Recommended Authors – Recommended Books: History

William Leonard Shirer (1904-1993) was an American journalist and broadcaster who worked in Europe in the years before the Second World War.

William L. Shirer wrote two books which SPPIT.org considers to be essential reading for anyone interested in 20th century history:

Book cover, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (50th Anniversary Edition) by William L. Shirer
Book cover, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (50th Anniversary Edition) by William L. Shirer

The Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany – published in 1960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book cover, The Collapse of the Third Republic by William L. Shirer
Book cover, The Collapse of the Third Republic by William L. Shirer

The Collapse of the Third Republic: An Enquiry Into The Fall Of France In 1940 – published in 1969

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some websites with more information on William L. Shirer;

Here are some videos of William L. Shirer:

A 1945 U.S. Army film about the Hitler Youth

First radio broadcast of CBS World News Roundup 13 March 1938, featuring Edward R. Murrow, William L. Shirer and Robert Trout

A 1950’s CBS radio broadcast of William L. Shirer, hosted by Edward R. Murrow

A 2009 lecture on “Eric Sevareid, William L. Shirer And The Invention Of Broadcast News” by Bismarck State College

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