First to Fight
The Polish War 1939
Published on 5. September 2019
368 pages
978-1-4735-4822-0 (ISBN)
Description
A new and definitive account of the German invasion of Poland that initiated WWII in 1939, written by a historian at the height of his abilities.
'Deeply researched, very well-written... This book will be the standard work on the subject for many years to come' - Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny
The Polish campaign is the forgotten story of the Second World War.
The war began on 1 September 1939, when German tanks, trucks and infantry crossed the Polish border, and the Luftwaffe began bombing Poland's towns and cities. The Polish army fought bravely but could not withstand the concentrated attack. When the Red Army invaded from the east, the country's fate was sealed.
This is the first history of the Polish war for almost half a century. Drawing on letters, memoirs and diaries from all sides, Roger Moorhouse's dramatic account of the military events is entwined with a human story of courage and suffering, and a dark tale of diplomatic betrayal.
'Important... Moorhouse has a wonderful knack for reminding us about the parts of the Second World War that we are in danger of forgetting' Dan Snow
** Shortlisted for the Duke of Wellington Medal for Military History 2020 **
'Deeply researched, very well-written... This book will be the standard work on the subject for many years to come' - Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny
The Polish campaign is the forgotten story of the Second World War.
The war began on 1 September 1939, when German tanks, trucks and infantry crossed the Polish border, and the Luftwaffe began bombing Poland's towns and cities. The Polish army fought bravely but could not withstand the concentrated attack. When the Red Army invaded from the east, the country's fate was sealed.
This is the first history of the Polish war for almost half a century. Drawing on letters, memoirs and diaries from all sides, Roger Moorhouse's dramatic account of the military events is entwined with a human story of courage and suffering, and a dark tale of diplomatic betrayal.
'Important... Moorhouse has a wonderful knack for reminding us about the parts of the Second World War that we are in danger of forgetting' Dan Snow
** Shortlisted for the Duke of Wellington Medal for Military History 2020 **
Reviews / Votes
We tend to overlook "the war that Hitler won", but Roger Moorhouse brilliantly underlines its crucial importance for the future course of the Second World War. This deeply researched, very well-written and penetrating book will be the standard work on the subject for many years to come [A] chilling, indignant narrative... Moorhouse has expertly laid bare...[the] truth * The Times * Moorhouse's book remedies that gap [in history of The Polish War], weaving together archival material, first-hand accounts, perceptive analysis and heartbreaking descriptions of Poland's betrayal, defeat and dismemberment * Economist * [A] fascinating book... Moorhouse has mastered a large body of material... this is...a very valuable book, as it gathers a mass of detail into a lucid narrative for general readers * Sunday Telegraph * An important book. Roger Moorhouse has a wonderful knack of reminding us about the parts of the Second World War that we are in danger of forgetting [A] timely and authoritative book... Moorhouse... has trawled through an impressive quantity of unpublished Polish and German sources...to produce a balanced account of this much neglected yet important episode of the second world war which is both harrowing and inspiring * Spectator * A well-researched, riveting read * BBC History, *Books of the Year* * [A] very valuable addition to the literature on the outbreak of the Second World War... The great strength of this new account lies in the extensive use of Polish sources, all too often overlooked entirely when trying to piece together the history of the campaign... Moorhouse... admirably achieves his aim of putting the Polish-German war back onto the broader canvas of the Second World War * History Today * Exemplary... as good as military history can beMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Random House (Digital)
File size
34,07 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-4735-4822-0 (9781473548220)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
09/2020
Vintage
€16.50
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Roger Moorhouse is a historian and author specialising in modern German history. He is the co-author, with Norman Davies, of Microcosm: Portrait of a Central European City, and the author of Killing Hitler: The Third Reich and the Plots Against the Fuhrer and The Devil's Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin.
