World War II: A Military and Social History

by Thomas Childers

Between 1937 and 1945, approximately 55 million people perished in the series of interrelated conflicts known as the Second World War. No continent was left untouched, no ocean unaffected. The war led to the eclipse of Europe and the emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as global superpowers; ushered in the atomic age; produced, in the Holocaust, the most horrific crime ever committed in the history of Western civilization, and led to the end of Europe's colonial empires around the world. But though World War II defined an entire epoch in human history, pressing questions remain - about whether Hitler could have been stopped earlier, about Pearl Harbor, about saving more people from the Holocaust, about using the atomic bomb, and even about how close the Allies came to actually losing.

This engaging series of 30 lectures is rich in detail and near-cinematic portraits of leaders and events. It explores not only the origins of the war, including the impact of the Treaty of Versailles, but also how it unfolded on both battlefront and the American home front, with focused looks at key subjects like Nazism and the Holocaust and the philosophy of strategic bombing and its impact on the future nature of warfare.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Military Fiction, World War II, War, Politics

15 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Andrew Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a fair bit about Word War II in various history books and biographies, most notably Boris Johnson’s homage to Churchill, and I’ve seen numerous films and documentaries too, all of which add up to a reasonable body of knowledge. But I was attracted to this audiobook because it’s very narrow focus; I do like chronological accounts without the baggage of extraneous information cluttering up the ‘story’.

In many ways this fifteen hour audiobook is quite spare with the facts, which demonstrates just how big a subject this is. It covers the build up to and the reasons for the war, the key battles, events and political and social impacts of the conflict plus a short summary of the knock-on repercussions following the end of hostilities. Some reviews I’ve read point out that there are chunks of relevant information missing here and that may be the case – certainly some key moments are skipped over quite quicky or merely mentioned in passing – but for me it provided just the right amount of information without getting bogged down in the minutiae.

Read by the author of the course, Thomas Childers, I found the lectures to be engaging and easy to follow. A PDF was provided detailing a summary of what’s covered in each lecture together with pointers for additional information should this be desired. In truth, I didn’t feel the need to refer to this document. I found it to be a great way of absorbing what was for me just about the right amount of information on this vast subject. Highly recommended.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm fairly familiar with WWII since it was a big deal when I was a kid, a truly 'good' war as compared to Vietnam which raged then. I've read & seen both fictional & nonfiction accounts of many of the major battles too, so many of the names & places are familiar to me, but I learned a lot more even though Childers basically only hits the high points. It was a big, complicated mess that he covers in something like 27 or 28 lectures that were about 30 minutes long each.

He did a great job of covering all of the points, though. He didn't just concentrate on the US involvement, although that was of prime importance, but he also covered the other participants well, especially the Germans, Soviets, & British. He compared capabilities, areas, & losses among all the participants well.

He didn't excuse any of the horrific actions taken, although he did point out the thinking at the time which I really appreciated. For instance, we had cracked the Japanese code before the attack on Pearl Harbor, but it was their diplomatic code, not their military code. The military was in charge & thus we knew something was brewing, but not what, so the conspiracy theory that FDR allowed the attack to get us into the war doesn't hold up.

For the most part, the lectures chronologically follow the war, but there were a few places where specific subjects were expanded on to follow their threads through time. That can be confusing, but he made sure it wasn't. He didn't do it too often, just enough so that important themes made more sense. Sometimes this meant a bit of repetition, but it was just a bit & necessary.

Overall, it was a very well done overview, but it's just that. There are books, even multiple volumes, devoted subjects he covered in 30 minutes or less. Still, he managed to present a comprehensive & fairly detailed accounting of both the war in the various theaters as well as the home front & the changes it created there. Highly recommended.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a Great Courses book is meant to be. Short, clear, and decisive lectures give the background to the war and follow the developing conflict in all the major theaters. In addition to giving a clear account of the war, Childers is also unafraid to tackle controversial questions such as why the Allies did not bomb the deathcamps to slow the Holocaust, or why Eisenhower chose not to begin the assault on Berlin and “beat” the Soviets to that city, and of course, whether or not Truman should have used the atom bomb.

One of the things that stood out most prominently to me was Childers’ discussions on why the U.S. made such a difference in the war—especially on the economic front as the nation’s manufacturing capacity recovered from the devastation of the Great Depression to ramp up to its full potential. Childers also was extremely successful in demonstrating how Japanese tactics (which the Allies saw as evidence of extraordinary fanaticism) raised fears of horrific casualties if they were to invade the Japanese home islands. His discussion of whether or not Truman should have dropped the atomic bombs on Japan were similarly insightful when he argued that there was truly no decision to be made with most estimates predicting one million Allied casualties and no evidence that the government of Japan was even considering surrender. Perhaps the most striking part was his conclusion in which he discussed the horrendous costs of the war (the Soviet Union lost ten percent of its population) and how this led directly into the Cold War.

