Great Battles of World War II (Great Battles of the World Wars Series) (Hardcover)

~ John MacDonald (Author) "In the closing days of May 1940 Britain teetered on the edge of a military disaster of unprecedented magnitude..." (more)
Key Phrases: armoured brigade, Eighth Army, World War, North Africa (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In addition to such traditional inclusions as the Battle of Britain, Guadalcanal, Midway and the Normandy Campaign, MacDonald (Great Battlefields of the World covers Dunkirk, the sinking of the Bismarck and the battle for Malta in this pictorial overview. Imphal/Kohima in the Burma campaign and Kursk, the biggest tank battle in historywell known to military-history buffs but otherwise relatively obscureare also treated here. MacDonald's presentation is unusually attractive: a few well-chosen words establish the strategical context, followed by a succinct account of the battle or campaign itself, all this profusely illustrated with maps, panoramic paintings, photos (among them, pictures of opposing leaders, with minibios) and battlefield "models"the application of computer graphics to the topography in question. BOMC dividend selection, History Book Club featured alternate.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

YA-These two volumes, originally published in England, are fascinating to look at as well as intriguing to read. Using newly developed computer graphics applications to topography, they present striking illustrations of land battles, thus providing new perspectives for study and understanding. This would be quite exciting in itself, but the books also include many other excellent illustrations, maps, diagrams, photographs, and portraits, both in words and pictures, of those involved in these historic actions. The texts are easy to read and interesting; boxes and sidebars add significant information in inviting bites. Great Commanders covers battles and their leaders from Alexander the Great to Moshe Dayen and the Sinai Campaign in 1956. Much of the coverage is European, but some Asian campaigns are included. There is a definite English point of view. The history, however, is carefully presented and the opponents in each situation are profiled and placed in context. World War II includes photographs and explications of weapons and equipment. Additionally, much information is provided about the home fronts and propaganda from each side. In both of these volumes, the computer-enhanced "pictures" of the battles are in color and clearly described. There are, as well, many other illustrations in color and all are clear and well reproduced. These should prove to be most helpful for assignments as well as for pleasure reading.
Susan H. Woodcock, King's Park Library, Burke, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Smithmark Publishers (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765193361
• ISBN-13: 978-0765193360
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 10 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,795,549 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking Artwork, August 23, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Mclean, Virginia) - See all my reviews

The book uses computer graphics and pictures that really make you feel like your in a Situation planning room with some the Great Generals. The Author also uses breathtaking artwork of a battle in progress that absorbs you into the bloodiest conflict of our century. From Midway to Moscow, this is definitly the kind of book every war buff should look at.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A instant classic, April 4, 2001

By	Jacob C. (Florida) - See all my reviews

Good information on important battles, with maps and extra pictures which tell about them. But the main thing about this book which lured me in were the amazing illustrations; especially the four page fold out D-Day illustration. A must have for any world war II buff.

4.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes older references are still the best, March 28, 2009

By	James Hebert "yoda the gadget guy" (Topeka, KS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Great Battles of World War II (Hardcover)

This volume was recommended on [...] by a teacher who uses the book in conjunction with a popular board game, called Memoir 44, to teach his students. He had found that Memoir 44 and this book were related closely enough that he could use the book along with the game. He pointed out some highlights that included 3D terrain views of key battles, shown from different vantage points, that displayed how having better information can lead to better decision-making.

I have this game and appreciate its approach (more accessible to casual gamers, as opposed to a deep, 2-3 hour strategic and tactical brain-burning session!), and his comments drove me to Amazon to look for it.

Even though this book's jacket actually touts terrain images that come from "computer graphics generated by microchip" (now there's a humorous early attempt at spin), and although the graphics themselves are low resolution, it does not detract from the value of reading and learning out these decisive moments in history. Frankly, having "cooler" computer images would only update the look of the layout, and not teach any more effectively than the graphics as they look now.

There are many callouts, boxes, maps and terrain images in the book, on nearly every spread, as well as superior artwork showing these battles in a larger scale. The text is detailed and tells a good story, drawing you into the drama that unfolded at each scene.

The type is a tad small and closely leaded (line by line spacing), but of course a younger audience will have no difficulty with that.

For gaining a more accurate visual understanding of keybattles of WWII from 1940-1945, this older book remains an excellent choice.