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Title: Das Reich

Author: Max Hastings

Narrator: Nigel Carrington

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-03-14

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: History, Military

Publisher's Summary:

With an introduction read by Max Hastings.

Within days of the D-Day landings, the 'Das Reich' 2nd SS Panzer Division marched north through France to reinforce the front-line defenders of Hitler's Fortress Europe. Veterans of the bloodiest fighting of the Russian Front, 15,000 men with their tanks and artillery, they were hounded for every mile of their march by saboteurs of the Resistance and agents of the Allied Special Forces. Along their route they took reprisals so savage they will live forever in the chronicles of the most appalling atrocities of war.

Max Hasting's powerful account of their progress is a true military classic. Max Hastings, author of 20 books, was editor of the Daily Telegraph for almost a decade, and then for six years edited the Evening Standard in London. In his youth he was foreign correspondent for newspapers and BBC television. He has won many awards for his journalism, particularly his work in the South Atlantic in 1982. He was knighted in 2002.

Members Reviews:

A case study of a Nazi Panzer Regiment France 1944

I found this book to be a little like the TV sitcom 'Hallo Hallo' and a mix of clique Nazi behaviour and sometimes nothing new in behaviour of armies throughout history. Max Hastings asks these questions by the end of the book and although not excusing the Das Reich still shows that even the British Army is guilty of such behaviour at times if not on such a scale. Personally I don't believe international law has answered the question about irregulars, partisans, guerrillas and terrorists. One side has to play by the rules whilst the other seems to have carte blanche to carry on as they wish, as long as they are on the winning side. Max Hasting has decided to leave out some of the more dreadful details and un-collaborated evidence to keep the story flowing which helps to focus on the history. Das Reich was never going to win the hearts & minds of the French and their tactics of terror was used to effect throughout Europe especially in Russia, so what could you expect? As for the British and Allies. They really had no idea how to use the resistance properly, or what genie they had help to let out of the bottle. Nobody comes out of this story looking good. Perhaps the Americans but only due to their naivety. Like any soldier, when your enemy isn't in uniform, does not play by the rules and kills indiscriminately, everybody becomes the enemy. You tend to fight fire with fire.

Gripping, balanced, multifaceted

This is a great listen in combination with Hastings' "Bomber Command" as the two stories overlap in interesting ways. "Das Reich" would work as a straightforward thriller without Hastings' characteristic hard work in telling the story of strategic decisions by war leaders and the individual stories of combatants gleaned from diaries and interviews. In combination it really is an outstanding listen that went straight to replay after the first hearing.

The core of the book starts in spring 1944 with Hitler weighing up his troops in France and deciding they're too old and soft to stand up to the imminent D Day invasions. He calculates that he can just about spare the Das Reich panzer division from the Russian front and so they're recalled to add firepower, ferocity and professionalism to the defence.