20th Century Battlefields

by Peter Snow, Dan Snow

Punctuated by powerful eyewitness testimony, this compelling and often shocking narrative highlights the strategy of military commanders as well as the experience of men on the frontline. Whether located in the apocalyptic terrain of the Western Front, or the hidden guerilla tunnels of Vietnam, this history reveals that these battles were shaped not just by distant military commanders but by men fighting on the frontline. What were the key factors that swayed the course of victory? Was it sheer grit and determination, military intelligence, or strategic initiative? To answer these questions the authors take us into the heat of the action when the battles were poised on a knife edge and split-second decisions determined their outcome. During the course of the 20th century, military warfare reached unimaginable levels of intensity, scale, and cost. Looking back at the most violent century in history, the authors also examine the challenges facing armed forces in the future. Richly illustrated with archive photographs and more than 40 detailed maps, this compelling and astonishing account recreates the landscape of warfare.

Genres: History, Military History, Military Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Mingming Srichaisak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to read. A lot of info on the wars and situations around the globe.

[Lewis Forster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book if you just want to touch on some of the major battles of the 20th century

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Accompanying the BBC series, this book strikes a perfect balance between information and accessibility. Think of it as a beginner's guide to twentieth century warfare; each chapter is not exhaustive but is as good an introduction as you could ask for.

It can be read not just as a book specific to warfare, but one that touches on the development of the world community and international politics in the last hundred years. If you want to learn more on how things have come to be as they are, but are put off by mammoth history books that put you to sleep, give this a try.

[Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book which does much to introduce a potentially unfamiliar student to the rigors and development of modern war. Blending together a mixture of first-hand and secondary sources, as the Snows endeavour to guide their reader from the home front, through the strategic level to the fighting on the ground. However this does lead to the books failing as it is a general history and as such should be regarded in this light.