Their Darkest Hour: People Tested to the Extreme in WWII Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Laurence Rees (Author), John Hopkins (Narrator), Penguin Audio (Publisher)

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Award-winning writer and filmmaker Laurence Rees has spent nearly 20 years meeting people who were tested to the extreme during World War II. He has come face to face with rapists, mass murderers, even cannibals, but he has also met courageous individuals who are an inspiration to us all. His quest has taken him from the Baltic States to Japan, from Poland to America and from Germany to China.

Here he presents 35 of his most electrifying encounters. Meet Estera Frenkiel, a young Jewish woman given the chance to save 10 fellow Jews from deportation and death; Peter Lee, a British officer brutally treated by his Japanese captors; Zinaida Pytkina, a female member of the Soviet Union's infamous SMERSH organisation, who took pleasure in killing a German prisoner; Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier so fanatical that he refused to surrender until 29 years after the end of the war; and Petras Zelionka, a Lithuanian who shot Jewish men, women and children for the Nazis.

The devastating first-hand testimony in Their Darkest Hour is both a lasting contribution to our understanding of the war and a powerful insight into the behaviour of human beings in crisis.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Listening Length

8 hours and 31 minutes
Author

Laurence Rees
Narrator

John Hopkins
Audible release date

30 July 2020
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Audio
ASIN

B089B2DL75
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	8 hours and 31 minutes
Author	Laurence Rees
Narrator	John Hopkins
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	30 July 2020
Publisher	Penguin Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B089B2DL75
Best Sellers Rank	22,009 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 425 in Military History (Audible Books & Originals) 565 in World War II History (Books) 14,752 in Teen & Young Adult (Books)

Customer reviews

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4 star		17%
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2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		3%

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Terry Phillips

Could have added more detail

Reviewed in Australia on 14 May 2021

Verified Purchase

Stories lacked detail and seemed only shallow probably because they were based on TV interviews.

Helpful

John

Stories of cruelty, hardship, suffering and love.

Reviewed in Australia on 29 April 2017

Verified Purchase

Interesting first person accounts of aspects of war (some of which we'd rather forget or pretend never happened). Very readable.

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Top reviews from other countries

Olesha

Important Source Materials for Lawrence Rees’s Books and TV Programmes.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 May 2020

Verified Purchase

Laurence Rees’s work, including The Nazis: A Warning From History and Auschwitz stand out in both their quality and clarity. This book consists of interviews carried out by Rees during the course of his work, together with his reflections on the interviewees. If you’re impressed by Rees’s work, this book is essential reading, providing further insights. I found the chapter on the indomitable Alois Pfaller, imprisoned by the Nazis between 1934 and 1945, to be particularly touching. Pfaller comments, “I have always stood up for justice, for what is just and reasonable - that was my problem. And also fighting injustice - that was my problem.” Don’t hesitate: buy this wonderful book.

One person found this helpful

small and covered in hair

seriously impressed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2009

Verified Purchase

I first came across Mr Rees work in 'The Nazis, a warning from history' and also 'Auschwitz' both on DVD.
Their Darkest Hour was the first book of his that I have read, and it was compelling.The sections were long enough to provide all the information, but not too long to lose interest.
The piece that grabbed me was when he wrote about the possibility of someone who would go out of their way to assist you,ie street directions, or giving you a lift, and yet was capable of taking part in the Holocaust and have no guilt about their actions.I met someone in Germany last year who fitted this description.
The book was also good as it wrote from a very human perspective,showing how people adapt to circumstances that are thrust upon them, either doing good or evil.

5 people found this helpful

fast reader

Not quite what I expected

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 December 2019

Verified Purchase

I thought from the description that this would be stories about WW2 events but it was actually an exploration of the motives behind people's actions. A piece of journalism - Interesting but not as described.

3 people found this helpful

Sally

A piece of history amazingly told

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 May 2019

Verified Purchase

Another GREAT book by a great auther.
With years of documentary making and years and years of research and interviews, you know your getting the best historical accounts..

One person found this helpful

Foge

I love this author

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2015

Verified Purchase

I love this author! All his book are factual and written in a really user friendly way. This is almost like the Brest bits of interviews which couldn't fit in his other books. A great compilation of stories - a real must

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Their Darkest Hour: People Tested to the Extreme in WWII Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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