Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945
by: Max Hastings
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Armageddon is the epic story of the last eight months of World War II in Europe by Max Hastings–one of Britain’s most highly regarded military historians, whose accounts of past battles John Keegan has described as worthy “to stand with that of the best journalists and writers” (New York Times Book Review).
In September 1944, the Allies believed that Hitler’s army was beaten, and expected that the war would be over by Christmas. But the disastrous Allied airborne landing in Holland, American setbacks on the German border and in the Hürtgen Forest, together with the bitter Battle of the Bulge, drastically altered that timetable. Hastings tells the story of both the Eastern and Western Fronts, and paints a vivid portrait of the Red Army’s onslaught on Hitler’s empire. He has searched the archives of the major combatants and interviewed 170 survivors to give us an unprecedented understanding of how the great battles were fought, and of their human impact on American, British, German, and Russian soldiers and civilians.
Hastings raises provocative questions: Were the Western Allied cause and campaign compromised by a desire to get the Soviets to do most of the fighting? Why were the Russians and Germans more effective soldiers than the Americans and British? Why did the bombing of Germany’s cities continue until the last weeks of the war, when it could no longer influence the outcome? Why did the Germans prove more fanatical foes than the Japanese, fighting to the bitter end? This book also contains vivid portraits of Stalin, Churchill, Eisenhower, Montgomery, and the other giants of the struggle.
The crucial final months of the twentieth century’s greatest global conflict come alive in this rousing and revelatory chronicle.
Armageddon is the epic story of the last eight months of World War II in Europe by Max Hastings–one of Britain’s most highly regarded military historians, whose accounts of past battles John Keegan has described as worthy “to stand with that of the best journalists and writers” (New York Times Book Review).
In September 1944, the Allies believed that Hitler’s army was beaten, and expected that the war would be over by Christmas. But the disastrous Allied airborne landing in Holland, American setbacks on the German border and in the Hürtgen Forest, together with the bitter Battle of the Bulge, drastically altered that timetable. Hastings tells the story of both the Eastern and Western Fronts, and paints a vivid portrait of the Red Army’s onslaught on Hitler’s empire. He has searched the archives of the major combatants and interviewed 170 survivors to give us an unprecedented understanding of how the great battles were fought, and of their human impact on American, British, German, and Russian soldiers and civilians.
Hastings raises provocative questions: Were the Western Allied cause and campaign compromised by a desire to get the Soviets to do most of the fighting? Why were the Russians and Germans more effective soldiers than the Americans and British? Why did the bombing of Germany’s cities continue until the last weeks of the war, when it could no longer influence the outcome? Why did the Germans prove more fanatical foes than the Japanese, fighting to the bitter end? This book also contains vivid portraits of Stalin, Churchill, Eisenhower, Montgomery, and the other giants of the struggle.
The crucial final months of the twentieth century’s greatest global conflict come alive in this rousing and revelatory chronicle.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Comprehensive study of both fronts
Concise and highly readable. Blends the strategic issues at the top with the tactical issues being dealth with in the field. Utilizes a broad range of first person accounts from American, British, German, and Russian soldiers and officers to flesh out the narrative without straying off course. It's a warts and all book with sometimes brilliant observations of the shortcomings of leadership, the petty rivalries that cost mens lives, and the heroics that led to victory. Unlike man other books, it helps ... Read More
Rating: - The best piece dealing with the Second World War in Europe that I have ever read
This book is quite literally brilliant.In my opinion this is the finest book on its subject -- the latter part of the Second World War in Europe, that I have ever come across or read.This one ranks five stars both for its content and for its readability.It is literally a page-turner, and I stayed up late several evenings reading through it.
Most history buffs, myself included, have read enough about the Second World War such that we begin to imagine that there is nothing much new to ... Read More
Rating: - One theater, two wars.
"American and British officers knew that their citizen soldiers were attempting to fulfil tasks which ran profoundly against the grain of their societies' culture. The Germans and Russians in the Second World War showed themselves better warriors, but worse human beings. This is not a cultural conceit, but a moral truth of the utmost importance to understanding what took place on the battlefield ... If American and British soldiers of 1944-45 had matched the military prowess and become imbued with the ... Read More
Rating: 
- Be prepared for the long haul...
First off, I graded this moreso on how difficult a read this was and not so much the content. There is no doubt that Hastings thoroughly researched this material. It's all here and then some. I've read the reviews about incorrect details which is something I can forgive when such a broad subject is covered.
For me, the difficult part was keeping it all tied together - it may not be the author's fault - more of a personal limitation. Be warned, if you aren't interested in having most if not ... Read More
Rating: 
- An interesting WW II perspective
Max Hastings is an excellent British historian who bings an interesting perspective to the last year of World War II in the European Theater of Operations. Not only does he look at what happened in the military context but also the effect of the war on PoWs on both sides and civilians particularly the Germans of East Prussia.
He has some interesting comments on the war in the air and airborne assaults both of which he criticizes. British Air Marshal "Bomber" Harris comes in for particular ... Read More
- Comprehensive study of both frontsConcise and highly readable. Blends the strategic issues at the top with the tactical issues being dealth with in the field. Utilizes a broad range of first person accounts from American, British, German, and Russian soldiers and officers to flesh out the narrative without straying off course. It's a warts and all book with sometimes brilliant observations of the shortcomings of leadership, the petty rivalries that cost mens lives, and the heroics that led to victory. Unlike man other books, it helps ... Read More
- The best piece dealing with the Second World War in Europe that I have ever readThis book is quite literally brilliant.In my opinion this is the finest book on its subject -- the latter part of the Second World War in Europe, that I have ever come across or read.This one ranks five stars both for its content and for its readability.It is literally a page-turner, and I stayed up late several evenings reading through it.
Most history buffs, myself included, have read enough about the Second World War such that we begin to imagine that there is nothing much new to ... Read More
- One theater, two wars."American and British officers knew that their citizen soldiers were attempting to fulfil tasks which ran profoundly against the grain of their societies' culture. The Germans and Russians in the Second World War showed themselves better warriors, but worse human beings. This is not a cultural conceit, but a moral truth of the utmost importance to understanding what took place on the battlefield ... If American and British soldiers of 1944-45 had matched the military prowess and become imbued with the ... Read More
- Be prepared for the long haul...First off, I graded this moreso on how difficult a read this was and not so much the content. There is no doubt that Hastings thoroughly researched this material. It's all here and then some. I've read the reviews about incorrect details which is something I can forgive when such a broad subject is covered.
For me, the difficult part was keeping it all tied together - it may not be the author's fault - more of a personal limitation. Be warned, if you aren't interested in having most if not ... Read More
- An interesting WW II perspectiveMax Hastings is an excellent British historian who bings an interesting perspective to the last year of World War II in the European Theater of Operations. Not only does he look at what happened in the military context but also the effect of the war on PoWs on both sides and civilians particularly the Germans of East Prussia.
He has some interesting comments on the war in the air and airborne assaults both of which he criticizes. British Air Marshal "Bomber" Harris comes in for particular ... Read More
