Great Battles of World War II: How the Allies Defeated the Axis Powers

by Michael Dudley

The Second World War was the final global conflict of the twentieth century. It involved more combatants, and a wider range of battlefield terrain than any other conflict in history, from the frozen plains of Russia to the baking Libyan desert, and from the atolls of the Pacific to the skies over Britain. In Turning the Tide, Nigel Cawthorne has taken a fresh look at the crucial battles which decided the outcome of the Second World War, beginning with the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, a feat that boosted the morale of a nation during its darkest hour, and reaching a climactic end with the final bloody reckoning between the Red Army and the Third Reich amongst the ruins of Berlin.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2002

Reviews

[Bill Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half really. An engaging overview of significant battles, too deep sometimes and too shallow at others. And people still think Hiroshima & Nagasaki triggered the Japanese surrender?

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book which gives a concise overview and analysis of some of the major battles of WW2. It falls over a bit in the final page saying The was was shortened by the dropping of atomic bombs. I was surprised this myth is still being put about. The reality was Japan would have surrendered without the use of atomic bombs. The country was on its knees with fire bombing and the USSR entering the war.

It was accurate in other parts though. Dunkirk due to Hitler putting on the breaks. The Battle of Britain won due to a German aircraft accidentally bombing a city resulting in Churchill ordering an attack on Berlin. Hitler then ordered a blitz on English cities instead of the airfields and radar installations. As a result, the air force could be rebuilt.

North Africa, Stalingrad, Europe and the Pacific battles were also interesting to read. Overall a good synopsis of major battles.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Would be a good introduction if you had never read anything on WWII. But if you have read extensively probably not worth reading. I'm a big enough WWII buff that I finished it even though I didn't read anything new.

[Corby H · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars.
Though there were some interesting sections, notably chapters 4 & 6 due to their subject, the Pacific Theater and my ignorance of the battles that took place in it, the book as a whole just seemed uninspired. It felt like I was reading a very long Wikipedia entry, but worse because there were no links to follow that could help me find the context of various battles, or fill in the blanks of why a certain commander did "this or that".
Overall it was an okay read, but it suffers from coming across as a regurgitation of facts stripped of a human perspective.

[Newfad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic history of 6 main battles of WW2. Explained well.

[Grand Nerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good overview of WW2.

[Wayne Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very good book.