WL
William L. Shirer
100quotes
William L. Shirer
Biography of a Pioneering Journalist and Historian
Full Name and Common Aliases
William Lawrence Shirer was born on February 23, 1904, in Chicago, Illinois. He is often referred to as Bill Shirer or by his pen name, William L. Shirer.
Birth and Death Dates
February 23, 1904 – December 10, 1993
Nationality and Profession(s)
Shirer was an American journalist, historian, and author of German descent. He worked primarily as a foreign correspondent, reporting on significant global events for various media outlets throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family with strong journalistic roots, Shirer's early life was marked by exposure to the world of news and politics. His father, Louis Shirer, was an editor at the Chicago Evening Post, which instilled in young Bill a passion for storytelling and current events. Shirer attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he began his writing career as a reporter on the university's student newspaper.
Major Accomplishments
Shirer is best known for his work as a foreign correspondent during World War II. He reported from Germany, Italy, France, and other European countries, providing in-depth coverage of the war's early years to CBS News. Shirer was one of the few American journalists allowed access to Hitler's inner circle and even had personal conversations with the German leader.
Notable Works or Actions
Shirer wrote several influential books on history and politics, including:
_Berlin Diary: The Journal of a Foreign Correspondent, 1934-1941_ (1950) - an account of his time in Germany during the rise of Nazism
_The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany_ (1960) - a comprehensive history of Nazi Germany that became a classic of historical literature
Shirer also appeared on radio broadcasts, providing commentary on global events for CBS News.
Impact and Legacy
As one of the most respected foreign correspondents of his time, Shirer's reporting played a significant role in shaping American public opinion during World War II. His books continue to be studied by historians and scholars today, offering valuable insights into the complexities of 20th-century politics.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Shirer is widely quoted for his incisive commentary on global events and his ability to convey the complexity of historical context. His reporting from Germany during World War II remains a testament to his courage, integrity, and commitment to journalistic excellence. Through his writing and reporting, Shirer has left an enduring legacy as one of the most important journalists of the 20th century.
Quotes by William L. Shirer
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1933.” Farben scientists had saved Germany from early disaster in the First World War by the invention of a process to make synthetic nitrates from air after the country’s normal supply of nitrates from Chile was cut off by the British blockade.
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But not by Hermann Goering. He cheated the hangman. Two hours before his turn would have come he swallowed a vial of poison that had been smuggled into his cell. Like his Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler, and his rival for the succession, Heinrich Himmler, he had succeeded at the last hour in choosing the way in which he would depart this earth, on which he, like the other two, had made such a murderous impact.
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Some time after dinner a newsboy rushed into the lobby of the Ambassador with extra editions of a German-language paper, the only one I can read since I do not know Czech. The headlines said: Chamberlain to fly to Berchtesgaden tomorrow to see Hitler! The Czechs are dumbfounded. They suspect a sell-out and I’m afraid they’re right.
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What they then wanted was an authoritarian Germany which at home would put an end to democratic “nonsense” and the power of the trade unions and in foreign affairs undo the verdict of 1918, tear off the shackles of Versailles, rebuild a great Army and with its military power restore the country to its place in the sun. These.
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Coffee, ever since it became impossible to buy it in Germany, has assumed a weird importance in one’s life.
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While surrender negotiations were under way – a Dutch officer had come to German headquarters near the bridge to discuss the details and was returning with the German terms – bombers appeared and wiped out the heart of the great city. Some eight hundred persons, almost entirely civilians, were massacred, several thousand wounded and 78,000 made homeless.
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While some of his men were mounting a machine gun in the entrance, Hitler jumped up on a table and to attract attention fired a revolver shot toward the ceiling.
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He, who was so monumentally intolerant by his very nature, was strangely tolerant of one human condition – a man’s morals. No other party in Germany came near to attracting so many shady characters. As we have seen, a conglomeration of pimps, murderers, homosexuals, alcoholics and blackmailers flocked to the party as if to a natural haven. Hitler did not care, as long as they were useful to him.
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But what were these hopes in which he was disappointed? What were these wishes in which he was frustrated? What was that faith that was abused? They were surely among the most noble and benevolent instincts of the human heart – the love of peace, the toil for peace, the strife for peace, the pursuit of peace, even at great peril and certainly in utter disdain of popularity or clamor.
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