A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World War

Rating:
Summary: Best Summary Military History
Review: As a one volumn summary of the fighting of WWII, this book has no equals, far surpassing John Keegan's popular history of the war. The discriptions of the campaigns and battles are clear and the evaluations and conclusions are well reasoned although occasionally controversial. The authors, correctly in my opinion, conclude that Bradley was hardly a "GI's general" as he is usually discribed. Most important, they suggest that Montgomery may have intentially failed to clear the approaches to Antwerp so that there would be only enough fuel for his army to advance. If true, he should have been shot for treason.

One reader compared this book favorably to A World at Arms. This I think is not quite correct. The latter book is a political/economic analysis, and it has no peer. I expect it will be in print, in 2100 C.E. It is not a military history and not comparable to this book. Buy both!

Rating:
Summary: A little too in depth
Review: I don't have the historical background that some others who have written reviews do, but I am fairly well versed in WWII history and at times this book seemed to worry too much about whose unit did what. I understand the major players both politically and militarily and appreciate the book identifying who was in command of certain armies and whatnot, but it gets a little bogged down when the author says it was the 82nd regiment of the third army in wherever. Again, I know that is important to military buffs, but to the average reader it makes it hard to follow. Especially when multiple units from both sides are being listed and then it says how they moved across what terrain and whatnot. The author could have made it a little easier to understand with a few fewer details and I think the gist of the story would have been stronger and easier to understand.

One thing I did like about the book was the way in which it covered the war as two separate theaters. I also liked the fact that it covered the aspects of the war in sections. It would have been WAY too difficult to follow if naval campaigns were tied in with air campaigns and land campaigns just for the sake of chronological awareness.

The big question I had the whole way through by the way was, who did a good job strategically during this war. It seemed like every move made could have been better according to the author. The bombing campaign crippled Germany at the cost of a lot of personnel and equipment true, but it did really effect the outcome. And, the battle for the Phillipines was an Allied victory, but in this book it was portrayed as almost a victory that wasn't worth the cost. To me, the authors editorialized things a bit much.

It did help to describe some of the generals and major military leaders, although I noticed Patton got a better review than I had read before. And, Omar Bradley wasn't as well thought of as I read in other books. Also Halsey wasn't as revered. I knew McArthur would get slammed though and probably rightfully so although a career Army guy might say otherwise.

This book was good, but if you are worried about a less detailed, more political view of WWII there are probably better choices.

Rating:
Summary: A Fact-Packed, Well-Written Overview of World War Two
Review: I enjoyed reading this book, which is a bit off-putting due to its size and breadth. As long as one has a bit of time on his or her hands, this is a useful and entertaining way to spend some quality time with yourself in the company of two excellent history writers. The book has an amazing scope, and like Gerhard Weinberg's "A World At Arms" has a mammoth and daunting job at hand to describe the total scope and kaleidoscope of activities contained under the rubric of the second world war.

The authors here are much more forthcoming than was Weinhard in discussing specific battlefield details of particular engagements, and this adds to the book's considerable value and readability to history buffs like myself. I enjoy their liberal employment of relevant economic, technological, geographical and other factors in describing the whos, hows, whens, wheres and whys of specific struggles as well as in describing the nature of the overall socio-political aspects of the war. So, when they subsequently launch into discussing their uniquely constructed "standards of military effectiveness", they add to its value by buttressing their findings with a wealth of different kinds of supporting data, information, and background that makes the total overview of the war much more understandable than it would be otherwise.

The book does suffer from some minor drawbacks, such as the authors' obvious quarrel with the contributions and strategies of Douglas MacArthur, yet they are also suitably fastidious in pointing out his many contributions and effective tactics as well. This drawback is counterbalanced by an outstanding treatment covering the Nazi campaign against Russia, and the day to day details crammed into describing the ill-fated and terribly over-extended German occupation and troubles in Operation Barbarossa and in the subsequent crushing defeats at the hands of the Russian armies is worth the price of the book alone.

