The Second World War

This is an excellent one volume telling of the Second World War, within its historical context, with a heavy emphasis on the strategic questions and decisions faced by the political and military high commands of the five major powers (Keegan doesn't consider Italy a major power). A long-time instructor at Sandhurst in Britain, Keegan brings to this work an ability to link the conflict within the historical flow of Europe and modern Asia, going as far back as time of Charlemagne, but especially emphasizing how the rise of Prussia in the 1700's led to the awful events of 1939 - 1945.The center of the conflict, for Keegan, especially to the awful nature that led all sides to jump all in the worst war in human history, was with Hitler. While German militarism and its failure after World War I was the fuel for WWII, it simply would not have happened were it not for Hitler's fantasies of German expansion and superiority. Told in about 600 pages, the writing is tight and points, loaded with meaning are made so quickly and often so well, that the reader does not notice until later. That the Nazi's rose so quickly and led a populace so willing seemed surprising at the time, but in the context that Keegan puts it into, does not seem surprising at all.The book is divided into five sections, with initial section chapters about the strategic dilemmas faced by the leaders of the five great powers at different phases of the war. As a result, Keegan places a heavy emphasis on strategy, command and control, supply chain management and home front economics and he makes all of that very interesting. So the reader will not get a shot by shot retelling of every battle. For example, the month long blood bath on Iwo Jima gets just a couple of paragraphs, but the reader will come away with a greater understanding of why Iwo Jima was fought, and what its fall to the Americans meant to the rest of the war.Some reviewers have criticized Keegan for writing too much about the European War, in comparison to the Pacific War, and in a one volume, six hundred page book, choices did have to be made. But in this case, it seems a proportional emphasis on Europe, especially the Eastern front war between the Soviets and the Germans was right. Over 600 armed divisions fought between 1941 and 1945 in the east, with over 10 million dead. Excluding the Japanese military occupation of China, less than 20 total armed divisions fought the Pacific War, not including naval forces.For a reader wanting a well-written, one volume account of World War II, where the conflict is placed in historical conflict, Keegan's book cannot be more highly recommended.

While I do not agree that this is the single best one-volume treatment of World War Two available, I do agree it is a wonderful, eminently readable, and fascinating thematic approach that helps the reader look at the basic overarching themes to found in WWII. The introduction explaining how and why world wars became possible and attractive is worth the price of the book alone. Only Keegan could bring so much style, verve, and new perspective to such a widely covered subject as the Second World War. Therefore, understanding that the book is not an exhaustive and comprehensive history of the war on a battle by battle, theater by theater approach as one can find in other excellent one volume books such as Gerhard Weinberg's "A World At Arm" or Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millett's "A War To Be Won", it is still a singular tome with a unique and valuable perspective on the war that any self-respecting student of the war will not want to miss.Also, given Mr. Keegan's mastery of the written word and his way with a phrase, this is a book one lets drag on as you read it slowly, stopping to think about what he has just written in a particular paragraph and what it means. This is indeed great stuff! The book is organized chronologically but devotes specific chapters in the general narrative to particular important factors influencing the progress and direction of the war effort, such as the nazi bombing campaigns, the Allied war air over Germany, war production, organized resistance in occupied countries, and the various types and relative successes associated with espionage.Keegan's ability to marshal a stirring and articulate argument is unparalleled, and he relates the opposing forces' war strategies with an authority no one else can match. He also appreciates the many different levels of contribution to the overall war efforts ranging from unique leadership characteristics of specific individuals such as Montgomery, Patton, Eisenhower, and Marshall, but also pays attention to the massive contributions of ordinary soldiers, sailors, and war production civilians who made important efforts aiding ultimate victory. This is a very well-written and meticulously researched and documented book, and one I am glad to have on my World War Two bookshelf!

John Keegan's "The Second World War" is a masterfully written dissertation of WWII. While Keegan certainly doesn't cover every aspect of the war - he in fact explains that he will not attempt to do this in his Prologue - he does do an admirable job presenting the War contextually for readers. His separation of the War into blocks of time and space is especially critical in making this an encompassing book. Also Keegan places significance on the why's of the War - why would Germany go to war? Why did the US resist coming into the war? Why did Japan act differently than germany to it's occupied peoples? All of these questions place the battle in perspective. The battles - Keegan deals with the major ones brilliantly. I have read many WWII books but I have to say that I still learned a lot from Keegan's book - both new things and tweekings of things already learned."The Second World War" is certainly now part of my Must Read collection. I think this book would make a wonderful starting point for someone just showing interst in the genre, but also should be required reading for serious long-term students of WWII history.Can't recommend it highly enough!!!!

One of the best books on WWII ever written.

Gosh what a read! A most comprehensive and riveting account of the often chaotic unfolding of and ultimate conclusion to WW2 in all the various theatres of war.

John Keegan's points out in "The Second World War " that "Supply of food, raw materials, of finished products, of weapons themselves, lies at root of war". I agree. However, the woed "Brazil" does not appear in a kindle search inside his book. Brazil was part of the fight starting in 1942. An air base in Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte , the closest place to Africa, and permitted the supply of all those items starting in 1942, helping, first, the war effort in Africa, consequently helping the invasion of Sicily and the rest of Italy. German U boats were always in the lookout for cargo ships. Brazilian and Americam ships were attacked. At a point in the war every 3 minutes a plane would take off from Parnamirin. The participation of Brazil as an ally makes us proud to have fought as part of the Allies side. I do not understand how Brazil is not even mentioned in his book.

Enjoying the read that has much detail.

Military history is a near impossible subject. The writer needs to be well read in strategy, history, geography, culture, politics, economy and in the folklore of the countries of which he writes. If you don't have a mind like a dodecahedron Christal, which reflects light in twenty four directions all at the same time you'd better not attempt it.John Keegan has the vision, the reading, the tranquility of mind, the sober vision necessary to see through the pain and individual sacrifice and to hold before our eyes the very essence of this huge - hopefully the last - conflict, which we Europeans have managed to inflict on ourselves.Think!1. The maniac Hitler has said fifteen years before he started the massacre, what he was going to do. We thought we could make a "compromise". We did: "Peace in our time."2. Stalin has already massacred six million of his own people,before we discovered that he was our ally and our salvation and then supported him , while he massacred six million more.3. Only by the miracle of the boys in Alamogordo could we stop the red horde not reaching the Atlantic shores in 1945.We need John Keegan and his pupils to shake us by the scuff of our necks and help us create a vision in our hearts, free of cant, politics and the distortions of public relations, and help us see clearly for our own good and for the hope of our children.