My thanks to NetGalley Grove Atlantic-Atlantic Monthly Press for an advance copy of this book that looks at the final year of the Second World War focusing on how the Axis powers dealt with their coming defeat, and how a select few planned for a new world order, escaping the blame for their actions.

Success has may fathers, but failure is an orphan. This is attributed to President John F. Kennedy after the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. This can also be said about victory in many ways. For one to be victorious, one has to defeat someone else. I have always found the history of defeats interesting. Maybe it is my nature of only being happy when it rains. One can learn much from defeat. Who to trust, how to lead, how to gain information, and even more when to lay the cards down. Though for the Axis powers during the Second World War, defeat was unthinkable, impossible, and improbable. Until it was. Victory '45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders by historians authors and podcasters James Holland and Al Murray is a look at the various surrenders that gave the Allies their victory in both Europe and in Japan, where once thought unstoppable war machines ground to a halt, in a mess of exhaustion, finger pointing, and bad decisions.

The book begins with a meeting between Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt discussing the post-war world, something that was becoming a distinct possibility. The idea of what to do with the enemy countries was discussed, as was the taste of the last surrender of enemy forces, this being French Vichy forces, friendly to Germany to General Eisenhower. This was not a possible decision, and one that made the freedom talking Americans look not only foolish, but willing to do anything for victory, even deal with enemies. So the idea of unconditional surrender was floated, and approved. This gave strength to the Axis, knowing that they had no choice to fight, Japan especially, with the idea of even a negotiated surrender not even an option. The book than focuses on the last days of Hitler in the bunker, Italy and finally Japan. The Hitler bunker was a miserable moldy smelling place, home of a leader who had no idea things were as bad as they were, surrounded by true believers and others hoping to get away. Italy was under control of the German SS, with their own ideas of surrender. Japan had thoughts of mobilizing the entire nation, as the idea of surrendering the Emperor was something not even contemptible. All had plotters and schemers trying to either get freedom or power, or trying to negotiate their own separate peaces, as the Allied forces closed in.

An interesting look at the end of the war, with a lot of information and a good sense of pacing and narrative style. The two men host a podcast about history, We Have Ways of Making You Talk, and much I assume has been discussed on their show. The chapters are all well-written and very interesting. I enjoyed the fact that so many people knew the end was coming, and were trying to get out, but their leaders were lost in their own world. The writers have a good grasp, and make these characters what they were, scared people in many ways hoping for a miracle. Though there were a few who would have loved a death with meaning. The book looks at the events up to the end, as well as what came after, the punishments, the appeasements, and in some cases, the allowing of certain crimes to just be forgotten.

This is a good book for people just learning about history, or who want to know how many Fascist governments end. Full of finger pointing, blaming others and usually a lot of suicides. Nothing to envy, nothing to look up to. Just defeated men, with old ideas, tired ways who would rather look back in destruction, than look forward and grow. I look forward to the authors next book.

Holland, does an admirable job of setting the stage for the final months of the Second World War in both Europe and the Pacific. That sounds so antiseptic and benign like this was not a war to defeat evil that had come upon the Earth of such a grand scale as to become the benchmark for all future evils. The cost was high and Holland does an excellent job of humanizing that cost.

I really enjoyed the varying perspectives shared in this book. In most histories of the war the process of surrendering is quickly addressed without the nuts and bolts of how it happened. This book presents that process in a very well researched description.

Victory '45 tells the story of the last days of World War II in eight surrenders. James Holland and Al Murray focus not only on the big picture but on the human drama behind each event. A riveting way to communicate what it must have been like to be there. Highly recommended!

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I requested this as I really enjoy Al Murray

This is really entertaining and informative

Love the writing style - it is very accessible

I feel I have learned so much

Highly recommend

As a fan of the “We Have Ways of Making you Talk” podcast, I was so excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. This collaboration explores, with depth and careful research, the end of WWII and is a magnificent addition to the resources already available on an admittedly popular topic for historical exploration. Fresh analysis is supported by extensive research and the contribution of both authors works really well to give a broad perspective on the topics included. Absolutely loved it and read it in a sitting!