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Planes fracasados de la II Guerra Mundial
Este libro detalla la historia de algunos de los planes de alto secreto más extraños e impactantes que se idearon durante la guerra, muchos de los cuales pudieron haberse materializado para cambiar el curso de la Historia. Los planes se presentan en orden cronológico, están ilustrados profusamente con documentos recientemente desclasificados, mapas y fotografías singulares que demuestran que fueron planes reales abordados con toda seriedad.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
6 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kerrigan
173 books20 followersMichael Kerrigan is a seasoned freelance writer and editor with over thirty years of experience across a wide spectrum of publishing work, from advertising and catalogue copy to book blurbs and specialist nonfiction. A prolific author, he has written around sixty full-length books on subjects ranging from ancient warfare and Slavic myth to modern architecture and the science of consciousness, all aimed at a general readership. He contributed a weekly Books in Brief column to The Scotsman for two decades and has reviewed extensively for the Times Literary Supplement, The Guardian, and Financial Times.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 11, 2019
Not a linear book to read easily, although it is present in a chronological order during this conflict. It is a collection of all the schemes and plans previously classified and once given public access, a researcher’s dream, to learn more about the various operational decisions overtaken by events or dismissed. Some I have heard of but in the main these are the plans that never happened or ever heard of again. Until this book was commissioned with the idea of cataloguing them all in some details. Casting an eye over them and analysing them and why they never saw this light of day or were rejected.
The problem with the book is that some are just ideas while others more detailed plans which were considered but the book tends to give equal time and effort to record them as similar common schemes.
I would have preferred fewer entries with a more detailed historical oversight; less being more.
Nearly every country was nearly invaded from Switzerland to Ireland and Australia to Japan. These were of note, but others had similar mention but less strategic significance.
There are also chapters on various secret weapons, dirty war programmes with disease causing bombs and chemical agents. The secret work to deceive and spread misinformation.
I would have preferred the book to have chapters on the tactics and strategies needed in protracted conflict and used successful examples and why others were lost to history with comment and analysis on the balance of power or what might have tipped it against the allies. Clearly there were loose coalitions and fighting forces with different roles; political sway and the decision makers blunt even the best decisions and planning twelve new secret weapons when focusing on two could make more of a difference. One’s perception on how the war is going also makes some schemes into a desperate throw of the dice rather than a stepping stone to a winning objective.
The book is a good store of all the ridiculous and less credible ideas. It serves well that they are all in the same place, but other books are needed to perhaps draw more meaningful lessons from history. Each chapter here has the potential for a longer specific book, but I feel they have all been taken and written already. So, it is like a list of clothes you didn’t buy, or pack and take on holiday. The jumper at home is only relevant to those where it gets unseasonably chilly at night.
A book that if I keep now just for reference purposes, I fear I will not dip into again. But if I was to want to know more about Australians fears and efforts to counter the threat of a Japanese invasion the chapter would be worth reading again. What makes the new set of books so special is not just the great translations that make the re-reading a fresher experience but in the history of previous editions the tremendous design effort in formulating a unique and memorable range of inspiring covers.
The problem with the book is that some are just ideas while others more detailed plans which were considered but the book tends to give equal time and effort to record them as similar common schemes.
I would have preferred fewer entries with a more detailed historical oversight; less being more.
Nearly every country was nearly invaded from Switzerland to Ireland and Australia to Japan. These were of note, but others had similar mention but less strategic significance.
There are also chapters on various secret weapons, dirty war programmes with disease causing bombs and chemical agents. The secret work to deceive and spread misinformation.
I would have preferred the book to have chapters on the tactics and strategies needed in protracted conflict and used successful examples and why others were lost to history with comment and analysis on the balance of power or what might have tipped it against the allies. Clearly there were loose coalitions and fighting forces with different roles; political sway and the decision makers blunt even the best decisions and planning twelve new secret weapons when focusing on two could make more of a difference. One’s perception on how the war is going also makes some schemes into a desperate throw of the dice rather than a stepping stone to a winning objective.
The book is a good store of all the ridiculous and less credible ideas. It serves well that they are all in the same place, but other books are needed to perhaps draw more meaningful lessons from history. Each chapter here has the potential for a longer specific book, but I feel they have all been taken and written already. So, it is like a list of clothes you didn’t buy, or pack and take on holiday. The jumper at home is only relevant to those where it gets unseasonably chilly at night.
A book that if I keep now just for reference purposes, I fear I will not dip into again. But if I was to want to know more about Australians fears and efforts to counter the threat of a Japanese invasion the chapter would be worth reading again. What makes the new set of books so special is not just the great translations that make the re-reading a fresher experience but in the history of previous editions the tremendous design effort in formulating a unique and memorable range of inspiring covers.
January 31, 2021
World War II Plans That Never Happened was an interesting and enjoyable read despite the fact that some were actually facts and others were opinions.
I liked it okay but didn't love it like I thought I would.
I liked it okay but didn't love it like I thought I would.
May 5, 2013
World War II Plans That Never Happened was a fun read. Fun because although I had previously read about some of the plans, as I was reading through the book, I had quite a few ‘ha!’ moments as I came across one I had not heard of. A few of those are right out of left field and you had to wonder what the people coming up with them were thinking but then again, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Michael Kerrigan has assembled a fascinating collection of events that never happened and I feel confident as a voracious reader that any historian will find a few in here they never heard of, let alone imagined.
