The Great World War 1914–1945: 1. Lightning Strikes Twice: v.1 - Softcover

"Historians have tended to emphasize the differences in the two world conflicts: WWI as a 'bad' war caused by failure of diplomacy, managed by incompetents, characterized by the futile mass slaughter in the trenches; WWII was a 'good' war against vicious tyrannies, directed by relatively competent leaders using advanced technology to move rapidly over battlefields and minimize casualties. The 33 essays here, assembled by a trio of British academics, remind us that the conventional wisdom is highly debatable...Each essay covers a single aspect of both wars, and more than half discuss experiences at the front line. There are discussions of the military leadership...the effects of occupation...and the rise of modern genocide...Whether the topic is training, the merchant marine, the air force, desert warfare, captivity, or the medical service, the comparison of two wars is invariably thought-provoking. Strong content buttressed by smooth prose, with almost every chapter a pleasure to read."