On June 22, 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, one of the turning points of World War II. Within six months, the invasion bogged down at the gates of Moscow, and the Eastern Front proved to be the decisive theater in the defeat of the Third Reich. Ever since, most historians have agreed that this was one of Hitler's great mistakes. In Hitler's Great Gamble, James Ellman argues that Barbarossa was a gamble, but that it was not doomed from the start: that it was a reasonable gamble spoiled not by strategic shortsightedness, but by diplomatic setbacks and poor execution. In Ellman's recounting, the invasion of the Soviet Union was not a doomed act of madness or hubris, but a logical gamble that maximized the Third Reich's attempts at achieving its war aims, however perverted, of "living space" and subjugating the Slavs. Had Finland and Japan made good on their alliance with Germany - had Hitler been more committed to diplomacy and not military invasion - Germany might well have succeeded in defeating the Soviet Union and, perhaps, winning World War II. Drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources (including many recently released), Hitler's Great Gamble is a provocative work that will appeal to a wide cross-section of World War II buffs, enthusiasts, and historians.

About the Author
James Ellman, the grandson of Holocaust survivors, holds a bachelor's degree in history and economics from Tufts University and an MBA from Harvard.

Reviews
This startlingly original account places one of the key episodes of World War II in an entirely new light. Deeply researched and briskly written, it contradicts the standard view that Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union was an act of military madness. Ellman's work reshapes our understanding of history--and shows how much remains to be learned about the 20th century's great cataclysm. -- Stephen Kinzer, author of The True Flag and Poisoner in Chief
The author challenges conventional wisdom with a bold, fresh interpretation of one of the watershed events of the twentieth century: Operation Barbarossa, Adolf Hitler's attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941. In a sweeping overview of events--based in part on official archival sources and recollections of key participants, Ellman argues that, far from being a catastrophic mistake, Hitler's decision to attack Russia was a `logical gamble . . . that came extremely close to success.' The fast-paced narrative will give laypersons and historians alike much to contemplate. -- Craig Luther, author of The First Day on the Eastern Front



Book Information
ISBN 9780811738491
Author James Ellman
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Stackpole Books
Publisher Stackpole Books