Armageddon: The Battle for Germany, 1944-1945 by Max Hastings (2007 - Book Report/Review Example

Another reason the author gives is because of the respect the British and Americans had as shown in the setbacks at Battle of the Bulge and Arnhem. The author tells a story of advancing Germany from west to east and the war in its cruel and vicious stage. One of the emerging themes in this book is that there are no clean slates. This follows the roles played by the army during this time. The author says that armies from both sides looted and raped women after conquering. Both armies caused sufferings to civilians than what Geneva Convention dictates from them.

It was not fair as the author says that even surrendering soldiers were shot. Despite this rogue habit displayed by the soldiers, there were some cases of kindness which they showed. For instance, the author says that Japanese and Russian soldiers helped women to escape from rapists. This shows the extent in which every army has its rogues and heroes. One of the things which stand out from the book is the author’s acknowledgement that Russia beat Germany. It also states that America played a role of helping pull out the dangerous beast down after firing all the shots.

It states that it was still less when all American casualties combined compared to Russian defending Stalingrad. During the Battle of Bulge, the number of casualties was insignificant compared to eastern front actions. Russian civilians had a difficult experience before the war, after the war and during the war. Additionally, the Russian soldiers who were captured during the war were sent to camp and upon their return home, they were suspects of counter revolutionaries by the captors. With the war calming down, it was time for the German soldiers to decide either to join the allied forces or be on the Russian side when it finally ends.

Strength of the book is the authors refusal to use constraints in justifying poor performances by US and British soldiers. He has instead pointed at the failures in delivering operation and commands as well as missed opportunities in moving faster. The author has also blast Montgomery and the British army due to their failure of securing approaches at Antwerp. The author was very correct in identifying these loopholes which prevented them from moving further in 1944. Absence of the port meant that weapons had to be transported from a far distance in order to reach a battle field.

In reading the book, the author has shown his outstanding character in giving the book a great deal of value. He has documented the human tragedy but not writing a mere battlefield saga. He has collected large pieces of evidences comprising of interviews with participants, archival materials, and unpublished manuscripts among other sources. He has used his writing ability to integrate these sources in giving a detailed account. Through this intensive research from different sources, the author has made it easy for the readers to know about Germans civilians in Dresden trying to distinguish bombs during 1945 raid.

We also come to realize the terrified pilots who risked life in the bombing runs. At the same time, the author helps readers to meet Jews, camp inmates and laborers in both east and west who scan at the horizon to get liberation. Despite the strong points of the book, there are some weaknesses which deserve pointing out. The author has used many pages in trying to put support in comparing the fighting qualities of the