The Hitler Options: Alternate Decisions of World War II [Paperback]

Kenneth Macksey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998

Ten scenarios that might have changed the course of the war Detailed examinations by ten leading military historians Now for the first time in paperback A thought-provoking study of what might have been. British Army Review In this compelling book, ten internationally acclaimed military authors present the greatest maybes of World War II. Based on crucial turning points of the war, these dramatic possibilities develop from choices Hitler could realistically have made; they fall well within the bounds of what might actually have occurred, and are projected only from factual situations and the options available. Real people behave in character, and projected technological innovations are all plausible. The resulting scenarios will grip the reader and graphically illustrate the role of chance in history, showing how major consequences can result from minor changes in the course of events.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books; Unabridged Edition edition (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853673129
• ISBN-13: 978-1853673122
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,217,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing - for nitty-gritty military historians only, November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hitler Options: Alternate Decisions of World War II (Paperback)

The problem with the Hitler Options is that it focuses on military logistics to the ignorance of the overall scope of WWII. In describing the plans for SEA LION, the German amphibious invasion of England, the authors list out in meticulous detail the number and commander of the units to be used (i.e. 23rd Waffen SS under Riechsmarshal...), while ignoring the strategic decisions that led Hitler to choose certain options, and whether those could have been changed.

If you'd like to know the individual units the Germans would have used in pursuing, say, a Mediterranean strategy, this book is for you. If you (as I did) want to know WHY the Mediterranean strategy may have been a good option, why it wasn't chosen, and what would be the likely outcomes had it been chosen, look elsewhere.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the Better One's, April 24, 2002

By 

John G. Hilliard (Toronto Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hitler Options: Alternate Decisions of World War II (Paperback)

I have read a few other books that are along this same line of "What if" and I must say that this book has been the most enjoyable. The author / editor (in this case) has asked 10 military historians to work with him to take 10 parts of the war and work out what would have happened if some decisions by either the Axis or the Allies would have been different. The author gives us a good overview of the overall situation in he war at the time of the decision, and a very good case as to what would have happened if just one or two key decisions were different. This is a different handling of the subject then others have done, the normal for this type of book is to just take decisions that were made and completely change them for no regard for if that was even possible. Almost fitting the decision in so that the author can put together a nice fiction story.

What is so interesting is that this could have happened and in some cases almost did happen. The authors use the same players that were involved, the same weapons and resources. It is all put together in a very organized and believable way. The historical detail is well chosen and comprehensive, if you are a general reader this may be a bit much, but then again you probably would not pick this book up. The most interesting parts for me were the invasion of the UK, the changes to the Russian campaign and the change in the D-Day landing location. The author did a good job of completing out the scenarios to what very well may have happened. This is a well written and thought out book that is enjoyable and exciting to read.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from a war enthusiast, July 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hitler Options: Alternate Decisions of World War II (Paperback)

This collection of short alternative Historical scenarios is among the very best work turned out in the Alternate History Genre. Each scenario very accurately and carefully depicts the possible outcome of a choice that might have been made. Several of the decisions were also not Hitler's decisions, but those of the allies. The book chronicles: a German invasion of England, a German invasion of the Mediterranean, a consolidated German drive toward Moscow to conquer Russia, a combined German-Japanese operation to link up in the middle-east, a German aerial-naval cooperation effort to win the Atlantic Sea War, an Allied attack through the Mediterranean instead of an attack through Normandy, a German atomic weapons scenario, a Jet Fighter scenario, a continuation of Rommel's strategy in Normandy - leading to a much bloodier Omaha beach, and finally, an allied effort to win the war through the immense morale damage inflicted by the destruction of cities after the fashion of Hamburg. The book is inciteful and inspiring - a real joy to read.