Alan FarmerUnderstand the Second World War
Teach Yourself
Alan Farmer is a widely published academic on modern American, European, and British history. He is currently the Head of History at St. Martin's College, Lancaster.
1. 01: Introduction
2.
* : The main causes of World War 11
* : Who was most to blame for the War?
3. 02: The European War: 1939-40
4.
* : Why did Germany triumph?
* : Why did France collapse so quickly?
5. 03: Britain Alone: 1940-1
6.
* : Why did Britain survive?
* : The strength of Britain’s position in 1941?
7. 04: Operation Barbarossa
8.
* : Why did Hitler launch his attack on the USSR in 1941?
* : Why did Barbarossa not succeed?
9. 05: Pearl Harbor
10.
* : The attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan
* : Why did Hitler declare war on the USA?
11. 06: The Turning of the Tide: 1942-3
12.
* : How close to success were the Axis powers in the summer of 1942?
* : Turning the tide
13. 07: The Home Fronts
14.
* : The impact of the war on Axis and Allied societies
* : Why did the Allied powers out-produce the Axis powers?
15. 08: Resistance and Collaboration
16.
* : To what extent did occupied countries collaborate with the
conquerors?
* : The strength of the resistance
17. 09: The Holocaust
18.
* : Why did it happen?
* : Who was most to blame?
19. 10: War at Sea and in the Air
20.
* : The Allies victory in the Battle of the Atlantic
* : How effective was Allied bombing?
21. 11: Allied Advance: 1943-4
22.
* : The Russians' success in the east
* : How successful were the Allies in the west?
23. 12: Leadership
24.
* : The effectiveness of the main leaders
* : Who was the most effective leader?
25. 13: The Defeat of Germany
26.
* : The success of the Allies in 1944-5
* : Should American and British strategy have been different?
27. 14: The Defeat of Japan
28.
* : Why was the USA successful in the Pacific War?
* : Should the USA have dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
29. 15: Conclusion
30.
* : Did the Allies win or the Axis lose?
* : The main consequences of the War
