Armageddon

Starred review from October 4, 2004
This huge and splendid volume tells the grim tale of the final collapse of the Third Reich. It does so from the viewpoints of the upper millstone (the Western Allies), the lower millstone (the Russians) and the grain being ground in between (the Germans). The research includes previously untapped Russian archives (particularly in the accounts of Soviet veterans) and leads to a gripping and horrifying story that serious students of military history will find almost impossible to put down. The blunders recounted are numerous, from the Allied failure to open Antwerp in the fall of 1944 to the Russian frontal assault on Berlin, and the Wehrmacht
is depicted as the best army of the war and also the most atrocious in its treatment of civilians. Indeed, the treatment of civilians is a major theme, since they were slaughtered on a scale unheard of since the Thirty Years' War, and not only the Nazi camp inmates but also the inhabitants of Poland and East Prussia were numbered among the victims. The author hands out praise and blame with his usual edged aplomb (Anglophile readers may be happy to see a partial rehabilitation of Montgomery) and willingness to engender controversy, and also with his usual thorough research and clear writing (along with 24 pages of photos) to sustain every case he makes. His book ranks among the very best military history volumes of the year. Agent, Peter Matson.
(Nov. 18)

Forecast:
With a first printing of 100,000 copies and its status as a History Book Club main selection and a BOMC and Military Book Club alternate, this book should reach its intended audience easily; a four-city author tour will win over less regular readers of WWII along the way.

July 1, 2004
Noted military historian Hastings asks some uncomfortable questions about the last months of World War II.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2004
Hastings, former editor of London's " Evening Standard" and the " Daily Telegraph" and producer of documentaries for the BBC and CNN, offers a comprehensive and riveting chronicle of the final eight months of World War II. Hastings utilizes Allied and German archives and accounts of survivors to convey the sheer savagery of the daily combat and the physical and emotional toll it took on those who lived through the ordeal. He also offers interesting portraits of the major political and military figures and engages in some provocative speculations about their motivations for various decisions. The text is supported by very useful maps and numerous well-chosen and rarely seen photographs. Both specialists and general readers will appreciate this outstanding examination of the closing months of this life-and-death struggle with the scourge of Nazism.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

Starred review from December 1, 2004
Returning home by Christmas was the hope of most Allied soldiers in September 1944, just a few months after the landings at Normandy. Few believed the Germans had the strength to last much longer. Hastings (Bomber Command; Overlord) provides a critical analysis of the final eight months of the war in Europe, encompassing both the eastern and the western fronts, the air and the ground campaigns, and the fate of civilians and POWs. His insights and ability to weave the personal stories of individuals from all walks of life into the larger narrative make this an unforgettable look at the horror of war. Hastings spares no one, questioning actions, motives, abilities, and outcomes; he covers not only the major actions but also the impact that leadership, logistics, tactics, and quality of equipment had on the final months of the war. He does an excellent job of tying the tactical, operational, and strategic fighting into one coherent and flowing account. This well-written work by a master of historical narrative is highly recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/04.]-Lt. Col. Charles M. Minyard (ret.), U.S. Army, Blountstown, FL

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.