The battle and the resistance, which won the 1993 runciman award. Crete was an extraordinary battle because it was the very first time a major island had actually been assaulted by paratroopers and, in fact, captured by paratroopers, the only time, ever. Battle of crete 1941 world war 2, photos mike hotel. It saw the germans make largescale use of paratroopers during the invasion. The second world war, by anthony beevor the independent. I found this book the first in antony beevor s justly celebrated histories of various campaigns of world war ii incredibly hard to read.
The battle and the resistance by beevor, antony isbn. Toward the end of this powerful narrative of world war ii, antony beevor quotes a report, by the australian war correspondent godfrey blunden, of an encounter with some. Antony beevor was educated at winchester and sandhurst. I dont quite buy into the sladerous language angle its bad stuff that were dealing with, so some strong language is not absolutely out of place, in my opinion but the decosntruction of the 100,000 and 10,000 figures is quite convincing and instructive. Antony beevor s general history of the second world war is a momentous achievement. Its mammoth, coming in at nearly 800 pages, and has a bibliography thats a treasure trove for any historian of world war ii. The book starts with the japanese invasion of manchuria in 1931, and covers the entire. Weighing in at 880 pages it provides a comprehensive, well considered and well written account of a truly momentous set of events in world history. A regular officer in the 11th hussars, he served in germany and england. Antony beevor disusses his forthcoming book the second world war. Antony beevor served as a regular officer in the 11th hussars in germany. Southern europe 1940, war in europe timeline, world. This really does cover the az of the second world war. Crete was a campaign unique in many respects, not the least of which was its ferocity.
Though beevor is a specialist on the european war, he covers everything from operation torch in north africa to. A masterful and comprehensive chronicle of world war ii, by internationally bestselling historian antony beevor. Antony beevor in defence of history books the guardian. To sum it all up, this book is a valuable addition to the library of anyone who fancies himself a student of ww2. Weighing in at 880 pages it provides a comprehensive, well considered and well written account of a truly. The battle of crete was fought during the second world war on the greek island of crete. Beevor, formerly of the 11th hussars, writes about that battle with a soldiers eye and a historians insight. About dday glorious, horrifying dday is a vibrant work of history that honors the sacrifice of tens of thousands of men and women. Antony beevor on the second world war orion publishing group. If you travel to crete, and if you are interested in the detailed history of world war ii battles which, in the grand order of things, played only a second tier role, this is the book to read. Jul 30, 2012 our guest is military historian and author antony beevor.
German landings on the island of crete may 1941 came after allied forces had been. He achieved a critical and popular success with his stalingrad that is without equal in britain for a history book in recent times, and his books on the battle for berlin, d day and the second. The second world war by antony beevor little, brown. The battle and the resistance by antony beevor goodreads. Part of the larger greek resistance, it lasted from 20 may 1941, when the german wehrmacht invaded the island in the battle of crete. The second world war by antony beevor books hachette. He has published several novels, and his works of nonfiction include the spanish civil war. The bestselling author of the battle of arnhem and dday vividly reconstructs the epic wwii struggle for crete reissued with a new introduction. The second world war by antony beevor washington post.
Hes breathed new life into the popular understanding of world war ii. Yet this book, written in beevors inimitable and gripping narrative style, is about much more than a single dramatic battle. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. With the massive scope of world war ii, however, beevor certainly had his work cut out for him, yet there is no doubt that he delivered with the second world war.
This civilian defiance suffered from two handicaps. In an increasingly postliterate society where the moving image is king, the dramatic. A riveting account of the fall of greece, the battle of crete, and the cretan. So he held back because he was a soldier of the first world war and he could not imagine that an island could be attacked and captured by an airborne assault. What is the basis of russian criticism of antony beevors. Now, in his newest and most ambitious book, he turns his focus to one of the bloodiest and most tragic events of the twentieth century, the second world war. At the end of 1944, the fights between resistance fighters and greek police in the pay of the occupant. It is not clear whether canaris, who had an extensive intelligence network at. This book does an excellent job of tying every part of the second world war together. Jun 05, 2012 a masterful and comprehensive chronicle of world war ii, by internationally bestselling historian antony beevor.
One world war ii soldiers 500day odyssey from the beaches of sicily to the gates of dachau by alex kershaw goodreads author 4. The second world war began in august 1939 on the edge of manchuria and ended there exactly six years later with the soviet invasion of northern china. Otherwise, you might enjoy more some other reading. A fresh and acclaimed account of the spanish civil war by the bestselling author of stalingrad and the battle of arnhem to mark the 70th anniversary of the spanish civil wars outbreak, antony beevor has written a completely updated and revised account of one of the most bitter and hardfought wars of the twentieth century. Jan 23, 20 with the massive scope of world war ii, however, beevor certainly had his work cut out for him, yet there is no doubt that he delivered with the second world war. The second world war, by antony beevor the new york times. I found this book the first in antony beevors justly celebrated histories of various campaigns of world war ii incredibly hard to read.
Praise for crete 1941 few battles in world war ii can surpass crete for high drama, both on land and sea. The battle of crete was the first battle of world war ii in which the civilians fought the nazis during an invasion. Jul 27, 2012 the second world war by antony beevor little, brown. Toward the end of this powerful narrative of world war ii, antony beevor quotes a report, by the australian war correspondent godfrey blunden, of an encounter with some american troops who had just been released from german p.