Anyway you splice it, this is a great introduction to World War II.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Haaze · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent survey of the Second World War consisting of 15 hours of lectures (thirty 30-minute lectures). Professor Childers moved through the different arenas of the global war focusing mostly on Europe as well as the Pacific using the standard 1939-45 timeline. His lectures were well organized, interesting and wonderfully presented. His presentation was engaging in every aspect. Of course, this is simply a gateway to a vast topic, but it is definitely one I would highly recommend to anybody interested in exploring this brutal time period of mechanized global war.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was well versed in WW2 history. Professor Childress took my knowledge to another level. Moreover, he did it in a concise and easy to understand way. Each segment or chapter had its own beginning, middle and end. It really was a pleasure.

[Kaveh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best intro on WWII for someone, like me, with close to zero background on the subject. Lectures were balanced in covering the cultural, military, and political background for each of the main events leading to and during WWII. I read this book along with watching WWII in color (Netflix), which turned out to be a great combination of information and visualization of the events.

[Ted Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childers tells a compelling narrative of the Second World War. He clearly lays out the causes, inciting events, and developments of the war, concisely drawing the listener through the conflicts in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

While I greatly enjoyed Childers writing and clear narration, I have two light critiques. First, I feel that this course overly focuses on the great powers of the Allies and the Axis, especially so on the United States, to the detriment of communicating the truly global experience of the war. Second, while there are a few lectures dedicated to aspects of civilian and social life, I view this series more as a military history due to the bulk of the content being mostly interested in the movements of ships and the execution of campaigns. That said, I am very happy to forgive these slight grievances due to how well Childers bundles so much information into so little run time.

I recommend this series for anyone broaching the topic of World War 2 for the first time and to those with some familiarity. Experts won’t find much for them here, since it is essentially a tightly written 15-hour survey of the war.

[Alan Chong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prof. Childers' lectures communicate the drama, intrigue, and suffering of the Second World War, and provides an incredibly rich, well developed and detailed military history. It documents the multiple battles won by each side, so many of which seemed definitive, and really communicates clearly how uncertain the outcome was throughout most of the war. In particular, his lectures on the war in the Pacific were wildly compelling. His delivery was excellent and natural, though I thought that it might have been better produced - the vague laugh track at points was particularly silly. The only real letdown was that the social history was really limited to one short lecture; the same with the story of the holocaust. Well worth a listen, if you've forgotten most of your history classes, and probably richer and better told than any of your classes.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

(audio download - 30 lecture, each about 30 minutes long)
Tom Childers' conversational style of lecturing contributed to an environment in which the circumstances leading up to the conflict, the decisions made by leaders during the battles and the subsequent post-war power struggles ultimately has led to the political and social world of today. This survey course succeeds in describing the seeds planted during WWI that fester into regional hatred and prejudice that ultimately results in more than 55 million deaths and countless more millions of lives irreparably changed forever.
Two relatively minor points keep me from giving these lectures a '5'....the first deals with the deaths/causalities do not include those from China, with as many as 20 million dead (some authors have it higher). I know there was also a civil war raging at that time, but the brutality of the Japanese against the civilian population cannot/should not be ignored.
The second point is more of a gripe....where were the maps in the syllabus? I usually follow the lectures, reading along and using the internet to the fullest extent. On this occasion, I was internetless, having to use my barely adequate geography of the world to understand the logistics of the battles and the strategies of the planning. A map or two would have helped. (I know there are folks out there thinking: "why not just purchase the DVD version?" Well, maybe this might have been one of those times when that just might be true. Alas, I am frugal, and a good listener.)
I recommend these lectures, particularly when on sale with a coupon. I also look forward to the 36 lecture update.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent audiobook. The professor answered some questions that only could be gotten by getting into the details.

Why could we not beat Hitler or the Japanese easily? They had more trained and battle hardened soldiers and a better plan.

How was resources and technology eventually the deciding force? Ultimately the Allies caught up with the soldiers of Japan and Nazi Germany - it was the overwhelming advantage in ships, planes, and armament that eventually was a powerful force.

Why did Hitler hit Russia when England was not yet defeated? England was weakened the point, they spend 3 years avoiding battles with the Nazis until the Allies were strong enough to cross the channel. That is the Africa and Italy campaigns.

Why did the Americans decide to drop the second nuclear bomb? The Japanese were going to fight to the last man no matter what, the cost in lives would have astronomical.

