The Second World War in the West

Cassell History of Warfare

by Charles Messenger

Germany's defeat in 1918 left the country resentful--and paved the way for Nazism's ascent and the fierce determination to reverse that loss. Drawn to totalitarianism under Adolf Hitler in the 1930s, Germany quickly embarked on a mission to recoup power, land, and national pride. Follow the spread of war throughout the world, and the technological developments and refinements of weaponry, as the Germans undertake the blitzkrieg of Eastern Europe from 1939 to 1941, enlist other discontented countries in their cause, and wage a bitter offensive against Russia. Also covered is the Anglo-American counteroffensive in Africa and the battles that raged in the Mediterranean and northwest Europe.

Genres: History, War, Nonfiction, World War II, Military History

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1999

About the author

Charles Rynd Milles Messenger was a British Army officer and writer. He served for many years in the Royal Tank Regiment (19 years as a Regular, 13 years as a Territorial) before becoming a military historian and defense analyst after his retirement from active service. In addition to having published more than forty books during his long career, he also carried out several historical analyses for the Ministry Of Defence and was a writer and/or adviser for several TV documentary series.

Reviews

[Shawn Fahy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a copy of “The Second World War in the West” by Charles Messenger (1999) somewhere along the line. It’s a fairly big book that’s in great condition so I didn’t want to lug it around to and from work to read during my down time. Instead I finished it off in small chunks at home over the course of a few months. The book is filled with great photos and maps as well as a chronology of the war and some notes about what happened to some of the major generals and other leaders after the war.

The title is a little odd, as “the west” in the WWII context makes me think of Western Europe but the title is used to refer to “not the Pacific theater”, in other words the Eastern Front and North Africa are “the west” and are thus covered.

The book is very broad-strokes and would be ideal for introducing the casual person to the war, though a more serious historian would be unlikely to learn anything new. Still, the maps and photos are good and can be enjoyed in and of themselves.

[Mdaly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise well-written book detailing all the major events and action of the Second World War in Europe and North Africa. The author doesn't get bogged down in personalities, politics or retrospective analysis.
It should be a must read for every student of 20th century history.

[Andrew Hague · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction for anyone who wants an accessible overview of WW2 in The West. Messenger doesn't get bogged down in military terminology and his way of writing is as simplistic as one can be when it comes to discussing military history.

It really is only an overview of the War in the West though. Messenger rarely expands on the key moments and rapidly moves on from one major incident to the next. Anyone wanting to know what actually went on in the heat of battle will be disappointed but for a beginner wanting to learn about the bloodiest conflict Europe has ever witnessed, it's a perfect book.

[Jean-Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent introductory book. It is thorough, sports excellent maps and great pictures, and neatly present the unfolding of the war in the "west" (in this case, West as opposed to the Pacific theater of war, and so include operations in Italy and Eastern Europe).

Very highly recommended for newcomers to the subject who want a clear view of the military operations. A truly nice book.