Kerrigan has used a chronological format so you can see how during the early years of the war, some of the plans were more far fetched than later on; showing how the Allies were ready to try almost anything. Surprisingly in my mind, the Axis plans seemed to make more sense overall – odd when you consider how they seemed willing to try more advanced projects during the war.
Overall, I can easily suggest this book to the avid military historian and warn that they do not be fooled into thinking that they have probably heard of they all before.
www.daniellittle.com
Michael Kerrigan has assembled a fascinating collection of events that never happened and I feel confident as a voracious reader that any historian will find a few in here they never heard of, let alone imagined.
Kerrigan has used a chronological format so you can see how during the early years of the war, some of the plans were more far fetched than later on; showing how the Allies were ready to try almost anything. Surprisingly in my mind, the Axis plans seemed to make more sense overall – odd when you consider how they seemed willing to try more advanced projects during the war.
Overall, I can easily suggest this book to the avid military historian and warn that they do not be fooled into thinking that they have probably heard of they all before.
www.daniellittle.com
October 2, 2016
Quite an interesting book about some badly-known operations (and other well-known too) of WW2. planified but not executed, including real documents about them. I miss the author going more in depth into some topics, but it's ok.
June 4, 2012
In any war there are always plans that either go unnoticed or things that get tabled due to circumstances at the time that dictate them. In "World War II Plans That Never Happened", Michael Kerrigan takes us year-by-year through various plans in WWII that had they happened would've changed the history of the war as we know it today. From a planned invasion of Iceland to biological warfare involving needles to assassination attempts on all the main players to the land invasion of Japan, Kerrigan summarizes these plans in detail enough to make us wonder what things would've looked like had any of these plans ever come into existence. The book is arranged in the order of the years of the war & contains copies of official communiques in additions to pictures of the people involved which is a nice touch. For history buffs and anyone wanting to learn more about WWII this is definitely a book to pick up.
March 11, 2013
I’m always up for reading offbeat books on topics that I like and this one did not miss the mark. During war time all kinds of plans get proposed, some legitimate, some you wonder what the hell they were thinking. This book takes a brief look at some of those plans from both sides.
This book is organized by year from 1939 to 1945. These are not in depth examinations averaging just two pages per plan but an overview of the what and why it did not happen. Intermixed is copies of once classified documents about the proposed plan.
Highly recommend for any World War II buff.
This book is organized by year from 1939 to 1945. These are not in depth examinations averaging just two pages per plan but an overview of the what and why it did not happen. Intermixed is copies of once classified documents about the proposed plan.
Highly recommend for any World War II buff.
January 26, 2014
A very interesting topic but poorly explored in this volume. Fascilimes of original documents are presented which uses up space that would be better put to more comments about the plans. Poor editing also take away from the reader's enjoyment. For example in the chapter on Operation SeaLion, the German plan to invade England, there two maps shown. One shows the German planned attack and the other the British guess about their plans. They are remarkedly similiar. Unfortunately they are on differnt pages and are shown at different scales.
March 12, 2015
Reading at times like a high school history textbook, this one got a little dry at times. What kept me reading, though, was the outlandishness of some of the schemes that were put forth by both sides. Such as the British plan to build aircraft carriers out of ice or the Nazi plan to kidnap the Pope. As it became clear that the war was drawing to an end and what the outcome was going to be, the Axis forces got more and more desperate and the schemes they came up with showed that desperation.
June 11, 2011
For fans of World War 2 and military history in general, this book is a gem. Featuring declassified documents, readers will get to see the actual memos that describe some of the weird, drastic, and intense war moves that never made it to reality. A great book to add to your adult non fiction collection.
January 26, 2015
True rating: 3.5 stars.
Always interesting, but a light read as far as texts on war go. It's definitely an overview, but sometimes that's just what you want; to help you dig deeper into the subject, there's a nice bibliography. The photos of people and documents are one of the main pleasures of the book. Docked a half star for the occasional editing gaffe.
Always interesting, but a light read as far as texts on war go. It's definitely an overview, but sometimes that's just what you want; to help you dig deeper into the subject, there's a nice bibliography. The photos of people and documents are one of the main pleasures of the book. Docked a half star for the occasional editing gaffe.
May 3, 2016
Pretty enjoyable to see some of the plans that were drawn up but never put into action. I knew a few of them already, but most were new or had new details. Especially good for those who like thinking about alternate history.
May 13, 2016
Fell into the irritating coffee table book category. Not enough information to suit me.
Additionally, through no fault of the book, apparently I have studied WWII too deeply for the information here to be new and interesting.
Additionally, through no fault of the book, apparently I have studied WWII too deeply for the information here to be new and interesting.
December 2, 2012
1040 - 2012
Bisa jadi bahan cerita-cerita What-If The Plans Happened.
Bisa jadi bahan cerita-cerita What-If The Plans Happened.
February 24, 2013
Interesting
July 29, 2013
Interesting, but superficial. Too little on each plan to do more than scratch the surface
September 15, 2013
A good read however it needs a little more substance
October 10, 2013
Short sketches of some things I'd read about, several I had not. The style was effective, and the art was very good.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews