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Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945 By Max Hastings ( Knopf )
Release Date: 2004-11-16
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $35.00
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Product Description
Armageddon is the epic story of the last eight months of World War II in Europe by Max Hastings–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.
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 Be prepared for the long haul...
First off, I graded this moreso on how difficult a read this was and not so much the content. There is no doubt that Hastings thoroughly researched this material. It's all here and then some. I've read the reviews about incorrect details which is something I can forgive when such a broad subject is covered.
For me, the difficult part was keeping it all tied together - it may not be the author's fault - more of a personal limitation. Be warned, if you aren't interested in having most if not all major and minor events broken down and examined, then this may not be the book for you. The overall story is here in spades, but several chapters overlap and repeat upon past events already covered. I understand why this is done, but there is so much here it can be overwhelming. This won't be a quick read for the casual reader. I'm sure from time to time, I can go back and re-read the chapters that interest me at any given time and always find something new that I hadn't concentrated on. I guess that is where this work will find its longevity. It is well written for sure and taken in small chunks, can be a rewarding study.
Also, don't be worried about being put off by the critical views of the leaders, especially the victorious Allies and the Red Army. This conflict was a worldwide terror and not even those who emerged on the winning side could have been expected to make the best choice at every turn. Those who think so are simply naive.
A gigantic work that needs a gigantic effort to finish, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
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 An interesting WW II perspective ( rickaugust )
Max Hastings is an excellent British historian who bings an interesting perspective to the last year of World War II in the European Theater of Operations. Not only does he look at what happened in the military context but also the effect of the war on PoWs on both sides and civilians particularly the Germans of East Prussia.
He has some interesting comments on the war in the air and airborne assaults both of which he criticizes. British Air Marshal "Bomber" Harris comes in for particular criticism for continuing the incineration of German cities long after it was clear such terror raids were not having the effect he promised.
Hastings starts his narrative with an exploration of Operation Market-Garden which was Field Marshal Montgomery's desparate attempt to invade Germany through Holland into the Rhur Basin. It failed miserably but Monty had so much favorable press in England that Churchill couldn't discipline or sack him.
Hastings posits that airborne operations were planned mostly because parachute and glider-borne regiments and divisions existed. The Germans he argues suspended parachute assaults after Crete which is generally pointed to as a success. The cost in casualties and aircraft did not justify the tenuous results.
General Patton, too, feels the sting of the author's pen in his recounting of "Old Blood and Guts" assault on the fortress city of Metz and hair brained attempt at rescuing his son-in-law from a German PoW camp.
The aspect of the book I found most confusing was Hastings contradictory remarks. For example, he criticizes the quality and warrior ethos of the American Infantry in the last year of the war. Then he recounts episodes of gallantry under fire by these same troops.
Altogether, though, a well-researched book every serious student of military history should read for an interesting viewpoint of the major battles and events from September 1944 to May 1945 in Northwest Europe.
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Good Overview and Story for Late WW2
Mr. Hastings presents an excellent overview of the late war period and actually discusses the eastern front which is not covered by most books. However, the coverage of the eastern front is not nearly as detailed, especially from a military point of view as that in the west.
So long after the war, you would hope for coverage of the eastern front as detailed as that in Overlord, or at least that of the west in the same book.
Grognards will mostly not be impressed, as a few technical mistakes are made.
I held back on the 5th star because I was expecting something more like an Overlord for the eastern front.
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 An objective account of the last year of WWII.
In Armageddon, the author avoids the usual nationalistic hype that underlies accounts of World War II. Russia, the U. S., Britain, and Germany are described with painful objectivity in this history. Though the author is British, Montgomery's desparate attempts to play the hero are described in detail. What is truly valuable about this book is the many accounts of civilian experiences during this terrible time. This book is a must for any serious reader.
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always good reading ( meangrouch )
I like the war books written by Max Hastings. I have found them to be very well-written, and remarkably readable. His output is impressive, and his books are well worth the purchase price.
He seems, to me at least, to be the master of telling stories that make all of us realize how terrible war really is.
I have had to put his books down several times, after reading accounts that make me gasp. I have not fought in any wars, and after reading Hastings' books, I am more than glad I have not.
I am not sure I agree with his opinions of various generals and leaders. He is, at least, an equal opportunity critic, and he spares no-one. I do think many generals were better than he gives them credit for being, but he is certainly entitled to his well -written opinions.
I would recommend any book by Max Hastings. Agree always, or not, he is very readable, and very good.
He captures the sheer horror of war far more effectively than nearly every current military historian.
For that reason alone, he is remarkable.
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