The battle of the Atlantic : how the allies won the war

'An exceptionally vivid account by a masterly writer' Max Hastings 'No book depicts all the myriad aspects better than Jonathan Dimbleby's majestic overview... truly gripping' Andrew Roberts __________________________ A gripping tale that transforms our understanding of the Second World War The Battle of the Atlantic was - though often overlooked - crucial to victory in the Second World War. If the German U-boats had prevailed, the maritime artery across the Atlantic would have been severed. Mass hunger would have consumed Britain, and the Allied armies would have been prevented from joining in the invasion of Europe. There would have been no D-Day. Through fascinating contemporary diaries and letters, from the leaders and from the sailors on all sides, Jonathan Dimbleby creates a thrilling narrative that uniquely places the campaign in the context of the entire Second World War. Challenging conventional wisdom on the use of intelligence and on Churchill's bombing campaign, The Battle of the Atlantic tells the epic story of the decisions that led to victory, and the horror and humanity of life on those perilous seas. __________________________ 'A fascinating story written with bite and grip of one of the most crucial showdowns of the twentieth century... compelling' Lord Peter Hennessey 'A vivid evocation of dramatic events' Robert Tombs, The Times 'Dimbleby's incisive, gripping narrative uniquely places the campaign in the context of the entire war' Richard Blackmore, The Independent EUROPEAN HISTORY. The Battle of the Atlantic was - though often overlooked - crucial to the Allied victory. If the German U-boats had prevailed, the maritime artery across the Atlantic would have been severed. Mass hunger would have consumed Britain, and the Allied armies would have been prevented from joining in the invasion of Europe. There would have been no D-Day. Through fascinating contemporary diaries and letters, from the leaders and from the sailors on all sides, Jonathan Dimbleby creates a thrilling narrative that uniquely places the campaign in the context of the entire Second World War. Challenging conventional wisdom on the use of intelligence and on Churchill's bombing campaign, The Battle of the Atlantic tells the epic story of the decisions that led to victory, and the horror and humanity of life on those perilous seas The gripping tale of the campaign that ultimately determined the outcome of the Second World War. The Battle of the Atlantic was crucial to the Allied victory. If the German U-boats had prevailed, the maritime artery across the Atlantic would have been severed. Mass hunger would have consumed Britain, and the Allied armies would have been prevented from joining in the invasion of Europe. There would have been no D-Day. This work interweaves fascinating contemporary diaries and letters with a thrilling narrative and, uniquely, the overall picture of the Second World War. From senior members of the competing High Commands in London, Washington, Berlin and Moscow down to the humblest sailor, Jonathan Dimbleby tells the epic story of the decisions that led to victory, and the horror and humanity endured in those perilous seas Preface: A Momentous Victory 1 The Phoney War that Wasn’t 2 Caught Hopping 3 Rash Moves 4 The End of the Beginning 5 U-Boats on the Rampage 6 Churchill Declares ‘The Battle of the Atlantic’ 7 Moving the Goalposts Again 8 America Goes for It 9 Secret Weapons 10 Fingers in the Dyke 11 Shifting Fortunes 12 Beating the Drum 13 Overstretched Everywhere 14 Disaster in the Arctic 15 Goading the Bear 16 Dönitz Seizes His Chance 17 Changes at the Top 18 ‘The Battle of the Air’ 19 A Very Narrow Escape 20 A Dramatic Turnabout 21 The Reckoning 22 The Beginning of the End Epilogue: Fates Disentwined Illustrations Select Bibliography Notes Acknowledgements Follow Penguin Jonathan Dimbleby's The Battle of the Atlantic offers a detailed and immersive account of this campaign, placing it within the context of the war as a whole. Dimbleby delves into the politics on both sides of the Atlantic, revealing the role of Bletchley Park and the complex and dynamic relationship between America and England. He uses contemporary diaries and letters from leaders and sailors to chilling effect, evoking the lives and experiences of those who fought the longest battle of World War Two. This is the definitive account of the Battle of the Atlantic. Challenging conventional wisdom on the use of intelligence and on Churchill's bombing campaign, this book tells the epic story of the decisions that led to victory, and the horror and humanity of life on those perilous seas.