William L. Shirer
William L. Shirer (1904-1993) was an American journalist, author, and radio broadcaster best known for his monumental work on the fall of Nazi Germany, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. His influential career spanned 30 years, earning him numerous awards and recognition including a National Book Award.
Raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Shirer attended Washington High School, graduating in 1922. He then studied at Coe College and graduated in 1926. Following this, he moved to Europe, supporting himself by working as a foreign correspondent in Paris for the Chicago Tribune and International News Service.
In 1934, Shirer was appointed CBS’s Berlin correspondent by William Paley and Edward R. Murrow. His reports gained incredible attention, as he became the only American correspondent to report from Germany at the time.
From 1934 to 1940, Shirer reported from Berlin, providing Americans with first-hand accounts of German life under Nazi rule. During this time, he wrote a variety of articles ranging from accounts of Hitler's speeches to his experiences with average Germans. His articles had great influence on American public opinion.
Shirer also authored a series of radio shows, which broadcasted weekly. These featured commentary, analysis, and interviews with German people living under the Third Reich. Formally titled The Berlin Reports, the popular show helped make Shirer one of America’s most important authorities on Nazi Germany.
Having witnessed the rise and fall of Hitler’s Third Reich in person, Shirer found himself called upon by the US government as an expert witness in the Nuremberg Trials. After these, he stayed in Europe as a journalist until 1947, when he returned to the United States.
In 1960, Shirer wrote his definitive work on Nazi Germany, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Through extensive research and personal experience, he managed to capture German history from its rise to its fall. The work received high acclaim, and is still considered an essential text on Nazi Germany.
In addition to The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Shirer wrote numerous other books, biographies, and articles. These works included his autobiography, 20th Century Journey – A Memoir of a Life and The Art of Controversy, a book of essays on noteworthy historical controversies.
Throughout his career, William L. Shirer garnered many awards and recognitions including a special National Book Award and a Peabody Award. He was also honored with a prestigious fellowship at the Library of Congress.
William L. Shirer’s profound impact on American history through his reporting, writing, and lectures earned him tremendous renown and respect. His legacy in American journalism still stands, inspiring new generations of reporters.
The influence of William L. Shirer in creating a more comprehensive and comprehensive understanding of the Third Reich still ripples in the historiography of today. His monumental work The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is considered an important source for anybody wanting to learn about the Third Reich, and his lasting contributions to the field have proven vital to many historians.
