Europe at War 1939-1945: No Simple Victory
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Product Description
Mail on Sunday
'Davies challenges the myths of good and evil that colour popular perceptions of war'
Product Description
A powerfully argued, provocative and vividly written account of the Second World War from one of our finest historians.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book addresses a basic but to date un-remedied defect consistently present in most books written about World War Two. Now that in excess of sixty years have passed since the war's end fresh, un-biased books on this most complicated and emotional of subjects are still few and far between. In particular from an English speaking perspective, one is still given the strong impression that Nazi Germany was beaten in equal measure by the combined efforts of Britain, America and the Soviet Union together with its associated allies such as the Poles, French and others. The reality is a good deal more surprising than such an orthodox view would suggest and to this end Norman Davies comprehensively and in a very readable manner dispels such myths. The book is also multifaceted in its perspective giving a comprehensive view of the war as fought in Europe, (the book is not an account of the Pacific conflict). It is rare for one book to cover the catalogue of World War Two issues documented here, it is rarer still to find such matters written about in a compelling, accessible yet scholarly way. In this regard, the book is a towering achievement and must have presented a massive task to compile. As you progress through the book, Davies repeatedly demonstrates that in essence the lion's share of fighting was done in the Eastern Front where both sides employed the most barbaric of practices to destroy their enemy and to compel their men (and women)to fight under the most grisly and inhuman of circumstances; and where on balance the Soviet Union under Stalin was prepared to go further than anyone else to gain the upper hand. One is therefore faced with accepting that World War Two whilst perceived by most people as a battle between good and evil was in reality a battle between an extreme and criminally culpable Nazi Germany and an even more extreme and more criminally culpable Stalinist Soviet Union that ultimately resolved the conflict. The contribution of others, such as Britain and the US whilst significant was not ultimately decisive. As a result of secrecy, clever propaganda, an unwillingness to criticise an ally and a general naivete of those in positions of influence in Britain and the US, Soviet criminality remained unexposed for decades and even to this day is not properly appreciated. Such revelations when properly explained as they have been by Davies simply take your breath away. On a rare occasion a book deserves something more than five stars. This is one such rare occasion.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Europe at War" is intelligently broken into sections that cover different aspects of the conflict: one for "Civilians", another for "Politicians" and so on, such that by the end of the book the key events have been covered from different perspectives that overlay each other to provide a much more comprehensive and much deeper understanding than most histories or biographies written from a single standpoint.
The other key strength of this title is that it eschews the conventional belief held in the West that Hitler was defeated by the US, Britain, and members of the Commonwealth such as Canada. The reality, which is clearly and comprehensively laid out here by Norman Davies, is that the Western Front prior to June 1944 was effectively a side show, and that Allied efforts in North Africa, while core to our Western perspective on the war, were puny in comparison to the massive campaigns on the Eastern Front.
In reality, the Second World War was a monumental clash between two totalitarian titans, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Equally brutal, equally set on total victory at any cost - and the costs were unimaginable.
By the end of the war the Western Allies were worn out, despite the fact that their contribution was a fraction of the USSR's, and had to accept Stalin's annexation of half of Europe, including the occupation of Poland, which was betrayed several times by her Western allies.
That is the uncomfortable truth of the Second World War: it was no simple victory.
The other key strength of this title is that it eschews the conventional belief held in the West that Hitler was defeated by the US, Britain, and members of the Commonwealth such as Canada. The reality, which is clearly and comprehensively laid out here by Norman Davies, is that the Western Front prior to June 1944 was effectively a side show, and that Allied efforts in North Africa, while core to our Western perspective on the war, were puny in comparison to the massive campaigns on the Eastern Front.
In reality, the Second World War was a monumental clash between two totalitarian titans, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Equally brutal, equally set on total victory at any cost - and the costs were unimaginable.
By the end of the war the Western Allies were worn out, despite the fact that their contribution was a fraction of the USSR's, and had to accept Stalin's annexation of half of Europe, including the occupation of Poland, which was betrayed several times by her Western allies.
That is the uncomfortable truth of the Second World War: it was no simple victory.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I put this book down with a sigh because it completely explodes the myth of a good and bad side to WW2
I'd always been told that this was a war against the evil Nazis - but in fact a) we didn't do the majority of the fighting against the Nazis
b) the methods of our premier ally in the war was every bit as bad as what we fighting against (I clear case of 'they may be ********, but they are our ...'
