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To Lose a Battle: France 1940 Paperback – November 27, 2007

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Alistair Horne (Author)
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4.7 out of 5 stars 48 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 736 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Books; Reprint edition (November 27, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0141030658
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141030654
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 1.3 x 7.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,352 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsAn excellent book
By K Greenwood on October 29, 2003
Format: Paperback
This is a fascinating review of France between its victory in 1918, and its fall in the summer of 1940. The first half of the book deals with the social and political upheaval in France during the interwar years, and the demise of French military power. The second half covers the debacle from the onset of the 2nd World War through France's fall. Very well written, fascinating and informative. The first book I read by Alistair Horne, and it got me hooked.
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3.0 out of 5 starsA Detailed Account of Disaster
By James Gallen VINE VOICE on March 5, 2003
Format: Hardcover
In "To Lose A Battle" Alastair Horne tells the story of the Fall of France in 1940 in great detail. Beginning with the political and military background which lead to French weakness, the reader is carried through to the final collapse and its aftermath.
The parts of the book which I liked the best were the beginning and the end. In the early parts we read how the tragedy of World War I set France up for failure in World War II. France had been badly divided politically for generations, a heritage which contributed to the disaster of 1940. The massive kill-off of 1914-18 followed by the low Depression-era birthrate left France with a much smaller manpower pool than had existed in 1914. The memory of World War I, along with the long-standing divisions in the French body politic prevented the French form preparing an army which could maintain the distinguished French military tradition.
During the reading of this book, I gained a deeper appreciation of the role played by the Maginot Line. I has always heard that it was the last stand of fixed fortifications. In this book we see how the costs of the Line and its personnel demands drained money and resources which would have been more productively devoted to other units. During the "Phony War" the only effective relief that France could have provided to embattled Poland would have been an invasion of Germany. The ultimate irony is that the impregnable Maginot Line formed a barrier, not only to German invasion, but also to a French advance into enemy territory.
The massive middle of the book explains the facts of the defeat of France in agonizing detail.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsBring it back into print!
By jtquin01@gwise.louisville.edu on April 26, 1999
Format: Paperback
It's a shame this book is out of print. Horne's book is the best treatment of the Battle of France I've come across so far.
Horne prelude's the battle very well with his analysis of French culture and politics during the inter-war years. His detailed descriptions of the major engagements are well written and obviously researched. His conclusions are not forced but seem to flow naturally.
The only aspect of the book that I would have altered is to tone down some of Horne's politically conservative prejudices. However, a dozen or so passages does not invalidate this excellent book. Highly recommended.
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4.0 out of 5 starsThe Causes and Unfolding of a Humiliating Rout
By Ethan Cooper VINE VOICE on February 20, 2011
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Readers who want a first-rate examination of the political, cultural, and military issues that produced Germany's rapid defeat of France in May 1940 will certainly enjoy TO LOSE A BATTLE. In TLaB, this information is primarily conveyed in Part One, this book's first eight chapters, where analysis strikes the perfect balance between overview and detail. Illustrating the level at which Alistair Horne approaches this material are the section heads, which in Chapter 3, "Fortune Changes Sides," are: Hitler Rearms; The `Revolutionary' Wehrmacht; Anti-Militarism in France; Political Scandals; and Beginnings of Civil War.

In contrast, Part Two of TLaB examines the Battle of France as it unfolds. In this section, each of the first eight chapters (pages 257-510) follows the battle developments on a single day. For example, Chapter 11, "On the Meuse", examines the situation on May 12. Its section heads are: The Low Countries; Guderian Across the Semois; Second Army; Guderian at Sedan; Reinhardt; Ninth Army Cavalry Withdraws; and so on. These sections, in other words, convey what a particular general or army was experiencing during a certain tactical moment in the battle. Here, Horne's command of detail is impressive. Still, the actual evolution of events was not always easy to follow. I'd suggest more maps.

After the detailed battle analysis of Part Two, I found the final chapter, "Aftermath", to be a welcome jump back to the macro level, where Horne delivers great insights about the after-effects of this battle. These include:

o "But Hitler... had thought no further ahead...; no contingency plan had been prepared whereby a tottering Britain might be invaded immediately after success had been achieved in France... The Germans had missed the bus...Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsFascinating narration
By Bala Narayanaswamy on January 24, 2006
Format: Hardcover
I have tried many books in the past to learn about the military aspects of the german invasion of france in 1940. I wanted to read about the fall of Eben Emael, the tactics Guderian employed to cross Meuse, how Rommel crossed Dinant, the role of Luftwaffe etc.etc. I must say that ONLY THIS BOOK covers all of the above in a very engrossing style.

I also loved the excerpts (from the then newspaper headlines) at the start of each chapter. I also liked the quotes that the author uses to make us see things in perspective (eg., when talking about General Maurice Gamelin's preference to experience over technology, the author quotes Fredrick the great - "Experience is useless unless the right conclusions are drawn from it" !!)

I strongly recommend to all lovers of WW2 books. If you have read Stephen Ambrose & Cornelius Ryan, you also want to read Alistair Horne!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great read, really well written.

Published 2 months ago by Peter
5.0 out of 5 starsA superb account of events leading upto the Fall of France in 1940

This is probably my favourite military history book. I almost lose track of the number of times I have read it; certainly I have already once replaced the copy I bought in the... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Alan. J. Reynolds
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat book

Well documented and enjoyable to read.
A bit biased toward the Brits and aginst the French, but that had to be expected!

Published 5 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsVery informative

Lots of good information on the Battle of France. There are areas I want more details on, but each of them probably deserves its own book. Read more

Published 7 months ago by J. Hylton
4.0 out of 5 starsPage turner

Masterful Narrative with Tension and Suspense. Although the outcome is known, the gripping progression of events makes me care about the fortune and fate of the victor and... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Phoque
4.0 out of 5 starsit is still the best account of the fall of France in 1940

Even though this has been out for many years, it is still the best account of the fall of France in 1940. Read more

Published 8 months ago by John de Angelo
5.0 out of 5 starsStill easily the best book on the subject

Even though this has been out for many years, it is still the best account of the fall of France in 1940. Read more

Published 8 months ago by John S. D'Angelo
5.0 out of 5 starsa detailed but easily accessible account of the Fall of France in WW2

For most histories of World War 2, the defeat of France in 1940 is presented as a foregone conclusion, based on the premise of Germany's advances in armoured warfare, their larger... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Craig MACKINNON
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

great

Published 11 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsEngaging, comprehensive history of the campaign

I've read this book twice now, and it has been consistently excellent both times. Horne combines his amazing gifts of interpersonal dynamics, historical background, and military... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Magnitude

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