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The Battle of the Atlantic

The Battle of the Atlantic

How the Allies Won the War

Summary

'An exceptionally vivid account by a masterly writer' Max Hastings

'No book depicts all the myriad aspects better than Jonathan Dimbleby's majestic overview... truly gripping' Andrew Roberts
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A gripping tale that transforms our understanding of the Second World War

The Battle of the Atlantic was - though often overlooked - crucial to victory in the Second World War. If the German U-boats had prevailed, the maritime artery across the Atlantic would have been severed. Mass hunger would have consumed Britain, and the Allied armies would have been prevented from joining in the invasion of Europe. There would have been no D-Day.

Through fascinating contemporary diaries and letters, from the leaders and from the sailors on all sides, Jonathan Dimbleby creates a thrilling narrative that uniquely places the campaign in the context of the entire Second World War. Challenging conventional wisdom on the use of intelligence and on Churchill's bombing campaign, The Battle of the Atlantic tells the epic story of the decisions that led to victory, and the horror and humanity of life on those perilous seas.
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'A fascinating story written with bite and grip of one of the most crucial showdowns of the twentieth century... compelling' Lord Peter Hennessey

'A vivid evocation of dramatic events' Robert Tombs, The Times

'Dimbleby's incisive, gripping narrative uniquely places the campaign in the context of the entire war' Richard Blackmore, The Independent

Reviews

  • This is an exceptionally vivid account of one of the critical campaigns of the Second World War by a masterly writer
    Max Hastings

About the author

Jonathan Dimbleby

Jonathan Dimbleby's previous books include the highly acclaimed Second World War histories The Battle of the Atlantic and Destiny in the Desert: The Road to El Alamein, which was shortlisted for the Hessell-Tiltman Prize and was followed by his BBC2 programme Churchill's Desert War. His other books include, Russia: A Journey to the Heart of a Land and Its People, Richard Dimbleby: A Biography, The Palestinians, The Prince of Wales: A Biography and The Last Governor: Chris Patten and the Handover of Hong Kong.
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