The Second World War
A Complete History
Published on 12. February 2019
856 pages
978-0-7953-3729-1 (ISBN)
Description
"Mr. Gilbert brings the strongest possible credentials to his history of World War II, and the result is a magisterial work" (
TheNew York Times).
In the hands of master historian Martin Gilbert, the complex and compelling story of the Second World War comes to life. This narrative captures the perspectives of leading politicians and war commanders, journalists, civilians, and ordinary soldiers, offering gripping eyewitness accounts of heroism, defeat, suffering, and triumph.
This is one of the first historical studies of World War II that describes the Holocaust as an integral part of the war. It also covers maneuvers, strategies, and leaders operating in European, Asian, and Pacific theatres. In addition, this book brings in survivor testimonies of occupation, survival behind enemy lines, and the experience of minority groups such as the Roma in Europe, to offer a comprehensive account of the war's impact on individuals on both sides. This is a sweeping narrative of one of the most deadly wars in history, which took almost forty million lives, and irrevocably changed countless more.
"Gilbert's flowing narrative is spiced with anecdotal details culled from diaries, memoirs, and official documents. He is especially skillful at interweaving summaries of military strategy with vignettes of civilian suffering." - Newsweek
"[A] masterful account of history's most destructive conflict." - Publishers Weekly
In the hands of master historian Martin Gilbert, the complex and compelling story of the Second World War comes to life. This narrative captures the perspectives of leading politicians and war commanders, journalists, civilians, and ordinary soldiers, offering gripping eyewitness accounts of heroism, defeat, suffering, and triumph.
This is one of the first historical studies of World War II that describes the Holocaust as an integral part of the war. It also covers maneuvers, strategies, and leaders operating in European, Asian, and Pacific theatres. In addition, this book brings in survivor testimonies of occupation, survival behind enemy lines, and the experience of minority groups such as the Roma in Europe, to offer a comprehensive account of the war's impact on individuals on both sides. This is a sweeping narrative of one of the most deadly wars in history, which took almost forty million lives, and irrevocably changed countless more.
"Gilbert's flowing narrative is spiced with anecdotal details culled from diaries, memoirs, and official documents. He is especially skillful at interweaving summaries of military strategy with vignettes of civilian suffering." - Newsweek
"[A] masterful account of history's most destructive conflict." - Publishers Weekly
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Person
Sir Martin Gilbert is a leading British historian and the author of more than eighty books. Specializing in 20th century history, he is also the official biographer of Winston Churchill and has written a bestselling eight-volume biography of the war leaders life.Born in London in 1936, Martin Gilbert was evacuated to Canada with his family at the beginning of World War II as part of the British governments efforts to protect children from the brutal bombings of the Luftwaffe. He was made a Fellow of Merton College, Oxford, in 1962. He is the author of several definitive historical works examining the Holocaust, the First and Second World Wars, and the history of the 20th century.In 1990, Gilbert was designated a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and was awarded a Knighthood in 1995. Oxford University awarded him a Doctorate in 1999. Today, he is a sought-after speaker on Churchill, Jewish history, and the history of the 20th century, and he travels frequently to lecture at colleges, universities, and organizations around the world.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- List of Maps
- Acknowledgements
- 1. The German invasion of Poland, September 1939
- 2. Poland defeated, October 1939
- 3. Finland defiant, November 1939
- 4. The Scandinavian cockpit, winter 1939-1940
- 5. The German attack in the West, May 1940
- 6. Dunkirk, May 1940
- 7. The battle for France, June 1940
- 8. France's agony, Britain's resolve, June-July 1940
- 9. The battle for Britain, August-September 1940
- 10. 'The war is won!' (Hitler), October 1940
- 11. The 'new order of tyranny' (Roosevelt), winter 1940-1941
- 12. The widening war, January-March 1941
- 13. The German conquest of Yugoslavia and Greece, April 1941
- 14. The fall of Crete
- war in Africa, April-May 1941
- 15. The German invasion of Russia, June 1941
- 16. Terror in the East, July-August 1941
- 17. Towards Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev, September 1941
- 18. Russia at bay, September-October 1941
- 19. 'Deciding the fate of Europe' (Hitler), November 1941
- 20. The limits of German conquest, December 1941
- 21. Japan strikes, December 1941
- 22. 'We are no longer alone' (Churchill), New Year 1942
- 23. Global war, February-April 1942
- 24. The spread of resistance and terror, summer 1942
- 25. Axis triumphs, July 1942
- 26. Guadalcanal, Dieppe, El Alamein, August-September 1942
- 27. Stalingrad and 'Torch', September-October 1942
- 28. The turn of the tide for the Allies, winter 1942
- 29. Casablanca: blueprint for victory, January 1943
- 30. The German armies in danger, February 1943
- 31. 'Drive the enemy into the sea' (Montgomery), spring 1943
- 32. 'The first crack in the Axis' (Roosevelt), summer 1943
- 33. Germany and Japan in retreat, autumn 1943
- 34. 'Bleeding to death in the East' (Goebbels), winter 1943
- 35. Anzio, Cassino, Kwajalein, January-February 1944
- 36. Bombing, deportation, and mass murder, February-March 1944
- 37. Resistance, sabotage and deception, spring 1944
- 38. D-Day, June 1944
- 39. Germany encircled, July 1944
- 40. The battles for Poland and France, summer 1944
- 41. The bitter-sweet path of liberation, autumn 1944
- 42. Into Germany
- towards the Philippines, September 1944
- 43. Fighting for every mile, October-November 1944
- 44. Flying bombs, suicide pilots, death marches, January 1945
- 45. Berlin, Manila, Dresden, Tokyo, February-March 1945
- 46. The Axis in disarray
- the Allies in conflict, March-April 1945
- 47. The deaths of Roosevelt, Mussolini and Hitler, April 1945
- 48. The end of the war in Europe, May 1945
- 49. Germany in defeat, Japan unbowed, May-July 1945
- 50. Alamogordo, Potsdam, Hiroshima, July-August 1945
- 51. The defeat of Japan, August 1945
- 52. Retribution and Remembrance, 1945-1952
- 53. 'Unfinished business', 1953-1989
- Bibliography
- Regional Maps
- Index