Why did Hitler start the war? This war was a continuation of World War I, the Treaty of Versailles was so damaging to the Germans and the Allies refused for 15 years to change the terms, Hitler basically rearmed while disavowing the treaty with the support of the German population.

Why was the Holocaust so necessary for Hitler? To give the populations someone to hate.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding lectures that reframed the military and social scale of WWII for me relative to other books I've read. The degree of the Nazis' focus on the eastern front and the loss of life in the Soviet Union (>20 million) was a dynamic that I failed to grasp well prior to these lectures. In the Pacific, the battles for Saipan, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and other remote islands where Japanese soldiers typically fought to the very last man come through powerfully in these lectures as context for Truman's fateful decision in 1945. Overall, a powerful narrative for anyone eager to better understand the context, decisions, people, and events of WWII.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent history of the Second World War. I needed an overview of the whole thing as I’ve read several books about individuals and events, but didn’t have a grasp of what led to war, how things progressed, etc. These lectures filled in a lot of blanks. Dr. Childers is my kind of teacher, giving us sufficient details without overwhelming the listeners. I also like the fact that this isn’t just a military history, though I find that interesting. This is also an account of the social history of the WWII era. That’s just as interesting and he does a great job of it.
Highly recommended for those with an interest in learning about WWII.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, Thomas Childers is a great teacher. I've listened to many of his lectures and have benefited from them all.

His handling of WWII is very impressive. He shows how vast the war was, but breaks it down into bite-sized chunks that are digestible. If you are interested in WWII, I highly recommend this (admittedly long) series of lectures.

[Cav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing lecture series from TGC.
The professor does a great job of covering the subject manner; from the broader overview, down to stories from the ground level, which serve to really drive home the social cost of the war.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the second world war.

[Ashli O'Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say strongly enough how much I enjoyed this fantastic lecture series by Thomas Childers. I recently read several novels about WWII, which plunged me into a research deep dive. Over the years I’ve learned many disparate stories and facts about the war, but never had a good “big picture” understanding of the political and military context in which all these events occurred. Thomas Childers does a great job explaining it all in an engaging way. I found it easy to follow and understand. I learned SO MUCH! It was such a treat to find that these lectures are free with my Audible subscription. I will definitely be checking out more from Great Courses.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of WWII across the whole world. I knew a fair bit about the European aspects of the war, but I learned a lot about the war in Russia and the Pacific. It was a good course to understand the scope of the war, how the events unfolded, and why certain decisions were made. It filled in a lot of gaps in my knowledge. This was a lecture series, so it reads like a university course rather than popular non-fiction, but an engaging lecture.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ good explanation that broadened my scope of knowledge for WW II; however, it jumped around a lot. One lecture he would mentioned an event in passing and three lectures later would go back to the event for in depth explanation. It was hard to establish a timeline of event with the lectures structured this way. I learn better with a chronological structure of books!

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of WW2. It was very Western centric but not in an over the top way. A great starting point for this time period but not much more. Think a better version of HS history. Not great but not bad.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a number of detailed accounts of WWII and was pleasantly surprised at how valuable I found the survey of it given in this lecture series. Professor Childers provided an excellent account of the European and Pacific theaters, supplying enough details to create interest while still maintaining a cogent sequence of the major events. He wisely did not attempt to cover the entire world in 15 hours, but instead limited his discussion to those areas of greatest concern for most Americans. He also gave insights into some well-documented events that I had never before considered in those terms. In addition for providing facts, he made this war personal by relating letters and stories of those directly involved.

I plan to see if there are more lectures Professor Childers has done for The Great Courses. These lecture series are often excellent, but I found this one especially notable.

[Rik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional! Fast paced but surprisingly detailed for how quickly it moves. Would serve as a great WW2 overview/ introduction/recap. One of the finest Great Courses I've listened to. The lecturer has a brilliantly succinct way of explaining cause and effect of the major campaigns of WW2 in a short space without too much over-simplification. Loved every minute. Only small complaint would be that adding another lecture or two outlining the sino-japanese war more would have been nice.

Edit: on a second liaten through it remains probably the best introduction/single volume covwrage of the entire war i've read, seen or listened too. Perfect place to start or refresh WW2.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Childers is an excellent lecturer. I would have appreciated more length and detail, as there are some simplifications, especially of events on the Russian Front. For such a brief series, though, this is an excellent overview, and a good jumping off-point to review the war as a whole before focusing on more specific areas.

