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A Woman in Berlin
A Woman in Berlin: Diary 20 April 1945 to 22 June 1945 | Anonymous
18 posts | 22 read | 31 to read
Between April 20th and June 22nd of 1945 the anonymous author of A Woman in Berlin wrote about life within the falling city as it was sacked by the Russian Army. Fending off the boredom and deprivation of hiding, the author records her experiences, observations and meditations in this stark and vivid diary. Accounts of the bombing, the rapes, the rationing of food and the overwhelming terror of death are rendered in the dispassionate, though determinedly optimistic prose of a woman fighting for survival amidst the horror and inhumanity of war. This diary was first published in America in 1954 in an English translation and in Britain in 1955. A German language edition was published five years later in Geneva and was met with tremendous controversy. In 2003, over forty years later, it was republished in Germany to critical acclaim - and more controversy. Newly translated into English, this diary has been unavailable since the 1960s. It is an astonishing and deeply affecting account of a woman fighting for survival amidst the horror and inhumanity of war.
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mirnas
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Pickpick

Anonymus woman kept a diary from April to June 1945 in Berlin and describes everyday life after the Russian troupes envaded the city. Hunger, omnipresent death, mass raping of German women... Strong narrative voice retells the horrors with a dose of humour. A must read for those who are interested in WWII.

18 likes1 stack add
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Daniella.Richardson
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Getting ready to start Book #13 of 2021!

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Becker
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Pickpick

A good read and yet another example of the ugliness of war. However I do recommend it is read with a critical mind. I finished it with plenty of questions.

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youneverarrived
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A true diary account written by an anonymous woman living in Russian Army occupied Berlin spanning from April to June 1945. So much brutality and fear that I couldn‘t even begin to imagine but the author writes down all she, and other women, experience with such strength and resilience. Highly recommend it. #cruelworld #aprella

Reviewsbylola Sounds amazing but devastating. That cover. 😍😍 6y
Sophoclessweetheart Wow. This sounds perfect! Heartbreaking but just my kind of thing x 6y
Cinfhen Ooh, echoing the others...sounds like a powerful read 6y
See All 6 Comments
emilyhaldi You sold me!! #stacked 6y
Mdargusch So horrific! 6y
Cathythoughts Sounds great 👍🏻 6y
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TaciturnWhenReading
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Pickpick

So far I‘ve read just 11 books this year and this was my favorite. Although I think this will end up a favorite for all of 2018. I could NOT put it down.

Love the awesome giveaway idea @Liberty ! ❤️#THEWALLSARECLOSINGIN

36 likes3 stack adds
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TaciturnWhenReading
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This book has me riveted. An anonymous diary which tells the chilling, matter of fact, civilian account of the final days of war and the Russian occupation of Berlin in 1945.

January‘s #nonfiction2018

Tamra Ohhh, sounds good! 6y
44 likes8 stack adds1 comment
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ReadingsByTheC
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...#bookhaul stack #4

JacqMac Those are some nice stacks you have. 7y
ReadingsByTheC @JacqMac Thanks! 😄 7y
26 likes2 comments
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bekakins
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Seriously harrowing book.

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daena
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After grocery shopping with 4 kids, I'd say I earned a little book therapy. Half Priced Books always has my back!

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RealBooks4ever
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Both books are women's accounts of coping with their surroundings, but I found A Woman In Berlin to be better written. #readthisnotthat #maybookflowers

JazzFeathers Sounds interesting. I have a fascination for Germany during the Wars at the moment. Stacked 7y
RealBooks4ever @JazzFeathers I like reading about Germany no matter what the time period! 💜💜💜 7y
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ineverlearn
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Pickpick

Our September book of the month. We found many insights in this diary. Could it be true that women respond more to this than men and that men tend to be a little dismissive of it? What I think is that there should be no difference between the perspectives of men and women as long as the reader can empathize. The diarist sometimes has an arrogant tone but suffering is still suffering. You still feel her. I like this a lot (and the carrot cake).

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moniquereads
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I don't read a lot of non-fiction, except for the occasional history or biographical book. But this one, the diary of a woman in Berlin written just before and after the fall of the city in 1945, allows a glimpse of how it is to be collateral damage. And I love its candor and honesty.

"I only know that I want to survive - against all sense and reason, just like an animal." ??

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ineverlearn
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My birthday, 71 years ago. This is an astonishing diary that gives an account of WWII Germany from the POV of an "anonymous" woman.