Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World
Written and Narrated by: Giles Milton
Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins
Milton is the King of Edge of Your Seat History!
Gonna get the paltry Nay before I get to the Yea on this fanTAStic bit o’ narrative history…
Okay so, like, I did have to jack up m’ Listening Speed to about x1.5 which I did NOT have to do with Milton’s Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (THAT audiobook, despite my antsy-ness, had me enjoying every single word to the point that I didn’t wanna miss a THING!!! so noooo Off To The Races Speeds). -AND- The subject matter is so intensely horrific here in Checkmate in Berlin that I can’t up and say it was a deLIGHTful Listening Experience.
Okay, exCEPt for the fact that this was a deLIGHTful Listening Experience cuz it’s Giles Freakin’ Milton we’re talking about and his writing, along with his ever-enthusiastic narration, just keeps ya soooo engaged. Not quite 14-hours? Quite a stretch of Listening Time?
No problem!
Along with the fact that this educates as well as entertains, this wound up being a 2-day Binge Listen that opened m’ eyes and made m’ toes curl big time indeed. You see, with things soooo deplorable in the world right now, rather than do a book on Putin’s history, I thought I’d do a book on the History that Putin glorifies.
And it’s horrifying…
Things start off all hunky-dory with Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin meeting at a waaaay outta the way place due to Stalin’s refusal to fly anywhere (Yalta). Churchill is swilling booze like there’s no tomorrow, and he offers loud praise of Stalin, Roosevelt is looking wan and weak as he offers praise of Stalin, and Stalin loudly and brashly agrees to almost everything once he got the former to accept soooo much occupation/ownership of conquered territories (Think: Poland didn’t stand a chance…). Brave trio of friends who divvy up Germany and Berlin.
One thing: The Russians are, like, there; and the other Allies are hundreds of miles away. So on with the raping and pillaging. Further, incoming soldiers are given the orders: Leave NOTHING in the Western sectors that the incoming Allies could use. This section of Checkmate in Berlin goes on for an extended period of time, and it’s SO painful to listen to. Edifying, oh indeed, but galling as well (EsPECially as today’s Putin has been hailing Stalin’s methods).
So there’s THAT gut-slug, and it’s not amusing in the least. Now here’s where I offer mighty praise of m’ own for Milton as the consummate writer of engaging history: His research is not only with facts but with the people involved. He gives us such exTRAordinary heroes to root for, namely Frank “Howlin’ Mad” Howley and his efforts and successes (As well as groan-inducing failures… they hurt cuz they really did happen…). So when ya think you’re gonna crawl under a rock and DIE cuz as far as History goes, Hindsight is 20/20 and there are way toooo many instances in Believing the Best about Stalin and his operatives, Milton pulls a rabbit outta the hat with twists and turns orchestrated by Howley and his own fellow Allies.
No, this ain’t all tales of derring-do. Rather, it’s a play-by-play account of a fraught time following “Victory” over Germany. It’s the men; it’s the deeds. And it’s reeeally good stuff.
Prepare to ponder why we go to war in the first place (I mean, the Berlin Airlift was all about taking care of former enemies, employing them—Air strips— and trying to provide meager rations to stave off disease and death). And prepare to think deeply about current events and Men in Power (And about Churchill’s proposed: “Operation Unthinkable” which he concocted because, tho’ he praised Stalin, he had no faith in Stalin’s word. But it never came to fruition, despite continuing proof of chicanery/machinations, due to a populace just sick and tired of war).
Quick word about Milton as narrator before I wind things up: Oh how AWEsome it is to hear him get excited about his own work. Oh how he adds to the drama! Drama! DRAMA!!! of the times. Nope, this can be a sobering work a lot of the time, but NEVER is it anything but engaging and exciting. Milton is THE Guy to narrate Milton!
So, was I satisfied with choosing this audiobook rather than one on Putin? Well, yes, but it terrified me to no end. Stalin was just so very successful and ruthless in getting what he wanted, and that Putin has stripped Stalin of all stains of causing wholesale death and destruction, mass starvation, is guilty of murder in the process of eliminating enemies and perceived enemies.
Just exhausted over on this end.
Listen to this, oh do! Just? P’raps take it for the WONderful bit of narrative history it is, and do NOT apply it to Current Realities. Life gets pretty bleak if ya do…
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