The Cold War era is a period of history I know very little about. I have read extensively on earlier periods of the twentieth century, and lived through much of the latter portion of it. But that period covering the 1950s, 1960s and into the 1970s has always been of lesser interest to me.
That changed somewhat when I was able to read The Tunnels, a history of the earliest years of the Berlin Wall. The Tunnels focuses on the escapes from East Berlin to the West, and those primarily achieved by using tunnels dug under the Wall and the death strip that buffered it in the East.
While many attempts were made, only a few succeeded, and only a couple really succeeded well. One such was a tunnel that was financed and filmed by NBC, in order to produce a documentary that would raise American awareness of the trials that East Berliners faced under oppressive rule. With the Cuban crisis looming in the Caribbean, the last thing the Kennedy Administration needed was another crisis in Europe. As a result, the media was pressured to hold off, or even to squelch this documentary and others like it.
The Tunnels is a fascinating look into the earliest days of the Berlin Wall, the brave East Berliners who tried to escape it, and the dedicated West Berliners who worked tirelessly to help them. It is an incredible look into a period of history that many have ignored, and many more wish would be forgotten. But we cannot ignore it without ignoring a critical piece of the human quest for freedom and liberty.
I suggest you read The Tunnels. Imagine the pain and the fear that many experienced as they loved through this difficult period of history. And be inspired.
Ratings & Details For The Tunnels:
- Genre/Style: History
- Purpose/Premise: 9 of 10 stars
- Spiritual Content: 0 of 10 stars
- Readability/Flow: 7 of 10 stars
- Cover: 9 of 10 stars
- Overall Rating: 9 of 10 stars
Question: Have you read much mid-twentieth century history? What’s your favorite historical period? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
I received this book free from Waterbrook/Multnomah Media as part of their Blogging For Books blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.