Victory City: A History of New York and New Yorkers during World War II

by John Strausbaugh

From John Strausbaugh, author of City of Sedition and The Village , comes the definitive history of Gotham during the World War II era.

New York City during World War II wasn't just a place of servicemen, politicians, heroes, G.I. Joes and Rosie the Riveters, but also of quislings and saboteurs; of Nazi, Fascist, and Communist sympathizers; of war protesters and conscientious objectors; of gangsters and hookers and profiteers; of latchkey kids and bobby-soxers, poets and painters, atomic scientists and atomic spies.

While the war launched and leveled nations, spurred economic growth, and saw the rise and fall of global Fascism, New York City would eventually emerge as the new capital of the world. From the Gilded Age to VJ-Day, an array of fascinating New Yorkers rose to fame, from Mayor Fiorello La Guardia to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Langston Hughes to Joe Louis, to Robert Moses and Joe DiMaggio.

In Victory City, John Strausbaugh returns to tell the story of New York City's war years with the same richness, depth, and nuance he brought to his previous books, City of Sedition and The Village , providing readers with a groundbreaking new look into the greatest city on earth during the most transformative -- and costliest -- war in human history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, New York, World War II, War, American History, 20th Century

496 pages, Hardcover

Published December 4, 2018

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5--an entertaining and interesting read with some really strong sections, especially on isolationism and fascist sympathizers in the city before Pearl Harbor, but overall it jumps around a lot and is a little lacking in a firm through line that draws conclusions about New York City's distinct role in World War II.

[Paul Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

If it is true that history that ignores the accomplishments of oppressed minorities is not complete history, what, then, is history that ignores the accomplishments of the majority? Not really history at all. It's polemic masquerading as history.

The author excoriates Dr. Seuss for publishing "racist" cartoons of "Japs" in the wake of Pearl Harbor, but apparently thinks nothing of, himself, referring to the baseball players of a certain race of that era as "hicks". Elsewhere, the author apparently also believes that large American companies doing business in Germany during the 1930's were "pro-Nazi" and "playing both sides", rather than simply large American companies with long-time operations and investments in Germany. Apparently, assisting Germany in its post-Versailles recovery was pro-Nazi before there was even such a thing as Nazi. The author may (or may not) know a lot about Greenwich Village and music, but he apparently knows nothing whatsoever about business and economics.

The author also apparently believes that it was within America's power to "save" the victims of the Nazi holocaust, but our leaders were simply not "concerned" about them. One wonders what "practical recommendations" the author would have suggested to American leadership to have our forces just saunter into occupied Europe in 1941-43 and rescue "millions".

It might have been more honest had his subtitle been published as "A History of some New Yorkers during World War II whom I really like and others whom I really dislike."

On the other hand, we don't know how the author feels about the majority of New Yorkers of that era -- people like Anthony Casamento, Michael Daly, Almond Fisher, Stephen Gregg, Thomas Kelly, Joseph Merrell, Joseph Muller, George Peterson, John Powers, or Kenneth Walsh because he doesn't bother mentioning them at all. But then again, these New Yorkers only won the Medal of Honor for their heroics in battle during World War II. Why would he mention them?

[saranimals · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give up on this book about a third of the way through, unfortunately. It was essentially an avalanche of mini-biographies of all the "important" people in the city- government officials, business moguls, society types, etc. It was just too choppy for me. I had been hoping for more of a macrocosm perspective, chronicling the experiences of all the groups in the city during the war. More of an "average New Yorker" take. That would certainly have been more relatable. I also would have appreciated more about the actual wartime itself- a third of the way through the book, the time period is still 1938 and everything I've read thus far has been about the Great Depression and the World's Fair. Pearl Harbor seems eons away. I slogged through part one of the book, hoping that the author was merely using the choppy format in order to set up the context for the main body of the story, but what I read of part two was more of the same and I just couldn't endure.

Though I can't deny that the book is incredibly well-researched and objectively well-written. It is perhaps my own personal preferences that kept me from enjoying the book more fully. Others who are interested in either WWII history or the history of New York may find this an enjoyable and certainly informative read.

It should be noted as a disclaimer that I received this book as a goodreads giveaway, a beautiful hardbound edition. I really, really *wanted* to like this book. Perhaps I will revisit it at a later time and find that I have an easier time reading it.

[Michael Ritchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2-1/2 stars) This book, though apparently well-researched, is a bit of a mess. First of all, the subtitle is highly misleading. I was expecting a book about New York City, its people, its shops, its theaters, its police and criminals, and how they all made it through wartime. We get very little of that. When we do, the book comes to life briefly. Mostly, though, what we get are strings of mini-biographies of people involved in the war at national political and military levels. Lots of FDR, Harry Hopkins, Robert Moses, Mayor La Guardia, and Wild Bill Donovan; very little about average New Yorkers, actors, shopkeepers, bartenders, tourists, etc.

Aside from a generally chronological structure, there's not much of a through line here. It feels like the author was overwhelmed by his research (lots of it but fairly surface) and ended up with a general history of the political side of the war in America (not necessarily just New York). The book is easy to read and I was interested enough to read to the end, but as a social history of New York City in WWII--which is what the title promises--this is a washout.

[Marge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to engaging this account of NYC accounts preceding and during WWII, but in all honesty I found its presentation extremely annoying as it lacked an organization/focus that held my attention vs. jumped around like a gathering of disjointed snippets. Obviously Strausbaugh thoroughly researched his topic, but maybe it was just too big and rather than trying to cover such breadth, he needed to opt for depth and narrow the focus of this very important, complex topic to, for example, a very narrowed time period.

