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Name: World War II: A New History - Mawdsley, Evan | 9780521608435 | Amazon.com.au | Books
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Rating: 4.5 (132 reviews)

Evan Mawdsley

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World War II: A New History Paperback – 3 September 2009

by Evan Mawdsley (Author)

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Cambridge World War II : A New History Book - Paperback - 30-Apr-20
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This book is a magisterial global history of World War II. Beginning in 1937 with the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, Evan Mawdsley shows how the origins of World War II lay in a conflict between the old international order and the new and then traces the globalisation of the conflict as it swept through Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. His primary focus is on the war's military and strategic history though he also examines the political, economic, ideological, and cultural factors which influenced the course of events. The war's consequences are examined too, not only in terms of the defeat of the Axis but also the break-up of colonial empires and the beginning of the Cold War. Accessibly written and well-illustrated with maps and photographs, this compelling new account also includes short studies of the key figures, events and battles that shaped the war.

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ISBN-10

0521608430
ISBN-13

978-0521608435
Edition

1st
Publisher

Cambridge University Press
Publication date

3 September 2009
Language

English
Dimensions

17.4 x 2.87 x 24.69 cm
Print length

498 pages
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Review

'This objective account of grand strategy of victors and losers in WWII is a direct hit. What emerges is an original thesis, a new insight into the complicated story of the global conflict between 1937 and 1945: factually reliable, cogently argued and concisely written. Magnificent … A new Weinberg is born.' Jürgen Förster, University of Freiburg

'Mawdsley's comprehensive command of sources, his perceptive analysis, and his vivid presentation make this especially valuable for undergraduates studying the Second World War and military history in general.' Dennis Showalter, Colorado College and author of Hitler's Panzers

'Evan Mawdsley's new single-volume history of World War II, arguably the Twentieth Century's most terrible war, sets a new standard for scholarship in this vital field. Exploiting an imposing array of fresh archival materials and synthesizing a multitude of recent studies on the subject, Mawdsley redefines the war's basic parameters by including the conflict's oft-neglected but vitally important eastern European and Asiatic dimensions. By doing so he combats the parochialism so pervasive in previous national perspectives on the war and produces a uniquely balanced assessment of the war's multiple theaters and fronts. These qualities ensure that Mawdsley's World War II will likely remain the finest single-volume history of the war for years to come.' David M. Glantz, The Citadel (Military College of South Carolina)

'Beginning in 1937 and not in 1939, and focusing on Asia as much as Europe, World War II sets its subject in its proper global and chronological context. Its prose is straightforward and direct, with a clarity that rests on sophisticated arguments and deep reading. Such balance makes it an ideal introductory text, but it is one from which even knowledgeable readers will learn.' Hew Strachan, University of Oxford

'To write a concise book about the biggest war in world history is no small task, but Evan Mawdsley has done it with masterful skill and insight. He casts a fresh light on the war. … What makes this a must-buy for anyone interested in the subject is the beautifully produced maps, illustrations and the fifty-seven short boxes on topics ranging from 'General Ludendorff and total war' to 'The Katyn massacre'. This is a superb read for students and general readers alike, but also an authoritative work of reference.' BBC History Magazine

'It is a rare textbook that is both cutting edge and new: the book proves that we need to place the start of the Second World War in East Asia in 1937, rather than Europe in 1939 or Russia and Pearl Harbour in 1941. It changes how we write history.' The Times Higher Education Supplement

'Fresh, insightful judgements and well-judged overall balance make this a masterful book. Its effectiveness is enhanced by the use of side panels that convey important factual information about the tools of war … without interrupting the flow of the narrative. In every respect - conception, design, construction and delivery - this is a book that really works.' John Gooch, War in History

Book Description

This book is a global history of the Second World War.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (3 September 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 498 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521608430
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521608435
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17.4 x 2.87 x 24.69 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 410,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 695 in Military History Textbooks
- 7,770 in World War II History (Books)

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sarah whalan

Wonderful Present

Reviewed in Australia on 8 January 2024

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Gave this to my Dad as a Christmas Present. He loved it!
He cant wait to read it as he has heard about the author before

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Alyssa Palos

A very informative book

Reviewed in Canada on 18 July 2020

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I love this book so much that I want to reread this book in my spare time after my summer classes. This book gave me insight into when did World War II start. Not just only that, this book gave me a lot of information that I needed for my World War II course.

