Darkest Christmas: December 1942 and a World at War

by Peter Harmsen

"This book is of interest to any scholar of World War II, particularly those focused on bridging culture and war. Highly readable, this text is suitable for undergraduate and popular audiences as well. Many should find its analysis to be a refreshing take on the well-trodden field of World War II histories." — Journal of Military History

December 1942 saw the bloodiest Christmas in the history of mankind. From the islands in the Pacific to the China front, from the trenches in Russia to the battle lines in North Africa, in the skies over Europe and in the depths of the Atlantic, men were killing each other in greater numbers than ever before. The Holocaust continued, and innocent civilians were murdered by the thousands throughout the evil Nazi empire, even as the perpetrators celebrated the birth of Christ. Millions stationed in far-off lands amid the greatest conflict in human history feared this was their last Christmas in freedom, or their last Christmas alive. At the same time as the slaughter continued unabated, throughout the world there were random acts of kindness, born out of an instinctive feeling of the essential brotherhood of man. These gestures also straddled religious barriers and sometimes included those of non-Christian faiths. Even some Japanese, otherwise embarked on a self-declared crusade against the West, relented for a few precious hours in acknowledgment of the holiday. At the same time, Christmas 1942 saw the injunction of ‘good will to man’ distorted in ugly and callous ways. At Auschwitz, SS guards played cruel games with their prisoners. In Berlin, the German heart of darkness, Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels spent time with his family while still buried in feverish fantasies about the Jewish world conspiracy. Christmas 1942 saw the entire range of man’s conduct towards his fellow man, reflecting the extremes of behavior, good and bad, that World War II gave rise to. The way the holiday was marked around the world tells a deeper and more universal story of the human condition in extraordinary times.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2022

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unsettling but inspiring read. Author Peter Harmsen takes one day, Christmas Day, 1942 and pans across the world, from the Pacific, through Australia, China, India, the Eastern Front, across Europe, back across to America, and looks at a world at war.

1942 is often seen as a turning point in the war, but undoubtedly did not feel like it to those at the time. On his journey, Harmsen touches on Japanese Prisoner of War camps, besieged troops in Russia, those living under Nazi tyranny, including prisoners in concentration camps,as well as those just missing loved ones or trying to rustle up a wartime Christmas. I did smile at a sign on one improvised decoration, declaring to those unsure, 'I am the Christmas tree.' However, for many, there was little to celebrate and little to celebrate with. While the Germans plundered Europe, trying to get stolen goods into German shops, to placate civilians at home, the majority of the world were more interested in attempting to feed themselves and their families.

From the self-pitying diaries of Goebbels to lunches for soldiers at Buckingham Palace, the book allows a glimpse of the day going past. Mostly, though, this is the story of ordinary people, caught up in an extraordinary conflict. It may not be particularly cheery reading, but it is pertinent with conflict again in Europe and perhaps make you more grateful for what you have and to the generation who fought for freedom.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad book in many ways with just gleams of fortune and hope for the future. Quite a lot of the narrative is spent on the Holocaust and the theatres of war which is only natural since December, 1942, was still the depths of WWII. Compared to the Christmas of 1941, it was a beginning of the belief that victory was possible.

[Hayley Hasik · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was poorly written with no real organization outside of geography. He should have provided some introductory context into the various relationships to Christmas rather than sprinkling it throughout the chapters. Some solid context as to the war up to that point would have been nice, too, beyond what he sprinkled throughout the chapters. I expected to care more about the people and their experiences but the organization was so choppy it was hard to pay attention to the experiences of each individual.

[Megan Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 ⭐️ I really liked the concept of this book, but because it was just snippets of different people’s/places’ experiences during Christmas 1942, it was hard to get fully invested. If it had focused on one unit or even one location in detail, I think I would have enjoyed it more. But that was not the purpose of this book, which I get. I do like that it exposed me to more information about the war in the Pacific and North Africa because most of my knowledge is about the European Theater. I did enjoy the European chapters the most because of my prior knowledge. I liked how the final chapter summed it all up, talking again about the significance of the song “White Christmas,” where the book had begun, and the Americanization/globalization that took place after the war. I also liked that the author included information about the fates of the people mentioned throughout the book. I just wished I remembered who more of them were!

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

History Happy Hour podcast 122224:. "December 1942 saw the bloodiest Christmas in the history of mankind. From the islands in the Pacific to the China front, from the trenches in Russia to the battle lines in North Africa, in the skies over Europe and in the depths of the Atlantic, men were killing each other in greater numbers than ever before. In this encore episode, Chris and Rick explore this Christmas around the globe with Peter Harmsen, author of Darkest Christmas: December 1942 and a World at War. The way the holiday was marked around the world reflects the deeper story of the human condition in extraordinary times."

[SheMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok ... generally well written but unimaginatively constructed as the author goes through a checklist of locales: Hawaii, the South Pacific, occupied Eastern Europe, Berlin, Britain, etc. I wonder if a different author could have woven the stories together and incorporated the fates of those whose stories he briefly tells into the narrative as opposed to turning them into an appendix. I guess I've read too much WW2 lit as I recognized several of the stories especially from the Eastern Front. One I had never heard was that of a large group of Polish orphans who somehow ended up in Calcutta!

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good angle, predictable result, still a worthwhile read

[Claus Willumsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

En rigtig fin bog, der giver et øjebliksbillede af julen 1942.
Det er en kakofoni af stemmer fra dagbøger, avisartikler, dagbøger og biografier, og man kan så mene meget om globaliseringstankerne i bogen, men umiddelbart giver det mening.
Men man kunne argumentere for, at den gryede under og efter 1. verdenskrig?
Læs bogen for de fine beskrivelser fra normale mennesker i en unormal situation ... trods påstanden om, at krig er normalen...