Cambridge Scholars Publishing Populist Hearsay of 1939-45: The Myths, Blunders, Accidents and Prima Donnas

World War II produced many histories which differ according to when and by whom they were written. Many historians tend to write in order to justify their home nation. In the recent Brexit debate it was claimed many times that “we won the war” and “we do not need Europe”; politicians were as guilty of this as everyone else. Britain survived rather than won the war single-handedly and managed only because of the Allies. In France, at the L’Hôtel National des Invalides, in a museum dedicated to World War II, the photographs and notes tended to imply that Germany was defeated by the French with some American assistance. All countries have their bias and special points of view regarding their shared history of World War II, always somewhat nationally self-centred. This book confronts these nationalistic populist views, and, in places, challenges accepted versions of traditional national histories. About the Author The Revd Dr Andrew Sangster is the author of several history books and magazine articles, and he co-authored a book with Pier-Paolo Battistelli, an Italian historian. His publications include Pathway to Establishment and Nazi Thug to British Mayor. He has written several biographies including Field Marshal Kesselring, Göbbels, Himmler, Göring, and Franco. He is also the author of a history of France from 1936 to 1946, entitled The Agony of France, and an Analytical Diary of 1939-40. In his book Two and a Half Deserters, he studied the events leading up to desertion in the Italian campaign through the eyes of three nationalities. Of this last book, Sir Michael Howard wrote “I have seldom read anything that deals so well with the ‘underside of war.’” Although ordained as a priest, he has spent half of his working life in education at secondary and tertiary levels, and he holds a doctorate in Modern European History, as well as degrees in Law, Theology, English and History.