The Strategists: Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt, Mussolini and Hitler How War Made Them, And How They Made War

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A bold revisionist history exploring the impact of WW1 on the mindsets and strategic decisions of WW2's most important leaders In THE STRATEGISTS, Professor Phillips Payson O'Brien shows how the views these five leaders forged in WW1 are crucial to understanding how they fought WW2. For example, Churchill's experiences of facing the German Army in France in 1916 made him unwilling to send masses of British soldiers back there in the 1940s, while Hitler's mistakes on the Eastern Front were influenced by his reluctance to accept that conditions had changed since his own time fighting. The implications of the power of leaders remain with us to this day- to truly understand what is happening in Ukraine, for example, requires us to know what has influenced the leaders involved. This is a history in which leaders - and their choices - matter. For better or worse.

Reviews

Phillips Payson OBrien is one of our finest historical thinkers. The Strategists shows him at the height of his powers: a book full of deep perception, convincingly challenging many entrenched views and examining these five leaders that so shaped the modern world in an entirely fresh, brilliantly insightful and utterly compelling way. Everyone with an interest in not just the Second World War, but the twentieth century and beyond, should read this without delay. * James Holland, author of Normandy 44 *
The Strategists matches a remarkably wide-ranging expertise with an eye for telling detail and a lucid style. It is full of fascinating insights about the use and misuse of power: global, national and individual. * Professor Daniel Todman, author of Britain's War *
A worthy addition [to bookshelves] . . . compelling * Kirkus *
OBriens fluid prose makes for enchanting reading; theres never a dull moment.... For military history buffs, this is a must-read. * Publishers Weekly *
This books most important argument is that the western allies were proved decisively right in viewing the Second World War as an oceanic struggle...it is entirely right for each generation of historians and OBrien is two decades younger than me to think anew about everything. -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *
O'Brien is seeking to do something more useful than rehashing all the old stories. He is trying to set the Second World War in deeper historical context by drawing out connections with the First World War . . . The Strategists reminds us that humans matter too. -- Jonathan Boff * Literary Review *
A colourful and compelling read . . . with anecdotes that help the protagonists spring to life. -- Andrew Lynch * Irish Independent *
Thanks to the engaging nature of the subjectsand Mr. OBriens care not to go too far down rabbit holes about weaponry, gulags, local politics and psychologythe narrative moves briskly. By linking decisions to identifiable personality traits, The Strategists provides insight into the minds of titans who vied for Europes destiny. * Wall Street Journal *

Author Bio

Phillips Payson O'Brien is Professor of Strategic Studies at St Andrews. He is the author of How the War Was Won- Air-Sea Power and Allied Victory in World War II. He has written for The Atlantic, The Spectator and Foreign Affairs, and has a combined following of over 200k on Twitter and Substack.