In 1945, Budapest, once a thriving hub of European culture, became the stage for one of WWII’s most devastating sieges. Adam LeBor’s meticulously researched history brings to life the chaos, fear, and resilience of those caught in the city’s destruction.

🔹 A city on the edge – In September 1944, while other capitals had fallen, Budapest still shimmered with cafes, music, and espionage. But beneath the surface, the tension was palpable.
🔹 A battle for survival – By mid-October, the city plunged into anarchy: death squads terrorised civilians, Russian shells rained down, and thousands were forced into Jewish ghettos.
🔹 Voices from history – Through newly uncovered diaries and archives, LeBor tells this harrowing story through aristocrats, spies, SS officers, a teenage Jewish student, and an actress caught in the storm of war.

Perfect for fans of:
✔️ WWII history & gripping war narratives
✔️ Books like The Fall of Berlin 1945 & Bloodlands
✔️ Stories of courage, survival, and political intrigue

A riveting and deeply moving account, The Last Days of Budapest is a must-read for history lovers, shedding light on a city fighting for its soul amidst the wreckage of war.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A forensic review and examination of the fate of Budapest and the who lived there in the second world war written by an acknowledged expert on Hungary and its historical context.

Relying upon papers, documents and interviews LeBor builds a detailed picture of the former glories of a wonderful city and how it was devastated by the effects of the war. The Jewish population of the city were of course particularly hard hot and their fate is examined in great detail.

Sometimes a hard read but an important one.

started reading this with high hopes but it simply did not deliver. it is far too focused on an aristocratic family rather than offering a more holistic portray of what budapest was like during ww2, which is disappointing.