- Hardcover: 448 pages
- Publisher: BBC Books; First Edition edition (16 Oct 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0563493356
- ISBN-13: 978-0563493358
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.2 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
160,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10 in Books > History > World History > World War II 1939-1945 > Historical Figures > Joeseph Stalin
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Product Description
Review
"Laurence Rees, who created a memorable series on Auschwitz, now seeks to address some less familiar issues of the second world war, throwing light upon its darker nooks and crannies...Rees is vastly well informed about the second world war. His judgments can seldom be faulted...there are many surprises here, and much good detail....The relationship between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill makes an ugly story, and Rees tells it extraordinarily well. --Andrew Roberts, The Sunday Times
Review
"a thoughtful and thought-provoking introduction to many of the shadier deals of the Second World War...The real virtue of this book lies in its ability to blend the experience of ordinary people into the narrative of public events...memorable in the extreme"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book holds the interest from first page to last. Pro-Stalin readers may not like the way Rees exposes the lies and crimes of the Soviet dictator, but anyone who wants to get behind the scenes of the war-time discussions will find this a fascinating and reliable account, with detailed attention to the cynical bargain struck by Hitler and Stalin to carve up Poland, and then later to the way in which Roosevelt and Churchill did everyhting possible to avoid annoying their new Russian ally - thereby almost inviting him to do what he liked with eastern Europe. Rees makes it clear that Russia was essential to the struggle with Nazi Germany, and suffered far, far greater casualties than the western allies, but it is still tragic to see Roosevelt and Churchill turning a blind eye to events like the Katyn massacre of some 7000 Polish officers on Stalin's orders. The Russian fabrications relating to this, and their attempts to pin the crime on Garmany at the Nuremberg trials,are told in full. This is carefully reseached and gives much that a reader of general world war 2 literature will not have met. It covers the whole period of the war, is very readable, and very highly recommended.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I totally disagree with William Podmore's review. The author clearly states that the storyline is based as close as it's possible on archival material and from my knowledge of the subject it's so far one of the most reliable accounts of Soviet-Nazi and Soviet-Western Allies relations I have ever read.
I agree Rees has discovered nothing particularly new in terms of general historical knowledge, all those events were well documented before, but the real value of the book and the TV series is that first time a professional historian, a Westerner, decided to examine closely the relation between two 20th century monsters - Nazis and Soviets. This is quite a common knowledge in the countries who happened to be on the wrong side of Iron Curtain, but for everage Brit or Yank it will be a revelation, a historical earthquake and, finally, quite a painful truth about their countries responsibilities for Cold War.
Author doesn't skip briefly over Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany; Rees clearly states the scale of Soviet casualties and importance of Eastern Front in Nazi defeat. The overwhelming impression the reader reach is that without Soviets victory would be impossible. And that's true. But in the same time the Soviet achievements are superbly counterbalanced by terrible crimes commited by NKVD (the Katyn Massacre re-enactment is a real shocker, the evidence provided by Rees is also overwhelming), by Russian support for German war effort before Barbarossa without which Germany wouldn't be able to carry on in Europe and North Africa in the same time. Not many people know Stalin offered Ribbentrop the assistance of Red Army in a case of invasion of Germany by other powers (we can only assume he meant France and Britain). The Soviet Union/Russia beat Nazis, paid the terrible price for it and deserves the eternal glory for it. But on the other hand Soviet Union collaborated actively with Germany for two first years of the war, supplied them with materials necessary to run the military machine and imposed terror on many occupied countries which dwarfs Nazi crimes. And never paid for it.
The personal accounts of witnesses are only supposed to bring a bit of human touch into a storyline, reminds us it really happened and affected the real people. They simply do not pretend to be historical evidence of stone hard reliability, rather personal views of selected events.
Well deserved five stars.
I agree Rees has discovered nothing particularly new in terms of general historical knowledge, all those events were well documented before, but the real value of the book and the TV series is that first time a professional historian, a Westerner, decided to examine closely the relation between two 20th century monsters - Nazis and Soviets. This is quite a common knowledge in the countries who happened to be on the wrong side of Iron Curtain, but for everage Brit or Yank it will be a revelation, a historical earthquake and, finally, quite a painful truth about their countries responsibilities for Cold War.
