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1941: Twelve Days That Began a World War
In far-flung locations around the globe, an unparalleled sequence of international events took place between December 1 and December 12, 1941. In this riveting book, historian Evan Mawdsley explores how the story unfolded. He demonstrates how these dramatic events marked a turning point not only in the course of World War II but also in the direction of the entire century.
On Monday, December 1, 1941, the Japanese government made its final decision to attack Britain and America. In the following days, the Red Army launched a counterthrust in Moscow while the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and invaded Malaya. By December 12, Hitler had declared war on the United States, the collapse of British forces in Malaya had begun, and Hitler had secretly laid out his policy of genocide. Churchill was leaving London to meet Roosevelt as Anthony Eden arrived in Russia to discuss the postwar world with Stalin. Combined, these occurrences brought about a "new war," as Churchill put it, with Japan and America deeply involved and Russia resurgent. This book, a truly international history, examines the momentous happenings of December 1941 from a variety of perspectives. It shows that their significance is clearly understood only when they are viewed together.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2011
58 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Evan Mawdsley
20 books19 followersEvan Mawdsley is Professor of International History at Glasgow University. He has written numerous books and articles on Russian history and is the co-author of The Soviet Elite from Lenin to Gorbachev. He lives in Glasgow.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 10, 2023
December 1941 was the month that World War II became truly a 'world' war. The Germans (and Italians) had signed the Tripartite Pact in September 1940 with the hopes to defeat Britain and to deter the US from entering the war. The Japanese were hoping to drag Germany into the war against the US and Britain. British grand strategy was above all concerned with bringing the US into the war and Roosevelt was slowly provoking Germany in order to declare war, only to be helped by this by the attack on Pearl Harbour, in one stroke defeating the isolationists and uniting the US as a whole.
The war in the Pacific united the United States, involved the US in the war (finally, as Churchill regarded it) and helped Germany to hide its setback before the gates of Moscow.
Evan Mawdsley argues that the events of the twelve days from 1 to 12 December 1941 were pivotal. He examines the momentous happenings of December 1941 from a variety of perspectives. It shows that their significance is clearly understood only when they are viewed together. In this the book succeeds, however Germany's setback before Moscow feels like the odd one out. I noticed I tended to skip the chapter dealing with this event, as the events in the Pacific and Malaya leading up to Japan's assault were much more interesting.
The war in the Pacific united the United States, involved the US in the war (finally, as Churchill regarded it) and helped Germany to hide its setback before the gates of Moscow.
Evan Mawdsley argues that the events of the twelve days from 1 to 12 December 1941 were pivotal. He examines the momentous happenings of December 1941 from a variety of perspectives. It shows that their significance is clearly understood only when they are viewed together. In this the book succeeds, however Germany's setback before Moscow feels like the odd one out. I noticed I tended to skip the chapter dealing with this event, as the events in the Pacific and Malaya leading up to Japan's assault were much more interesting.
December 1, 2017
I read this book because I fondly remember Evan Mawdsley's history of the Russian Civil War.
"December 1941" is superb. It is easily one of the best books on WWII I have read.
He juggles a number of important topics here: the failure of the Germans to capture Moscow, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of the end of British Singapore, Hitler's decision to declare war on the USA, FDR's foreign policy. He handles them all well while avoiding sensationalism and avoiding traps that have characterized a lot of other books on these issues.
Really, this is one of the best books for understanding the process of how the US entered World War II.
Strongly recommended.
"December 1941" is superb. It is easily one of the best books on WWII I have read.
He juggles a number of important topics here: the failure of the Germans to capture Moscow, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the beginning of the end of British Singapore, Hitler's decision to declare war on the USA, FDR's foreign policy. He handles them all well while avoiding sensationalism and avoiding traps that have characterized a lot of other books on these issues.
Really, this is one of the best books for understanding the process of how the US entered World War II.
Strongly recommended.
August 17, 2022
I enjoyed this book, although I would recommend Ian Kershaw's "Fateful Choices" a slightly better text, as it covers a longer period which allows for greater context. My biggest take to come out of reading this book was the degree of group think among British and American leaders that Japan would have a more gradual approach to conquest, invading Thailand before moving on, with no one thinking they would near-simultaneously attack across South East Asia and the Pacific. This would be a valuable lesson for modern politicians, that just because a political establishment think something to a such, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is so.
November 24, 2017
Great book about a pivotal point in WW2 and world history.
April 28, 2022
Twelve Days That Changed The World
I spent my career as a newspaper reporter/editor during which time I learned a couple of critical truths. First, events don’t occur in a vacuum. To understand, one needs context. Second, often seemingly isolated events/facts are actually inter-related.
Hundreds of books have been written about the beginnings of WWII and I’ve read many. But none I’ve read have done what this author did. He took December 1-12, 1941 and reported the context of unfolding events from the point of view of all those countries and people from each time zone around the world. And he shows how seemingly disparate events and decisions actually influenced other actions and decisions.
… context and inter-relation.
These insights are fascinating and important, making this an important work.
I spent my career as a newspaper reporter/editor during which time I learned a couple of critical truths. First, events don’t occur in a vacuum. To understand, one needs context. Second, often seemingly isolated events/facts are actually inter-related.
Hundreds of books have been written about the beginnings of WWII and I’ve read many. But none I’ve read have done what this author did. He took December 1-12, 1941 and reported the context of unfolding events from the point of view of all those countries and people from each time zone around the world. And he shows how seemingly disparate events and decisions actually influenced other actions and decisions.
… context and inter-relation.
These insights are fascinating and important, making this an important work.
March 4, 2016
Incredibly accurate and informative.
This book will show you important facts about WW II, that you are unlikely to find in other history books.. imagination was not shone in the writing of this. An incredible amount of time must have been spent involved in the research for facts and figures. If you are a history buff, you will want to read this book.
This book will show you important facts about WW II, that you are unlikely to find in other history books.. imagination was not shone in the writing of this. An incredible amount of time must have been spent involved in the research for facts and figures. If you are a history buff, you will want to read this book.
February 17, 2017
An excellent look at the pivotal first 12 days of December 1941. Mawdsley takes the reader around the globe and ties many separate events together into a single, coherent narrative. A highly recommended book for anyone interested in how the Second World War was transformed into a truly global conflict.
October 1, 2020
Chain Reaction
Evan Mawdsley demonstrates how just twelve days, and a few decisions, can alter the course of history. By giving specific accounts of the events leading up to and immediately after the United States's entry into Worl War II, with specifity up to the minute, the author provide a compelling account of one of the most pivotal moments in world history.
Evan Mawdsley demonstrates how just twelve days, and a few decisions, can alter the course of history. By giving specific accounts of the events leading up to and immediately after the United States's entry into Worl War II, with specifity up to the minute, the author provide a compelling account of one of the most pivotal moments in world history.
January 23, 2022
Filled with historical war affairs.
February 11, 2012
an excellent book about the first 12 days of 1941 and the evens round the world that started WWII Gives a good balanced look at all the major countries and what and why they were doing them.A very good book for student looking at the events and how they started the war.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews