Abstract

The Second World War casts a long shadow, portrayed as a necessary and paradigmatic war that defeated fascism. During recent wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, US presidents and British prime ministers have tried to claim they were following in the footsteps of Winston Churchill by standing up to dictators.

In The Second World War Chris Bambery tests this position in a thorough account of the war and demonstrates why it continues to dominate TV history channels and school history books.

Arguing that the conflict was as much about a division of the world between the great powers as it was as a rising of ordinary people against fascism, he offers a nuanced and radical analysis that sets the book apart from conventional histories of the war.
'A much-needed, accessible work portraying the political and military intricacies of the Second World War from a Marxist perspective. A major achievement'
George Clode, Deputy Editor, Military History Monthly
'A comprehensive and detailed alternative history of the origins, cause and aftermath of World War II from a Marxist standpoint. His claim that it was in no way a war for democracy and against fascism will provoke wide-ranging debate'
Ian Birchall, historian and author of 'Tony Cliff: A Marxist for His Time'
'Superb'
John Newsinger, Review 31
'One of the single best popular histories of the war's origins and consequences that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I highly recommend it'
Alex Anievas, Anna Biegun Warburg Junior Research Fellow, Oxford University