Victory '45 : the end of the war in eight surrenders / James Holland & Al Murray.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Holland, James, 1970- Author.

Murray, Al, 1968- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World War, 1939-1945--Peace.

World War, 1939-1945.

Capitulations, Military--Germany--History--20th century.

Capitulations, Military.

Capitulations, Military--Japan--History--20th century.

Capitulations, Military--Italy--History--20th century.

Genre:

Informational works.

Physical Description:

xii, 386 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (black and white), portraits ; 24 cm

Edition:

First Grove Atlantic hardcover edition.

Other Title:

Victory 1945

Victory forty-five

Victory nineteen forty-five

Place of Publication:

New York : Atlantic Monthly Press, 2025.

Summary:

"On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, two acclaimed historians chronicle the remarkable stories behind the surrenders that ended the world's most catastrophic global conflict. In May 1945 and then again in August and early September, the seemingly endless World War II finally came to a close in six dramatic surrender ceremonies, four in Europe and the last two in Japan. On the 80th anniversary of those historic events, celebrated historians James Holland and Al Murray chronicle them in turn, focusing especially on the human dramas behind each surrender and relating stories and perspectives on the end of the war that have not previously been told. Germany's armies submitted to the Allies in four ceremonies between May 2 and June 7, the latter after considerable delays by the Germans and threats from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander. Japan then finally conceded only after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, initially on August 15 and then in a formal ceremony aboard the USS Missouri on September 2. Holland and Murray focus on specific characters participating in each of these world-changing events-from ordinary servicemen and women and civilians to generals and political leaders. The saga of the first German surrender, in Italy, revolves around senior SS general Karl Wolff's personal battle to save his own neck and involves VIP prisoners locked up in a resort in South Tyrol, art theft, money laundering, and the resistance of other German commanders to give up. The German surrender to the Americans on May 5 follows the fortunes of private Alan Moskin from New Jersey, whose 6th Infantry Regiment found themselves liberating Gunskirchen, one of Mauthausen's sub-concentration camps, the terrible reality of which affected the rest of his life. The stories surrounding the war's end are in their own way as dramatic as the strategy and battles themselves. As Holland and Murray make clear, they add greatly to our understanding and appreciation of World War II and its legacy"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

A Bullet To The Head The Surrender Of Berlin, 2 May 1945 / James Holland

The Duel Part 1 The Surrender In Italy, 2 May 1945 / James Holland

The Duel Part 2 The Surrender In Italy, 2 May 1945 / James Holland

Monty's Men Lu?neburg Heath, 3- 4 May 1945 / Al Murray

The Camp The Surrender In Southern Germany, 5 May 1945 / James Holland

The Supreme Commander Will See You Now Reims, 6- 7 May 1945 / Al Murray

VE Day Twenty- Four Hours In London, 8 May 1945 / Al Murray

Happy Birthday, Mr President VE Day In America, 8 May 1945 / James Holland

Amid The Ruins Part 1 The Surrender In Berlin, 9 May 1945 / James Holland

Amid The Ruins Part 2 The German Surrender To The Soviet Union In Berlin, 9 May 1945 / James Holland

Lost In Translation The Surrender Of Japan, 15 August 1945 / Al Murray

The Final Act The Japanese Signing Of The Surrender, 2 September 1945 / James Holland.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [359]-363) and index.

Other Format:

Online version Holland, James Victory '45

ISBN:

9780802166418

0802166415

OCLC:

1468560301

Publisher Number:

90102325120