The Hidden Places of World War II is described as taking the reader to forgotten or overlooked sites where WWII history was made. Included are such places as the U-boat bases along the Bay of Biscay; how the USAAF air bases were constructed in east England and what they entailed; Trent Park, where the British eavesdropped on captured German generals; the Cabinet War Rooms where Churchill directed the war; Bletchley Park, where the code breakers won the war.
Many of these places are familiar to students of WWII, but there are surprises. The Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth famously brought thousands of American troops to Europe. Overlooked is that the British needed American troop transports, and ships were taken from the United States Line. The SS America, launched the day before the war began, became the USS Westpoint and moved personnel throughout the war.
Chapters can stand alone, and there is some repetition between them. There is a recital of Schweinfurt, Big Week, Black Sunday, and Germany’s ability to quickly produce at near-normal capacity after a bombing. There’s a brief bio of Jimmy Stewart’s war service, and a discussion of General McAuliffe’s reply of “Nuts” to the German demand for the surrender of Bastogne. Lots of figures for the present-day strengths of the militaries of the US, Russia, England, Germany, and China.
There’s a lot of interest here, and a lot that I breezed through.

4 stars!

An intriguing look at WWII and with unique stories.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

The author's painstaking research and attention to detail is obvious in the writing of this book. There were many facts that I only discovered after reading this!

I am a Holocaust Researcher and WW II buff and did not know about many of these places, several at which you can still visit. Excellent book. Informative and written in a very interesting way.