This is epic story of the last eight months of World War II in Europe by one of Britain’s most highly regarded military historians; whose accounts of past battles John Keegan has described as worthy “to stand with that of the best journalists and writers†(New York Times Book Review).In September 1944; the Allies believed that Hitler’s army was beaten; and expected that the war would be over by Christmas. But the disastrous Allied airborne landing in Holland; American setbacks on the German border and in the Hürtgen Forest; together with the bitter Battle of the Bulge; drastically altered that timetable. Hastings tells the story of both the Eastern and Western Fronts; and paints a vivid portrait of the Red Army’s onslaught on Hitler’s empire. He has searched the archives of the major combatants and interviewed 170 survivors to give us an unprecedented understanding of how the great battles were fought; and of their human impact on American; British; German; and Russian soldiers and civilians. Hastings raises provocative questions: Were the Western Allied cause and campaign compromised by a desire to get the Soviets to do most of the fighting? Why were the Russians and Germans more effective soldiers than the Americans and British? Why did the bombing of Germany’s cities continue until the last weeks of the war; when it could no longer influence the outcome? Why did the Germans prove more fanatical foes than the Japanese; fighting to the bitter end? This book also contains vivid portraits of Stalin; Churchill; Eisenhower; Montgomery; and the other giants of the struggle. The crucial final months of the twentieth century’s greatest global conflict come alive in this rousing and revelatory chronicle.
#229910 in Books John Rabe 2000-03-14 2000-03-14Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .65 x 5.24l; .66 #File Name: 0375701974320 pagesThe Good Man of Nanking The Diaries of John Rabe
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Arrived on schedule; book as described. John Rabe ...By Glenn FewArrived on schedule; book as described. John Rabe; having lived and worked as a Siemens representative in China for many years by the time Japan occupied Nanking; was naive enough about the Nazis in his native land to believe that Hitler would exert diplomatic pressure on the Japanese to curb their atrocities. I found his first-hand account of events in Nanking to be utterly believable.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. it can get pretty disturbing; and there are pictures of various war ...By ShaneI came to this book after reading Iris Chang’s The Rape of Nanking. While in Chang’s book we get a glimpse of Rabe and an outsiders perspective at the events that took place between 1937 and 1938; in this book; we get to see the events as they unfold and from the perspective of someone who was actually there. It is a tragic and hard book to read; but it is very informative; and it is even filled with random clippings from other people who were there during the massacre. John’s diaries also continue after the events that happened in Nanking and continues through Russia’s invasion of Germany. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars because it is well written and it is informative. Warning for those who do not know much about the massacre; it can get pretty disturbing; and there are pictures of various war crimes and corpses.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is a great backgrounder; especially if you've read Iris Chang's Rape ...By Lucy KeThis is a great backgrounder; especially if you've read Iris Chang's Rape of Nanking. John Rabe was a significant thread throughout her book bc he lived every day of the occupation; and saved thousands of lives through his efforts. Like a lot of diaries; you sometimes get the humdrum; but the insights into this kind; determined man is worth those.
