World War II, a conflict of unprecedented scale, involved tens of millions of soldiers and claimed an average of twenty-seven thousand lives daily, totaling sixty million fatalities. Inferno crafts a uniquely intimate portrait of the world at war through strikingly detailed personal stories, weaving together the experiences of diverse individuals, including soldiers, sailors, airmen, British housewives, Indian peasants, SS killers, and the citizens of Leningrad who endured cannibalism during its two-year siege, as well as Japanese suicide pilots and American carrier crews. Simultaneously, Inferno traces major strategic developments—such as Hitler's refusal to retreat from the Soviet Union, Stalin's ruthless use of population to wear down the German army, Churchill's leadership in the dark days of 1940-41, and Roosevelt's steady hand—placing them firmly within their real human context.
Inferno sheds light on some of the war's darker and less-explored aspects. It delves into the conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland, highlighting the Finns' fierce and surprising resistance against Stalin's invading Red Army. It further examines the devastating Bengal famine of 1943-44, an event that claimed at least one million lives and which, in Nehru's words, served as "the final epitaph of British rule" in India. This expansive approach offers a nuanced understanding of the war's far-reaching impact, extending beyond its most commonly recounted battles.
Unlike many histories of World War II, Inferno draws extensively from journals and letters of individuals who lived through this frightening period in history. The personal touch of living the war through the eyes of participants builds a strong foundation for the history told by Max Hastings. Fans of history will find this volume one of the best history of the Second World War.
