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When Britain Saved the West

The Story of 1940

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When Britain Saved the West

By: Robin Prior
Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
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About this listen

From the comfortable distance of seven decades, it is quite easy to view the victory of the Allies over Hitler's Germany as inevitable. But in 1940 Great Britain's defeat loomed perilously close, and no other nation stepped up to confront the Nazi threat. In this cogently argued book, Robin Prior delves into the documents of the time - war diaries, combat reports, Home Security's daily files, and much more - to uncover how Britain endured a year of menacing crises. The book reassesses key events of 1940 - crises that were recognized as such at the time and others that were not fully appreciated. Prior examines Neville Chamberlain's government, Churchill's opponents, the collapse of France, the Battle of Britain, and the Blitz. He looks critically at the position of the United States before Pearl Harbor and at Roosevelt's response to the crisis. Prior concludes that the nation was saved through a combination of political leadership, British Expeditionary Force determination and skill, Royal Air Force and Navy efforts to return soldiers to the homeland, and the determination of the people to fight on "in spite of all terror."

©2015 Robin Prior (P)2015 Tantor 20th Century Europe Great Britain Military Modern War Winston Churchill England Air Force Royalty Interwar Period
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a good book well wrote and narated enjoyable read good one to curl up and go back in time

grate book

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An excellent narrative on a misunderstood period of history. I recommend this if you have an interest in this period.

Very enlightening.

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This book focusses on Britain from the outbreak of war to the entry of the USA to the war. It veers from the political mechanics of Churchill becoming leader to the story of the Battle of Britain and in doing so the style changes from thoughtful analysis to ripping story, which is a nice change of speed for the reader.

Excellent revisionist history

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It seems the special relationship with American never did or does exist, the US took full financial advantage of the terrible situation that Britain and Europe found themselves in.

Very interesting

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I really to text of this book. It’s key idea is to look at the times of the war where the UK played a prominent or solo part. The detail running up to Dunkirk was especially good.
Unfortunately the narrator sounded like he’d never heard some of the words before until he said them out loud. I mean what narrator doesn’t know how the British say lieutenant? Also their attempt at a gravitas made them sound stoned.

Let down by narration

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