I hoped this book would let me know more about the end of the war in Europe. I thought including stories from men and women who were participating in some way would be a great way to flesh out the story. Alas! Stafford has written a nearly un-readable volume that lacks big picture viewpoint and is confusing throughout. He tells us in the introduction that he will be following 9 (Western) people (American, Canadian, British, New Zealand soldiers; UNRRA worker; BBC correspondant; German mother married to an Italian who gets sent to concentration camp by the Nazis) between the period of Hitler's death and (roughly) the Potsdam conference. I thought at the beginning that 9 people was a lot and it turned out to be too many. Worse, Stafford follows them chronologically, so we hear about each one in each chapter. It would have been better for him to discuss each individual and their experience in separate chapters. Not surprisingly, we find at the end that nearly all of the 9 have published their own books or memoirs of their experiences, so Stafford is left with little to do other than try and provide a larger context for the individual experience. Sadly, I just didn't think that context was provided and that the book overall was poorly written. ( )

I can't say enough good things about his book. This large tome was intimidating to look at, but very easy to read. Stafford has packed information and emotion in equal parts into a narrative format which leaps off the page. The viewpoints of mulitple participants are used to weave the story, including US troops who are liberating some of the concentration camps, a journalist shadowing Patton's every move, parachutists behind enemy lines, a woman interned with the Stauffenberg family, intelligence officers cracking codes.... Fiction can't compete with this. Although general previous knowledge of WW2 is helpful, Stafford does a good job of providing basic facts for each of the vignettes for those whose knowledge of a particular area may be spotty. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. I don't see how Stafford could have done it any better. ( )

Excellent account of the last months of WW2 in Europe. The emphasis on individuals who took part in the final actions contribute to the enfolding development of the story.Once again highlights the chaos and brutality which exists in all wars. ( )

4637. Endgame, 1945 The Missing Final Chapter of World War II, by David Stafford (read 3 Nov 2009) This is an engrossing account of the time in Europe from Apr 20, 1945, to that summer, told in part through relating the experiences of nine persons involved in the momentous events of that period. There is much horror related, and one is dismayed that fanatical Nazis continued as long as they could to do evil..The Epilogue succinctly tells of the after-life of the nine persons who figure in the account, including a most poignant telling of the reunion of Fay von Hassell and her two sons who had been taken from her when she was arrested by the Nazis. ( )

The missing last chapter of WWII. Most histories of WWII end with the Surrender of Germany and Japan. This book connects the events of the last month of the war with the ongoing problems facing the allies for the balance of the year. Outstanding relating of actual stories. I am not yet finished and will add to the review when I have completed reading. ( )