December 1941 : Twelve Days that Began a World War

by Evan Mawdsley

• ISBN13: 9780300154450
• ISBN10: 0300154453
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2011-12-01
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

In far-flung locations around the globe, an unparalleled sequence of international events took place between December 1 and December 12, 1941. In this riveting book, historian Evan Mawdsley explores how the story unfolded. He demonstrates how these dramatic events marked a turning point not only in the course of World War II but also in the direction of the entire century. On Monday, December 1, 1941, the Japanese government made its final decision to attack Britain and America. In the following days, the Red Army launched a counterthrust in Moscow while the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and invaded Malaya. By December 12, Hitler had declared war on the United States, the collapse of British forces in Malaya had begun, and Hitler had secretly laid out his policy of genocide. Churchill was leaving London to meet Roosevelt as Anthony Eden arrived in Russia to discuss the postwar world with Stalin. Combined, these occurrences brought about a "new war," as Churchill put it, with Japan and America deeply involved and Russia resurgent. This book, a truly international history, examines the momentous happenings of December 1941 from a variety of perspectives. It shows that their significance is clearly understood only when they are viewed together.

Author Biography

Evan Mawdsley is honorary professorial research fellow, School of Humanities, University of Glasgow. His many books include World War II: A New History; Thunder in the East: The Nazi-Soviet Struggle, 1941–1945; and The Russian Civil War. He lives in Glasgow.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations and Maps	p. vi
List of Terms and Abbreviations	p. viii
Introduction	p. 1
1 December. Japan, Germany and the Coming World War	p. 6
1 December. The Fight to the Death in Russia	p. 25
1 December. London, Libya and the Dangers of the Far East	p. 48
1 December. Washington, magic and the Japanese Peril	p. 64
2 December. Two Doomed Battleships in Singapore	p. 80
3 December. The President's Secret Promise	p. 92
4 December. Hitler and Japans War of Conquest	p. 102
5 December. The Lull Before Two Storms	p. 121
6 December. General Zhukov Throws in his Armies	p. 131
7 December. Date of Infamy: Japan's Undeclared Wars in Malaya and Hawaii	p. 152
8 December. The Beginning of the End of the British Empire	p. 189
9 December. FDR Begins the American Century	p. 215
10 December. Force 'Z' and the Malayan Tragedy	p. 227
11 December. Hitler's War on America	p. 242
12 December. World War and the Destruction of the Jews	p. 257
Aftermath. The New War and a New World	p. 266
List of Participants	p. 288
Notes	p. 291
Select Bibliography	p. 327
Index	p. 337
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