In summary, I also believe their well-argued and documented take on the importance and lasting influence of the second world war is crucial in understanding all that followed in the balance of the 20th century to be well taken, and to be beyond reasonable dispute. In some respects (Such as level of detail regarding specific engagements) this is a better book than Weinberg's, and on other levels it falls short of his monumental work. Combined, the two books offer one an astounding and quite rich look at a war that we are just starting to appreciate in all of its amazing scope, ferocity, and consequence. This book should be required reading for anyone considering a career in 20th century history, or for all of us history nuts who just can't get enough of a great thing. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Overview of the War
Review: Murray and Millet come at this overview from an American viewpoint. While they seem to make efforts to maintain an unbiased telling of the story, it becomes obvious that they have definite opinions. This is not a bad thing, just worth keeping in mind while reading. The overview maintains a reasonable chronology of events while hopping back and forth between the Western, Russian and Pacific theaters.

One thing that sets this discussion of the war somewhat above the others I have read is the authors' analysis of many of the major characters both military and political in all of the theaters. They do not limit themselves to a mere telling of the list of events; they delve into the motivations of the various players. Definitely an intersting read. P-)

Rating:
Summary: The Allies Really Did Have to Win World War II
Review: The collection of countries that later formed the charter members of the United Nations enjoyed overwhelming force against Germany, Italy, and Japan, so the "Axis" never had a chance to win their war of global aggression, right? Wrong, according to Williamson Murray and Allan Millett in "A War to Be Won."

The long odds against an Axis victory didn't mean that it couldn't happen. For about a year (June 1940-June 1941), Germany and Japan seemed unstoppable. The fact that they were eventually halted required considerable sacrifices of "blood, sweat, toil, and tears," to use Winston Churchill's memorable phrase. And as related in Chapter 14 "The Killing Time," the bulk of the killing took place after the Axis had been theoretically defeated at Midway, El Alamein, Stalingrad, and elsewhere. In the end, the Allies won World War II because they adequately defined and met their operational objectives. The Axis, after initial success, did not. Murray and Millet do a great job of spelling out how it all happened.

This book as been criticized elsewhere as being "Eurocentric" but the authors do a better job than most of bringing balance to their view of the war. For instance, six out of twenty chapters (30%) are devoted to the Pacific War. They spend another four chapters (two at the beginning, two at the end), analyzing the causes and consequences of the war. The remainder of the book is an even-handed discussion of the fighting in the Europen Theater of Operations (ETO). Although these campaigns are included, there is no celebration of American victories in North Africa, Italy, and Normandy, only a discussion of grim necessity.

One word of disclosure: I can be considered a fan of Dr. Murray's, having taken and "aced" his military history course at Yale in the fall of 1976. I have, however, never met Professor Millett, and am judging his contribution as a stranger.

Rating:
Summary: OUTSTANDING, must read for WW II Grand Strategy
Review: This book is not for the casual WW II reader. It is densly written and immediatly delves into the details. Murray is one of my favorite Second World War strategy authors. The book basically delves into why the Axis powers failed to win the war. The thesis of this book is fascinating and I agree with it. It essentially puts forth why the political mechanisms behind the Axis powers prevented them from ever matching the Allies's Grand Strategy. Because the Axis powers economies and military strategy became so politicized, it became impossible for them to fight a practical war. The book is an entire history (operational ) of the Second World War. The book delves into the details about the conduct of the war and draws some fascinating conclusions. Excellent book, very heavy reading though.

Rating:
Summary: Word War II: How Militarily Effective were the antagonists?
Review: This excellent book continues the approach to warfare taken by the authors in their outstanding three-volume edited series: "Military Effectiveness" published about a decade ago. That book looked at the First World War and the Second World War (including the interwar period) from the standpoint of each participating nation. It set up the standard of "military effectiveness", taken at the levels of grand strategy/national policy (to include industrial and economic preparation) strategy (operational war plans) and battlefield performance (operational or theater level of war and tactics of divisions to brigades). They have applied this thorough and enlightening analysis to the present volume. This focus makes for an excellent "operational history" of the war. The emphasis is on the work of armies, corps and divisions in theater-level operations, as opposed to the tales of derring-do at the company or platoon level. However, one gets a good sense of the plight of the men at the point of contact. The field commanders are thoroughly and fairly assessed. Montgomery, for example, is given his due as a great planner and a great leader of men, but a testy martinet when it came to inter-allied coordination. I would say that our British cousins would not find any Monty-bashing here. Rommel likewise is fairly handled. Guderian's halo is removed;his role as a "good Nazi" does not detract from his reputation as a hard-charger, but his brashness in dealing with his colleagues in other units is brought out.

