Examining the Second World War on every front, Roberts asks whether, with a different decision-making process and a different strategy, the Axis might even have won. Were those German generals who blamed everything on Hitler after the war correct, or were they scapegoating their former Fuhrer once he was beyond defending himself?

Billed as "the best single volume history of WWII" this book does not disappoint. It is clearly told from a Western perspective and does not pretend to be an in depth examination of every theatre of WWII in detail. <br /> <br />Storm of War is both an overview and an evaluation of WWII. It is a sequel-companion to Masters and Commanders, which focused on the strategic view of WWII taken by the high command of the western allies - Roosevelt, Marshall, Churchill and Brooke. Read together, those books explain a great deal about WWII, and by extension post-war Europe and the Cold War. <br /> <br />This time around there is more focus on the Eastern front - where the Germans lost the war, and Eastern Europe lost its sovereignty. The march of the Red Army is covered in detail, although it is pointed out that the effect of allied bombing on Germany had a number of contributing factors to this advace, in disrupting war productivity and causing AA guns (which could often double as anti-tank weapons) and the Luftwaffe to defend Germany rather than be brought to bear on the Eastern front. <br /> <br />The war in the Pacific is also covered, although anyone wishing to know more here should see Max Hastings Retribution/Nemesis. <br /> <br />As well as what happened, the why is also covered off - could Hitler and Japan have won? Only, says Roberts, by their not being who they were. Genocide and slaughter was integral to militaristic Nazism, and a direct cause of many of the mistakes Hitler made. As I read the book, a Germany without a Holocaust, and which acted a liberator from Bolshevism in Soviet Russia, might have been able to win, especially with the aid of a number of Jewish scientists who escaped to the West in the 1930's. But, says Roberts, this madness was part of who Hitler was, and his drive to power and war depended on mania. Without this, Hitler could have won WWII, but he would never have been able to start it. Being in the position to start it, he was always likely to lose, at least once the USA joined in the fight. <br /> <br />Without a US surrender after Pearl Harbour, Japan was always fated to lose, provided there was will to fight against them. This is less controversial position - even one taken by Yamamoto in late 1941. <br /> <br />Storm of War is a superb big-picture history of the defining conflict of the 20th century. It is hugely readable, well written, and shows a strong understanding of how and why WWII was fought.

I much enjoyed the book, but would only give it three and a half stars because of several errors about marine matters - which is all I know much about. As I was three when the war started I wasn't consulted about matters of defence. <br /> <br />Some of the errors that I noted were: <br /> <br />By no means all ships were convoyed from the outbreak of war, most vessels over 15 knots were independently routed. Churchill reduced this to 12 knots when he declared the outbreak of the Battle of the Atlantic in February 1941, but the 15 knot limit was soon reinstated, because of losses. Convoys were only escorted part way until 1942 and a few convoys were sailed without escorts at all - until the calamity that befell convoy SL64S. <br /> <br />He has not dispelled the myth that all of the BEF were rescued at Dunkirk. In fact a third of them and many Polish and Czech troops were saved afterwards from Western and Southern France - 191,000 in all, mostly by merchant ships. These unsung heroes also saved many civilians (the British civilians from the Riviera were far from grateful as they were mainly picked up by ships that had delivered coal). <br /> <br />The Mulberry Harbours were not 'shipped out from Devon'. They had been built all over the south coast and 'parked' near Selsey. As another reviewer said, there was not a shortage of small landing craft. The Americans did not take a week to build a Liberty ship, they did that once as a stunt. At the start the American yards took 50% more time to build this type of ship (over 300,000 man/hours), than the hard-pressed British took to build ships of the same size. <br /> <br />Roy Martin <br /> <br />Author: Ebb and Flow, Evacuations and Landings by Merchant Ships in World War Two

I have had an interest in military history since I was a schoolboy, in particular The Boer War and WWII. I have therefore read a book or two about both conflicts. This "new history" of WWII is by far one of the best that I have read in a long time. It is extremely well written. Many history books can be an excellent cure for insomnia, but this one is in a league of it's own for keeping the reader involved. It is also extremely well researched with copious references and page notes (the main text is just over 600 pages, and there are some 200 pages of references). If you have an interest in military history or the WWII conflict then I would recommend this book. If you are not specifically interested but curious then I would also suggest that this is good place to start rather than any other volume. There are plenty of others, many of which are very dry. Be warned however this book pulls no punches about the true horrors of conflict. There was massive life loss in WWII, not just those directly involved in the conflict, but civilian casualties, and also the barbarity of all sides. The holocaust is a sickening chapter which hits home, making the reader really understand how we should never forget this period in human history.

This books get a well deserved five stars. It is massive in scope, covering the opening stages of the war up the very end when Hitler committed suicide and the nuclear bombs heralded the new age. At 600 pages it is a big read but Robert is a masterful writer, combining tactics, numbers and human touches throughout his writing which makes for a book that is a joy to read. <br /> <br />It sneaks in lots of information whilst never boring, Robert has mastered the tricky art of getting across reams of pertinent (but often boring) information but presenting it in a very readable format that educates whilst never patronising. <br /> <br />He is a humanist writer of great breadth and depth, the Carl Sagan of military history. <br /> <br />The arguments against this book by other reviewers hold little water, how can a book of 600 pages that covers the entire war hope to go into the minutest of detail, this is a work of the canvas of war and the broad brushstrokes of the allies and axis powers. For detail on certain campaigns there are innumerable other books that cover these but this book does exactly what it says, it provides a history of the entire period and it does it very well. <br /> <br />Most of us assume some knowledge of the war but I found this an eye opener as each battle or campaign is placed in a greater context and we are often treated to the motivations and insights of Hitler, Churchill, FDR et al. which is in itself fascinating. These people were playing with the future of the world and each intuitively knew that destiny was at hand. <br /> <br />A brilliant work by a fantastic writer. Highly recommended.

The book is generally well written, however, certain aspects at a technical level are just wrong. The commentary on German tanks in chapter 7 contains many errors. Disappointing. <br /> <br />It is perhaps difficult at this stage to say something new, however, it would be good to get things right.