Sparks Commentary: A review of “World War II” (audiobook)

I should preface this review by saying that I’ve seen a number of other great histories of World War II. For example, I’ve seen the American perspective covered in Ken Burns’ 15-hour series “The War” (made for PBS). I’ve seen other series that cover the Canadian and Australian perspectives respectively. I’ve seen the so-called “BBC History of World War II” – which, despite its inaccurate name, is still quite good. And I’ve seen the 23-hour British miniseries “The World at War.” This may be the most comprehensive television history of World War II. Thus, I’ve seen a number of other great histories of World War II. The “BBC History of World War II” has a fantastic program on the causes of the war, and another giving in-depth coverage of the Holocaust. But the primary focus of the BBC is on the combat of the war itself. Many of these series were able to interview eyewitnesses and participants, which adds another dynamic to the various documentaries.

By contrast, this audiobook is only 5 hours long. And, given my prior experience with Knowledge Products, I figured that they were likely to give a different kind of history. In this respect, I was not much disappointed. First and foremost, this audiobook talks about the causes of the war. I certainly learned some things from its coverage of the diplomatic history, which occurred between the two World Wars. I’d heard very little about some of these diplomatic agreements that are mentioned herein. This audiobook quotes from some of the major documents, and gives good analysis (among other things) of the economic factors. I also liked its discussion of the various European colonies in Africa and Asia, including British India. The political campaigns of people like Mahatma Gandhi are seldom covered in the standard histories of World War II.

FDR and Churchill aboard HMS Prince of Wales – Atlantic Charter, 1941

The historical events that led to World War II, and to America getting involved therein

This audiobook likewise covers some of the major events that preceded World War II. These included the German expansionism in Europe, the Japanese wars in Manchuria and China, and the Spanish Civil War (among many other events). But this audiobook also covers the motivations of the various powers on both sides. On the Axis side, there is an analysis of German and Italian fascism (including their racial motivations), and the Japanese attitudes towards the various Western colonies in East Asia. And, on the American and British sides, they analyze the pro-colonial attitudes of the British, and the “Open Door” policies of the United States. That is, the Americans wanted greater access to most of the world markets. This audiobook covers many parts of the war that happened before America officially entered the war. For example, this audiobook covers the British defeats in Greece and Crete, the Nazi takeover of France, and the Battle of Britain – where the Royal Air Force turned the tide of the war. This audiobook covers Hitler’s initial attack on the Soviet Union, and the degree of early American involvement in the Battle of the Atlantic. With the sinking of the Lusitania in the last war, the United States was reluctant to get involved in another European war. But American attitudes were changed almost overnight by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This was accompanied by other Japanese attacks on the British – in Singapore, Malaya, and Hong Kong. This audiobook certainly covers the motivations behind Pearl Harbor, and behind the subsequent German and Italian declarations of war on the United States. Other Axis powers soon did the same, causing America to then declare war on all of them.

Memorial service at Kaneohe for Americans killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor, 1941

American troops on board a landing craft heading into Oran – North Africa, 1942

Generally good coverage of the diplomacy, but has a few errors on military history

This audiobook covers the fall of the Philippines, and Douglas MacArthur’s famous declaration: “I shall return.” They cover the campaigns in North Africa and Italy, in the early parts of the war. There are some factual misstatements about certain aspects of the naval war in the Pacific. For example, this audiobook argues that the Battle of Midway was the first naval battle in history fought by fleets hundreds of miles apart. That is, this audiobook argues that it was the first naval battle in history to be fought by ship-based air power. But, in fact, that distinction goes to the Battle of Coral Sea, which was shortly before the Battle of Midway. They also argue that Guadalcanal was primarily a land battle. However, Guadalcanal seems to have involved more naval casualties for the United States than land casualties. This audiobook seems to have been written by an expert in diplomatic history, who had read the memoirs of various statesmen and generals on both sides. That is, it seems not to have been written by an expert on the military side of the war. This part is more forgivable, since there are advantages to this audiobook’s chosen approach – and the decision about who was to write the script for it.

