Churchill's WW II

[dhermann1]

I just figured out that Baron Kurtz, Spitfire and I are all at about the same point reading Winston Churchill's 6 volume History of WW II (I think we're all on vol 5). How many other Loungers are reading or have read, or even have thought about reading Churchill's great opus? It's well worth the effort. I'd like to hear other peoples' opinions and impressions.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Well............

As I pull mine off the bookshelf, I see I have bookmarks at pages 24,184,and 480. I don't know where I left off, so it looks like I'll be starting that one again, again!

Thanks for reminding me!

-dixon cannon

 

[KL15]

As a devotee of Sir Winston, I've read his history of the WWII. It's a bit slanted in parts, but to the victor go the spoils. His history of the English speaking people is a good read as well.

 

[Harp]

...but to the victor go the spoils.

Arguably the leading figure of the 20th C, his war volumes are indeed memorable,
but his ouster by Labour certainly adds irony.

 

[dhermann1]

As a devotee of Sir Winston, I've read his history of the WWII. It's a bit slanted in parts, but to the victor go the spoils. His history of the English speaking people is a good read as well.

Well, he did say "This is not history, it's my case!". He dovotes a lot of ink to issues that bacame controversail. For example he says that the idea that he wanted to scuttle Overlord completely and attack Germany thru the Balkans was "a legend". He's at pains throughout to reiterate his support for the cross channel operation. I'm looking forward to reading his version of his trip to Athens over Christmas of 1944. It was really his last dangerous adventure, at the ripe old age of 70. Great stuff! Great stuff! Anyone who's a fan like me, I recommend (among so many others) John Colville's "On the Fringes of Power". Colville was Churchill's private secratary for most of the war, and his point of view is a lot of fun.

 

[Harp]

Well, he did say "This is not history, it's my case!". He dovotes a lot of ink to issues that bacame controversail. For example he says that the idea that he wanted to scuttle Overlord completely and attack Germany thru the Balkans was "a legend". He's at pains throughout to reiterate his support for the cross channel operation.

Churchill's objection to Overlord is commented upon elsewhere,
and Eisenhower had his times with him. Churchill's memoirs, to some extent,
attend to posterity and attempt is made to mend a few fences.

 

[KL15]

Well, he did say "This is not history, it's my case!". He dovotes a lot of ink to issues that bacame controversail. For example he says that the idea that he wanted to scuttle Overlord completely and attack Germany thru the Balkans was "a legend". He's at pains throughout to reiterate his support for the cross channel operation. I'm looking forward to reading his version of his trip to Athens over Christmas of 1944. It was really his last dangerous adventure, at the ripe old age of 70. Great stuff! Great stuff! Anyone who's a fan like me, I recommend (among so many others) John Colville's "On the Fringes of Power". Colville was Churchill's private secratary for most of the war, and his point of view is a lot of fun.

True enough. I suppose I, like some, am guilty of seeing this as history.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Just finished Volume IV . . .

. . . North Africa mopped up. Italy the Goal!

The most interesting thing so far has been the relations between Churchill, FDR & Uncle Joe. There are some incredibly complex and puzzling telegraphs issuing from the Kremlin where the Russians just don't seem to realise that "Second Front Now!!" would mean the end of the U.S. and British fighting capability. The constant demands for supplies and stern telegraphs that Britain wasn't doing enough to send supplies to the Russians. And apparently it was never brought up that Russia would have happily seen Britain over-run for the first year of the war. I loved the account of Churchill's trip to Moscow and the drinking session that ended it. Great stuff.

If for nothing else, Churchill's analysis of the lead-up to the war (Volume I) is worth it. This was the most insightful analysis i've yet seen - and with surprisingly little "told you so"-type prose. Churchill was a wondful writer with a great writing voice. Allof this comes through well in these volumes.

bk

 

[dhermann1]

My set is missing volume 1, but I had just finished William Manchester's 2 volumes of bio, which end on May 10th 1940, just when Vol 2 starts. I intend to backtrack and catch up eventually. Leonard Mosley's "On Borrowed Time" also gives a good description of the run up to war. For the North African campaign I recommend Norman Gelb's "Desperate Venture". I own, but haven't read,"The Desert Generals", by Correlli Barnett. To slightly change the subject, I find Eisenhower's time in Algiers fascinating. I see this as the moment that made him. I wish some one would write a book on the subject. Another subject of endless debate is the question of Eisenhower's broad front approach versus the British desire to fight a definitive "great battle" in France. (Oversimplification of issue, yes I know.) And yes, it makes you suspect the story that I've always heard that Stalin had FDR in his pocket and FDR was completely taken in by him. FDR was not that simple minded.
Oh, there are a thousand thousand lifetimes worth of interesting topics regarding WWII!