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Armageddon
The Battle For Germany, 1944-1945
by Max Hastings

8.6 based on 10 reviews read critic reviews how did we calculate this? based on 9 votes read user comments rate this book

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• Official Publisher Site

The British military historian's epic-length book tells the story of the final eight brutal months of World War II.

Knopf, 640 pages
11/16/2004
$30.00

ISBN: 0375414339

Nonfiction
History

All reviews are classified as one of five grades: Outstanding (4 points), Favorable (3), Mixed (2), Unfavorable (1) and Terrible (0). To calculate the Metascore, we divide total points achieved by the total points possible (i.e., 4 x the number of reviews), with the resulting percentage (multiplied by 100) being the Metascore. Learn more...

Library Journal Charles M. Minyard

[Hastings] does an excellent job of tying the tactical, operational, and strategic fighting into one coherent and flowing account.

Houston Chronicle Chris Patsilelis

Hastings' incisive, superbly written and comprehensive book is far from a dry academic exercise. Using newly available archival material from Russia as well as interviews, letters and memoirs, he provides searing scenes of the human experience of war.

The New York Times Book Review James J. Sheehan

Display[s Hastins'] distinctive virtues as a military historian: a clear, uncluttered style, absolute mastery of the technical details of combat and the ability to combine an analysis of the strategic situation with vivid descriptions of individuals and events. Armageddon is a richer, more ambitious, more challenging and provocative book than ''Overlord."

Publishers Weekly

Ranks among the very best military history volumes of the year.

Daily Telegraph Antony Beevor

This is a rich field of enquiry and Hastings does a magnificent job.

Daily Telegraph Patrick Bishop

Armageddon is deep and dark with the power to invade your dreams. A master historian is back and at the height of his powers.

The Spectator William Deedes

What is admirable about this sweeping and well-researched study of Europe in that fateful year is the way Hastings makes us aware of the colossal physical damage, carnage and sheer human misery that are partly attributable to that ultimatum ‘unconditional surrender’.

Booklist Jay Freeman

Comprehensive and riveting... Both specialists and general readers will appreciate this outstanding examination of the closing months of this life-and-death struggle with the scourge of Nazism.

Wall Street Journal Alistair Horne

Every leader contemplating a military operation, for whatever reason, should read this book and take several deep breaths. Armageddon is the name of the last stop on the line.

Washington Post Omer Bartov

While this is hardly an untold story, Hastings's gripping narrative blends individual accounts, sweeping reconstructions of battles and devastating criticisms of military and political leaders.

The average user rating for this book is 8.6 (out of 10) based on 9 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Paul W gave it a10:
A breathtaking account

jim t gave it a10:
Exceptionally well written primary source historical work. Reader will learn many new facets of the greatest conflict in human history.

John gave it a10:
One of the most thoughtful, incisive and literate books on the ETO of WW2 I've read. Probably in the top 3 of anything I've read from this period. He writes with the humanity of Ambrose but is bold and inpartial in his judgement.

roger s gave it a10:
Excellent, detailed, riveting. Opens up the history of 1944-45 beyond the traditional Anglo-American centred viewpoit.

Chris C gave it a9:
A masterclass of one of the "forgotten periods" of World War II. Hastings shows a true understanding of just how brutal WWII was and how no nation could truly walk away with heads held high. The fact that finally an author is prepared to stand up and say without the Russian armed forces sacrifice Hitler would not of been defeated is refreshing - even more refreshing is his scathing comments on certain allied generals who always seem to have been sacrosanct. A real eye opener of a book - but a brutal and dark read considering its subject matter

David D gave it a10:
Shattering. I have read many books on WWII and considered myself something of a buff but this book showed me an entirely new and real world. I saw my nation's contribution with fresh eyes, a touch of shame and embarrassment over our grandiosity. Yes, Americans and British fought, but largely we sent our dollars to war and bought victory with Soviet blood and then condemned half of Europe into another nightmare for 50 more years. VE day will never seem the same again.

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