Legacy of the Second World War

The Legacy of the Second World War by John Lukacs, 191 pages

It can be argued that World War II defined the twentieth century.  From the division of Europe into American and Soviet spheres of influence to the introduction of atomic weapons to the delegitimization of racialism, the consequences of decisions made during the conflict are still being felt.  Lukacs is well aware of the contingency of many of these decisions, and analyzing how and why they were made - and how they could have been made differently - is the theme of this book.

Lukacs has some odd ideas - he seems to imagine that a German invasion of England in 1940 was plausible - and sometimes seems simply wrong in his assertions - Germany was not obligated by its treaty with Japan to declare war on the US.  Yet he is penetrating in his analysis of larger issues - on the pragmatism of Stalin and Hitler, for instance, or the consensus of American leaders on a Germany-first strategy.

A few days ago, the Ukrainian Prime Minister sent out a tweet that referred to the "Soviet invasion of Ukraine and Germany."  The Second World War is still with us, in ways that Lukacs barely touches on in this illuminating but too short book.