Customer Reviews

WWII PLANS THAT NEVER HAPPENED: 1939-45

5 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book was rather a disappointment. The format is only one to three pages of information, on average, for each war plan. I was hoping for something with a more in-depth approach. Because of the paucity of information herein, I would describe this volume as Pop History rather than a real book on history. It is possible that this book might be seen as appropriate to a high school child with attention deficit disorder, but I strongly recommend that any serious student of history look elsewhere for some other book of substance rather than this pop history pamphlet.

World War II Plans That Never Happened looked like a most interesting read but as the old adage goes, never judge a book by its cover. Some of the proposed operations, such as ZEPPELIN, have more than a touch of James Bond, whilst others were overtaken by events; all of them though, are worthy of exposure. The format and illustrations are clear and encompass the best part of the book: colour photocopies of extracts from archive documents and maps, relating to the plans.

The manuscript however, is a great disappointment and would be more at home in a sensational Sunday tabloid. The English is weak, the content is sometimes inaccurate, the prose is in sloppy journalese and there is no meaningful critical analysis. Such a contrast to the crisp, structured, articulate staff work, which is the meat of the planning documents. Indeed, it is difficult, based upon output, to believe the author's claim that he was educated at University College Oxford.

The subject though, is fascinating and deserves academic rigour. In this respect, the author's production will perhaps, inspire greater research into a forgotten aspect of the Second World War. On reflection, my ** rating is generous and Gordon Orris's assessment is correct.