World War II: A History in Documents

Pages from History

by James H. Madison

The documents in this book point readers to the major themes and issues of World War II, including major causes, course, and consequences of the war. The volume encourages understanding of the nature of total war and its potential for limitlessness. Coverage is worldwide, with attention to both the European and Pacific Theaters and to home front as well as battlefront issues. Diplomacy and strategy blend with insights into the lives of ordinary people around the world—as factory workers, soldiers, mothers, propagandists, political leaders, and survivors. And the volume encourages comparative perspectives and assists readers in thinking about continuity and change across the twentieth century, including focus on commemoration and memory to the present.

The documents include such diverse items as excerpts from Mein Kampf ; the Nazi-Soviet Pact; Charles Lindbergh on America First; Churchill on the 'finest hour'; Geneva Conventions; letters from prisoners of war; a Thanksgiving dinner menu; a K ration pack; dispatches from Ernie Pyle; photos of Glenn Miller and Marlene Dietrich entertaining the troops; Woody Guthrie songs; movie posters; propaganda air drop leaflet; Japanese children's song; a ration cookbook; a comic book superhero; Simone de Beauvoir on occupation; the Japanese Emperor's surrender rescript; US censored haiku; an English war bride's marriage certificate; a Japanese lunchbox from the Smithsonian Enola Gay exhibit; transcripts of the Eichmann trial; and oral histories by America's "greatest generation."

The entire book is be profusely illustrated with graphics (posters, photographs, maps, etc.) that themselves serve as documents, and there is a picture essay on the 'racial community,' using propaganda posters, photographs, and film stills. Each section of the book has an introductory essay, and each document has a headnote or long caption. Back matter includes a chronology, further reading, and index. The author is a specialist on the American home front, for which he was won the Indiana Humanities Council Humanities Achievement Award, 1992, and has worked extensively on school and public history projects.

Genres: History, War, World War II

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2009

About the author

James H. Madison is the Thomas and Kathryn Miller Professor of History Emeritus, Indiana University Bloomington. Madison serves on the boards of Indiana Humanities and the Indiana Historical Society and is a member of the Indiana Bicentennial Commission. He began teaching Indiana history in 1976 and has lectured and consulted widely on Indiana topics.

Reviews

[Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is ok but could use more pedagogical tools and probably some longer excerpts or full documents. What’s there is good but it is sparse.

[Michael Delgado · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty decent. It does teach people about the history of World War 2 and all, but if you know this topic in history pretty well, it feels like this book does not really teach you much. Or in other words, this book is more for mediocre historians. Now, do not get me wrong, I did learn some things such as the propaganda used by both sides, and some personal stories of the survivors of the war, such as the soldiers and their families. I would recommend this book to newer historians of around the teen years and up because this book contains some material not really suitable for children. Overall, the book does teach one about World War 2 in one way or another and I am glad I was able to pick this book up.