The second world war is a narrative history of world war ii by the british historian antony. World war ii often abbreviated to wwii or ww2, also known as the second world war, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Bringing together essays now widely scattered and several never previously published in english, this volume examines the holocaust, the connections between the european and pacific theatres of war, as well as the effects, leaders, and research problems of world war ii. The war, along with hitlers scorchedearth policy, had destroyed 20 percent of all housing. The best books on the aftermath of world war ii recommended by keith lowe. World war ii, conflict that involved virtually every part of the world during 193945. Germany s war by john wear refutes this characterization of germany, bringing history into accord with the facts. The best books on the aftermath of world war ii five books. I think a reader of this book should have a good, prior understanding of the broader politics of the era so as to put germany s climatic year of 1945 in full context. The ballantines illustrated history of world war ii the violent century. What are the best books on germany immediately after world war. Professor bessel writes, straightforwardly but not always with liquid prose, of the year germany lost world war ii. It was after the first world war that germany was treated like a pariah, through the versailles treaty. How the children of nazi germany remember world war two.
From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the sparknotes world war ii 19391945 study guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. The best books on the aftermath of world war ii five. By downloading libby to your smartphone, you can access thousands of ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free anytime and anywhere. The black eagle inn by christoph fischer, the reader by bernhard schlink, german boy. War reparations as the loser, germany was forced to pay for the war. Dec 15, 2010 background of post wwii german history. In post wwii years of 19491958, 375,000 germans immigrated to the united states. Buy the print book check if you have access via personal or institutional login. Coral sea, midway and submarine actions, may 1942august 1942. The real causes of world war 2 and its devastating effects. Every book on your english syllabus summed up in a quote from the office mar. The end of world war ii in europe was a devastating time for germany. Rising to power in an unstable germany, adolf hitler and his national socialist nazi party rearmed the nation and signed treaties. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
As the war raged, the leaders of the allies met several times to direct the course of the fighting and to begin planning for the postwar world. Sparked by the 1939 nazi invasion of poland, the war. Food production per capita in 1947 was only 51 percent of its level in 1938, and the official food ration set by the occupying powers varied between 1,040 and 1,550 calories per day. World war ii was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. Germany s war documents that the allied leaders of the soviet union, great britain and the united states were primarily responsible for starting and prolonging world war ii costing million of lives. Though it may be a popular genre, only a select few historical fiction books about world war ii truly capture the nuance and danger of that period of time in our world s history. The aftermath of world war ii was the beginning of a new era, defined by the decline of all european colonial empires and simultaneous rise of two superpowers. Rebuilding the world after the second world war world. Following the german military leaders unconditional surrender in may 1945, the country lay prostrate. Nov 10, 2011 five books on world war i military history, memoir, and even a novelized series make this list of cantmiss books about the great war. Feb 26, 2018 this post on world war ii books is sponsored by libby.
A fter world war ii the german economy lay in shambles. The first allgerman elections since 1933 were held on dec. This, unfortunately, led to the rise of hitler and world war ii. Best book i have ever read about the war was a higher call. Discover librarianselected research resources on postwar germany from the questia.
From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written each year, seemingly dozens of new titles emerge to offer fresh. Clark has won awards for his work on german history, and here he tackles, in great detail, the start of the first world war. World war 2 changed the course of history for the world. For example, in germany for many years all sorts of groups have claimed that two or three. Europe in the aftermath of world war ii by keith lowe. Germany had suffered heavy losses during the war, both in lives and industrial power. Decades after nazi armies began their march of conquest and genocide, the german children of the war. They dont know where or when, but the germans know itll be soon, and for felicity flick clairet, the. One issue confronting the united states, britain and soviet russia after world war ii was how to manage with post war germany. The 10 best books about poland during world war ii. This collection of special studies in twentiethcentury german and world history illuminates the nature of. This post on world war ii books is sponsored by libby. Catastrophe and identity in postwar german literature. Germany was stripped of its war gains and lost territories in the east to poland and the soviet union.
Germany, hitler, and world war ii essays in modern german and world history. A vivid and compelling account of germanys postwar years debunks many. On average 27,000 people were killed each day between september 1, 1939, until the formal surrender of japan on september 2, 1945. Decades after nazi armies began their march of conquest and genocide, the german children of the war have begun to confront their parents.
Sparked by the 1939 nazi invasion of poland, the war dragged on for six bloody years until the allies. Jan 23, 2018 a new book has gathered the memories of kriegskinder, next to portraits of them as they are now. One of the most gruesome wars of all time, world war 2 is best known for the bombing of hiroshima and nagasaki by the united states and the holocaust the genocide of six million european jews by nazi germany. However, germany was divided up into eastern and western germany. The physical devastation from allied bombing campaigns and from ground battles was enormous. Us soldiers give sweets to children in berlin, a city starved and ravaged by war. Army in world war iihighlights the major ground force campaigns during the six years of the war, offers suggestions for further reading, and provides americans an opportunity to learn about the armys role in world war ii. An incredible true story of combat and chivalry in the war torn skies of world war ii if i could only own one book about the war it would be that one. Author talks about postworld war ii era a recently published book contradicts what we have come to believe about the end of world war ii. At the end of his book, the second world war, john keegan offers a list of 50 books in english that together provide a comprehensive picture of the most important events and themes of the war, which are readable and from which the general reader can derive his own picture of the war as a. I really dont know much about books for that period but id like to impart some. Judts book is a comprehensive history of the whole of europe from 1945.
