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The History Buff's Guide to World War II by Flagel, Thomas R. [Cumberland House, 2005] (Paperback) [Paperback]
The History Buff's Guide to World War II by Flagel, Thomas R. [Cumberland Hou...
Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 16, 2025
Full of facts, which I love. Although I don't care so much for the format of organizing the info into lists of ten. Some of the lists represent the author's opinions, which are interesting.
For example, he has lists of the best and worst of the military commanders. Unsurprisingly, the best general is Zhukov, the great Russian marshal. The best German is considered to be Guderian, the architect of blitzkrieg. But Rommel is on the list of the worst generals and I don't think I can agree with that! But the author gives his reasons.. The worst commander is... Adolf Hitler. No surprise there! But "Monty" not on the list of the worst generals?
For example, he has lists of the best and worst of the military commanders. Unsurprisingly, the best general is Zhukov, the great Russian marshal. The best German is considered to be Guderian, the architect of blitzkrieg. But Rommel is on the list of the worst generals and I don't think I can agree with that! But the author gives his reasons.. The worst commander is... Adolf Hitler. No surprise there! But "Monty" not on the list of the worst generals?
October 21, 2014
Should be titled "The Cracked Guide to WW2."
The book is a collection of short chapters organized as top 10 lists. Great format for websurfing cubicle drones, "history buffs" not so much. Some of the chapters are moderately interesting, others made me want to tear out my hair in frustration. There's nothing here that couldn't be gleaned from an afternoon's reading on Wikipedia, and some of the the entries are remarkably uninsightful.
Avoids the 1-star because it would be decent bathroom reading.
The book is a collection of short chapters organized as top 10 lists. Great format for websurfing cubicle drones, "history buffs" not so much. Some of the chapters are moderately interesting, others made me want to tear out my hair in frustration. There's nothing here that couldn't be gleaned from an afternoon's reading on Wikipedia, and some of the the entries are remarkably uninsightful.
Avoids the 1-star because it would be decent bathroom reading.
January 5, 2014
Interesting breaking-down of a huge subject.
August 23, 2017
This book was well written... if it were a comedy.
Using a multitude of big words to fill in the gaps of information such as some dates, places, and other important facts, it's almost a joke. A literal joke with a few snide remarks at mainly the Axis and a few unliked Allies, it is almost in reverse with how it is written. Going from the most interesting or most relevant in a crescendo of awkwardness, you lose interest after a few lists. It mentions a few items, one being "The White Cliffs of Dover" by Vera Lynn, but never mentioned her name at all. While this does inspire you to learn more, it shouldn't be necessary to have to research her name.
However, this book is good for starters that are interested in the Second World War. It does give the basics of the big names in the war such as the generals, gives great military information (speeches, battles, and key locations), but shouldn't qualify as a 'History Buffs' book. The timeline at the end gives insight and is slightly helpful to you as you follow along the lists.
If it were to include necessary information, be formatted properly, a bit more care and research poured into, it would be a better book overall. Nonetheless, it has redeemable qualities and is a great start to learning about World War 2!
Using a multitude of big words to fill in the gaps of information such as some dates, places, and other important facts, it's almost a joke. A literal joke with a few snide remarks at mainly the Axis and a few unliked Allies, it is almost in reverse with how it is written. Going from the most interesting or most relevant in a crescendo of awkwardness, you lose interest after a few lists. It mentions a few items, one being "The White Cliffs of Dover" by Vera Lynn, but never mentioned her name at all. While this does inspire you to learn more, it shouldn't be necessary to have to research her name.
However, this book is good for starters that are interested in the Second World War. It does give the basics of the big names in the war such as the generals, gives great military information (speeches, battles, and key locations), but shouldn't qualify as a 'History Buffs' book. The timeline at the end gives insight and is slightly helpful to you as you follow along the lists.
If it were to include necessary information, be formatted properly, a bit more care and research poured into, it would be a better book overall. Nonetheless, it has redeemable qualities and is a great start to learning about World War 2!