Two Japanese transports beached and burning – Guadalcanal, 1942

United States Marines drag dead Japanese soldiers after the Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942

Comments on the bias of this audiobook, particularly regarding the war in the East

This audiobook certainly covers the campaigns in France, and the shocking discoveries about the extent of the Holocaust. The audiobook covers Nazi atrocities, Soviet atrocities, and even Japanese atrocities (which is refreshing). But the audiobook seems to imply that American atrocities were just as common, which is grossly misleading. This audiobook correctly blames the Japanese American internment on American racism. But the audiobook also argues that this racism led to the atomic bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The audiobook further argues that this racism led to the comparable firebombing raids on Tokyo, which proved even more destructive than the atomic bombs. But the Americans also engaged in similar firebombing raids on German cities like Hamburg and Dresden. Given this fact, this audiobook’s argument that the bombing of Japan was caused by “racial” motivations would seem rather silly.

Aftermath of the bombing of Dresden – Germany, 1945

Aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima – Japan, 1945

Some unwarranted criticisms of the bombings, and even the postwar Nuremberg trials

This audiobook seems to be against all of the bombing, arguing that it was “uncivilized.” This audiobook even argues that the bombings broke international law, seeming to ignore that the Germans did these things first. This audiobook actually argues that the Allies did it first, but this seems like a gross misstatement on their part. The Nazis had actually tried to get the atomic bomb first. This audiobook argues that the Nazis were nowhere near getting the bomb. Thus, this audiobook argues that the development of the atomic bomb actually “led” to the Cold War. But there was a real danger that some hostile power (possibly Russia or Germany) would get it first. Thus, there are a number of erroneous arguments on their part. Some of these errors are shared by the aforementioned television history of “The World at War.” Other errors seem to be more unique, and less understandable. For example, they make the argument that the Nuremberg trials were “ineffective,” and set a bad precedent. I have known few others to hold this strange view.

Bodies in the death train at Dachau concentration camp, 1945

The Nuremberg trials

The author (possibly a libertarian) seems a bit too pessimistic regarding the war’s legacy

In fairness, this audiobook does take FDR to task for expanding the power of the federal government. In particular, this audiobook takes him to task for expanding the power of the executive branch itself during the war. Thus, the author seems to be coming from a libertarian perspective, rather than a strictly liberal perspective. Nonetheless, this audiobook seems a bit more pessimistic than it should be about the end of World War II. The audiobook seems to argue that World War II only “led” to the Cold War – with the Iron Curtain in Europe, and the lesser-known “Bamboo Curtain” in East Asia. There is a kernel of truth in this. But the audiobook ignores the fact that World War II was a real victory for the Allies. This war led to the defeat of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. As Stephen Ambrose once put it, “the good guys won, the bad guys lost, and justice has never been better served.” Thus, the pessimistic mood at the end of this audiobook would seem a bit misplaced.

Marshall Plan aid in West Berlin, 1949

The first women in the Japanese Diet (the legislature of Japan), 1946

Conclusion: This audiobook has a few strengths, but is still something of a disappointment

In fairness, this audiobook did accomplish much regarding the diplomatic history. Not many historians have the patience to read unsettling diary entries by the likes of Joseph Goebbels (the Nazi propaganda minister). But some of this audiobook’s conclusions should still be taken with a grain of salt. This audiobook is good on some things, and bad on other things. In some ways, this audiobook was actually a bit of a disappointment. But it may still be worth consulting, for the many things that it really does do quite well.

Audiobook at AudiobooksNow.com

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A review of “ANZAC: Australians at War in World War II”

A review of “Canada at War” (Canadian experience of World War II)

A review of Ken Burns’ “The War” (American experience of World War II)

A review of the “BBC History of World War II” (miscellaneous installments)

A review of “The World at War” (British miniseries about World War II)

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