[Sharon Healy-Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a thorough and fascinating study of New York City's role in WWII. Well researched, the book doesn't limit itself to 1939-45, but goes back to the roots of the war in WWI and European conflicts, revealing how the related political currents shaped U.S. isolationism and, finally, our involvement. We see the growth of the city through the lens of state, national, and international social and political movements and actors, all thoroughly researched and engagingly related. I had forgotten how powerful were racism, anti-Semitism, fascism, and graft in shaping our politics of the time - and was unnerved by present day echoes. That isn't to say there's no fun in this book - not that WWII was exactly a laugh-a-minute. There are fascinating tales of bungling Nazi infiltrators, our own fumbling of dealing with fifth columnists and communist infiltrators, and a particularly intriguing tale of one of the first Jewish pro Baseball players, Moe Berg. This Ivy-Leauge educated, law school graduate and pro-baseball player served in the OSS in Europe during the war. It's also fascinating to read of the intrigue of news writers, publishers, playwrights, and so on who were deeply involved in everything like shaping public opinion, running various federal agencies, and seeing action on the front. If you want a thorough grounding on the city and our nation during the war, here's your book.

[Monical · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising in depth, this book about New York and New Yorkers was an engrossing read. I forgot that FDR was a New Yorker, and much of his brain trust derived from his New York connections. And there were an amazing zillions of New Yorkers-- many of them very famous-- involved in the run up to the war and beyond. This book also has me looking up a number of other books that were cited. The author did lean on other books a bit too much for his research, I thought, and the name-dropping got a bit tiresome after a while (not too many "little people" noted!). The book starts out with a bang, and then drags a bit until the US enters the war. There is an introductory section about FDR's counters to the depression which didn't seem very well connected to the World War II part of the story until you find that many of the same influential actors switch to war work of various sorts once the war is imminent and after war is declared.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book, full of all kinds of interesting history from that era, including lots of personalities of the time. One of my favorites was Mayor LaGuardia. I enjoyed the scholarship in the book, but at times the organization felt a little jerky and the ending was particularly abrupt without a summation to pull it all together. It was fascinating to learn about the people back home and how their lives changed during the War, particularly in one of the most important cities in the world at the time.

[Mary Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting stuff here and some not so much. First part is lead up to war; we get to meet those folks who will become highly meaningful after 1941. This is where I learned that Mayor LaGuardia was Italian, yes, on father's side; BUT Jewish on mother's. His sister and family ended up in Budapest during war where they were trapped.
Sometimes when you learn much about famous people from eras before your, you might be not faulted for wondering how we ever won......

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book, it was like reading a long gossipy tale about people we knew or had at least heard of. I think the author managed to include anybody who was somebody who at some time during the 1930s and 1940s spent time in New York City, plus a lot more people who were on the fringe so to speak. I was amazed at how many people changed their names! While at nearly 500 pages (the hardcover) it was long but fun.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the playaway edition of Victory City.

Vicotry city sure had a lot of information about world war II. There was so much information it was hard for me to remember.

A few things I remember are about the community party, Fiorello La Guardia, the fact that the prosperity of world war II did not come to New York right away.

So if you want information about New York a little before, during and after world war II then you will probably like Victory city.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing compendium of the Big Apple’s role in the war. Strausbaugh focuses on the city itself to show how its ethnic layout influenced what was to come. I learned about Camp Siegfried, how many isolationists resisted U.S. involvement, the role of Mayor La Guardia, Nazis living in New York, and the Rosenbergs. Well researched and index. Almost reads like a novel.

[Amelia Valentino · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Overall, should be just on NYC during WWII. Including Roosevelt was I guess necessary but it’s sort of too big for the scope of the book. Interesting anecdotes and stories.

It takes half the book to get to WWII and when it does, it’s unfocused and all over the place. The anecdotes were interesting. Made me want to read the catcher was a spy.

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a history of the latter rather than the former, and then only an elite subset: what the city was like, how life was different, what life was like for a New Yorker who was not a politician or (currently or eventually) famous is not common at all. That was, I find, the reason I wanted to read this book, so am left rather disappointed.

[Keeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway

There were many sections in this book that were slow for me. It jumped around a lot and I found myself getting lost in places. Other sections were very interesting and enjoyable. Overall, not my favorite book.

[Jack Laschenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic accounting of NYC from 1931 to 1945.

Hitler lovers, Mussolini lovers, isolationists, traitors +

The Roosevelts, Harry Hopkins, Fiorello, Lehman.

The most amazing fact: Standard Oil of New Jersey (headquartered in NYC) provided avgas to Germany and Japan all through the war!!!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of NYC during WW2 is a good snapshot of the US at war. From the anti war movement (American First) which met at Madison Square Garden to the Manhattan Project, it is a fascinating book. For World War 2 readers and NYC buffs, this is a well written look.

[Thomas Terence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strausbaugh is one of my favorite historians. You can just tell that he does mounds of research before he begins and there were dozens of anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book that I won't soon forget.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is full of interesting information, but it kept skipping around and it was difficult to follow.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting account of the City's role in the war. I enjoyed all the biographies of all the New Yorker's and learned a great deal about this great city.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wide focus, shallow depth. Often reads like a cast of characters rather than a narrative. The earliest chapters on the background of the war resemble an intelligent tenth grader's history report.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as City of Sedition, but not too shabby.