WHY THE ALLIES WON PA

by Overy, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780393316193
• ISBN10: 039331619X
• Edition: 00
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-05-17
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Summary

Richard Overy's bold book begins by throwing out the stock answers to this great question: Germany doomed itself to defeat by fighting a two-front war; the Allies won by "sheer weight of material strength." In fact, by 1942 Germany controlled almost the entire resources of continental Europe and was poised to move into the Middle East. The Soviet Union had lost the heart of its industry, and the United States was not yet armed. The Allied victory in 1945 was not inevitable. Overy shows us exactly how the Allies regained military superiority and why they were able to do it. He recounts the decisive campaigns: the war at sea, the crucial battles on the eastern front, the air war, and the vast amphibious assault on Europe. He then explores the deeper factors affecting military success and failure: industrial strength, fighting ability, the quality of leadership, and the moral dimensions of the war.

Table of Contents

Preface
Author's Note
Unpredictable Victory: Explaining World War II	p. 1
Little Ships and Lonely Aircraft: The Battle for the Seas	p. 25
Deep War: Stalingrad and Kursk	p. 63
The Means to Victory: Bombers and Bombing	p. 101
Along a Good Road: The Invasion of France	p. 134
A Genius for Mass-production: Economies at War	p. 180
A War of Engines: Technology and Military Power	p. 208
Impossible Unity: Allies and Leaders in War	p. 245
Evil Things, Excellent Things: The Moral Contest	p. 282
Why the Allies Won	p. 314
Epilogue	p. 326
Appendix	p. 331
Notes	p. 333
Selected Reading	p. 367
Index	p. 381
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.