Of course, youve also written an extremely powerful book about the battle for crete. Beevor, formerly of the 11th hussars, writes about that battle with a soldiers eye and. He discusses his newly released historical narrative, the second world war. I have always wanted to read a book which gives a clear and accurate view of the second world for. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the second world war. Not because beevor s writing is flawed far from it. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Greek and other allied forces, along with cretan civilians, defended the island. Using the most uptodate scholarship and research, and writing with clarity and compassion, beevor assembles the whole picture of the second world war in a gripping narrative that extends from the north atlantic to the south pacific, from the snowbound steppe to the north african desert, to the bur. Over the past two decades, antony beevor has established himself as one of the world s premier historians of wwii. There are things that are too horrific to put in a book the historian antony beevor tells keith lowe why his next book will confront one of the last taboos of the second world war. The matildas had 40 mm ordnance qf 2 pounder guns, which only fired.
There are things that are too horrific to put in a book the historian antony beevor tells keith lowe why his next book will confront one of the last taboos of the. A book aimed at an international audience may leave british readers feeling shortchanged. The spooky side of world war ii the spooky side of world war ii antony beevor june 23, 2016 issue the secret war. Over the past two decades, antony beevor has established himself as one of. In this searing narrative that takes us from hitlers invasion of poland on september 1st, 1939 to vj day on august 14th, 1945 and the war s aftermath, beevor describes the conflict and. It began on the morning of 20 may 1941, when nazi germany began an airborne invasion of crete. The second world war by antony beevor, paperback barnes.
The second world war kindle edition by beevor, antony. His multiaward winning books have included stalingrad and the fall of berlin 1945. May 04, 2012 antony beevor disusses his forthcoming book the second world war. Beevor, formerly of the 11th hussars, writes about that battle. In this searing narrative that takes us from hitlers invasion of poland on september 1st, 1939 to vj day on august 14, 1945 and the war s aftermath, beevor describes the conflict and its.
The war in europe appeared completely divorced from the war in the pacific and china, and yet events on opposite sides of the world had profound effects. Over the past two decades, antony beevor has established himself as one of the worlds premier historians. The second world war is a narrative history of world war ii by the british historian antony beevor. Buy a cheap copy of the second world war book by antony beevor. In his book battle of berlin beevor gives the following claim. Few battles in world war ii can surpass crete for high drama, both on land and sea. No historians perspective on the war would be complete without. The popular military historian antony beevor recommends some of his own favourite books about the second world war.
Beevor talks about the origins of the conflict spanning from. This fresh, indepth account of world war ii digs deeper into the how and why of battles and. Dday by antony beevor cameron stewarts cool, clear voice and astonishing range of accents, are what finally and magnificently bring this monumental theatre of war to life, writes. This is the first anthony beevor book that i have read and i enjoyed it so much and wanted to learn in even greater detail that i have ordered several more of his books before i have even finished this.
I am reading my way through a superb book recounting the downfall of berlin in 194445, by british author antony beevor. Dec 24, 2015 the second world war by antony beevor in epub, fb2, txt download e book. Book tvs peter slen interviews antony beevor in london about his research and writings on world war ii. By december 1944, many of the 3 million citizens of berlin had stopped giving the nazi salute, and jokes circulated that the most practical christmas gift of the. What is the basis of russian criticism of antony beevors work. Luftlandeschlacht um kreta, also unternehmen merkur, operation mercury, greek. Beevor and mcdougal stewart write that the defence of alikianos gained at.
In his new book, the second world war, beevor widens his focus and surveys the entire war the daily beast antony beevor makes the reader believe in the impossible. Jun 11, 2012 the second world war by antony beevor. Antony beevor, author, the second world war youtube. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The battle of greece is the common name for the invasion of allied greece by fascist italy and nazi germany in april 1941 during world war ii. The process of crete liberation during world war 2 is mostly due to the cretan resistance. So, yes, there was room for another big book on world war ii. Their courage under a regime that was hateful and cruel has been written about frequently and this book fleshed out the bones of the resistance. Acclaimed historian and bestselling author antony beevor vividly brings to life the epic struggles that took place in second world war crete reissued with a new introduction.
Our guest is military historian and author antony beevor. Over the past two decades, antony beevor has established. Sep 09, 2012 toward the end of this powerful narrative of world war ii, antony beevor quotes a report, by the australian war correspondent godfrey blunden, of an encounter with some american troops who had. Antony beevors books include crete runciman prize stalingrad. Antony beevors general history of the second world war is a momentous achievement. The battle of crete was fought from may 20 to june 1, 1941, during world war ii 1939 to 1945. Antony beevor, using many overlooked and new sources from dutch, british, american, polish and german archives, has reconstructed the terrible reality of this epic clash. The battle of crete is considered one of the most sensational events os t he second world war in 1941 it highlights the final act of the. He is the author of crete the battle and the resistance, which won a runciman prize, paris after the liberation, 19441949 written with his wife artemis cooper, stalingrad, which won the samuel johnson prize, the wolfson prize for history and the hawthornden prize for literature, berlinthe downfall. Now, in his newest and most ambitious book, he turns his focus to one. Antony beevors the second world war the best of world. Crete as a site during the second world war fascinates me, particularly in regard tp the people themselves.
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