December 1, 2017
I believe Mr. Flagel did a pretty impressive job at incorporating almost every perspective of the war within the book, mentioning the front lines, refugees, home front, and politics. While many of these lists are great and interesting there are a few that were less than outstanding, and at times I wanted to just skip ahead. Despite this though, there are many more unique and insightful lists, than there are strange and biased. That is another thing I would add, the author does incorporate a significant amount of opinion in many of the top 10's. However, this book has always been enjoyable for me to read, and I look too it on occasions to find some simple answers and statistics.
March 14, 2019
Another fun read. Short, Concise, stories about events and people involved in the War. Easy to read in ten minute blocks of tine. I enjoyed it a lot.
January 21, 2022
I enjoyed the Top 10 list format. Helped me to see what I’ve read and haven’t. Found some new things to try that I hadn’t thought of … ww2 songs, films, heroines, more books and timelines.
September 5, 2023
Quite Niche
July 29, 2016
This book is a little about can't see the trees for the forest. Most likely written by someone who is more than a buff (which is proven by his extensive notes and bibliography at the end of the book). As a reader who is interested in the topic and fairly well-versed in the dates and important events I found this to still be too much, especially when he explores the causes. The format (Top 10 figures, battles, mistakes, etc...) fits well with some topics and not as well with others. It did get more interesting and easier to read in the second half, so if you're going to read it...hang in there, it gets better!
Nevertheless here are some statistics I found worth noting:
For each citizen of the Axis, the United States had three artillery shells. There were enough bullets made worldwide to shoot every living person on the planet forty times. p. 90
For every fighter the axis produced, the Allies manufactured five. p. 95
From 1939 to 1944, for every tank the axis built, the allies made eight. p. 97
One in four Allied and three of four Axis submariners did not survive. pg. 99
Speaking of aircraft carriers:
Britain and Japan replaced their losses slowly, launching a few flattops each year, while the industrial behemoth United States almost made it look easy, commissioning fifteen new ships in 1943 alone. p. 101
For every twenty Germans who fell, seventeen did so at the hands of the Soviet army and air force. In achieving this deadly distinction , the Soviets suffered the worst combat losses of any country. Official estimates calculate 5,187,000 dying in hostile action or on the way to aid stations. 50 Numerically the army was the branch hardest hit, accounting for roughly eight of every ten servicemen killed in action. Infantry lost the bulk of these. p. 115.
The U.S. lost more men in the Battle of the Bulge than at Pearl Harbor, Midway, D-day, and Iwo Jima combined. p. 257
Of all the manufactured goods produced in the world in 1945, half were made in the United States. p. 275
In 1940 the United States accounted for two of every three gallons of gasoline made in the world. p. 277
For every person in an Axis uniform, there were nearly three Allies. For every civilian in an Axis state, the Allies had five. The Soviet Union alone had more people than Germany, Italy, and Japan combined. p. 279
Overall, the Allies lost twice the number of combatants as the Axis and still achieved victory. p. 279
Of all the war's dead, roughly half were Russian or Ukrainian. Of Germany's four million military fatalities, the Red Army and Air Force could take credit for 80 percent of them. p. 290
Of more than one hundred nations and colonies involved in World War II, the highest death toll belonged to the Soviet Union. Moscow initially estimated 20 million dead, a number viewed with much skepticism in the West. More recent evidence suggests the assessment was in fact too low; a count of 28 million is more accurate. Unlike most countries, the Soviet Union did not replace its losses quickly. By 1950 the nation still had 12 million fewer citizens than in 1939. China suffered the second highest number of fatalities with perhaps 15 million dead, but its overall population increased by more than 100 million during the course of the war. Germany lost 7 million, with Poland next at 6 million. At least 2.5 million Japanese died. Yugoslavia lost 1.5 million, followed by Czechoslovakia, France , Italy, and Romania each losing approximately 600,000 citizens. pgs. 345-346
In all, the Axis lost nearly 13 million people. Allied nations lost approximately 45 million. p. 346
Nevertheless here are some statistics I found worth noting:
For each citizen of the Axis, the United States had three artillery shells. There were enough bullets made worldwide to shoot every living person on the planet forty times. p. 90
For every fighter the axis produced, the Allies manufactured five. p. 95
From 1939 to 1944, for every tank the axis built, the allies made eight. p. 97
One in four Allied and three of four Axis submariners did not survive. pg. 99
Speaking of aircraft carriers:
Britain and Japan replaced their losses slowly, launching a few flattops each year, while the industrial behemoth United States almost made it look easy, commissioning fifteen new ships in 1943 alone. p. 101
For every twenty Germans who fell, seventeen did so at the hands of the Soviet army and air force. In achieving this deadly distinction , the Soviets suffered the worst combat losses of any country. Official estimates calculate 5,187,000 dying in hostile action or on the way to aid stations. 50 Numerically the army was the branch hardest hit, accounting for roughly eight of every ten servicemen killed in action. Infantry lost the bulk of these. p. 115.
