Thanks to Net Galley, the author and publisher for send me a free advanced copy of a digital version to Victor Davis Hanson’s “ The Second World Wars”.
Mr Hanson’s plan for this book it in the title: Wars, not War. The vast conflagrations that overspread the world from 1939 to 1945 was comprised of many wars in one. His devotes different sections of his book to them in sections about the war in the air , on, and under, the sea and of course, the ground war. The book is unlike most military histories in that it is not full of minute description of battle or biographies of commanders, or even of political/ diplomatic maneuvering. It does concern itself with a lordly overview of grand strategies. In the air, the Allie’s used air power to destroy and degrade the enemy infrastructure with the purpose of preparing the ground for invasion. On the sea, it was to insure the Allie s open supply lines for men and material, while denying such to the enemy. On the ground it was to attack and destroy the evil of totalitarian empires whose vicious political philosophies spread death.
Generally the book is a pleasure to read. MrHanson is a clear, direct writer; his opinions are incisive and well founded , though frequently controversial. It is a long book, and sometimes heavy going. The author repeats himself in some chapters as he hammers himself his point of view. It a history that deserves a place in a student of warfare and WW2 in particular.
My copy, as an ARC, did not contain the maps and photos that would be in the print versions

This was an interesting read, it is well done and a different take on the history of WWII and the history of wars leading up to WWII. I will admit this book is a lot to take in and takes a while to get through, I enjoyed reading through it, but I had to take it is small chunks to get through it all.

That said it is full of history and information and is a take on the global conflict that I haven't read anything about before. This is well worth the read and will get you thinking. I learned a lot from this book and came across a lot of things that I hadn't heard of before.

Well done, very interesting and informative.

5 Stars

Great analysis in the historical facts of the 2nd world war. Must read for history buffs. This will be a challenge read for those who starting to read history since the book is not arranged based on chronology. You need to know the facts already to appreciate it.

Victor Davis Hanson's "The Second World Wars" is a must-read for history buffs. It is a thorough, comprehensive review from a strategic perspective of the armed forces of the major powers that fought the war, the turning points, and the results. It is an enormous book and reading it may be a daunting task for the casual reader.

Ultimately, Hanson concludes that the resources and industrialization of the Big Three, the USA, The Soviet Union, and Great Britain was so vast that, when their full resources were brought to bear, the outcome had to be only victory for the allies. Hanson further laments that the world war that cost in excess of sixty million lives was preventable and that the West's years of appeasement to the Third Reich and the Japanese Imperium and their failure to demonstrate strength in will or in military buildup convinced both the Nazis and the Japanese that the Western powers would not act or could easily be intimidated.

Soviet perfidy in the form of Stalin's secret non-aggression pacts played a huge role in giving the Axis powers free reign to invade -- at least until Hitler turned on the Soviets, beginning the largest and deadliest land campaign in all of history. Without an Eastern front in early 1940, the Germans were free to blitzkreig or surprise attack a bevy of smaller neighboring states. Also, the French collapse in a matter of weeks was so stunning that it gave the Germans a false sense of confidence that allowed them to take on the Soviets even though Britain still stood free in the West. The focus on Operation Barbarossa is fascinating because of how large the distances involved, the millions of troops involved, and the Soviet decision to retreat 1,000 miles and stretch the German supply lines to breaking.

And, as Hanson relates, the ultimate turning point and strategic mistake of the Axis powers to awaken the sleeping giant, America, by an unnecessary sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and the German declaration of war on the USA. Stunningly, the US almost overnight turned from a tiny military to millions of troops, aircraft carriers, tanks, and planes. With its industrial heartland safe from invasion across vast oceans, the output of a now wide awake USA knew no equals. Thus, the US could simultaneously fight two fronts half a world apart.

Every page is fascinating for those who are interested in military capabilities and strategy. A long book to read, but worth it.

Having read... I don't know, probably hundreds of World War Two books over the decades, I sometimes wonder if I'll reach a point where I really can't take one more recitation of the same basic story? Maybe I will - but not yet. One of the most fascinating books on the subject that I've read in a long time, the journey from theater to theater is a terrific device, and Hanson's framing of each is spot on. Maybe you won't agree with all of his conclusions, but there's plenty to think about either way.

This was an extremely well researched and well written book about World War II. The author really zeroed in on the numerous causes of it and his passion for the subject came across in his writing. This is a long read, but it is a very informative one that any historical buff will enjoy.

The author has done an amazing job researching and presenting this story, The author has been well versed in all aspects of the Second World War. I love how you can read about a variety of combat. I have a master's in Military History - and I enjoyed reading this book. Highly Recommended for any history buff

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this story.

An interesting look at the social,and political aspects that led to World War 2 as well as determined the decisions made by the various governments during the war. The author did a good job of explaining the how and why in an easily understood manner. The book is worthwhile for those who want the background story and the inside look rather than the details of battles fought.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.