WWII: Views from the Other Side Published on Metropolitan Library System (

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1 [1] Posted by: Chris Cockrum on Wednesday, February 17th, 2016 [2] There is no shortage of research material documenting the Second World War. And there is certainly no shortage of sub-topics to explore pertaining to the events of this crucial era in history. Much has been discussed of the war from the perspective of the Allied powers regarding conditions both on the battlefront and at home. However, another interesting topic regarding the war pertains to the experiences of those living under the three authoritarian regimes at the heart of the Tripartite Act. As the governments of Germany, Italy and Japan aggressively moved to secure their own specific expansionist interests, were all citizens of these respective nations truly in support of their leaders actions? What was life like for those living under these regimes? Where did the hearts and minds of citizens, politicians and soldiers truly lie during this time of conflict? The following books offer some interesting answers to these questions. [3] The German War [3] by Nicholas Stargardt In The German War, historian Nicholas Stargardt attempts to shed a little more light on the collective mindset of the German people as they became enablers and, ultimately, victims of Nazi fanaticism during the WWII years. Through extensive research, the author has formulated a compilation of materials such as personal diaries, court records, and military correspondence to give the reader unique insight into the hearts and minds of the German populace as the nation undertook the war effort for the cause of National Socialism. Drawing on testimonies Page 1 of 5

2 belonging to various segments of German society, from infantrymen and tank commanders on the Eastern front to housewives and teachers at home, Stargardt presents an unparalleled portrait of wartime Germany, and provides a detailed look of the hopes and expectations of the German people during this time. [4] What We Knew, Terror, Mass Murder, and Everyday Life in Nazi Germany [4] by Eric A. Johnson Offering perspectives from varying segments of the German population, author Eric A. Johnson details the often-astonishing accounts of everyday life under the Third Reich and the chaos that Nazism brought not only to Germany but to the whole of Europe. As told from the perspective of those who lived it, What We Knew presents a collection of first-hand testimonies from those involved in the Holocaust including Jewish deportees, concentration camp survivors and ordinary German citizens as well as those in military service during that troubling time. Depicting themes such as the harrowing struggles for survival facing those fleeing persecution, the bleak ideologies of fervent Nazi supporters, the harsh realities of everyday life within the camps and the perilous risks taken by the German citizens who dared to hide Jewish families from the Gestapo, What We Knew offers a valuable examination of the depths to which humanity can sink as well as the heights of compassion to which it can rise. [5] Japan 1941 [5] by Eri Hotta In Japan 1941, author Eri Hotta affords readers a comprehensive and thoughtful look into a wide range of historical accounts, offering greater illuminations on the Japanese perspective Page 2 of 5

3 during World War II. When Japan launched hostilities against the United States in 1941, it must have been evident to this island nation that it was entering a contest that, in all probability, held an inevitable and bleak outcome. Drawing on rare and unique resources, this book considers the essential questions at the heart of Japan s motives for participating in a war that would likely have devastating repercussions on its citizens and its societal structures. [6] Embracing Defeat: Japan in The Wake of WWII [6] by John Dower In his book, Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II, professor and historian John Dower explores the experience of defeat and occupation at the end of the Second World War from the Japanese viewpoint. Filled with expressive illustrations, this extensively researched work attempts to understand the hopes, visions and dreams of Japan as the nation sought to reinvent its identity both on the world stage and at home while simultaneously redefining its values in the aftermath of World War II. Embracing Defeat explores the myriad perspectives and responses experienced by the citizens and leaders of Japan juxtaposed against the background of an American Occupation. [7] Mussolini's Italy: Life Under the Dictatorship, [7] by R.J.B. Bosworth Despite having been a central figure in the founding of Europe s first Fascist regime, Benito Mussolini is today considered by many to be little more than something akin to Adolph Hitler s puppet. In Mussolini s Italy, R.J.B. Bosworth vividly brings to life the period in which the nation s leaders subscribed to one of the twentieth century s most infamous political movements. While the Fascist regime in Italy may have been the original totalitarian movement, Page 3 of 5

4 adhering to doctrines of violence and subjugation that would inspire a number of other dictatorships including that of Hitler himself, many Italians resisted its ideology, finding ways to prevent the movement from taking root as insidiously and profoundly as it later did in Germany. Bosworth s book imparts a sweeping chronicle of Italy s internal struggle during terrible times, and offers an authoritative account of what may have been one of the nation s darkest hours. [8] The Fall of Mussolini: Italy, the Italians, and the Second World War [8] by Phillip Morgan Though the title may suggest an account of the downfall of Benito Mussolini, Phillip Morgan s book offers more of a thorough investigation into how the Italian people coped with extraordinary changes during the Second World War than anything else. Written from the vantage point of those who lived through it, The Fall of Mussolini encompasses the whole of Italian society during this tumultuous period, examining how the Italian people responded to the invasion, occupation, and division of their country by Nazi-German and Anglo-American forces. Morgan provides a 360 view of how crucial the experience of this period was in shaping Italy's post-war sense of nationhood and its eventual transition to democracy. Audience: All Ages [9] Library: All Libraries [10] Tags: Readers' Advisory [11] History [12] Military [13] Blog Category: Article Source URL: Links [1] [2] jpg?itok=Vrt4QtRr [3] & [4] [5] Page 4 of 5

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