James Holland - The War in the West: A New History Volume 2, . the Allies Fight Back 1941-43

In the second volume of his acclaimed new history of the Second World War, James Hollandexamines the momentous turning points of 19411943: Hitlers invasion of Russia; Americas entry into the conflict; the devastating Thousand Bomber Raids over Germany; the long struggle in the deserts of North Africa; and the defeat of the U-boats in the crucial Battle of the Atlantic.

As in his first volume, Germany Ascendant, he interweaves his account of the well-known events of the period with the personal stories of individuals caught up in them on all sides. Through interviews, letters, diaries and reports, he allows us to see the war not just from the perspective of politicians, military commanders and strategists, but also through the eyes of civilians bombed out of their homes, resistance members stranded in the frozen Norwegian winter, sailors risking their lives in the Atlantic convoys, German aces striving for supremacy in the air, and ordinary soldiers battling for survival in the scorching sands of Libya.

Crucially he also goes behind the scenes to show us the all-important machinery of war: the manufacturing, farming and vital supply lines that underpinned the entire conflict and ultimately determined its course.

Combining his own research with only recently accessible archive material, Holland looks afresh at this cataclysmic conflict, reassessing long-held views and challenging conventional assumptions. The result is groundbreaking history that redefines the war in the West and makes us think again about the events that shaped our modern world.

For Ned

(Ranks at June 1943)

General Sir Harold AlexanderBritish

Commander of 1st Division in France, last man to leave Dunkirk, later commander Southern Division, then British Forces in Burma, before becoming C-in-C Middle East in August 1942. Appointed commander, 18th Army Group, in February 1943.

Generalleutnant Hermann BalckGerman

General of Mobile Forces in the OKH, then commanding 11. Panzerdivision from May 1942. Promoted to lieutenant-general in January 1943 and given command of Gross-Deutschland Division in April 1943.

Flight Lieutenant Cyril Bam BambergerBritish

NCO fighter pilot in 610 and 41 Squadrons during the Battle of Britain, he was later commissioned and flew with 261 Squadron on Malta and then 93 Squadron in Tunisia.

Obersturmfhrer Klaus BarbieGerman

Head of Section IV, Sicherheitsdienst, Lyons.

Lieutenant Jean-Mathieu BorisFrench

Officer in the Free French Army.

Pfc Henry Dee BowlesAmerican

Served in 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in North Africa.

Pfc Tom BowlesAmerican

Served in 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in North Africa.

Air Commodore Sydney BuftonBritish

Commander 10 and 76 Squadrons, RAF Bomber Command, then became station commander at RAF Pocklington before becoming Deputy Director of Bomber Operations at the Air Ministry.

Major Stanley ChristophersonBritish

A squadron commander in the Nottingham Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry.

Count Galeazzo CianoItalian

Son-in-law of Mussolini and Italian Foreign Secretary.

Lieutenant-General Mark ClarkAmerican

Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff, US Army Ground Forces in January 1942 and then went to England as Eisenhowers deputy and Chief of Combined Planning for Operation TORCH. He was Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Allied Land Forces in North Africa, then given command of US Fifth Army.

Sergent-chef Pierre ClostermannFrench

Fighter pilot flying with 341 Alsace Squadron, RAF Fighter Command.

Jock ColvilleBritish

One of the secretaries to the Prime Minister, first Neville Chamberlain and then Winston Churchill.

Gwladys CoxBritish

Civilian living in London.

Admiral Sir Andrew Browne CunninghamBritish

Commander of the Mediterranean Fleet until 1942, then posted to Washington.

Lieutenant Dale R. DenistonAmerican

Fighter pilot in North Africa and the Middle East with the 57th Fighter Group.

Admiral Karl DnitzGerman

Commander of the Kriegsmarines U-boat fleet.

Squadron Leader Billy DrakeBritish

Commander of 112 Squadron in the RAFs Desert Air Force.

Lieutenant Douglas Fairbanks, JrAmerican

Officer serving on USS Wasp and USS Wichita.

Capitaine Henri FrenayFrench

Leader of the Combat resistance group.

Gnral Charles de GaulleFrench

Army officer then leader of the Free French.

Wing Commander Guy GibsonBritish

Bomber pilot and commander of 106 Squadron.

Andre GriotterayFrench

French civilian and member of the Resistance.

Ted HardyAustralian

Sapper in the 2/3rd Field Company, 9th Australian Division, serving in North Africa and the Middle East.

Major Hajo HerrmannGerman

Flew Heinkel 111s in Poland and Norway with KG4 before becoming a Staffel commander and switching to Ju88s. He later served in the Mediterranean before transferring to Norway to command III/KG30.

Harry HopkinsAmerican

President Roosevelts closest friend and advisor, and unofficial emissary to Winston Churchill.

Henry KaiserAmerican

Construction tycoon and director of Todd California Shipyards.

Major-General John KennedyBritish