Checkmate in Berlin: The Cold War Showdown That Shaped the Modern World

In February 1945, the three allied powers met at Yalta to discuss the post-war world. The war in Europe had turned in the allies’ favor. Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Marshal Josef Stalin, and President Franklin Roosevelt met to debate Germany’s fate, including control of its territories and punishment. An ailing Franklin Roosevelt wanted a commitment from the Soviets to join the fray against Japan, in addition to accepting membership of the United Nations. The meeting ended with a sense of optimism amongst all the parties.

As the Third Reich crumbled, so did the uneasy alliance between the US, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union. The Soviets sought to get into Germany first and take their vengeance while keeping the other allies out of the mix. Colonel Frank Howley bore witness to the delaying tactics firsthand as he was set to lead the US portion of Berlin. A new war was on the horizon.

Checkmate in Berlin has the slow-burn intensity of a Tom Clancy thriller. The sparks set to ignite a decades-long conflict are laid out in comprehensive detail through multiple individuals who either wanted peace or wanted unchecked power. Author Giles Milton has composed an absorbing and noteworthy historical narrative.