I just finished reading cornelius ryans classic book the last battle, focusing on the battle of berlin and the end of world war ii in the european theater. At the end of the war, there were some eight million foreign displaced persons in germany. Ballantines illustrated history of world war ii the. The main combatants were the axis powers germany, italy, and japan and the allies france, great britain, the united states, the soviet union, and china. Interesting list, there are a number here ive been wanting to read, and a few i hadnt heard of which look interesting. How books became a critical part of the fight to win world. The post world war ii occupation of germany was a huge and diverse undertaking spanning almost eleven years, conducted in conjunction with three other members of the wartime alliance and involving in various degrees a number of us governmental departments and agencies. Many of the countries in the west returned to the same governments and borders they had prior to the war. Discover librarianselected research resources on postwar germany from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. Weapons book book series by multiple authors includes books uboat the secret menance ballantines illustrated history of world war ii, panzer division, me109, and several more. He also discusses the background of the war, including the rise of nazism in postworld war i germany, and the formation of alliances with italy and. History of united states naval operations in world war ii, volume 4 history of united. The german state had ceased to exist, and sovereign authority passed to the victorious allied powers. After the reich had its moments of great interest as it recounted the chaotic, brutal, and bloody aftermath of world war 2 in germany.
His volume debates how the war began, and by refusing to blame germany and instead blaming all of europehas been accused of bias. World war ii was the biggest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. German contextand for his measured reconsideration of the rumkowski tragedy. Five books on world war i history smithsonian magazine. What are some good books of world war 2 from a german. A leading authority on 20thcentury germany combines scholarship and readability in this analysis of year zero, the turning point in the history of the german people. The way that the book pulls together social history and cultural history, in particular, is the most distinctive thing about it.
From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written. From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written each year, seemingly dozens of new titles emerge to offer fresh perspectives and uncover. In november, germany signed a treaty with poland recognizing polands western boundary and renouncing german claims to territory lost because of world war ii. After the defeat of nazi germany in world war ii, germany was divided between the two global blocs in the east and west, a period known as the division of germany. The shocking history of the brutal occupation of germany after the second world. Free ebooks, world war ii, military history, nook books. The video shows a devastated germany and its clean up. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The nazis and their allies were bad and they did evil things. Germany had occupied much of europe during world war ii. Apr 04, 2011 the nazis hatched plans for a fourth reich by planting sleeper cells in postwar europe to destabilise governments, secret mi5 files show.
World war ii 19391945 quiz that tests what you know. It was the bloodiest conflict, as well as the largest war, in history. This video is about the four victors of the war in europe occupying germany. We have rarely felt sorry for what the germans suffered at the end of world war ii, in part because the germans have done a superb job of. Perfect prep for world war ii 19391945 quizzes and tests you might have in school. Rising to power in an unstable germany, adolf hitler and his national socialist nazi.
Mar 01, 2016 this powerful documentary from 2005 explores the condition of germany when the fighting stopped in 1945 and the subsequent four years of occupation and reconstruction. The eastern part was controlled by the ussr russia and the western part by the allies. Which event is generally considered to be the first belligerent act of world war ii. The most transformative conflict in history, world war ii impacted the entire globe and set the stage for the cold war. In small towns all over europe, cheering crowds greeted.
With the defeat of germany and japan, their plans were put into action. What was the reason that germany was epicentre of both the world wars. I am a 48 year old german, born in 1968 and raised in the southern part of the free state of bavaria. The carnage of world war ii was unprecedented and brought the world closest to the term total warfare. Check out the 10 most consequential events of world war ii and 15 good books about the holocaust, including both fiction and nonfiction. The best historical fiction books about world war ii you. Set in 1962 after nazi germany and japan won world war ii in 1948. Experts claim world war ii book is full of madeup quotes. Popular post war germany books goodreads share book. However, there were times where it deviated from its focus. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The second world war, especially in the light of what came after, seems to be the last morally unambiguous war.
In the 1950s and 60s about 786,000 germans immigrated to the united states. I will provide a description of germany at the finish of world war ii which will demonstrate why many people chose to immigrate to countries such as. Britains commonwealth, including australia, new zealand and canada, joined in the war, but the united states and the soviet union at first remained neutral. How books became a critical part of the fight to win world war ii. It gives you a good sense of the whole war, including the peace settlement at versailles.
The 17 best books on world war i of 2020 thoughtco. In 1921 these reparations were set at 269 billion marks, or roughly 32 billion dollarsa staggering sum. The vast majority of the worlds countriesincluding all the great powerseventually formed two opposing military alliances. I would suggest the secret army, which is a littleknown but fascinating firsthand account of the activities of the polish home army by its leader after the government fled the country, including daytoday details of the warsaw uprising. Germany was a recipient of marshall plan aid, and the allies organized the west berlin airlift to supply the city with food when the soviets cut off landbase supplies. Perhaps you could describe for us continental europe in the months and years immediately after ve day in may 1945, the date when hostilities officially ended. You might also be interested in my post, 5 top nonfiction books about world war ii plus many runnersup and 20 most enlightening historical novels plus dozens of runnersup. Oct 14, 2016 the war in europe began in september 1939 when nazi germany, under adolf hitler, invaded poland. The reconstruction of germany after world war ii was a long process. Experts claim topselling world war ii book is filled with madeup quotes. List of books and articles about postwar germany online research. In september 1939, german armies invaded poland and france and britain declared war on germany.
This book is, i think, the best single volume book on the british home front in the first world war. Its very convenient to think of wars as having neat beginnings and endings but thats rarely the case, especially world war ii. Shop history military world war ii books at alibris. List of books and articles about postwar germany online. People love to read about one of the worst events in history. Some economists argued against such a big bill, and predicted that it would take germany until 1988 to pay it. By examining the effects of world war ii, its leaders, its problems, and.