The Phoney Victory: The World War II Illusion (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781788313292)

Was World War II really the Good War'? In the years since the declaration of peace in 1945 many myths have sprung up around the conflict in the victorious nations. In this book, Peter Hitchens deconstructs the many fables which have become associated with the narrative of the Good War'. Whilst not criticising or doubting the need for war against Nazi Germany at some stage, Hitchens does query whether September 1939 was the right moment, or the independence of Poland the right issue. He points out that in the summer of 1939 Britain and France were wholly unprepared for a major European war and that this quickly became apparent in the conflict that ensued. He also rejects the retroactive claim that Britain went to war in 1939 to save the Jewish population of Europe. On the contrary, the beginning and intensification of war made it easier for Germany to begin the policy of mass murder in secret as well as closing most escape routes. In a provocative, but deeply-researched book, Hitchens questions the most common assumptions surrounding World War II, turning on its head the myth of Britain's role in a Good War'.

Author: Peter Hitchens
ISBN-10: 1788313291
ISBN-13: 9781788313292
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Language: English
Published: 09/06/2018
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 8.70h x 5.60w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/24/2018 pg. 99