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The Conquerors (Abridged): Roosevelt, Truman and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941–1945 Audiobook
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(3.05) - 322 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From one of America's most respected historians, The Conquerors reveals one of the most important stories of World War II. As Allied soldiers fought the Nazis, Franklin Roosevelt and, later Harry Truman fought in private with Churchill and Stalin over how to ensure that Germany could never threaten the world again.
Eleven years in the writing, drawing on newly opened American, Soviet, and British documents as well as private diaries, letters and secret audio recordings, this audiobook let us eavesdrop on private conversations and telephone calls among a cast of historical giants. The Conquerors casts new light upon Roosevelt's concealment of what America knew about Hitler's war against the Jews and his foot-dragging on saving refugees; FDR's actions so shocked his closest friend in the Cabinet, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr., that Morgenthau risked their friendship by accusing the President of "acquiescence" in the "murder of the Jews."
The Conquerors explores suspicions that Soviet secret agents manipulated Roosevelt and his official to do Stalin's bidding on Germany. It reveals new information on FDR's hidden illnesses and how they affected his leadership and his private talk about quitting his job during his fourth term and letting Henry Truman become President. Finally it shows how unprepared new President Truman managed to pick up the piecesand push Stalin and Churchill to accede to a bargain that would let the Anglo-Americans block Soviet threats against Western Europe and ensure that the world would not have to fear another Adolf Hitler.
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"what an outstanding read. great history spanning end of the depression through the era after hiroshima. you get perspectives on the depression, world war II, the nuclear era and american politics through the stories of two great american presidents. AND it is a easy read, quite well written. storngly recommend."
— Robert (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Vigorously written…This is history as it was spoken at the time, and there is not a dull page.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“A gripping narrative of the struggles at the end of World War II…to ensure that Nazi Germany would never be allowed to repeat its horrific acts.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“The Conquerors is a superbly written, if brief, treatment of the political events leading up to the defeat of Germany, with the main players brought vividly to life by Beschloss’ keen eye for detail and his ability to expose the human strengths and weaknesses of the participants.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“This book…will fill the bill for those who need a readable account of how American officials and their Allied counterparts came to draw the map of postwar Europe.”
— Publishers Weekly
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
The Conquerors Listener Reviews
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" Interesting angle to look a WWII and the post war years through the eyes of Roosevelt and Truman. The wheels of politics and how they turn... "
— Jason, 2/16/2014 -
" A good treatment of the diplomacy and decision-making that evolved over the final years of WWII with regard to the ultimate fate of Europe. "
— Ryan, 2/14/2014 -
" Good book on the political furor over what to do with Germany once the war is over. Also, it reveals the underlying prejudices of the Roosevelt administration towards Jews. But for all that thank God for Truman becoming President. "
— Shawn, 2/14/2014 -
" A lot of the accounts in this book I'd read before in others. The parts I found most unique and interesting were those on Henry Morgenthau and his transformation as a Jew in trying to come to terms with the Holocaust. "
— Riley, 2/10/2014 -
" Excellent...fascinating. I learned so much! "
— Karen, 1/31/2014 -
" Decent review of the behind the scenes politics of WWII. I knew nothing of Morgenthau's involvement in FDR's administration or of Morgenthau's plan to punish Germany after WWII. "
— Mathew, 1/29/2014 -
" This is when the president could make a military decision and not everybody in the country had to give their negative opinion. It seems people knew they all weren't the president back then and didn't know everything about the intricacies of the office. "
— Paul, 1/1/2014 -
" great conclusions, unfortunately getting to them was tedious. "
— Calwriter8966, 11/14/2013 -
" Ok. More on Morgenthau than either Roosevelt or Truman. "
— Jason, 10/26/2013 -
" Very good book,well written, and informative. "
— Joseph, 9/21/2013 -
" The book was just too brief, and with too many suppositions on the author's part. "
— Carla, 8/16/2013 -
" I love this political history, which focuses much of its attention on Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, who attempted to take a lead role in deciding how Germany would be punished after World War II. Overall a great read and an interesting and tragic piece of history. "
— Thomas, 7/26/2013 -
" Very detail oriented...interesting, though, to read the behind the scenes haggling that Roosevelt had to deal with. I had hoped to understand more about Roosevelt not helping get more Jews to America during WWII. Little too much of "he said, they said." "
— Donna, 6/18/2013 -
" Insightful look at how FDR and Harry Truman handled rumors of the Holocaust during WWII. "
— Tony, 1/17/2013 -
" pretty much based on morgenthau's journals and notes. . ..this is insanely boring and reveals almost nothing new. Beschloss is an historian for people who don't really like history. "
— Colin, 4/2/2012 -
" I didn't FDR was such a scary manager. I'm glad he wasn't my boss. "
— Mande, 3/12/2012 -
" A frank look at to key political leaders of WWII "
— Michelle, 12/24/2011 -
" A frank look at to key political leaders of WWII "
— Michelle, 5/30/2011 -
" A lot of the accounts in this book I'd read before in others. The parts I found most unique and interesting were those on Henry Morgenthau and his transformation as a Jew in trying to come to terms with the Holocaust. <br/> "
— Riley, 2/4/2011 -
" Very good book,well written, and informative. "
— Joseph, 10/26/2010 -
" pretty much based on morgenthau's journals and notes. . ..this is insanely boring and reveals almost nothing new. Beschloss is an historian for people who don't really like history. "
— Colin, 9/7/2010 -
" great conclusions, unfortunately getting to them was tedious. "
— Calwriter8966, 5/16/2010 -
" I love this political history, which focuses much of its attention on Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, who attempted to take a lead role in deciding how Germany would be punished after World War II. Overall a great read and an interesting and tragic piece of history. "
— Thomas, 10/4/2009 -
" The book was just too brief, and with too many suppositions on the author's part. "
— Carla, 8/15/2009 -
" Interesting book with a unique look at how Treasury Secretary Morgantheau tried and failed to influence post war Germany's future. Not the actual focus of the book but his access to to Morgantheau's documents played a major role in his research and point of view. "
— Travis, 4/24/2009 -
" Second read, good as the first time! "
— Allison, 11/25/2008 -
" I didn't FDR was such a scary manager. I'm glad he wasn't my boss. "
— Mande, 11/14/2008 -
" Decent review of the behind the scenes politics of WWII. I knew nothing of Morgenthau's involvement in FDR's administration or of Morgenthau's plan to punish Germany after WWII. "
— Mathew, 7/29/2008
About Michael R. Beschloss
Michael Beschloss has been called “the nation’s leading Presidential historian” by Newsweek. He has written eight books on American Presidents and is NBC News Presidential Historian, as well as contributor to PBS’s The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife and two sons.