Photo: 不明 / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
William L. Shirer was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States on February 23, 1904. William L. Shirer was listed as a journalist, historian and writer. Death is recorded on December 28, 1993, at the age of 89. Schooling on record includes Washington High School and Coe College. Recorded honors include George Polk Award (1983), Peabody Awards, National Book Award (1961) and 1 more.
My Take
William L. Shirer occupies a rare place for me: the eyewitness who became the historian. Having reported from inside Nazi Germany as it rose, he wrote The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich with an authority no purely academic account could match. The Polk and Peabody awards and the National Book Award are impressive, but what moves me is that his work has been read and cited for more than sixty years. That longevity is the truest verdict. He reminds me why firsthand reporting matters, and why the act of carefully recording history is itself a form of moral courage.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- William L. Shirer
- Name (Japanese)
- ウィリアム・L・シャイラー
- Reading
- うぃりあむ・L・しゃいらー
- Born
- February 23, 1904 – December 28, 1993
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Dragon
- Origin
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Occupation
- journalist / historian / writer / actor
2. Background
- High school
- Washington High School
- University
- Coe College
Awards & achievements
- 1983 George Polk Award
- Peabody Awards
- 1961 National Book Award
- 1961 The Hillman Prize for Book Journalism
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was William L. Shirer born?
Born February 23, 1904.
When did William L. Shirer die?
Died December 28, 1993, aged 89.
Where was William L. Shirer from?
William L. Shirer was from Chicago, Illinois, United States.
What did William L. Shirer do?
William L. Shirer worked as journalist, historian, writer, actor.
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