Throughout, there is a constant interplay between the pre-war plans and preparations with the results of each operation. National temperament and command styles are neatly summarized.

There is no waste of words. The text is gripping, concise and lively. There are no anecdotal asides --- one gets the impression that these two are writing from accumulated expertise over a long period rather than from note cards with colorful "filler" spliced in-- a fault of too many World War II books of late.

Appendices on military organization, weapons systems, the art of war and the documentary sources are mini-encyclopedia in themselves.

This book is indeed the definitive book on how the "war to be won" was, in fact, won by the allies and lost by the Axis.

Highly recommended for both the knowledgeable buff and the novice.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliance in One Volume
Review: This is one brilliantly written book. It is difficult to think of World War II without using words like mammoth, horrific, casualties, convoluted, sacrifice and bravery ... to describe the events that shook the world to its core. But Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millett's book, "A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World War" comes as close to describing the events that will dominate our memory for generations to come.

"A War to Be Won" is a bit too complex for the beginner, but for the more studious and scholarly reader of World War II literature, this book is a treasure trove of knowledge. World War II was the greatest and most complex undertaking in all of human history-not to mention devastating destruction. Yet the authors approach their arduous task like puzzle masters dividing the pieces of that world conflict into sea, air, and ground campaigns. They also cover the political and military strategies utilized by both Allies and Axis powers. Their formula for dividing the war into sections allows the reader to better grasp the intricate concepts of World War II.

The authors continuously analyze not only the campaigns, but the military and political leaders behind the decision making process illustrating their grand victories and poignant defeats that affected multitudes of troops and civilians on both sides of the conflict. Portraits of the military leaders are an integral part of the book, wherein their strategies and tactics are described and analyzed in detail for their effectiveness and ineffectiveness.

"A War to Be Won" was itself a massive undertaking by Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millett, but the years spent on research and documentation were well worth the wait. The authors put together a grand study of the largest military conflict of all time and they accomplished this in one volume. This is one of those rare books that belong on the shelves of every World War II reader or historian.

Rating:
Summary: Brilliance in One Volume
Review: This is one brilliantly written book. It is difficult to think of World War II without using words like mammoth, horrific, casualties, convoluted, sacrifice and bravery ... to describe the events that shook the world to its core. But Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millett's book, "A War to Be Won: Fighting the Second World War" comes as close to describing the events that will dominate our memory for generations to come.

"A War to Be Won" is a bit too complex for the beginner, but for the more studious and scholarly reader of World War II literature, this book is a treasure trove of knowledge. World War II was the greatest and most complex undertaking in all of human history-not to mention devastating destruction. Yet the authors approach their arduous task like puzzle masters dividing the pieces of that world conflict into sea, air, and ground campaigns. They also cover the political and military strategies utilized by both Allies and Axis powers. Their formula for dividing the war into sections allows the reader to better grasp the intricate concepts of World War II.

The authors continuously analyze not only the campaigns, but the military and political leaders behind the decision making process illustrating their grand victories and poignant defeats that affected multitudes of troops and civilians on both sides of the conflict. Portraits of the military leaders are an integral part of the book, wherein their strategies and tactics are described and analyzed in detail for their effectiveness and ineffectiveness.

"A War to Be Won" was itself a massive undertaking by Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millett, but the years spent on research and documentation were well worth the wait. The authors put together a grand study of the largest military conflict of all time and they accomplished this in one volume. This is one of those rare books that belong on the shelves of every World War II reader or historian.

Rating:
Summary: A War to be Won
Review: This is the best single book on World War II. I have shelves of WW II books in my libraries in Montana and Ohio, and I served in WW II for three years in the ETO -- this volume is indispensable.
It provides the big picture of the overall war and offers insights into strategies and leadership that are most revealing. I have communicated with Millett and commended him on his handling of the "blunder at Antwerp" and his assessment of Montgomery's role in this huge mistake. Very readable. Well documented. It is essential for anyone obsessed with WW II. I referred to this book frequently in my writing of "We Made the Headlines Possible."