Berlin Diaries by Marie Vassiltchikov is a primary historical source that should be included in any study of the Second World War. Her writings present the reader with views not commonly found in other primary or secondary historical sources. The diary tells of the near assassination of Adolf Hitler, describes the all-encompassing character of the war, and helps the reader to understand the Holocaust in the time frame that it occurred. While there are many good primary sources written about the Second World War, very few are able to present such an unusual view of the events as Berlin Diaries does.

    Because of the social and occupational circles with which Marie, or "Missie", acquainted herself, she was a firsthand observer of the 20th of July plot to murder Adolf Hitler. The reader benefits from this since no more than a sentence or two is devoted to the 20th of July plot in history textbooks. The diary format, however, allows one to be introduced to the anti-Nazi movement in a very personal way. Although it is too dangerous to refer directly to the plot itself, Missie's daily interactions with several of the main instigators are recorded. The first half of the diary offers an opportunity to get to know these people and the roles they play in her life. Only after the unsuccessful attempt takes place on July 20, 1944 does the reader realize what a rare glimpse into the past he or she has just received. Once the rumor that Hitler is dead is dispelled, Missie=s diary loses the pretense of non-involvement and she freely writes about the aftermath. The circumstances are described as they happened, without the hindsight of fifty years to affect the truth. On Friday, July 21, she writes:
 

We still did not quite realise the scope of the disaster and the dreadful danger they were all in. It will be difficult, but from now on one must pretend to know nothing and talk about it all, even to friends, with complete incredulity. And all the time one must look surprised, concerned even, but not terrified.... (Vassiltchikov, 195, 198)

    Missie tells of the fates of her friends one by one, and because of the intimacy that the reader has by now developed, it is astonishing to stop and remember that these are historically famous figures. The 20th of July plot comes alive as Missie describes furtive trips to courtrooms and prisons in an effort to find out what has happened to her friends. By being such an observant and consistent writer, Missie is able to preserve a piece of history that is rarely seen. Her diary ensures that its readers will learn about the 20th of July plot from an extremely unique point of view.

    The consistent day to day structure of Berlin Diaries not only tells the story of a little known historical event, but also provides the reader with an understanding of the far-reaching effects of the war. Missie is the daughter of White Russian royalty and is accustomed to an aristocratic lifestyle, but this does not mean that she will escape the terrors of war. At the beginning of the diary in 1940, Missie is lighthearted and fairly unconcerned. Her first challenge is moving to Berlin, but she and her sister soon find jobs and begin to adjust. The change is made easier by her network of influential friends and connections, who continue to help her throughout the war. She rarely faces being alone, and always has someone to turn to for assistance. Her early daily accounts describe dinner parties and other social events and always focus on the people she meets. Before long, however, she can no longer avoid the reality of war. Gradually she begins to hear of acquaintances and friends who lose their lives in battle or in one of the many air raids on Berlin. Missie struggles with her own fear at the almost nightly air raids. On November 23, 1943 she describes the evening after a particularly violent raid on Berlin: "Every now and then a crashing building or a delayed time bomb would tear one awake and I would sit up with a pounding heart. By now the fire storm had reached its peak and the roar outside was like a train going through a tunnel" (109). As Missie=s life becomes more difficult, her tone and attitude in her diary entries change. Her words speak of pain and suffering and have a sobering effect; she no longer sounds like a carefree young girl, but at times like a very old woman. War's atrocities take their toll on her psychological and physical well-being. She deals with issues such as separation from her family, loss of property, constant changes in living arrangements, and close brushes with illness and death. The Allied planes that nightly drop bombs on Berlin do not care that Missie is a member of the elite class; war does not discriminate. By the end of the war, Missie has had just as many trials as those in the lower socioeconomic classes and her suffering is comparable. A source that focuses on the majority certainly tells the story of many people, but Berlin Diaries forces the reader to realize that war is so powerful that even the elite cannot hide from it.

    Two of the biggest strengths of Missie's diary are based on the inclusion of details not found in other sources, but the absence of any entries discussing the plight of the Jews is also a notable point. While this omission at first seems to be a weakness, it is actually a strength. Many present-day secondary sources focus heavily on the Holocaust, making it difficult for the modern reader to view it in the time frame in which it took place. Today it is easy to look back and question why no effort was made to prevent the mass genocide of an ethnic population. Berlin Diaries offers a clue as to the context in which 1940's society experienced the Holocaust. Not once does Missie mention any Jewish acquaintances, concentration camps, or racially motivated violence by the Nazi party. It is safe to infer that if Missie had been aware of the extermination of the Jews, she would have at least alluded to it in her diary. She is not blind to the horrors going on around her; nor would her strong Christian beliefs permit her to be completely unsympathetic towards others. She was not cut off from news or information; in fact, she worked for the Broadcasting Service and the Foreign Ministry's Information Department. The only possible conclusion is that she and others did not know. The diary's glaring deficiency of attention to the Jewish situation can be attributed to a refusal on the part of Hitler's government to reveal what was truly taking place. The information was simply not made public, meaning that members of society could do little about it. Such a significant aspect of World War Two could not be ignored if it were common knowledge; Missie's diary therefore adds a note of realism and understanding to the modern reader's expectations of wartime society. What seems at first glance to be a weakness becomes a strength of the diary as a source on closer examination.

    The unique strengths of Marie Vassiltchikov's Berlin Diaries are what qualify this book as a valid historical source. No other primary source so thoroughly explains the 20th of July plot, the permeating global horror of war, and the European wartime view of the Holocaust. The format of a diary works well with these topics, and the author's uncommon station in life gives her writings a fresh point of view that has a significant historical value.

Vassiltchikov, Marie. Berlin Diaries. New York: Random House, 1988.