The Storm of War

A New History of the Second World War

By: Andrew Roberts

Narrated by: Christian Rodska

Length: 28 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

The Second World War lasted for 2,174 days, cost $1.5 trillion, and claimed the lives of more than 50 million people. What were the factors that affected the war's outcome? Why did the Axis lose? And could they, with a different strategy, have won?

Andrew Roberts' acclaimed new history has been hailed as the finest single-volume account of this epic conflict. From the western front to North Africa, from the Baltic to the Far East, he tells the story of the war - the grand strategy and the individual experience, the cruelty and the heroism - as never before.

In researching this magnificently vivid history, Roberts walked many of the key battlefields and wartimes sites in Russia, France, Italy, Germany, and the Far East, and drew on a number of never-before-published documents, such as a letter from Hitler's director of military operations explaining the reasoning behind the Fuhrer's order to halt the Panzers outside Dunkirk - a delay that enabled British forces to evacuate. Roberts illuminates the principal actors on both sides and analyzes how they reached critical decisions. He also presents the tales of many little-known individuals whose experiences form a panoply of the extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice, as well as the terrible depravity and cruelty, of the Second World War.

Meticulously researched and masterfully written, The Storm of War gives a dramatic account of this momentous event and shows in remarkable detail why the war took the course it did.

©2011 Andrew Roberts (P)2011 Tantor

Fantastic

Wonderful insights as to the various different personalities an ultimate defeat of the Third Reich. illustration of the various German mistakes which in hindsight makes sense to us now but at the time clearly speak to the genius behind the English cracking of the enigma machine and Superior strategy moves the Commonwealth and its army made before the American arrival into the second World war.

Should have been called "All about Hitler"

As usual; very little of the book is devoted to the Eastern side of WW2. It is a good book and is filled with discoveries of materials that are not in books published earlier. LOT of the authors opinion in this work (almost all that I happen to agree with ). All in all; worth the many hours to listen to!

A great look at the German preparations for D-DAY.

enjoyed it a great deal. A little known view of the war before D-Day.

A Must Read. Period.

What is arguably one of the most thoughtful and in-depth histories of World War II also happens to be one of the newest. This book will no doubt go down in history as one of the top number of historical recounts of the war, and will likely be included in bibliographies of great military institutions for the next hundred years. An absolute must read for anyone who has interest in the second world war, military strategy, or western and world history.

A great look at the best and worst of mankind.

Any additional comments?

Roberts and Rodska combine to bring to life many larger than life characters in an incredibly good re-telling of story of World War II. Roberts has done fantastic research and has a plethora of first hand accounts that really add weight to the times and events of this great and tragic event.

A History Buff's Dream

Would you consider the audio edition of The Storm of War to be better than the print version?

I have never read the print version but this book was full of facts, I think that books such as this are important for the younger generations to learn about how we all must cherished what others have earned for us.

What other book might you compare The Storm of War to and why?

This book is comparable to Band of Brothers and The Pacific, they are similar in style and tone, but this one lacks the closeness from the other two. Those of course are stories about bonds of brotherhood, where this book takes on a vast topic.

What does Christian Rodska bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think the audio narration makes the facts, stories, locations, and other facts easier to remember and understand. The narration keeps the book from becoming a textbook.

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

WWII War in Europe

Any additional comments?

This book is amazing. It has details that need to be known about what our elders have done for us and what they fought for. The sections on the concentration camps had some information that I have never heard before, and cast a whole new light on a part of history I thought I knew.

Tremendous

Would you listen to The Storm of War again? Why?

Yes, because of the historical significance.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The world

What about Christian Rodska’s performance did you like?

Fabulous

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not possible in my view, simply to emotional

Any additional comments?

A must read for everyone. It should be a requirement to read in all schools. Its important to have a historical perspective of what can happen if you do not act against evil.

Amazing detail

What did you love best about The Storm of War?

The history was organized in an interesting way and the detail was rich.

Have you listened to any of Christian Rodska’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Any additional comments?

It would be difficult to imagine there could be a book that better described the amazing and horrific event known as WW II

My Review

I loved listening to this book. Even though I’ve read a lots of WW2 books… this was one of the best. But still there were some errors I didn’t like and I want to remind about them. For example author’s conclusions in some parts of the book were not professional. Siberia did NOT have any oil in 1941. It was discovered only 20 years after the war. So Japs didn’t had any good reasons to invade Russia in 1941. But author claims it would be better if Japs invaded Russia instead of USA in 1941. The book was more pro-British in some parts. Author was not in fond with the neutrality of Ireland. But as I sad at the beginning in overall the book is a masterpiece. And I would still recommend it to others.

Wish it would never end the book not the war

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

Absolutely I did recommend it to my brother and my friends who are interested in this type of literature

What other book might you compare The Storm of War to and why?

I read the rise and fall of the Third Reich before I listen to this book and I figured it could not light a match to it but I was pleasantly surprised it was right up there but really what took it over the top was the narrator he was on the money with this Churchill impression .

What does Christian Rodska bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His impressions and I felt like 10 people were reading this book to me if not 15

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes there was a moment when the German people were getting burnt up by the bombs when their cities were being destroyed and they were feeling the hell that they were bringing down on the world for the past five years it was a beautiful thing to see them get a taste of their own medicine

Any additional comments?

Thank God books are still written like this to still remind us of the sacrifice of the brave men and women who stood up to the Nazi aggression so we are reminded in our small lives compared to their lives back in those days when they knew what heart ache was in pain and sufferings. And then a book like this is well-written to keep people interested in a story that has 1 million stories in it. I recommend this book to all let us never forget these people in the past who live these times so we may live our lives today with iPods and audible books I