Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945 | 
| Author: Max Hastings
Publisher: Knopf
Category: Book
List Price: $35.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  82 reviews
Sales Rank: 27701
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 640
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.4
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 0375414339
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.5421
EAN: 9780375414336
ASIN: 0375414339
Publication Date: November 16, 2004
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Product Description
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 Huertgen 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: Read 77 more reviews...
 always good reading July 21, 2008
I like the war books written by Max Hastings. I have found them to be very well-written, and remarkably readable. His output is impressive, and his books are well worth the purchase price.
He seems, to me at least, to be the master of telling stories that make all of us realize how terrible war really is.
I have had to put his books down several times, after reading accounts that make me gasp. I have not fought in any wars, and after reading Hastings' books, I am more than glad I have not.
I am not sure I agree with his opinions of various generals and leaders. He is, at least, an equal opportunity critic, and he spares no-one. I do think many generals were better than he gives them credit for being, but he is certainly entitled to his well -written opinions.
I would recommend any book by Max Hastings. Agree always, or not, he is very readable, and very good.
He captures the sheer horror of war far more effectively than nearly every current military historian.
For that reason alone, he is remarkable.
Very Enlightening...Abu Ghraib was nothing folks July 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Wow... I guess, I had heard some of this info in countless documentaries, but with all of the press about the west, I didn't realize how much carnage and turmoil was going on in the Eastern front. For instance that more Russians died conquering East Prussia than the total amount of Americans lost in all of the European theater (France, etc). Also, I suppose its beneficial that we as a people have lost our taste for this type of carnage. I mean all the killing of civillians on both fronts not to mention the horrors in the Eastern front. Well, at least they didn't force those civillians to get into a pile naked instead of kill them...Imagine that uproar. Abu Graib pails compared to the daily horrors (the women nailed to barn doors,etc) that happened in that last year alone. A very informative and interesting read to say the least, can't wait to read the Japanese book.
 The Final Battle for Europe 1944/1945 June 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I find Mr. Hastings analysis of the last eight months of the battle for Europe refreshingly different. In all my readings from Winston Churchill's Second World War to the numerous biographies of the famous participants of this conflict, there has always been a romantic and heroic writing of epic proportions. In real life this is not true.
However Mr. Hastings, an Englishman offers a very critical analysis of the English Army during this period. While it is true that English influence at this time of the struggle was both ineffective and at times bumbling, it really shows a picture which in the whole view of the conflict is unfair. It's almost like quoting out of context. If it were not for Mr. Churhill's England the war certainly would have been lost.
While it is true that the Soviet Union's contribution to the War effort was indeed large and most beneficial, this conflict would have never been resolved by them alone. In the end it truly was the United States effort which won this struggle. Without the Lend Lease Act, the American Army, Navy and Air Corps, Germany would have prevailed.
Mr. Hastings has compiled many observations by men and women on the ground during this critical time. I am also a Veteran and can recount many memories as a Junior Officer in the Vietnam Conflict. My memories are clear but they are mine. I can ask any other Vietnam Veteran if they share all my memories. I don't think so! The personal observations as written by Mr. Hastings were done very well. But remember these are mere asides in his recollection of these times. Remember the Russian soldier had no choice but to move forward. An American or Brit gave intelligent thought before they did. A true professional Teutonic, as Mr. Hastings said was truly the best soldier.
Max Hastings has put forth his theories of the culmunation of World War II in Europe. I agree with his assessment that the Western Allies were cautious. I wouldn't criticize them for this.
In general the Russians were vulgar and possessed no military elan. They were just brutal. War in itself is a crime. Russia indeed was criminal as were the Germans. The English speaking Countries turned out to be the decisive factor. In the end this is a fact.
Armageddon June 11, 2008
The author, as a World War II historian, ranks with the best.I would recommend that anyone who is a student of of history read his books and enjoy them.
 This review refers to the Kindle edition of the book May 2, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
While I agree with the majority of the other reviewers that this book is very well written, the Kindle edition of the book suffers from a serious problem: Its maps were converted to the Kindle format very sloppily, causing much of the text within the maps to become illegible.
This is a serious drawback for any book about military history, and it could have been avoided if the publisher had been a bit more careful when converting the maps - for example, by splitting the maps into two images that could have been displayed on two pages with an ultimately higher resolution than it is the case now. The current version is just sloppy, and thus I have to reduce my evaluation down to three stars.
Buyers of the printed edition will obviously be unaffected by this.
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