The War in the West: A New History Volume 2, . the Allies Fight Back 1941-43

732 Pages·2017·6.25 MB·English

by  James Holland

ABOUT THE BOOK
In the second volume of his acclaimed new history of the Second World War,
James Holland examines the momentous turning points of 1941–1943: Hitler’s
invasion of Russia; America’s entry into the conflict; the devastating Thousand
Bomber Raids over Germany; the long struggle in the deserts of North Africa;
and the defeat of the U-boats in the crucial Battle of the Atlantic.
As in his first volume, Germany Ascendant, he interweaves his account of the
well-known events of the period with the personal stories of individuals caught
up in them – on all sides. Through interviews, letters, diaries and reports, he
allows us to see the war not just from the perspective of politicians, military
commanders and strategists, but also through the eyes of civilians bombed out of
their homes, resistance members stranded in the frozen Norwegian winter,
sailors risking their lives in the Atlantic convoys, German aces striving for
supremacy in the air, and ordinary soldiers battling for survival in the scorching
sands of Libya.
Crucially he also goes behind the scenes to show us the all-important
‘machinery’ of war: the manufacturing, farming and vital supply lines that
underpinned the entire conflict and ultimately determined its course.
Combining his own research with only recently accessible archive material,
Holland looks afresh at this cataclysmic conflict, reassessing long-held views
and challenging conventional assumptions. The result is groundbreaking history
that redefines the war in the West and makes us think again about the events that
shaped our modern world.
Contents
Cover
About the Book
Title Page
Dedication
List of Maps and Diagrams
List of Principal Characters Featured
Note on the Text
Introduction
Part I: America Enters the War
1 The Largest Clash of Arms
2 Manoeuvring
3 Summer ’41
4 The US Navy Goes to War
5 The Sinking of the Reuben James
6 Crusaders
7 Unravelling
8 World War
Part II: Eastern Influences
9 Battles at Sea
10 Strategic Blunders
11 Carnage Off America
12 Fighters and Bombers
13 Steel and Strategy
14 Seeds of Resistance
15 Heat and Dust
16 Into the Cauldron
17 Combined Production
18 The Fall of Tobruk
19 Sea and Sand
20 Thousand Bomber Raid
21 Sea and Steppe
22 Gathering Strength
23 Last Chance in Africa
24 The End of the German Dream
Part III: The Allies Strike Back
25 A Brief Discourse on Tanks and Fire-power
26 A Brief Discourse on Training and Morale
27 Return of the Hero
28 Getting Ready
29 The Vicious Circle
30 Lighting the Torch
31 Lightfoot
32 Supercharge
33 Cutting Losses
34 Invasion
Part IV: Crushing the Wolfpacks
35 The Blackest Month
36 Setbacks
37 Year End
38 The Critical Theatre
39 Living Dangerously
40 Frühlingswind
41 Heavy Water
42 Regaining the Initiative
43 Into the Gap
44 Closing In
45 Victory for the Allies
Picture Section
Glossary
Appendices
Timeline
Notes
Selected Sources
Acknowledgements
Picture Acknowledgements
Index
About the Author
Also by James Holland
Copyright

For Ned
List of Maps and Diagrams
Mediterranean and Middle East, 1939
Germany at the Beginning of 1942
Tunisia
Luftwaffe Day-and Night-fighter Airfields and Air Defence
Arctic Convoy Routes
Principal Atlantic Convoy Routes, 1941–1943
ASDIC and Hedgehog
Types of Merchant Vessels
U-Boat Type VIIC
Operation BARBAROSSA, 1941
Gazala, 27 May 1942
The Pursuit by the Panzerarmee, January–June 1942
Case BLUE: the German Offensive in the Caucasus, June–November 1942
SAS Raids
Battle of Alam Halfa, 31 August 1942
Eve of El Alamein, 23 October 1942
Operation LIGHTFOOT: El Alamein, Dawn, 24 October 1942
Operation TORCH, 8–10 November 1942
Battle of the Atlantic, August 1942–May 1943
Kasserine, 14–22 February 1943
The End in Tunisia, April–May 1943
The Atlantic, May 1943