[Micah Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Childers is a gifted communicator and historian specializing in modern Germany and the Second World War. Here he presents a series of survey lectures on WWII. His knowledge level is world-class, enabling him to elaborate the social, political, and military complexities of the War with piercing insight while not sacrificing the moral clarity necessary for a productive discussion on the conflict. Childers' content selection and lecture structure are also very strong. While there are 15 hours of lectures, Childers was still compelled to drive narrative due to the sheer number of incredibly significant happenings surrounding WWII. Despite these constraints, the lectures are still a robust introduction to the conflict, managing much more than a chronology of battles or a series of mini-biographies of political leaders. Childers creates ample space for the political forces undergirding the conflict, descriptions of society and how it changed in wartime and beyond, the interface of infrastructure, industry, and economics influencing the War, the way the humanities and arts shaped and were shaped by the conflict, and much more. He's also a fantastic teller of individual stories! He seamlessly jumps between sweeping, epic retellings (e.g., the Battle of Britain) and mini-narratives (e.g., a Londoner's diary excerpt recounting her experience sheltering in the Underground amidst a German bombing run); the former advance the broader story of the War, while the latter add color, perspective, and humanity to a conflict that would otherwise defy comprehension.

I knew very little about WWII before this but now feel prepared with the requisite contextual scaffolding to dive further into more specialized or focused discussions on the conflict. I'm excited to start learning about the Cold War, for example, now knowing how the culture and international roles of the U.S. and the Soviet Union were fundamentally shaped by WWII. WWII is one of those events that frames every other in human experience. Childers, and these lectures specifically, are excellent introductory guides to a conflict whose impact is as deep as it is wide, the intellectual exploration of which is similarly limitless.

"It was, quite simply, the single greatest, largest event in human history."

Listened to Audio Version

[Doctor Slop · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only wish is that this was 40-50 hours instead of 15 hours. There just isn't enough time to pack it all in. That said, this was a great listen and quite enjoyed it / learned a lot. I love that actual history doesn't get hung up on the flashy side of things. It feels like you can't have a world war two story in modern day without some massively slanted weird take on Hitler. Shockingly there were many aspects to this war and one man, while a big part of it, wasn't the only thing happening. I think a lot of people downplay how absolutely crazy the Japanese were (or rather maybe their leadership?). The stories of that part of the war are absolutely insane. I would highly recommend watching The World At War after listening to this. There is even more info, great footage, and a lot more depth that the audiobook misses.

[Kumar Rishabh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended book for learning about WW II if someone wants to learn about the War, not the battles. No need to refer to a map or google earth now and then like many other war books and that makes this book a great read.

Q. On what account did I subtract one star from this five-star book?

Ans. The reason is that I am an Indian. The book has given details of a large number of casualties of various nations and India was not named at all. India has a large troop contribution and a major share in the casualties of the war. The war was the main reason for Bengal Famine in which approximately 4.5 million Indians perished. India most probably ranked in the top 3 or 5 in the number of casualties.

[Gebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent series. The lectures are clear and delivered in a straightforward way, while also having incredible depth and breadth. I'm generally not that interested in war material, particularly world war II as I've studied it so much in college. But I found myself not only engaged, but actually learning things that I didn't know before. Really changed a lot of the way that I thought about the lived experience of the soldiers and the political causes of the war and many other aspects that I had already had a pretty solid position on. Very helpful serious for anyone who is interested in understanding world war II from a political, social, or personal perspective.

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time studying World War 2 and I found this to be an enjoyable and easy series of lectures. The lecturer made sure to cover all aspects of the war from what led up to it, through the finals key battles. Of course there is so much to cover in such a short time, but I do wish they took two lectures each for D-Day and the Atomic Bomb. These events have worldwide significance still to this day, yet he only touched the surface on each. Overall, this series will give you a solid understanding of the major aspects of World War 2 and its importance!

[Literary_Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but one thing I find really annoying is when the narrator refers to a country as "us" or "we". I've noticed this more in US professors than any other nationality. This is a lecture on history, it's not the US as it is now so no, it's not about "you." Plus, it's more than reasonable to assume that non-Americans will listen to this. This isn't described as being the American aspects of the war, but a lot of it is US-centric, which I found annoying and disappointing.

[Chase Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting lectures. This audio series by Thomas Childers was wonderfully done and keeps your attention from the get-go! This isn’t your typical dry lecture. Childers combines historical account with an engaging story telling style lecture that grabs and holds your interest. I learned a lot and plan on revisiting this in years to come. I will definitely be seeking more content from Childers in the years to come.

[Nathan Major · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal overview of World War 2, with it providing a broad level while diving further into a handful of more important parts.
Childers is a fantastic orator (in the audio version) where his speaking is very natural and does well in his storytelling of the events of the war and not falling into the dryness of a lot of lectures.
Absolutely recommend. Around 20 hours long.

[Nate Ogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredibly comprehensive and captivating lecture series covering the entirety of WWII. I listened to it over the course of a week while I was driving and working. It was very engaging and I always looked forward to turning it back on between work duties.