Author doesn't skip briefly over Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany; Rees clearly states the scale of Soviet casualties and importance of Eastern Front in Nazi defeat. The overwhelming impression the reader reach is that without Soviets victory would be impossible. And that's true. But in the same time the Soviet achievements are superbly counterbalanced by terrible crimes commited by NKVD (the Katyn Massacre re-enactment is a real shocker, the evidence provided by Rees is also overwhelming), by Russian support for German war effort before Barbarossa without which Germany wouldn't be able to carry on in Europe and North Africa in the same time. Not many people know Stalin offered Ribbentrop the assistance of Red Army in a case of invasion of Germany by other powers (we can only assume he meant France and Britain). The Soviet Union/Russia beat Nazis, paid the terrible price for it and deserves the eternal glory for it. But on the other hand Soviet Union collaborated actively with Germany for two first years of the war, supplied them with materials necessary to run the military machine and imposed terror on many occupied countries which dwarfs Nazi crimes. And never paid for it.
The personal accounts of witnesses are only supposed to bring a bit of human touch into a storyline, reminds us it really happened and affected the real people. They simply do not pretend to be historical evidence of stone hard reliability, rather personal views of selected events.
Well deserved five stars.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a brilliantly researched book. It brings out the full horror of the war and shows us the political decisions that shaped the outcome.
The personalities of Stalin Churchill Roosevelt and Truman are made clear and the effect that had on the decisions they reached.
The stories of individuals who took part and suffered in the fighting or deportations juxtaposed with the machinations of the politicians and their egos makes uncomfortable reading. Some of the ordinary people's stories of injustice and ill treatment would make a book in themselves
After reading the book I felt I understood why Truman used the atomic bomb and why the Cold War was necessary, things that have always puzzled me.
Now I hope Laurence Rees will turn his attention to the effect that spies had on the outcome of the war. From reading this book you get some sense of how highly placed some of these were
The personalities of Stalin Churchill Roosevelt and Truman are made clear and the effect that had on the decisions they reached.
The stories of individuals who took part and suffered in the fighting or deportations juxtaposed with the machinations of the politicians and their egos makes uncomfortable reading. Some of the ordinary people's stories of injustice and ill treatment would make a book in themselves
After reading the book I felt I understood why Truman used the atomic bomb and why the Cold War was necessary, things that have always puzzled me.
Now I hope Laurence Rees will turn his attention to the effect that spies had on the outcome of the war. From reading this book you get some sense of how highly placed some of these were
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
When an English Public School Boy meets a ruthless Georgian Mouzhik
There is no doubt that history of WWII and in particular a book on the main players on this huge chessboard of Humanity, will always command a keen public readership: Laurence... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Constantin ROMAN
Another superb book from Laurence Rees
I've recently finished reading this latest book from Laurence Rees and found it to be up to his usual standard. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mrs. TK Ellis
Response for important questions
Have you always been thinking about decisions made during the World War II? Was there any chance for Churchill and Roosevelt to stop Stalin from occupying Western Europe, how... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Straban
the best!
One of the best history books I read. Readable, fascinating, interesting, well documented - big bravo for Mr. Rees - I will for sure buy his other books as well. Read more
Published 20 months ago by su
No alliances at all between the Allies
The book illustrates how badly the Soviets were hit by Allied double-crossing during the War. Initially it looked as though Stalin and the Soviet Union would fight on the German... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. Robin D. Lewis
Cold war ideology disguised as history?
Rees' two major , possibly unconscious, errors in this book are to give scant attention to the 27 million Soviet citizens who lives were lost in WW2 and also to deny implicitly the... Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2010 by Hamptonshirewonder
The Truth Will Out
The author has chosen the method of interweaving accounts by the high-ranking persons of the time (WW2, mainly) with those of more humble soldiers and citizens of the main... Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2009 by Ian Millard
intriguing history
Anyone who watched the bbc2 series will that accompanies this book will enjoy the book too.those who have not seen the series will also find this a good read as it delves into... Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2009 by D. A. Carter
Biased, superficial account, containing nothing new
This book was written to accompany the television series World War Two: Behind closed doors, first broadcast on BBC2 in 2008. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2009 by William Podmore
Liimited new information, a little distorted
Students of WWII will already know most of the context in this excellently researched companion volume to the BBC series. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by Nickel
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