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Title details for 1939 by Richard Overy - Available

1939

Countdown to War

by Richard Overy
Simon Prebble
Audiobook
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On August 24, 1939, the world held its collective breath as Hitler and Stalin signed the now infamous nonaggression pact, signaling an imminent invasion of Poland and daring Western Europe to respond.


In this dramatic account of the final days before the outbreak of World War II, award-winning historian Richard Overy vividly chronicles the unraveling of peace, hour by grim hour, as politicians and ordinary citizens brace themselves for a war that could spell the end of European civilization.


Nothing was entirely predictable or inevitable. The West hoped that Hitler would see sense if they stood firm. Hitler was convinced the West would back down. Moments of uncertainty alternated with those of confrontation; secret intelligence was used by both sides to support their hopes. The one constant feature was the determination of Poland, a country created only in 1919, to protect its newfound independence against a vastly superior enemy.


1939 documents a defining moment in the violent history of the twentieth century.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    September 23, 2010

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781400198672
      • File size: 96970 KB
      • Duration: 03:22:01

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This brief book examines politics and diplomacy leading up to the outbreak of WWII, with a brief look at the initial violence. Simon Prebble's crisp British accent and pleasant, slightly gruff voice fit the no-nonsense reportage and occasional analysis of a dreadfully serious historical moment. The book is brisk, and he keeps it moving but not so quickly that it becomes impossible to track its many people and events. The level of detail actually makes the story more interesting, rather than less so, and Prebble's reading, never showy but clearly and well inflected, supports that interest. This is what listeners of serious nonfiction want: an intelligent book intelligently read. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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