully well equiped or air covered in 1944. But, this does not mean they cannot give tough resistance to the allies landing in Normandy! SS Panzer divisons were experienced and deadly, especially armed with tiger and panther tanks which can easily knock out any allied tanks. Tanks Aces like Major Whitmann and Technical Sergent Barkmann! Waffen-SS accepted many volunteers not just from Germany but foreign legions from Denmark to Sweden especially in 11th Panzegrenadier division who fought bravely near Lenningrad! This book tells us the bravery of the Waffen-SS men but I see them as discplined, elite troops and well repected military strategists with the use of combined arms effectively! The brutality of mass killings of civilians in the Russian fronts and American troops in the Ardennes offensive was in the history books forever!

I loved this book. Williamson chronicles these elite soldiers from Poland to the end of the war. He gives an objective account of their truly amazing performance on the eastern front as well as their darker side. His book descibes armies as well as individual soldiers accounts. He has written about their heroic deeds and infamous acts. His liberal distribution of photos gives the reader a good ideal of all the major players involved. He has done his homework in researching these units. He describes their performance in battle and has many fascinating insights into their experiences. For example: Field Marshal Model apologizes to Regimental commander Otto Kumm that he understands the rough time his unit has experienced but can't afford to relieve them. Kumm asks the Field Marshal if he would like to inspect the regiment on parade outside. Model is shocked to see only 35 men standing out front in the cold.

From the techniques involved in decoding and deciphering German diplomatic messages (in layman's terms) to the sacrifices and lives spent acquiring the knowledge of Room 40 (i.e. code books) to the tenacious efforts of Germany to spark U.S involvement in Mexico as well as against the Japanese(!), Tuchman provides a thorough account on the Zimmermann Telegram and its crucial role in pulling a reluctant American nation into the First World War. As a History grad student, I never knew about Germany's aims regarding Japan ("the Yellow Peril") during this period until I read this book. In addition, Tuchman's excellent and often witty writing style makes Zimmermann Telegram (and her many other works) gripping and entertaining, as well as informative.

This book is history at its very best. Tuchman has brought to life an amazing story of espionage and deceit that reads like an Ian Fleming novel. Her fluid writing style keeps you turning the pages. Although the outcome is known, the reader still finds themselves asking what will happen.

The book covers Germany's pre-war intrigues in Mexico, and then once the war starts, follows the agents sent to America to keep us out of the war. She discusses how German spies plotted to take over munitions factories and stop the flow of war goods to the Allies...and how they nearly succeeded. The story also discusses how Wilson was tormented by the decision to bring America into the war, and how he really did wish peace for the world. Yet, when confronted with the Zimmerman Telegram, which offered Mexico the reacquisition of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, Wilson was left with no choice but war.

It is incredible at how a blunder by one German official was able to bring the world's most powerful nation into the fold against them. Yet that stays with the theme of WW I, and the Zimmerman Telegram may have been the biggest blunder of the war. Thanks to Barbara Tuchman, we know how it all came to pass.

The story of the Zimmermann Telegram is a gem of history that literally is a ripping good yarn.

The nutshell: In the middle of WWI, German foreign minister Zimmermann -- worried about how to keep America occupied on our side of the Atlantic and out of the Allied camp -- sent a telegram instructing his Mexican envoy to propose an alliance between Mexico, Japan and Germany. The payoff for our southern neighbor: the restoration of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to the country of Mexico.

This very fine book is many facets tightly woven in 200 pages: British code breakers. German diplomatic efforts. President Wilson's unshakable will for neutrality. Mexican and Japanese intrigue. Submarine warfare. Mexican revolution and America's chase for Pancho Villa.

The story has drama (the fight to persuade Wilson that US interests lay with the Allies and not in being a neutral broker of peace), excitement (British code breaking efforts and the intrigue to get the telegram published / into American hands), and near comedy (German bungling with codes, diplomatic missions and high strategy)written by the masterful Barbara Tuchman.

The author takes all these elements -- which are almost Shakespearean in their complexity and interplay -- and crafts a terrifically exciting history. A very fine read.

I checked out this book from my school library a few years ago, and loved it. It was the first 'Vicky Bliss' book that I read, and since then have bought all the others. I have been trying to find a copy of this book that I can buy, but have not had luck so far. This is definitely a wonderful book, and displays all of the wit and humor that is in all Elizabeth Peters books.

Our protagonist, gorgeous and brainy, Vicky Bliss is again on the move when she and her boss from the National Museum of Munich discover that someone is making excellent copies of the most famous jewels in the world. In this case it's a replica of the Charlemagne talisman. Vicky's who has a PhD in Art History and Medieval European History is also an amateur sleuth. With the only clue that she has, she goes to Rome to locate the street of the Five Moons where she hopes to find a connection to the thieves. Well, of course she gets into trouble and is rescued by a "dangerously exciting young Englishman." Sir John Smythe is truly charming and the chemistry between he and Vicky is terrific. This is a lovely romantic mystery and the second book in the Vicky Bliss mystery series.

Another great story by Elizabeth Peters who is also Barbara Michaels!

My mother introduced me to Elizabeth Peter's writing and suggested I check out a book from the library just to test her out, and I was certantly glad that I put my toes in the water...because I'm hooked! This was my first Vicky book (though out of order...thankfully it's not horribly essential to read in order) and I loved it, and read it twice in a row. I've gone on to read the entire series...but in the order: 2, 4, 3, 5, 1 and have found each book equally wonderful. Her characters are so complete, and I find myself falling for the crafty yet humorous Sir John Smythe :)