thrilling! I read the hardcover then audible

The author & narrator take us for a harrowing ride with the candy bombers. I read the hardcover & was so impressed that I couldn't wait to hear it read to me with this audible edition.
This is a refreshing history lesson told as a gripping story full of fright, passion, sadness and joy. So many times the hair stood up on my arms and I cried out of terror and happiness. An outstanding story about the triumph of heart.
So many things came to light about the cold war and how close our world did come to communism.
Cherny made this manly history lesson read like chick-lit while including the details of politics and war.
My father and husband are history buffs & they were overjoyed with it. Even they learned new things.
Excellent Excellent Excellent!

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2 people found this helpful

How Western Europe was Saved From Communism!

This book is a fascinating and detailed behind the scenes look at how Harry Truman and Gen. Lucius Clay saved West Berlin, West Germany and Western Europe from the clutches of Stalin and the Communists in the aftermath of WWII. It is much more than just the technical description of how the greatest airlift in history preserved West Berlin despite the challenges of a harsh winter (no thanks to Gen. Curtis LeMay, who was given and took most of the credit for this win over the Communists. It is a reminder of the extremely difficult environment that over 2 Million Germans endured in the ruins of Berlin in the several years following WWII. Without the leadership of Harry Truman and Clay, both of whom went against the conventional wisdom of the wise thinkers of their time, Gen Bradley, Dean Acheson, Dewey, and others, all of Europe would have fallen under the control of the Communists. I highly recommend this book.

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Much broader in scope than I thought.

This book covers a much wider and deeper area of history than I was expecting. A great book, highly recommended.

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Why didn't I know about this!

Pivotal point in history! A simple, non-assuming action with a tsunami effect. Informative character and historical background. Engaging plot. A real life moral that could alter today's areas of tension. Beautifully told and narrated.

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Goodness wins out over the Russian Bear

WW II was over but apparently Russia didn't get the word. America was ready to get back to work. Russia wanted to take over all of Europe. Germans were caught in the middle. This is the story of how the US stood up to Russia when it looked as if they would not and could not. But more than that, this is the story of a compassionate approach to a conquered enemy and how together the 'conquered' and the former conquerers together fought back Communism, oppression and brutality with the kindness that nobody was expecting. The book is well written, well read, and just plain interesting.

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You can’t go forward unless you understand the past

Excellent book. I wish our governmental officials would read it to prevent them from making the same mistakes over and over again.

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uplifting, interesting true story

Highly recommended. Positive story about sacrifice, creativity, and compassion. Well-written and well- narrated. Plus it’s a real cliffhanger!

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So much I didn't know

I learned about WWII in school, I learned about the Cold War, but their connection through the city of Berlin was never made clear. I hadn't realized how devastated the city was after the war, nor how large a part its socio-political reconstruction played in the early years of the American-Soviet standoff. This book did so much to help me understand the nature of the Cold War as well as the sentiment of the German people after WWII. I stayed up until 2am many nights listening to this wonderful story.

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4 people found this helpful

Very Interesting Piece of History

The narration was excellent. The story flowed really well and gave me a new appreciation for
all the players in the Berlin Airlift. First we won the War ...Then we won the peace.
Great Historical information on an understated feat that the US achieved in post war Germany. Especially liked the story about Gail Halverson....wish someone would make a movie!!!!

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Fascinating History that Must Not be Forgotten

Before reading this book, I had a general understanding of the Berlin Airlift. I had no idea of its crucial importance in shaping the world we live in today. Simply put, if the Soviet blockade had not been broken, Berlin would have fallen, and perhaps the rest of Germany, and, from there, who knows?

The characters in this book are well developed. Lucius Clay, in charge of U.S. operations in Berlin, is a fascinating character. He was a General who never saw action, but whose ability to handle huge logistical challenges saw him rise through the ranks. He was a very important, although somewhat forgotten, American military officer. William Tunner, another overlooked figure, was a genius at organizing supply operations by air, having previously run the operation supplying China from India by flying over the "Hump" in World War II. The Airlift was floundering until Tunner was put in charge, and then things began to change.

The most endearing character is pilot Gail ("Hal") Halverson, who was the original "candy bomber." Halverson felt sorry for the children of Berlin who had suffered through the war and now had little to eat and nothing to look forward to. So he began parachuting (with handkerchiefs) rations of chocolate and candy to the kids. At first he was fearful that he would be busted, because it was against regulations. But the brass (and then the politicians) quickly saw the value of the candy drops in changing hearts and minds--on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.S., grass roots efforts (and later corporate donations) helped supply the candy bombers. Berliners saw the good will of the American effort and, for the most part, staunchly resisted the Soviet effort to break their will.

It is really a great book. If I have one reservation, it is that the story is very slow in developing. This book is about 26 hours. The story really does not start moving until you are about a quarter of the way in. Stick with it. It is well worth it in the end.

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