Stalin may well have been right, in that England bought the time, the US the money and the USSR the blood' to the fight but the whole book just leaves you with a very nasty taste in your mouth, not just about the war but the methods used by the protagonists in pursuit of their aims
The image of two sides in the European war is demolished - there were qute clearly three on this evidence and the Allies had very different aims.
Its also quite clear that the battles that destroyed the German ability to attack were not fought by the US and UK - the USSR are shown to have destroyed that capability at Kursk and we should acknowledge that effort for the turning point that it was
The worst part of this book is not the campaigns but all the associated activity around the occupation of countries , police , summary justice, race murder and so on.
The Germans needed to be stopped - I still think that is a fact
But it was the USSR that did most the work in Europe and what the UK and US were unable to stop was the partition of Europe after the war that took another 50 years to change.
In fact the most chilling part of the book is the suggestion that the second world war was just the second military phase of a power struggle in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1990
An excellent read with some uncomfortable conclusions
I'd always been told that this was a war against the evil Nazis - but in fact a) we didn't do the majority of the fighting against the Nazis
b) the methods of our premier ally in the war was every bit as bad as what we fighting against (I clear case of 'they may be ********, but they are our ...'
Stalin may well have been right, in that England bought the time, the US the money and the USSR the blood' to the fight but the whole book just leaves you with a very nasty taste in your mouth, not just about the war but the methods used by the protagonists in pursuit of their aims
The image of two sides in the European war is demolished - there were qute clearly three on this evidence and the Allies had very different aims.
Its also quite clear that the battles that destroyed the German ability to attack were not fought by the US and UK - the USSR are shown to have destroyed that capability at Kursk and we should acknowledge that effort for the turning point that it was
The worst part of this book is not the campaigns but all the associated activity around the occupation of countries , police , summary justice, race murder and so on.
The Germans needed to be stopped - I still think that is a fact
But it was the USSR that did most the work in Europe and what the UK and US were unable to stop was the partition of Europe after the war that took another 50 years to change.
In fact the most chilling part of the book is the suggestion that the second world war was just the second military phase of a power struggle in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1990
An excellent read with some uncomfortable conclusions
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A clear and intelligent book
I bought several books about WWII, and this one is, by far, the best. It gives the reader the intelligence of the war, instead of overburdening him with details. Thanks Mr. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Hellix
The best single volume history of the Second World War
I've read many, many books on the Second World War and I must say that this is possibly the best single volume account of it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Chris
Europe at War 1939-1945: No Simple Victory (Paperback)
I've read a couple of books by Norman Davies, and heard him discuss the subjects he writes about on radio programmes. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. R. J. Bogusz
Europe at War Kindle Book Version
The book is interesting though rather overstated critique of other wordl war two histories.
Hoiwever the Kindle Book Version has a probvlem. Read more
Hoiwever the Kindle Book Version has a probvlem. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Jonathan C. H. Fish
quirky historian, splendid synopsis
I have come to the book belatedly - but found it very rewarding. It's an excellent introductory survey and does a good job of rebalancing the usual Anglo-US-centric view of WW2,... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Tiresias
Fine overview, with important messages but also errors
Mr Davies book gives a good overview of the conflict. It can be seen as a good introduction with some important messages: First and foremost the primacy of the Eastern Front. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jan Wammen Dam
A Very Good Opinionated Book.
Europe at War by Norman Davies is a very good book offering a different view of the Second World War in Europe. It is well-written, fast-paced, opinionated and very interesting. Read more
Published 22 months ago by HBH
A vital contribution
Norman Davies has written the most important book, yet,on the War in Europe. He will be attacked for a few errors, here and there, by jealous and rival historians. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Massacio1423
Helicopter overview
It was like Norman Davies took me in helicopter to have an overview of whole Europe during WO II, instead of explaining the story through the eyes of only one country's. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Koos
Davies' book is pro-fascist propaganda
Davies' argument is that WW2 was fought by two competing evils both of which intended to destroy the existing international order.
But this is quite wrong. Read more
But this is quite wrong. Read more
Published 23 months ago by William Podmore
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