Why the Allies Won

by Richard Overy Ph.D.

Overview

"Overy has written a masterpiece of analytical history, posing and answering one of the great questions of the century."—Sunday Times (London)

Richard Overy's bold book begins by throwing out the stock answers to this great question: Germany doomed itself to defeat by fighting a two-front war; the Allies won by "sheer weight of material strength." In fact, by 1942 Germany controlled almost the entire resources of continental Europe and was poised to move into the Middle East. The Soviet Union had lost the heart of its industry, and the United States was not yet armed.

The Allied victory in 1945 was not inevitable. Overy shows us exactly how the Allies regained military superiority and why they were able to do it. He recounts the decisive campaigns: the war at sea, the crucial battles on the eastern front, the air war, and the vast amphibious assault on Europe. He then explores the deeper factors affecting military success and failure: industrial strength, fighting ability, the quality of leadership, and the moral dimensions of the war.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393316193
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	05/17/1997
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	188,110
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Richard Overy is the author of many outstanding histories of World War II, including Why the Allies Won and Blood and Ruins. His study of Hitler and Stalin, The Dictators, won the Wolfson History Prize. He lives in England and Italy.

Editorial Reviews

"A clear-sighted, interesting explanation of the reasons for the victory."

New York Times

The author explores the moral component of the Allies' efforts in World War II. (May)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

As an acclaimed scholar and professor of modern history, Overy (The Road to War, LJ 5/1/90) has crafted an expansive and skillful analysis of the complex reasons for the Allied victory over the Axis powers in 1945. His book debunks the exaggerated and too-simple reason for Allied victory-that material strength alone merely overwhelmed the enemy. Using clear narrative and sound reasoning, Overy explores the impact of four significant areas of combat as well as the less publicized but equally important noncombat contributions and mistakes of each warring nation. As Overy asserts, "There was nothing preordained about Allied success," and his analysis starkly reveals the narrow line between victory and defeat for both sides. An excellent book for students, scholars, and history buffs.-Col. William D. Bushnell, USMC (ret.), Brunswick, Me.

Library Journal

Was the Allied victory in WW II an inevitable triumph of good over evil? No, says Overy (History/King's College, London; The Air War: 19391945, 1981, etc.), in this incisive analysis of the factors that led to victory over Germany, Italy, and Japan.

In early 1942, Overy points out, the Axis powers were triumphant in every world theater. Japan had, in a single blow, crippled Allied fleets, had conquered all the Pacific islands within a 1,000-mile perimeter, and was threatening an apparently defenseless Australia. Germany had conquered much of Europe and had inflicted devastating, losses on the Soviet Union. Britain was prostrate, its lifelines threatened by relentless U-boat attacks. The US had yet to mount an armament program, and the Soviet Union seemed industrially exhausted. Yet by 1944 Allied victory was simply a matter of time. Overy explains this remarkable reversal of fortune by reviewing Allied success in each of four zones: the sea war, in which the Allies capitalized on vast US and British fleets, shrewd use of airplanes at sea, and superior intelligence; the Soviet victory on the Eastern front, where Hitler underestimated both the fighting spirit and the renewed production potential of the Soviets; the air war, in which Allied long-range bombing forced the Germans to fight the last two years of the war without air support; and the reconquest of Europe after the D-Day invasion, which sealed Hitler's fate. Overy also analyzes the superior control of resources by the Allies, the combat effectiveness of Allied and Axis troops, the leadership of the two sides, and the moral contrasts between them. He concludes that "the Allies won . . . because they turned their economic strength into effective fighting power, and turned the moral energies of their people into an effective will to win."

A cogent look at the 20th century's great turning point.

Kirkus Reviews

Outstanding… Overy has written a masterpiece of analytical history, posing and answering one of the great questions of the century.”
–Niall Ferguson, Sunday Times

“Richard Overy is writing at the height of his powers… The result is often startling, never less than fascinating.”
–Adam Sisman, Observer

From the Publisher