The Storm of War

Roberts (Masters and Commanders: How Four Titans Won the War in the West, 1941–1945) gives readers a new, well-written retelling of the spectacular ebb and flow of World War II, mainly analyzing the European war, particularly German operations and Allied reactions. In some ways this is a psychological study of the various leaders. Roberts blames Hitler (rather than German army leaders) for the Axis defeat and argues that his obsessive Nazi ideology lead to disastrous military decisions. However, Roberts takes the German military leaders to task for not standing up to their pathological leader. Had Hitler let his generals do their job, the war would have lasted longer. Whether or not Germany could have won, it might have avoided total defeat. Roberts concludes that Britain, America, and the USSR needed one another to gain victory. A well-sourced and well-told introduction for general readers that will also be enjoyed by those in the know.