The U.S. lost more men in the Battle of the Bulge than at Pearl Harbor, Midway, D-day, and Iwo Jima combined. p. 257
Of all the manufactured goods produced in the world in 1945, half were made in the United States. p. 275
In 1940 the United States accounted for two of every three gallons of gasoline made in the world. p. 277
For every person in an Axis uniform, there were nearly three Allies. For every civilian in an Axis state, the Allies had five. The Soviet Union alone had more people than Germany, Italy, and Japan combined. p. 279
Overall, the Allies lost twice the number of combatants as the Axis and still achieved victory. p. 279
Of all the war's dead, roughly half were Russian or Ukrainian. Of Germany's four million military fatalities, the Red Army and Air Force could take credit for 80 percent of them. p. 290
Of more than one hundred nations and colonies involved in World War II, the highest death toll belonged to the Soviet Union. Moscow initially estimated 20 million dead, a number viewed with much skepticism in the West. More recent evidence suggests the assessment was in fact too low; a count of 28 million is more accurate. Unlike most countries, the Soviet Union did not replace its losses quickly. By 1950 the nation still had 12 million fewer citizens than in 1939. China suffered the second highest number of fatalities with perhaps 15 million dead, but its overall population increased by more than 100 million during the course of the war. Germany lost 7 million, with Poland next at 6 million. At least 2.5 million Japanese died. Yugoslavia lost 1.5 million, followed by Czechoslovakia, France , Italy, and Romania each losing approximately 600,000 citizens. pgs. 345-346
In all, the Axis lost nearly 13 million people. Allied nations lost approximately 45 million. p. 346
April 17, 2013
Reading this book brought out my history nerd. In the prologue the author states this "Using top-ten lists, the intent is to provide a compelling overview, employing comparison and contrast to give a different and balanced perspective on people, places and events." He starts out each list with brief background information and criteria for each topic. His lists include such subjects as - the top ten causes of war, the top ten speeches, the top ten items in a soldier's diet and so many more varied topics.
Did you know that Hitler's "The Annihilation Of The Jewish Race", January 30, 1939 was the first on the list of top ten speeches?Or that Hitler and Stalin never had a steady job in their lives before their rise to power?
Somethings I knew - "White Christmas" was on of the top ten songs. But so many other things I did not know. Very eye opening and a very easy read. I recommend this book to all World War buffs.
Did you know that Hitler's "The Annihilation Of The Jewish Race", January 30, 1939 was the first on the list of top ten speeches?Or that Hitler and Stalin never had a steady job in their lives before their rise to power?
Somethings I knew - "White Christmas" was on of the top ten songs. But so many other things I did not know. Very eye opening and a very easy read. I recommend this book to all World War buffs.
January 3, 2014
This was an interesting book of "lists" about WWII. Some of them, like the lists about famous women and the list about myths of WWII were very interesting. The list about the causes of the war had some surprises on there for me. All in all a pretty great read if you're interested in WWII.
August 14, 2014
Although at first sight the top-10 format this boos uses to rank people, discoveries and events about WWII might seem vague and shallow, it actually offers a good starting point for people wanting to know more about not so common issues of this war
September 26, 2015
A good overview of world war II. Doesn't get lost in details but does present key information objectively. Addresses the roles of all the nations involved in this, the most massive conflict in history.
July 3, 2013
A must for any WWII history buff
July 30, 2015
This is how I imagine USA Today would have covered WW2, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. Lots of information in a very concise and easy to digest format.
June 4, 2018
I really enjoyed the way this book is presented...it is basically shown in "top ten" lists! Everthing from people to battles. Well worth it!
November 3, 2016
Entertaining synopsis of World War II
January 10, 2017
An excellent read neatly divided into sections and top lists
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews