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A Village in the Third Reich

How Ordinary Lives Were Transformed by the Rise of Fascism

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A Village in the Third Reich

By: Julia Boyd, Angelika Patel
Narrated by: Julie Teal
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About this listen

New from the author of Travellers in the Third Reich—the Sunday Times top-three best seller and Waterstones Book of the Month: a stunningly evocative portrait of Hitler’s Germany through the people of a single village.

Oberstdorf is a beautiful village high up in the Bavarian Alps, a place where for hundreds of years ordinary people lived simple lives while history was made elsewhere. Yet even here, in the farthest corner of Germany, National Socialism sought to control not only people’s lives but also their minds.

Drawing on archive material, letters, interviews and memoirs, A Village in the Third Reich is an extraordinarily intimate portrait of Germany under Hitler, of the descent into totalitarianism and of the tragedies that befell all of those touched by Nazism. In it, we meet the Jews who survived—and those who didn’t, the Nazi mayor who tried to shield those persecuted by the regime and a blind boy whose life was thought ‘not worth living’.

It is a tale of conflicting loyalties and desires, of shattered dreams, despair and destruction—but one in which, ultimately, human resilience triumphs.

These are the stories of ordinary lives at the crossroads of history.

©2022 Julia Boyd and Angelika Patel (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, UK 20th Century Judaism Military Modern Politics & Government War & Crisis War Inspiring Thought-Provoking Holocaust Imperialism Village

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Critic reviews

"Compelling." (Daily Telegraph)

"Fascinating." (Spectator)
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This book tells the story of a small Bavarian town, from the First World War to the end of the second. Everyday life is shown in all of its mundane but fascinating detail, but central to everything is the Nazis’ rise to power. The power of the state to control all aspects of everyday life is shown in frightening detail, and the mind bending facility of the Nazi propaganda machine to shape the beliefs of ordinary citizens is there for all to see. The punctilious workings of the Nazi extermination machine show German efficiency in its darkest light, To imagine that these are times best forgotten is to ignore what is still happening in parts of Europe today.

An excellent piece of modern historical research

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I have read much on the Second World War, and much of it is very similar in nature, this book gives a vantage point that is different and very interesting.
By exploring how the Nazi regime dominated the lives of the German population, and how insidious they were among their own people, it adds a dimension to my knowledge on this subject that is intriguing and illuminating.

I would certainly recommend this book.

Very interesting

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this is a very well written book with so many stories woven though. just so interesting all the way through. although it's about the war, it doesn't feel like a war book but a story of a village in Bavaria and the people living there .
The narrator is also very good, and perfect for this book

fantastic book

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I'd recommend this book to anyone fascinated by the greyness of life and morality. the intimate portrait of this village brings home the frighteningly relatable reality of how easily it is to be drawn into extremist thinking or life, and how hard it is to fathom the line between democracy then dictatorship.

It highlights the complexity of ordinary people trying to live ordinary lives caught up in the retorthric and process of nazism. The book tells so many moving stories that will have you crying in sadness of peoples lives destroyed or somehow rooting for the lenient Nazi major to save his son and the Jewish townsfolk. In ways that will make you question what is it to be "good" or "evil".

So many fascinating, moving and heroic stories mixed with everyday village life. It is a brilliant book and warning for us all to be aware of how quickly it is to be swept up in something or the dangers of apathy.

Absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. It will make you question so many things about morality and human nature.

Frighteningly relatable stories

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I have been delighted with this book. I was wanting to learn a bit more about the story of the Second World War from the German perspective and this was more than I could wish for. It dealt with subject matter in a sensitive and caring manner, not shirking from the horrors but balancing them with humanity…. Sometimes with factual books, I find it necessary to stop partway through and take a breather and listen to something else, but I was so fascinated with this. I really listen to the whole book over less than a week. (I drive to work so it’s easy to find the time.). I highly recommend this for anybody that is interested in the second world War but also in what makes the modern German people.

I would have loved to have heard more from the author at the end., perhaps a personal note about how they found writing this perhaps what they left out or specifically why they put some things in. Thank you Julia Boyd for a fascinating book that I know I will come back to several times to reread or relist to.

One of the best history books I’ve read

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This was a brilliant insight into the way NAZI ideology initially crept into German society and steadily took over until it was too powerful to stop.

I found myself really invested in the fate of the villagers especially the ones who resisted the regime either overtly or covertly. Compelling to listen to and written and read extremely well.

A Cautionary Tale

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and a glimpse into how life was just before the rise of Hitler, through to the end of the war and beyond for the people living there. It must have been a terrifying time having to comply all the time, not knowing who to trust, then the aftermath all being lumped in the same bowl, whether guilty or not. But the book shows there were acts of kindness, whatever your political beliefs. I think this village was lucky compared to the cities but what an insightful, interesting and well researched book.

Another really good listen

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Having visited the area and on holiday there, it's amazing what went on and attitudes so recently, a lot of work no doubt compiling and research to tell the story.

Changes in lives

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A wonderful record of German 2nd WW years. Utterly fascinating and very well read. Thankyou

Superb

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It’s clear the author and team have worked very hard researching this book. It’s well read and a tip from me is to pay attention to the people being talked about as it’s easy to lose track when listening.

Very well researched

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