The Second World War in the West

by Messenger, Charles; Keegan, John

• ISBN13: 9780304352241
• ISBN10: 0304352241
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-08-01
• Publisher: Octopus Pub Group

Summary

Germany's defeat in 1918 left the nation resentful--and paved the way for Nazism's ascent and the fierce determination to reverse that loss. Follow the spread of war throughout the world, and the technological developments and refinements of weaponry, as the Germans undertake the blitzkrieg of Eastern Europe in 1939-41; enlist other discontented countries in their cause; and wage a bitter offensive against Russia. Also covered is the Anglo-American counter-offensive in Africa and the battles that raged in the Mediterranean and North western Europe. 224 pages, 70 color illus., 80 b/w illus., 7 3/4 x 10 3/8.

Author Biography

Charles Messenger served for twenty years as an officer in the Royal Tank Regiment before retiring to become a full-time military historian and defence analyst. He has also carried out numerous analytical historical studies for the Ministry of Defence. He is a member of the British Commission for Military History, the International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	5	(4)
Map List	9	(1)
Chronology	10	(7)
The Road to War 1919---39
The First World War-the `war to end all war'; the Treaty of Versailles; the League of Nations; international disarmament; the rise of Mussolini and Hitler; Spanish Civil War; rearmament; war clouds gather; Hitler turns on Poland	17	(22)
The Triumph of Blitzkrieg 1939---40
State of opposing forces at outbreak of Second World War; Polish campaign; Phoney War; Russo-Finnish war; Denmark and Norway; France and the Low Countries; Britain alone; Resistance in Occupied countries; LendLease and US attitude to war	39	(32)
Mussolini's Dream: The Mediterranean Theatre 1940---41
Delayed Italian entry into war; early campaigns in East and North Africa; Italian invasion of Greece; German troops sent to Libya; Balkan campaign; Crete; Iraq; Syria; November 1941 British counter-offensive in Egypt; Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and US entry into war	71	(20)
Hitler Turns East: Russia 1941---3
Hitler's invasion plans; 1941 offensive; first Russian counter-attacks; 1942 German plans; the road to Stalingrad; battle of Stalingrad	91	(26)
Second Front: Western Europe and the Mediterranean: 1942---3
Anglo-US strategic debate; Rommel's spring 1942 counter-offensive in Egypt; El Alamein; invasion of French North-West Africa; Tunisia; Casablanca Conference; invasions of Sicily and Italy, including fall of Mussolini	117	(22)
The Liberation of Russia 1943---4
Reformation of Soviet tactics; Battle of Kursk; liberation of western Russia; entry into Eastern Europe and Balkans; Russian advance to River Vistula and Warsaw Uprising	139	(28)
North-West Europe and Italy 1944
Planning and preparation for Normandy landings; Anzio, breaking of Gustav Line, Allied entry into Rome; Normandy landings; breakout from Normandy; landings in South of France; Arnhem; closing to German border; Gothic line, Italy; Ardennes counter-offensive; closing to the Rhine	167	(26)
The Final Campaign 1945
Russian Vistula-Oder offensive; siege of Budapest and last German offensive; overrunning of Hungary; Russian capture of Vienna; Rhine crossings and Ruhr Pocket; the end of Italy; western Allies' strategic debate over Berlin; Russian assault on Berlin and link-up with western Allies; Hitler's suicide; German surrender; the last shots; removal of Doenitz `government'	193	(16)
In Retrospect
Summary: the total nature of the war and the physical cost in terms of loss of life and destruction	209	(5)
Some Leading Commanders	214	(5)
Further Reading	219	(1)
Index	220	(4)
Picture Credits	224