The causes of the war, military strategy, social history, the holocaust and outcomes. Up until then military history had usually been written by retired officers or generals, trying to make out that commanders were chess grandmasters playing some. In doing so, we also help publishers and dealers sell their nonfiction wwiirelated titles. Youll find titles in all genres, ranging from bestsellers, classics. It is arguable that the second world war was the biggest event in human history, certainly in the last few thousand years. Armies of the second world war is an online database of daybyday orders of battle and information about hundreds of. Over 30 great stories of the heroism and brutality, starvation and survival, defeats and triumphs commemorating 75 years since the outbreak of world war two. The second world war can be read with profit by students of the period as a memoir by a leading participant rather than a comprehensive history by a professional and detached historian.
Keegan examines each theater of the war, focusing on five crucial battles and news insights into the distinctive analyses and motivations of modern warfare. The book starts with the japanese invasion of manchuria in 1931, and covers. Jul 12, 2017 the generals who won world war ii legends winston groom may be best known as the author of forrest gump, but hes also an astute and entertaining military historian. The general and world war iii curtis lemay believed that the only sure nuclear defense was to launch a preemptive first strike.
September 1 marks the 78th anniversary of the start of world war ii. Nov 10, 2011 the first world war 1998, by john keegan. Keegan examines each theater of the war, focusing on five crucial battles and offering new insights into the distinctive methods and motivations of modern. The immense project was subdivided into areas to ease publication, united kingdom military series, the united kingdom civil series for the civilian war effort. He introduces the strategic dilemmas faced by the leaders and the consequences of their decisions on the fighting men and the course of the war as. From biographies to birdseye views, memoirs to timeless reportage, here is a selection of the best nonfiction books ever written about the second world war. Many people know a lot of the general history of wwii, but its the smaller, lesser known events that can really shock and amaze readers. After yesterdays world war ii fiction post, now its time for the nonfiction.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the second world war. Publishing in wartime ww2 paper restrictions american. Snyder is looking at the deliberate mass murder of civilians in a particular zone of europe between about 1930, at the start of the second ukraine famine, and 1945. The generals who won world war ii legends winston groom may be best known as the author of forrest gump, but hes also an astute and entertaining military historian. There is mild wear to the extremities, including bumping and some fading. Discover book depositorys huge selection of world war 2 books online. Anne frank shelved 52 times as secondworldwar avg rating 4. A new history of the second world war the new yorker. The war in europe appeared completely divorced from the war in the pacific and china, and yet events on opposite sides of the world had profound effects. The origins of the second world war in europe are complex and controversial.
May 01, 2005 praised as athe best military historian of our generationa by tom clancy, john keegan here reconsiders his masterful study of world war ii, the second world war, with a new foreword. Jun 16, 2012 o ver the past few decades, the second world war has become so vast and various a phenomenon so many wars in one that anyone who tries to contain it within a single volume has to make hard. By downloading libby to your smartphone, you can access thousands of ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free anytime and anywhere. The second great war by hammerton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It resulted in the death of over 50 million people, all over. The second world war, particularly the period from 1940 to 1942 when britain fought with the support of the empire and a few allies, was the climax of churchills career and his inside story of those days is.
Great second world war stories by bounty books, hardcover. As expected from this publisher the books are very clear and cover a lot of ground with fantastic photographs and illustrations. This essential book documents the progression of the second world war, exploring the roles of various countries and highlighting the influential political figures that led the warring nations into battle. The second world war is a narrative history of world war ii by the british historian antony beevor. I have also read some accounts of the gruesome rape, pillage and exploitation by the the alli. Forewordjohn keegan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. List of books and articles about world war i online. Popular second world war books showing 150 of 3,983 the diary of a young girl mass market paperback by.
Invasion of russia, the face of battle, a history of warfare, who was who in world war ii, the second world war, the american civil war, the mask of command, and the iraq war. Wwii a complete history of the second world war by igloo. The books had enormous sales in both britain and the united states and made churchill a rich man for the first time. Relive the events of world war ii through the news stories as originally reported by the daily mirror, one of the most prominent world war 2 newspaper platforms at the time. Memories from the home front it was not just the upheaval caused by evacuation and the blitzes that changed a generations childhood, it was how war pervaded every aspect of. I have purchased both first and second world war usborne books. The second world war is a history of the period from the end of the first world war to july. Then, infantrymen, advancing towards each other until caught in a line of trenches, had mounted a series of attacks against a well dugin enemy. I find that some of the books are written by authors from nations that won the war and portray the axis powers as pure evil.
