The Great Crusade

by Willmott, H. P.

• ISBN13: 9781597971911
• ISBN10: 159797191X
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-07-01
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc

Summary

'œThe best balanced one-volume history of the Second World War in its coverage of all the major themes and all the fronts. Willmott's fresh insights into the war on the Eastern Front are an outstanding feature.' '”Russell F. Weigley, author of Eisenhower's Lieutenants: The Campaign of France and Germany, 1944'45 'œThe Great Crusadeis a single-volume tour de force combining narrative, interpretation, and insight. Willmott has written both an outstanding operational history and a perceptive analysis of systems and societies in mortal conflict.' '”Dennis E. Showalter, author of Patton and Rommel: Men of War in the Twentieth Century 'œOne of the best one-volume histories of World War II. . . . Thorough in its coverage, entertaining in its treatment, and perceptive in its analyses. . . . Exceptionally readable.' '”Sea Power Originally published in 1989 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the war's outbreak in Europe, the highly acclaimed The Great Crusade: A New Complete History of the Second World War, Revised Edition, provides a balanced account of both theaters of conflict in World War II and asserts that modern war is waged between systems and societies rather than among individuals. In this new revised edition, author H. P. Willmott provides a general overview of military events and relates them to political and economic factors, establishing a balance among the warring nations in terms of the conflict's causes and its course of victory and defeat. The Great Crusadeincludes detailed analyses of the Soviet side of the conflict and offers comparisons between the American Civil War and the Pacific theater to explain Japan's defeat. Willmott debunks the myth of German military proficiency, asserting that the German military was better at winning individual battles than waging war, thus resulting in its defeat. With its clear discussion of events, controversial interpretive frameworks, and new introduction, The Great Crusadeis a well-written and engaging narrative history that will appeal to military buffs and scholars alike.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

List of Maps

Preface and Acknowledgments

A New World and a New War

Versailles Settlement Locarno

Japanese Imperialism Civil war in China

Manchurian Campaign Rise of Hitler

Abyssinian Crisis Occupation of the Rhineland Spanish

Civil War Campaign in China Anschluss

Munich Crisis British guarantee to Poland Nazi-Soviet Pact Anglo-Polish Alliance Outbreak of War

Conquest by Installments Hitler's leadership

Polish campaign War at sea Scandinavia

The Winter War Norwegian campaign Campaign in Western Europe

Fall of France Balkans diplomacy East Africa

Battle of Britain Italy and the invasion of Greece

North Africa Campaigns in Yugoslavia and Greece

Battle for Crete Battle of the Atlantic Operation

Barbarossa Soviet moves and counter-attacks Start of the Pacific War

Global Conflict Aspects of the Pacific War

Pearl Harbor Siam and Malaya Invasion of the Philippines Hong Kong

Borneo, campaign in the Indies Fall of Singapore Burma Coral Sea

Midway Germany declares war on the United States Battle of the Atlantic

North Africa and El Alamein New Guinea

Guadalcanal German position, mid-1942 Defeats in the Crimea

Kharkov Advances towards Stalingrad and the Caucasus Soviet counter-attack

Torch landings Axis retreat from Egypt and Libya Operations

Uranus, Little Saturn, Gallop, Star Kharkov

1943 and the Eleventh Principle of War Review of 1943

Casablanca conference Allied conferences U.S. policy in the Pacific

China, Burma Battle of the Atlantic Convoy losses

Impact of Allied sea power Strategic air offensive

Area bombing policy Pointblank directive

War economies Eastern Front Kursk Wavering of Germany's allies

Time, Space and Doctrine Problems of Germany and Japan compared

The Pacific, 1943 Campaigns in the Solomons, eastern New Guinea, the Gilberts Burma

Arakan and Chindit operations

China Truk Clearing of the Marshalls Hollandia operation U.S. landings in western

New Guinea Saipan Battle of the Philippine

Sea Mediterranean policy Landings in Sicily

Italian campaign Operation Overlord Operation

Market Garden Eastern Front Soviet 1944 operations

Defection of Germany's allies Retreat from Greece and southern Yugoslavia Defense of Hungary

Kalo'smi Situation in China Ichi-Go offensive

Imphal and Kohima Japanese defeats in the Pacific Battle of Leyte Gulf

Campaign on Luzon Strategic bombing campaigns against

Germany and Japan German recovery, late 1944

Allied operations in France and the Low Countries

Ardennes campaign Eastern Front Vistula-Oder offensive

Liberation of the death camps

Clearing the west bank of the Rhine Yalta conference

Soviet drive on Berlin Suicide of Hitler

German surrender Liberation of Prague Last months of Japanese war

Manhattan project Potsdam declaration Iwo Jima Okinawa campaign Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Manchurian campaign Japanese surrender

The Accounting

Appendixes and Postscript

Bibliography

Campaign index

General index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.