- Hardcover: 832 pages
- Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; First edition edition (10 Jun 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0297846329
- ISBN-13: 978-0297846321
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.4 x 5.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 622,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
For many years, historians have argued that the war in the Mediterranean was merely a sideshow to the big events that took place in Russia and Northern Europe during the Second World War. This new and extremely accessible study of the conflict turns that argument on its head. For Douglas Porch, the Mediterranean theatre was absolutely central to the success of the Allies. It was the only place where Britain could showcase its refusal to accept German domination of Europe. It helped draw the Americans into the war, distracted Hitler from his true strategic objectives in the north, and provided a perfect training ground for the Allied troops who would fight in Normandy. Without the Mediterranean, the Allies would never have learned the skills they needed to win the war; indeed, the Alliance itself might not have lasted beyond 1943. This book covers every aspect of the Mediterranean conflict, from the Italian attack on Greece in 1940 right through to the advance on the Gothic Line in northern Italy towards the end of the war. While concentrating on the major battles in North Africa and Italy, the author also covers the less well-documented aspects of the war, some of which have produced strong echoes in our own time: the 1941 civil war in Yugoslavia, Churchill's pre-emptive invasion of Iraq, and the continual threat of an Arab uprising in Palestine. He explains not only the events themselves but the personalities of the leaders behind them, and the motives behind the complex decisions they had to make. The result is a fresh, compelling and comprehensive account of this vital arena of the Second World War.
About the Author
Professor Douglas Porch is Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
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First Sentence
ALTHOUGH THE MEDITERRANEAN is an ancient seat of conflict, it does not lend itself easily to battle. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
ALTHOUGH THE MEDITERRANEAN is an ancient seat of conflict, it does not lend itself easily to battle. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a very good, and complete book on the war in the Mediterranean. One of the most fascinating aspects is that the author shows how difficult it is to wage war in politically instable areas, where various political stakeholders are less interested in the main event, but are waiting backstage to see how they can gain from the events. The Mediterranean theatre covered amongst others North Africa (with two groups, Vichy and the Free French, claiming to represent France), the Balkans (with the usual complexities) and Iraq (including a revolt as a sideshow to the war), and it is clear that the allied commanders (or their political chiefs) had not always given that side much thought. That gives the book much current value, for many of the current interventions and peace-keeping missions take place in similar circumstances.
One point I would like to flag is that the portraits of many American and British commanders seem to be overly negative, whereas the French commanders (Juin, De Lattre) seem to be getting a fairer treat. It could be that this is well deserved, I am not familiar with the biographies of most of the commanders involved, but it could be that the author, who has done a lot of research on the French military, including a book on the French Foreign Legion and on civil-military relations in France, is slightly favouring the French. Another, less important, point is that the title of the book does not cover the contents. The book actually shows that Hitler was not so much gambling but was drawn into a Mediterranean war reluctantly because Mussolini made a mess of things. It is not unlikely that the title is suggested by the publisher to boost sales of a book on a forgotten theatre of war.
One point I would like to flag is that the portraits of many American and British commanders seem to be overly negative, whereas the French commanders (Juin, De Lattre) seem to be getting a fairer treat. It could be that this is well deserved, I am not familiar with the biographies of most of the commanders involved, but it could be that the author, who has done a lot of research on the French military, including a book on the French Foreign Legion and on civil-military relations in France, is slightly favouring the French. Another, less important, point is that the title of the book does not cover the contents. The book actually shows that Hitler was not so much gambling but was drawn into a Mediterranean war reluctantly because Mussolini made a mess of things. It is not unlikely that the title is suggested by the publisher to boost sales of a book on a forgotten theatre of war.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Northern Europe, Russia, the Pacific, these are the campaigns at the forefront of the world's minds when they think of the Second World War. Yet, there were other conflicts and theatres, and the Mediterranean was certainly not the least amongst them.
For five years, from 1940 until 1945, there was conflict within or on the borders of the Mediterranean. Douglas Porch's book brings the battles and struggles of this period alive. Although other reviews have (quite truthfully) remarked upon a number of minor errors within this work, it is otherwise a brilliant and comprehensive account of the war.
It follows not only the fluid battles of the Western Desert, but also the German moves in the Aegean, the Naval conflict, as well as the thorn in the Axis' side that was Malta. It also focuses on the landings of Operation Torch, on the invasion of Sicily and the subsequent struggle slowly up the Italian boot.
Porch obviously draws upon the experience of his previous works (on imperialism and conquest in Africa), and it is, perhaps, no exaggeration to say that this is his best book so far.
If you are of a mind to learn anything about the war in the Mediterranean, this is definitely the place to begin.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read this book, many of my beliefs on the Mediterranean theatre have been confirmed. It offers a fresh perspective on the fighting in the theatre, showing how great a drain the theatre, despite initially a sideshow for Germany, nothing more than a place to keep Mussolini happy, ended up as a slaughterhouse, as the batle of attrition wore down huge numbers of troops or locke dthm up in dead-end theatres. For anybody interested in the Mediterranean campaign or even the North-West Europe campaign of 1944-45 this book is essential reading.
However, as one reviewer has already noted, there are numerous, though in no way discouraging, mistakes in this book on certain little factors such as tank armaments. Also, possibly the publishers fault, British XIII corps is refferred to as XXIII corps as well as, in certain places, an almost childish order of battle when given. Some statistics are also questionable, such as his claim of 6,000 dead German Paratroopers during the battle of Crete. Callum MacDonald's book on Crete gives it as 3,352 for Paachute troops. It seems that casulaties may have been qouted as deaths. Despite this, however most sources are consistent and reliable. It is a joy to read and hard to put down, even a quick browse drew me in for half an hours reading at one point.
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