Keegan examines each theater of the war, focusing on five crucial battles and offering new insights into the distinctive methods and motivations of modern warfare. Many readers suggested anthony beevors books stalingrad and the fall of berlin 1945. Strachans work is a broad study of the first world war aimed at the general reader. With striking images, this book details the crucial and costly battles fought, encapsulates wartime conditions and reveals how world war ii came to its eventual conclu. Five books on world war i history smithsonian magazine.
Beevors stalingrad is the better of his two books on the war. Drawing on them, lindbergh sent a dire warning to general henry. Book three of churchills grand history of the second world war covers the events of 1941. India produced the largest volunteer army in world history. Armies of the second world war is an online database of daybyday orders of battle and information about hundreds of division, brigade, and regimentsized units in world war ii. This second volume begins with the account of mussolini attempting to mirror hitler in acts of aggression by thrusting towards egypt and capturing the important artery of the british empire. Rare first editions, deluxe and collectible editions of books, pamphlets, and ephemera relating to the second world war, 19391945, including its buildup and aftermath. He modified a number of passages when he learnt that general eisenhower was to run for the presidency.
This post on world war ii books is sponsored by libby. The following article is a list of ten books that provide different perspectives on the root causes of the second world. Raj at war the second world war was not fought by britain alone. Complete news and information about books, publishers, booksellers, and authors for readers, researchers, and collectors of books about the second world war. This book is about not just world war ii but it is also about the stalinist repression of the areas known as the borderlands, which snyder has termed the bloodlands. The german advance into poland on 1 september 1939 was not a repeat of the tactics of the first world war of 191418. Publisher directory, dealer directory, bibliography of books, and more. The second world war began in august 1939 on the edge of manchuria and ended there exactly six years later with the soviet invasion of northern china. Characteristics of wwii messengers role of women at war combat troops several hundred thousand women served in combat roles, especially in antiaircraft units.
Chronicled in this personalised edition are the events before and during the second world war. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The second world war, particularly the period from 1940 to 1942 when britain fought with the support of the empire and a few allies, was the climax of churchill. Britain started the year fighting alone against hitlers germany, but ended it as part of the grand alliance with the united states and the soviet union. Great narration by laurence olivier and features a buttload of interviews.
Once again culling from the excellent comments left in my original post on the topic from a while back, here are the books. Memories from the home front it was not just the upheaval caused by evacuation and the blitzes that changed a generations childhood, it was how war pervaded every aspect of life. It resulted in the death of over 50 million people, all over the globe. The history of the second world war is the official history of the british contribution to the second world war and was published by her majestys stationery office hmso. Based on research in the random house archives and focusing on the modern library series, this article examines how publishers coped with wartime challenges and opportunities. The title is simple and straightforward, and yet in and of itself poses an enormous challenge to its writer. The book starts with the japanese invasion of manchuria in 1931, and covers the entire second world war ending with the final surrender of axis forces. This summer will see the 75th anniversary of the end of the second world war. From the letters of an early 19thcentury rifleman to a housewifes account of the second world war, max hastings, military historian and exwar reporter, chooses. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. World war i, 191418, also known as the great war, conflict, chiefly in europe, among most of the great western powers.
What are the best books to read for a neutral view on the. John keegans second world war is a pretty concise overview of the entire conflict thats both concise and erudite, without the sentimentality that tends to color a lot of american works, particularly stephen ambroses. Also, a fantastic companion, if youre willing to go multimedia, is the bbcs world at war boxed set. A well known set of books documenting the second world war in black and white photographs. The second world war kindle edition by beevor, antony. The second world war can be read with profit by students of the period as a memoir by a leading participant rather than a comprehensive history by a professional and. Causes world war i was immediately precipitated by the assassination of archduke francis ferdinand of austriahungary by a serbian nationalist in 1914. The german advance into poland on 1 september 1939 was not a repeat of the.
We use them as part of our home educating for my two grandsons, but they would be a useful addition to anyones bookshelf. In this history, the author explores both the technological and the human impact of the war. Hundreds of millions were injured physically and mentally. The second world war was the most catastrophic war in human history. American book publishing during the second world war had to cope with a huge increase in demand for books coupled with scarcity of resources, especially paper rationing imposed by the war produc tion board. Apr 29, 2005 buy the usborne introduction to the second world war. From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written each year, seemingly dozens of new titles emerge to offer fresh perspectives and uncover. The 10 best books about war winston churchill the guardian. The definitive, nobel prizewinning history of world war ii, universally acknowledged as a magnificent historical reconstruction and an enduring work of literature from britains darkest and finest hour to the great alliance and ultimate victory, the second world war remains the most pivotal event of the twentieth century. For an easily readable book covering the most basic stuff about the war which took place over 6 continents and all of the worlds oceans, by the way you can start with 1001 things everyone should know about wwii. The second world war by winston churchill, first edition.
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