The Second World War: Milestones to Disaster

By: Winston Churchill

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Churchill's history of the Second World War is, and will remain, the definitive work. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction. Please note: This book was originally published in six volumes:

1.The Gathering Storm
2. Their Finest Hour
3. The Grand Alliance
4. The Hinge of Fate
5. Closing the Ring
6. Triumph and Tragedy

Churchill then condensed these into four volumes, which have since been released as one, rather hefty, publication. Audible has published the unabridged recordings of Churchill's condensed volume, divided into four parts, as follows:

1.Milestone to Disaster
2.Alone
3.The Grand Alliance
4.Triumph and Tragedy

©1959 Cassell and Co. Ltd; 1990 the Esate of Winston Churchill (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Perils of Pacifism

Would you listen to The Second World War again? Why?

Plenty of valuable lessons and insights relevant to the times in which we live. Churchill was a creative genius.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Second World War?

Any moment when Churchill wields metaphor to paint word pictures. A master of language.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

An epic told by the man who lived it.

Any additional comments?

You can't stop listening!

Excellently written recount of how WWII began

Super well done, a wealth of imformation on what culminatory circumstances began WWII and all the unheeded warnings that with measures taken would have prevented it.

Compelling account and excellent performance

This book was reccomended by Dan Carlin in his podcasts so I had to take a listen. Amazing narrator, I really enjoyed this book and felt fully immersed. Highly recommend.

Excellent historical account

I wasn't able to complete the book because it was more detailed than I prefer for listening to audio books. I generally like lighter listening since I am multi-tasking. I do recommend it to WWll history buffs though because it is excellent accounting of the politics surrounding the war.

No Better Source!

Can't get over this narrator! He manages to sound much like Churchill without doing a stagey impersonation. Just marvelous!
This is, of course, a history with a particular point of view. But whose point of view about WWII could be more relevant than Churchill's? He's a great writer, and the sense of immediacy is compelling. I dare anyone to read just one volume of his WWII history -- Audible wisely put this first volume on sale and thus made me buy all the others!
Experience Churchill's view of WWII by listening to this history -- it's a wonderful ride.

A Great Glimpse into the Time Between the Wars

Winston Churchill by any account must be one of the most amazing statesmen of the 20th century. His unparalleled position at the highest levels of government through both World Wars puts him in a unique position to reveal the forces at work in the interregnum between the two. In Milestones to Disaster, he does just that – not as he says as a “history” – but as an eyewitness account to be used by future historians. The fact that he is himself a masterful writer helps one not wait for some future analysis. This work is not only accessible, but it is a very enjoyable if unsettling glimpse into the European political shake-ups of the 1920’s and 1930’s.

I was given Churchill’s six volume history of World War II by my great uncle who had the privilege to meet the then Prime Minister at Harvard. Churchill spoke to the Navy officers that were being barracked there during the U.S.’s initial involvements in the war. This work is actually an abridgment of the first volume of that set The Gathering Storm. Churchill did the trimming himself for this work, but it has been pleasant to peruse the unabridged work to see what has been removed. Mainly it is coordinating documents that help to strengthen the assertions made by the author. It also contains several appendices that contain correspondence between Churchill and other world leaders and politicians. Both the full length and edited versions are readily accessible online and make worthy additions to any library.

In Milestones, the period after the Treaty of Versailles is examined with a brutal eye to all the failings made by the then world powers to keep Germany in check. One misstep after another is frighteningly unfolded for the reader. Even though, we all know where this story leads, it gives one a knot in the gut to see how it all may have been avoided. Churchill reveals how, to his thinking, the overwhelming liberal policies of socialism and disarmament weakened the victorious nations to a point where the defeated Germany could rise under Hitler’s cult of personality. By backing off in the critical moments again and again and capitulating to appease the Führer, the European governments doomed the world to repeat on a larger scale the slaughter of the first World War.

Mr. Churchill is definitely not afraid to point out the mistakes of others. While I’m sure that the facts that are being recorded are all trustworthy, he has gone a fair way to frame them to cast a better light on his position during this time. Churchill was consistently sounding the warning of Germany’s re-armament, and he takes great pride in his un-involvement of the policies that allowed this to happen. He doesn’t sweep his own personal misjudgments under the rug, but he shines a hard light on the British administrations that he sees as failing to protect the world from the German threat. He believes the playing out of Hitler’s conquest of central Europe is a vindication of his viewpoints, and he perceives his rise as an appointment of destiny.

If you’re not familiar with how Germany came a mere twenty years after being completely despoiled to conquering the Rhineland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, and Holland with virtually no resistance, this is the book to read. It’s a tragic tale, but one that needs to be understood if but for the hope that it will not be repeated. Churchill truly is one of the great twentieth century writers, and you will not be disappointed by his recollection.

7 stars out of 10

Great for what it is.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."

Sir Winston Churchill

This book is evidence of that. It should be taken with a grain of salt when he talks about himself however it does provide a unique perspective from someone that was there. So much has been written about the German side of things during this period but little about the British side.

I learnt a lot from this book such as the fact that Poland grabbed part of Czechoslovakia as part of the German carve up in 1938.

Highly recommended for someone that wants to fill in the gap of their WWII knowledge.

Great perspective!

It's one thing to read about WW2 from a historian, it's altogether different to hear it directly from one of the major players. It gave me new insight that I hadn't gathered from other books on the topic. The narration is also fantastic.

My only complaint is that I didn't realize this was the first of 4 parts when I bought it. It only leads up to the beginning of the war. I would like to have paid 2 credits for all 4 books together rather than having to buy each one separately. That having been said, I probably will end up buying the other three books.

Exceptional

This is one of those rare instances when both the book and the narration are exceptional. The details are fascinating. I had read another of Churchill's books and he is a very good writer - far better than most historians. If you enjoy history then you will love this book.

Must read for any WWII enthusiast

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes but not as the first and only. That would be: Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.,

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

These are his words.