The Mammoth Book of Eyewitness World War II: Over 200 First-Hand Accounts from the Six Years That Tore the World Apart

by Jon E. Lewis (Editor)

The Mammoth Book of Eyewitness World War II takes you into the Second World War—the most destructive conflict in history. Testaments from all sides gathered by editor Jon E. Lewis bear witness to that gigantic war, fought on vast terms but experienced on a human scale. The Mammoth Book of Eyewitness World War II is more than a history of the 1935–45 conflict, a chronicle of events from Hitler's blitzkreig across Europe to the war crime death sentences carried out by the Nuremberg court. This anthology is a firsthand record of what it felt like to live and fight in that time—whether as a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, a G.I. in a foxhole in Okinawa, a Frontsoldaten in the abattoir of Stalingrad, a woman worker alongside "Rosie the Riveter" at an aircraft plant, a U.S. Marine in boot camp, a kamikazi pilot in training, and many others. Of the famous, there are addresses by the titanic statesmen Churchill, Hitler, and Stalin, battle reports by commanders such as Erwin Rommel and Tokyo-bomber Jimmy Doolittle, on-the-ground descriptions of the Blitz by Edward R. Murrow, J. B. Priestley, and Virginia Woolf, and the experience of the Nazis' genocide of Jewish Europeans by Anne Frank and Primo Levi. From the war in Europe and on the Atlantic, through the African campaign, the Russian Front, and the battle for the Pacific, and finally to the siege of Berlin and the atomic bombing of Japan, what unfolds in these pages is World War II in all its brutality, heroism, stupidity, inspiration, and destruction.

Genres: History, World War II, Nonfiction

512 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2002

About the author

Jon E. Lewis is a historian and writer, whose books on history and military history are sold worldwide. He is also editor of many The Mammoth Book of anthologies, including the bestselling On the Edge and Endurance and Adventure.

He holds graduate and postgraduate degrees in history. His work has appeared in New Statesman, the Independent, Time Out and the Guardian. He lives in Herefordshire with his partner and children.

From: Constable & Robinson

Reviews

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting and well-rounded collection of anecdotes and contemporary reports. I appreciated that the author did well to get accounts from as varied sources as he could manage, but I did notice that the Axis accounts were weighted heavily in favor of military figures in high positions, and I would have liked to see a more equal representation among the grunts.

Still, very comprehensive, and the organizational format was very engaging. Sectioning off the various fronts and theaters did well to give it the feeling of a narrative structure.

I enjoyed it, but it became exhausting after a time.

[carl theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently I've been more interested in the 'Eyewitness' account type
stories, perhaps that's in light of the many WWII Veterans, and participants,
that are now passing away.

As the summary says, over 200 stories in this book, I find the ones from the
everyday soldier or civilian, 'in the trenches' so to speak, are the most
interesting, which most of these are. Additionally, the stories of the vanquished
always seem more poignant, a little more introspective.

To give structure, and filler, several of the accounts are official
speeches and announcements, eg, from Churchill, and various leaders. Also some
stories are from well known sources that you may have seen other places.
In one way it's good that the stories are all in one place, especially
if you haven't read much WW2 stuff before, or are a little rusty,
otherwise you wished they had more of the not so all ready published items.

The book is arranged into 8 eras and within those, chronologically. I think
this works out well as you keep the pace and context in one area at a time.
Also makes it easier to look something up again.

A couple of items that caught my extra attention:

- During the invasion of Poland 15 yr old Pole relays his experiences, in which he
says after dealing with the Germans, we'll turn on the current government in Warsaw.

- The Editor notes that the song 'Lili Marlene' was played 'incessantly'... to my
knowledge during the Afrikan campaign, it was played nightly, just before the
late news, that was to get you to stay tuned in.