One person found this helpful

StanS

a well written book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 February 2021

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Thoroughly engrossing, I could hardly stop reading it. This book covered everything I knew about WW11 and some things I didn't. Very well written

Igor Biryukov

Rightly or wrongly, wars make for better reading than peace does.

Reviewed in the United States on 13 August 2012

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A British historian Evan Mawdsley is no Macaulay, but his new account of the the Second World War is refreshing. He wrote a neat book which should receive attention as the first non-Eurocentric single-volume history of the War. Every ten years or so, a good tome on the Second World War comes out. One might think of "A War To Be Won" by Murray and Millett or "The Second World War" by John Keegan, or "History of the Second World War" by Sir Basil Liddell Hart. I think Evan Mawdsley's book belongs to the same class of books. His book is a solid "Grand Strategic" narrative. He focuses more on the geo-political and geo-strategic dimensions, rather than details and descriptions of battles. He has big and controversial ideas. Most importantly, it asks questions -- for example: "When did the World War II begin? or "What was the war about?" which seem like simple questions, until you start thinking about it.

One of his central ideas is that the Second World War started in July 1937. It is an interesting idea with which I disagree. He refers, of course, to the Marco Polo Bridge incident in July 1937 when the Japanese Kwantung Army units near Beijing were fired upon by the Chinese National Revolutionary Army. The incident was small, but by the end of July 1937 there was a full scale war between the Chinese and the Japanese. I think the author is wrong here. Why? Well, one can start by asking a simple question: "What the Japanese Army was doing in China in 1937?" Japan throughout the 1930s was aspiring to take first China and then the whole of the Far East, as they call it The Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. We can go back to the Mukden Incident -- a staged event engineered by Japanese military personnel as a pretext for invading the northern part of China known as Manchuria in 1931. One can go even more back in time, perhaps to the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 or Mongol conquests: opportunities are endless.

He makes some controversial claims concerning Hitler's invasion in Russia. Why did Germany invade Russia in June 1941? According to Mawdsley, "the German high command did not have a better route out of its strategic impasse. Britain had not surrendered, and its forces were recovering from the disaster in Flanders. However negatively the Germans assessed the USSR, the Red Army could be expected to grow stronger over time. Although for the moment Russia willingly provided the Reich with necessary resources, Stalin could cut the flow at any time. [here comes the kicker] Not attacking the USSR was in reality as dangerous an option as operation BARBAROSSA. " I think Mawdsley is on the wrong track here resurrecting these old moth-eaten ideas of pre-emptive war. These "reasons" resemble false and confusing justifications Hitler himself offered to the perplexed Germans. After talking fearsomely of Russia's strength, Hitler finally justified the invasion by announcing her weakness.

I rather disagree with "strategic impasse". Germany was led by an inevitable and fatal logic to desire first a peaceful and then a warlike mastery of Europe. Anglo-Soviet accord would have been the only way to counter that threat. But the alliance didn't take place [let's not forget that Soviet attempts to form an anti-Fascist alliance were continually rebuffed until Stalin saw the only way forward - a non-aggression pact with Germany]. In this Hitler saw the opportunity to attack Russia. He went to war gladly because he thought he could easily win it.

If Britain wanted to keep Russia out of Europe, Hitler wanted to destroy it to gain Lebensraum. The western politicians, except Churchill, probably wouldn't mind if he did. But Hitler didn't know Russia at all, he didn't know it would be a tough opponent. Hitler had crackpot geopolitical ideas which were a fusion between vulgar version of Mackinder, the "Drang nach Osten", and the racial superiority. This compote was rubbish and Hitler passionately believed in the rubbish which filled head. However the German drive to Mastery of Europe was real and serious. Mawdsley's alleged German "strategic impasse" could only be true in a British-centric world, in which Hitler's main goal was to come to terms with Great Britain. I don't see it. As far as "danger of not attacking the USSR", Hitler by the end of June 1940 had a more complete domination of Europe than Napoleon ever had and at a trivial expenditure of men and munitions. He wasn't in danger at all. I disagree with the author on key issues, but I still think this is a darn good history. The book is a thought-provoking and vivid account. I recommend it.

34 people found this helpful

Irving

An interesting read.

Reviewed in the United States on 4 September 2021

Verified Purchase

Had to use this book as a textbook for my college WWII history class. It actually had an interesting insight into the war and I enjoyed studying it... surprisingly.

2 people found this helpful

Derek D

Enjoyable read, good knowledge

Reviewed in Canada on 2 September 2021

Verified Purchase

Found this book was great knowledge of WWII. Used it with a university course.

One person found this helpful

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