
December 1941
Twelve Days that Began a World War
Paperback
Other Editions of This Title:
Hardcover (12/1/2011)
Description
An account of twelve pivotal days in 1941, when a chain of interlinked events changed world history
In far-flung locations around the globe, an unparalleled sequence of international events took place between December 1 and December 12, 1941. In this riveting book, historian Evan Mawdsley explores how the story unfolded. He demonstrates how these dramatic events marked a turning point not only in the course of World War II but also in the direction of the entire century.
On Monday, December 1, 1941, the Japanese government made its final decision to attack Britain and America. In the following days, the Red Army launched a counterthrust in Moscow while the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and invaded Malaya. By December 12, Hitler had declared war on the United States, the collapse of British forces in Malaya had begun, and Hitler had secretly laid out his policy of genocide. Churchill was leaving London to meet Roosevelt as Anthony Eden arrived in Russia to discuss the postwar world with Stalin. Combined, these occurrences brought about a "new war," as Churchill put it, with Japan and America deeply involved and Russia resurgent. This book, a truly international history, examines the momentous happenings of December 1941 from a variety of perspectives. It shows that their significance is clearly understood only when they are viewed together.
Praise For December 1941: Twelve Days that Began a World War…
— Antony Beevor
— Kirkus Reviews
— Jonathon Eaton
‘Mawdsley’s grasp of the complexities of military operations and grand strategy is second to none. Weaving together the national strands of this global story in a compelling narrative, he underscores just how crucial that first week of 1941 was.’ - Joe Maiolo, author of Cry Havoc: Arms Races and the Second World War
— Joe Maiolo
— Bernard Wasserstein
— Geoffrey Roberts
“His book presents a radically new approach to our study of the Second World War through a microscopic analysis of the events which took place between 1 and 12 December 1941......This is a fascinating treatment of a crucial phase of the conflict. He switches with ease between the different theatres of the conflict, taking the reader from Churchill’s deliberations at Chequers to the horrors of warfare on the Eastern Front. This book is a ‘must read’ for anyone with an interest in the history of the Second World War.”—Jonathon Eaton, Military History
— Jonathon Eaton
— Kirkus Reviews
— David Robinson
— Times Higher Education
— Leslie J.M. Obre
— Benjamin Evans
— Boyd Tonkin
Yale University Press, 9780300187878, 360pp.
Publication Date: November 13, 2012